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“Who closed last night?” Bokuto asked as he wiped down one of the counters, sticky residue - most likely soda - still left unattended from the night before. “I’m tired of the closers always leaving a mess behind for the opening staff to clean up. They get to sleep all day and we have to be here at the ass crack of dawn to give coffee to a bunch of skeletons who give their spare change as a tip.”
“The new guy closed - what’s his name? - Akaashi?” Komi responded from behind the grill.
“Akaashi? Why did they give a new guy a closing shift? Especially if he’s going to do a piss-poor job, we need better closers.”
“You always say that. What did he do wrong? I thought the place looked pretty good when I came in.”
“Seriously? The fucking counter is sticky as shit.” Komi walked out from behind the grill and inspected the spot where Bokuto was gesturing to and then gave Bokuto a look.
“It’s one spot, get over it.”
“‘Get over it?’ Isn’t it bad enough that we have to be here at six in the morning to sling out a bunch of eggs to these geezers without cleaning up the closing crews’ mess?”
“Bokuto, I’m sure you’ve been up since 4:30 this morning and already went on a jog. And you said you liked opening because you didn’t have to work as hard. I think I remember you saying something like, ‘over easy, over medium, the old folks don’t know the difference. Just give them some eggs and get them out the door.’ Shut up and wipe the spot down,” Komi said before returning to prep the grill. “And then go unlock the doors, we open in five.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Bokuto turned on the coffee and unlocked the doors, the first customer of the day already sitting on the bench outside waiting to get in. “I’ve been out here for ten minutes,” she said, a newspaper tucked under her arm as she walked past Bokuto to her usual table.
“Good morning Mrs. Maki. Unfortunately, we don’t open until 6:30 am.”
“Since when?” she asked.
“Since forever. We have this conversation every day. Eggs over easy, rye toast, light on the butter, side of mixed fruit, and a black coffee. Did you want anything else?”
“No.” She turned up her paper, blocking Bokuto from her view.
“Okay, I’ll get that right out to you,” Bokuto said walking around the corner. “Komi, Maki’s usual.”
“Got it.”
Akaashi finished sweeping the last aisle behind the service station and moved to remove the spigots from the soda fountain machine. He placed them in a large container of steaming water to remove the sticky syrup from the opening so they could be wiped down the next day.
“You should do half carbonated water and then half boiling water for those,” Konoha said, returning with his bucket of rolled silverware.
“Why?”
“Because that’s how Bokuto likes it. He said it's easier to clean in the morning if you soak them in carbonated water first and then really hot water.”
“Who’s Bokuto?”
“The guy who opens pretty much every morning. He’s picky about how things look when he gets in.”
“He opens every morning? That sounds awful. And how would he know the difference? If I use the carbonated water, it’s not going to hold its carbonation overnight, it’s just going to be plain water the next day. He can deal with it.”
“It’s your funeral,” Konoha said, grabbing a mop. “Did you finish your silverware?”
“Yeah, I put it on the counter over there.”
“What’s with these soda taps?” Bokuto asked. “It’s like they don’t even care anymore. Did they do the carbonated water? No. They probably just did hot water, which doesn’t get all the syrup off. Idiot.”
“I don’t understand how carbonated water helps with the-”
“Not now, Komi. And who rolled this damn silverware. Maki could do a better job, and she’s like, 700 years old. I’m tired of this Aghaashi asshole screwing up all this stuff. He’s making me do more work.”
“What are you going to do?” Komi asked.
“I’m going to write him a note and tell him to do things right from now on.”
“Whatever happened to the other closer we had… Tsukki?”
“He quit.”
“I wonder why.”
“Hey Akaashi,” Konoha called. “It looks like you got a love letter from our friendly neighborhood opener.”
“What?”
“Bokuto wrote you a note with some “pointers” on how to close correctly. What a jerk.”
“Is he a manager or something?” Akaashi asked.
“No, but he’s a good server and always works the early shifts that no one else wants. I think it’s because he’s an athlete and has practice in the afternoon. But I’m pretty sure he wakes up every morning at 3:00 am and goes on a twelve mile jog before eating a bowl of raw eggs. The man has way too much energy.”
“Oh. What does the note say?”
“‘Dear Aghaashi’ - that’s an interesting way to spell your name - ‘please learn how to close the restaurant properly. When you become lazy, it puts more work on others and that’s not fair. We’re all supposed to be one team. Let me know if you need help, not everyone is suited to work in the food service industry.’” Konoha burst out laughing. “Wow, he thinks he’s some messiah of casual dining.”
“He’s… something,” akaashi replied. “I’ll send him a reply.”
“No,” Konoha continued to laugh. “Please don’t. And by that, I mean, please do.”
“You son of bitch,” Bokuto cursed. “Komi, read this.” Bokuto handed the note to Komi and then stood in the aisle with his arms crossed.
“‘Dear Bokuto-san’ - that was nice, he used the honorific.”
“Screw him and the honorific, keep going.”
“Okay… ‘Thank you for your sound advice about closing. I agree, we are a team. I would love to see your skills in person. Why don’t you come show me how to close properly? You see, I have been following the guidance of our managers, but I’m guessing they do not understand the real closing methods. I would also advise you to have a conversation with them so they can learn your wise ways, senpai. I look forward to seeing you on a closing shift.
Akaashi Keiji (good try on my name)’”
“What a little asshole.”
“You should do it,” Komi said.
“Do what?”
“Work a closing shift. Show him how to close, especially if you have such specific expectations. When was the last time you worked past eleven in the morning?”
“I hate the closing shifts. You get all the theatre brats who pop in five minutes before close and all want separate checks, but refuse to sit with the person who is on the same check as they are. It’s so annoying. I’d rather put up with Maki than those people.”
“Are you saying you can’t handle it?”
“I could… I’d like to see him work a morning shift, then. See what we have to deal with at five in the morning because they were ‘too tired’ to finish their work.”
“Then send him a response back. Tell him you’ll do a closing shift if he does an opening shift. It seems fair to me. You two haven’t even met and you picker like a married couple. He’s actually pretty nice. I’ve worked a couple of mid shifts with him on the weekend,” Komi said.
“Don’t take his side.”
“This is rich. Here, Akaashi, read this. A letter from your boo-thang.”
“Respectfully, please don’t ever say that again. I’ve never even met the guy, I don’t like him,” Akaashi replied.
“Well, it looks like he has issued a challenge. He wants you to work an opening shift first, and then he’ll work a closing shift.”
“Interesting…”
“Good morning, Komi,” Bokuto said as he walked into the restaurant.
“Morning,” Komi muttered from behind the grill.
“Good morning, Bokuto-san.” Bokuto turned as he walked behind the counter and saw the tall man with dark hair, blue (green?) eyes leaning against the wall, an energy drink in one hand. Despite never meeting formally, he knew exactly who this was, and he wasn’t happy about it. He never once thought that Akaashi would take him up on his offer to work an opening shift, he didn’t even know how he was able to get an opening shift, usually, it was just him and Komi until about eight.
“And you’re here, why?”
“Well, you told me I should work an opening shift so I can see what you have to go through. I talked to the manager a few days ago and they agreed that you would be the best person to train me on opening procedures. They also thought it would be a good idea to have another person available in case you needed to call out.”
Bokuto wanted to wipe the smirk off his face. “I don’t call out.”
“Neither do I. I started the tasks laid out in the opening guidelines - you leave very detailed instructions - and Komi-san showed me everything I needed.”
“Did you prep the tables?”
“Yes.”
“Coffee is on?”
“Yes.”
“Soda taps?”
“Cleaned and ready for use.”
Bokuto wanted to hit him. “Fine, go unlock the door and we can get ready for our first customer.”
Akaashi took another sip of his energy drink, finishing it off before tossing it in the recycling bin. He walked out into the dining room, toward the front door, and unlocked it. Bokuto looked out, a smirk on his face knowing that Maki would be there waiting. Of course, she scooted past Akaashi to her regular table. Akaashi handed her a menu, which she swatted away. Bokuto chuckled to himself.
“Okay, that’s just not fair,” Komi commented, looking out at Akaashi and Maki. “You know she’s uptight, you’re going to throw him to the wolves like that?”
“He thinks he’s so good, wait ‘til he has to deal with Satan reincarnate. If he can’t deal with her, he’s not going to be able to deal with all the other old folks that come in.” Akaashi walked back to the grill, ticket in hand, and placed it on the clips for Komi.
“She said she’ll take the usual,” he said, quietly. Bokuto laughed to himself. One mean customer and he was already breaking? Pathetic.
A few other patrons walked in throughout the next hour or so, Bokuto and Akaashi rotating between the guests. Bokuto watched as Akaashi walked up to Maki’s table a few times, scoffing at how desperate he must have been to make a better impression. The two avoided each other, tending to their tables, and speaking to and through Komi only.
“Komi, can you let Akaashi know that table twenty-two asked for extra bacon in their omelet?”
“Komi-san, can you let Bokuto-san know that they asked for extra bacon and when I informed them of the upcharge, they told me they changed their minds? So now, they are trying to get a side of bacon for free, probably because they are used to Bokuto-san just adding in the extras without charging them.”
“I do not,” Bokuto shot back.
“I was talking to Komi-san,” Akaashi said, grabbing his plates from the window and walking into the dining room. Bokuto returned to his table and noticed Akaashi at Maki’s booth once more. He managed to not tell Akaashi that Maki liked to sit for hours after finishing her meal to read her newspaper, taking up a spot in the section. Oh well.
When she left, she called Akaashi over to the front counter. Bokuto listened, hoping she would tell him off.
“Akaashi-kun, it was sardine. Four down was sardine.”
“Ah, my mistake, next time I’ll be of better help.”
“I left your money on the table.”
Bokuto walked over to clean her table, picking up the money book and wiping down the area. He walked to the back and handed the money book to Akaashi. “Here, it’s from Maki’s table, the old bat finally left.”
“I thought she was sweet,” Akaashi replied, pulling out the bills and closing out the tab in the register. Bokuto counted the money in Akaashi’s hand and felt himself get angry.
“Four dollars? She left you four dollars? Her meal is only like… nine bucks. What the hell. She only ever leaves me .27¢, why did she give you so much money?”
“Maybe if you talked to her a little, she’d be nicer to you.”
“Excuse me?”
“How much do you know about Maki?” Akaashi asked.
“Excuse me?”
“Did you know that her daughter is coming to visit this month? Or that her husband passed away last year? You’re so concerned with her tip, that you don’t give a shit about her. And she’s not stupid, she knows it. So you get the change.” With that Akaashi walked back into the dining room, a tray full of drinks, leaving Bokuto to stare at him as he walked away.
The rest of the shift was uneventful, the two of them walking around each other, wiping tables, running food, and taking orders. When Bokuto’s shift was up, he walked to the back of the grill and began to make some food.
“You’re a cook, too?” Akaashi asked from the window. “A regular savant.”
“I just know how I like my food and I don’t need to distract the cooks with my order.”
“No, you just take up their workstation with your giant body behind the line.”
“Not everyone wants to watch their ‘girlish figure.’ Can you hand me some mushrooms, Komi?”
“Sure. Akaashi, are you off? I can make you something if you’d like,” Komi said.
“Thank you, I’d appreciate it, Komi-san.”
“What are you in the mood for?”
“Mm, dealer’s choice.”
“Okay, any allergies?”
“Nope, I just don’t care for green peppers.”
“What?” Bokuto asked, turning to look over his shoulder. “How do you not like green peppers?”
“I think their bland, red and yellow just taste better. And I wasn’t even talking to you.”
“I’ll whip up something real quick.”
“Thank you, just call me when it’s done, I’m going to head to the back dining room to roll my silverware.”
A few minutes later, Bokuto walked into the back dining room, two plates in his hands. He set one in front of Akaashi and took a seat opposite him in the booth, taking some silverware to roll in between bites.
“A breakfast burrito,” Bokuto said. Akaashi picked it up and took a bite, his eyes widening a bit before he took another bite. “You know Akaashi, I like you a lot better when you’re quiet.”
Akaashi swallowed the bite and shot Bokuto a look. “I was about to say the same thing about you. This is good, I get why Komi-san has regulars who come in just for his food.”
“I made it.”
“What?”
“I made it. Eggs, mushrooms, onions, oregano, yellow and red peppers, pepper jack cheese, and some hot sauce. It’s the same thing I have.”
“Hm. So are you going to close with me tonight?”
“No.”
“Oh? You’re backing out. Not sure you can keep up with the night crew?” Akaashi asked, rolling another bundle of silverware.
“I don’t want to embarrass you.”
“Sure, that’s it.”
“Shut up, roll your burrito, and eat your silverware.”
Akaashi raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure about that?”
Bokuto paused before shouting, “Piss off, I’m not working a closing shift tonight.”
“Well look who’s here,” Konoha said as Bokuto walked in the door. “You decided to take Akaashi up on his bet.”
“It was my bet first,” Bokuto retorted, pulling his apron around his waist. “Where is the asshole?”
“His shift doesn’t start for another hour, but you already have a table sat at 24, your in section C tonight. Have fun!” Bokuto sighed, he felt like this was going to be a long night.
About an hour and a half into his shift, and after eight tables, three crying babies, Bokuto noticed Akaashi working the section adjacent to his. He had been so busy running back and forth that he hadn’t taken note of the other man until they were both standing in front of the window.
“What’s wrong, Bokuto-san?” Akaashi asked.
“Nothing, this table just sent back their burger because they told me they wanted it medium-rare, which is a fucking lie, I wrote it down, they wanted medium. They probably just want free food.”
“They probably don’t know the difference and when you brought the burgers out they realized that’s not their preference," Akaashi replied. He took the ticket from Bokuto, “We need two deluxe burgers on the fly, medium rare, but they don’t know what that means, so just make sure there’s enough visible pink in the middle so they don’t have a conniption,” he called back into the kitchen.
“Thanks.”
“Yup. Here, my food is up, I need help running, it’s a party of seven and I can only carry four plates at a time, follow me.”
“Sure.” Bokuto picked up the remaining plates and walked behind Akaashi to his section. They set out the food for the large party before walking back toward the kitchen.
“I’m going to check on my table at 18, do you need anything, Bokuto-san?” Akaashi asked.
“No, I think I’m fine right now.” Akaashi nodded and walked down the aisle, a soft smile on his face while Bokuto walked back toward the kitchen. As he turned the corner, he felt the impact of someone running into him, followed by a cold, wet sensation moving down his torso. He looked down and realized another server had run into him with a tray of drinks.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, her face horror-stricken.
“My fault, I should have called corner,” Bokuto responded, pulling his shirt out away from his body. He was going to be sticky for the rest of the night.
“Come here,” Bokuto turned in time to see Akaashi grab his hand and pull him toward the back cubbies. He was annoyed that this kid was seeing him at his worst, this was why he didn’t want to work a closing shift. “Take off that shirt,” Akaashi instructed as they reached the break room.
“That’s a little forward, don’t you think?” Akaashi scowled at him while digging through a backpack. He pulled out a black polo, the restaurant uniform top, and handed it to Bokuto.
“I always bring an extra with me just in case. It might be a size too small for you, but I’m sure it will be better than walking around wet and sticky for the next few hours.”
Bokuto removed his apron, untucked his shirt, and then peeled the wet garment from his torso. Akaashi watched as Bokuto revealed the toned abs hiding underneath the restaurant polo. He blushed and looked away as Bokuto grabbed the new shirt from him.
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“You’re an athlete, right? Konoha mentioned you usually had practice in the afternoons. What sport do you play?” Akaashi asked, avoiding the half-naked man next to him.
“Volleyball,” Bokuto replied, pulling the shirt over his head. It was going to be too tight, but he relished the warmth of the clean polo. He began to tuck it in and noticed Akaashi staring at his bag.
“I used to play volleyball, in high school.”
“No shit. What position?”
“Setter.”
“That makes sense. You have crazy long fingers. You roll silverware like a maniac.” Akaashi turned to look back at Bokuto putting his hand up to his face. “It was a compliment. Come on, our tables are going to throw a fit if we don’t get back soon.”
They left the break room and headed back to the front of the restaurant. “Looking good, Bo,” Konoha commented.
“Shut up.”
“Can I have a few extra sides of ranch?”
“Of course, I’ll be right back with that. Anything else?” Bokuto asked. The table shook their head, but he had a feeling they would need a refill of something when he got back. Bokuto walked back through the service station and to the condiment table. “Seriously? Who forgot to fill the ranch?”
He walked to the back cooler to find the large tub of ranch dressing he needed to refill the station. When he opened the door, he noticed Akaashi standing on the step ladder reaching up onto one of the shelves. The door closed, startling Akaashi, and causing him to lose his footing on the ladder. He fell to the side of the ladder, but Bokuto rushed to him, just in time to catch him.
“Are you okay?” Bokuto asked.
“Yeah, sorry. I guess I didn’t hear you come in and the door scared me. Thanks for catching me,” Akaashi replied, his hands still firmly planted on Bokuto’s biceps. He looked up and Bokuto and blushed. He took a step back, creating a distance between them.
“Do you need me to grab something for you?” Bokuto asked.
“The condiment station is out of ranch dressing, but someone put it back on the wrong shelf. It’s just a little out of my reach.”
“I got it, that’s what I was coming back here to get.” Bokuto walked up the ladder and grabbed the large tub from the shelf. He descended the ladder and placed the plastic container on a lower shelf for a moment. “I’m not sure why someone would put it up there, that seems stupid.”
“Yeah… they probably were putting something else back at the same time and just didn’t feel like putting it in its proper place.”
“That makes sense,” Bokuto said.
“Yeah…”
They stood in silence for a moment, accompanied by the produce and the sound of the cooler ventilation. Akaashi opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He looked at Bokuto, the arms of the shirt straining against the fabric.
“So um-” Akaashi started before Bokuto closed the distance, placing his hands on both sides of Akaashi’s face, and connecting their lips. Akaashi stilled for a moment before reciprocating Bokuto’s movements. He placed his hands on Bokuto’s hips and pulled him a little closer. Akaashi noted that his hands were a little cold, but his lips were warm and soft.
Akaashi opened his mouth, inviting Bokuto’s tongue in. Bokuto took the hint and began to explore Akaashi’s mouth, his tongue massaging Akaashi’s. Akaashi moved one hand up into Bokuto’s hair, twisting through the spiked locks. He was surprised at how soft it was despite the gelled-up look.
After a few minutes, they parted, both their breathing a little erratic. Akaashi looked at Bokuto before taking a step back. He moved to the shelf and grabbed the tub of ranch dressing and walked to the door of the cooler quietly.
“Thank you for your help, Bokuto-san,” he said before exiting the cooler. Bokuto watched him leave as he tried to steady his breathing. He adjusted his shirt and exited the cooler. He walked up to the condiment station as Akaashi was filling the empty container of ranch. He waited for him to finish before grabbing a few cups and returning to his table. Sure enough, they needed bleu cheese as well.