In isekai stories especially the fanfics Hero binged as a teenager, there was always one common rule:
The protagonist gets a golden finger.
A cheat.
The thing that made the protagonist special.
Some people got swords, others got magic, others got systems with more menus than a shady mobile gacha game. But the cheat always came fast, usually right after reincarnation, sometimes even before the protagonist opened their newborn eyes.
So when Hero opened his eyes in this tiny helpless second life, he couldn't even burp on command.
He waited.
And waited.
Surely, at any moment now, he'd hear a ding.
Any moment now. Just wait a bit please.
Surely, a translucent screen would float above his crib, proclaiming something like:
[ Welcome, Chosen One! ]
But no.
All he got was normal baby stuff. Crying, milk, more crying.
Sure, he kept his memories. And yes, his mind worked faster, dangerously fast for the poor students he academically and extracurricularly obliterated on his climb to the top.
Teachers praised him. Students fled from him. A part of him felt bad… another part felt like he was accidentally bullying them just by existing.
But the cheat?
The system?
The overpowered bonus?
Nothing.
Days turned to months. Months turned into years.
Hero had almost given up on the idea entirely, until that night.
A simple moment. A déjà vu moment.
A repeat of a fateful action he'd performed in another life, from a game:
A woman in danger. A man in power.
His body moved on instinct, like the strings of destiny had been rewound and played again.
He stepped in.
He disrupted fate.
And in doing so, he once again became the Trickster, the defier of destinies, the one who could change the world.
He completed an entire epic as Joker, toppled a corrupt politician, killed god, saved Christmas and the world, rebuilt bonds, solved cognitive distortions… now twice.
Still. No. Cheat.
He had wild-card access, sure. His Personas, his mental agility, the social stats he maxed out the hard way, but those were things he had earned. Not granted.
So eventually he shrugged, accepted the bizarre unfairness of the universe, and moved on.
But apparently the universe was feeling generous.
When the radiance faded, a translucent panel hovered in the air, glowing warmly in the dim interior.
[ Café System Initialized ]
Hero stared at the glowing letters.
Then he blinked.
Then he laughed—light at first, then louder, a mix of disbelief and relief.
"System," Hero said aloud, half-teasing, half-thrilled, "you really did make me wait for a good one, huh?"
A tiny confetti animation popped up.
[ A good barista knows timing is everything! ]
Hero snorted. "Cute."
It felt surreal. His very first system screen. His actual cheat.
A grin tugged at his lips.
'Better late than never.'
Morgana hopped past him into the café, ears twitching.
"Hey, what are you—" He paused, blinking. "Why are you smiling like that? Maybe you finally snapped from jet lag?"
"Can you see the window?" Hero asked.
Morgana blinked again. "Window? What window? The only thing I see is dusty shelves and a counter that desperately needs polishing."
He padded in deeper, nose twitching. "Also, I smell potential. And old wood. Mostly old wood."
Hero exhaled slowly. "So it's just me. Figures."
The translucent panel pulsed softly, as if impatient.
[ Congratulations on starting your new café! ]
Hero laughed—actual laughter, bubbling up from somewhere deep. "I waited over many years for this. And you show up now?"
[ Scanning host's abilities… ]
[ Processing… ]
[ Analyzing Host Attributes… ]
[ Scanning Cognitive Profile… ]
[ Detecting Pre-existing Skill Trees… ]
A warning flashed.
[ Warning: Host possesses absurdly high stats. ]
Panels spiraled around him like a halo.
[ Wild Card detected ]
[ Max-Level Proficiency in: ]
– Charm
– Kindness
– Guts
– Knowledge
– Proficiency
Morgana froze mid-step. "Why did the air just get weird? Hero, I swear—"
Hero ignored him for the moment, absorbed in the expanding windows.
[ Hospitality Techniques: High ]
[ Culinary Skills: Master ]
[ Stealth & Perception: Very High ]
[ Negotiation: Master ]
[ Leadership: Master ]
[ Heartfelt Advice: S-Rank ]
[ Therapist by Accident: Very High ]
And the list went on.
On and on it went, a victory lap listing every skill he'd ever earned, every confidant maxed, every social stat grinded like his life depended on it.
Another window blinked into existence, this one a cheerful gold.
[ Given the host's overwhelming qualifications… ]
[ Tutorial skipped. ]
[ Beginner package unnecessary. ]
"Hey!" Hero sputtered. "I like beginner rewards—"
[ Upgrading to Advanced Owner Package. ]
"Oh, now we're talking," Hero said under his breath, tapping the air like he was scrolling through a menu on his phone.
Morgana hopped up onto a counter, tail curling. "You're talking to yourself a lot. I know New York's intense, but don't go full Joker on me."
"I am Joker," Hero muttered.
Morgana retorted. "The other one! Wait, that's not the point! If you don't explain in five seconds, I'm going to assume you're getting possessed."
Hero let out a breath. "It's a system, Mona. A legit one. A café management… thing."
Morgana's jaw dropped. "A system? You mean like the ones from those trashy novels you—" He paused, smirk creeping in. "Well, I guess it fits. You always were a bit of a protagonist type."
Hero rolled his eyes. "A bit?"
Morgana jumped up onto the counter, puffing his chest. "And obviously, if you're the protagonist, I am the wise, charming, incredibly handsome Morgana guiding you."
"Sure," Hero said, patting his head. "Let's go with that."
The café interior was still dim and rough around the edges—dusty tables, old counter, an espresso machine that looked like it belonged in a museum.
But Hero could feel it.
Possibility.
Warmth.
A place where people could heal.
A soft chime echoed.
[ Welcome, Hero Amamiya. ]
A place where he could give others what he wished he'd had during the hardest days of his past life.
[ Your wish:
A Café for Everyone.
Soothe the weary soul and body.
Guide them toward their path, their goal, their wish. ]
[ Serve loyal customers. ]
[ Be the barista, the bartender, the therapist, the doctor, the teacher, and the one who somehow knows every answer and has exactly what they need. ]
[ Be their friend. ]
Hero felt something warm stir in his chest. Something hopeful.
"Guess our work isn't done," he murmured.
Morgana's eyes gleamed in the dim light. "A perfect place for the Phantom Thieves."
Hero smirked. "Good. Because we're just getting started."
The system chimed again.
[ Advanced Owner Package Unlocked ]
[ Please open your Café Dashboard. ]
Hero lost track of time.
Time passed—minutes, maybe hours—as Hero explored the Café Dashboard. From Morgana's perspective, he was just staring into empty space again, occasionally mumbling "oh," "wait, seriously?" or "that's broken," while invisible windows flickered before Hero's eyes like a private fireworks show.
What Hero saw, however, was a blooming universe.
The Café Dashboard unfolded not like software, but like a living creature stretching awake, warm, responsive, almost playful. Colors shifted like auroras, the panels pulsing in quiet eagerness, waiting for him to touch, acknowledge, command. Like the café itself was wagging its metaphorical tail.
"Oh," Hero whispered, "you're… lively."
A cheerful chime answered him.
Morgana flicked an ear. "Are you talking to the furniture?"
"It's not furniture," Hero murmured. "It's… complicated."
He waved a hand experimentally. The walls breathed, literally shifting as the system demonstrated how easily Hero could adjust them. The lights brightened instantly, then dimmed again. Another gesture shifted the color temperature, turning the dusty room from cold grey to warm amber.
The café felt alive, like a loyal creature waiting for orders.
"It's like the café wants to impress me," Hero whispered.
The café lights flickered gently, almost bashfully, as if saying I try.
Morgana narrowed his eyes. "Why does the room feel like it's trying to get my attention? Stop that."
The café dimmed apologetically.
Hero bit back a laugh.
'It's like a puppy. A reality-warping puppy.'
As he explored, floating panels materialized around him with gentle enthusiasm.
The first one showed stats, not his, but the café's.
Atmosphere – Low but excitable
Comfort – Barely adequate
Ambience – Trying its best
Cleanliness – Please mop me!
Mystique – Present, but subtle
Customer Resonance – Dormant
Dimensional Stability: …???
Hero stared at the last one.
"Uh. Should I worry about that?"
The panel flickered innocently.
[ Please do not worry about this for now. ]
He decided not to think too hard about it.
Everything could be improved through effort, creativity, better equipment… or some cryptic resources Hero hadn't unlocked yet. The café seemed delighted whenever he touched a stat window, like a dog leaning into a scratch behind the ears.
He flicked the Ambience tab.
The room immediately brightened, as if bracing for feedback.
"No pressure," Hero murmured. "We'll work on it."
Morgana yawned. "Work on what? Are you planning to paint the walls with your imagination?"
Hero glanced at a new window and nearly snorted.
"Actually? Kind of."
The café chimed in agreement.
"Cleanliness apparently self-adjusts to my standards," he read.
A broom rattled in the corner, excitedly.
"I didn't ask you to—whoa!"
The broom shot upright and began sweeping dust aggressively, like a soldier finally given orders.
Morgana's eyes snapped wide. "WHY IS THE FLOOR MOVING—?!"
"Not possessed," Hero reassured him. "Just eager."
"Eager is not better!"
He swiped to the next panel—and immediately choked.
"Oh. Oh that's a lot of options."
The system unfolded displays for the walls, flooring, lighting temperature, furniture personalities, even the emotional aura of each corner.
Warm and welcoming.
Cool and mysterious.
Softly nostalgic.
Hero tapped one at random, and the walls shimmered into a gentle lavender for half a second before flicking back.
The system vibrated an embarrassed apology.
"It's okay," Hero said, suppressing a smile. "We'll experiment later."
Morgana yawned. "If you start painting this place in neon, I'm leaving."
"No neon," Hero promised. "Probably."
Next, a floating tab labeled Menu Creation hovered expectantly.
Hero tapped it.
Recipes unfolded into view, some blank, waiting for his input, others pre-filled as templates: caffeine boosters, calming teas, desserts that looked suspiciously therapeutic.
Each recipe had a slot labeled Effect, like a video game.
[ Warning: Please test responsibly. ]
"Responsibly?" Hero repeated.
The system helpfully showed an image of a drink glowing ominously.
Then another drink that seemed to warp gravity.
Then one that temporarily turned a stick figure into a floating saint.
"…Right," Hero murmured. "No miracle cures on day one."
Morgana perked up. "Wait, you can make stat-boost food again?"
"Food… drinks… emotional buffs… physical boosts… memory clarity… Encourage emotional honesty..." Hero squinted at the last part.
Then something stranger appeared.
He hovered the cursor over an item in the "Special Menu" section.
"…why can I sell weapons?"
Morgana fell very, very still. "Hero. Please tell me you're joking."
"I'm not. It says 'Non-Food Specialty Items.' This one is literally a dagger."
The sub-menu unfolded with items he recognized from far too many RPGs:
– Materials.
– Weapons.
– Tools.
– Alchemy kits.
– A rusty sword?
– A shield made of… starlight?
"WHY?!"
The café chimed helpfully.
[ For future customers. ]
"That doesn't reassure me."
Morgana raised a brow. "Are you talking to your imaginary UI friend again?"
"…Yes."
Morgana groaned. "I swear… everything around you gains sentience."
"Better than losing it."
Hero kept exploring.
One tab pulsed with gold:
[ Café Rank: F ]
Hero had unlocked the Advanced Owner Package, but the café itself…
was still Level 1.
Dusty. Shy.
Eager to impress like a baby phoenix tripping over its own wings.
As if reading his thoughts, the café dimmed the lights bashfully, then brightened them again in apology.
He smiled despite himself.
"Don't worry," he murmured. "We'll grow you up soon."
The building thrummed with pure joy.
Upgrading required energy, emotional resonance from satisfied customers. Their stories, their gratitude, their healing would fuel the place's evolution.
Another tab remained locked, wrapped in shimmering silver chains:
[ Membership System — Locked ]
Hero hovered a hand over it.
It pulsed once, like a heartbeat.
Morgana tilted his head. "What's that?"
"No idea. But it feels… important."
And then another lock.
Another chained feature.
This one glowed with shifting colors, almost too bright to look at.
[ Multiversal Access — Locked until Grand Opening ]
Hero froze.
Morgana frowned. "What's wrong?"
Hero exhaled slowly.
"Nothing. Probably. Hopefully."
The café hummed at him, almost coy.
Multiversal?
As in… actual multiverse?
The possibilities swirled through his mind, stories drifting in from different worlds, visitors stepping in from places far beyond New York, new bonds forming across realities—
The café chimed, bright and eager, as if shouting:
OPEN ME. OPEN ME. OPEN ME.
Hero placed a hand on the counter.
"Not yet," he said softly. "We're not ready."
The café dimmed respectfully.
But its excitement remained, like a tail wagging just barely under control.
Hero breathed out and smiled.
"Alright," he murmured. "Let's take this one step at a time."
Morgana hopped onto his shoulder. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"Wouldn't you?"
"No. I like naps."
A faint glow pulsed from the minimized system icon.
The café was waiting.
The universe was waiting.
Hero murmured. "Guess we're aiming higher than just a neighborhood café."
Morgana flashed a grin. "Perfect. Phantom Thieves always thinks big."
The system chimed, glowing softly.
[ Ready when you are, Owner. ]
Hero straightened, brushing dust off his hands.
"Okay. Dashboard explored."
He turned toward the counter with a spark in his eyes.
"Time to prepare for the grand opening."
The café practically buzzed with excitement.
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Thank you for your patience! It's taken me a while to release this chapter since I had to revisit my old notes after so many years 🥲.
Your support truly warms my heart. Every comment and power stone you share gives me the motivation to keep going.
I'm planning to rewrite the first 7 chapters, but I have decided to focus on writing new chapters first.
See you in the next chapter!