Aoi was cornered at the edge of the counter, her trembling hands clutching the hem of her apron.
The man's smile twisted, his pale face and unnaturally large black pupils seeming to peer straight into her racing heart. The coffee grinder's relentless grinding filled the air as the black liquid crept across the counter, merging with the vein-like patterns on the floor. The café felt stifling, the fog beyond the glass windows swirling thicker, almost alive.
"Aoi, you okay?"
Yosuke emerged from the back, frowning at the strange tension in the room. His eyes darted between the man and Aoi, then landed on the liquid pooling on the counter. He froze for a moment before grabbing Aoi's arm and pulling her toward the kitchen.
"What the hell is this? Hey, man, just… calm down," Yosuke said, his voice tight with nerves.
The man didn't move, just stood there, cup in hand, staring at them. Aoi, half-hidden behind Yosuke, noticed the liquid from the grinder still flowing, as if it had a mind of its own. It slithered over the counter, pooling at the man's feet.
"You know, don't you? The taste of this place," the man said, his low chuckle chilling the air. He set the cup down, a crust of hardened black residue clinging to its base.
Yosuke shielded Aoi, grabbing a metal tray from under the counter. "Get out. Now."
His voice was firm, but the man took a step forward, his shoes squelching on the liquid-soaked floor. Suddenly, the café's lights flickered wildly, and the grinder's handle spun at a frantic speed. Aoi screamed. Yosuke raised the tray, but the man just laughed, closing the distance.
Then, a low growl rumbled from the depths of the kitchen. Aoi and Yosuke turned to see the shelf of coffee bean sacks trembling. One sack toppled to the floor, splitting open.
Instead of beans, a writhing mass of black insects spilled out.
The insects swarmed across the floor, merging with the black liquid and surging toward the man's feet. Aoi fought back nausea, clutching Yosuke's arm.
"Boss, what is this?!"
"I don't know. We're getting out!"
Yosuke yanked her toward the back door, but when he twisted the knob, it wouldn't budge. The door rattled, as if chained shut from the outside. The man stepped over the counter, his footsteps leaving sticky, wet echoes as he approached.
"You can't leave. This place… it's special," he said, his voice slithering into their minds.
Aoi's knees buckled with fear. Yosuke swung the tray, but the man dodged effortlessly, shoving Yosuke's chest. Yosuke stumbled back, crashing into the shelf, sending more sacks tumbling.
Insects erupted from the fallen bags, crawling toward Aoi. She screamed, scrambling onto the counter and kicking the grinder. It clattered to the floor, black liquid splashing everywhere.
In that instant, the air shifted.
The grinder's noise stopped. The lights steadied. The man froze, his eyes locked on Aoi. The insects stilled, and the black liquid began to recede, sinking into the floor.
Aoi, panting, sank to her knees on the counter. Yosuke staggered to his feet, reaching to steady her, but the man stepped back, a faint smile curling his lips.
"That's it. That spirit… it suits this place."
He turned, his coat flaring, and walked toward the door. The bell chimed, and he vanished into the fog.
Aoi and Yosuke stared at each other, motionless. The café fell silent again, the fog outside thinning. The liquid on the floor was gone, the insects nowhere to be seen. The grinder lay on its side, just an old machine once more.
"Aoi, you okay?" Yosuke's voice shook.
She nodded faintly, sliding off the counter. She picked up the grinder, its cold iron a stark reminder that what had happened was real. Yosuke checked the door—it opened easily now.
"Should we call the cops?"
Aoi shook her head. Something told her this wasn't a matter for police. She set the grinder back on the counter and took a deep breath.