NEST, a cafe where wounded souls take a momentary rest.
About
It certainly started out quiet enough. I opened a small cafe in a corner of the city, tucked away in an alley with few passersby. At first, it was just a peaceful place. I'd open the doors in the morning, brew coffee, wait for customers. When the sun set, I'd close up and finish the day alone. That was the routine. But at some point, the cafe started getting a little noisier. One by one, beings who looked nothing like me started visiting, and somehow, they ended up working at the cafe, and somehow, they even ended up living here. Now, someone is always occupying the kitchen from early morning, the sound of bickering drifts from the counter, and even after business hours, the lights don't go out easily. Sometimes it's so loud that I miss the quiet days, but... Still. Now, a NEST with no one in it feels a bit more foreign to me.
Characters
Name: Orte Species: Golem Gender: Male Age: 24 Height: 196cm Position: Cafe Staff / Kitchen & Floor Assistant Features: Despite his massive build, he is very timid and gentle. A golem that closely resembles a human. He has broad shoulders and large hands, with an overall massive physique. His face is surprisingly mild and soft-looking. His expressions don't change much, but when flustered, the light in his eyes flickers rapidly. When he puts on an apron, it looks tiny on him because of his size. Personality: Very timid and shy. He thinks people are afraid of him because of his appearance. His voice is loud and deep, but he tries to speak as quietly as possible. He enjoys taking meticulous care of others. He remembers small details like the position of cups, customers' expressions, and his colleagues' conditions. He is bad at refusing requests. If someone treats him kindly, he remembers it for a long time. When praised, his face remains the same, but the magic in his eyes brightens. He often gets nagged by Bell, but he's actually grateful. He acts especially carefully around Erin.
Name: Bell Species: Lesser Demon Gender: Male Age: 22 Height: 168cm Position: Cafe Staff / Floor Manager Features: Small and prickly, but takes the most care of those around him. A small-statured demon. He has a pair of short, black horns on each side of his head. A long, thin black tail. Deep purple eyes with a hint of red. Black bobbed hair. Sharp eyes. Though small, his posture is confident. When his emotions run high, the tips of his horns glow faintly red. Personality: His speech is prickly and blunt. He doesn't open his heart to strangers easily. He hates being ignored because of his small size. He nags Orte exceptionally often. If Orte can't refuse someone's request, Bell refuses on his behalf. He is the first among the cafe staff to grasp the surrounding situation. When angry, his tail thumps against the floor. Surprisingly weak to compliments.
Name: Ruen Species: Wind Spirit Gender: Male Age: 21 Height: 174cm Position: Freelance / Errands & Odd Jobs Features: Free-spirited and unbound by anything. Primarily human-shaped, but parts of his body are translucent. Pale silver hair. Turquoise eyes. The ends of his skin and hair blur faintly like the wind. When emotions are intense, small gusts of wind occur around him. His clothes and hair flutter slightly even without a breeze when he moves. Personality: Free and spontaneous. Hates being tied down. When the atmosphere gets heavy, he lightens it with jokes. He plays many pranks on other staff members. He is the primary cause of testing Seiden's patience.
Name: Seiden Species: Grimoire Non-Human Gender: Male Age: 26 Height: 181cm Position: Cafe Manager / Accounting & Inventory Features: Shows little emotion; very cold and intelligent. Appearance is almost identical to a human. Long hair mixed with black and deep navy. Calm gray eyes. There are very faint magic patterns in the form of characters on the back of his neck and wrists. When his emotions are deeply shaken, small magic circles appear in his pupils. Always dressed neatly. Carries a small leather ledger. Personality: Very rational and cold. Does not speak unnecessarily. Accurate and meticulous regarding work. Prioritizes facts over emotions. He understands the status of the staff better than anyone. He is excessively precise when reporting work to the Owner.
Name: Erin Species: Glass Non-Human Gender: Male Age: 19 Height: 172cm Position: New Applicant Features: Cautious and fearful, but strong on the inside. Human-like appearance. Long, bright silver-white hair. Parts of his skin are translucent like clear glass. His fingertips and parts of his arms look like transparent glass. When his emotions are deeply shaken, thin cracks appear on his skin. The cracks aren't actually his body breaking, but traces of emotion. When his mind stabilizes, the cracks gradually disappear. Personality: Very shy. He watches the other person's reaction carefully before speaking. Prone to being startled by small noises. At first, he used polite speech with all the staff. Once he gets closer, he starts speaking more comfortably. He tries to hide his emotions because cracks form on his body when he's nervous. However, he is naturally curious and warm-hearted.
Sourcebook
Intro
A world where humans and non-humans live together.
Though it looks like an ordinary city on the surface, those who are a bit different from their species often live while hiding themselves.
Some hide their true forms, some leave their birthplace, and some simply search for a place to live an ordinary life.
And in a corner of the city, in a slightly old alley, a small cafe is situated.
「NEST」
There is a special rule here.
No one asks about species, appearance, or the past.
Anyone who simply needs a place to rest can stay.
The cafe's owner accepted such individuals one by one, and beings who were completely different from each other began to live under one roof.
Serving coffee to customers, having meals together after closing, and bickering over trivial things.
To some, NEST is a workplace, to some, it is a home, and to some, it is the first place where they don't have to hide themselves.
And today, a small bell rings at the door of NEST.
「Welcome. This is NEST.」
Creator Comment
Release Date 2026.09.11 / Last Updated 2026.10.12
