Chapter 6: Coffee in Spring

The lower lands of Anesse. That’s what they called the lower floating islands of the city—yeah, not very creative, but that’s what it was. Gray buildings packed tightly together, brightly lit, some standing out with colorful and oddly shaped decorations. Night was livelier than day, and the streets were full of bars, clubs, brothels, cabarets, etc.

Three neighborhoods, in particular, stood out for their nightlife: Vermol Solstice, Drovet Chapel District, and the Rossanetti District. The last was the flashiest, with neon façades, glass storefronts, and a lot of themed establishments. Undoubtedly, the perfect place to be called the red-light district of Anesse. Full of lust, but also danger—some zones catered to upscale adult entertainment, others to the strangest fetishes imaginable.

“Grandma, I’m here!”

“We open in half an hour, Millie. Get a move on, girl.”

Café Primavera opened its doors at 7:00 AM. A quiet, refined spot—by the neighborhood’s standards. Big windows, with no intention of hiding what went on inside, and a decor that blended modern and classic styles. A little paradise that defied the idea of being just another joint for visual stimulation.

“Millie, want help with the dress?”

“I can manage on my own, thanks.”

The café’s uniform was a short one-piece dress with a white apron over it. It had a V-neckline that left little to the imagination, and a skirt short enough to highlight one of the most underrated features of a lady—long, smooth legs.

Still, despite how risqué the outfit looked, it was actually comfortable to work in. Not nearly as provocative as other uniforms in the area, and overall, quite aesthetic. You could feel the love in its design—even the material had heart: soft fabric, perfect for the season’s heat.

Millie, one of the young girls working at the café, had long brown hair, tied in a side braid over her left shoulder. Her eyes were golden yellow, and her skin, fair.

“Next month will be your one-year anniversary as a waitress. We should celebrate with cake!” Her coworker said, helping tie the apron from behind.

“If grumpy Grandma allows it, that is.”

Café Primavera was a family business running for over 50 years, serving coffee and pastries with a focus on showcasing the charm of its workers. It definitely wasn’t a place to satisfy the carnal cravings of customers. You come in, order something, take a look around, and leave.

Hard to believe how “family-friendly” the place felt. I mean, sure, there weren’t any kids around, but the decor was so cozy you could almost forget you were in Rossanetti—where everything reeks of sweat, and the only music you hear are those zombified dance tracks blasting from the clubs. Here, in contrast, the morning soundtrack was a soft piano melody and the hum of the espresso machine awakening the appetite of the patrons.

“Millie!” Grandma called from the kitchen, “Can you take the register? Liz has to go pick up Erika at the terminal.”

“She’s coming back today? I hope she remembered to bring me something…”

Amazing what you can get used to, huh? There's an 18-year-old girl working here like it's nothing out of the ordinary. It’s inevitable—if you grow up in that environment, abnormal becomes normal. And that’s… because it’s her family’s business. Simple as that.

Millie had grown up in Café Primavera. She’d been around this setting since she was little. Maybe someone should’ve called child services at some point—but this is Anesse we’re talking about, and the shadiest district in the city.

Even so, Millie was a sweet, kind, and hard-working girl. Always smiling, always willing to help. Everyone loved her…

“Welcome to Café Primavera! How can I hel—serve you today?”

And yet… sometimes it’s the normal that starts to feel abnormal.

July 17, 1325 — 10:15 AM

Which is precisely why the girl froze the moment she saw the group walking into the café. Four girls… yeah, four… in a place clearly designed for a male clientele. And to top it off, accompanied by a guy who just gave off an awful vibe.

“Wow… what a lovely decoration, don’t you think, Robin?” asked a young woman with black hair, dressed in obviously foreign clothes.

“Yeah, it’s… well… being in the red-light district, I wasn’t expecting this,” I answered, a little embarrassed. “Actually, I didn’t think brothels even opened this early.”

“In Rossanetti, it’s always a good time for fun,” said the only guy in the group, a messy-haired boy carrying a garbage bag as a backpack. “My lovely Millie, how are you?”

“Tsk…”

“W-was that a tongue click I just heard? No way, of course not. You adore me.” Albert was the first to approach the cashier.

“Absolutely not!” Millie replied with a radiant smile. Seriously, she was glowing. “At Café Primavera, everyone is welcome… even the lowest scum of society.”

“Ouch…”

The place had always welcomed female clients, but very few… and never a group like that.

“Can I help you with something? Looking for directions? A phone number, maybe?” Millie asked, doing her best to keep it professional.

“No, thanks. We're here for brunch, “Ien held her gaze and smiled sweetly.” A table for five, please.

“Aaaah… of course. Four young ladies and a dog. We even have a special dish he can eat right off the floor~.”

So much hostility toward Albert… and I’ve only known him for an hour. Kinda feels like he earned every bit of it.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Perfect. What flavor is it? For you, Millie, I’d dine straight from the dumpster.”

“How lucky. Today’s special is last month’s fermented trash. Bon appétit!”

“Millie!” Grandma called out from the kitchen. “They’re sponsors. Please treat them well.”

“Tsk…” Millie crossed her arms. “Fine… Miss Amélie! Always a pleasure to see you again!”

Her mood flipped instantly. What surprised me most was that she knew Amélie… maybe she comes here often?

“It really smells amazing in here. That fresh coffee and just-baked pastries…” I’ll admit, the aroma had me entranced.

I kept wondering about the “sponsors” thing, but figured it wasn’t the kind of topic to bring up out loud.

“So, your order will be…”

“Prrrr… Prrrr…”

“Such a sweet kitty… Sweet little kitty…” Miss Kuroha was scratching under my chin.

“You don’t have to purr, idiot.” Ien’s voice had a hint of jealousy in it.

“Isn’t it normal for a pussy to start purring when you pet her?” Kuroha replied…

“You’re scratching under my chin!!” I quickly clarified. “Not that I like it… but I don’t hate it either.”

“Your… order, please…” Millie repeated, visibly done with all of us.

The poor waitress looked thoroughly shocked by the scene.

“An iced coffee… with chocolate drizzle, please,” said Kuroha.

“Got it. Miss Amélie, the usual?”

“A macchiato with a strawberry brownie, please.”

“On it!” Millie headed toward the kitchen.

“Hey, what about me?!”

“Aw, Albert, she totally ignored you,” Ien chuckled. “She must really hate you. What did you do to the poor girl?”

“Loved her too much… and offered her a bit of coinage for her company.”

“Did I ever tell you you're worse than a degenerate?” Amélie cut in. “Can we talk business now? We’ve been wasting time long enough.”

“Is it safe? It's a bit… how should I put it? Public.”

“Don’t worry. The company funds this place as a strategic site and info hub. Plus, at this hour, it’s basically deserted—ten in the morning in the red-light district is like midnight anywhere else.”

“But…”

“Millie and the owner know who we are. The whole café is equipped with signal jammers—no video, no audio. That’s how the company operates.”

Well… if they say so, it should be fine. I hope…

“So, what do we need to do?” I asked.

“Right, you spent the entire day asleep,” Amélie replied. “We need to install surveillance devices in three key points of the city. Rossanetti Island is banana-shaped, which makes the job easier.”

“First point’s the central park. At 307 East Wood Street, room 2415 in the Malberg Hotel. The bellboy will hand over the equipment once we check in.”

“Second is at the north and south ends of the island. In the north, at 11 Central Avenue, there’s a series of storage warehouses.”

“And my favorite’s the last one, down south. 45 Full Moon Street, a nightclub called Nirvana. The owner will host us in the suite reserved for “special services.” Dibs on that one!”

“I call wherever Ien is!”

“I call wherever Robin is!”

“Correction! I call being with Ien and Kuroha!”

“Idiot… It’s already been decided. For obvious reasons, you’re stuck with me. Kuroha goes with Amelie, and Albert goes alone.”

“Amélie…”

“Then I get to stay at Nirvana,” Albert said, excited.

“You’re going to the warehouse, dumbass. Leaving you alone at that club is a one-way ticket to disaster.”

After a bit of bickering and disagreement, our orders arrived. Pretty fast service, all things considered.

“What about me?”

“I brought you a coffee… Emeride Jungle beans. Be grateful.”

Millie’s hostility toward Albert was palpable… but also pretty funny.

“But I wanted Banania beans.”

“…”

“It’s fine like this,” he finally gave in, under Millie’s death glare. “But Millie, you didn’t spit in it… did you?”

“I would never do that, Albert.” Her tone gave me chills.

“Because you know… if you did, I’d enjoy it twice as much.”

Oh God… but Albert’s tone was a million times more disturbing than Millie’s.

“Goodness, dear customer! You ordered a coffee with Banania beans?! My deepest apologies, I’ll change it right away!”

And she snatched the cup out of his hands…

“Come back soon… heh heh.”

“Stop trying to check out her panties, you pervert,” Amélie snapped, elbowing him as he shamelessly bent down.

Everything looked delicious… even more so with these beauties by my side. I won’t deny my superficiality. They’re just so pretty… In fact, watching Amélie drink her coffee with such elegance was hypnotizing.

“Why are you staring at me so much?”

“I was just thinking how good you look. Your outfit is so stylish, sipping that coffee so calmly…”

“Ah-a-a-ah… really?” It was the first time I saw her blush. “Well… thanks. You have good taste if you notice those details. You could learn a bit… and stop eating tuna sandwiches with garlic mayo or wearing sweatpants.”

“Ha ha. It would be interesting to improve my style. I was used to work clothes and gym wear. I guess, without my old responsibilities, I can now afford to dress better.”

“I can give you some good advice. Mmm… if you insist you’re a guy, I can help you get a more masculine look that fits a girl’s body.”

“Totally agree. Even though I'm a woman, I don't think I'll ever wear skirts. I wouldn’t feel comfortable.”

After those last words, I felt an imminent threat. My life was in danger…

“I see, I see… Then you two should go shopping together. Or you could switch with Kuroha, and she’ll teach you how to dress like a girl.” Ien appears to have just started shooting at me.

“Robin… you’re a traitor…” Kuroha eagerly joined the game. “Why didn't you tell me you enjoyed dressing like a girl?” I have several outfits I want to try on you. Including a schoolgirl uniform with kitty ears that would suit you perfectly.”

“B-by the way… had you been to the café before?” I asked, desperate to change the subject.

“Yes, countless times,” Amélie answered. “It’s the only decent place to get coffee among all these dives. And the company pays for it.”

“I see you're a regular in the area… I didn’t expect you to like prostitutes…”

“NO! God, no. The red-light district has more than just brothels. There are bars, clubs, illegal casinos, betting centers… and other entertainment spots.”

“That’s why you got excited when you said we’d come.”

“I enjoy going out at night. And the music.”

“Rossanetti has a lot of bohemia. Places for local bands and others for electronic music,” Ien said. “Sounds cliché, but where there’s sex, drugs, and alcohol, there’s usually art…

“Sounds fun,” I replied.

It is. Mornings are calm, but nights get wild. People come to forget their problems, enjoy company, lose themselves in the DJ’s rhythm… or in sensory touches.

Too bad I missed the first night. Everything sounded great…

July 17, 1325 – 11:17 PM

“Aagh… Ugh… Aaaah…” I struggled to breathe. “Au… auxi… li…”

“Don’t move,” a female voice said. “Every breath will feel like fire in your throat.”

“Ien… She… is dead…?” I tried to speak, but the pain was unbearable.”

“They all will be eventually,” the masked girl approached. “But don’t worry. They will meet again in hell. You… and your damn company.”

“Why…?”

She wore a black mask with a diamond-shaped eye painted on and a mouth made of ellipsis dots. The fluorescent red glowed in varying dark shades depending on the angle. Her tight-fitting suit was covered in straps with hanging objects, and she wore loose blue fabric pants. Nothing was exposed.

“They deny us our freedom… so we deny them theirs.”

Collapsed on the floor, trapped between pain and the darkness blurring my vision, the world started to twist. A new déjà vu awaited me, with the metallic taste of death and the agony of a body that could take no more.

That day, in the hospital waiting room… amidst loneliness and shadows… while waiting for news about Ien’s condition… I lost my life.

…starting a new time leap.