The humming of the coffee grinder echoed within the compact shop. Jane gazed at the seven-star scar on the barista's hand—the dot at the very end still emitting a faint violet glow, completely identical to her memory. Sunlight filtered through the glass storefront, casting dappled shadows on the peculiarly shaped Siphon resting on the counter.
"Freshly arrived Ethiopian Yirgacheffe," said the barista—the alternate identity of the young waiter—as he poured the freshly ground coffee beans into the upper chamber of the Siphon. "The flavor notes are violet, blueberry, and..." He paused meaningfully, "quantum aftertaste."
Qiyue's fingers tapped lightly against the wooden tabletop, their rhythm subtly synchronized with the café's background music. Jane noticed that the melody was precisely the theme song that had once linked countless worlds together, merely rearranged in a jazz style.
Chapter 39