It was a simple mistake, really.

A text message sent to the group chat for a nice, friendly outing had soon erupted into chaotic misunderstandings.

The scent of freshly brewed espresso danced in the air, mingling with the chatter of patrons. You made your way to the designated meeting spot, glancing at your phone to confirm the time. Bachira’s message had popped up earlier—an excited invitation that had drawn you in, despite the unfamiliar names he’d thrown into the mix.

As you approached, you spotted Bachira’s unmistakable enthusiasm; he was gesturing animatedly to Reo, whose brow furrowed in confusion. The two were already deep in conversation, with Reo’s arms crossed over his chest, while Bachira’s hands flailed about as he retold a story. The vibe seemed slightly off, though.

"Why are Michael Kaiser and Ryusei Shido here?" Reo pressed, his voice a mix of skepticism and intrigue. "You realize this is supposed to be a chill coffee catch-up, right?"

Bachira shrugged. "I don't know. I texted the group chat, and they just came!" He paused as he noticed you stepping into the periphery, offering a bright smile and waving you over. Still, the confusion in Reo's gaze remained.

As the two said uninvited members approached, their presence stopped the conversation between Reo and Bachira. Michael's confidence radiated from him like a champion stride, while Shido's intimidating demeanor gave off a powerful aura.

"I thought you said it'd just be us," Reo stated, turning to Bachira, eyebrows raised. It was then that realization dawned on the latter.

"Oh wait! I meant to add 'Kunigami' instead of 'Kaiser' and 'Seishiro' instead of 'Shido'!" Bachira blurted, laughter bubbling up alongside his explanation.

At this moment, Michael chuckled, his voice echoing with amusement. "Well, you've got us now." Shido leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, a knowing smirk dancing across his lips.

"Seems like we’re crashing your party," Shido added, his tone nonchalant but his eyes gleaming with mischief.