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“Takahashi!” Senku called, placing a lid on the steaming cup in front of him and setting it on the counter.
The man shot him a smile as he grabbed his cup and headed out of the shop. A couple sitting near the window left right behind him, and Chrome swooped in to clean the table. Chrome beamed as he looked out the window and dropped the rag. Kohaku entered the shop, and Chrome greeted her with a hug. Senku raised his eyebrows, but he didn’t say a word.
All of his employees actually got along, so he wouldn’t dare complain.
He checked his watch as Kohaku walked around the counter and headed to the kitchen.
“The delivery truck won’t be here for another half hour.”
“I know. I wanted to make sure I saw Chrome before his shift ended.”
Taiju emerged from the kitchen and held the door open for Kohaku, smiling and raising a hand in the air.
“Ready for delivery day?”
Kohaku returned the high-five before ducking in briefly to grab a fresh matcha brownie before Yuzuriha came out with a steaming tray. Senku helped her fill the pastry case.
“It’s too bad Gen’s not here,” Chrome said as he joined them. “We’d actually have the whole crew. I’ve only worked with him once since he started.”
Taiju crossed his arms and leaned back against the counter.
“I don’t think we’ve had everyone here since the staff meeting a couple weeks ago.”
Yuzuriha straightened up and clutched the tray to her chest.
“Is everyone free Saturday? I can ask Gen when he gets here, and we could all do something together!”
“Great idea, Yuzuriha!”
Senku stepped up to the register when another customer approached.
That doesn’t sound like the worst idea in the world. The better everyone gets along, the better we’ll work together. Team building can only improve workplace morale, right?
He took the order as the chatter behind him grew even louder, and a glance over his shoulder let him see his staff being the most excited and they’d been since he opened Newt’s.
Yuzuriha might really be on to something.
*break*
“This is the worst idea you two have ever had.”
Senku leaned back in his seat and glared at Taiju and Yuzuriha sitting across from him. Gen plopped down next to him and slung an arm around his shoulders.
“Come on, Senku! Don’t be so negative! You haven’t left the shop in over a week. Some fresh air will be good for you!”
The train lurched as it rolled out of the station. Taiju smiled despite Senku’s glaring.
“Gen’s right! Last Saturday, you spent the whole day in your lab. You need to get out!”
“Chrome was there, too!”
“We know Chrome at least gets some sunlight when he walks to his classes. You literally haven’t left the shop or apartment.”
Senku shrugged off Gen’s arm and opened his mouth to protest, but Kohaku leaned into the space between him and Taiju as she held on to the rail.
“The sunlight coming through your window in the morning doesn’t count, so don’t bother arguing.” She straightened up and tilted her head. “Do you have something against hiking?”
“Do these legs look like they’re made for hiking?”
Kohaku snorted, and even Yuzuriha laughed. Chrome tried his best not to.
“It’ll be fine,” he said, covering his mouth when he started to laugh again. “We’ll get there, and you’ll feel like you’re on a whole different planet.”
“Not likely.”
Gen stretched his arms and clasped his hands behind his head.
“Who knows? You might even feel more inspired after our little adventure.”
Senku huffed and crossed his arms, settling his glare back on Taiju and Yuzuriha.
“A Mario Kart tournament with the windows open would’ve had the same results.”
“It’s not the same, Senku!”
Senku settled back in his seat and let the chatter around him lull him to sleep.
But all too soon, Gen was shaking his shoulder.
“We’re here!”
Fighting the urge to make another complaint, Senku stood and followed Taiju and Yuzuriha off the train. Gen, Chrome, and Kohaku were right behind him. Once they exited the station, Yuzuriha pointed to the bus in front them.
“We need to hurry! We’ll have to wait an hour for the next one!”
The group rushed onto the bus but were surprised to find it almost empty. A few girls were camped out in the back, lacing up their hiking boots. The driver looked at them in the rearview mirror and chuckled.
“I’m surprised you all thought it was a good idea to go hiking. It’s clear, but I’m afraid the wind won’t be kind to you all today.”
“Great,” Senku mumbled as he plopped down in the seat.
Kohaku sat next to him while Gen and Chrome took the seats behind them. Taiju and Yuzuriha sat in front of them, and Yuzuriha settled her head on Taiju’s shoulder as the doors closed. Kohaku stared out the window as the bus took off down the road. The corners of her lips slowly quirked up into a smile.
“I can’t believe I’ve lived in Tokyo my whole life and I’ve never been to Mount Jinba or Mount Takao,” she said, tilting her head as the bus drove around a corner. “I never realized they were so close.”
“From what you’ve told me, even if you knew, you wouldn’t exactly have had the time to come out here.”
Kohaku looked at Senku, her smile faltering for a moment. Her eyebrows furrowed.
“I guess you’re right.”
Chrome launched himself over the back of their seats.
“I haven’t hiked this trail since high school, but I remember there are incredible views of Mount Fuji during the hike! Maybe one day the six of us could hike that—”
“Don’t get too ahead of yourself, Chrome!” Gen’s head now appeared over the back of Senku and Kohaku’s seat. “No need to give Senku a heart attack before we even start.”
Senku mumbled a curt “thanks” under his breath as he slouched down further.
The rest of the bus ride was filled with chatter and the redistribution of water and snacks in the backpacks Taiju, Kohaku, and Chrome brought, and no one said a word if Senku snuck a handful of the trail mix before the bus rolled to a stop. Taiju stood and hoisted one backpack over his shoulder, while Kohaku and Chrome followed suit. The three practically ran off the bus.
“Guess we better catch up,” Yuzuriha giggled as she slid out of her seat.
Senku sighed and stood with Gen right behind him. They stepped off the bus and Taiju was practically bouncing now that they were on a walking path.
“Think those three will leave us for dead on the trail if we’re slow enough?”
Gen patted Senku’s back.
“Not a chance.”
“Okay, everyone!” Taiju clapped, getting everyone’s attention. “We have to walk down this path to get to the trailhead. We should be there in about thirty minutes.”
“Having to hike to even start the hike should be illegal.”
“No more of your negativity, Senku!”
For all of Senku’s complaining, the path was relatively flat, and listening to Chrome and Taiju recount their previous hikes on this trail made the time fly. They finally made it to the trailhead, and Senku gawked at the map.
“There’s eight hundred meters of elevation gain! And this is over fifteen kilometers to the end point at Mount Takao!”
Taiju pumped a fist in the air.
“Think of it as fifteen kilometers of deeper friendships, Senku!”
“That doesn’t make any sense, you big oaf! How are we supposed to make it all the way….” Senku trailed off when Taiju reached into his backpack and pulled out a thermos. He handed it to Senku, who opened the lid and took a sip. “You made me a nitro cold brew?”
“With three shots of espresso.”
Senku took another sip.
“Okay, I might be able to make it.”
“Then we better get going!” Kohaku announced, pulling out her phone and taking a picture of the map. “Surely the trip back down will be much faster than the trip up!”
Taiju led the way as the group started along the path.
*break*
Senku’s legs burned when they turned and continued up another switchback.
“At least Taiju said this is the worst climb we’ll have and we’re getting it over with at the start!” Kohaku said, shifting the backpack she was carrying even higher on her shoulders.
“Easy for you to say. You’re not even breaking a sweat yet and you’re carrying one of the backpacks.”
“Working out every day helps with that.”
Gen glanced at them both over his shoulder, having given up on keeping Taiju and Yuzuriha’s pace.
“I still don’t understand how you lift weights, stand on your feet all day at the shop, and help unload the delivery trucks twice a week.”
“It just became a habit when I worked at TMI associates. I needed to blow off steam to not strangle some of our more frustrating clients.” She smiled at Gen. “It still keeps the murderous urges away.”
Gen came to a stop next to Senku while Kohaku kept walking uphill.
“She’s kidding, right?”
Senku shrugged and kept going. Taiju’s head popped over the switchback just above them, and he waved.
“I can see the top of Mount Jinba! We can stop for a quick snack! Can you believe we’re almost two kilometers in already?”
Senku gave Taiju a thumbs up, and Taiju disappeared. Senku took another long drink from his thermos.
“There’s not enough caffeine in this.”
Gen laughed as they turned another corner, and they both couldn’t help but be relieved when they could see the summit. Taiju and Yuzuriha ran straight for it, and Chrome and Kohaku weren’t far behind. By the time Gen and Senku got there, Chrome had already laid out their snacks on some rocks. Kohaku pulled out her phone and zoomed in on the trail map. She looked across the summit and pointed to the trail leading down the other side of the mountain.
“So, we’ll follow that path to hike to the summit of Mount Takao, right?”
Taiju nodded, grabbing one of the bags of trail mix from the rocks.
“We’ll have to hike up and down a couple more peaks, but there are food stalls and places to rest along the way. Once we get to Mount Takao, it’s all downhill from there.”
Senku couldn’t help but be relieved
“It’s windy today, so we’ll probably want to take the trail down to Yakuo-in Temple.”
“I agree,” Chrome said, popping more trail mix into his mouth. “The suspension bridge is neat but there’s not as much cover to block the wind. Besides, the trail down to the temple to the gardens is easier.”
Senku plopped down next to Taiju.
“Please tell me the worst of the hike is over.”
“You can relax, Senku!”
That’s all Senku needed to sprawl out completely on his back. Kohaku smiled down at him as she tucked her phone back into her pocket.
“Once we’ve rested up a bit, we need to take a group picture with that horse statue.”
Senku followed her gaze to the white horse statue further down their path. Chrome perked up.
“Great idea, Kohaku! We can put it on the billboard in the shop!”
Before Senku could offer a protest, he looked further past the horse statue. Sure enough, like Chrome said on the bus, he could see the snow-covered peak of Mount Fuji in the distance. He pushed himself back up on his feet and wandered across the summit, ignoring the strong winds whipping around him.
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a view of Mount Fuji quite like this.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
Yuzuriha appeared beside him. Senku smirked and crossed his arms.
“It’s not bad.”
Taiju slung an arm around his shoulders.
“I told you this would be worth it!”
Taiju took out his phone turned Senku around. Yuzuriha crouched down in front of them.
And if Senku actually smiled in this selfie, neither of them would mention it.
*break*
“Can I ask you a question?” Chrome asked between huffing breaths.
Senku didn’t look at him. He stayed focused on Yuzuriha in front of him. Taiju assured him this was the last peak they’d have to climb, but the wind was making it unbearable. Hell, he could barely hear Chrome over the roaring in his ears.
“Sure.”
“You said you majored in both business and chemistry, and your dad is a chemistry professor at the university. I guess I’m surprised you didn’t take the academic route. What made you want to open a coffee shop?”
Gen looked back over his shoulder at them, clearly curious, but quickly turned around. Yuzuriha laughed.
“We used to joke that Senku would be a rocket scientist one day. He always scored at the top of our class, but anyone who really knew him wouldn’t be surprised he opened Newt’s.”
Chrome’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Technological advancement isn’t the only way to improve the world around us,” Senku started, letting himself focus on something to distract him from the burning in his legs. “I wanted to create a space that allowed community. That allowed people to share all kinds of ideas, not just promote scientific advancement. I wanted to see people writing, creating art, or studying for whatever degree they’re excited about. If I get to create this environment and use the knowledge from my food chemistry classes at the same time, then I consider that a win for everyone.”
Chrome stopped and stared at Senku as he continued up the incline. Yuzuriha let Senku pass.
“Is everything okay, Chrome?”
Chrome watched Senku follow Gen, Kohaku, and Taiju. He smiled.
“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m…just really happy to work with you all.”
Yuzuriha smiled back at him, and they followed the others up the path.
*break*
“Chrome, with all due respect, what the hell did you mean that going downhill would be easier?” Senku’s legs were shaking at this point, and it took all of the self-control he had to not let his legs collapse completely and fall down the rest of the stairs leading down from Yakuo-in Temple. “We could’ve taken the cable cars down from the top of Mount Takao!”
“Taking the cable cars doesn’t build character!” Taiju yelled.
He fought the urge to strangle his best friend and instead focused on staying upright as he descended the last few steps. Gen, who wasn’t faring much better than him, had the audacity to smile at him.
“You have to admit the views were absolutely worth the hike, though.”
“I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”
*break*
Senku practically crawled up the steps back onto the bus and collapsed in a seat. Much to his surprise, Taiju sat next to him. Yuzuriha and Kohaku took the seats across the aisle and showed each other the infinite number of pictures they’d captured on their phones.
“We should share an album that we can all upload our photos to!” Yuzuriha said.
Kohaku nodded.
“You do that. I’ll order take out for us. It should be ready by the time we get back to the shop.”
Gen, taking up an entire row for himself, pointed at Kohaku.
“Kohaku’s the real genius here.”
Senku let his head fall against the window and closed his eyes as the voices, somehow even more animated than before their hike, echoed around him. He could feel Taiju leaning closer.
“Don’t worry, Senku! I’ll send these pictures to Byakuya so he knows you do get out and exercise once in a while.”
Senku grunted and closed his eyes.
“Next time, we’re having a Mario Kart tournament. I can’t feel my legs and you’ll hear about it from opening to close tomorrow.”
“That’s completely fair!”
Despite the exhaustion and his feet feeling like they were about to fall off, Senku smiled as his friends kept talking around him.
Maybe team building isn’t so bad after all.