Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

Mornings in Beika-cho are always quiet and serene. Cherry blossoms lining the streets sway gently in the breeze, filling the air with a delicate floral fragrance. Days in this small town remain as peaceful as ever, as if time itself has slowed down a bit. The "Jingxin" cafe is part of this tranquility, quietly standing on a street corner. The small wind chimes in front of the door chime with a gentle tinkle in the breeze, as if welcoming everyone who passes by. Sunlight filters through the windows, casting a warm glow on the wooden tables and chairs.

Chen Shuo stood behind the bar, expertly brewing coffee. For him, this peaceful life was the ideal life he sought. As the owner of a coffee shop, he had long been accustomed to this simple, repetitive routine. Watching different people enter the shop each day, each with their own stories to tell, brought him a sense of peace and fulfillment.

There seemed to be something unusual in the air today. Chen Shuo had a vague feeling that today's "quietness" would welcome some special guests.

---

"Ding--"

The sound of wind chimes rang softly, and the shop door was pushed open, letting a breeze blow in. Chen Shuo looked up and saw two figures walking into the coffee shop.

Walking ahead was a woman in a white coat, her long brown hair flowing smoothly over her shoulders. She looked both elegant and capable. Her features were soft, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth, but her eyes held a subtle calmness. Following closely behind her was a slender girl in a black coat, her face stern, her gaze distant and wary.

Chen Shuo's heart stirred slightly. Although neither of them spoke, the aura between them had already made him sense something unusual.

"Welcome." Chen Shuo showed his usual gentle smile and greeted politely.

The older woman smiled slightly and said softly, "Please give us two lattes and one of your blueberry sandwiches. Also, could you recommend some desserts?"

"Okay, please wait." Chen Shuo nodded and began to prepare. At the same time, he secretly looked at the two guests in his heart.

Just now, the two seemed to be communicating with other people outside the door. Chen Shuo didn't hear it clearly, but he still heard their names.

The older woman's name was Miyano Akemi. While her name might be unfamiliar to most people, Chen Shuo had vaguely heard rumors about her. She wasn't a prominent figure, but she seemed to be connected to some shady circles. As for the aloof girl behind her, Chen Shuo's memory was a bit hazy, but he had a feeling she might be related to some of the characters in the story.

Soon, Chen Shuo walked towards them with two cups of latte and placed the drinks and snacks on the table.

"Enjoy your meal," he said with a smile.

"Thank you." Miyano Akemi nodded politely and took the coffee.

As for her sister, the girl named Miyano Shiho, she just nodded slightly, her fingers gently around the rim of the cup, her eyes cold and without any extra expression.

Chen Shuo secretly observed them. Although he wasn't particularly interested in the two sisters, his intuition told him that Miyano Shiho was definitely not an ordinary person. There was a calmness in her eyes that belied her age, as if she had experienced many complicated things, which was not common among the customers of the cafe.

---

Outside the window, cherry blossoms gently fell in the breeze, and sunlight filtered through the window onto the tabletop. Miyano Akemi sat by the window, sipping her coffee gracefully and occasionally gazing out, her expression relaxed and calm.

"The environment of this cafe is really nice and quiet." She looked up and said to her sister with a faint smile on her face.

Miyano Shiho remained expressionless when she heard her sister's words, simply nodding her head calmly, as if these external things were unimportant to her. Her gaze occasionally swept across every corner of the store, sometimes lingering on the street outside the window, her vigilance high, as if she were always ready to respond to any emergency.

Chen Shuo silently observed them from behind the bar. He could sense Miyano Shiho's alienation; she seemed completely out of place. Although she sat with her sister, her heart seemed shrouded in a mist, as if she were cut off from the outside world.

"You two sisters have such a good relationship." Chen Shuo spoke casually, his tone relaxed and natural.

Miyano Akemi smiled, with a hint of tenderness in her eyes: "Yes, we are usually very busy, and it is rare for us to have the opportunity to relax together today."

Chen Shuo nodded and smiled, "It's really rare to be able to take time out to be with family."

Compared to her sister's gentleness and kindness, Miyano Shiho remained indifferent and silent. She occasionally responded, but her tone seemed to lack a touch of warmth, as if she was not interested in this casual conversation.

---

Time slipped quietly in the café, the two sisters sitting by the window, quietly enjoying the afternoon. Miyano Akemi occasionally chatted with her younger sister about daily trivialities. Although Miyano Shiho didn't respond much, her indifference didn't dampen her sister's good mood. The atmosphere between them seemed peaceful, but there was a subtle tension.

"The desserts here are delicious, and the blueberry sandwiches are especially great." Miyano Akemi gently put down her coffee cup and said to Chen Shuo with a smile.

"Thank you. If you like it, you can come back next time to try other desserts." Chen Shuo responded, still with his signature smile on his face.

Miyano Akemi nodded gently, clearly quite satisfied with the food and environment of the cafe. Miyano Shiho, on the other hand, remained silent, occasionally sipping her coffee, seemingly unwilling to engage in further conversation.

Although the two did not show much difference, Chen Shuo was keenly aware that Miyano Shiho's temperament was very different from that of ordinary people. Her every move and every look was cautious, and she always maintained a high level of vigilance, as if she would never let her guard down.

"Do you guys often come here?" Chen Shuo asked casually, continuing the polite greetings.

"Actually, I rarely come here. Although it's quiet here, it's a bit far from where we usually go." Miyano Akemi replied with a smile.

"Indeed, there are not many coffee shops around here. Many people who come here for the first time say that the environment is good." Chen Shuo nodded, his eyes lingering on Miyano Shiho for a moment, but her expression remained cold and unmoved.

---

Time passed quickly, and the sunlight outside the window gradually became softer, making everything in the cafe seem particularly warm. The Miyano sisters spent a quiet afternoon here, and Miyano Akemi seemed to enjoy this peaceful atmosphere. She chatted a lot with her sister. Although Miyano Shiho still seemed indifferent, from her occasional responses, Chen Shuo could still see that she had a deep dependence on and care for her sister.

"Shiho, don't you really want to try another dessert? The desserts here are very good." Miyano Akemi asked with a chuckle.

"I'm full." Miyano Shiho responded briefly, still maintaining her cold demeanor.

Chen Shuo stood behind the bar, occasionally glancing in their direction. As the restaurant manager, he rarely intruded on customers' privacy, but the sisters' unique auras compelled him to take a closer look. Miyano Shiho's high alertness and composure, seemingly born of some unique experience, made her seem somewhat out of place compared to the other customers.

---

As the sun sets, the streetlights gradually light up. The number of customers in the cafe gradually decreases, and Miyano Akemi and Miyano Shiho finally stand up and prepare to leave.

"Thank you, today's coffee and dessert are great." Miyano Akemi smiled at Chen Shuo, her tone gentle and polite.

"I'm glad you like it. I hope to see you again next time." Chen Shuo smiled and waved, watching them leave.

As the two figures disappeared at the end of the street, Chen Shuo remained standing behind the bar, lost in thought. Although the sisters had only been in his cafe for a few short hours, their aura left a lasting impression on Chen Shuo. Miyano Shiho in particular, with her aloofness and alienation, seemed completely out of place in this world.

Yet, for Chen Shuo, this is just another ordinary day. Every day, he encounters a variety of guests, some of whom leave a lasting impression, while others are quickly forgotten. No matter how complex their stories, Chen Shuo remains a mere spectator, witnessing these fragmented encounters and partings.

---

As night fell, the sound of wind chimes tinkled softly in the breeze. Chen Shuo stood by the window, gazing out at the quiet streets, a wave of emotion welling up in his heart. Although everything seemed peaceful today, he knew deep down that every little episode in life might conceal a deeper story.

"What kind of guests will I meet tomorrow?" he whispered to himself, with an expectant smile on his face.

The coffee shop was still quiet at night, but Chen Shuo knew that tomorrow's "meditation" might bring more interesting encounters and stories.