Chapter 12: A Feline Guest and a Second Chance

If the new guest hadn’t spoken first, I wouldn’t have noticed their presence.
They lingered outside for a while before slowly entering the café.

“Oh…”
Up close, I was struck first by their towering height, then by their aristocratic attire, like something from a classic film. A brimmed hat adorned with feathers and lace, a voluminous dark blue dress, and a delicate black lace shawl draped over their arms.
They looked ready for a grand ball, not a café visit.

“Welcome to Baby Bird Café.”

“What a tasty-sounding name, isn’t it?”
They didn’t spare me a glance, their attention wandering around the shop’s interior, their behavior oddly distracted.

Rustle. The soft sound of their dress fabric brushing together accompanied their smallest movements.

“What do you sell here? Is that for sale too?”
After scanning the shop, their gaze fixated on the pig-bird with a sticky intensity.

“Pwee…”
The pig-bird, overwhelmed by the attention, trembled and shot me a pleading look. To divert their focus, I spoke again.

“May I help you with your order?”

“Hmm…”
Only then did they turn to me, letting out a long hum.
Their sharp, yellow eyes with slit pupils pierced through me, startling me. The predatory glint, as if sizing me up as prey, sent chills down my spine, raising goosebumps.

As I noticed the sharp fangs peeking from their upper lip and the long, claw-like nails on slender fingers, I wondered if this was one of those evil spirits I’d been warned about.

“Why are you scared of me, I wonder?”

“Uh… well…”
I’d have preferred dealing with the stoic Yama over this.
This guest’s unpredictable demeanor made it hard to tell if they were after my drinks or my life.

“Can I be served a drink with a sweet aroma, perhaps?”
Thankfully, they seemed to be a genuine customer.
With slow steps, they moved to the café’s only table.

As they turned, I caught sight of two bushy black tails peeking from beneath their voluminous dress.
‘I thought they were a human-shaped god like Blue Child, but are they an animal? Those beastly eyes…’

Seated, the guest produced a small pink yarn ball from nowhere and began rolling it across the table, an action oddly at odds with their refined appearance.

‘Like with Yama, they didn’t specify a drink. Am I supposed to guess?’
I wished they’d just say what they wanted—cryptic orders were a hassle.
I racked my brain.

Since they arrived right after I developed a new menu, should I serve the Special Cloudmilk Ice Cream?
They mentioned a “sweet aroma,” so a Cloudmilk-based drink seemed likely.

After much deliberation, I decided to serve both Cloudmilk-based menus.
I pulled chilled Cloudmilk from the fridge to heat, and thankfully, I had just enough pudding and frozen Cloudmilk for one serving of ice cream.
While setting up the ice cream in a dessert bowl, I poured the warmed Cloudmilk into a mug.
Carrying both on a tray, I served them at the table.

“Sorry for the wait. Here’s Warm Cloudmilk and Cloudmilk Ice Cream.”

“Hmm…”
Returning behind the bar, I watched nervously.
Their reaction to the drink and dessert seemed… lukewarm.

“Are these really meant for me to eat, I wonder?”
Using a long nail, they pushed the Warm Cloudmilk mug away.
That’s when I realized my mistake.

Flash!

[Rating: (+2)
Blue Child – A high-quality drink satisfying my refined taste ★★★★★
Catsy – Awful. Smells nice, but I hate hot drinks ★☆☆☆☆]
Preferred Customer Type: Childlike / Pending]

The Warm Cloudmilk got a brutal one-star review.
I hadn’t realized serving an unpreferred drink could tank the rating.
My heart sank.

“What’s this, then?”
Without even tasting it, they’d trashed the drink. Now, they picked up the ice cream spoon, twirling it between their fingers, taking their time. I had a bad feeling about this too.

Did I pick the wrong menu?
After staring at the ice cream, they finally took a scoop.

Crunch.
With no care, they stabbed the round ice cream layer, ruining its shape.

Clink.
The spoon hit the glass bowl with a clear, ringing sound.
I worried they could shatter the bowl with that tiny spoon.

Instead of eating, they poked and mashed the ice cream, finally taking a bite.

“Hmm… How do you eat something so sweet, I wonder?”

Flash!

[Rating: (+1)
Catsy – Decent enough ★★★☆☆]

‘Both flops?’
I thought at least one would hit the mark.
The ice cream got a mediocre three stars right out of the gate, leaving my mind blank.

Something was off. If so, why did they come here?
Could it be… just a random visit?

“This isn’t it. Did I get it wrong, I wonder?”
Barely touching the dessert, they stood up early, leaving the rejected food on the table, waiting to be discarded.

“Should I call it disappointing, perhaps?”
If they expected something specific, their talk of a mistake meant they had come with a purpose.

I quickly pulled out the four transparent cards to review.
Checking the preferred customer types, none seemed to fit this guest.
Definitely not avian, and their mature appearance ruled out childlike.
Reaper-like? Maybe, but it didn’t feel right.

Of my four menus, excluding the rejected card and those with filled preference slots, only one remained: Silverwing Herb Tea.
The card with an A-grade completion, with a “Pending” slot for a new preferred customer type.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t satisfy you. I won’t take any payment, so please, could you give me one more chance? I’ll serve something you’ll love next time.”

“Do I look like I have time to spare, I wonder?”
Their goodwill toward me seemed low, likely due to my menu misstep.

“You’ve graced my humble café with your presence, and I feel terrible for giving you a poor experience. Please, with your generosity, grant me a chance to make it right. If not now, come back another time, and I won’t disappoint.”

I couldn’t lose this customer.
With limited ingredients and the gods they could attract, I had to cling to every opportunity, even if it seemed desperate.
Attracting customers meant earning Causality, which could unlock new possibilities.
If this guest was like Yama, offering great rewards, or like the Thunderbird with Cloudmilk Fruits, or Blue Child with a talisman recipe…

“You seem sincere enough, don’t you? But who knows what’s next, I wonder?”
Leaving only cryptic words, they swept out of the café, dress trailing behind.

The very next day.
I’d worried Catsy wouldn’t return after leaving, but thankfully, my earnest plea worked, and they came back.
This time, they weren’t alone.

“Is this the place, meow? Can I expect something good, meow?”

“Mew-.”

“Hungry, meow?”
They brought three tiny children.
The group lingered outside before entering leisurely.
The noisy kids quieted upon entering, darting behind Catsy’s voluminous dress.

“Welcome back! Thank you so much for returning.”

“Can I expect something this time, I wonder?”

“I’ll prove your trust well-placed.”

“Can you prepare something for these kids too, perhaps?”

“No problem.”
Without much reaction, Catsy led the children to the table.
Only then could I see them clearly.
Dressed in toddler-sized suits and dresses, they looked like cute human children… but all three had pointed triangular ears and twin tails.

“How long’s the wait, meow?”

“Mew-.”

“Are those for sale too, meow? Should I ask, meow?”

“Pwee…”
At the table, they started playing with another mysterious yarn ball.

Watching them, an animal came to mind.
‘Cats?’
Catsy’s slit pupils, fangs, and claws all screamed feline.

As I placed a kettle of Silverwing Herb Tea on the stove, I realized my mistake. People who can’t handle hot things are often said to have a “cat’s tongue.”
That explained why they gave the ice cream a neutral review but trashed the Warm Cloudmilk instantly.

‘But… all I have left is Silverwing Herb Tea, and that’s brewed hot too.’
If I failed again, it was over. After such bold promises, failing would ensure they never returned.

I considered switching to cold Cloudmilk, but it hadn’t triggered a recipe card, so it wasn’t a registered menu.
As I fretted, the tea brewed, and as usual, steam butterflies rose from the kettle, their mystical floral scent filling the air.
The fragrance started as a gentle floral note with a hint of spice, shifting to a sweet undertone as it lingered.

[“Can I be served a drink with a sweet aroma, perhaps?”
“This isn’t it. Did I get it wrong, I wonder?”]

Come to think of it, I was brewing Silverwing Herb Tea the day Catsy visited.
I glanced at the table.
Catsy was entranced, watching the butterflies flutter around the shop, confirming my hunch.

‘They asked for something for the kids too, right?’
Unlike Catsy, the children found the butterflies curious but weren’t as captivated.
Noting that Catsy gave the ice cream a decent review and brought kids the next day, I made my move.

Clink.
I placed a cup of Silverwing Herb Tea and three bowls of Cloudmilk Ice Cream on a tray and headed to the table.

“Your order is ready.”
Unlike last time, Catsy’s bright smile at the tea confirmed I’d chosen correctly.
I was saved…