daybreakacademy | Cafe Phantom Open for Business

In the intervening months between the end of Fall quarter and the beginning of Winter quarter, Ren had been busy, finding like-minded students and filling out the club applications for the new quarter. Upon acceptance, he spent the better part of the break (sans the time he and Minako spent in Japan for New Year) directing furniture deliveries from Soleil into an old basement classroom that was formerly a Home Ec room. With the new school term, there was now a new place on campus for students to hang out and get refreshments.

Cafe Phantom, as the dark blue and purple signage denoted, was decorated in cool colors with plush, cushioned chairs and couches all over with small tables, as well as a bar and some stools in the corner where the kitchen stood. Serving pastries and coffee, the Cafe was entirely student run, with any proceeds going to cafe improvements and student wages. With the generous club budget from the school as well as free reign over old and unused fixtures, it was plenty of seed money to get it up and running. With baristas in purple aprons flitting about, the Cafe was staffed according to student schedules, typically open early in the morning, during the lunch rush, and then during the evening and well into the night. The menu was simple at first, but would start expanding as suggestions came in and worker skill improved.

If you're looking for a bit of pep before your morning classes or a place to hang out in the evening, Cafe Phantom is for you. And if you're trying to earn some extra cash, Cafe Phantom is definitely for you, with all that extra cash coming in from the club budget once the cafe is fully operational what else is he gonna do but throw it into wages?

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Once Cafe Phantom was about ready to open its doors, Gunvolt arrived there, looking curiously at the signs, the menu, and the setup. Honestly, seemed like a nice place Ren had managed to set up down here. He was happy to see Ren's project finally bear fruit, from the first time he did a pop-up cafe.

Once he made his way inside, he took a look around for Ren, and then approached when he found him, though he'd wait until he had a moment before speaking.

"Hey, Ren. Congrats on getting this all together. The place looks great. Love the decor."

Red and black might've been a bit on the nose, but dark blue and purple was a good side pick. Classy, and fittingly phantasmal.

"Thanks, it's been a long time coming."

Ren smiles with some genuine pride at the praise. "You wouldn't BELIEVE how much money this school just hands clubs."

A fellow Ren wanders over to the Cafe and smiles a bit, seeing all of the progress made since his idle comment about "maybe you should just sell coffee?" He is in sore need of something good to keep him going. Being the Secretary is way more work than he thought, but it's quite invigorating at the same time.

"I hear this is the place to come for caffeinated beverages."

Ren smiles at the other Ren as he wanders in.

"You heard right. What'll you have?"

"Can I have a mocha today? With some peppermint thrown in?"

Not only had this school instilled a love of caffeinated beverages, but also relaxing his language so it wasn't strictly formal 100 percent of the time. Perhaps it might also have been that he'd known other Ren for quite a while and felt more inclined to have any small talk at all.

"Sure, coming right up."

Ren starts putting the drink together, bustling around the kitchen.

"And a bit of peppermint, anything else you want to add?"

"No...I think that's it. Unless you know of something that would make it taste even better?"

He might be learning to enjoy coffee drinks but he's still got a ways to go to even comprehend the ridiculous things you can do to coffee.

"I might be able to do a few things to it, but it's always best for the customer to tell me what suits their taste. There's nothing wrong with a simple drink either, it's all in what you like."

"Then...I think I'd just like it with the peppermint."

Ren stands aside politely, letting the coffee master do his thing. "I have to admit, you certainly have an eye for decor."

One of the benefits of dating the owner was that Minako got a sneak peek of what was to come. The vibe Ren went with was unmistakable, and while there were no attendants or a certain long-nosed proprietor, she couldn't help but wonder if they might find a mysteriously lit doorway in the back one day.

The grand opening was still a few days away, and there was still much to be done. Carrying a large box in her arms, Minako carefully makes her way through the door before craning her neck to see inside. "Helloooo? Anybody here?"

Maybe he was taking a break? Doubtful, but stranger things have happened.

Ren finishes the drink, spreading the last of the peppermint with a flourish before sliding it over.

"Thanks. I definitely spent a lot of time online looking things up before I decided on a look."

"I'm in back!"

The voice is a bit faint, but the direction is fairly unmistakable - somewhere in the vicinity of the kitchen.

Of course he's still here. Her expression brightening, she shifts the weight in her arms before making her way to the back of the cafe. Stopping in the doorway, she pokes her head out from over the top of the box.

"Special delivery! Where would you like me to put it, Boss?"

And when can they open it? She's curious about what could be inside.

"I'm beginning to imagine, just... based on all of this. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, considering everything else they provide on a regular basis."

Very few times had he stopped to sincerely think about just how much Daybreak must cost to operate, let alone... everything else that they did. Hell, the school was probably wealthier than several nations. A bit of a strange thing to think about, but... it made sense, given the nature of what everyone here has to do.

"How many people you got working here, anyway?"

Other Ren takes a drink and it's absolutely perfect as it is. He gives a little grateful sigh.

"If I wasn't so busy now, I would probably work here. But...is there anything you think you need from Student Council that you haven't already received for your cafe?"

Ren is quick to deflect this line of thinking.

"Oh, I couldn't ask anything else, you've all been very supportive already. I'm still working on a banana blend for the President, in fact."

"Delivery?"

Ren stands from the small desk and stretches as he puts aside what appears to be some sort of schedule.

Setting the box down nearby, Minako rolls her shoulders a bit. "Yeah, somebody from the mail room flagged me down. Said your order came in and told me to bring it over." Don't they normally have couriers to take care of that? Ah well.

Her gaze shifts from him to the papers on the desk. "Whatcha working on?"

Ren ponders for a moment.

"I think twelve or so? It's a pretty decent crew but not enough to keep us running at all hours."

Ren stands to the side a bit so she can see.

"The starting schedule. I'm trying to see what hours we can be open with the crew we have, since I want to catch good timeslots."

Moving to get a better look, Minako scans the schedule before humming contemplatively. "I already see something wrong with it."

"I suppose getting him his favorite drink would be a good thing."

Especially considering what he's going through right now. Having a decent drink might brighten up his day a tiny bit.

Ren gives a nod and takes his drink.

"Well, you've given me more energy for the day, so, thank you. I guarantee I'll be back another time."

Ren bows in the customary fashion of Japanese sales people.

"We appreciate your patronage and look forward to your next visit."

"Really?"

He looks it over again, trying to spot what she's seeing.

"Mm-hm, like right here."

Reaching over, Minako points at a shift with his name written next to it. "And here." She points at another. "And here too." Unsurprisingly, that one has his name on it as well.

Cafe Phantom Open for Business

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