Daboss👑

The café near Shinsaibashi was already half full when Kenji stepped inside on that Saturday afternoon. Soft Osaka light spilled through the large windows, turning the wooden tables a warmer shade of brown than they really were. He found a free four-person table by the window, ordered a sandwich and a coffee for 1,450 yen, and sat down with his phone. He was twenty-nine, worked at a company in the city, and had only meant to stop for a quiet lunch while out shopping. The sandwich arrived quickly. He ate slowly, scrolling through messages, half-listening to the low murmur of other customers. About ten minutes later, three women in their thirties approached. They were neatly dressed, the kind of women who looked like they had just come from a department store. The tallest one smiled with careful politeness. “Excuse me. There aren’t any other seats. Would you mind if we shared your table?” Kenji looked up, nodded once. “Go ahead.” They thanked him, sat down, and ordered without hesitation sandwiches, slices of cake, tall iced drinks. For the next forty minutes they talked among themselves about travel plans and shopping, their voices light and easy. Kenji finished his lunch, kept his eyes on his phone, and barely looked at them. When they finally stood to leave, the tallest woman turned back once more. “Thank you. We’ll be going now.” He gave a small bow. They left. A few minutes later he asked for the bill. The young server placed a slip on the table. Total: 9,600 yen.