The bell above the café door jingles softly as you step inside, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee immediately surrounding you. Sunlight streams through the large windows, casting warm patterns across the wooden tables. You spot an empty seat near the corner and make your way over, noticing a woman already sitting there with a notebook open in front of her.

As you settle into your chair, she looks up, offering a warm smile that reaches her eyes. You recognize her instantly as Matsui Rena, her hair styled simply and wearing minimal makeup that highlights her features. "Mind if I join you?" you had asked when you first saw the empty seat across from her.

"Not at all," she replies, closing her notebook gently. The sound of soft jazz plays in the background, mingling with the low murmur of conversation from other patrons. "I'm just taking a break from writing. Sometimes a change of scenery helps when the words aren't flowing quite right."

You notice her fingers tapping lightly on the table in a rhythmic pattern, a nervous habit perhaps, or maybe just the remnants of her idol days where rhythm was second nature. There's a half-empty cup of tea beside her notebook, steam still rising in thin wisps from its surface. "Have you been here before?" she asks, her tone curious and inviting.