Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Autumn has come to the café. Hirai has returned to Sendai to take over her parents’ inn. She intends to “lead a life that creates a more wonderful legacy for Kumi’s life” (166). Hirai has sent the café staff a photograph of herself as the Takakura Inn’s owner, where her hair is in a conservative bun.

To everyone’s surprise, Fumiko returns to the café and stares at the ghost woman in the dress. Since spring, she has only occasionally visited and taken up the space opposite the ghost woman. Fumiko asks Kazu whether it is possible to visit the future. Kazu bluntly affirms that it is possible; however, no one goes there. Fumiko declares her wish to travel three years into the future in order to meet Goro and ascertain whether they will be together. Kazu says that while it is possible to go three years into the future, Fumiko has no way of knowing whether Goro will visit the café. While travelers can target past moments and easily go there, the “future is completely unknown” and only a miracle would allow them to meet their loved one before the coffee cools (171). Nagare teases Fumiko about wanting to be reassured that she will get married.