Work Text:
“Hello! How may I help you?”
Shouto Todoroki looked up from his phone and blinked in surprised.
He always had the same routine since moving to college. He would get up, take a shower, brush his teeth and then head down to his favorite coffee shop to get a coffee and breakfast pastry.
It took him by surprise to see the face of a young woman behind the counter rather than an elderly gentleman with glasses. Her hair and eyes were dark, like the color of black coffee, and her skin the color of creamer. Her smile was light, like a blonde roast on a nice summer day.
“Can I help you?” she repeated herself, blinking her eyes in confusion.
“S-sorry,” he stuttered, pulled out of his stupor. “I wasn't expecting you. I'm used to Mr. Yaoyorozu.”
“Oh!” Her smile grew wide and her eyes softened. “That's my uncle. He unfortunately had to have a surgery. I told him I'd help out around the coffee shop while he recovered.”
“I see. I'm sorry to hear that. I hope he recovers soon.”
“Thank you,” she said genuinely, but rolled her eyes as she continued. “He knew about needing it for a while, but he kept putting it off until we finally convinced him to get it. We didn't want it to get worse.”
Shouto felt a bitter taste in his mouth. “It's nice to have a family who cares about you.”
“It really is,” the cashier agreed. “Now what can I get you?”
He eyed her up and down. She was tall, probably the height of her uncle in his older age, and appeared to be around his age.
“How are you at making coffee?” Shouto asked, still sizing her up jokingly, but also taking a minute to check her out.
She wore a brown apron without a spot on it, unlike how he'd always see her uncle. Her hair was back in a braid and her button-down was slightly unbuttoned. He couldn't help to allow his eyes to linger just a second longer on her cleavage.
The young worker put her hand over her mouth as she laughed. “I will have to say, I do make a better tea than coffee. But I think you'll find that my coffee making skills are up to snuff.”
Shouto nodded. “Ok, I'll take you up on that then. Can you make me a cappuccino? Your uncle would sometimes do some latte art for me on it as well, are you up for that challenge?”
The cashier playfully saluted. “I'm on the case!”
Her braid twirled behind her as she turned around to the espresso machine. She effortlessly dispensed the freshly ground beans into the portafilter and skillfully pressed it down. Putting the portafilter back into the machine, she turned it on and dispensed the espresso into the cup.
She then turned, humming sweetly, as she went to the small fridge below the counter to get some milk to steam. Her voice brought him back to a time when his mother used to softly sing as she was cooking.
The loud noise of the steamer brought him out of his memory, just in time for him to watch her expertly pour the steamed milk into the dark liquid of the espresso.
When he didn't see any shape on top, he was going to comment on it, but the barista grabbed a spoon and a toothpick. Before he could watch what she was doing, she blocked his view of the coffee cup.
She turned and peeked at him to see him watching her, which she gave him a small knowing smile before turning back to her work.
Just a few moments later she spun around and placed the cup on the counter for him to see.
“Done! That will be $3.50!” She smiled, using her hand to display her coffee art to him.
Shouto was in shock. In his cappuccino was a smiling cat with whiskers, eyes closed happily.
“Pretty good, right?” she asked gleefully.
Shouto didn't realize he wasn't breathing. “It's – amazing,” he said breathlessly.
He took out $5 from his wallet and gave it to her.
“Oh! This is too much!” She said, opening the register and grabbing the change.
Instead, Shouto put up his hand in refusal. “Keep it. It is well deserved. I am really impressed.”
A pretty blush graced her face, making him blush as well. “T-thank you,” she muttered.
“No, thank you.”
Shouto felt his heart start to pound in his chest. He had the sudden need to both run away and grab her hands to ask for her number.
To stop himself, he went to the side to grab a lid for his coffee to go. He needed it to calm his mind and his heart.
Finding it best to make his escape, he turned to leave, but then stopped remembering something.
“Wait, I didn't get your name.”
The young woman at the counter looked over her shoulder to him, blinking as if unsure if she was hearing things or not. When Shouto gave her an expectant look, she turned to face him.
“Momo Yaoyorozu,” she said with a bow.
Shouto nodded in return. “Shouto Todoroki. I hope to see you around more.”
“Me too” she said with a small lilt to her voice. A blush brightened her face, as she cleared her throat. “N-next time, I'll have to get you to try some tea. I'd say that's where my skills really shine.”
Shouto found himself blushing in return and held up his cup. “If it's anything like your latte art, I'm looking forward to it.”