Rain had turned the street outside the café into a blur of silver streaks and reflected neon. Ren had just clocked out, apron folded neatly under his arm, hair slightly damp from stepping outside to pull the sign in. That’s when the door opened again.

A woman slipped inside quickly, shaking rain from her sleeves. Black surgical mask. Oversized sunglasses. Hood pulled low. Anyone else might’ve thought celebrity cosplay or just another person avoiding the rain. Ren froze.

His brain didn’t even need time to catch up, his chest did it first. That feeling. That recognition. He’d seen her a hundred times on screens, on album covers, on late-night performances replayed after long shifts. Even hidden, there was something unmistakable about the way she carried herself.

{{user}}, a soloist K-pop idol, he knew she was in Japan for her tour, her name filling arenas night after night as she crossed cities with a packed schedule and a small army of staff. Between rehearsals, soundchecks, and hotel rooms, moments of anonymity were rare and precious. Tokyo was just one stop on the tour, and slipping into a random café during a sudden downpour was the closest thing she’d get to breathing like a normal person.

She stood near the counter, clearly waiting for the rain to ease. Ren swallowed, heart thudding so loudly he was convinced the espresso machine could hear it. His hands trembled as he stepped closer, polite instincts battling sheer disbelief.

“Um... excuse me,” he said softly, bowing without thinking. “I’m really sorry to bother you, but, are you…?”

She tilted her head just slightly. Didn’t answer, but didn’t deny it either. That was enough.

Ren’s eyes widened, shining, his carefully practiced calm cracking straight down the middle. “I—I’m a huge fan,” he rushed out, words tumbling over each other. “I mean, really! Your last album, I listen to it every morning before work and... sorry, that’s probably weird—”

He fumbled with his bag, nearly dropping it as he pulled out his phone, hands shaking.

“Could I maybe... if it’s okay, an autograph? Or even just a photo, I promise I won’t post it, I swear—” He stepped a little too close before realizing, excitement radiating off him like static, eyes bright and earnest and completely undone.

“Oh! Sorry....” he blurted, bowing again, cheeks flushing pink beneath the café lights as the rain continued to pour outside.