DING!
[Welcome, Previous Host's Only Successor!]
Kai jerked his head up, tear-stained eyes wide. The glowing screen hovered in front of him, casting pale light over the café walls.
He yelped, stumbling backward until he nearly knocked over a chair. G2 squawked and fluttered in circles before diving onto his shoulder again.
Kai squeezed his eyes shut, clutching the little bird like a lifeline. No… no, no, no. If I don't look, it'll go away.
He waited.
His breathing slowed.
He was hesitant and trembled as he cracked one eye open.
The glowing window was still there. Waiting.
DING!
[You have been chosen as the Acting Anchor of Haven Brew Café]
Kai's lip wobbled. His voice came out small, broken.
"Huh? Does that mean… my mom is… dead?"
Tears welled up again, burning his eyes. His whole body shook as he whispered, "Don't take her away. Please… don't..."
Another message blinked, softer somehow, like the words were trying to soothe him:
[Do not worry. This is only a temporary action.]
[The original host remains tethered. Acting Anchor role will sustain café functions until her return.]
Kai sniffled hard, rubbing his face with his sleeve. "So… she's not gone?"
The window pulsed gently.
[Correct.]
For a moment, silence filled the café. Only Kai's uneven breaths and G2's soft chirps broke the stillness.
He wiped his cheeks, straightened his tiny shoulders, and whispered:
"…Okay. I'll wait. I'll keep it safe. Until she comes back."
The café lights brightened, warm and golden, as if in answer.
Then another notification unfurled:
> [Acting Anchor Permissions Granted]
> — Access to Inventory: LIMITED
> — Guest Shelter Functions: ACTIVE
> — Emotional Hearth Output: 45% (stable)
> — Growth Quests: Unlocked
Kai blinked at the words. "Growth… quests?"
The café hummed around him. The velvet chair by the fireplace shifted slightly, as though inviting him to sit.
G2 tilted its head and chirped, nudging Kai's cheek.
Kai exhaled slowly. His hands still shook, but there was determination in his voice now.
"…Okay. If Mom can do it, so can I."
Kai stood in the middle of the café, staring at the glowing screen. His reflection shimmered faintly in the glass, wide eyes, tear tracks down his cheeks, hair sticking out in messy tufts. He looked… tiny. Too tiny to be holding up anything, let alone a whole café.
"…Acting Anchor," he whispered again. The words tasted strange. Heavy.
DING!
[Acting Anchor Tutorial Initializing…]
[Step One: Breathe.]
Kai blinked. "B… breathe?"
The glowing words pulsed.
[Yes. Breathe. Inhale. Exhale.]
G2 flapped its wings, almost like it was mimicking the screen's rhythm.
Kai sucked in a shaky breath. Then let it out.
DING!
[Stabilization: +10%]
[Emotional Hearth Output Rising… 55%]
The café's golden glow warmed around him, lights flickering brighter, the faint smell of cinnamon and honey filling the air.
Kai's eyes widened. "…It listened."
He glanced around the café, which felt bigger somehow, more alive. The velvet chair by the fireplace straightened, as if proud of him. The counter gleamed faintly, polished by unseen hands.
DING!
[Step Two: Protect the Hearth.]
[Quest: Brew Something Worth Remembering.]
Reward: Hearth Stability +25%, Inventory (Expanded Access).
Kai's mouth dropped open. "Brew? But… I don't know how!"
G2 chirped, hopping onto the counter and pecking at the row of empty mugs.
Kai hesitated. "I can… try?"
Another message blinked into place:
> [Hint: Memory Ingredients Available. Choose One.]
> — Sunflower Petals (From the Ruin)
> — Ash-Echoed Cinnamon
> — Honey-Scented Hearth Dust
Kai reached out, tiny fingers trembling, and tapped Sunflower Petals. The words shimmered, and suddenly a jar appeared on the counter, filled with glowing golden petals that smelled like sunlight after rain.
His throat tightened. "Mom would use these… right?"
He set the petals gently into a mug, glancing nervously at the system.
DING!
[Ingredient Accepted.]
[Memory Brew: In Progress.]
The air warmed. The café walls hummed, like a heartbeat slowing into something steady and strong. The petals dissolved into a soft golden liquid.
Kai picked up the mug with both hands, the warmth seeping into his palms.
"…Worth remembering," he whispered.
When he placed the drink on the counter, the café pulsed once, strong and steady.
DING!
[Quest Complete.]
[Reward: Hearth Stability +25% — Current Stability: 80%]
[Inventory Expanded.]
The walls glowed brighter, gold spilling across every corner of the café.
Kai let out a shaky laugh, half-sob, half-relief. "I… I did it."
G2 flapped happily, circling him like a ribbon of white feathers.
The golden glow of the café walls had just settled when the bell above the door rang.
Chime.
Kai froze. His head whipped toward the entrance.
The café door swung slowly inward.
A girl about his age stumbled inside. Her clothes were torn, dirt smudged across her cheeks, a trail of dried blood down one leg. She wobbled, clutching her side.
"Ah..." Kai's voice caught. "W-wait..."
Before he could move, the café itself stirred.
DING!
[Guest Shelter Protocol Activated.]
[Cleansing Sequence Engaged.]
A soft golden mist poured down from the ceiling, wrapping around the girl like a blanket. The dirt dissolved, bloodstains vanished, her torn clothes mended at the seams. Even her limp eased as the mist soaked into her skin, knitting flesh and bone with gentle warmth.
Her wide eyes blinked at the glow, then at Kai. "...What?"
Kai gripped the counter, staring with his mouth half-open. He had no idea what to say. It worked… it really worked.
The girl wobbled again, then managed a small smile. "This place… it feels… safe."
She took another step forward. The café's lights brightened, cinnamon and honey curling through the air like a welcome.
Kai's chest tightened. He wasn't ready, but the café had trusted him.
He straightened his tiny shoulders. His voice was still shaky, but steadier than before.
"Um… welcome to Haven Brew Café."
G2 chirped proudly from his shoulder.
The girl blinked as the golden mist finished mending her wounds. Her cheeks flushed pink again, and she flexed her leg in surprise. "It… doesn't hurt anymore."
Kai stared, still gripping the counter. "The café… healed you."
She turned toward him, brushing strands of chestnut-brown hair out of her face. Her wide brown eyes sparkled with curiosity, even through the haze of exhaustion. Then, to Kai's shock, she grinned.
"This is amazing! A talking bird, glowing walls, cinnamon air...ohhh, and who even are you?" She leaned forward suddenly, hands on her hips despite her earlier limp. "Wait, don't tell me...you're the boss here, huh?"
Kai flushed, flustered. "A-Acting Anchor," he muttered.
The girl giggled, then twirled once, testing her mended leg. Her laughter filled the café, bouncing against the golden walls.
"Oh, this place really is safe, isn't it? I can feel it. Like the air itself is wrapping around me."
She stopped spinning, then frowned thoughtfully. Her fingertips brushed the edge of a nearby chair. Immediately, a tiny sprout poked up through the floorboards, just a green curl of life, trembling but stubborn.
Kai's eyes widened. "You… did that?"
The girl blinked at the sprout, then at him. "Oh! Yeah, sorry. It just happens sometimes. Plants like me. They grow faster when I'm around." She crouched, touching the leaf with one finger, and the sprout unfolded into a tiny sunflower in seconds.
She grinned sheepishly. "See? My parents used to say it's a blessing. But… maybe it's weird."
Kai shook his head quickly. "Not weird. Helpful."
G2 chirped approvingly, as if seconding the thought.
The girl's grin widened. "Helpful, huh? Then maybe I can help you, Acting Anchor." She thrust out her hand dramatically. "I'll be your first assistant!"
Kai blinked at her hand. His lip wobbled, but this time, it wasn't from tears. Slowly, he reached out and shook it.
"…Okay."
DING!
[Permanent Guest Registered: ???]
[Special Trait Detected: Nature Affinity – Growth/Healing Support]
[Role Available: Assistant (Unlocked by Acting Anchor)]
The system window flickered, awaiting Kai's choice.
Kai glanced at her, still holding her hand. "…What's your name?"
She smiled brightly. "Maris. What's yours?"
"Kai."
"Nice to meet you, Kai!" she chirped, already wandering toward the counter with endless curiosity. "So...what do we serve first? How does this café even work? Do we have cookies? Ooo, what's that glowing thing..."
Her voice tumbled through the café like a waterfall.
And for the first time since his parents had vanished, Kai didn't feel completely alone.
DING!
[Quest Update: Serve Your First Guest]
[Item Required: Memory Brew – Sunflower Petals]
Kai blinked at the glowing window. "Wait… the drink I made? For her?"
The system pulsed in confirmation.
G2 nudged the mug with its beak, as if to remind him.
Kai hesitated, clutching the warm cup. His palms were sweaty. What if she doesn't like it? What if I mess it up?
But Maris was already bouncing on her heels, her brown eyes sparkling. "Ooooh, is that for me? It smells like sunshine!"
Kai shuffled forward, holding the mug with both hands. His voice wavered, but he managed:
"Here… it's called a Memory Brew. Sunflower Petals."
Maris took it eagerly, cradling the mug between her palms. She drank it once, then her whole expression softened. "Ohhh… it's gentle. Sweet, but not heavy. It smells like when spring rain hits dry soil."
Kai blinked at her. "You… got all that from one taste?"
Maris giggled. "I've always had… I dunno, a sharp tongue? My parents used to tease me that I could taste what season a fruit was picked in. Watch."
She sipped delicately. Her eyes widened. "Mmm! Warm at first—like cinnamon hiding underneath—but the sunflower makes it lift at the end. Ohhh, and it leaves this little spark in your chest, like courage and most of all like home."
DING!
[Special Trait Confirmed: Refined Palate]
[Guest Maris can identify ingredient properties and emotional resonance through taste.]
[Potential Role: Ingredient Appraiser / Taster.]
Kai's jaw dropped. "…You're amazing."
Maris waved him off, cheeks pink. "Nah! I just like food a lot. But..." she leaned in, eyes sparkling."this? This isn't just a beverage. It's magic. It's memory. You really made this?"
Kai lowered his gaze. "The café helped… I just followed what it said."
She drank everything and set the mug down gently, smiling. "Then we'll do it together. You brew, I taste, and we'll keep this place alive and running."
DING!
[Quest Complete: Serve Your First Guest]
[Reward: Hearth Stability +10% — Current Stability: 90%]
[New Feature Unlocked: Guest Bond System]
Another window shimmered open before Kai. His eyes widened as he read.
[Guest Maris — Permanent Resident]
Trait: Nature Affinity (Growth/Healing)
Secondary Trait: Refined Palate (Ingredient Resonance Detection)
Status: Bonded to Café Core (Tier 1)
Relationship with Acting Anchor: Pending Development
Kai blinked at the words. "Bonded?"
The café pulsed softly, golden light curling around Maris like a cloak.
She gasped, looking down at her hands. A faint green glow shimmered over her fingertips, tiny motes like pollen drifting into the air before vanishing. "Whoa… I feel… connected. Like the café itself is breathing with me."
The window flickered again:
[Effect of Bond – Tier 1: Acting Anchor gains +5 Stability while Maris is present.]
[Guest gains Shelter Immunity: Café will protect her from external corruption and decay.]
Kai's breath caught. "…That means… the café will keep you safe too?"
Maris beamed, spinning in place, her chestnut hair flying around her shoulders. "Safe *and* useful! Told you I'd be your assistant."
She leaned across the counter, resting her chin in her hands, and added with a mischievous grin:
"Besides… if you're Acting Anchor, someone has to make sure you don't faint from nerves every time a customer walks in."
Kai flushed. "I-I don't..."
But the café's golden lights twinkled like they were laughing with her.
G2 chirped, clearly approving of the match.
The café hummed contentedly, but then...just for an instant, the lights flickered.
DING!
[Warning: Hearth Stability 90% — External Instability Detected Nearby]
Kai's breath caught. He looked at Maris, still laughing and twirling among the chairs. He clenched his small fists.
"…I'll protect this place. No matter what."