Miki seemed pleased with how she had explained the rules, as she turned to Nagare with a proud smile and expelled a “humph” of triumph through her nose.

“Splendid,” Nagare said immediately but added, “but don’t keep Kiyoshi waiting!”

“Okay!” Miki replied happily and turned back to Kiyoshi. “Shall we continue?”

Up until now, when Kazu had poured the coffee, these words had carried with them a serious air, so much so that the temperature of the café seemed to drop a little.

However, it was different with Miki. Her smiling expression was lovely, like a mother looking lovingly at her baby. Her smile radiated warmth and seemed out of place on a seven-year-old girl. If people had auras whose colors were somehow visible, there is no doubt that Kazu would be surrounded by pale aqua, while Miki’s would be orange. This was how warm and welcoming the atmosphere around her was.

When she smiled, it seemed that the temperature had risen slightly.

Her smile is as radiant as the spring sun’s rays, Kiyoshi thought. “Yes, let’s,” he said, nodding.

“Okay,” replied Miki. “REMEMBER, BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD!” Shouting boisterously, her voice reverberated around the room.

Way too loud thought Nagare as he gave a wry smile.

Miki held the silver kettle above her head and began pouring. The coffee formed a thin line as it streamed into the bright white cup.

It must have been heavy for seven-year-old Miki to hold up the kettle full of coffee like that. She was doing her best to pour with just one hand, but the spout was swaying from side to side and coffee spilled from the cup, leaving a brown puddle on the saucer.

She was taking it seriously, but her mood was not as serious as when Kazu poured. Her earnest attempt to do her best was heartwarming. While Kiyoshi’s attention was fixed on Miki’s performance, the cup was filled with coffee and a plume of vapor began to rise.

At that moment, Kiyoshi felt his surroundings beginning to warp as they seemed to waver and shimmer. Being sixty, he was worried that the sudden dizziness was a sign that he was unwell.

Of all the times for something like this to happen, he thought.

But his concerns were fleeting.

He soon realized that his body was turning into vapor. He was startled, but at the same time, he felt relieved that the dizziness had nothing to do with his health.

His body seemed to billow as his surroundings began flowing past him.

“Oh!” he exclaimed—not from his startlement, but from his sudden realization that he had not even decided yet what he was going to say to his wife, whom he had not met for thirty years, when he gave her the gift.

I’m sure that Kimiko wouldn’t have known you can return to the past in this café...