A/N: I have used the Japanese goddess Amaterasu Omikami (also known as Ōhirume-no-muchi-no-kami) as my female lead's character name. She is the sun goddess, the most important deity of the Shinto religion and ruler of Takama no Hara (the High Celestial Plain), the domain of the kami or spirits.
The bell hanging by the door of the coffee shop rung and Haru instinctively looked up to see the person coming in and then continued reading the book. Every morning, at exactly, 30 minutes past six, he would go to this coffee shop. After ordering his usual black coffee, he would sit at the corner and read a book and would leave at exactly 15 minutes past seven. Today, Haru brought a suspense book. He looked like he was engrossed on the book but he was actually observing the woman who just came in.
Today, she wore a red dress with flower patterns on them. It flowed gracefully down to her ankles as she sashayed towards the counter. The clicking of her heels added rhythm to the soft classical music that played onward without pause. The sunlight that streaked through the window glass highlighted her porcelain skin and made a faint glow on her auburn hair. It was tied in a high ponytail today. When she reached the counter, she smiled at the barista.
When Haru caught himself unconsciously mimicking her smile, he coughed out a little and immediately took a sip of his coffee. Fortunately, he was eyeing her from behind his book so no one was able to see him.
“Good morning, Miss Ohirume,” greeted the barista. “The usual?”
Every morning, at exactly seven, Ohirume would come and sit at the table that’s near the window at the corner of the shop after ordering her usual cappuccino. Today, she was occupied typing on her laptop.
There were a few people in the shop, mostly students like Haru, since this was located just beside their university. Most of the time, students who came here are in groups that would work on their thesis or have a group study.
He was not the one to believe in love at first sight but their first encounter was something that he could not forget that’s why he looked forward to coming here every day.
He remembered that it was raining heavily that day. The morning was cold and wet with a brisk wind sweeping the rain across the land. The sky was grey. Well, everything was some form of grey for Haru. It always has been on days like this ever since that fateful night.
It was already past six when the rain has slowed down. He pulled the black hood over his dishevelled hair as he saunter in the soft rain, small pellets of water spitting on his coat. The university dormitory where he was currently staying is near the school gate so he would always just take a walk when going to his usual coffee shop.
The coffee shop was empty when he arrived. He looked down on his wristwatch and saw that it was already seven o’clock. Maybe it was because of the heavy rain that the shop was empty. It’s good though, he thought. He did not want to face people not until he had his coffee especially in this gloomy weather.
He opened the shop’s door and was about to enter inside when a red head sprang pass him, stepping on his right toe. He heard a soft “sorry” as he looked down on his now mudded shoe. His eyebrows were furrowed in a frown as he watched the small dainty figure scurry over the counter. She was wearing a sundress with sunflower patterns on them. Her long wavy auburn hair was tousled and was dripping wet, dampening the back portion of her dress as if she had just come out from a bath.
Haru just shook his head and heaved a deep sigh and then strode towards the counter.
“The usual please, Kenta. Thanks.” The girl said as she rummaged through her handbag. She took out a handkerchief and dried her long drenched hair. Every day he was at this coffee shop and yet he has never seen her before. She might be a regular because she knew Kenta, the barista.
“Alright. One cappuccino and what cake would you like to have today, Miss Ohirume?” Kenta asked.
“Let me check,” Ohirume said as she examined the cakes being displayed on the counter.
Kenta smiled at Haru. “Good morning, sir. You’re unusually late today.”
“It’s the rain.” He casually replied. Even though he has been coming into this coffee shop for 3 years now, he is still reluctant to mingle with other people. “Black coffee please.”
Kenta smiled. “Sure, one moment.”
Haru waited for Kenta to work on his order as he watched Ohirume who was still looking at the cakes, maybe considering on what she would order. Suddenly, he smelled something. There was the aroma coming from the brewed coffee but there was also an unpleasant smell resembling that of a sewage pit mixed in the air. It would sometimes rain but he knew that it wouldn’t have flooded the drainage in the streets.
His nose was wrinkled when Ohirume shot him a sharp glance making him jolt. She must have caught him staring at her for a while now. Of course, she would find him rude. He didn’t mean to stare at her but it was just that he found it hard to resist not staring at her pretty face.
I better apologize. “I’m so—”
“No, it wasn’t me!” she exclaimed. She was looking at him like she was insulted and he looked at her in bewilderment. He stared at her blankly, thinking about what made her say that because he was sure he hasn’t said anything to her.
And then Haru realized what she meant.
Whoever said "Women don't fart" didn't know what the hell they were talking about. It smelt like something had crawled up her backside and died.
As the stink grew she continued to deny her flatulence but it was evident. She was cute and amusing and Haru couldn’t help but smile so he covered his face with the hood to hide it. But it seems this angered Ohirume even more. She was now scowling at him like provoked angry cat.
“Here’s your cappuccino, Miss Ohirume,” Kenta interrupted.
“Thanks.” Ohirume said nonchalantly and grabbed her cup of cappuccino. “I will be taking this out for today.” She then proceeded to storm off in an angry manner.
Haru could only watch her while she stomped towards door. As she opened it, she paused and flashed him a scornful look.
A smile was etched into his lips as he looked at her. He never understood what the term “sundress” meant until he saw her in one. The sunlight reflected her dress, giving life to the sunflower patterns and made her ivory skin glow. Haru didn’t know why he suddenly remembered the Shinto goddess but he thought that if she was one, she would definitely be a solar deity.
Ohirume… The sun goddess Ōhirume-no-muchi-no-kami.
Only then did he realize that the rain has ceased.
Even though she was a terrible liar and farted like a skunk, he found her beautiful. And for the first time in a long time, the sky was no longer grey.
Link to the wattpad story: https://www.wattpad.com/story/136288704-my-sunshine
