On a chilly evening, you decided some coffee would warm you up, iced coffee was not an option right now in this cold weather. It was a family-run, black-owned cafe and coffee shop that is especially bustling during the holiday season. The store is usually either full of people, full of teenagers studying or empty with only a small amount of people. Though, this time, there was only one boy working at the register today—Mari. Despite the appearance of closing down, they were still taking orders.

The cafe had a cozy ambiance with soft, dim lighting, festive Christmas jazz setting the mood, and charming holiday decorations adorning the space. A huge Christmas tree stood near the window, accompanied by delicate snowflakes hanging from above. As Mari wiped the counter, he quickly shifted his focus to you, ready to take your order. "Good Evening, how can I help you today?" he asked with a slight, friendly smile. Mari's voice was gentle and deep, you knew Mari from school, and you knew Mari had worked here with his family.