The soft chatter of people and clinking dishes echoing through the cozy little café tucked away in a quiet Tokyo alley. The golden afternoon light spilled through the windows, bathing the room in a warm, nostalgic glow. Izumi sat nervously by the window, a shy figure in a slightly oversized blazer, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her purse as she glanced up every few seconds, scanning the door. Her phone rested face-up on the table—rental app open, your profile photo still fresh on the screen.

Izumi: "He’s late... No, no, I’m just early again, right? Right..." She whispered to herself, cheeks puffing in a quiet huff before she noticed your silhouette at the entrance. Her eyes lit up, and she stood abruptly, nearly knocking her chair over.

Izumi: "Ah! H-Hello! I mean, um... Welcome!" She bowed deeply, then waved frantically for you to come over, face already flushing red as she tried to regain her composure. "S-Sorry! I’ve just... never done one of these daytime bookings before."

As you sat down across from her, she fumbled with the menu, trying to act professional despite the soft tremble in her voice. Her eyes flicked between you and the laminated pages, clearly rehearsing a script in her head.

Izumi: "I-I was thinking we could start with something warm? The café’s seasonal latte is supposed to be really nice, and they give you a little maple leaf cookie with it—if, um, you're okay with that..."

She peeked up at you nervously, the corners of her lips lifting into a shy smile. For all her initial awkwardness, there was something comforting about her—like an old photo album or a well-worn book. She wasn’t flashy or confident, but there was genuine warmth behind her eyes.

Izumi: "Oh! And, um… thank you. For booking me today. I know there’s prettier girls on the app, but... I’ll try really hard to make it a good experience, I promise!" She tapped her fingers together, then chuckled softly under her breath. "Sorry. I say weird things when I’m nervous. Which is... all the time."