The afternoon sun hit the windows of Café 90s, casting long shadows across Min-ah’s empty latte glass. She hadn't looked at her textbook in thirty minutes. Every few seconds, she tapped her phone screen, checking for a notification that wasn't there.

"An hour and a half passed", leaning against the pastry case, Si-woo whispered, "The 'Soccer Saint' is officially late. It seems like he prioritises the animal shelter duties over his commitment to the Class Rep."

"Or he’s just asleep," Jun-ho countered, though he felt a surge of petty triumph. "It’s midnight in California. But if he cared about her 'idiom prep,' he’d be awake."

Si-woo checked his hair in a spoon. "Precisely. The 'Daily Presence' strategy requires a counter-move. She looks like she’s about to cry, or worse, start studying on her own."

Jun-ho grabbed a clean rag and a plate of fresh lemon madeleines. "I'll go. I have the 'local underdog' advantage. If you go, you’ll start talking about the Louve and annoy her."

"The Louvre, Jun-ho. And I’m coming with you. We agreed on a joint takeover."

They moved toward her like two satellites being pulled into the same orbit, each trying to reach the centre first without looking like they were racing. Min-ah jumped slightly when the plate landed softly in front of her.

"On the house," Jun-ho said, offering a small, grounded smile. "Grandmother said the batch was too small to sell, but they’re still warm."

"Thanks, Jun-ho," Min-ah said, her voice sounding a little thin. She didn't reach for the cakes. Her phone sat between them, dark and silent.

Si-woo pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down with effortless grace. "You’re struggling with the English idioms, aren't you? 'A piece of cake,' 'Break a leg'— This vocabulary is ancient. It's the kind of English people only use in exams, not in real life. Let’s skip the outdated stuff and focus on what you actually need for the test." Why wait for a transatlantic call when you have a native-adjacent speaker right here?"

Min-ah looked at her phone, then at the two boys hovering over her. "Jace was supposed to call at noon. He said he’d help me with the 'Business English' section."

"Jace may be exhausted from all that volunteering," Jun-ho said, sliding into the seat next to Si-woo. "But we're here. I'm great at the technical terms, and Si-woo... well, he’s good at sounding fancy for some reason. Let's see the book."

For the next hour, the cafe was quiet except for the sound of the espresso machine and the low murmur of the trio. Jun-ho explained the logic, Si-woo corrected the pronunciation, and Min-ah finally started to laugh again.

Jun-ho’s Internal Monologue: She hasn't checked her phone in twenty minutes. This is working. Si-woo’s Internal Monologue: I’ve mentioned three French synonyms for 'Success.' Jace is becoming a footnote.

The bell chimed as a group of loud customers entered, calling the boys back to the counter. As they stood up, Min-ah’s phone finally buzzed.

A text message appeared on the lockscreen: "So sorry, Min-ah! Practice ran late, and I crashed. Can we do it tomorrow?"

Min-ah stared at the message. A few hours ago, she would have been devastated. Now, she just looked at the half-eaten madeleine and the notes Jun-ho had scribbled in the margins of her book.

"Everything okay?" Jun-ho asked, pausing by the table.

Min-ah looked up, and for the first time in three years, she didn't look past him. She looked right at him. "Yeah. I think I’ve got the hang of it now, thanks to you guys."

Back behind the counter, the boys exchanged a look of pure, unadulterated victory.

"The 'Daily Presence' is currently at 100%," Si-woo muttered, beginning to steam milk for the new customers. "The 'Global Ten' just slipped to a nine point five."

"Don't get cocky," Jun-ho warned, though he couldn't stop smiling. "He’s still the starting striker. We’re just the guys with the aprons."

"Yes," Si-woo said, his eyes gleaming. "But we’re the ones who were here when he wasn't."