Megami No Cafe Terrace

Grandma’s café that has been running for years going to close down because our sweet lovely lady has just passed on. End of an era. End of the story! Just kidding! Oh well, looks like her grandson now has to reluctantly take over but he can’t really do so yet because somehow there are 5 cute girls living there?! Like, how?! I don’t know, but I guess Megami No Cafe Terrace is not the kind of show where these girls serve up shady services nor it is one that is going to be filled with explicit fanservice. Though, fanservice is part of the label and that’s how it baited me to watch it. Just put cute 2D girls on the promotional poster and I’m definitely sold. So our main guy here needs to find a way to keep this café running and even more so that his hands are full trying to work with these ladies, each with their own quirky persona. They should run a comedy house sometimes, just saying…

Episode 1
Hayato Kasukabe returns to the seaside café named Familia that her recently departed grandma runs. He hasn’t been back in 3 years so it’s been a while. As he sits down pondering his next move, he is in for a shock as he sees not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4 but 5 cute ladies in their underwear living here! They beat him up thinking he is a burglar. But even after he explains himself, they tie him up just in case. Folks, meet Ouka Makuzawa, Ami Tsuruga, Riho Tsukishima, Akane Hououji and Shiragiku Ono. They were working for grandma about a year ago and started living here. They know all about Hayato as grandma often talked about him. However Hayato asserts he owns this place and has the right to kick them out. Doesn’t matter if grandma called them family or not or if they paid for her funeral expenses. This is his house! Dickhead. After all, he is going to sell this place, tear it down and build a parking lot. So as the girls ponder their next move, Riho thinks of using their feminine charms to get what they want. Yeah. That’s why we are watching this show, right?! Anyway, using Ouka as ‘first sacrifice’, she is to act like his master’s maid. He is not impressed. I hope he isn’t gay. He orders fried chicken despite Ouka only knows how to make pilaf. Yeah, she burnt them all. This has Hayato calculate the losses if she was making this in an hour. I don’t know what Ami’s plan is but he points out her very revealing outfit and this sends her into embarrassment. Whatever plan just failed. That night as he baths, he expects the girls to come in to wash his back in cliché fashion. Did not happen! He remembers getting an argument with grandma before leaving. It’s why their relationship was strained. Something about him wanting to go to Tokyo University, make lots of money by having working some scumbag to the bone. Grandma pointed out he is the scumbag to think as such. Doesn’t grandma want to be rich? A little money is enough for her.

Hayato is shocked to see Akane smoking but it’s just chocolate as she claims she is writing songs for her band. Riho sets her next plan in motion. This time Shiragiku as the real sacrificial lamb. A small drop of alcohol is enough to make her drunk. In this state, she turns into a pervert! Now she seduces Hayato in his bed. Riho’s plan is to snap pics of him in compromising position and blackmail him into letting them stay. Too bad this is ruined as Ami ‘saves the day’ by beating up Hayato, thinking he did something. Luckily or not, Shiragiku has no recollection of yesterday’s incident. Hayato invites a couple of guys to take a look at this place to make an estimate. When one of them manhandles the sign, Hayato refuses to let them have it. This has the girls wonder if he changed his mind. Ouka then cooks pilaf for him. She says grandma told her if anything happens to her, make it for her grandson as it is his favourite dish. As he eats, he remembers grandma raised him on her own after his parents died in an accident. He also saw her kowtowing to a debt collector for more time and defied the odds to sell this place. This was the reason why he wanted to go to university and make more money. After he learns that the girls at together with grandma, he has them show the accounts of this place. Mostly deficit and even more so after she hired the girls. Hence he has decided to run this place in grandma’s stead. He will take a year off university and see how it goes. If business fails, he will then only sell it. As master of this house, he has the right to stay and of course they can leave. Obviously everyone is going to stay and I suppose Ouka has no choice too. What choice does she have?

Episode 2
Hayato wants to delegate the chores but everybody is complaining why they can’t do it! Yeah, grandma always does it herself. Wait. Does this mean they caused grandma’s death by overworking?! What excuses they’re giving now?! Eventually they drag their feet to do it and they look more like fooling around or not putting their heart into it. They have this chance to strike back at him as Hayato carelessly mishandles Ouka’s undergarments in the machine. He doesn’t think much about it but apparently the girls are not too fond of it. It’s your fault. Hence he is made to clean the café alone as he remembers grandma’s coffee mill and how it made the best coffee roast. Shiragiku wants Hayato to eat with them together because they’re family. Are you sure it’s nothing else? Great timing for the sakura tree to bloom so dinner’s going to be great. Before the café’s opening, Hayato is going to let the girls taste the proud coffee he makes. IT SUCKS!!! Believe it! While his pride is somewhat tarnished later Akane shows it to him how it’s done. Tastes better? Wow. It is. Hence he has to put aside his pride and asks her to teach him. Akane remembers grandma telling him how he always sulks if he doesn’t get his way although he ends up apologizing the most. She agrees to teach him and he thought he could pull a fast one to claim she looks cuter if she smiles. Challenge accepted. There’s your cute smile. Riho thought Hayato asks her out on a date but she is the lesser of 5 ‘demons’ whom he needs to bring to go meet their business associates before the reopening. We see Riho using her cute charm and charisma to have those locals look forward to the reopening. Later as they pray at the shrine, Hayato wonders what’s up with her ditzy acting so she tells him off about his sulking look. Is that how one should look while paying a courtesy call? The world doesn’t revolve around you and it’s just proper manners to show respect to those who are helping you! She’s got a point. If he is running the café like that, they’ll definitely close down in a year. This has Hayato realize grandma had way more resolve than just running the café but also to raise him. Hayato decides to go back and talk to those people again. As a reward, Riho shows him her panties???!!! WTF?! So shocked this guy he falls down the stairs! Don’t worry, he’ll be alright. Anybody who can withstand Ami’s beating can surely survive this!

Episode 3
Hayato and Ouka continue to argue. Riho warns Hayato to make up with her because it’ll be bad for business as well as working environment. Even Akane advises to be straight up with Ouka and compliment her since she is that simple. Well, it’s going to be tough because each time Ouka does something disagreeable, he blows his top. Even if it is not his intention, he ends up saying stuffs that sounds like insulting her. Then one night he catches her trying out the waitress outfit for size. Trying not to get sarcastic, he tries to compliment her dress but comes off sounding more like an insult. But wait. She’s happy? You see, she was the one who designed the dress as she is taking a fashion course to be a fashion designer. Grandma once told her that Hayato might have a sharp tongue but he doesn’t lie. And for that, she is very happy about his compliment. As everyone meets up to discuss for tomorrow’s official opening, Hayato even pays them for last month. Where did he get the money? Yes, dabbling in stocks. So easy. Later Ami talks to him about why everyone is able to get along with him is because of grandma. Just when he thought she’s the smartest one, turns out she’s the dumbest as usual because she is trying to take credit for herself that because of her, she gets to stop any fights between them. Suddenly she gets very solemn telling him that precious things are broken easily. And if it’s her fault, she is sorry. Well, well… She broke his PC and handphone! Apparently she was serving tea while holding dumbbells! No prizes to guess what happened! And then on the news, a company that Hayato invested all his money in now has some scandal and the stocks are plummeting! Nobody else got a PC around?! Just like that, all savings went to zero. No more funds for the café… Ami thinks fondling her boobs would make it up?! Heck, I don’t think selling her body would cover it!!!!

Next day, Familia opens. Some customers come in and order coffee. They remember it like the last time. The same as grandma’s. They are satisfied with it and will come back again. This boosts Hayato and the girls’ morale. Until of course that damn debt collector, Fuwa steps in. Knowing Hayato is the grandson, this jerk makes Hayato bow to him because had it not be, there was no way grandma could’ve raised him. Worse, Fuwa starts badmouthing grandma and insulting her bowing is better than her coffee. You wonder why Hayato hasn’t smacked him yet. Remembering grandma’s words once more, all customers are part of the family. But when Fuwa continues to run his mouth, it is the girls who are ready to beat the sh*t out of him but promptly stopped in time by Hayato. He claims there is a cockroach at his seat so he gets upset and WTF lifts up Shiragiku’s skirt?! Now Hayato tells him to leave or he’ll report him for sexual harassment. The other customers are willing to stand as witness so the dickhead leaves. Everyone is glad that no violence happened despite they really wanted to teach this old geezer a lesson. But that will be bad for their first day of business, right?

Episode 4
After a week, the customers are dwindling… Hence Hayato gets this idea to hold a stall at the upcoming annual Sakura Festival. However selling their usual coffee won’t do and they need a menu update. Shiragiku suggests some cookies with liqueur. Uhm, is that alcohol? Don’t worry, it will be evaporated once it is baked. Too bad that is bad enough because she also gets drunk and starts getting sexy all over Hayato. This time Riho getting mad thinking they’re flirting instead of doing real work. Meanwhile Ouka has added some new frills to the usual dress and has Ami wear it. Suddenly Hayato comes in and takes the flower headband to use it to cover Shiragiku’s boobs! We all know this won’t go well… Somebody gets pummelled again. In the end, it is Akane who gives Hayato the cookie recipes from her grandma. While Hayato, Ouka and Ami man the stall at the festival, the rest handle the main shop. Ouka runs into trouble when she bumps into a few punks. They want to hit on her but obviously she isn’t interested. I can’t believe Hayato and Ami just watched this happen. I understand Hayato but shouldn’t Ami already jump to whack them? Anyway, the punks confront the stall and definitely want to start trouble. However other stalls start to defend them and tell them to get their ass out. Next day, their stall is filled with trash. They believe those punks, one of them is Fuwa’s grandson. The normal order is to clean up and open business but Hayato decides to withdraw so as not to cause trouble to others. While Ouka blames herself, Hayato reminds her they might be withdrawing but not giving up. They head back to the café to get their mobile stall.

With Riho advertising it on social media, they are back in business as they open near the festival grounds. Now lots of people are visiting. If they run out of supplies, Ami will just rush back to the main store to get them. With some commenting on their cute outfits, Hayato credits Ouka as a designer and hopes she’ll succeed in her dreams. On the way back, Hayato will have to push the stall all the way. Just their luck, it’s those punks again. They admitted leaving those trash as Hayato warns them it is illegal to destroy property. They punch him. They mention Fuwa has ties with the police so reporting won’t do sh*t. However Hayato starts reciting some penal code about self-defence. Cue for Ami to beat the sh*t out of them! When she loses strength, one takes up a weapon to beat her. WTF she uses missiles from the headband to fire into his eyes! Then Shoryuken! I wonder what the penal code for trademark copyright infringement is!!! Hayato deals the finishing blow that they’re lucky fighting Ami. Because they’re done for if Ouka was the one pissed. That’s right. Mad Dog Ouka is the strongest gangster around! Those punks get scared and runs away. That should show them. Hayato has already recorded this conversation as proof. He got punched because he doesn’t want the stall or their uniforms to get destroyed. It’ll be a shame for Ouka who put so much effort into it. Hayato looking so cool for a second there…

Episode 5
Thanks to the festival, the crowd is back at Familia. That night, Hayato notices Riho working late. She’s trying to think of ways to promote the café but this only makes Hayato suspicious that she is working so hard. She claims grandma and this café saved her and she can do what she wants. But when he tells her to do what is just normal, she takes it the wrong way and gets emotional thinking all this hard work makes her look pathetic and embarrassing (some snippet of trauma of someone telling her that to go with it). All Hayato is saying that it is okay to live her life the way she wants. He promises to look after them. His words remind her of grandma as she ponders if it’s okay to rely on him. It’s also okay to fall in love with him. Just saying… The rest discuss about Akane and her day off. She claims she plays in a band but since she never wants to play before them, they joke it is something fishy. When Hayato is in town to get a new toaster, he overheard some girls talking how great a guitarist and vocalist Akane is. I bet there’s only 1 Akane in this whole town. So yeah, Hayato goes to watch her live indie band. After that he talks to her as we see a very rare shock and flustering emotion from her. Apparently she is embarrassed to perform before the rest. He assures her she can continue to make music while the café matters he will handle. He has also bought a CD of her song because her music moved him. Though, he comments on her band name having no impact. Moja Moja Hige Girls, he suggests?! When the girls have their day off together, they talk about Hayato. Is he an herbivore because they’re such hot and sexy girls and yet nothing happens. You want something to happen?! Even with the recent mishaps of him seeing them naked, they still think nothing will happen with this virgin boy. Then they talk about their prospects about them marrying him. Heck, they don’t even see him getting married. But wait. Akane claims she might! Even if she’s just joking, this shocks everyone because, Akane jokes? Ami fools around and crashes into Hayato as he just returns. Can a little fanservice ease the mad boy? Guess not.

Episode 6
Trolling us that Hayato and Shiragiku and doing some unholy activity together, huh?! Turns out they’re making sandwiches for the menu. Riho wants to help but Hayato thinks Shiragiku is sufficient to teach him. However the duo soon butt heads because Shiragiku wants to make the traditional sandwiches like grandma while Riho thinks the more updated and trendy version would be better. So they both make theirs for Hayato to try. However he is full from the abomination sandwiches he made earlier. He has them let the other girls try to decide while he goes to rest. Yeah, this saves him the decision of picking and offending the other. So later everybody tastes it and finds it both delicious. Of course Ami the forever glutton finds Hayato’s abomination good and wants this added to the menu too. Ouka is worried since Ami is acting strange. Even Hayato notices that she is being helpful! Akane reveals that she lost to somebody in a karate tournament. So when he talks to her about it, she admits to that. After all, that person she lost to represents Japan. Worse, her coach told her off harshly. Hayato gives some advice especially not to be stubborn by sticking to just a simple move. Just remember how she was strong when she beat up those punks. This gives Ami the much needed motivation as she returns to normal. That’s right. She is going to use other moves instead of Hadouken! Yes, that was what she was trying to pull off against her opponent! No wonder she lost and her coach was mad! Ami then accidentally drops her dumbbell on his newly bought laptop! Oh sh*t! Wanna squeeze those boobs? HAYATO SQUEEZES THEM BUT IT WON’T BRING BACK HIS LAPTOP! Ouka too picks up the dumbbell and accidentally drops on his new handphone! OMFG!!! SERIOUSLY?! Can he squeeze her boobs too?!

When the café is busy, Hayato calls Riho upstairs for help but she insists she can’t. Then he tries to get Akane or Ouka to help but Riho prevents him from walking into the room. When he forces his way, oh wow, they’re changing! Had a nice view? Now get out! The busy day ended as Hayato thinks back how none of the girls were helpful today. But then he remembers all the stuffs he told them like try not to push too hard or can’t force them to work while they have classes and some take the initiative to help him on their own accord, yeah, now he looks like a selfish dick and realizes he has been relying on them too much. He realizes they are strangers at the end of the day and not real family. He has no one left to call family. So as he goes upstairs to make this clear to them, suddenly they surprise him with a party. It was all Riho’s plan to celebrate 2 months of successfully running Familia. Everybody was busy preparing for today and that’s why they couldn’t help. In fact, that underwear scene was improvised by Riho. Noting Hayato will be sharp enough to notice the decorations, hence she told the girls to just strip as distraction! All of them are grateful for him allowing them a place to stay and call home. No more strangers, right? Yeah, they heard his whole monologue thingy too. The party gets started but it ends on somewhat a gloomy note. At least for Akane. A call from mom and she doesn’t look enthusiastic about it.

Episode 7
Ami’s boobs are sore because Hayato squeezed them too hard?! Hey, at least they still maintain its shape!!! HAHAHA!!! Sighs… Akane’s advice: Should’ve squeezed them softer… But that night, Hayato confronts Akane and can tell that she wants to quit (he could also tell she has quit her band). Yeah, her actions have been strange lately. She admits she is moving out by the month end and WTF offers him to squeeze her boobs?! Hayato, you’re making me think you’re gay!!! But Hayato needs a favour from her: Go out on a date with him tomorrow. Sorry to disappoint you, it’s just to let him know on some of the workings of the café before she leaves! Expecting to be taken to a movie or something? Then they return to Familia so Akane can brew him one last coffee. She wonders why he never asked her reason of leaving. Basically, he is not forcing anyone to tell and respects their wishes. Okay, cue for Akane to tell him. She comes from a famous trading family. Her dad died young so mom wanted her to take over and produce an heir. Yes, there is an arranged marriage for her. Of course she wanted a year off to do things she wanted before all that and now it’s been a year. Time to go home. Hayato points out her lie and he hates that. Yeah, why her coffee tastes like sh*t?! That is when other girls barge in because they overheard it too and don’t want her to leave. So what will it be, Akane? Hayato will respect your decision. She wants to stay. In that case, he’ll help her. See those genuine tears? You bet.

That day comes as Akane’s mom is here to talk to them. OMFG, she has dead fish eyes?! Anyway, Akane is shocked when Hayato tells her to tell mom herself. So she says she wants to stay. But mom isn’t convinced. You’re coming home. It looks like the whole thing ended but then Hayato starts scolding Akane. Why isn’t she saying anything? At this rate, it will happen exactly as it is. Mom is telling you to come home and she isn’t making clear her intentions. When she blames him for reneging on his promise to help her, he fires back that he will not help anyone who can’t even look at her mom in the eye and say no. That is when Akane decides to brew some coffee for mom. Meanwhile Ami reports to the rest the status: Hayato telling Akane to leave! Oh boy. Sure left out lots of details, huh?! Mom gets a taste of the coffee. Then she starts talking about her life as a diplomat and was happy with what she did and the inheritance thingy did not come across her mind. Unlike Akane who never finished what she started. If that’s the case, she would just drag her back home to be the heir. But drinking her coffee, she can clearly tell what she has been doing here and allows her to stay. OMFG, her eyes now has life! Learning of Hayato, she hints she knows his grandma. The other girls barge in to plead for Akane to stay. A little too late because the talk’s over. And Hayato got beaten up for nothing. As mom leaves, she will turn down that arranged marriage. Akane wants to marry the one she loves so mom hints she has a lot of rivals and on her family’s name, she better win! Deny all you want, Akane. Mom can read you like a book. Later Akane goes to thank Hayato by hugging him (Hayato further proves his gayness by shrugging off her hug). Had not for his yelling, things would’ve turned out differently. In fact, Hayato wanted to scold more intensely but held back a lot. Now he can drink her coffee for a little longer.

Episode 8
Summer is here so Hayato wants to enlist the girls’ help to work at the beach house he is planning to hold. Everybody is up for it but wonders where he got the funds. Well, he put 4 months of revenue into this and is going all in on this wager! Well, if the investment is already made, no choice but to go through it. So they think about the uniforms as well as the special menu. Ouka comes up with this semi-swimsuit version. A bit risqué so she teases Hayato about it. Riho won’t lose out and comes back with a real swimsuit to up the teasing. It gets worse because somehow Shiragiku gets drunk on alcohol laced wipes and is close to naked all over him. He thought Akane is back to save his skin but she just announces she is back in her band who has renamed the group as Moja Moja Hige Girls. Really. After Shiragiku makes her prototype watermelon parfait, Hayato is going to take some shots but Ami photo bombs it. Ouka already ate some and they don’t have any watermelons left. Riho then has an idea. The ladies dress in their uniform while Hayato takes photos of them with the sea as the background for their promotional material. They’re more natural when they start playing in the water. Surprisingly but not, the photos went viral. First day of the beach house, it’s a busy day so Hayato is glad he bet it right. Later Riho sees Akane chatting with Hayato. Somehow she gets pissed off thinking they are slacking and chides them. They were just discussing about some efficiency suggestions. Embarrassed, Riho continues to get irritated. See, annoyed so much that she collapses! Riho dies and gets the isekai treatment! JUST KIDDING! A nightmare about somebody leaving her. She wakes up in her room clinging onto Hayato. Learning he was concerned about her and all (yeah, don’t do this collapsing thing again, bad for his heart), a relieved Riho puts his hand on her face and apologizes. She wants him to accompany her to go apologize Akane but too bad she is on her own. Oh my, don’t get worked up again…

Episode 9
Shiragiku tells Riho that Hayato was very concerned about her after she collapsed. Riho thinks of going to thank him but sees hot babes trying to flirt with him at the counter. Of course she blows her top and Hayato gets the wrong idea she got mad for being concern. Then Fuwa’s grandson and his cohorts are here seemingly harassing Riho. Hayato gives Ami permission to scare them. I’m sure they can recognize who she is despite she wore masks of Jason, Pennywise and Ghostface!!! You guys better run like hell if you know what’s good for you. After Ami tells Riho about Hayato being concerned about her, Riho once more has a change in heart and decides to go make amends. What do you know? More hot babes trying to flirt with him. Is he that eligible? Well, we all know that kind of face Riho will make. The girls take a break as they don their swimsuits to go play in the sea. Akane hinting to Hayato that she is writing her first love ballad for summer. Care to hear the lyrics? Too bad Hayato is fishing and reeled in something big. Oh, it’s just Ami. Wasted. When some guy from the TV network is here to interview beach houses, he recognizes Riho. Well, do you not know her? She was a famous child star 15 years ago! This has some customers now remember who she is and of course some nothing her fall from grace. Riho can’t take the pressure and runs away. Obviously Riho is now feeling depressed as we see flashbacks of her pleading her dad not to go and will work harder. Then there were rumours at that time mom was overworking her and dad did not want that as he was very concerned with her health. Eventually her parents divorced and this devastated Riho. Hayato goes to talk to Riho and credits her sociable nature was something she worked hard to achieve instead of being naturally talented. Riho laments how child stars are dispensable and they looked at a new child star after she fell out of favour. She felt all her hard work only tore her family apart. Regardless of her family situation, Hayato credits her social skills as to why Familia is successful and needs it now and forever more. Therefore he is telling her not to overdo it because he is worried about her health. Those exact same words as dad said. This makes Riho bawl like a baby as she clings onto Hayato, telling him never to leave her. Next day, Riho returns to normal as the rest of the girls accept her for who she is although Shiragiku and Akane already have an idea of who she was. Riho tells Hayato to keep last night’s crying a secret. Because, well, it was just her acting! Care to act it out again?

Episode 10
What’s this? Ouka is now a stuck up uptight b*tch? She just made Ami cry?! Ami seeks comfort in the arms of Ouka after being bullied by Ouka. Eh… What?! Oh s*t. 2 Oukas?! Doppelganger?! Turns out she is Kikka and Ouka’s younger twin sister. As their parents are worried she didn’t come back for Obon, Kikka is here to check on her. Kikka doesn’t know about Familia well so she starts lashing her tongue on all the shady characters her sister has been living with. Technically, NOT WRONG! Kikka continues her tirade about their family’s prestigious Tokyo University pedigree thingy while she continues to be involved in some lowly job. With more badmouthing, cue for Ouka to slap her sister and send her running out in tears. Do as you wish. My, that’s enough family drama for today. Obviously Ouka starts spacing out and being clumsy during her shifts while Kikka is weirdly disguising herself and observing everyone in Familia. Ouka continues to ponder and blames herself for Kikka’s choices. Because she wanted to become a fashion designer and not go to a proper university, Kikka said she will do it all in her stead. Hayato then talks to Ouka that Kikka has been seen around Familia acting strangely. He is giving her the day off tomorrow to settle things. So as the sisters talk, Kikka admonishes Ouka for thinking it was her own fault that led to this. She clears the air she is doing this for herself. Ouka has been acting self-depreciating around her since and when she visited to check on her, she got treated like a villain. So she is also mad because Ouka never made cute outfits for her? Kikka breaks down after Ouka apologizes for the slap. As she brings her back to apologize for everything, oh wow, look at the sexy shenanigans the other girls are having with Hayato. Okay, maybe some other time. Thankfully Akane treats her with her favourite pumpkin cheesecake so it isn’t all that bad. That night, Ouka goes to thank Hayato for the advice. But how could he tell Kikka was not her? He was the only one who could distinguish them at first go. Even their parents had trouble doing so. Oh you see, Kikka is a lefty while Ouka is right hander. More importantly, Ouka would never have badmouthed a family member like Ami because among all of them, she is the most caring. Ouka praises him for being big hearted despite Kikka badmouthed Familia. But then, he gets all petty that Ouka never told her he too is a Tokyo University student and got accepted during high school. Dafaq?

Episode 11
As Hayato is busy thinking about his business management, Akane comes in to, let’s just say flirt with him and trying to lead him on. She hints he is being perceptive and knows one of them is in love with him. Despite Hayato claiming he is busy with managing the business and has no time for that, Akane gets flirtier. Then she trolls him about the stars and weather. You didn’t really think there was more to that, do you? Akane leaves but looking at his answer at all, she notes she’ll hold off her confession for now. With the bathroom broken, time to visit the public bathhouse. That’s right. Bathhouse fanservice and shenanigans! Time to get the ball rolling when the wagashi lady asks if they are in love with Hayato. Some disagree but it is obvious with Akane and Riho looking forlorn… With Riho’s thoughts jumbled on this, Akane then confronts her and tells her she has told Hayato she liked him. So if Riho insists she has no feelings for him, then Akane is free to get his heart, can she? After bath, Hayato accompanies Riho to do errands. While they chat, Riho’s mind is preoccupied with what Akane said. What was Hayato’s reply? More importantly, what does Hayato think of her? Then she lets it slip as she claims she is in love with him. Hayato answers that he is quite busy handling the business so he has no time to think about it although he is happy for it. So did he escape? But anyhow, it makes Riho feel happy. But soon first blood is drawn when Riho sees Akane getting too close to Hayato as she teaches him how to make coffee. Time to stomp your foot down. Akane’s smug look. Riho’s angry face. Oh sh*t. World war might start. Smart Hayato gets the f*ck out of there!!! Akane teases Riho having no feelings for Hayato as Riho counters that by claiming she does. Meanwhile Hayato in the streets hear the people talking about cute waitresses fighting over a guy! OMFG, did he actually think it’s them?! Blaming himself for being too attractive?! Before the cat fight can begin, Ami comes in to give them some mud ball and drop them because if it breaks they have to stop fighting? HUH?! Akane and Riho then reconcile. Akane admitting she was doing this because every time Riho wanted to say something, she just held back and bottled it up. So now she’s made it clear. At this time, Hayato has returned and tells them he has no intentions of having romantic relations. So stop fighting over him. However he gets confused over this mud ball thingy and thinks this is another trolling. Poor guy, runs out all confused and crying! WTF?! Akane and Riho renew their friendly rivalry that they won’t hold back. And so it begins… Late that night, Hayato catches Shiragiku searching through grandma’s stuffs.

Episode 12
Hayato thinks of coming up with a new menu. However Ouka teases him for wanting to make the girls do the job for him. But Akane and Riho agree with him because obviously they’re trying to score points with him. Later Hayato has Shiragiku teach him how to make some cake so he doesn’t have to rely on the girls when they move out. Of course this makes Shiragiku sad for him thinking such way. Aren’t they always family? He apologizes and changes his mind she can stay here anytime. Then she asks if anything happened recently. Oh you know, romantic confessions. Obviously he is a bad liar. Suddenly Shiragiku hugs him and claims she has someone she likes. But she feared of going out with him for fear of making him sad. Woah. Serious? Since Shiragiku wiped some alcohol wipes, you know what comes next. Why is it that at such moments, somebody must come in? Thankfully it’s only Akane. Oh, she’s not going to help? You sure of letting Shiragiku molest him like that? After he puts her to bed, he wonders how much of what she said was sober. As Hayato and Shiragiku in town and then they heard the local shopkeepers talking about some 3 star restaurant, this makes Shiragiku panic so Hayato knows she knows something. This prompts him to ask what she was searching in grandma’s room. Flashback time. Her father was a chef disciple under grandma. When he found Familia, he told grandma he came back to open his own restaurant. It was then Shiragiku first saw Hayato. Yeah, a rude little rascal. Grandma had Shiragiku bring some ice cream to him. Unfortunately outside she tripped and dirtied Fuwa’s shoes. Of f*ck. That scary face and tone. What can a poor girl like her do if apologies aren’t enough? Hayato splashes the hose at him. There, feel clean? Well, it made him blow his top but with other people around commenting how childish for him to get mad at a kid, he leaves in a huff. So, Shiragiku has been hiding the fact that grandma was a chef from him. Why? Well, when Shiragiku came back to work under grandma, she had her promise not to tell a secret to Hayato. Apparently what Shiragiku was trying to find were photos of grandma working as a chef in Spain. Knowing this, Hayato now knows he was the reason she quit being a chef.

You see, when grandma was working at a head chef in Spain for 15 years and helped her establishment get 3 stars, she then had plans to open her own restaurant called Anehelo. But before that worked out, she cancelled it and returned to Japan. It was the same time Hayato’s parents were killed and she took him in. So you can see why Hayato blames himself although Shiragiku begs to differ. Sure, grandma could’ve opened one right in Japan. But it had to be in a prime location like Tokyo to be at least profitable. Doing so would have left Hayato all alone here. Knowing grandma, she wouldn’t leave her grandchild alone even if she were to financially struggle. Hence Anehelo is Spanish for longing. Hayato believes the reason why Shiragiku told him about the kind of guy she would date and marry was that the only way he would figure out if grandma was a chef was if they were married since her father was her disciple. As for grandma regretting her choice, Shiragiku says no. She once asked her about it and she said she had never. Her reason for living was Hayato. He realizes he has got a lifetime of grandma’s love here in this café and he isn’t going to let it go under. Shiragiku also tells him her other promise is that to support him as his family no matter what. Nice moment ruined because the other girls eavesdrop this and are crying like babies. Poor grandma! Yeah, not Hayato. We take a peek into the future with Hayato now a father and has a daughter. It is hinted that one of those 5 waitresses her mom. GUESSING TIME! Now we go back in time as Hayato and the girls enjoy their picnic. Shiragiku notes that since she doesn’t have to keep grandma’s past a secret anymore, she is free to proclaim herself as Hayato’s girlfriend candidate! This shocks Ouka because the way she says it, there are others too?! Oh Ouka, you’re being left behind?! When is your turn?! Shiragiku gets embarrassed and accidentally drinks Riho’s wine. Oh boy. We’re done making food, can we make a baby?! OH MAH GOD, SHIRAGIKU!!!

How I Met Your Mother: 5 Girls, A Guy And A Coffee Terrace
Oh wow. So I take it they’re not going to continue and get another season? Hold on a second. It is getting another season! I mean, after teasing us like that of Hayato’s future, it is only right that we get another season so we can guess who his wife is! Yeah, they manage not to give away too much hints but my guts are ringing like hell and speculate that person he is married to could be… AMI!!! OMFG!!! MY REASON WHY!? Well, the daughter had the closest hair colour to Ami and the most damning and evident proof: She is a bit dumb!!! OMFG!!! SAY IT ISN’T SO!!! And what about the rest of the waitresses who lost out to be Hayato’s wife? They got heartbroken and committed suicide! WTF am I thinking?! HOLY SH*T! I hope the next season proves me wrong!!!

I don’t think there is any sort of proper storyline here. A guy running a café with his live-in waitresses, uhm, doesn’t that sound very boring? Sorry folks, nobody turns into secret warriors to slay some dragon king before it burns down the world! Hah! Not that kind of fantasy. In the end, it isn’t about how Hayato is going to manage the café but rather how he is going to manage his girls. Ah yes, that’s where all the drama comes in and if you’re into that sort of genre like all those sappy modern Korean dramas (?!), then you’ll likely find this one appealing too.

Obviously the whole series would have been a notch boring had it not baited us with fanservice. Ah yes, what else is there to do when you have 5 cuties working as a waitress run by a single male. That’s right. All healthy young people here. I won’t say the fanservice moments are heavy as they are shown more sparingly throughout the series and episodes themselves. On occasions if you are paying attention, then you will be ‘rewarded’ with a fanservice scene like panty flashing, bath scenes and the likes. Even some shocking ones like Riho showing her panties to Hayato. I mean, really? And if there isn’t going to be enough fanservice quota for the episode, then they just have to force it with Shiragiku and her drunken behaviour as she strips down to her birthday suit and getting all merry about it over lucky Hayato. Yeah, it’s the only reason why they wrote her character as so. There’s literally no other reason I can think of even if you can somehow change my mind on it.

Without a solid plot to go with, the series hinges on the characters. They’re mostly a mixed baggage and if you’ve watched a lot of dramas in this genre, you’ll tend to see that kind of familiar formula. Oh you know, new kid in town, nobody likes him, spend some time with the fellow, find out he isn’t all that bad since he helped them in some ways with their personal issues, feelings of the heart start causing trouble, love complicates things… Yeah. That one. So basically our characters here tick off the checklist of tropes in such genres. The main character and the lone guy (obviously the series is targeted for male audience), the feisty one, the dumb one, the shy one, the quiet one and the sneaky one. Feel free to match which characters I’m referring to.

So let’s start off with Hayato. In a sentence, he is not the most romantic guy out there. Not the kind of guy who can sweep you off your feet with his charming and suave words because Hayato doesn’t have all that. Instead, he is quite blunt and straight to your face even if it means hurting you. Despite that, he is quite perspective and observant and perhaps knows what is mostly going on. As the new manager of Familia, this is a very much needed trait. This helps keep everybody toe to line as well as helping the business to stay afloat. Imagine if he was a pervy and one of those loser types, I think the café will close down at the end of the first episode! Everyone will just leave this dude without hesitation. So yeah, Hayato having this moody looks is not because he is a heartless bastard but rather this is the kind of tough love he gives for everyone. Including himself. That’s why the final episode that fleshes out more of his grandma was so that he could not live with the guilty fact that it was him who ended grandma’s dream. Sure, it wasn’t his fault but guys like him are inclined to think like that. Thus with Shiragiku as ‘witness’ to exonerate him of such guilt, now he can move on with no regrets. Grandma can now truly rest in peace.

Sometimes you think he is too busy trying to figure things to keep the business in the black and that’s the excuse why he doesn’t have time for romance. It’s also a good formula so we don’t get distracted by romantic shenanigans if he ever so initiated them. Because it isn’t so bad if the girls were the ones who took the initiative. Because of that, sometimes I wonder if this guy is gay because he keeps resisting our cute girls as some have given very bold signals and this guy doesn’t even flinch. But then again, have to remember that Hayato is a guy so his options are limited. The gender inequality once again at play. If the roles were reversed, Hayato would’ve been hit with sexual harassment lawsuits but if the girls do it, it’s all cheeky flirty fun. Also, Hayato is already a college student and he doesn’t even have a girlfriend?! Unbelievable! I’m really starting to think he is gay! Oh wait. His moody looks. Yeah, that may have turned off a lot of college girls who want to tackle him. So staying single could be a blessing disguise for the Familia girls because Hayato without a girlfriend, they are free to pursue that romantic interest without that obstacle.

They leave it a little late but I suppose now you can clearly see the frontrunners for Hayato’s love are Akane and Riho. This is only so as the initial episodes try to build up the relationship as the characters interact with each other. I mean, it would be totally unbelievable if suddenly some of the girls take a liking for him, right? That would make the whole romantic drama a lot cheesier. Therefore with the initial episodes fleshing out all those interactions, then only towards the end it becomes justified and a whole lot believable that Akane and Riho have finally realized their feelings for Hayato. This is why the duo are the only ones who have their past and whatever issues fleshed out and somewhat resolved. The single cour isn’t enough to flesh out the rest so these two will do for now.

Akane and Riho are like day and night, their personalities are so different and hence their approach to tackling Hayato will be a lot different too. Akane is more of the quiet and reserved type, likes to drop subtle hints. Can you say she’s got some sort of communication problem? The reason why she can’t articulate her intentions clearly unless forced to and even so via other actions be it making coffee or her music. Riho is more outgoing, her bustling personality may be a big tease. Despite being a lively person, it all feels like false bravado that screams she wants some sort of attention. That’s why she is most likely the first to scream her head off at Hayato, right? Either way, all gloves are off between them for Hayato’s attention. May the best girl win? As long as this doesn’t affect their work, I suppose it is okay. Imagine drinking coffee that tastes like sh*t while watching a love triangle drama unfold right in the middle of the shop! We didn’t pay for such crap! No wonder the coffee tastes so much worse…

With the duo making the most impact, I’m not saying that the rest aren’t but in terms of the race to Hayato’s heart, there is a big gap as Akane and Riho are leaving the rest in their wake. Based on my guts, I was certain that Ouka would’ve been the kind who would have been at least the frontrunner for Hayato’s heart. You know, among the girls, she is the feistiest and butting heads with Hayato. You know it when a boy and a girl start disagreeing too many times, right? Right now, she looks more of a tsundere and I also bet that she too has some feelings for Hayato. My biggest evidence is not moments of Hayato saying something really cool that makes her react so. Rather, remember the time Kikka visited and she ran her mouth and trashed everyone with her accusations that were scarily close to the truth? One of them included as she claimed that one of them among the girls is likely in love with Hayato. She is referring to Ouka, right?! Because the twins know each other’s thoughts as pointed out and by saying that it means she is saying that Ouka is having feelings for the guy. Kikka doesn’t know Akane and Riho well at that point and while she may just be randomly shooting her mouth, that to me is the biggest hint that Ouka does have feelings for Hayato. After all, Ouka too has that moody looks that matches Hayato. Just saying…

Then there is Ami. Ah yes, every group needs some joker. She is the epitome of a dumb blonde and a muscle brain. Being the most active girl who leaps before she looks, she is responsible for a lot of dumb happenings and jokes among the group. I want to claim that this behaviour of hers is hiding and masking a very tragic past. Oh you know, an abused child from a broken family! But since they didn’t flesh out any of her past at all, I’m just going to believe that Ami is just a dumb girl. Heh. And that’s an understatement! Therefore with all her silly antics, this is easy for us to write her off as a close contender for Hayato’s heart. Really. You think Hayato will fall for this girl? So many times he is not amused with her shenanigans. Guess who is the one who broke his laptop the most times?! That’s you Ami. You’re leading the count. For better or worse, Ami being this retarded character means better rivalry and chances for those who are after Hayato’s heart. Unless you tell me this silliness is all part of an act to mask her love for him. NAH!!! She’s just a clown, baby! The way she goes into a vegetative state after running out of fuel (fancy term of saying how she doesn’t get fed) is prove that she is the group’s eternal resident joker.

Finally there is Shiragiku. They really leave it to the last episode to reveal the truth about her. But for the rest of the episode, she is what I would say still waters run deep. She may have overlapping characteristics with Akane but she is shyer in that sense. Because of her kind demeanour too, her presence is even less noticeable compared to Akane. Hence many will only remember her as the wild girl who strips whenever she gets a little alcohol in her system. Then she becomes the wildest among the pack. Best striptease ever. What if this is Shiragiku’s true personality? And that being the shy girl was just an act to cover up everything? Oh wow. It seems my theory here has everybody putting on fake masks to hide something. Anyway, in this context Shiragiku could be the most dangerous of them all. Right now she’s just a sexy streaker who wants to have fun when drunk. Thank goodness it is not some badass delinquent BDSM queen! Oh my! Now that she has come clean with her competition and announcing that she is also in the competition, Riho and Akane better not sleep on the job. It’s no more a 2 horse race, you know.

Lastly, the most important girl of the series and the backbone of everyone, you have to agree with me it is Hayato’s grandma, right? Hayato may be one thing in keeping the current family sticking together. But had not grandma laid the foundation, that glue may have worn off very fast. Thanks to grandma’s great words of advice, this is the main reason why the girls continue to stick around after her passing. Even more so when Hayato spouts the same lines grandma did, you could say those lines despite not being the most romantic catchphrases to tackle a girl’s heart, they’re the clincher that opens their heart as they find themselves drawn closer to him. Word for word. So exact. Definitely grandma’s boy. It makes grandma’s words to sound even more credible because what she says about Hayato and the likes have all come true. The only sad part is of course she is no longer around and Hayato can’t reconcile with her. Say all you want about making peace and moving forward but it would have been a lot better if all this was settled while she was alive. What’s done cannot be undone. No more chances now. RIP for real, grandma. Hayato’s grown up to be real man. Too bad she won’t be around to tease his wife like hell. Oh grandma…

While the art and animation are pretty standard because obviously all the main heroines look super cute and of the bishoujo type (where else in the world where you can get 5 super kawaii cute girls working in the same café?), however I noticed that the colouring and hues of this series is somewhat quite light and faint. It’s like the production didn’t want to waste too much money in making the visuals look vividly bright and hence the visual tones looking quite light. Are we counting on these beauties to make the visuals shine through? Well, it worked somehow. At least for me. After all, the girls themselves have different hairstyles and colour for our easy differentiation. Heh. This anime is done by Tezuka Productions so if you find the visuals somewhat (cutely) familiar, it’s because they are the same studio who made Kanojo Mo Kanojo, Go-toubun No Hanayome and Tsundere Akuyaku Reijou Liselotte To Jikkyou No Endou-kun To Kaisetsu No Kobayashi-san.

No complaints about the voice acting although I was confused when I found out that Asami Seto was the one behind Akane’s voice. And here I thought it was her voicing Ami because I was so certain that Ami sounded much like Chihayafuru’s Chihaya. Imagine to my surprise it is not. So she was behind Akane’s character and it was rather Sayumi Suzushiro behind Ami (Takemoto in Bokutachi Wa Benkyou Ga Dekinai). Yeah, so shock I am. The rest of the other casts include Masaaki Mizunaka as Hayato (Diablo in Isekai Maou To Shoukan Shoujo No Dorei Majutsu), Ruriko Aoki as Ouka (Yuuko in Muv-Luv Alternative), Aya Yamane as Riho (Benisumomo in Kunoichi Tsubaki No Mune No Uchi), Azumi Waki as Shiragiku (Fina in Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear) and Sumire Uesaka as Kikka (Shalltear in Overlord).

I don’t think much of the opening theme, Unmei Kyoudoutai by Neriame. Sounds like your generic upbeat anime pop. But the weird part is the opening credits animation whereby the waitresses are lining up and dancing. I don’t know, personally it looks more cringe than cute. If they think that such dance would be passed off as cute (because you know, cute girls prancing about), then so sorry it did not work for me. I wonder if the reason why I like the casual jazzy ending theme, Dramatic by Miki Satou is because it sounds close to the theme of an old anime series, Lovely Complex. Must be it.

Overall, this is just an average romance drama story with all the usual tropes and clichés. None that breaks any new grounds whatsoever. Because such genres might get a bit boring, that is why the harem part and the fanservice to bait male audiences like yours truly as motivation to stick to this series till the end of the season. But if you really want a café anime with some sort of romance without the sleazy drops of fanservice but with more slapstick comedy, I would recommend Working! Yeah. That one. Otherwise this is just an ordinary cup of Joe served by ordinary girls. That’s right, no goddesses or angels serving you in the café. Just ordinary girls with a touch of humanly love. Oh God, I think my cup of coffee has gone too extra sweet now… Maybe next season can reduce some of that sweetness. Oh heck, I’ll add more of that to it! More sugar and milk, please!