Another morning, another day. Just when I arrived at my workplace, this is what welcomed me.
"Water please."
"Yes, be right there."
"One order of tonkatsu."
"Yes sir."
"Pick up the pace kid."
"My apologies."
Uhm… Why are there so many people here!! Yesterday this restaurant was so spacious. but now, it's getting cramped. Like how!!??
I noticed that Ms. Niko and Sayuki were in the kitchen. While Mio and… a guy that I haven't met are busy in the dining area.
"Kazuya!! Come here!!"
The voice comes from the kitchen. I walk to the kitchen and see a stack of meals waiting on the counter.
"Can you serve this please to their respective tables, we have our hands full here."
"Sure, I'll quickly change."
I rush to the changing room and immediately change my clothes to my uniform. After that, I serve the meals with haste.
While I am serving, Sir. Haru and Sir. Tomoyuki arrives.
"Good morning Sir I'll accompany the both of you later."
"Sure Kazuya, you don't need to worry about us. Just do what you need to do."
"Yes sir, see you later."
They sit at their usual table while I continue to serve the meals.
I thought that this restaurant was dying, but what's with the sudden rush of customers? I don't understand what's happening right now.
"Kazuya!!"
Great, what is it now? I check it out and see Sayuki, tying her hair.
"I'll continue to serve the meals, while you Kazuya. You'll cook the tonkatsu."
So all of this for tonkatsu?? Whaaaaat!!??
"You remember that one customer we had yesterday? It seems that he recommended this meal to his co-workers and now the restaurant is crowded."
Oh, I see that man who has a deadly glare. I wonder what company he works for.
"Also, I can't replicate how you cooked it, and you're the only one who can do it. So I'll leave the kitchen to you Kazuya, also The head chef and Ms. Niko will assist you."
"Sure, leave it to me."
She heads off and serves the remaining meals.
I wash my hands for a few minutes, wear a hairnet and an apron. After that, I start to work.
"Good luck Kazuya. I and Mori will help you cook."
"Sure ma'am, I appreciate it."
"Ms. Niko, I'll remind you again that I'm just a stand-in of the official chef."
"Yes, I know. I'll pay you later."
Oh, so he's just a stand-in. That's why he doesn't work too much, but enough of that. It's time to go to work.
I cooked tonkatsu order by order. I am glad that the restaurant is getting lively, but we can't handle a sudden surge like this. Also, there are only a few employees.
I continued to cook until the line of order was finished, and oh boy it was exhausting.
Everyone took a break in the dining hall including the stand-in chef.
"Haha, my it's been long since this last happened."
"And when did that last happen Ms. Niko?"
"A few years or so. Since our original head chef left and the current head is on break, it never happened again."
Ms. Niko looks at me, and her eyes gleam 'thank you Kazuya.'
"Until Kazuya helped us with the cooking and improved the meal itself."
They all clap their hands at me. Seriously, this is embarrassing that I could only laugh awkwardly.
"Hehe, well thank you so much to all of you. I only did what I needed to do."
"You've done far enough Kazuya, it's truly delightful to see this restaurant, filled with life."
"Thank you."
With that, Ms. Niko talks about the restaurant's future and its incoming changes along the way. Then, Sayuki keeps slapping my thigh, while staring at Sir. Mori.
Ms. Niko notices it and explains.
"Also Sayuki, Mr. Mori here is a regular in our restaurant but he's a stand-in for our head chef because he's taking a break."
Her face turns blank, embarrassed, and turns at me while her face says 'He's a regular!!? I should have kept my complaints to myself!!'
"Even when I don't work much in the kitchen, you still give me my wages."
"It's because I owe you a favor, also even if you don't specialize in this, I could teach you how to cook it."
"Fair enough, but I want to be a cleaner again."
"Soon my friend, soon."
Even though they look gloomy, they still have genuine smiles on their faces.
"To think that we could see familiar faces again is a miracle. I was about to close this shop if this continues. But, Kazuya, Sayuki, Mio, and Yu, thank you very much for your hard work."
Aww, I can't help but feel proud of myself. After all, I always degrade myself which is some sort of a motivator to me.
"You can count on u,s ma'am."
"With that, I'll double your bonus wages. Keep it up guys and soon we'll return to the map."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Ms. Niko returns a smile before she goes back to her office, while we go back to work. The customer volume became constant after a while, from crowded to small parties.
"Hey, can we have a song request?" asked one of the customers.
I look at Sayuki and head straight to the office and return immediately with a piano in her hand.
"Do you know how to play the piano?" she asked.
"More or less, but ill try."
"Good, ill help you set up the piano."
We place the piano on the mini stage and fix the piano. After being set up, I plug it on a jack and test the piano. So far, the piano has good quality, so I sit on a chair and ask the customer for their song request.
"Any song requests?"
"Cherry amor please."
Oh, what a nice choice. I start playing as I serenade the customers while they eat.
Like performing on a stage, I play with grace and passion as the customers cheer on my performance, even the others are pleased with me. If this would be the setup of this restaurant, I'd doubt that people won't come here for fine dining.
Song after song, I continue to play until there is no request left. And right on time, our one-hour break now starts. Sayuki calls me from the kitchen. I take a look and see her with Mio and a guy.
"Hey Kazuya, your performance was amazing."
"Haha, thank you."
Come on, stop with the flattery. I'm just doing my job.
"Well, since you're interested in Yu. We now introduce you to Sato Yu, the boyfriend of Mio, and one of our trusted friends."
"Hello, my name is Sato Yu. Glad to make your acquaintance."
He seems to be kind, what am I saying of course everyone is kind in my eyes. He has spiky hair, a thin yet built body based on how to fit his clothes are, and a face of an innocent man.
Compared to mine, who has small eyes, fluffy yet messy hair, a face that looks dead inside, and has the same height as sayuki, that's 5'5 if I'm correct.
"Hello Yu, my name is Akihito Kazuya. You can call me Kazuya."
"Are you letting people that you just met call you by your first name?"
"Well, it's been a habit of mine ever since so my apologies."
"No, no. There's no problem with that, also you can call me Yu if you want."
We both shake each other's hands and the two girls clap their hands.
Well, that's quick. That's one quirk of mine, to make friends at a quick pace. I get to find good and bad friends, and I observe those people whether they would stay or leave.
I have two friends who are far away now. I wonder what they are doing.
"With that out of the way, let's chat with Sir. Haru and Sir. Tomoyuki while we use our break time."
"Sure, let's go."
The four of us leave the kitchen and walk towards my former teachers.
"Oh hello, come sit with us."
We sit near them and Sir. Haru presents us with a few packs of cards.
"Pick your cards."
"Well, what's your pick guys?"
"Uno!"
It's a unanimous decision. Sir. Haru opens the box and starts to shuffle the deck.
"Let the games begin."
We enjoy our time together and the start of the restaurant's rise to popularity begins.
-chapter 5 ends.
To be continued