The Café Between Worlds

Ren had always been alone, an orphan without a family name, but not without warmth. In the cold, dreary orphanage that had been his home since childhood, there was one light that kept his world from crumbling—Kazuha. She was his closest friend, his first love, though he never dared to confess. They grew up together, shared secrets in the quiet corners of the orphanage, and dreamt of a future that seemed too far away.

At twenty, Ren's life was just beginning, but fate had other plans. The day started like any other, a blend of monotony and fleeting hopes. But by nightfall, tragedy struck. An accident—no one’s fault, yet cruel and unrelenting—stole his life in an instant. Darkness claimed him, cold and final.

Or so he thought.

When Ren opened his eyes again, he found himself in a place unlike any he’d ever known. It was a world bathed in twilight, with streets that led nowhere and buildings that whispered secrets of forgotten times. And in the heart of this strange land stood a small, cozy café, its sign swinging gently in the breeze: *The Café Between Worlds*.

It was a place for lost souls, spirits who couldn’t find their way to the afterlife. They lingered here, waiting for someone to help them move on, to find peace. And Ren, inexplicably, was now the owner of this peculiar establishment. His job? To guide these lost souls, to listen to their stories, and to help them pass on.

For months, Ren immersed himself in his new life, finding solace in helping others move on, even as he remained tethered to his past. But then, one day, she walked in.

Kazuha.

Her presence struck him like a bolt of lightning. She was just as he remembered, her soft smile, her gentle eyes. But there was sadness there too, a weight she hadn’t carried before. Ren’s heart ached as he realized that she was a lost soul, just like the others. The thought of helping her move on, of letting her go, was unbearable.

But he knew he had to try. He had to help her find peace, even if it meant losing her forever. Yet, as the days passed and he got to know the new Kazuha, Ren found himself more determined than ever. He couldn’t lose her again, not like this.

Ren resolved to find a way to save her, to change their fate. If this world had brought them back together, there had to be a reason. And maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to be happy here, in this place between worlds.