Before the Coffee Gets Cold

The café opened in 1874. Although it has undergone a few modernizations, such as electricity in place of oil lamps, the interior looks fundamentally unchanged. There is no air conditioning, but the café remains mysteriously cool even at the height of summer, for reasons known only to the staff.

It is now summer, and a young woman, Kumi Hirai, is busy writing a letter. She is café regular Hirai’s younger sister. Kei stands behind Kumi, her eyes sparkling with curiosity about the contents of the letter. The ghost woman is sitting in her regular place, and Fusagi is there with his magazine at the table. Kumi wants Kei to pass on her letter to Hirai and tell her that their parents are no longer angry with her.

After Kumi leaves, Hirai emerges from hiding and confesses that her parents disowned her. Hirai says that Kumi resents her because the family inn was passed down to her after Hirai was disinherited. Kumi has repeatedly asked Hirai to come home. As Hirai leaves the café, she refuses to accept the letter.

Kazu, who comes in with the shopping, notices that Fusagi appears to be staring at her. Fusagi, who visits the café two or three times a week, asks if she is a new waitress, and Kazu begins to question him with a deadpan expression.