"What was that?" Si-woo asked, his voice a mix of annoyance and genuine confusion. He stopped mid-pour, the hibiscus foam dripping forgotten from the pitcher. "Did we just get audited by some kind of fashion police? He didn't even say hello."

Jun-ho walked to the window, watching the man slide into the back of an idling black sedan. The car didn't speed off; it pulled away slowly, like it was taking its time to memorise the storefront.

"I don't know," Jun-ho muttered, his brain glitching as he faced a situation he had never anticipated. "But that guy wasn't a customer. He was checking if we were here. He had a photo on his phone, Si-woo."

Si-woo set the pitcher down with a clatter. "A photo? Of what? The espresso machine? This is ridiculous. Maybe it’s a secret shopper for some food guide. Or maybe someone is trying to scout the location for a movie."

"He looked too serious for a movie scout," Jun-ho said, turning back to his rival. He saw the genuine confusion on Si-woo’s face. "Look, I’ve worked deliveries all over this city. You see all kinds of people, but you don't see guys in three-piece suits doing 'market research' at 8:00 AM unless they’re looking for something specific."

"Are you saying he was looking for us?" Si-woo laughed, though it sounded a bit forced. "Why? I haven't even been in the country long enough to make enemies, and you... Well, you're a delivery guy. Who would send a hitman in a three-piece suit for a barista?"

"I'm not saying it's a hitman," Jun-ho said, trying to keep his voice down as he prepped a portafilter. "I'm saying it felt like a check-in. Like someone wanted to see exactly who was standing behind this counter. Don't you think it’s weird? The day after we start this 'Operation,' some guy shows up, taking mental notes of our faces?"

Si-woo opened his mouth to argue, but the bell chimed again.

It was Min-ah. She looked exhausted, her Class Rep badge slightly tilted on her blazer. She dropped her bag at her usual table with a heavy thud, looking like she’d been through a ten-round boxing match with her textbooks.

"You guys look like you’ve seen a ghost," she sighed, resting her head on her hand. "Is Grandmother Jung's new recipe that scary?"

"We're just... dealing with a strange morning," Si-woo said, quickly regaining his poise and sliding the signature cup toward her. "Drink this. It’s the 'Bitter Cocoa Special.' It’s supposed to help with the morning brain fog."

Min-ah reached for the cup, but before she could take a sip, the high-pitched, demanding ring of a video call pierced through the air. Her face changed instantly. The exhaustion vanished, replaced by a radiant, almost frantic glow.

"Oh! It’s Jace!"

She flipped the screen open. The "Global Ten" appeared, looking sun-drenched in California. He was wearing a soccer jersey, his hair perfectly messy, looking like a man who didn't have a single worry in the world.

"Hey, beautiful!" Jace’s voice boomed. "Sorry, I crashed yesterday. Practice was a beast. You aren't still mad at your favourite striker, are you?"

"I'm not mad," Min-ah said, her voice dropping into a soft, shy tone that Jun-ho had only ever heard her use for Jace.

Jace’s eyes panned across the screen as Min-ah turned the laptop slightly to show him the cafe. He paused when he saw the two boys standing like sentries behind the counter.

"Wait, who are the background actors?" Jace laughed. "Did your grandma hire a boy band to run the espresso machine or what? Or are these the 'fans' I should be worried about?"

Si-woo’s jaw tightened. Jun-ho felt a heat rising in his chest. Jace was thousands of miles away, yet his condescension felt like it was right there in the room.

"Friends? Cool, cool," Jace said, leaning closer to his camera. "Hey, guys! Take good care of her, alright? Keep the coffee hot and the creeps away until I get back to reclaim my throne."

He winked.

Jun-ho didn't look away. He stepped forward, putting himself right in the centre of the camera’s frame, looking Jace directly in the digital eye. The confusion about the man in the suit was still there, but it was being pushed aside by a much sharper feeling.

"We’ll take care of her, Jace. Don’t Worry," Jun-ho said, his voice low and calm. "But don't worry about the creeps. We're more worried about the people who make her wait."