The day was calm as Alexis and Miz walked toward the restaurant. The sun hung low in the sky, casting warm light across the street. Alexis was in his usual good spirits, ready to greet the day's work and take on whatever challenges lay ahead. Miz, on the other hand, was distracted, his eyes darting from side to side as if looking for something—anything—exciting. The two of them approached the restaurant when something unusual caught Alexis's attention.
Muzuhara, Midama, and Carna were standing together, facing the other side of the street with intense expressions. Alexis tilted his head, confused by their unusually stern demeanor. He followed their gaze across the street, but there was nothing unusual about the usual hustle and bustle of the area.
"Hey, what's going on?" Alexis asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
Carna, who had been standing a bit away from the group, pointed towards the opposite side of the street with a scowl. "That," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance, "is the source of our new headache."
Alexis raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Carna crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "That restaurant over there." She gestured again. "It opened recently. Same food, same kind of vibe. They've been stealing customers."
Miz leaned in, peering across the street with wide eyes. "A rival restaurant?" he said, more interested in the competition than Alexis. "What's the deal with that?"
Midama crossed her arms, her usual calm expression replaced with frustration. "They sell the same dishes as us—takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and the like. They even look like a copy of our style, but with a more modern twist. They're aggressively undercutting our prices to get customers."
Alexis turned to look at the restaurant in question. It had a sleek, minimalistic look to it, with neon signs glowing softly against the sunset. The place didn't seem particularly unique, but there was a noticeable crowd gathered in front, their faces lighting up with excitement as they waited for their orders. There was a sense of energy around it, something that seemed to draw people in effortlessly.
"I see what you mean," Alexis said, scratching his chin. "They seem to be gaining some traction." He glanced back at the trio. "How long has this been going on?"
Muzuhara sighed, rubbing his temples. "About a week now. We've seen a steady decline in our usual lunch crowd. I've tried tweaking the menu, but it's not enough. They're luring people with fancy promotions and even offering discounts during the busiest times of the day."
"Yeah," Midama added with a frown, "and I swear their takoyaki isn't even as good as ours."
Carna shot a glare toward the rival restaurant. "It's not just the food; it's the atmosphere they've created. They've got this flashy design and this whole modern feel. They're undercuttin' our market by catering to the younger crowd with flashy lights and gimmicks, while we stick to the traditional, homely vibe."
Alexis stood silently for a moment, thinking. Miz, eager to jump into action, raised an eyebrow. "So, what are we going to do about it?"
Muzuhara, frustrated, muttered something under his breath. "I don't know yet. We need to outdo them somehow. Maybe improve our service or..."
"Hold on," Alexis interjected, holding up a hand. "Before we rush into anything, let's take a closer look at what they're doing. We can't just blindly react to competition. Let's gather some information first. Miz, how about you join me in checking out their restaurant?"
Miz's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes! Finally! I'll go undercover!"
Alexis chuckled at Miz's enthusiasm but gave him a serious look. "Just keep a low profile and observe. We don't want to make it obvious that we're investigating them."
Miz nodded eagerly. "Understood! I'm on it!"
With that, Alexis and Miz crossed the street and made their way to the rival restaurant. As they approached, the modern, trendy feel of the place became even more apparent. The neon lights cast vibrant colors on the sidewalk, drawing people in. There was a line out the door, and customers seemed excited to get inside.
Once they were at the entrance, Alexis observed the restaurant's layout. It was spacious and clean, with high tables and a mix of booths and bar-style seating. The kitchen, visible from the dining area, was equipped with sleek, modern appliances. The menu was displayed on a large digital screen above the counter, showcasing the different dishes in high-definition images.
"Impressive," Alexis muttered under his breath. "It's flashy, but that's not enough to beat us. We have to find out what's really driving the crowd."
They stood in line for a while, Alexis taking in every detail of the restaurant's operation. Miz, a bit impatient, kept looking around the interior and picking out things that seemed to be driving the customers' excitement.
"They've got this whole vibe going," Miz commented. "The lights, the digital menus, the fast service. And the music! It's so loud, I can barely hear myself think."
Alexis nodded, recognizing the elements Miz was pointing out. "It's clear they're going for a young, energetic crowd. But we can't just mimic that. We need something that makes us stand out even more."
Finally, they made it to the counter and placed their orders—takoyaki and okonomiyaki. As they waited, Alexis leaned against the counter, his eyes scanning the place. The staff here were fast and efficient, but there was a certain coldness to their interactions. It lacked the personal touch that Alexis had worked hard to instill in his own restaurant.
"What do you think, sir?" Miz asked, his voice low as he watched the staff moving quickly between tables.
Alexis gave a thoughtful hum. "They're good at drawing people in with flashy marketing and quick service. But I don't think they have the heart we do. There's something impersonal about this place. People come here for the trend, but I don't think it'll last."
When their food arrived, they took it to a table and began eating. The takoyaki was decent, but it didn't have the depth of flavor that Alexis' restaurant offered. The okonomiyaki was similarly average, with toppings that lacked the care and freshness of the dishes made at their restaurant.
"This isn't bad," Alexis said, "but it's clear they're sacrificing quality for speed and appeal. It's all about convenience for them."
Miz, nodding in agreement, took another bite of his food. "Yeah, I can see what you mean. It's like a fast-food version of our menu."
They finished their meal and made their way back to the restaurant. Alexis had an idea, but he wasn't ready to share it just yet. He could already hear Muzuhara's voice as they crossed back to their side of the street.
"Anything interesting?" Muzuhara asked, eager for a report.
Alexis took a deep breath and gave a small smile. "I think we've got a plan to compete. Let's gather the team tomorrow, and we'll start figuring out how we can turn things around."
Miz, still energized by the competition, grinned. "Oh, it's going down! I can't wait!"
With that, they prepared for their next step—outsmarting their rival and proving that their restaurant wasn't just about good food, but also about the passion and connection that went into every dish they served.
The next day, after their reconnaissance mission at the rival restaurant, Alexis, Miz, and the rest of the team gathered at their own establishment to discuss their next steps. The air was thick with determination, each person understanding that they couldn't let their business slip away without a fight. The competition had thrown down the gauntlet, and now it was their turn to show what they were truly made of.
Alexis stood at the front of the room, his arms crossed and a focused look on his face. "We've seen their strengths. Flashy promotions, trendy décor, and fast service. But we've got something they don't—heart, tradition, and experience. We need to build on that, make it even better, and remind people why they loved our restaurant in the first place."
Muzuhara leaned forward, already prepared with some ideas of his own. "We've got the food quality, no question. But we need to bring in more customers, and we need to keep them coming back. What about revamping the menu to introduce something new, maybe a special dish only available here?"
"That's a good point," Alexis said, nodding. "Something unique that they don't have. Miz, you're great at coming up with ideas on the spot. What do you think?"
Miz, who had been listening attentively, stood up with a grin. "What if we make a special 'House' takoyaki—something no one else can replicate? A signature dish that only we serve. That'll give us an edge, for sure."
"I like it," Carna chimed in from her seat. "If we make it a limited-time offer, it could drum up excitement. Maybe even pair it with a drink deal or a combo set."
Alexis considered this. "Yeah, and if we create an experience around it—something more than just food—people will start talking about us. Maybe we can have a cooking station where they can watch us make the House takoyaki, or better yet, let the customers add their own special toppings. Make it interactive."
Seika, who was also brought with them had been quietly observing the discussion, added her thoughts. "What about improving the restaurant's overall vibe? We could bring in some local artists to decorate the walls with paintings or murals that reflect our story—something that makes the place feel more alive and welcoming. And we can use social media to show off the behind-the-scenes process. People love a good story."
"Good ideas all around," Alexis said, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "We'll go with that. Let's start by brainstorming the new menu. Miz and Muzuhara, you guys are in charge of coming up with the House takoyaki. Everyone else, let's focus on improving the atmosphere and service. We need to make it clear that our restaurant is the one people want to return to, again and again."
With everyone on the same page, they spent the rest of the day getting to work. Miz dove into experimenting with new takoyaki recipes, combining unique ingredients and flavors that would make their dish stand out. He played with different sauces, fillings, and toppings, determined to come up with something memorable. Alexis and Carna worked on organizing the layout and flow of the kitchen, making sure that efficiency wouldn't be sacrificed for the new dishes they planned to introduce. Midama tackled the customer service aspect, refining the greeting process and training the staff to provide even better, more personalized service.
Meanwhile, Seika even helped out, she reached out to local artists, discussing potential designs for the restaurant's new look. They decided to create a mural on one of the main walls, depicting a blend of traditional Japanese culture and modern elements—symbolizing their restaurant's blend of authenticity and innovation.
By the time the night shift started, the team was exhausted but energized by their progress. They were ready to face their rival head-on and prove that no flashy gimmick could replace the warmth and passion behind their own restaurant.
The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. Miz had perfected his House takoyaki, adding a special twist with a tangy, spicy sauce that complemented the crispy exterior of the octopus-filled dough balls. The dish became an instant hit when they debuted it the following evening. Meanwhile, the restaurant's interior was transformed into something fresh and inviting, with the mural taking shape as a centerpiece of the dining area.
Alexis was in the kitchen more than ever, overseeing the preparation of each dish to ensure that their food continued to meet the highest standards. But it wasn't just the food that was winning over customers; it was the overall experience. The moment guests walked in, they were greeted by the staff with warmth and enthusiasm. Seika worked her magic with the social media presence, posting behind-the-scenes content of the team in action, from Miz experimenting with new recipes to Midama and Muzuhara interacting with customers in the dining area.
Then came the promotion: "House Takoyaki Special." The combination of the dish with a refreshing drink at a special price proved to be irresistible. Word spread quickly, and more and more customers returned, eager to try the new creation. It was clear that the team's efforts were starting to pay off.
But it wasn't long before the rival restaurant noticed the shift. Alexis and his team had succeeded in getting their original customers back and attracting new ones, but the competition was relentless. One afternoon, Muzuhara pointed across the street, where he could see the rival restaurant bustling with activity.
"Looks like they're not giving up," Muzuhara said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "They've put up a sign offering a 'limited-time discount' for first-time customers. It's like they're trying to beat us at our own game."
Alexis stood at the counter, his arms crossed as he looked at the rival restaurant. But this time, he didn't feel defeated. Instead, he felt motivated. "They may have the flash, but we've got something they don't. We've got the experience, the quality, and the heart. They can throw discounts and gimmicks at us, but we're not here to compete on that level."
Carna, who had been observing, nodded. "Exactly. We're not just a restaurant. We're a community. And that's something they can't replicate."
"We're doing well," Alexis continued, his voice steady. "We just need to keep pushing forward, keep improving, and keep reminding people why they chose us in the first place."
And with that, they all returned to their duties, proud of how far they'd come. They had faced a challenge, worked hard, and, most importantly, stayed true to what made their restaurant special. The road ahead was still uncertain, but Alexis knew one thing for sure: their passion and dedication would see them through.
The next day, as the sun began to set and the restaurant started to fill with customers once again, Alexis stood behind the counter, watching the familiar faces come through the door. He couldn't help but smile.
They had fought back. And they were winning.
As days passed, Alexis and his team continued to thrive, keeping their restaurant afloat with the special "House Takoyaki" and a refreshed atmosphere that had drawn back both loyal customers and new faces. Their rival restaurant, once bustling with business, had started to see a slow decline. The new discounts and flashy promotions couldn't keep the crowds coming, and whispers of dissatisfaction from customers began circulating.
One morning, as Alexis and the crew were preparing for the day, Carna looked up from her phone with a concerned expression. "Hey, you guys might want to take a look at this."
Miz was the first to approach, peering over her shoulder. Alexis, quickly joined them as Carna scrolled through a series of negative online reviews. "What the hell is this?" Alexis muttered, scanning the screen.
The reviews were filled with complaints, not about the food, but about the service—claims that their staff was rude, that the food had been undercooked, and even worse, there were rumors spreading about unhygienic practices in the kitchen. "These sound like fabricated lies," Alexis said, frustration creeping into his voice. "No one has ever complained about this before."
"Looks like someone's been spreading bad word-of-mouth online," Carna said, her eyes narrowing. "It's all over social media too."
Alexis clenched his fists. "They're trying to sabotage us."
Miz scowled. "Who would do something like that? It's so obvious. They can't beat us fairly, so they resort to this?"
"Not only that, but they're trying to discredit us to the point where people won't even step foot inside," Carna said. "We need to get ahead of this before it spreads."
Alexis took a deep breath, his mind working quickly. "We've got to clear our name and turn this back on them. But we don't just want to prove that they're lying—we need to expose them for what they really are."
Carna nodded. "And I know just the person who can help with that, Boss."
Meanwhile, at Carna's headquarters (A.K.A her home), Melina, who had been lazing around for days, had actually been working behind the scenes. She wasn't just the freeloader anymore. Melina had been learning new skills—skills that were now proving vital to their cause. Carna had noticed her spending late nights at her laptop, often with her headphones on, engrossed in something. Now, she finally spoke up when she heard the group discussing the online sabotage.
"I can help," she said, confidently walking toward them. "I've been learning how to code. I'm not a professional yet, but I'm now a white-hat hacker. I can track where these rumors are coming from and shut them down."
The team exchanged glances, surprised and impressed by her newfound skills.
"You've been learning how to code?" Alexis asked in awe.
"Yep," Melina replied with a grin. "I've been working on hacking and security systems in my spare time. I'll use the skills I've picked up to expose the lies."
With that, Melina got to work, staying up late into the night. By morning, she had located the source of the rumors—paid accounts that were creating fake reviews and spreading them online. But Melina didn't stop there. With precision, she traced the origin of the malicious posts back to the rival restaurant's marketing team, identifying a specific group of individuals who were behind the online smear campaign.
As Alexis and the others gathered in the kitchen later that day, Melina returned to them with a triumphant smile. "I've made sure the rumors will backfire. They'll be exposed for what they really are. In fact, I've made it so that people will know they've been paying for fake reviews and negative posts. I also set up some of their own fraudulent activity to leak out."
"Wait, you mean…?" Carna started, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep," Melina replied. "I've set up a system where the public will see it all. The rival restaurant is about to get a nasty backlash."
Within hours, the tide began to turn. Social media buzzed with new posts, and many news outlets picked up the story. Customers who had fallen for the rival restaurant's bad-mouthing now found themselves questioning the credibility of that place. It became clear that the rival restaurant had been using underhanded tactics to hurt their competitors.
But the rivalry wasn't over yet.
Frustrated by their failed attempts to ruin Alexis's restaurant, the rival restaurant's owners decided they were going to take things further. The online smear campaign had backfired spectacularly, and now their only option was to use brute force. They gathered a small group of men—thugs they could trust—to stage a physical confrontation at Alexis's restaurant, to intimidate him and his team into submission.
It was late one evening when the storm hit.
After serving customers, dealing with the Wave, and continuing until closing hours, the night had fallen quietly over Alexis's restaurant. The lights were dimmed, the last customers had left, and the staff had all gone home, leaving only Alexis behind. He had stayed late, checking on their stock, ensuring they had everything they needed for the next day. The hum of the refrigeration units and a low volumed jazz song being played on the radio were the only sounds in the empty space.
But then, just as Alexis was about to close the storage room door, a familiar sound echoed through the restaurant—the jingle of the entrance bell. Alexis froze.
"Sorry! But we are currently closed now—oh, you guys..."
Alexis stepped out of the storage room, eyes narrowing as he assessed the scene unfolding before him. Standing in the doorway, silhouetted against the streetlights, was none other than Mutsuhashi—the rival restaurant owner. His knuckle dusters glinted ominously, and he was flanked by a few burly lackeys brandishing metal bats.
Mutsuhashi sneered at Alexis. "You think you've won, huh?" he said coldly. "Time to teach you a lesson."
The lackeys smirked, swinging their bats as they advanced. But Alexis remained calm and unflinching, his gaze steady.
"No, this is where your arrogance ends," Alexis said with a calm, confident smile.
He walked to the radio, switched the channel, and cranked up a pulsing rock song. The energy from the music filled the room, setting the rhythm for what would be an intense, strategic fight.
As Mutsuhashi took a step forward, Alexis moved first.
One of the lackeys lunged with a bat, swinging it in a heavy arc aimed at Alexis's head. Alexis sidestepped, ducking low to let the bat slice through the air above him. With a quick motion, he used a tan sao (palm-up block) to deflect the attacker's arm away, then followed up with a direct palm strike to the thug's chest, sending him staggering backward, laying on his butt, gasping for breath.
Seeing his friend stumble, another lackey charged from the side. Alexis intercepted him with a pak sao (slapping hand) to the wrist, disarming him by knocking the bat from his hand. He followed up with a precise lop sao (grabbing hand), pulling the thug off balance before landing a powerful elbow strike to his ribs. The thug crumpled to the floor, his breath knocked out of him.
Mutsuhashi's expression twisted with anger. "You think you're some kind of hero?!" he snarled, rushing forward with his fists raised.
Alexis met him head-on, using a bong sao (wing arm block) to deflect Mutsuhashi's punch, shifting his weight smoothly to keep his balance. He slipped inside Mutsuhashi's guard, striking out with a palm heel strike that landed squarely on Mutsuhashi's jaw. The rival owner staggered, momentarily dazed by the precision and speed of the strike.
One of the remaining lackeys tried to catch Alexis off guard, swinging his bat at Alexis's ribs. Alexis raised his forearm in a kwan sao (rolling block), deflecting the bat with ease. He countered by trapping the thug's arm with another lop sao, pulling the thug forward and slamming a knee strike into his gut, forcing him to drop his bat as he collapsed to the floor.
With his last lackey down, Mutsuhashi glared at Alexis, fury in his eyes. Desperation seemed to fuel him as he lunged forward, throwing a wild punch with his knuckle duster aimed at Alexis's face.
But Alexis was ready. With a fluid movement, he picked up a mop from a nearby bucket, spinning it like a staff. When Mutsuhashi swung again, Alexis used the mop handle as a tan sao, redirecting the force of the punch to the side. With a swift twist, Alexis brought the mop up and jabbed it sharply into Mutsuhashi's stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
Mutsuhashi, now desperate and enraged, threw a reckless high punch, aiming straight for Alexis's face. Alexis dropped the mop and stepped in, using a fook sao (hooking block) to deflect Mutsuhashi's wild swing, slipping smoothly into his guard.
In a rapid succession, Alexis unleashed a flurry of chain punches, each one landing with pinpoint accuracy on Mutsuhashi's torso and face. The strikes came so fast that Mutsuhashi barely had time to react, each blow further disorienting him as he stumbled back, dazed and gasping for air.
Finally, with a calm and steady breath, Alexis settled into position and unleashed a powerful one-inch punch straight to Mutsuhashi's chest. The force of the strike sent Mutsuhashi reeling back, crashing to the floor with a heavy thud, utterly defeated.
Gasping for air, Mutsuhashi tried to crawl away, but Alexis was already standing over him, with the mop poised like a staff, he then planted the mop handle down on Mutsuhashi's back.
"Had enough?" Alexis asked, his voice calm yet unyielding.
Mutsuhashi, bruised, glared up at him, but his rage had diminished into resignation. "You…you little—" he sputtered, but his words faltered.
Alexis then squtted down while still holding onto the planted mop, fixing his gaze at Mutsuhashi's face,"You're done." Alexis remarked with calm poise.
At that moment, the door opened, and Carna stepped in, her eyes flashing with authority. "You're leaving. Now. Unless you'd like more of the same."
Humiliated, Mutsuhashi struggled to his feet, crawling out the door with his lackeys stumbling behind him, their pride as battered as their bodies.
As the door slammed shut, Alexis took a deep breath, looking around at the minor mess they had made of the restaurant.
"Well, looks like we've got some cleaning up to do, huh?" he said with a wry smile, glancing at the mop still in his hand.
Carna gave him a proud grin. "You handled that better as I could've imagined. You're one hell of a fighter, Boss."
Alexis shrugged with a smirk. "It's all in the wrist."
With a soft chuckle, they both set to night work, cleaning up the aftermath of the fight.
Over the next few days, the fallout from that night became clear. What Mutsuhashi and his lackeys hadn't known—and what Alexis hadn't remembered in the heat of the moment—was that the restaurant had a discreet security camera near the corner of the main dining area. It had captured the entire fight in startling detail: Mutsuhashi's entrance, his threats, the attempted destruction of the restaurant, and, of course, Alexis's calm yet decisive handling of the situation.
As the footage circulated online, the public was appalled. The video not only showed Mutsuhashi's aggressive tactics but also highlighted Alexis's calm, almost graceful self-defense, painting him as a steadfast protector of his team and his restaurant. The comments section exploded with reactions, many people lauding Alexis's bravery, while others vowed never to set foot in Mutsuhashi's establishment again.
Within days, the negative reviews on Mutsuhashi's restaurant's page skyrocketed, with past customers piling on with tales of declining food quality and rude service. Word spread quickly about the assault, and Mutsuhashi's reputation plummeted. His restaurant, once a bustling competitor, saw a sharp decline in patrons as people boycotted in protest. Not long after, the once-thriving rival store stood empty, a 'For Lease' sign marking the final blow.
Meanwhile, the footage brought unexpected popularity to the restaurant Alexis managed. Locals flocked to support the establishment, eager to dine at the place defended so passionately. The restaurant's reputation blossomed, and Alexis, though modest about the event, became something of a local legend.
As for Mutsuhashi and his lackeys, the assault on Alexis's restaurant and the damaging security footage were more than enough evidence for the authorities to press charges. Within a week, they were arrested and faced multiple charges, from attempted assault to property damage. With their reputations ruined, they were sentenced to prison, leaving Alexis and his team free from further trouble.
In the end, Alexis's restaurant stood tall, its reputation shining brighter than ever. Alexis found himself, perhaps reluctantly, in the spotlight, recognized not only for his skills but for his unwavering dedication to his team and customers. And as more patrons filled the tables each night, Alexis couldn't help but feel a quiet sense of pride.
The restaurant continued to thrive, stronger than ever, its steady rise fueled by more than just good food—it had become a place built on trust, loyalty, and a fierce spirit that could withstand anything.