cold brew (MihaRinka/LionSnake)

"Good morning, Rinka."

"Oh, you're early today, Miharu."

And Rinka was barely opening the shop, so she wanted to add. Then again, anyone is welcome to be in the Lion House Cafe, be it as early as the door just opened or as late as the 'close' board has been flipped.

An early morning visit is a perfect time for them to meet up and talk, after all.

Nowadays after they have started dating, Miharu will come early to the Lion House Cafe simply to greet Rinka before working her shift in the weekend. Rinka could  always pay a visit to Miharu later in the afternoon as an exchange, but both of them respected their own space while working - though, it will different if Mao happened to drag Rinka to the cafe where Miharu worked out of the blue.

Rinka would serve Miharu a cup of coffee in the house when the blonde is coming. At first, Miharu will likely decline, saying that she'd pay, but Rinka insisted that it is how she shows her hospitality (no, Rinka didn't outright say 'love', Miharu will likely faint - and so she is) to her friends, and now to Miharu especially. Rinka would have a new idea of coffee in mind everyday, thinking of Miharu who'll enjoy every cup she's making.

"Do you want a specific type of coffee today, Miharu?"

Since it is hot out in the summer, Rinka happened to recommend iced coffee latte to Miharu occassionaly. Miharu could take the coffee black and she didn't mind of any addition like milk or syrup. Well, she would add teasingly 'I love anything that you make', in which Rinka will blush.

Miharu would take a stool on the front bar, facing where Rinka usually placed her flask and grinder. Rinka excused herself to tidy up the chairs first before processing with anything that Miharu will order.

"I don't have anything in mind in particular. You can make me anything." Miharu flashed a smile. "After all, I love-"

"Y-Yeah, I know, I know." Rinka's face flamed red.

Speaking of new coffee idea, she got something in the fridge that's been sitting overnight. Rinka turned to seek the jar filled with blackness of Guatemala coffee and placed it on the table. Miharu got her interest piqued, it seems, judging by how she straightened up.

"Oh? Is it some new kinds of coffee brew?" Miharu asked and Rinka glad that she noticed.

"Yup. This is the first Cold Brew that I made."

Rinka got a brief explanation of Cold Brew as she prepped the glass for Miharu.

Cold Brew is a method of brewing coffee using cold water. The fine coarse-grinded coffee is mixed with cold water and let to be rest overnight. The coarseness of coffee is important, since if it is still crude, the coffee will taste too bitter. When straining the coffee, make sure that it is slow and gentle, so the bitterness won't linger in the resulting drip.

Cold Brew is a nice method to have coffee with lower acidity. It will take patience and preserverance, but it is a fun approach to try.

Rinka was afraid that the coffee might be too bitter to Miharu's taste, but she swallowed the thought and served the coffee on the rocks in front of the waiting Miharu. The blonde always listening to Rinka intently, it makes Rinka secretly happy all the same.

"Would you like a bit of sweet cream? It will look good." Rinka offered.

"Sure."

Rinka produced a small cup and poured a right amount of cream in. The barista then rained the iced coffee with the sprinkle of cream, letting the white liquid run inside the darkness of the coffee, spiraling down with the gravity to the base creating trails of white strings on black.

"It's beautiful."

"Mhm." Rinka was proud that it turned alright.

"Just like you, Rinka."

Wait. Why she can always slip a comeback to make her feel embarrassed, Rinka shot up a glare to the laughing Miharu.

"C-Come on. Get your drink now or you'll be late to work!"

"Oh, kicking me out now?" Miharu feigned hurt, though still smiling.

"I'm not, jeez. Miharu, stop it!"

"Okay, okay."