2025-09-07: Don't Try the Tomato Bisque
- Log: 2025-09-07 Don't Try the Tomato Bisque
- Cast: Minako Arisato, Ren Amamiya, Sojiro Sakura
- Where: Paulownia Mall - Chagall Cafe
- OOC Date: September 07, 2025
- IC Date: July 07, 2012
- Summary: Minako invites Ren and Sojiro, master of Cafe Leblance, to try the Pheromone Coffee at Chagall Cafe to try to determine what its charm-boosting secret is. While they're at it, Ren tries the tomato bisque.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"So, I know this won't compare to Leblanc..."
Really, Minako Arisato probably shouldn't sell Chagall Cafe short. It isn't as if it's terrible -- she likes it -- but once someone has had Sojiro Sakura's coffee, it reaches a new level. And a local chain can only do so much to match it. But, despite her judgmental statement, Minako is smiling.
She leads the way to the restaurant, in Paulownia Mall. The cafe is on the first level of the outdoor mall, with a bright yellow sign declaring it to be "CHAGALL CAFE." The mall's exterior is fairly crowded on a Saturday evening.
Minako has a cream-colored, short-sleeved shirt and blue jeans on. There is a bounce in her step and in her red hair. She has been looking forward to this outing, and it shows. "But there's something in that Pheromone Coffee."
She doesn't quite understand who Sojiro is to Ren. But she is fond of Ren -- and that means she wants to make a good impression on his guardian. So she beams at him.
"So I'd love your take on it, Sakura-san!" she says, respectfully. But cheerfully.
And, as always, smiling.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Saturday means that there was only a half-day at school--which means there's time enough for a trip over to Port Island for Ren and Sojiro both without taking up too much of the weekend. When Minako invited Ren to come by Chagall Cafe to try their Pheromone Coffee, and invited him to invite Sojiro--who, after all, was running the booth at the Sumaru Hyakumanzeki Festival where Minako was introduced to Leblanc Cafe in the first place--he thought it was a good idea. A coffee that increases your charm? Score. Ren's very interested in that, and he's not surprised that Sojiro's interested in it too. (If Sojiro has any other motivations for agreeing to come along, well...)
For his part, Ren is in his usual weekend get-up for the summer: black undershirt, white short-sleeved button-up shirt, jeans, black shoes, and glasses and wristwatch. He isn't carrying Morgana in his shoulder bag, because he doesn't have his shoulder bag at all right now. (Morgana is chilling back in Yongen-Jaya.) Sojiro was nice enough (disregarding any incidental grumbling) to drive the both of them here to meet up with Minako. He does have his hands tucked in his pockets, though, and he follows Minako with a slight but sincere smile back. He's happy that she invited him--well, them--here, and it's good to see her again.
He looks up at the sign for Chagall Cafe as the three of them approach. Hurrying a few steps ahead of the others, he opens up the door to let Minako and Sojiro go in first. "It might just be a placebo effect," he comments. He glances at Sojiro. "But if anyone would be able to tell for sure..."
It'd have to be him--right?
<Pose Tracker> Sojiro Sakura has posed.
The Boss, the old man, the coffee guy, etc etc, the list goes on, but for now eh is just a man coming out to have a drink of coffee, and decide if it is any competition to his treasured formula. At least that is how he had rationalized it to himself on why he was coming out here. It had nothing to do with the fact that if he timed it right the roads home would almost be empty and his poor car was feeling under utilized.
Sojiro stares at the sign for Chagall Cafe and tilts his head, "I mean if you think they are putting something harmful in the coffee I am sure there are better people to call." Sojiro wasn't exactly sure how he got roped into this but well... he owed Ren for a few things as of late. So he can't really say no.
"So then, shall we go in and get a table?" Sojiro asks as he gestures toward the door. He would wait for one of others to take a lead and bring up the rear. It would give him a way to stay out of the way of the smiles they keep casting each other.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"That's exactly my thought, Amamiya-san," Minako says, with a beaming smile and a wink at Ren. She says his name like he is a close friend, despite the more formal tone. But, that's also Minako for you. "When there is a scientific mystery, you have to turn to the expert, right?"
Even if it is the placebo effect, he could confirm that.
"I doubt it's harmful," Minako says. "But... is there anything in coffee that can actually improve someone's charm?" She nods at the question, though. She walks in first -- opening the door -- and waves at the girl hosting, with a familiar look.
She works here part-time, sometimes, and Minako knows the others who often work here. "Table for three, please!"
"You got it--right this way!" the hostess says, snatching three menus and hurrying towards one of the tables. The inside of the restaurant is clearly busy -- students, workers, couples, and locals are at the tables and trading stories over drinks. Desserts and various coffees are on full view. There are also waiters and waitresses, bringing people their orders.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Even if that is Sojiro's rationalization, it means Ren got a ride, so he's not complaining, at least.
He's not complaining about Minako's friendly way of saying Amamiya-san either--while it's a formal address, she makes it sound closer than that somehow. He nods his agreement, before shrugging at Sojiro. "Yeah," he echoes after Minako. "It doesn't sound like it has any bad side effects, and if we could make a coffee like that..."
If it's just advertising, though, there's no point in bothering. He goes in after Minako and holds the door open for Sojiro to come in after, then lets go. The place is crowded, he notes as he tucks his hand back in his pocket and looks around. "Seems popular," he remarks. A lot more popular than Leblanc, he doesn't remark, because he likes having a bed to sleep on at night.
A waitress sees them to a table at Minako's request. Ren opens up the menu once they're all seated and looks it over. Obviously they're getting the Pheromone Coffee, but... He looks up at Minako. "Anything else you recommend, Arisato-san?"
Coming from him, that address does sound more formal or neutral... but he's just matching her speed. Clearly he isn't neutral about her company.
<Pose Tracker> Sojiro Sakura has posed.
Sojiro's scowl appears the moment he enters the cafe, he stares at the busy atmosphere and the feeling of...people. Already he could never picture running a cafe like this and when Ren mentions adding something to the coffee he scowls more. "They can do things their way, we do things our way." The old man stubbornness rears it's head.
The waitress doesn't make direct eye contact to Sojiro as he sits down though he softens his voice and speaks up with a bit of extra elder in his voice. "Excuse me young lady, my grandson has raved about the cafes special coffee. Could you bring me a cup please. However the youngin's are taking it. " He says as he lowers himself into his chair, adding a little extra shakiness to it too as he goes extra slow.
Looking over at Ren the scowl is gone and a big smile is on it, "You two get yourself whatever too, it's my treat." Then Sojiro looks at the waitress and winks before nodding his head at the pair.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"Mm-hm!" Minako says, in agreement, with Ren. If Leblanc could make coffee like that, it would be another feather in their cap. But... Sojiro doesn't seem to be into it.
She does give him a slightly worried look, as he proves shaky in sitting down. But he seems to have it handled.
Once they're seated, she opens her menu -- but mostly out of politeness. She has done enough shifts here that she has it memorized. So at Ren's question, she looks up at him, and she nods. "The coffee cake and cheesecake are their best desserts," she says. "The sandwiches are good -- especially the ham and swiss. The house salad is tasty, but skip the Caesar."
Then, she looks very serious, looking Ren and Sojiro in the eye in turn. "Stay far, far away from the tomato bisque."
She does not offer further explanation on this grim pronouncement. She brightens, though, at Sojiro's offer. "Thank you, Sakura-san!" she says. She looks at the waitress. "Hey. Can I have a Pheromone Coffee and a slice of cheesecake, with cherry?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Sojiro immediately shuts Ren down vis-a-vis updating Leblanc's coffee menu. Ren does not argue. It's his cafe; he just part-times there to make up for his (already fully paid) freeloading. Likewise, he doesn't say anything when Sakura tries to present himself as old old to the waitress, either--at least, while she's still in earshot.
"That bad, huh?" Ren wonders, slightly smiling, at the tomato bisque. "Now you've got me curious." The ham and swiss sandwich would be his regular choice, but if he can order the tomato bisque and choke it down despite the dire warning... would that impress Minako? Or would she think he's an idiot and a jerk for ignoring her? ...Well, why not ask?
"I'll get the Pheromone Coffee, and..." He looks at Minako. "If I ordered the tomato bisque to see just how bad it is, would you think I'm an idiot?" Depending on how she answers, he'll get either that or the ham sandwich. The guts boost is important, but much more important are the relationship points. o/`!
Once the waitress is gone, though, Ren peers at Sojiro and his Old Man act, in particular claiming he's his grandson (that is what he's doing, right?). "You're not that old," he comments sotto voce. Then he pauses. "...Are you?"
This probably doesn't help Minako any in figuring out what relation these two have.
<Pose Tracker> Sojiro Sakura has posed.
Sojiro watches the waitress leave and the moment she disappears out of sight he sits up a little straighter and the scowl returns. He casts a look at Ren and grins a bit breaking his scowl, " Just how old do you think the guy, who will be driving you home, is? " Sojiro pokes at Ren wondering what the answer will be, who knows maybe the old man will finally make the kid sweat.
Still he doesn't let his gaze linger long as it falls on Minako , "So what exactly does it mean for coffee to make one more charming? " Sojiro asks before adding, "And how did you hear about it?"
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
When Ren asks if Minako thinks he would be an idiot, she laughs. It's in a cheerful way -- she found it charming, clearly, that he asked.
"I won't think you're an idiot, but I reserve the right to laugh and tell you that I told you so. So, proceed at your own risk, mister~" she says, putting the last word in English for emphasis.
After the waitress leaves, Minako turns to Ren. She blinks -- her eyes widen -- as she looks between Sojiro and Ren. She didn't think Sojiro was that old. But that question... so Ren must not know Sojiro that well. Her head tilts for a second, and she clearly has a question.
But Sojiro answers it, in a sense: guess his age with care. She almost laughs, but she keeps that in check. Perhaps she won't ask what their relationship is just yet; trying to figure it out is also fun. She smiles, looking sideways at Ren. "Careful, Amamiya-san."
Then, she looks at Sojiro -- and pauses for a moment -- and then sighs. She has to admit that this explanation doesn't sound the best. "Well..." She trails off. "...the advertising claims it. But I swear they add something to it, and I haven't been able to figure out what. Even though I work here."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren frowns at Sojiro's counter-question and the implication that the wrong answer will have him taking the train home. This rubs Ren the wrong way, considering Sojiro cast himself as two generations away without any prompting from him. He glances at Minako as she warns him to be careful, however jokingly. He could keep his mouth shut...
Still, he has his wallet with his transit card on him, and the answer casts Sojiro as younger than he cast himself, so he replies honestly, "Maybe in his forties--early fifties on the outside? Old enough to be my dad. Definitely not old enough to be my grandpa." And, because it occurs to Ren that there is a risk Sojiro doesn't (care enough to?) know how old he is, he adds, "I'm sixteen." Seventeen in October!
His smile returns, though, when Minako gives him her new fair warning. "Deal," he replies. "I don't doubt you; I just want to see how bad it gets." Which is a stupid reason to eat something, and Ren knows it, but for some reason he feels like being stupid for her right now. Maybe Sojiro will pick up on that--and given how he tried to push Ren towards Ann before, only to be told she's just a friend...
She works here though, huh? And yet she has no idea what they add to the Pheromone Coffee to make it increase one's charm--if it does in fact do that. Ren gives Minako a thoughtful look. "They don't tell you?"
That does explain why she went out of her way to ask them, though. Idle curiosity is one thing, but if she can't figure it out even if she works here, then it would require the big guns, huh. Ren, who hasn't actually had the Pheromone Coffee before, glances at Sojiro. It sounds like the only way they're getting answers is by actually trying the brew, but maybe he has a different take.
<Pose Tracker> Sojiro Sakura has posed.
Sojiro doesn't give a response to Ren as he answers the questions, instead he just settles back in his chair and smiles as if the answer is acceptable. Who knows how absurd Ren would have had to go for it to really irk him. "Seventeen in October. " It's the only answer he gives to Ren in fact, as he states his age, as if he didn't know. He was the one who had to fill out the paperwork for school after all.
The stupidity of youth isn't missed on him but as long as it doesn't make the kid sick, the old man isn't about to interrupt. His phone buzzes for a moment as he looks at it and types a response back with a smile.
Looking back up to Minako, "You work here but you've never seen them brew the coffee?" That concerns Sojiro a little as that would be like the chef not knowing how the burger was made. He contemplates what could possibly be in the coffee, but then again what exactly could one put in coffee to raise one's charm. "Well we will find out soon enough."
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako knew Ren was her age -- or close enough -- from their respective years at their schools. The same year, specifically. But she files the month of his birth away, and begins to hatch a scheme. She has a few months to figure out his birthday and plan.
Maybe she can ask Sojiro about it.
She smiles back at Ren, and this time she does laugh. "All right, then! You're a braver person than I," she says with a laugh.
At the question of the Pheromone Coffee's ingredients, though, she shakes her head. "Not really. I think it's a trade secret," she says. "They also give us the beans in packets to grind up. So... we don't really know what the blend is, or if there's some way they treat the beans before we get ahold of them."
She looks at Sojiro, giving him an apologetic look. "It's a bit more manufactured than Leblanc, I'm afraid, Sakura-san."
And that's when the waitress comes back. "Here you are!" She looks at Sojiro, doing a slight bow after putting her tray down. "Sir, I made your coffee myself. It's the most popular one. I hope you like it."
His act, clearly, worked.
She hands each of them a pheromone coffee. Minako is handed a cheesecake -- with a little cherry topping, and an artistic swirl of cherry sauce next to it on the plate. Ren is handed a small bowl of tomato bisque soup. It's still steaming and lightly dusted with parmesan. It looks fine, at least...?
The coffee smells good, too. And when sipped -- it has a slightly acidic flavor, with just a hint of something. It's almost fruity, slightly sharp, and it's clearly a blend of several beans -- something to, somehow, 'boost' one's charisma.
Somehow.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Seventeen in October, Sojiro adds where Ren had left silent, and Ren's eyes widen behind his glasses. Considering he thought Sojiro might not know how old he is, he definitely didn't expect him to know his birthday. (Well... his birth month.) It's a little touching to know he actually paid attention, and his eyes crinkle in the wake of a little smile. Looks like they both got some relationship points with each other...!
And with Minako. When she laughs, he grins. However it goes with the bisque, it's now officially been worth it.
He notes Sojiro texting, but doesn't read anything into it. People text all the time.
It would be weird if the servers didn't get to see how the coffee is brewed--but if they do brew it and are just sent packets of beans without being told how they're roasted or blended, that makes more sense. He nods slowly, but doesn't weigh in.
The waitress arrives with their orders. Ren sits up and once again does not comment on Sojiro's old man act while she's here. "Thank you," he tells the waitress when she sets down his own order, then looks down at it. The bisque looks normal enough. Is it possible Minako was just messing with him? ...Only one way to find out.
He takes a sip of the coffee first. There is something to it--it's not as good as Leblanc's coffee, but this is perfectly palatable and then some. As he savors the sharp acidity, he crosses his legs and leans back in his seat. Somehow, he does feel a little more charming now...
Now to get a little more courageous. Once Sojiro's weighed in on the matter of the coffee, Ren sets his cup down and trades it for a spoon. He glances up to meet Minako's eyes, maybe to make sure she's watching--dips in a helping spoonful--and has a bold taste.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako takes a sip of her coffee and sighs. She does like the Pheromone Coffee -- while it's not as good as Leblanc, and the advertising is a little ridiculous, she always found it tasty. And she lifts her fork, but she waits to dig into her cake. After all, Ren has his tomato bisque.
She looks at Sojiro -- and then she snaps her fingers and nods. "Ah-ha!" she declares. "I knew it! I didn't think it tasted like normal coffee. What do you think of it, Sakura-san? I don't think it compares to yours, of course."
But she doesn't think it's bad, either.
The bisque is a work of art. A work of art in being bad.
First, of course, are the subtle hints of a pre-packaged soup mix that must have started as a powder. Underneath the thin, polyester-like textures of watery tomato, there is a chemical aftertaste. The parmesan cheese flakes give it that earthy note of chalk that can't quite hide the tragic consistency of the soup.
To hide it, there is the tomato flavor. It is too sweet -- not cloyingly so, but it has a hint of ketchup. The sweetness almost hides the unfortunate consistency of the soup, with its own unfortunate taste. But, once Ren goes beyond that flavor...
Ah. There it is.
The texture is gritty. The tomato bisque carries notes of sandpaper, from the finest leavings of Home Depot's clearance aisle.
Minako is grinning at him as the flavor tragedy unfolds inside of his mouth. "Told you so," she says, as promised.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Something does happen to the kid! Something good. Ren lounges with the casual confidence of the sexy and watches Sojiro taste and analyze the brew. A powder they add to the beans, or something they're soaking the beans in... "Is there a powder in the bag with the beans? That'd narrow it down," he suggests, looking over at Minako.
Then: it's bisque time. For a moment, time stops. It's like a love letter to bad food. It is everything Minako said and more. Nothing about it is good, from the flavor to the consistency to the texture. To sum it up, it is like chemical sand ketchup, and watery to boot.
His left eyebrow twitches. Minako is grinning and telling him she told him so.
Which, she certainly did. They agreed that was fair, and it is. He could back out at any time now.
Ren swallows.
"I don't know what you're talking about, this taste great," he lies nonchalantly, voice just a little off-key, and spoons up some more.
He gets all the way to the bottom of the cup, even. Then, and only then, is he at last free to drop his spoon with a clatter, bang a fist on the table, and double over, trembling and heaving, though blessedly nothing comes up. It was bad enough the first time. "oh god why"
Something did happen to the kid. Something bad!
(But at least he got a Guts increase for his trouble, and all the notes have teeth. e/` e/` e/`!!)
<Pose Tracker> Sojiro Sakura has posed.
The old man watches the kids as they enjoy the coffee and cheesecake and then the expression on Ren's face as he works to devour the soup is priceless. That in itself makes it worth his time. Taking another sip and simply leans back. "It is good coffee, if it wasn't for the extra whatever it is they added. It's likely some extract that is intended to do what it does."
Looking at Minako, "Well miss, Ren here has had some of the coffee, does he seem more charming to you?" Sojiro asks the question, purely for scientific research.
Sojiro takes another sip as he looks at the cup, he can't help but be a little perplexed on the cause of the extra taste. "It is likely just some additive for their gimmick." Sojiro finally concludes not worried enough to let a cup of coffee go to waste.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"Not inside it, but... you know, the beans have a bit of powder on them, in the packets. I thought it was coffee bean dust, but... maybe?" Minako says, as she thinks about it for a moment.
But then Ren goes for the soup. Minako and Sojiro are both watching, then.
When Ren makes that face, Minako loses it -- and as promised, she's laughing now. She keeps from cackling at least, though there is a soft snort when he swallows. And then...
Then he pretends to like it. She stares at him and sputters -- and then she starts laughing harder. "Oh my god!"
She keeps laughing all the way until his spoon drops. Maybe it was worth it?
...maybe?
She wipes at her eye, then has another sip of her coffee. "Hmm, well..." She hesitates, letting herself trail off to cover that she is thinking of how to apply. "...He's certainly charming, but I'm no scientist. I can't say if that extract is the cause."
She smiles, then she winks at Ren. Then, though, her expression turns more sympathetic.
"Need an antacid?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Hmm..." There's not much more that Ren can say about the beans. Maybe the dust is an additive and maybe it isn't! He's no coffee scientist either, and Sojiro doesn't have anything more definitive either.
Then soup happens. At least Sojiro got his money's worth too... If he's going to be driving this young'un around and paying for his order, then a little entertainment is surely the least Ren could do. ...even if he wasn't doing it for Sojiro.
Sojiro asks Minako if Ren seems more charming to her. He looks up--he's already reached the point of 'worth it,' and she laughed very hard at his self-inflicted suffering so it's also worth it, but it would be nice to know if it was Worth It.
And, fortunately, it is. He smiles when she calls him charming and winks at him, which is a feat considering that abominable taste is still lingering on his tongue, and reaches for the coffee to wash it away.
After several long and significant swallows, they set it down with a heave of a sigh. "Yes, please."
<Pose Tracker> Sojiro Sakura has posed.
Sojiro finishes his coffee slowly before he sets it aside. " Well then I suppose the coffee does indeed do what it advertises." A small chuckle as he stands up with little to no trouble. "Ren I am going to take a walk around the mall," Sojiro pauses as he recovers his wallet and puts the money on the table. "Feel free to take your time, I promise not to leave you stranded for a ride."
Sojiro chuckles before he looks at Minako, "It was a pleasure to meet you miss. I appreciated the outing. If you want to research any other coffee shops please let me know." Sojiro wanders off before anything else can be said, leaving the two alone to enjoy there time in a coffee shop that seems directed to helping couples to form bonds.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"Sure thing," Minako says sweetly, and she slides a small plastic bottle with antacids over the table to him.
Then, she looks at Sojiro as he gets up. "Thank you, Sakura-san. It was a pleasure to meet you," she says. "I'll be sure to!"
She looks back at Ren -- a little conscious they were left alone -- and not minding. She smiles, resting her chin in her hand. "I like him," she says. "So... do you want some of my cake? I feel a little bad you only had... that."
Her eyes cast down at the soup bowl.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Oh--okay," Ren utters when Sojiro stands and says he's going to walk around the mall on his own--functionally leaving Ren and Minako alone. Ren could say that it's not like that, like he did when Sojiro assumed Ann was his girlfriend, but... it'd be awkward with Minako right here, and anyway, he also doesn't mind. They're alone to hang out as friends, and Sojiro no doubt doesn't want to hang out with a couple of teenagers for longer than he has to anyway.
Sure. They'll say that.
So: "Thank you," Ren replies, mostly to his back. Sojiro says to take his time, but he'll be sure not to take that much time; Sojiro makes a point of not putting Ren's or any guy's number in his phone, so he can't text him to let him know when they're done, and Ren would rather not test his patience too far. At least Sojiro's nice to Minako--but he's generally nice to girls, isn't he?
"I'm glad," he tells Minako. "He seemed to like you too." He follows her eyes to the soup bowl. "I did that to myself," he says grimly. His gaze softens, though. "Thanks. Then if you don't mind sharing, I'll have a bite or two."
That, too, will give them time to chat about the coffee and their respective orders--the cake will at least have a much better review--until it's time for both of them to leave.