The opening shift at Sweet Dream Café was always a nightmare, especially the week before finals. After a long, soul-draining night of revisions and plowing through that god-awful book her professor swore was "life-changing" for their era, nothing could’ve truly prepared Sua for the level of social torture that awaited her.

The line of students practically stretched down the block, all clamoring for their daily caffeine fix, waiting for her to flick the switch on that neon “open” sign—a glaring, obnoxious brightness that felt like it was burning into her already tired eyes. But she powered through it, her face a mask of practiced indifference. If her responses were a little sharp, nobody would say anything. Especially not this early.

Still, she was grateful she wasn’t handling the madness alone. The line thinned quicker than she expected, giving her a precious moment to prepare a coffee. As the machine hissed and whirred, the steam rising in a comforting cloud, she couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

Suddenly, the bell above the door jingled softly, signaling another customer.

"Welcome to Sweet Dream Café. What can I get you?" Sua called out, not bothering to look up as she popped the lid on her drink and shuffled back toward the counter. Her eyes were locked on the register, moving with the slow, steady rhythm of exhaustion.

"Hmm. Something sweet. What do you recommend?"

The voice is so unexpectedly bubbly that it catches her off guard. She blinks, briefly confused by the cheerful tone. Her gaze shifts upward and locks onto a pair of eyes—bright, wide, and undeniably alive in the sleepy atmosphere of the café.

The girl standing before her has long, flowing pink hair, the color so vibrant it almost seems to glow as if enhancing her already soft, welcoming aura. Despite being barely seven in the morning, she exudes a radiance that makes Sua stop momentarily, mesmerized by her energy, feeling a strange sense of comfort at such a warm response.