Chapter Four

The next day, Rena entered Ming's Restaurant for another day at work. Nanase was waiting for her by the front door inside the building.

"It's good to see you again," said Nanase cheerfully. "Are you ready to deal with all the customers today?"

Rena nodded. "It has to happen sooner or later."

Rena and Nanase walked towards the back door. They passed by the chefs who were cooking lunches for the customers waiting in the dining room, making their way towards the dressing room. They both dressed into their uniforms and pinned their nametags on their shirts. Once they were ready, they walked out and looked at the table listings.

"You're serving tables three, nine, fifteen, and twenty-four today," said Nanase. "I'll be observing you today."

Then, Mr. Hsu came over and stopped once he noticed the two women. "Hello, ladies," he greeted. He gave Nanase a clipboard with a survey sheet on it. "This sheet here is for taking notes on Rena's performance today."

"Yes, sir," Nanase replied.

Then, one of the hostesses came into the back. "Is the server for table fifteen ready?"

Mr. Hsu pointed to Rena. "Yes, she is ready."

The hostess looked at Rena. "It's a five member family. Are you ready?"

Rena nodded. "I'm ready."

Rena took a deep breath before walking out of the back and to the dining room. The restaurant wasn't all that crowded today, most likely because today was a Thursday, and it was only the beginning of lunchtime.

Rena went up to the table filled with five people. They seemed to be an ordinary couple with three children, a boy and two girls. Rena smiled once she reached them. "Hello, how is everyone today?" she asked cheerfully.

The father looked up at her. "We're pretty good, and you?"

"I'm fine, thank you. My name is Rena, I'm going to be your waitress for the day. What kind of drinks would you all like to have to start with?"

As Rena talked to the customers and took down their orders, Nanase answered the questionnaires on her sheet. By mid-afternoon, they were all positive notes, and she knew Mr. Hsu would be pleased with the results.

At one point, Mr. Hsu stopped Nanase. "How is she doing, Ms. Hinato?"

Nanase smiled. "Rena's doing great so far. I'd say she's going to be one of your employees of the month one day."

"Then that must be very good sign," Mr. Hsu said. "You can go on with your work now."

Nanase nodded and continued on.


A few blocks away, the local dojo closed for the day. Guy, Cody, and Kyle were there as usual, giving themselves a well-deserved rested. Kairi, Hokuto, and Jessica were also there as well.

Kyle sighed. "Today could've been better."

Cody grinned almost sadistically. "That's because Michelle's not..."

"Cody!" shouted Guy. "Don't start that again!"

"Maybe Michelle ran away because she didn't want to see Kyle's ugly face again," said Hokuto.

Kyle looked at her and gasped. "Hokuto! How could you say that?"

"Don't worry, Kyle," said Jessica. "We love you!" She then proceeded to squeeze him hard enough to cut Kyle's oxygen short.

"Cody!" the younger man cried out, almost sounding raspy. "Please get her off me!"

Cody kissed Jessica on the forehead. Jessica pulled away in reply and drew Cody closer to her. Kyle managed to get his oxygen back as Cody and Jessica started to make out.

"Stop that!" cried Kairi. "That's disgusting!"

Cody and Jessica stopped kissing. "Oh fine!" cried Jessica as she straightned herself up.

"Say, I have an idea," said Hokuto. "Let's go to Ming's and pay Nanase a surprise visit. Maybe we'll even sit at her assigned table this time."

"And we'll meet that girl she told us about," said Kyle as he grinned.

"You wish," replied Kairi.

"So," said Hokuto. "Anyone who wants to go to Ming's and bother the youngest Hinato sibling say, I!"

"I!" everyone cried except Guy, who simply raised his hand.


"Hi, table for six please," said Cody to the hostess as he and his friends entered the restaurant.

"And make sure we get a table where Nanase could serve us," said Kairi with a g.

The hostess looked at the six friends in a strange way before saying, "Nanase is training someone today, but there is one available table where her trainee will be serving."

"Great," said Hokuto. "We'll sit there."

The round table they sat at was right next to the window and the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree, however, ended up being too close and started to poke Kyle's back. Each time he pushed it away, it seemed to return to its original position and continued to poke him.

"So, what shall we have tonight?" asked Cody as he browsed through the menu. The group looked over their menus and read through all the Chinese and Japanese cuisines that was offered in the establishment.

Nanase spotted her friends and siblings across the restaurant when she was helping Rena at another table. 'Oh great, not this again,' she thought with a small sigh. It wasn't that she didn't want them here… they just always seemed to appear at the wrong time.

Nanase walked over to them. "What are you guys doing here?" she asked.

Kairi smiled. "We figured that we could bother you just for one day."

Nanase sighed. "There's been more than one day, you know. Fine, but make sure Mr. Hsu doesn't catch you." She looked back at Rena, then back to the table. "You guys want to meet my trainee."

"Sure!" cried Kyle as he pushed the Christmas tree out of the way. The needles ended up hitting his head again. "Owe."

Nanase laughed as she turned around and walked over to Rena. "Hey, I have a few people to introduce to you."

"Really?" Rena asked, surprised to hear this.

Before Rena could say anything else, Nanase took her by thehand and pulled her over to the table where her friends and siblings were. Guy's back was turned to her so she couldn't see his face right away.

Nanase pointed to everyone as she introduced them. "This is my annoying friend Cody, his girlfriend Jessica, my sister Hokuto, you've already met Kairi, Cody's younger brother Kyle, and my other brother Guy. Everyone, this is my trainee Rena."

Guy turned around to get a better look at Rena.

Both of their eyes met, and they immediately gasped as they recognized each other. They both felt their hearts pound in their ribcages as they looked into each other's eyes. The event of last week played in their heads.

'Good lord!' Rena thought in her head. 'This was the man who saved my life last week!'

'Good lord!' Guy thought in his head. 'This was the girl I saved last week.'

"Rena!" Rena suddenly heard, her thoughts broken through. She blinked twice before turning around to look at Mr. Hsu. "I need to talk to you," he said

"Yes sir," Rena said. She looked at Guy one more time before walking away. 'I can't believe it… I never thought I would ever see him again!'