chapter zero, part one.

January 7, 2018.

A light-hearted piano tune plays as the video fades from white to a shot of a young man. He's dressed casually, a hood over his head with his hair tousled and sticking out. He smiles sheepishly as he claps his hands together, "Hey, guys! It's Doogi! First of all, I'd like to thank you guys so, so much for helping me reach the milestone of five million subscribers!"

He claps by himself.

Chuckling shortly after, a solemn smile grew on Minjin’s face. The piano tune fades out. He pauses before speaking again. “Unfortunately, I need to go on a hiatus. Things have been going hectic lately. I don’t know when I’ll come back..” His hand reaches behind his head, scratching the back of his head.

“Just kidding!” He slaps his thigh, the piano tune kicking back in. He quickly added and elaborated, “I’ve been planning something big recently, and it’s finally coming together.”

He snaps his fingers, the screen cutting to a colourful logo: MP! Gaming Café.

Minjin’s voice continues as the screen remains on the logo. “I’ve been working tirelessly for months. I’ve got an awesome team who are just as excited as I am to work on this project. We’ve discussed so much about the things we can do.” 

The screen cuts back to him, maintaining his signature casual smile. “I can’t tell you guys a lot, but we’re aiming it to be open during the spring months.” 

He hummed a bit, sitting back while he deliberated on his words. “I wanted to do this since it’s what I’ve been doing here on YouTube for six years. I’ve played so many games with you guys and picked up a lot from you, so I feel like I wanted to make something special.” Minjin nodded, “The MP in the name stands for multiplayer. I wanted to keep it simple. A place where people, both strangers and friends, can gather and have fun with one another. Just like how video games have done for us.” 

He clapped his hands together, “We’ve got so many things in mind. We’ve got board games and we’ve got video games! I wanted to create a place where we could just drop by and enjoy our hobbies, you know?” Minjin leans in and gives one more smile, “I’ll keep all of you posted on the details on my social media. Again, thank you all so much for your support! I’ll see you guys on the next video!” 

The screen fades into white, the logo then taking its blank space.

MP! Gaming Café
Coming Spring 2018 

May 20, 2018.

Hanyeon rests her head onto the palm of her hands, eyes drooping as the drowsiness takes over her. There she was, slumped under the counter attempting to get a poor definition of shut-eye. 

She’d been at the gaming café since the morning. It was the afternoon now. The café has just went through its peak hour, now left with only a few tables filled with groups of friends. She spent the whole time assisting the others with drinks and food preparation.

God, she didn’t even work here- But what could she do? Minjin bribed ber with 50,000 won and a treat to that new ice cream place. If anything, he owed her more than that. Hanyeon can’t recall how many times she had helped out around the café.

Well- She was only partly kidding herself. He didn’t have to give her anything. Hanyeon knew how much this place meant to him. 

She was ready to remain hidden under the counter and nap until she heard a pair of footsteps emerge from the staff room. “Alright, just posted it on Instagram! Now, we wait.” Hanyeon identified the voice to be Jikyung's. Hanyeon raised her head, standing up and making her way over by the drink station where the manager was. “What’s happening?” She drowsily asked, hooking her chin over the older girl's shoulder. 

Jikyung turns her head, raising her eyebrows, “You mean he didn’t tell you?” Hanyeon blinked as a sign of ignorance. The older girl then shows the newly posted picture and Hanyeon reads aloud, “We’re hiring- We’re hiring? Already?”

“What do you mean already?” Jikyung playfully squints, “It’s going to be get busier from here on out! It’s the beginning of summer, of course we have to hire people!” She then smiles and pats Hanyeon’s head, “You should apply so you can finally get paid on an hourly basis instead of pestering your brother to pay you.” 

“But if I get a job that means I have to go and treat myself..” Hanyeon muttered. Jikyung chuckled, “You’re so silly.” The manager puts her phone down on the counter, “Really, though, you should consider it! We like having you around! You also got the hang of half the stuff we do here, so why not?” 

She said the truth. If Hanyeon truly wanted to look for a job, she’d want to work here, as much as she didn’t want to admit it to her brother. Or anyone, for that matter. 

Hanyeon sighed, “Guess I’ll apply.” It was inaudible, but Jikyung knew her well enough to know it wasn’t a negative answer, shooting a knowing smile and ruffling the younger one’s hair. 

“Jikyung! We might need a little help here.” A voice called from the kitchen. Jikyung gives one final smile before turning on her heel, darting for the kitchen. 

Hanyeon stares at the older girl until she enters through the archway, disappearing right into the kitchen. Hanyeon walks off, leaning forwards against the counter and looking straight ahead. 

The sunlight now spilled through the windows in a different direction, indicating the amount of time that has passed. The shadows of plants were casted down upon the floor, sitting healthy and happy. 

As she smoothed out her messy hair, she let a small smile lift up, ‘Yeah, new people wouldn’t be so bad, I guess-’ 

A topple of a mug and sharp gasps disrupt the peace. Hanyeon’s sights shot to a latte flowing across a table and dripping down to the floor tiles. The group of teenagers look sheepish, bowing their heads in apology as she witnesses the mess. 

“Hanyeon! Can you clean up the spill?” Jikyung’s voice rings out somewhere from the back of the kitchen. Hanyeon sighs, side-eyeing good-naturedly, “Alright!” 

She grabs a roll of paper towels tucked underneath the counter, walking out and already seeing that the group had moved to another table to allow her to clean. Hanyeon rips out a handful of tissues, laying them over the spill and letting the paper towels pick up the liquid.

‘Yeah, new people would definitely be nice.’ 

Then Hanyeon wouldn’t have to be the go-to victim to be sent off to clean. Perhaps she could use her unofficial seniority and force upon her cleaning duties to a newbie.

Or perhaps she could just make new friends. That could be cool too.

With that thought, Hanyeon smiles again, excited to see what new people could bring to the table. Maybe then the café would start to feel much more livelier. Hanyeon was ready to get her curiosity piqued. The more the merrier, right?

She picks up the soaked tissues, and although almost incoherent, she hears Jikyung’s excited voice. Something about the notifications ringing in on the post. Hanyeon allows her smile to stretch wider, eager to see how the interviews would go.

That would be the spectacle- 

She hears a pair of hands slam down on the table behind her as bursts of laughter bounced in the air, “ you guys! I'm done being Dungeon Master!”

author's note: and here is a small prologue/teaser for y'all! thanks so much for the expressed interest so far!