Adventures in a Restaurant to Another World: Chapter 1

By: jungleboy69

Chapter 1: Welcome to Nekoya!

The streets of Tokyo were bustling as usual, people were heading off to work and cars were rolling down the roads. "Damm...where was that place again...?" A young -year-old boy of average height muttered as he walked down the street. This is Hiro, the 'hero' of our story.

He wore a white T-shirt with the Straw-Hat Pirate symbol on the front and black jeans with pockets. His black eyes shone like coals and his messy black hair blew against the breeze. He was holding onto to an application form with a picture of a cat holding a sign with a fork and a knife crossed behind.

"How hard it is to find a restaurant in Tokyo." He sighed in frustration. "It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack." "Are you alright, young man?" The said teen looked up to see a middle-aged man wearing a business suit. "You look like you're lost."

"I am..." Hiro sighed. "You wouldn't by chance know where I can find Western Restaurant Nekoya?" He asked. "Nekoya?" The man asked in pleasant surprise. "I know it very well; I go there for lunch every day."

"You do?" The boy asked. "You know where it is?" "Just keep going a few blocks and turn right." He replied, pointing in a direction. "Thank you, sir." Hiro replied, bowing. "It's my pleasure, young man." The businessman chuckled. "Just ask the Master if he has any more of those delicious steak and eggs."

"I will..." Hiro assured, before heading off in the direction the man pointed out. "Thanks again!"

(5 mins later...)

"How far is it again...?" Hiro muttered to himself as he walked past some tall buildings. "Maybe I should have asked the man how much farther it is." "Leave me alone!" He stopped when he heard a voice call out.

"Who could that be?" He wondered as he walked over to the source. To his surprise, he found three large men wearing dark clothing and tattoos on their arms. They were surrounding a young boy who was rather small, almost mouse size shaking with fear with a buzzcut.

"Come on..." He whimpered. "Let's discuss this like gentlemen..." "Sorry, we're not the talking type." One gangster snarled, cracking his knuckles. "We're the stealing type..." "So, why don't you do yourself a favor and hand over the cash?" Another asked, advancing towards him.

The boy swallowed a lump in his throat and nervously backed away as the gangsters advanced. "Leave him alone!" They turned to see Hiro walking towards them. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?!" He demanded.

"Butt out!" One gangster shot back. "This doesn't concern you!" "If you count robbing out in broad daylight, I make it my concern." Hiro replied, defiantly. "Only cowards and weaklings do..." The gangsters grew angry and turned to face him. "What did you say?" Another snarled.

"You heard me!" Hiro replied, with a smirk. "I'm looking at three yellow-bellied cowards in front of me!" That enraged the gangsters further. "We'll show you who the coward is!" One gangster charged at him, raising his fist.

Hiro dodged out of the way just as the thug threw him a punch and gave him a roundhouse kick to his back, making him cry out and fall to the ground. "You're gonna pay for that!" Another gangster yelled, throwing a punch at him.

Hiro ducked from side to side, before he grabbed him by the shirt collar and headbutted him on the face. "Arrgh!" The gangster screamed as he clutched his bloody nose and staggered backwards. "Come here!" The third gangster roared, charging forward and lunged at him.

Hiro just simply grabbed him by the arm and flung him over his shoulder, sending him crashing onto his friend, who groaned. "I've had it with you!" The second gangster snarled, taking out a penknife and grabbing the frightened boy.

"You back off, or he gets it!" The gangster warned, pointed his penknife at the boy's throat. Hiro stiffened as he watched the blade press against the boy's throat. Soon, the other two gangsters got on their feet and surrounded him.

"You should have run when you had the chance..." The armed gangster snarled. "It's just the three of us against one of you!" "What's going on?!" A voice called out, causing them to look up. Seeing his chance, Hiro gave a roundhouse kick at the two gangsters behind him, striking their faces and knocking them out.

As for the third gangster, he barely had time to register what happened when his hostage stomped on his foot hard! The thug screamed and dropped his knife, before Hiro rushed forward and punched him square in the face, making him fall to the ground.

"That'll teach you..." Hiro muttered, shaking his hand a bit. "Yori!" A voice called out and a beautiful girl with long black hair, black eyes and ivory skin approached them. "Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine, Akiko." Yori replied. "This brave man saved me from those thugs." He explained, gesturing to Hiro. "Oh, arigato!" Akiko replied, smiling as she bowed to him. "Thank you for helping Yori!" "You're welcome." Hiro assured, bowing to her. "My name is Hiro."

"I'm Akiko." The girl introduced. "This is my friend Yori." "Thank you again for saving Yori" she replied. "Yes, thank you." Yori added before turning to Akiko. "Akiko, we need to hurry to Nekoya for our jobs!"

"You're going to Nekoya too!?" Hiro asked, getting their attention. "I was heading there too!" "Really?" Yori replied with a smile. "I'm heading there too for the job as a waiter!" "Maybe we can go together." Akiko suggested. "The more the merrier, right."

"Thank you." Hiro replied as they made their way to Nekoya.

(5 mins later...)

"This is it!" Yori called as the four teens arrived at the restaurant with a wooden door at the entrance. It had the picture of a cat holding onto a sign which read 'Western Restaurant Nekoya.'

"This is the place..." Akiko replied. "We're here." "I remember coming here with my grandpa once." Hiro explained. "I love the spaghetti and meatballs the best." "I enjoyed the parfait the most." Yori added, with a grin.

"Well, we're not going to keep standing here waiting." Akiko pointed out as she opened the door, ringing the bell as she did. The restaurant was bustling with customers, tucking away at their food. The walls were glistening white, and the lights gave a warm inviting glow.

"Hello there!" A voice called out. The friends turned to see a man wearing chef clothes and a chef's hat on his head. He had a short beard and mustache on his face. "Welcome to Western Restaurant Nekoya!" "What can I do for you?" He asked.

It was then he saw Hiro and his smile widened. "Well, Hiro; it's good to see you again!" Akiko and Yori were surprised. "You know him, Hiro?" The latter asked. Hiro nodded. "He's friends with my grandpa." He explained.

The Master chuckled. "The last time I saw you, you were only up to your grandfather's knee." He pointed out. "How are your parents doing?" "They are doing fine." Hiro asked. "They were hoping I would get a job for the summer, and when I saw one of your flyers, I decided to head here."

"You're here for the job offer?" The Master asked. "So are we." Akiko added. "Do you have a position for a waitress?" "Or a waiter?" Yori asked. The Master rubbed his beard in thought. "Well, to be honest, you aren't the only ones looking for a job here." He explained.

"Many other kids like you came for a job here for the past few days." He added. "I'm not really sure if I have any positions for you." "Please, sir." Akiko asked. "There has to be something for us." The Master thought again. "Well, you can work here but you will have to share shifts with the others."

"Really, you'll let us work here?" Yori asked hopefully. "I'll see what I can do." The Master suggested. "In the meantime, I'll introduce to you to the rest of my employees!" As Akiko, Yori and Hiro followed him, the latter heard a low humming sound from underneath his shirt.

He looked down and pulled out his special charm; a little bronze key that he wore around his neck. It was a gift his grandfather left for him, after his first time in Nekoya and was the only thing to remember him after he passed away.

To his amazement, the key seemed to be vibrating and if Hiro listened closely, he swore he had heard a humming sound. "What was that about?" He wondered. "It's never made that noise before..."

"Hiro, come on!" Yori called out, getting his attention. "I'm coming!" Hiro called, placing his key under his shirt and following them.