Restaurant to Another World: Chapter 3

By: jungleboy69

Chapter 3: A Mysterious Gift

"So, how was Nekoya?" Hiro's father asked, he was a middle-aged man with gray eyes. "Tiring." Hiro replied as he and his family sat around the table for dinner. "I was used to eating at a restaurant, not working in one."

"Well, it would be a new experience for you." His mother pointed out, a woman with black hair and dimple cheeks. "Your grandfather hoped you would get a job soon." Hiro nodded "Did you make any new friends?" She asked, with a smile.

Hiro smiled back. "Akiko and Yori." He replied. "They're new employees just like me." "At least you won't be alone." His father chuckled. "When do you start work?" "Tomorrow, on Saturday." Hiro explained.

"Do you really have to move there?" His mother asked. Hiro shrugged. "It wasn't my decision; it was something Grandpa had planned overhead." His father sighed. "Your grandfather always had a habit of keeping secrets." He added. "I never knew what was planning in his mind."

"Still, it would be good for you." He pointed out. "This will give you a chance to know what hard work is like." "What time will your shift start?" His mother asked worriedly. "Don't worry, Mom." David replied. "The Master has already arranged for everything."

His mother smiled. "Thank you, sweetie." She replied. "All we want is for you to do what you like, at least that's what your grandfather said." "Thanks, mom." Hiro replied. "If only you knew how the others felt..." He thought to himself.

(Flashback...a few hours ago, in Nekoya...)

"Why would your grandfather arrange for you to work on Saturday?" Akiko asked in surprise as the gang were packing up for the day. "I'm not sure." Hiro replied. "Grandpa always had a habit of keeping secrets until at the last moment."

"Well, I, for one, don't accept it!" Kazuki yelled. "Why do you get special treatment, just because your grandpa's a friend to the Master?!" "Yeah!" Emi complained. "He gets to work one day while the rest of us work ourselves to the bone for about two or three days!"

"Look, I didn't know about this either." Hiro pointed out. "I didn't know my grandfather plan all this." "It doesn't what you think." Yamato added, crossly. "It's too late for that now." "Just to be clear, we don't accept greenhorns who get spoiled on their first day." He snapped.

"He's not spoiled, Yamato!" Yori protested. "He saved my life!" "Yori's right, Yamato!" Akiko added. "It's not Hiro's fault that his grandfather planned all this!" "It doesn't matter now." Miyuki shrugged it off. "If you're upset, take it up with the Master."

"Either way," Akiko tried to calm the crowd down. "the rest of us don't have to work on Saturday." "We have the whole weekend off." She reminded them. "Only Hiro has to work." Kazuki snorted. "Yeah, for only one day..." He muttered.

Hiro didn't seem to care; he was wondering why his grandfather would plan all this and keep it a secret from him. He was so deep in thought that he didn't even hear the key around his neck humming again.

(Back to the present...)

After dinner, Hiro went to his room and laid down on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. He was still wondering why Saturday was so special for the Master and Nekoya. He looked at his key which was still around his neck.

"What are you trying to say, Grandpa?" He muttered to himself. "What are you planning?" Suddenly, the key began to vibrate and started to glow a pleasant golden light, making a low humming sound. Hiro was taken aback. "What the..." He spoke.

It was then he noticed something glowing in one of his shelves, a small wooden chest of some kind. Curious, he took it out and placed it on its bed. He recognized it as his grandfather's chest; he had always kept it close to him and wouldn't let anyone touch it.

He turned it over in his hands, studying curiously. "What kind of box is this...?" He muttered to himself. He noticed the keyhole in the front and quickly putting two and two together, he took out the key around his neck and turned it in the keyhole.

*Click! *

As the lock clicked, Hiro opened the lid to find...a scroll with a red wax seal on it, a leather pouch filled with money, a strange map and a glistening amulet carved in the shape of a lion's head. "Where did these come from?" Hiro wondered.

Taking the scroll, he gently scraped the wax seal off and unrolled it. To his surprise, it was a note written in some strange language that he had never seen before. "What kind of writing is this?" Hiro muttered, turning the scroll over.

At once, the key glowed again and to Hiro's amazement, the words on the note glowed too and turned into Japanese Kanji. "It's magic!" He gasped as he began to read...

Dear Hiro,

If you are reading this message, that means you have found the box I left for you. I had hoped that when you are old enough, I would finally be able to tell you what I had been keeping from you for all these years.

I'm sure you remember the Other World, a realm of magic and wonder. Tales of fairies, elves, wizards, knights and dragons that I have told you about...

Hiro blinked. He remembered that his grandfather used to tell him stories about the Other World. It was said to be a realm of fantasy and magic, a world of dwarves, elves, fairies, beast-men and of course, demons. He always enjoyed his grandfather's stories, but why did he bring it up?

The truth is, Hiro...the Other World is real. I know this is hard for you to believe, but all the stories I told you are true. There is Another World out there and Western Restaurant Nekoya is the gateway to this world.

Hiro's eyes widened. Was this for real? Is there really another world or was this just an elaborate prank? Then again, his key just glowed and hummed, and his grandfather was always an honest man.

You may think I'm crazy, but it is the truth. The Master can vouch for me, he knows about the Other World too. If you don't believe me, it's fine but what I can tell you is that by tomorrow, everything you know is about to change. I hope you'll understand.

Best of luck to you, my grandson...

For a moment, Hiro just stared at the letter, then at the chest. "What could he mean?" He wondered. He sighed. "Maybe, I'm over thinking it." He muttered. "Maybe, a good wash and a good night's sleep will take my mind" He decided as he headed to the bathroom.

Unknown to him, the key was left on his bed and it was still humming...