Chapter Text
“Shimura Kanbei may I take my break now… Uh- since the lunch rush is over I think it’d be best if I ice my hands now rather than later!” you say in a rush, fiddling with your hands, they burn from overexertion, it’s becoming too much to even fiddle your fingers now…
Kanbei replies without turning from the meal he’s cooking up for the to-go order “Yes, take your time! I need my best worker in tip-top shape!” his kind smile can be heard in his words… You move to prepare a bucket for yourself. Inside the restaurant, you grab your bucket from the cooler and fill it with some ice and then water before walking out back.
“I’ve got my bucket, check, ice water, check” you mutter, taking off your wrist braces, setting them on your lap then reaching both hands into the ice-cold water to soak, the inflamed nerves slowly calming in the icy water. You sigh, in relief after the lunch rush today your hands were barely able to keep up… Kanbei is considering hiring another employee to help, making you and the newbie part-time… That’d help my hands but hhh less pay? Not great… My house is already a little run down, and ice is a bit too expensive sometimes but I need it so… I’ll cut back on personal spending, hopefully, this works out… You gaze downward at your hands, the nerves have finally calmed yet they still tingle, at least they aren’t burning like before. I’ll head in soon, just going to rest them a bit longer…
Shimura Kanbei hands over a packed meal to a customer “Have a good evening, the beach would give you a great view of the sun setting to accompany your meal!” he offers, waving the nervous customer away, I don’t think they’ll be heading to the beach…
“I’m back, need any help Kanbei?” I’d put the ice bucket away after emptying the used water into an unwatered flowerbed nearby… Gotta use it for something! I dry my hands on my apron, the texture soft enough as to not irritate my hands further, perfect. Though I could do without the heat of the stove…
“Mm just clean up the counter, for now, no customers at the moment! We may start ending the shift soon” Kanbei says, clearing the back counter of scraps from the last prepared meal.
I grab a clean rag and some soapy water and glide over the counter, scattering some crumbs to the ravens on the cobblestone road & enjoy the cool soft feel of the cloth on my palm, as I turn to toss my washcloth I hear the footsteps of, I assume, an approaching customer “-I’ll be with you in a moment!” Y/N says, tossing the washcloth into a hamper. Turning to see a young adult with fluffy maroon hair & olive-green eyes who isn’t much taller than you, heh around my size, cute! Maybe with the right shoes, I can be taller heheheh… Their expression is hh like they just got hit by a bird to the face, you wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve seen that- 3, three times by customers during crow-time as we now call it- oh right serving a customer right now-... “I-” oh are they even there right now? The young adult’s face is… Stupified, stunned? They aren’t moving- my confused expression must’ve knocked them out of it for their confusion is turning to a bright grin. “Oh?” I mutter “and what’d you like to order…?”
With a chuckle, the fluffy-haired detective raises a hand to his chin, resting his elbow on the recently cleaned bar “This evening to get to know my soulmate~ To go, please~” they said with a wink.
Now it’s my turn to stare in shock, my mouth a gape as I roll up my sleeve to check the phrase sketched there permanently, the exact words my soulmate would say to me upon our first meeting, spoken. Stomach turning I turn away, staring into Kanbei’s eyes for help, he shrugs with a chuckle, and I shake my arms at him before turning around to a bemused face. “Your order will be out in a minute Detective Heizou,” Kanbei says confidently, tugging on my arm “you can head out early today, rest your hands and come in early tomorrow!”
I open my mouth, close it, open it again, and “Shimura Kanbei my- I- my shift isn’t over What if- won’t you need help closing today?” I stutter out as Kanbei shoes me out the back, stealing my apron and locking me out. Betrayal, I’ve been betrayed. ABANDONED.
“Nope! Now should I be getting you anything Mister Heizou?” Shimura Kanbei asks the fluffy-haired detective as he walks to the bar. The young man chuckles, bemused at the show before him “That’ll be all, thank you sir!” he flips a coin onto the bar before walking around to the back. “No problem, detective,” Kanbei says.
I can feel my palm warming before the rest of me- Heizou- my soulmate?