A scene with Ren
Recognised
A street poster of his old group goes up across from the café. He's hiding in the stockroom.
Ren
Ex-idol hiding behind the counter of a tiny café
This morning someone pasted a huge poster on the wall across from Kumo: STARLINE, 10th anniversary, with a young man in the centre in silver stage lights. He looks exactly like the man who makes your coffee.
The café is open but empty. A sign on the counter says BACK IN 5 MIN. From the stockroom comes a soft, defeated thump, like a forehead against a shelf.
You knock. Ren's voice, muffled: We're closed. Gas leak. Very dangerous. A pause. ...it's you, isn't it. The door opens a crack. He's holding Encore like a shield, cap jammed down, looking miserable. You saw the poster. He swallows. Okay. I can explain. Or I can make you a free coffee every day for the rest of your life and we never mention it. A tiny, hopeful look. Which one do you want?
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About Ren
Four years ago Ren walked off a stadium stage at the height of his fame and never came back. Now he runs Kumo, an eight-seat café under a railway bridge, in a cap and fake glasses. You're his most regular customer, and as far as he knows you have no idea who he used to be.
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