Chapter Text
"As we put a magic spell on your pot of tea, please chant with us!" Your beatiful smile fell on the two overworked and tired workers sat in the booth in front of you while Sukuna stared into your side-profile, awaiting your demonstration.
"Furi furi!" You clapped, putting your all as Sukuna focused on not spilling the tray holding the teapot in front of you. His voice was deep and loud, intensely focused and overpowering the second-hand embarassment one of the two workers was radiating.
"Shaka shaka!", "shaka shaka!" the woman with brown hair tied into a messy ponytail was gleefully chanting, albeit tired, but clapped along with a similar energy to you.
"Moe moe!"
"Wan wan!"
"Nyan nyan!"
"Yay yay!"
"Furi furi!"
"Shaka shaka!"
"Oishi kunare!"
"Oishi kunare!"
"Moe moe!"
"Good job master! I'm sure your drinks will be super delicious, I will pour your tea now." You took the floral teacups from the tray and set them down with an elegance that Sukuna was working hard burn into his muscle memory just through visuals. When you poured the hot steaming tea into the cups, you pushed them to the middle and made a heart shape with your hands.
"Ok everyone, let's combine our love!", the long haired woman made a timid sign with her hands, looking down at a random spot on the table, "Moe moe," you swayed your hands around, "kyun!" and pointed it at the drinks as if a laser beam would come out.
"Yay! Good job everyone!" Your joy was contagious while everyone else clapped along, "for the rest of your time here you will be served by Sukuna, he is new here so we would appreciate your patience, Master Shoko and Master Utahime." You missed the way he froze when you said his name in front of them and continued talking, "please take your time with the menu and ring this bell when you're ready!"
Then you motioned for Sukuna to follow you with the tilt of your head. Your heels clicked against the wooden floors as you passed the pastel pink painted walls, ornated with white diamond cushion patterns in regular intervals into the cosy kitchen bar. It was adorned with cabinets made of mahogony and supplied with everything a kitchen needed. It had the perfect view of the full cafe, and Uraume sat on one of the barstools in front of you.
"Good job master, and good job Maid-sama."
"Uraume I told you that you don't need to follow me around anymore." He sounded exasperated, as if this was the 50th time he was saying such a thing. If it weren't for the blush creeping up his ears you really would have thought it was because he didn't like them.
"Sukuna! Don't shoo away valuable customers, if it weren't for Uraume you wouldn't be the chef of this cafe right now so I say, be grateful to them." You scolded him and he rolled his eyes while Uraume gave you a smile. "Anyway, here are the ingredients, here is the door to the fridge, here is tea stuff that I showed you earlier, kettles, stoves, pots and pans yadda yadda you know the drill." With a wave of your hand that was all he needed to know, and he was quick to familiarise himself with the place when a ring of the bell brought your attention.
"I'll go get their order." You both nodded in confidence, and with a woosh of your skirt you found yourselves at their table. Pulling out a notepad and pen you waited as the more outgoing half of the due ordered.
"Also.. we invited one more person to join us if you don't mind, they'll be a few minutes but they said they would like an omurice with a kitty design on top, and no extra drinks."
"Of course! We'll bring it with the rest of your food then." You gave a curt bow, rushing over to Sukuna's side of the kitchen to give him instructions who was still clearly getting used to the maid dress that somehow hugged his skin in every perfect way, the bubbled sleeves exentuating the tattoos on his arms. The pink tie that ruffled on his chest to the white apron that hugged his waist, adorned with four pink buttons that suited his hair perfectly. And of course, the brown maid dress made the picture perfect image of a strawberry themed biscuit. Perfectly cute and perfectly cosy. Sukuna was truly a good friend for joining you on your adventure of opening a maid cafe, from a chef at a normal pub with you as the bartender to a one of a kind cafe.
"Ok, so one omurice with a kitty design, and two beef burgers, you ok with everything?"
"Yes." He nodded and immediately turned, "Uraume how do I make an omurice." You face-palmed. Whatever, if he was able to sustain himself at a pub you had no reason to doubt his abilities.
"Uraume I'm putting him in your care."
"Yes Maid-sama, I'll do my best." They gave you a bow and you ran away to your office in the back to grab some of the flyers you had printed earlier so you could promote the cafe. You put a stapler and tape in the pocket of your apron, jiggling the hello kitty plushie that hung at your waist, the big bow tied at the back brushing against the door as you closed it.
Just as you were about to go outside a very tall man with luscious black hair that cascaded down his back stepped through, and you could only look up at him in awe. He was just so tall, rivalling Sukuna himself. Damn men and their tall genes.
You patted down your dress before putting on your best smile, "Welcome! Are you sat with Master Shoko and Master Utahime by any chance?"
"That would be the case, yes." His voice was gentle but held a firmness to it, like a stable current.
Before you could show him the way to the booth, Shoko turned over the booth and waved at him, "Hey Suguru, took you long enough!"
He laughed and followed you to the table, sitting down next to Shoko and you poured him some tea. After familiarising him with your magical spells that made his tea all the more lovely, you gave them a bow and made your way outside of the cafe, busying yourself with putting up posters and giving away flyers to promote your cafe.
On the inside however…
"Uraume I burnt the omurice!" Sukuna's voice echoed through the whole cafe, landing on Geto's ears as he lashed his head around then back with a face adorned in silent shock.
"Is that who I think it is?" He leaned forwards, lowering his voice as much as he could.
Shoko just laughed as Utahime gulped down a large bubble of saliva, wanting to be anywhere else rather than being served by the King of Curses himself. Who was to say he wasn't poisoning their food right this moment?
"In the flesh." She replied with a languid smile, fidgeting with a spare hairtie on her wrist.
"And you're sure you want to be here?"
"Well it's not like he can do anything. Also I don't think the owner of this cafe knows, they seem to be on good terms, and I like this place! So we're not leaving." She gave him a hard stare as her voice lowered on the last statement.
"Shoko all the lab fumes have made you go crazy…" Utahime plopped her head on Shoko's shoulder in mourning, grabbing her shoulders and swinging them.
"Huh…" Suguru plopped his chin on his hand, watching as you passed some flyers onto a group of laughing highschoolers as if you'd said something funny. "I guess it would be nice to see what the King of Curses has been getting up to since he's been incapacitated."
"Not you too Suguru!"
They all went silent as they watched Sukuna approach their table with a large tray. One could practically see the vein popping out of his temple from a mile away as he put on a smile that said he'd rather be literally anywhere else.
His heels clicked awkwardly against the floor and he transferred the plates from the tray to the table, setting the plates down with a little more force than necessary. When Suguru looked down at the plates he couldn't help the burst of laughter that came out. He muttered something to himself and quickly took a picture of the plate of omurice.
"Thank God you don't have a career in art am I right?" Earning him a tight-lipped smile from Sukuna who closed his eyes to plot every way he could kill him without you noticing. Meanwhile, Shoko was watching Sukuna expectantly as Utahime turned to look at you outside so he wouldn't see her face. She was ready to bolt if anything happened.
"Enjoy your meal." What came out was moreso a grunt, but before he stepped away he was stopped.
"Ah. You haven't done the thing yet, the magical spell to make our food tasty?"
Utahime facepalmed and dug her head into her hands, muttering, "you have literally turned into Gojo, we are so dead, we are so fucked, we are not making it out alive, just kill me now."
"Right." He stared for a good second, considering whether or not he should call over Uraume to kill everyone. He hadn't used his cursed powers in a while but just maybe he could test them here…
"I don't know what you're thinking right now…" Suguru started, smiling dangerously as he looked up at Sukuna, "but I wouldn't do it if I were you."
The silence that stretched between them was loud. Like electricy rippled in the air and would cause an electric shock if someone were to move. Just as Uraume was about to get out of their seat, the bell at the door rang. You skipped inside, your hands empty of the flyers and a big smile on your face that quickly turned into confusion at the awkward atmosphere you walked into. You quickly padded over to Sukuna's side.
"Is everything ok?"
"Ye-"
"No." Suguru interjected, cutting Sukuna off with a pout. "He's refusing to give us service after we asked so politely too…" His hair covered his face as he looked down at the table, sniffling a bit for extra effect.
"Actually everything is fine heh… I'm sorry my friends are-" Before Utahime could continue and grab her friends to leave, Shoko stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. Looking at her with eyes that said, 'I understand you.' Utahime swore she could see the light. There was someone with common sense here. She knew Shoko would do the right thing. And she watched as Shoko turned to look at you, and opened her mouth.
"Sukuna said he won't do the magical spell to make our food tasty. He's not being a very good maid."
She should just pass out and die.
"I see…" You looked deep in contemplation before you motioned to your office to talk with Sukuna, "I'll be just a minute."
His shoulders tensed as he followed you to your office. And when you closed the door he realised that his heart was thumping like crazy.
"Sukuna…" You sounded serious. Very serious. He couldn't tell how you were feeling as your back was towards him. And you sighed. He was fucked and was going to get fired. You turned around and your hands were clasped together around your mouth as you let out a deep breath.
He was looking everywhere else but you when you looked at him, and you noticed his chest wasn't moving at the normal rise and fall movement that it usually did.
"If you're uncomfortable working with people I can serve them instead…" he let out a breath he didn't realise he was holding, "I'm looking for more people to work here anyway so please don't feel like you have to force yourself, primarily you're a chef and secondly you serve so it doesn't matter if you don't want to do the latter anymore."
"No!" He stepped forward, a hand up to stop you as if to say everything was misunderstanding. You tilted your head at him. And he gathered himself with a few breaths before looking at you. "I'm sorry, I really want to do what you need me to do, I take my job very seriously… It's just that…" He trailed off. At no point in his life had he ever felt so embarassed. He was the King of Curses for crying out loud, he made humans and curses kneel with just his presence.
"That?" He had to look away from your curious gaze. His ears were bright red and he mumbled.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" You stepped closer to him, the smell of your perfume wandering into his personal bubble, it was stressing him out.
"They're just old… acquaintances! And let's just say we didn't part?" He rolled his eyes a bit, "On good terms." He stuttered like you'd never seen him before. The man who glared at your old boss and sent him trembling whenever he would defend a customer complaining that he set the sauce in a separate pot instead of on top of the steak.
"Ah." You placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "I understand. Would you like me to take care of the customers for you then?"
"No I got this, but thanks."
"I'll come with you for moral support." You gave him a firm smile and a thumbs up.
When you both returned to the table Shoko was fiddling with a piece of lettuce in between the burger buns, Utahime had passed out, and Suguru was texting someone on his phone with an amused grin on his face.
"Ok dear Masters, we're ready to cast a magical spell on your dinner!" Shoko's eyes opened with a sparkle while Utahime went red in the face, and Suguru was pointedly looking at Sukuna who was doing his best to look at the food in front of him to calm the bloodlust that was racing through his body. "We'd appreciate it if you chanted with us!"
"Furi Furi!" Geto's thumb hit record on his phone before chanting along with you.
"Shaka shaka!" Uraume started chanting in support.
"Moe moe!" Sukuna sent a sharp glare in Suguru's direction, earning him a charming smile and wave.
"Wan wan!" Sukuna's humiliating blush spread to the back of his neck.
"Nyan nyan!" He was going to kill all of them later.
"Yay yay!" But maybe he shouldn't because he didn't want to kill your early supporters.
"Furi furi!" Maybe he should threaten people to come to your cafe.
"Shaka shaka!" Or maybe that would make you upset.
"Oishi kunare!" Maybe he should just stop thinking.
"Oishi kunare!" He should have poisoned their food.
"Moe moe!" He let out a breath of relief when it finished.
"Good job masters!" You clapped as you did earlier, "now you're food is full of magic. Let's fill it with love too." You all put your hands in the shape of a heart before beaming the food with all the love you could muster. The happiness from starting your cafe, the joy you felt that Sukuna agreed to join you, the joy from having your first customers, and the joy from having successfuly promoted your cafe to the public.
Everything was just going right in all the best ways, even though the same couldn't be said for the chef.
The day ended after you had served some other highschoolers who came to see what the new cafe in town was all about, and university students who were looking for another nice place to study. All was well when you turned the open sign at the door and began cleaning up the tables.
"Good work today Sukuna." You shouted all the way from one of the booths you were cleaning as he washed the dishes. "And good work Uraume, although I feel bad you don't work here but still helped…" To which they gave a small nod and an 'I'm glad to be of service'.
"You too shortie."
"Hey!" You huffed and he laughed.
When all was said and done, you both got out of your maid outfits and he waited with you at the bus stop before you left to go home. Taking off your shoes you flopped onto your bed when you got a phone call from an unknown number.
"Hello?"
"Hiya! Is this the owner of the new maid cafe?" An all too cheery voice for 9pm answered on the other end, and you sat up quickly.
"Yes, what are you calling for?"
"Well I heard you're currently hiring and I would like to apply for a position as a maid!"
"O-oh!! Of course!! We would love to have you. Are you free to come in tomorrow for training?" You stood up to grab paper and pen from your desk.
"Yes, do you need me to bring anything?"
"No, just yourself. Can I get a name so I know who I'm expecting tomorrow?"
"Gojo Satoru."