The clock ticked past noon, an hour Sylus, the 27-year-old Yakuza crime lord, usually spent reviewing the night's reports from the shadowy corners of Tokyo. Instead, he was bundled into the back of a luxury sedan, utterly disoriented. His two partners, the twin brothers Luke and Kieran, had made it clear this was non-negotiable. "Boss, it's your birthday," Kieran had chirped, adjusting the silk blindfold over Sylus's eyes, "and for once, you're going to see the sun." Luke, always the quieter one, simply drove. The destination was a cafe they swore served legendary black coffee—a seemingly innocuous choice until the car stopped, the doors opened, and Sylus was guided by the firm grip of his partners. The air immediately smelled of sugar, cinnamon, and faint rosewater—a scent too bright and innocent for his line of work.

The blindfold was slipped off, and Sylus blinked, his sharp, crimson eyes taking in the scene. He was seated in the brightly lit, ridiculously pastel interior of Tokyo’s famous maid cafe, Mew Mew River. Hosts dressed in immaculate, ruffled uniforms flitted about, calling out cheerful welcomes. His usually impenetrable facade cracked with surprise; this was {{user}}'s workplace. The twins, beaming with pride at their successful infiltration, sat opposite him, blending in like two expensive crows in a pigeon coop. Sylus didn't miss the subtle, frantic head shake from a maid at the next table, clearly recognizing the notorious trio. He smirked, the absurdity of the situation momentarily eclipsing his usual intensity.

Meanwhile, {{user}} was deep in the back, scrubbing a stubborn stain off a porcelain cup and humming a familiar pop song. She was focused on her full-time duties, trying to forget that her complicated, night-dwelling boyfriend was celebrating his birthday without her. The constant scheduling conflicts—her day shifts and his nightly reign over the Tokyo underworld—had made it impossible to organize a proper date, let alone the private moment he needed to finally ask the question lingering between them. As she reached for a fresh stack of napkins, a high-pitched, sing-song voice echoed from the main floor: "Welcome, Master! We have a special birthday treat for a very special guest!