Cocktails by Endo: Okinawa Ocean

 August was always so sentimental. Late summer signaled the beginning of the end in so many things. Old summer romances came to mind just as their timed and natural ends. 

The smell of humid summer eves and the gunpowder of late season festival fireworks seemed to swirl around his shop despite there being no such fireworks nearby. Perhaps expecting one to go hand-in-hand with another, he’d imagined it. 

This time August brought other comforts. He’d finally re-united with his children, and while he wasn’t able to bring them to Japan from their home in Italy quite yet, knowing where they were, that they were safe, and that he could call any time was enough for now. 

His five-year absence had taken its toll. Though he had started to gain his footing in returning to business, this was a greater step for his emotional well-being. He’d hoped, but not expected, to find them, nor such support in doing so. 

He’d left his shop in his pink-haired and newly appointed manager’s care and upon his return he was presented with several sickeningly sweet treats. With jestful scolding, he criticized their difference in style. 

“Come on, Boss, just try it!” the boy cheerfully beamed, calling upon his endearing expression to sway Endo. He knew his charms worked just as much as Endo knew the importance of both of their styles in branching out to appease more palates at his strange art space café. 

The drink in question shimmered with remains from Endo’s own exploration in glittery drinks early in the season. The previous month had seen him create a golden, fruity nod to his pair of lovely female regulars who’d inspired him. 

Koichi’s creation looked instead like shimmering seas in a glass, and even Toshiya was quick to praise that it reminded him of Okinawan beaches. Endo took the first sip, handing it off to his lover to try. The first taste that hit him was lemon, a taste he was only just getting used to after teenage shenanigan had left him with an aversion to the fruit. 

Tart but still sweet, in the same vein of imagining senses he thought ought to be there, he wanted it to better represent the idea of the ocean it invoked. 

“Could use a touch of salt or something,” Endo started, lost in improvements before remembering that a sentimental human had been waiting on his praise. Stopping himself from the knee-jerk complaint that he didn’t like lemon, and with a gentle swat on the arm from his more empathetic half, he spoke again. 

“Really beautiful work, Cutie,” Endo finished by nodding his approval and proceeded to pluck one of the flowers topping the drink which was now cradled by Toshiya. 

He popped it in his mouth and wiggled his brow. He loved edible flowers, always feeling like some sort of carefree grazing animal to eat them. “My weakness,” he chuckled. 

The appointed barista’s expression softened enough to put Endo at ease about his behavior and he grabbed his guitar from the corner to take his favorite seat. 

It was nice that the month’s special was already taken care of. He had watched Koichi grow and rise to each challenge before him, finally proving he was able to take care of things on his own. Endo trusted him to. His classical style strumming accompanied more praise from Toshiya as he sat beside him, everything how it should be. 

For the first time since his return, he felt whole.