The café district buzzed like a small festival. Rows of fold-out chairs, vendor booths, and the constant hiss of steam created a rhythm Jun wasn't used to. This wasn't his park. This wasn't a quiet side alley. This was a stage.
A volunteer checked names off a clipboard. "Jun. Slot five. Warm-up starts in ten."
He nodded, stepping past the crowd. He kept his eyes forward, but he felt the weight of glances—some curious, some dismissive.
Across the way, he caught sight of a familiar face. The girl from Bean & Bite. Focused. Confident. She didn't look at him. She didn't need to. She was already where she wanted to be.
Jun set up at his assigned booth. Small table. One outlet. No frills.
[Tools: Verified – Hand grinder, temperature kettle, ceramic cups, manual scale]
All items accepted. No infractions.
Mina arrived just as he finished aligning his gear. She didn't cheer. Didn't wave. Just nodded from behind the rope barrier.
He nodded back.
[Task Active – Performance Evaluation: Live Brew]
Three drinks. One signature. Two classics. Public vote + guest judge scoring.
Bonus: Execution, emotion, consistency.
He cracked his knuckles and checked his water temp. 94°C.
No more time to second guess.
The host called out. "Slot five: Jun. Solo brewer. Community entrant."
He stepped up to the mic. His voice didn't shake—but it didn't boom either.
"I'll be serving a balance-focused sequence: one clean pour-over, one latte art cup, and one house-style pairing."
The crowd murmured. A few judges took notes.
[Buff Active: Foam Memory – Slight improvement to latte art consistency in live settings]
Grind. Tamp. Pour. Focus.
His hands moved by habit. Foam curled cleanly. Milk folded just right. The pour-over bloomed exactly on time. He wasn't perfect—but he was present.
Each cup landed with care, not flair.
The host returned. "Slot five: Judging complete."
Jun stood still. Watched. Waited.
The girl from Bean & Bite followed. Her drinks were flashier—he saw the rosetta swirl from meters away.
The crowd clapped louder.
But Jun didn't flinch.
Ten minutes later, the results were announced.
"Third place... Jun."
A beat of silence. Then applause.
Not wild. Not loud.
But real.
Mina nodded, expression unreadable.
Jun bowed slightly.
[System Notice: Public Recognition Registered]
+100 XP | Latte Art Module Expanded | Brewing Techniques Tier II Unlocked
New Passive: Flow State – (Locked: Requires repetition + rhythm)
He stepped off the stage.
Didn't cheer. Didn't grin.
But something settled in his chest.
He'd stepped up.
And they saw him.
He didn't know who took first. Didn't ask. Didn't need to. Third was enough. It meant he belonged.