Chapter 3: Izakaya Restaurant: A Long Night on the City Streets
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As the last rays of sunlight disappeared, darkness enveloped the city. The twinkling stars painted a peaceful picture in the sky, while the full moon rose to occupy its center, casting a faint halo of light. The cool air that drifted through the streets was enough to send a slight shiver down your spine.
Despite the quiet sky, the city below told a very different story. The sounds of hurried footsteps, teenage laughter, and the chatter of passersby filled every corner. Boys and girls in school uniforms gathered in scattered groups, their faces a mixture of excitement and exhaustion after a long day of school.
Amidst the crowd, a small but eye-catching building stood out. The restaurant's illuminated sign bore a simple name in elegant font:
[Izakaya Restaurant]
Despite the simplicity of the design, there was something about the shape of the building that made you stop and look. The lighting, the harmonious angles, and even the warmth you felt as you approached, all made the restaurant feel like it belonged to a different world from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Inside the restaurant, preparations were in full swing. Itsuki, who was dressed in a smart waiter's uniform, stood at the entrance, holding the doorknob. He looked inside seriously, then shouted in a clear voice:
"Shouyou, Ryu... are you ready?"
In the corner of the kitchen, Shoyo was standing firmly in front of the stove, holding a cooking spoon and a sharp knife. His features were calm but reflected undeniable concentration.
"ready."
On the other side, Rio was standing in the middle of the restaurant, holding a board and a pen. He moved his hand quickly, reviewing the latest menu and organizing his thoughts, before answering in a clear voice:
"ready."
The voice of the responses was free of any hesitation. The words seemed like an announcement of the beginning of something special.
With steady steps, Itsuki pushed open the door, shouting a greeting, extending his invitation to everyone who passed by:
"Welcome to Izakaya!"
That moment marked the beginning of a new chapter in the city's night.
Crowds of people started streaming into the restaurant, and the place quickly turned into a sea of customers, with tables filling up within seconds. The delicious smell of food wafting from the kitchen was enough to lure any passerby to try at least one meal.
"Waiter, come here I want to order!"
"Hurry up! I'm so hungry!"
The noise of customers echoed throughout the place. It was very noisy, but in the midst of it all, Rio moved with precise steps between the tables. Despite the crowds and the increasing demands, his apparent calm and speed in dealing with customers was impressive.
His calm and composed manner made everyone feel at ease. No customer felt ignored, on the contrary, it seemed as if each individual had special attention.
"Can I take your order now?"
"Sorry, we can't prepare anything off the menu."
"Just a moment, Grandpa, I'll be there soon."
Rio's movements were lively and energetic. As he moved between tables, he took orders and answered customers' questions without missing a single detail.
Ryo took a stack of orders and handed them to Itsuki, who was standing at the checkout machine.
"These orders are ready, hurry up and send them to the kitchen."
Itsuki took the orders and quickly hung them on a small window separating him from the kitchen, where Shoyo stood busy preparing the dishes.
"Hurry up, Shoyo! The orders are increasing!"
Shoyo didn't look up from his work. One hand was cutting vegetables with a sharp knife, while the other was holding the frying pan, controlling the stove that was turned up to full.
"Don't rush me. Cooking is an art, not a race."
Shoyu replied in a calm but confident voice, leaving no room for any further discussion.
The atmosphere in the restaurant began to get more and more lively, dishes coming out of the kitchen at a rapid pace, moving from Shoyu to Itsuki, from Itsuki to Ryo, and finally to the tables.
The smell of the dishes alone was enough to whet anyone's appetite. With every dish Rio served, he added a touch of courtesy that made the customers even more satisfied.
"Sorry for the delay. Go ahead."
"Thank you for your patience."
"This is your request. I hope you enjoy it."
With every smile he offered, with every plate placed on the table, the restaurant became more harmonious. The food itself was a work of art, with rich flavours that forced everyone to concentrate on each bite, which greatly eased the pressure of work.
"The food is amazing! I will recommend this restaurant to my friends."
"Send my compliments to the chef, his food is unforgettable."
Some customers were paying their bills on the way out, and Itsuki was standing at the cash register with a kind smile.
"Thank you for visiting. We hope to see you again soon."
The restaurant gradually quieted down over time. The number of customers decreased until the place was completely empty.
Eventually, the three entered a small room in the corner of the restaurant with a sign that read, "Staff Lounge."
Rio sat on one of the chairs, sighing as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Oh my god...that was a hard day."
Shoyo raised his eyes, as he dipped his hands in a bucket of ice to relieve the heat on his fingers.
"Tired? What kind of tired are you talking about? Try working in the kitchen first, then talk about misery!"
Rio smiled and replied.
"What's the problem? I can cook too."
Shoyo looked at him with a mocking look and said sarcastically.
"That's what we usually say about someone who can't tell the difference between salt and sugar."
Rio smiled slightly.
"At least I don't put too much salt in my food."
Shoyo replied sharply.
"I'd rather put sugar instead of salt, like you did before."
The argument between the two became heated, with each throwing words at the other.
Itsuki watched them silently before patting their shoulders with a slight smile.
"Great work today, may your efforts be blessed."
At that moment, the three realized that despite all the fatigue and petty quarrels, they were working as a complete team, indispensable to each other.
In a small restaurant that had recently started business, Ryo was quietly cleaning tables. There weren't many customers, but the atmosphere inside the place was comfortable. Behind him, Shouyou and Itsuki sat at one of the tables, watching him silently.
The silence between them was but a prelude to a question they both knew was inevitable. Shoyo, with a side smile, was the one to break the silence first.
"Why did you suddenly become interested in working and making money?"
Itsuki, in his usual manner, joined in as if reciting an agreed-upon script.
"Really, this isn't the Rio we know."
Their eyes met Rio's in what seemed like a test moment. However, Rio replied without hesitation, as if the answer was already ready:
"Because I want to develop myself more."
He was silent for a short moment, before continuing with a small smile:
"You must have noticed that I've been slacking off lately. So I decided to open this restaurant… You know me, I can get distracted easily if I don't keep myself busy."
Shoyo and Itsuki's expressions changed from curious to clearly blank. It was clear that they didn't believe a single word. But after a short moment, a faint smile appeared on their lips, as if they had reached an unspoken understanding.
Without warning, they both wrapped their arms around Ryu's neck in a coordinated motion, tucking him between them, while Shoyo began scratching his scalp vigorously. Itsuki wasn't long in joining in the attack.
"You made us worry about you for no reason."
Shoyo, with a sarcastic laugh.
"Damn, I thought you were in debt to some gang and struggling to pay off your debt so they wouldn't threaten you with your friends."
Ryu was trying to free himself, but their grips were too strong. He shouted in an angry voice, trying to escape this unjustified punishment.
"Stop! This hurts! Damn you, let go of my head!"
While Shoyo and Itsuki continued to laugh, Ryo said nervously.
"What gangs are you talking about? Where did you get all this from?"
Despite his protests, the two were thoroughly enjoying his helplessness. It looked like they wouldn't stop anytime soon, but a sudden sound ended the moment.
"Ring...ring..."
The doorbell rang. They both stopped, finally letting go.
The three returned to their positions in the restaurant.
Ryo quickly took the customer's order, then Itsuki took it and passed it to Shoyo who immediately started cooking.
The customer sat near the cash register, the aroma of the food wafting from the kitchen increasing his appetite. He could hear his stomach growling as he was hungry.
Rio arrived just in time with the plates, and when he placed them on the table, the customer started eating immediately, as if he hadn't eaten in a while. A smile spread across his face with every bite he took.
After finishing his food, the customer paid Itsuki the money, then left the restaurant feeling happy.
The three of them returned to the staff break room again.
Rio clapped his hands, immediately drawing attention to himself.
"Uh...well, today has been a good day, so I suggest we close the restaurant early."
Shoyo and Itsuki looked at him and smiled, not having any objections to the idea. Then they each went to clean up their own section: Shoyo headed to the kitchen where the smell of food still hung in the air, Ryo busied himself cleaning the tables that had been stained by a long day, and Itsuki took his place behind the counter, carefully counting the money.
After they were done, they turned off the lights, leaving the place in a quiet darkness. They quickly changed into their work clothes, and changed into their usual everyday versions, free of the restaurant smell.
"Clack!"
Rio locked the door with the key and took one last look at the restaurant before putting the key in his pants pocket.
The three of them started walking around the city. The street lights were shining everywhere, and the loud sounds of cars and passersby brought a different life to the night.
Rio said as he looked at his two friends:
"Right, what did you do at school while I was away?"
Shoyu answered him, in an indifferent manner:
"I forgot."
Rio looked at him suspiciously, and sighed.
"Just say you don't want to talk. What about you, Itsuki?"
Itsuki thought for a moment, as if recalling memories of the day, then said:
"We were looking for you, and then we ended up in the school cafeteria."
Rio raised his eyebrows in surprise:
"If you were looking for me, why didn't you simply call me?"
Itsuki hit his forehead with his hand hard as if he was blaming himself, but Shoyo didn't let the opportunity pass and raised his hand to hit him on the forehead as well, which made Itsuki turn to him sharply.
"Don't you have a forehead to hit instead of mine?"
Shoyo laughed lightly, then said:
"Sorry, my head hurts. Isn't it a friend in need who matters?"
Rio smiled slightly, but rolled his eyes as if he wanted to end the subject.
Itsuki suddenly spoke:
"Well, where did you go, protagonist?"
Rio couldn't hide his smile, and began to tell his story:
"I was going to the bathroom, and then the student council vice president dragged me into the library. I thought she was going to confess to me, but it turned out the council president was the one who wanted to talk. Then I challenged them to chess; I won against the girl, but the president ran away when the end of school bell rang."
Rio finished his speech in one go without taking a breath.
Shoyo and Itsuki stood still, exchanging glances. They both sighed audibly.
Itsuki said:
"Sorry, but stop imagining. We know you're a bookworm who never misses class."
Shoyo nodded in agreement:
"Chieh, don't get too cocky just because someone called you the protagonist."
Rio said, defending his previous words.
"Hey, but it's true! What's up with your attitude, Shoyo?"
Shoyo put his hand on Rio's shoulder in a dramatic manner and said seriously.
"Don't worry, I believe you... Pff!"
Small veins appeared on Rio's forehead as he tried to hold back his anger.
"Try to hold back your laughter at least!"
The two engaged in their usual argument, while Itsuki watched them with a small smile on his face, occasionally interjecting with a passing comment, but the discussion always returned to square one.
The city streets were crowded, and the smell of street food mixed with the fresh air, making the atmosphere more relaxing. The colorful lights on the shops gave the street a special life, as if the city never sleeps.
After a while of walking, Itsuki said in a warning tone:
"Guys, enough talk. Continue your argument tomorrow."
But a sharp crying sound suddenly interrupted their conversation.
"Ahh... haha... haha!"
Their eyes turned to the source of the voice. There, in the middle of the crowd, stood a little girl alone. She was holding a stuffed rabbit in one hand, while wiping away her tears with the other. Her childish face was red from crying, and her shoulders were shaking slightly.
Shoyu quickly walked forward without thinking, and knelt down in front of her. With a gentle expression, he gently placed his hand on her head and said in an unusually warm voice.
"What's your name, little one?"
Ryu and Itsuki exchanged surprised looks.
Ryu whispered to Itsuki.
"Is this really the Shoyo we know?"
Itsuki replied, barely controlling his laughter.
"Maybe an alternate version!"
But Shoyo interrupted their conversation in a serious tone:
"Stop joking and help me."
Itsuki walked over and pulled some candy out of his pocket, smiling as he extended his hand to the little girl.
"Would you like some candy?"
The girl stopped crying for a moment, and looked at the candy with sparkling eyes. She took the candy hesitantly, then said in a low voice.
"Thanks..."
Shoyo asked her gently.
"Why were you crying?"
Instead of answering, the girl grabbed Rio's pants and wiped her nose with them. Rio remained silent, but gave his two friends a warning look, as they tried to stifle their laughter.
After a few moments, the girl spoke in a trembling voice:
"My name is Rika Fujiura."
She bowed slightly in a cute, childish way.
Shoyo smiled and said:
"Nice to meet you, Rika. I'm Shoyo, and these are Itsuki and Ryo."
Rika raised her head with a small smile.
"Then why were you crying, Rika?"
Her eyes filled with tears again, but she tried hard to hold them back. Rio put his hand on her head and said,
"Strong girls don't cry."
She held her breath for a moment, then said in a broken voice.
"I... got lost... from my mother."
Shoyo stood up, stretched his back, and placed his hands on his hips as if confidently announcing his decision:
"Don't worry, Rika, we'll help you find your mother. Right?"
He looked at his two companions with determined eyes.
Rio and Itsuki replied together.
"naturally!"
A shy smile appeared on Rika's face, and she said in a small voice.
"Thanks."
With a reassuring smile, Rio gently lifted her up and had her sit on his shoulder. As she settled into place, her face lit up with excitement as she said happily.
"Wow! It's getting longer!"
Rio laughed and said jokingly.
"So, Captain Rika, if you see your mother, tell us immediately!"
Rika replied with childish seriousness, her eyes shining.
"Science, ship cleaner."
Rio opened his mouth in surprise and said, stuttering.
"M-Ship cleaner? Rika... you mean the captain's assistant, right?"
Rika nodded firmly and replied confidently.
"No, ship cleaner."
Shoyo laughed loudly and asked her.
"What about me? What is my position?"
Rika thought for a few seconds, then pointed at him and said:
"You're the ship's navigator, and he…" (she pointed to Itsuki) "is the captain's assistant."
Shoyo and Itsuki raised their hands in a military manner as they chanted together:
"At your command, Captain Rika!"
Rika smiled proudly, while Rio looked at everyone with an expressionless face.
Shoyo said, trying to hold back his laughter.
"Cleaner, did you clean the ship today?"
Itsuki added with a sarcastic smile.
"Don't worry, you may soon be promoted to be the ship's windshield wiper!"
Rika puffed out her cheeks in anger and said in a stern, childish tone.
"Don't make fun of him! He's very strong!"
The three of them burst into laughter at her funny reaction, while Rika looked at them in confusion.
After a few moments, Rio asked her in a calm voice.
"Rika, do you know where you were going with your mother before you got lost?"
The girl answered quickly.
"We were going to the store to buy dinner ingredients, but I lost them."
Everyone stopped to think for a moment, then Itsuki said as he looked around.
"Maybe we should look at the nearest stores here."
Shoyo objected, putting his hand behind his back.
"I don't think she'll stay around. Maybe look for her somewhere else."
Rio added confidently.
"Then the best solution is to go to the nearest police station. Maybe her mother thinks the same way."
Shoyo raised his finger as if to confirm his words.
"Exactly, the police station is the most logical place."
Itsuki said, pointing to a nearby street.
"I know one, it's seven blocks away."
The three exchanged quick glances, then agreed in unison.
"Let's go!"
With their enthusiastic steps, Rika began to feel more secure, and the fearful expression on her face gradually turned into an innocent, childish smile, as if she knew that these three new friends would not leave her alone.
Shoyu suddenly stopped, his face showing strange changes.
Ryu and Itsuki looked at him worriedly, both wondering at the same time.
"What's wrong, Shoyo? What happened?"
Shoyo responded quickly and enthusiastically.
"There's an ice cream truck ahead, captain!"
There was silence for a few moments, as the two began to lose interest in the matter. But Rika's eyes lit up upon hearing the news, and she grabbed Ryo's ear.
"Quickly, let's go there!"
No one could say 'no' to the amount of cuteness that appeared on Rika's face.
They reached the ice cream cart, and they all stood watching Rika as she considered choosing two types of ice cream.
Itsuki asked gently.
"Captain, what did you choose?"
Rika shook her head in confusion, looking hesitant:
"I can't choose, they're all delicious!"
Itsuki thought for a moment before asking the vendor to mix the chocolate and strawberry flavors with a small ball.
Shoyo asked him curiously.
"Why are they all so small?"
Ryo stared at him, and pointed to Rika sitting on his shoulder. Suddenly, Shoyo understood what Ryo meant.
They each took their own ice cream cone, and it was clear that Rika had lost patience. She reached out to Itsuki who gave her the small ice cream cone that fit her small hands.
Each of them played with the ice cream cone in their mouths, while Rika was the only one who continued to enjoy her ice cream on Rio's shoulder.
Itsuki said with regret:
"I should have brought the medium size."
Words of regret came out of his mouth before Shoyo responded angrily.
"Shut up! It was your idea to buy the small size!"
Rika stopped eating her ice cream and watched the discussion between the two with utmost seriousness. Then she said in a firm voice,
"I won't give anyone my ice cream!"
The two stopped arguing immediately after seeing Rika's cute actions.
The streets were now more crowded, and as they approached the police station, Rika saw a large blue sign, and tried to spell out the words written on it.
"Sh...sh... evil... shit."
Despite the mispronunciation of the letters, her face showed expressions of joy and excitement, and her eyes even lit up.
Rio, Itsuki, and Shoyo all smiled, and Itsuki said excitedly.
"Let's pick up the pace a little, we're getting closer!"
They arrived at the police station, and Rika spoke excitedly.
"Put me down quickly, quickly!"
Rio gently grabbed her hand and quickly lowered her, then Rika stormed into the center with a quick movement, searching for her mother among the crowd, but she did not see her.
Shoyo and Itsuki followed her, while Ryo went to ask the policeman who was standing there.
"Did a woman come here looking for her lost child?"
The policeman answered kindly.
"Yes, one came and said she would be back soon. Why do you ask?"
Rio was surprised by the policeman's question, but he answered him calmly.
"Because we found her daughter, and she's there."
The policeman patted Rio on the shoulder and said with a smile.
"Good job! I brought her here, I'll call her now. Sit over there."
Rio quickly returned to tell the group what he heard from the policeman.
"Rika..."
Everyone's eyes turned to Rio, but before he could speak, a voice from behind him interrupted him, a voice that was broken but full of sadness and love.
"Rika!"
Rika started crying again, then immediately ran towards a woman standing at the entrance to the center.
"My mom!"
Rika jumped into her mother's arms, while tears streamed down their eyes. The scene was very touching.
The mother said in a voice choked with tears.
"Where did you go, Rika? I was so worried about you!"
Rika answered her in a weak voice.
"Sorry mom, I got lost, but my new friends helped me."
The mother wiped her daughter's tears and asked her about her friends.
Rika pointed to Rio and his friends.
"They're the ones who helped me get here, mom."
The mother bowed and thanked them from her heart.
"Thank you for bringing back my daughter, thank you so much."
None of the three knew what to say except one word.
"Excuse me, ma'am, this is our duty."
The mother came back and took Rika's hand.
"Come on, say goodbye to your friends before we go home."
Rika's expression changed to sadness, then she said in a low voice, waving her hand at them.
"Goodbye, cleaner, navigator, and assistant."
The mother was surprised by this strange farewell, but she felt a bit of sadness in Rika's words.
Ryu, Itsuki, and Shoyo all smiled, while waving their hands as well.
"See you later, captain!"
As Rika and her mother walked away from the police station, the mother smiled and said to Rika in a tender voice.
"Your crew (friends) said goodbye, so they'll see you again."
A wide smile spread across Rika's face as she said excitedly.
"Really, mom?"
The mother answered tenderly.
"Okay."
The three continued to watch the mother and daughter walk away, before Shoyo broke the happy atmosphere by saying.
"Damn! Heroes are hard. That's why I prefer villains!"
Itsuki said with a smile:
"Yes, I'm with you on that."
"Then next time, let's kidnap a girl and demand ransom!"
They all laughed together, but they forgot that they were in the police station.
One of the officers shouted at them angrily.
"Come on, go home before I lock you up here!"
Shoyo, Itsuki, and Ryo all ran quickly after hearing the policeman's words, while Ryo started laughing as he ran.
Rio said with a laugh.
"You know what's funny now?"
Both Itsuki and Shoyo answered with anticipation.
"no."
Rio said with a smile.
"We have school tomorrow!"
They all burst out laughing as the group dispersed, heading home as quickly as they could.