Tsubaki Rin felt a tap on her shoulder, almost making her drop the document in her hands. She looked up to see a familiar blonde man was standing beside her. His mouth was moving but there was no sound coming from it, Rin could only her the relaxing jazz music--

For God's sake, she had forgotten that she was wearing earphones.

Her hands immediately flew to her ears to take it off. She nervously looked up to the lecturer in front of her, aware that the man had been calling her thousands time but she didn't hear it. Rin understood if the man was angry at her.

"Yes, Mr. Kagamine? I am sorry I didn't hear you called, I was wearing my earphones." She explained even though the man could see the white wire that connected to her phone, the music could be heard faint since she hadn't paused it yet in the middle of her hurriedness to take off her earphones.

Kagamine Len was quiet for a moment which scared the hell of Rin because gosh, it didn't seem like a good sign for her. Then he opened his mouth, "You listen to Cafe in the Night's songs?"

Rin blinked a few times, not understanding what he said for a moment, before she widened her eyes in surprise. He was talking about the song she listened. Cafe in the Night was an old band who focused in jazz music, which suited Rin's taste of music very much. People didn't listen to them anymore these days, but Cafe in the Night was a very famous band back then.

"Um, yes. They're maybe an old band, but I like their music so much." She finally replied, unlocking her phone to stop the music before looking up to him once again, "Do you listen to their music too, Mr. Kagamine?" She braced herself to throw a question.

There was a tiny small on his lips, but it managed to make Rin's heart beat so fast like she was doing a marathon running. "Yes, actually. All the time." He paused, "I never thought young people like you would listen to their songs, Miss Tsubaki."

Rin laughed, "That's what people always said to me every time they know I listen to Cafe in the Night. Actually, I didn't know them before my grandfather introduced their songs to me." She said, missing the way Kagamine Len's eyes twinkled in interest to know more about her story.

"Really? Are you close to you grandfather, Miss Tsubaki?" He walked to the wall and leaned against it, his arms crossed as his eyes were silently telling her that he was interested.

"We're very close. He used to have a collection of vinyl records in his house, and Cafe in the Night was his favorite band. So when I visited my grandparents house, he would take me to his collection room and play me Cafe in the Night songs." There was a nostalgic light swirled in both of Rin's eyes, she felt her chest tightened, but she was sure it wasn't because of her disease- but it because she opened those beautiful memories back and it made her think how much she wanted to turn back time.

She saw the man in front of her raised a questioning eyebrow towards her, "Used?"

Rin blinked and let out an awkward laugh, there was a forced smile on her lips. "Ah, um.. My grandfather had to leave our family a few years ago after battling with his illness." She had to blink away the tears that threatened to fall.

Kagamine Len's expression fell. He stood straight and gave her a regretful look, "I apologize, Miss Tsubaki." His voice was low, different from his usual one.

"No, it's alright, Mr. Kagamine. That was a beautiful memory for me, thank you for making me remember it again." She shook her head with a sincere smile on her lips, her hands were squeeze together on her lap. 

An awkward silence.

"I actually knew Cafe in The Night when there was a mistake for my CD." He suddenly said, waiting for Rin to look at him quizzically before he formed a tiny smile, "I bought an old jazz music collection CD, but when I opened it at home, it turned out it wasn't the CD I was looking for. It got switched with Cafe in The Night CD, I don't know how. But their songs immediately suited my taste." He chuckled at the end, which wasn't good for Rin's heart and lungs.

Rin also giggled at his story, her hands fumbled with the earphone's wire. "That's really interesting, Mr. Kagamine. But I guess you were lucky since you didn't have to ask for a refund." She shrugged.

"I guess!" He laughed louder while saying this before landing his gaze on her again, "I am sorry for asking this, Miss Tsubaki- but do you have all of their albums? I still don't have some of it and I've been searching for it on every online shops."

Rin raised one of her eyebrows at him, she felt something in herself sparked. "Ah, yes, I actually do have all of their albums. My grandmother gave all of my grandfather's collection to me." She explained excitedly, Rin was always like this when she talked about her grandfather's amazing album collection.

Kagamine Len shifted on his place, looking like he was considering about something. He then cleared his throat, "Could you... er, could you perhaps lend me one, Miss Tsubaki? I'll make sure I return it to you with a good condition, I know album is really fragi-"

"Of course! I'll lend it to you, Mr. Kagamine!" She suddenly exclaimed, feeling excited because finally, there was something in common between them. Rin just couldn't hide her happiness, completely missing the way his eyes widened at her.

She gulped nervously, suddenly feeling aware of her own too excited behavior. Damn, this was why she hated being with her crush, she didn't really have much control in expressing herself. "I apologize for screaming so suddenly. I am just excited that I can show my grandfather's collection to other person." Rin chewed the inside of her cheek with a hope that Kagamine Len would believe that lie.

Kagamine Len once again surprised her when he let out a gentle laugh as answer. "It's alright, I absolutely understand you, Miss Tsubaki. I'm happy to know that you let me borrow one of your grandfather's precious collection." He smiled crookedly and then threw his gaze to the clock on the wall.

"Which album do you want to borrow first, Mr. Kagamine?" Rin followed his tall figure walking to his desk, watching him grabbing the box of his banana bread.

He dragged a chair towards her table and then sat down in front of her, putting down his cup of coffee and the box of banana bread. Rin raised her eyebrows at that, but she waited patiently for him to answer. "I would love to borrow their 'Coffee Shortcake' album." He told her.

Rin nodded, "Alright, I'll bring it to you tomorrow, Mr. Kagamine." She gave him a small smile, suddenly feeling nervous because of the distance between them. Rin worked without facing him, but now he was sitting in front of her and that was making her throat felt dry. She could feel the camellia petals were trying to force its way through her throat.

"Er, Mr. Kagamine? I am sorry for asking but..." Rin trailed off as she stared at the box of the banana bread she just brought to him was sitting on the middle spot of the table.

She watched him took one of the banana bread and motioned her to also take it, "I noticed it is time for a little snack. You worked hard today, Miss Tsubaki." He gently pushed the box towards her.

And Rin couldn't help it, her hands immediately flew to her mouth as she coughed out the petals in her throat. She was glad there were no petals escaped from her trembling hands. She shoved the petals in her pocket without Kagamine Len realizing it because the man was staring at her with a little bit of concern on his face.

"Are you alright?" The blonde man furrowed his eyebrows at her, completely unaware of the camellia smell filled the room abruptly.

Rin quickly nodded. She didn't want him to ask any more further so she took the already cut banana bread inside the box and hummed pleasantly when she bit into it, as if it was the most delicious food she had ever ate in her life.

"Do you like it, Mr. Kagamine? Our bakery is quite famous in the town." That what came out from her mouth in the middle of her panicking state. Rin wanted to slap her own face for being so dumb in front of the person she liked.

Kagamine Len brushed off the crumbs on his pants, "It's very delicious. I've tried to buy a banana bread from different bakery but this one is perfect." He munched the last piece of the fluffy bread before taking another slice from the box.

"Does that mean you'll give us five stars?" That dumb question slipped out from her mouth as she was trying to swallow the banana bread that felt dry in her throat. She was still nervous, one of the reason why she was being so dumb right now.

The man, gladly, responded with his melodious laugh, "Of course, Miss Tsubaki. I would one hundred percent rate your bakery with five stars. Not only the goods, but the coffee tastes good also." He took a sip of his mocha as an emphasis to his statement.

Rin set her eyes downcast, trying to hide the growing smile on her lips. He was just praising the place where she worked, but Rin felt so happy- and that was kind of weird. "I am glad to know about that, Mr. Kagamine."

It felt magical. Rin knew the time between them was temporary, but she appreciated it because it was one of the most precious thing in her life. Just the two of them, enjoying their 'snack time'--as Kagamine Len had said-- with banana bread and their cups of coffee.

---

The next morning, Rin found herself and Miku were sitting at the cafeteria together. No one dared to talk, they were sneaking glances towards each other, lips pursed into a thin line and mind was wandering to the day when they had their argument before. The topic was always the same, and both of them couldn't understand why it would always spark the anger between themselves.

"I am sorry for screaming at you that time." Miku was the first one who broke the ice and tense atmosphere between them. She stared at Rin with a sincere apologetic eyes.

Rin didn't answer right away, she was staring blankly at the large windows beside them. "I am sorry too. I know you're worried about me, but... it's just hard, you know. Taking a surgery means I am going to lose my feeling, and I still don't know if I want that to happen." She exhaled a deep breath before finally landing her gaze on Miku.

Miku gave her a tiny nod, "I understand. I am sorry for always forcing you. I have no right to do it because I've never been in your position." She said with a low voice, sounding so distant.

"Let's just forget it, alright?" Rin formed a tiny smile towards Miku who immediately responded with a nod and the same tiny smile.

Somehow, Rin felt the burden on her shoulders was lighter but also heavier at the same time.

---

Rin knocked on the door gently before opening it and entering the room with tiny steps. Like usual, Kagamine Len was sitting in front of his laptop, typing some work he hadn't finished yet. The man immediately looked up as soon as he heard her coming in, he gave her a puzzled look.

"Er, I brought the album you wanted, Mr. Kagamine." Rin fumbled with her sling bag to take out the album she had shoved into it this morning.

"Ah, yes. Once again thank you very much for letting me borrow it, Miss Tsubaki." He took off his glasses and stood up from his seat, watching her still fumbling with her bag to find the damn album. She didn't know why her hands were trembling.

Rin let out a nervous laugh, she still hoped Kagamine Len didn't realize how nervous she was while standing in front of him. "Ah, finally find it. Here you go, Mr Kagamine." She stretched out her hands which were holding the aesthetic looking album. 

The blonde man accepted it with a huge smile, completely missing the way Rin's body flinched a little when their hands brushed together. "I can't wait to listen to the tracks." 

He then walked to his desk, pressing the small button on the right side of his laptop. A few seconds later, a disk tray came out. Kagamine Len opened the album and showed it to her with a crooked smile on his lips.

"You don't mind working while listening to Cafe In The Night, right?"

Tsubaki Rin didn't speak up, but she gave him a wide smile and a simple nod.

---

[not revised]

the band's name 'cafe in the night' was actually inspired by one of vincent van gogh's painting 'cafe terrace at night', it just appeared in my mind, lol. i fell in love with the painting and i am thinking about making a romance story based on it, but, let's just see if i can do it, :')

also, i apologize for the slow update. i was busy spending my time with my family so i kinda forgot to write. :')

ALSO, i apologize for the short and not interesting chapter. i just want to give you guys an update because some of you maybe have been waiting for so long.. :')

anyway, don't forget to leave a comment and vote! i appreciate your support so much! 

- mochi.