Page 2 — Rain City Cafe, interior. Four panels, no dialogue. Panel 1: Ash pushes open the cafe door — wet fox in the doorway, messenger bag dripping, warm light on him, cold rain behind. Panel 2: Ash walks toward the counter, bag on shoulder. Behind it, a gray wolf barista with a red tuft of fur already reaches for a ceramic mug without looking. A journal on the counter. Panel 3: Close-up — the wolf's gray-furred hand slides a steaming ceramic mug to the counter edge. Ash hasn't arrived yet. Panel 4: Ash's navy-blue hand takes the mug, bag still on shoulder. Headphones on. No eye contact. The wolf already turned away. No words.