Before the coffee gets cold

    Who would you choose to meet if you had the chance to travel back in time but couldn't alter the present? In his book "Before the coffee goes cold", Toshikazu Kawaguchi walks us through many scenarios in which one might use such an offer. A little café in Japan claims to be able to transport customers back in time. However, there are a few requirements that must be met before accepting this offer.

1. No matter how hard you try, the present won't alter if you go back in time.

2. You can't meet people who haven’t visited this café.

3. You can only move to the past from one seat, and that seat is fixed.

4. But a ghost woman is occupying that one seat in particular. If you try to push her too much, she will curse you. When the seat is available, you can sit in it, when the ghost woman uses the restroom.

5. The most crucial guideline is, "There is a time limit". You will be handed a coffee, and you must drink it and return to the present before it becomes cold. If not, you'll turn into a ghost.

    Most individuals won't be willing to take a chance given all these odd and complicated rules. The author picks four situations where going back in time is necessary. They must travel to the past in order to exist in their present, even if it won't alter their current situation.

    The major characters in this book are Fumiko, Kazu, Hirai, Fusagi, Kohtake, Kei, and Nagare. Fumiko, who recently broke up with his partner Goro in the same cafe, is the subject of the first tale. She is curious as to why Goro left him. She doesn't even say a word to Goro during the breakup, therefore she now wants to know the background explanation. She must therefore go back in time to try to persuade Goro. The rest of the story is, what happens and whether she is successful.

    The second is about Fusagi, who wishes to give his loving wife Kohtake a letter. Due to his Alzheimer's condition, Fusagi gradually loses his memory. Kohtake was curious to read the letter. Fusagi presents the letter in what way? What conditions did Kohtake receive it under? How did she respond?

    In the third tale, Hirai, whose little sister died in an accident, longs to meet her. Kei, who wants to see her future daughter, is the protagonist of the last tale.

    One would be touched by the plot of each of these stories because they are all highly emotional. While time travel won't alter the present, the author immerses us in the lives of each individual and helps us experience their suffering as well as how it can help them lead their present lives. People will always possess the strength to overcome whatever challenges they encounter. It only requires a heart. And if the cafe succeeds in changing someone's heart, it has achieved its goal.

A fantastic, emotional book. Give it a read.