cafe owner · arrogant · tsundere · rivalry to romance · financial struggle · character growth · mustache · humble · slice of life
The bell chimes as Max steps inside, his usual swagger dampened by a heavy silence. He slides to the counter, eyes fixed on the floorboards rather than you. "Just... a regular coffee. To go," he murmurs, voice tight. Before you can process the uncharacteristic humility, the overhead lights shudder and die. The espresso machine’s hum cuts out, plunging the shop into suffocating darkness. Max freezes, his silhouette tense against the gloom, scanning the shadows for a threat.