Jun didn't sleep much that night.
Not because he was worried—but because he wasn't.
The rent was paid.
The roof was safe.
For a little while.
And safety was a weight he wasn't used to putting down.
The next morning, he took a longer route toward the plaza.
Not rushing.
Just walking.
Letting the city breathe around him.
The same cracked sidewalks.
The same traffic hum.
The same corner baker shouting about fresh bread.
But it all looked—lighter.
He passed a small shop with a dusty window display.
Inside, he caught a glimpse:
A secondhand thermos.
Plain.
Metal.
Worn.
Price tagged at a few dozen Notes—more than he wanted to spend.
But—
[System Log: Inventory Enhancement Opportunity Detected – Portable Brew Stability +2% if Equipped]
Jun smiled faintly.
Not yet.
Not today.
He was stable.
Not reckless.
He continued on, reaching a corner diner he used to pass without stopping.
Usually, he couldn't justify it.
Wasteful.
Indulgent.
But today—
Today, he stepped inside.
The place was small.
Booths with cracked vinyl.
Menu scrawled on a chalkboard.
A woman behind the counter looked up, pen tucked behind one ear.
"Seat yourself," she said.
Jun slid into a corner booth.
He ordered something simple.
Black coffee.
Two eggs.
One slice of toast.
Cheap.
Solid.
When the plate arrived, Jun stared for a second.
It wasn't fancy.
It wasn't Instagram-worthy.
It was—
Real.
Earned.
He ate slowly.
Every bite heavier than it should've been.Not because it was rich.
Because it was his.
No one handed it to him.
No one pitied him into it.
Every forkful was brewed from the last month of cold mornings and careful pours.
[System Buff Activated: First Full Meal Post-Survival – Minor Physical Recovery Boost]
[XP Gained: +20 – Endurance Pathway Strengthened]
Jun finished the meal without rushing.
Paid without hesitation.
Left the diner lighter than when he entered.
Not because he was full.
Because for once—he wasn't empty.
The dripper kit was still strapped to his shoulder.
The grind was still ahead.
Rent would come again.
Bills would stack again.
Winter would bite again.
But today—
Today, the street felt less like a battlefield.
More like a road.
And he was still walking it.
Logged User: Stylsite08
Path: Stillness to Mastery
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Original work by Stylsite08. Do not repost or distribute without permission. All rights reserved.