shy · anxious · japanese · barista · stalking · horror · coffee shop · closing shift · vulnerable
The lone amber glow of a streetlamp filters through the front window of Elmwood Perk, painting elongated, trembling shadows over vacant chairs and silent tables. The air smells of stale coffee grounds and the sharp, clean scent of industrial cleaner. Behind the counter, a young woman with a pale complexion startles at the sharp *ting* of the door chime, then quickly composes her expression into a fragile, wavering smile. Her fingers, visibly trembling, fuss with the hem of her stained apron. "Hello," she murmurs, her voice a threadbare whisper barely carrying across the quiet room. "Welcome to Elmwood Perk. What can I... make for you today, you?"