Beck Coffee Shop was probably the closest coffee shop to Shibuya Station, aside from the one directly connected to the station.
Students from Sophia University nearby could often be seen studying or dating here on weekends.
Current popular songs played inside the shop, and the decor was young and trendy, the exact opposite of the business philosophy at the Ochazuke cafe Dubian Che had visited last time.
After ordering an iced latte on the first floor, Dubian Che went upstairs to find a seat.
From the counter seats by the window on the second floor, one could enjoy a great view, like the brightly lit high-rises of Shinjuku District in the distance.
Because of this, Dubian Che was a bit less resentful about being forcefully asked to meet.
While sipping his coffee, he flipped through the last few pages of "Don Quixote" to pass time.
He wasn’t interested in the chūnibyō knight dreams of Don Quixote; he only insisted on continuing to read it to make his Spanish language studies a bit less boring.
As for enriching his cultural background, he wasn’t deliberately pursuing that.
He re-read the previous pages to ensure the previously difficult vocabulary was now familiar, then read another two pages before Hanaoka Asako, who was carrying her backpack, finally came upstairs with her coffee.
"Sorry, I’m late," Hanaoka Asako sat down at the counter seat by the window as well.
"It’s fine, it’s evening anyway," Dubian Che said as he watched her put her backpack at her feet, humming a tune and stirring the fresh cream on her coffee eagerly.
"Why would you say that?" Hanaoka Asako asked, puzzled.
"If it were daytime, I’d be sitting here alone and people would hit on me so much I’d want to go straight home."
Hanaoka Asako smiled sweetly, "Mr. Dubian, you really like to joke."
"No, I’m not... never mind, let’s say it was a joke. So, what did you want to see me about?"
Hanaoka Asako, after responding, put her spoon down and held her coffee in both hands as if warming them, sipping delicately and letting out a sigh of "so delicious."
"Hmm?" Hanaoka Asako, tilting her head, looked at Dubian Che, who continued staring at her, and then she realized.
"I ordered an Italian fancy mocha, made with 1/3 espresso and 2/3 hot milk, and added chocolate. I don’t like dark chocolate, so I used milk chocolate..."
"Italian and chocolate, whatever," Dubian Che sighed with resignation, "What I want to know is, what did you ask me here for, senior?"
"Ah, sorry, Mr. Dubian, you were talking about that."
What else could I be talking about?
"Although I’m a member of the Human Observation Department, so far, there’s no project about ’investigating what types of coffee young human females like.’"
"I see," Hanaoka Asako said, putting down her coffee, gripping her skirt at the knees, and staring at whatever Italian coffee.
Dubian Che stirred the ice in his own coffee cup, quietly waiting for her to organize her thoughts.
"Actually," Hanaoka Asako summoned courage, "I really dislike Mr. Dubian."
"...Ah, I see, what next?"
"Sorry, please wait a moment," Hanaoka Asako picked up her coffee and took a sip, visibly calming her nerves.
She continued, "Mr. Dubian, what do you think love is?"
"Please answer me!" Hanaoka Asako clasped her skirt tightly, her eyes like black grapes, fixed on Dubian Che without blinking.
"There’s no need to shout, calm down!"
"I will answer you. But I need some time to think when you ask me out of the blue."
"Then please, Mr. Dubian, take your time to think."
Dubian Che took a sip of his latte, feigning deep thought.
How could he possibly come up with an answer to such a question all of a sudden?
Besides, rather than what love is, he was more curious about what Hanaoka Asako really wanted.
"Have you thought of something, Mr. Dubian?" Hanaoka Asako was like a private tutor hounding a student for answers.
"Like coffee," Dubian Che blurted out randomly.
"Yes." Dubian Che held his coffee cup level, looking at the ’Beck’ logo on it, "There’s a song lyric that says: ’The taste of love, just cup of bitter coffee, although sugar can be added, still leaves people weary.’"
"Is there such a song?"
"It’s a Chinese song."
There is a song, but the original lyric goes: The taste of longing, just cup of bitter coffee.
"So, Mr. Dubian, you think that, even if love has its sweet moments, its essence is still bitterness."
"Is that so? Well, let’s leave it at that," Dubian Che felt this explanation unexpectedly made sense.
Had he read too many "How to Please a Rich Old Lady" kind of books, and now become an expert capable of hosting a late-night advice show on relationships?
"But," Hanaoka Asako said angrily, "even if love is bitter, passion fades, and intense romance can’t last forever, you shouldn’t do something that betrays the other person!"
Near midnight, there were still four other customers in the shop, all watching them.
Dubian Che, hands outstretched, "Calm down, senior. Did your boyfriend cheat on you?"
"It’s you, Mr. Dubian! You did something to betray Jiutiao!"
"You definitely did!" Hanaoka Asako shouted like a little schoolgirl wronged by an adult.
"Don’t think just because you’re my senior, you can talk nonsense. I’m an honest countryman and I hate people who talk nonsense!"
"Why do you walk Kiyono home every night?"
"Her health is poor; I’m worried about her safety walking alone at night," Dubian
Che explained in a lecturing tone, "Hanaoka Asako, senior, you always suspect others of being unfaithful because you’re too suspicious. Although I don’t understand much about romance, I do know that the most important thing between two people is trust."