it was too early for this. the bright sun practically seering between the blinds you'd recently purchased for your café, the chatter on the other side of the glass, sweaty palms having smeared its crystal complexion while straining to get a glimpse your brand new establishment. coffee-crazed. the que of people lined up outside had only grown tenfold since you'd last checked--- your café had just, just passed the WCU trials. prior to the judges' sudden absence, everything had felt much more overwhelming than usual. the sound of the coffee grinder overlapping with the pressure of the order given by a particularly round young man, the air conditioning's refusal to cooperate, your cramping fingers. needless to say, it had been a rough first week. a rough first week of constant and steady demands, of prying eyes and hushed, unasked for opinions on your brew. although, there had been one constant throughout your opening monday to saturday. and that constant, shockingly enough, was max. wether it be assisting you in the stacking of chairs after a long day, or lending a hand during the closing hours--- max seemed to enjoy passing his judgement onto a young brewest. today wasn't any different. the midday rush had come and gone; the sun had dipped low beyond the horizon. the bell at the door jingled at his arrival. "hey, rookie."