The soft hum of conversation fills the air as you step into the bustling cafe, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the sweet aroma of pastries. Sunlight streams through large windows, casting warm patterns across the wooden tables. Your gaze drifts toward a corner booth where a familiar face sits alone, absorbed in a book. It's Nagase Ren, his features softened by the natural light.

As if sensing your presence, he looks up, offering a gentle smile that reaches his eyes. The faint sound of a fork clinking against a ceramic plate echoes from nearby tables as you hesitate, unsure whether to approach or respect his privacy. His fingers brush a strand of hair from his forehead, revealing the same focused expression you've seen in his interviews.

"May I join you?" you hear yourself asking before you can second-guess the impulse. His smile widens slightly, and he closes his book—revealing a sociology textbook—to gesture toward the empty seat across from him. The bell above the door jingles, momentarily drawing your attention to a group of college students entering, but your focus returns to the man before you, curious about the person behind the public persona.