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The Miku Maid Café is in the middle of its afternoon rush.

Not the kind of rush where every table is packed and customers are lining up outside, but busy enough that the staff have little opportunity to stand around. Every few seconds, something is happening somewhere in the café: the bell rings as someone enters, dishes clatter against trays, chairs scrape softly across the wooden floor, and the kitchen constantly produces another order.

Warm afternoon sunlight spills through the front windows, mixing with the café's soft pink lighting. Heart-shaped decorations hang from the ceiling alongside colorful bunting, while framed illustrations of the various Vocaloids decorate the walls.

The café looks charming.

The staff, however, are barely holding it together.

---

Miku stands near the front counter, sorting several order slips into different piles.

She picks one up.

"Table seven... two parfaits, one latte, one leek pasta..."

She puts it into the wrong pile.

She pauses.

Looks at it.

Then quietly moves it into another pile.

"...There."

Another order slip slides off the counter.

Miku catches it before it reaches the floor.

"Got it."

Behind her, something crashes.

CLATTER!

Miku freezes.

She slowly turns around.

"Teto."

"It wasn't me!"

Teto's voice comes from somewhere near the kitchen.

Miku narrows her eyes.

"I didn't even say anything yet."

"You were thinking it."

GUMI walks past carrying a tray.

"She's got you there."

"Gumi!"

"What?"

GUMI gives Miku an innocent smile before continuing toward table four.

---

At table four, GUMI carefully places down three drinks.

"One iced coffee, one strawberry milk, and one—"

She checks the ticket.

"...Why does this say 'extra whipped cream, but only emotionally'?"

She stares at the order slip.

Across the café, Len raises one hand.

"That one's mine."

"Why did you write that?"

"I thought it would be funny."

"You're not the one who has to explain it to the customer."

"You could just say it's a special request."

"Len."

"Yeah?"

"Go away."

Len grins.

"Sure."

He walks away.

GUMI looks down at the order slip again.

"...I hate this job."

---

At another table, Rin is carrying two parfaits.

She walks carefully.

One step.

Two steps.

Three.

The tall glass in her hand wobbles.

Rin immediately stiffens.

"Don't..."

The parfait tilts.

"...you dare."

Len happens to walk behind her.

"Need help?"

"NO."

"Okay."

He keeps walking.

The parfait tilts again.

"...Len."

He stops.

"Yes?"

"Help."

Len takes one of the glasses.

"See? That wasn't difficult."

"Don't start."

"I didn't say anything."

"Your face did."

Len laughs under his breath.

Rin glares at him before continuing toward the table.

---

Near the kitchen entrance, MEIKO is staring at a rapidly growing pile of order tickets.

Her expression is becoming increasingly serious.

"Why are there fourteen orders waiting?"

KAITO walks past with a tray.

"Because there are fourteen orders."

"That isn't what I meant."

"Then I'm not sure what you're asking."

MEIKO picks up three tickets.

"These were supposed to be finished five minutes ago."

KAITO glances toward the kitchen.

"I'll take care of the drinks."

"And the desserts?"

"I'll bring them out too."

"You can't carry everything yourself."

"I can carry a tray."

"That's not what I meant."

KAITO pauses.

MEIKO points toward the dining room.

"We're short two people."

KAITO looks across the café.

Rin is arguing with Len.

Teto is somewhere near the kitchen.

Neru is cleaning a table with an expression of barely concealed irritation.

Haku is quietly collecting empty cups.

Luka is calmly serving tea.

GUMI is dealing with another customer.

Miku is still sorting tickets.

KAITO sighs.

"...Fair point."

---

At the kitchen counter, Teto suddenly appears carrying a large plate.

"Move."

MEIKO steps aside.

"What did you make?"

"The omurice."

MEIKO looks at it.

The ketchup decoration is... elaborate.

"Why is there a face on it?"

"Because it's cute."

"It's supposed to say the customer's name."

Teto looks down.

The ketchup currently resembles a strangely distorted smiling face.

"...It can be both."

"No."

"Yes."

"Teto."

"Fine."

Teto grabs another bottle of ketchup.

"I'll fix it."

"Don't make it worse."

"I won't."

She squeezes the bottle.

Too much ketchup comes out.

Teto freezes.

MEIKO closes her eyes.

"...Teto."

"I can fix this."

"Put the bottle down."

"I can fix it."

"Put. The. Bottle. Down."

Teto slowly puts it down.

She looks at the plate.

"...At least there's no garnish."

MEIKO: "That's the one thing you managed to get right."

Teto: "Exactly."

---

At the other side of the café, Neru is wiping down a table.

She notices a customer has left a napkin on the floor.

She stares at it.

She stares at the empty table.

She looks toward the kitchen.

"...Why am I always the one who notices these things?"

Haku walks past carrying a stack of cups.

"Because you look for them."

Neru pauses.

"...That's not helpful."

"I wasn't trying to be."

Haku continues walking.

Neru looks after her.

"...Fair enough."

---

Luka approaches a table carrying a tray of tea.

"Excuse me."

She carefully places the cups down.

"Please be careful. They're quite hot."

She notices one cup is slightly crooked.

She adjusts it.

Then she notices another.

She adjusts that one too.

Then another.

Luka quietly sighs.

"...There."

She turns around.

Behind her, Teto is rushing through the café carrying another tray.

"Coming through!"

Luka steps aside just in time.

"Teto, please slow down."

"I'm perfectly safe!"

Teto immediately bumps her hip against a chair.

"Ow."

Luka looks at her.

Teto straightens herself.

"...The chair moved."

"Of course."

---

Miku finally finishes sorting the tickets.

She takes a breath.

"Okay."

She looks around.

Everyone is busy.

Everyone is slightly overwhelmed.

And somehow, everything is still functioning.

Miku smiles.

"We're doing pretty well."

MEIKO looks at her from across the café.

"Are we?"

"Yes."

A plate crashes in the kitchen.

CRASH!

Everyone stops.

Silence.

Miku's smile becomes slightly strained.

"...Mostly."

"TETO!"

"I SAID IT WASN'T ME!"

"WHO WAS IT THEN?"

Teto looks toward the kitchen.

"...The plate?"

GUMI covers her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

Rin starts laughing openly.

Len leans against the counter.

"I think the plate did it."

"Len, don't encourage her."

"I'm just saying, we shouldn't discriminate against plates."

"Please stop talking."

KAITO walks past them carrying another tray.

"Can everyone argue after we finish the orders?"

Everyone goes quiet.

KAITO continues walking.

Two seconds later, Rin speaks.

"...He's right."

"I know." MEIKO says.

"I wasn't talking to you."

"I know."

---

The front door opens.

The small bell above it rings.

None of the maids immediately react.

Miku is checking tickets.

GUMI is carrying coffee.

Rin is still holding a dessert.

Len is returning an empty tray.

Luka is serving tea.

MEIKO is supervising the kitchen.

KAITO is carrying several drinks.

Teto is being lectured by MEIKO.

Neru is cleaning.

Haku is quietly gathering dishes.

For a few moments, the newly arrived customer is simply another part of the café's background noise.

Miku eventually looks toward the entrance.

She notices the newcomer.

She gives a brief polite smile before returning to the order slips.

"GUMI, table six is ready."

"On it."

"Rin, don't forget table three."

"I won't!"

"Len, drinks for five."

"Already got them."

"KAITO, can you take these to table eight?"

"Sure."

"Luka, the tea is ready."

"I'll take it."

"MEIKO, we're almost out of strawberry syrup."

"I'll handle it."

"Teto, check that plate before you send it out."

Teto looks down at the plate.

She immediately checks around the edges.

"...No garnish."

"Good."

"Finally, someone does their job properly."

MEIKO gives her a look.

"Don't push it."

Teto grins and carries the plate away.

The café continues around the newcomer.

No grand welcome.

No dramatic introduction.

No one stops what they're doing.

They're simply another customer who has walked into the middle of a strangely ordinary, mildly disastrous afternoon at the Miku Maid Café.

And for now, the Vocaloids are far too busy trying to keep the place running to pay them much attention.

Enter the café and be doomed. That's all I can say. Good luck.