A Call

Luna stared at her screen in disbelief as her dragon-knight avatar disintegrated into pixels for the third time.

"I swear this game cheats," she muttered, dropping the phone onto a nearby silk pillow like it offended her personally. She flopped back onto the couch and groaned. "I need fuel. Game fuel. Trash fuel."

As if summoned by fate—or her growing snack-starved aura—a soft knock came from the door.

"Miss Luna," said a familiar voice on the other side. "Would you like some refreshments?"

Luna hesitated. For a second, her instincts told her to say, No, I'm good, like she always did to save cash at the café. But then she remembered: this wasn't the café. This wasn't her cramped apartment. This was the gilded birdcage she'd woken up in.

She cleared her throat. "Uh… do you guys have junk food?"

There was a brief pause. "We can arrange a delivery immediately if you have specific preferences," the maid replied evenly.

Luna blinked. "Oh. Um. Wait, then what does the chef already have? Like… snacks-wise?"

"If you prefer something savory, we have a variety of baked vegetable chips seasoned with imported sea salt and truffle. If you prefer something sweet, we have a fresh batch of almond pastries, berry tarts, and house-made vanilla ice cream."

Luna raised a brow. "Alright. Gimme half and half."

"Very good, Miss Luna."

Within ten minutes, a silver tray arrived. And on it—laid out like an offering to a snack goddess—was a collection of things she never dreamed would be called chips: delicate slices of lotus root, purple yam crisps, and seasoned kale baked to crisp perfection. Next to them were glossy fruit tarts glistening with sugar glaze, and a scoop of ice cream so rich it could pass as velvet.

Luna popped a yam chip into her mouth and sighed. "Oh my god, this is gourmet crack."

She toggled back to her game and dug her spoon into a pastry, one foot lazily swinging off the couch.

Then, her phone buzzed.

She glanced at it—half expecting another "Good luck at dinner" text from her dad.

Instead, it was her café manager.

[Ken - Purradise Cat Lounge]

"Hey Luna. If you're available today, could you stop by the shop? There's something important that you need to know."

Luna sat up, frowning. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.

[Luna]

"Are the cats okay?"

A reply came quick:

[Ken]

"The cats are fine. It's not about them. Just… if you can, come today. You'll understand when you get here."

Luna stared at the screen, tart forgotten on her spoon. Something in that message nudged at her gut. Something serious.

She wiped her hands, stood, and called out toward the door, "Can someone help me get a ride to the city?"

The sleek green vehicle glided to a halt near the small park just a block away from Purradise Cat Lounge. Luna glanced out the tinted window and winced.

"Yeah, this is good. Drop me off here, please," she told the driver. "I don't want anyone thinking I've become a secret government agent or something."

"Yes, Miss Luna," the driver replied with a nod, ever professional.

She stepped out into the sunlight and briskly walked toward the café, hoodie pulled up and sunglasses shielding her eyes—not that anyone would suspect a billionaire heiress was power-walking past ramen shops and discount marts. Just two days ago, this was still her reality.

As the warm, familiar scent of brewed coffee and litter-grade pine hit her nostrils, she pushed open the café door.

Ding.

Inside, the soft mewls of cats mingled with the chatter of patrons. The moment she stepped in, a voice rang out.

"Luna!"

She barely had time to register before a tall figure approached—tanned skin, lean muscle under a casual black T-shirt, and a devastatingly warm grin. Leroy, the café's unofficial prince and magnet for every customer's eyes, strode toward her with long, confident steps.

"Are you really quitting?" he asked, dark eyes sharp but shadowed with concern.

Luna blinked. "What—no, no! I mean—kind of? It's complicated."

Leroy slowed, frown forming. "Complicated how?"

Luna let out a breath and smiled awkwardly. "I'm just in a really weird situation right now. Like... astronomically weird. I didn't even plan it. I'm just—uh—taking a break, not quitting. I promise I'll explain everything tomorrow. I just needed to come by today."

Leroy studied her closely. "You sure you're okay?"

"I think so? Maybe? Mentally still in the buffering stage," she muttered, chuckling dryly.

He tilted his head, expression unreadable for a beat. Then he exhaled and leaned against the counter beside her. "If it's a money thing again, Luna... I can help. I mean it. I've got enough saved up. You've always been there for the café—don't hesitate if you need someone to back you up."

The earnestness in his voice made her stomach twist. The same Leroy who used to bring her miso soup when she skipped meals was now offering her money. And here she was, walking around with access to assets that could buy the café ten times over.

Luna shook her head firmly. "No, Leroy. But thank you. Seriously. That means a lot. I... I've got some things to figure out. But I'll be okay."

Leroy looked a little wounded but managed a lopsided smile. "Alright. But the offer stands."

She nodded, giving his shoulder a light punch. "You're too nice. It's dangerous."

"Only to people who deserve it," he replied.

Before the mood could turn heavier, Luna glanced around. "Hey, where's Ken? He messaged me earlier and said to come."

"In the back," Leroy said, nodding toward the staff door. "He's been waiting."

As Luna made her way past the scratching posts and lazy cats sprawled across furniture, her heart thudded. Something about Leroy's concern, about this café—this old world she belonged to—felt even more fragile now that she had one foot in another universe.