So, after being asked about the possibility of there being an omake for my Shokugeki no Nikola story, after my last update, in which I did not consider doing, I have decided, why not? But instead of calling it an omake, it'd be more of a prologue. Yes, that is right. This story here is focused on what happens before Shokugeki no Nikola. Specifically how the diners of the other world first got to Nekoya, my version, with Nikola around. However! Since this is the first chapter of the prologue, I've decided to start it all off with the birth of the Restaurant to Another World's heiress. Well, of course it's not going to start right off with her birth, but you all know what I mean.
Now then! Let us begin this prologue!
It was a chilly day on a Saturday in Maebashi. It wasn't cold enough to snow, but it was cold enough for people to have on their winter clothes and go about their day. For those who are unable to handle the cold weather, they also had on warm hats, scarves, and gloves to keep themselves toasty.
In one building, there was one floor that had its heater on, keeping the part of the place nice and warm. It wasn't for the owner or his wife; they could just keep themselves warm in other parts of the building, especially as they were in a multi-business building. It was not for the building as a whole; one part, specifically the basement level, having its heater on won't affect the building as a whole. To say it was for the customers won't be wrong, but it's also not right, as this particular restaurant closes on a Saturday. Well... in that world it closes on a Saturday.
"More katsudon!"
"Another plate of omelette rice."
"I'd like more minced meat cutlets."
"And I for croquettes."
Of the many customers in the restaurant, some quite human and others not, there was one person who was taking all their orders.
"Coming right up," a young man answered, collecting one cleaned dish from one of the several human customers in the building and returning to the kitchen to get started on all their orders.
This is Western Restaurant Nekoya, otherwise known as the Restaurant to Another World. While the latter name is not known in the world we live in, in the other world the door is connected to, only on Saturdays, that name is what it is more commonly referred to. The reason? In the world the door is connected to, the time seems to be from back in the old age, with monsters, magic, demons, and many other things one expects to find in fantasy story books. Such a world is connected to Nekoya through the front door, and it is because of this secret that the restaurant closes on the weekends. While the door connects the two worlds only on a Saturday, it is also because of that the restaurant closes on a Sunday as well, as it is tough for one or two people to handle the eatery on their own. Especially with the appetites most of the non-human customers have.
"Sorry for the wait, everyone. Here are your orders," Daichi, the current owner and lone worker of the restaurant, apologized, bringing the four dishes to the diners.
"Are you sure you don't want me to at least deliver the dishes?" asked a young woman in the dining room. She has quite the pretty face, with long blonde hair, and wore a long, white dress and beige hoodie over it.
"No can do!" Daichi and the diners all replied in unison.
"Tomoe-chan. You're this pregnant right now. What would happen if you tripped, or you go into labor while working?" Alphonse reasoned with her.
True to his words, if one looked to the side, they would be able to see a bulge on Tomoe's stomach. One that a pregnant woman would have.
"As he said. And as a man and your husband, I know the young master would not want anything to happen to his wife on his watch," Tatsugorou added on.
"I know but, it's so much work for him to do alone. Especially considering the appetite some of you regulars have," Tomoe pointed out.
Daichi smiled at his wife's concern for him. "I'll be fine, Tomo," he assured. "Besides, don't forget who you're talking to. I didn't just graduate Totsuki because of my cooking."
"But even so- Oh!" The woman let out a surprised gasp, much to the surprise of Daichi and the regulars.
"W-What's wrong?" Lionel asked.
Giggling at their frightened reaction, Tomoe rubbed her tummy and answered, "Nothing. The baby just kicked."
Hearing that brought relief to the guys.
"Heheh. I guess even your unborn child is telling you to relax," Altorius said.
"That seems to be the case, for it to kick to get you to stop talking about helping out," William agreed.
"But even so..." Tomoe trailed off, jumping lightly as she felt another kick, thus confirming the two diners' assumption. Smiling and sighing in defeat, she then said, "Okay, you all win."
This brought small smiles on everyone's faces, glad that they managed to convince the woman to hold off working, again.
"Speaking of kids, how's that great-granddaughter of yours, Minced Meat Cutlet?" Wilheim asked the old treasure hunter.
"You mean Sarah? She's doing quite well," William answered. "A bit mad at me for taking the cookies she was hiding, but she's doing good all the same."
"I'm pretty sure any kid would be mad if you went and did that, Minced Meat Cutlet-san. When my child is born, please don't do the same to them," Tomoe told him.
With a chuckle, he answered, "I make no promises!"
Tomoe felt another kick in her. "The baby is saying otherwise."
Wilheim chuckled at the exchange. "If that is the case, I am glad you are nowhere near where my family is living. Nor are you planning to, I hope," he said.
"Now that I think about it, aren't you going to be a grandfather soon, Wilheim?" Alphonse asked.
"As a matter of fact, I am. And they even decided on a name for the child. If it's a girl that is."
"Really? What's the name?" Tatsugorou asked.
"Adelheid. After my mother."
Everyone's face softened as he answered that.
"I think it's a wonderful name," Tomoe said to him.
"Speaking of names, what are you going to name your kid?" Lionel asked, finishing off his katsudon and asking for more.
Both Tomoe and Daichi smiled as he asked that. "Actually, we were hoping you guys can decide," the master of Nekoya answered.
The regulars all looked at him in shock at those words. He wants them to pick a name?
"Of course we're not saying to decide on a name now, but an idea of the name would be good," Tomoe said. "I'm sure our baby will be happy with whatever name you'll come up with."
"Even if you say that..." Alphonse trailed off.
"Big task," Gerupa finished.
"Indeed. It's not easy to give a name to a child, especially if you're asking for a large group to choose one," Altorius reasoned.
"All the more reason to let you guys decide," Daichi told them, confusing the regulars.
"Once this baby is born, you'll be more than just regulars to it; you'll be a part of its family. And nothing makes a child happy than getting a name from its family," Tomoe reasoned.
When she puts it that way, it was impossible for the guys to say no.
The lunch hour wasn't the only time that the topic of the unborn baby's name came up. Come dinnertime, and more of Nekoya's regular came in. Some with the help of Daichi for good reason.
"You want all of us to help name your child?" Mashira, the most famous boar hunter in the other world, and quite fond of Nekoya's braised pork, asked.
"Yes, that's right," Tomoe answered. "After all, once this little one is born, you all will be more than just customers to it."
"I just hope it won't be a rowdy baby," said the chief of the group of Lilliputians, who is enjoying his portion of pancakes with the rest of his people. "Some of the babies born in this village are quite the rowdy ones, and you know how sensitive we are to the loud noises of you big people."
"Well, considering how calm it is and how it only kicks to get me to not even think about helping out my husband, I positive to say that you don't have to worry much about that."
"Still, though... a name for your unborn child..." Christian, an elf fond of the natto spaghetti in Nekoya, spoke. "I can think of some elven names, but I don't think any of them will do for this world."
"So long as you're thinking of one. Besides, we're asking for a name everyone can agree on," Daichi said.
"A name we all can agree on..." a male teenager from the other world, Touichirou muttered. "That's going to be a tough one."
"If it's only between you two, it'll be easier to come up with a name. To ask all of us of our world, though..." Aya, Touichiro's girlfriend, trailed off there.
Thomas let out a small chuckle. "Well, this is indeed quite the pickle you put us all in," he said.
"We're counting on you guys," Daichi told them all, delivering a second batch of pancakes to the Lilliputians.
Of course, even though she is usually the last and only customer left to dine in Nekoya and could care less about anything else but the beef stew she loved so much, Red Queen the dragon also asked about the baby's name. "I believe your child is to be born soon, no? Have you thought about a name to give it?"
"Actually, Daichi and I decided to let you of the other world decide on a name," Tomoe answered.
"Us? You don't also mean me, do you?" Red Queen asked. "I believe naming a child, much less a human child, is a task unworthy of me." Tomoe knew of how proud the dragon in disguise was, and knew she wasn't done speaking. "However, since this child is also to be part of my treasure, I suppose I could make an exception." And there it is.
"Thank you, Red. And also..." Tomoe trailed off there, much to the dragon's confusion. "Actually, never mind."
As much as Red would like to inquire about what it was the human woman wanted to talk about, the moment Daichi stepped out with a plate of her favorite dish was the moment all thoughts of everything else ceased, and she began to enjoy her plate of beef stew.
The next Day of Satur... was quite hectic. As requested, everyone came up with some form of names for the unborn child, but were unable to agree on the name. Usually, this would be the part where Daichi would try to calm them down, but since he and his wife was the cause of such argument, he felt that it would backfire on him somehow. Thankfully, as a woman who may be close to early labor, one word from Tomoe about how bad the argument would be for the baby and things settled down, somewhat. The couple of Nekoya were both glad that the noise wasn't bad enough to get the attention of those upstairs. And if they did, they were glad the owners of the floors above were able to cover for them, as they knew about Nekoya's secret and were aware of the risk.
Still, in the end, they were unable to agree on a name. Daichi and Tomoe can only hope Red came up with something.
"Wow. Sounds pretty bad," the dragon said to Tomoe, as Daichi was putting some finishing touch on the beef stew.
"It was. Some of them came up with the same name, but it wasn't good enough for everyone to agree on," the pregnant woman said. "How about you? Did you come up with anything?"
"I haven't. I put some thought on it, but of the many names that came to mind, none of them felt fitting for the next master of this restaurant."
Tomoe and Daichi looked at her in confusion when she said that. "'Next master'? What do you mean?" the latter asked.
The dragon looked back at them, just as confused. "Well, isn't your child going to be the next owner when it comes of age? I was thinking of names with 'prince', 'princess', 'heir' or 'heiress' in it, or even just call her Chibi Nekoya or Neko, but none of them had a nice ring to them at all. And as this child is to be part of my greatest treasure, I had also consider some names that would symbolize the greatness she holds or will hold over many others. Not only that, but since all the regulars in my world will be seen as a part of your baby's family, I can only hope that she will always be happy around us, through and through."
Hearing her reasons and consideration behind the meaning of whatever name to give the baby put the couple in thought, as they both came up with one name that seemed to fit the baby, no matter what gender.
"... Nikola..." both uttered out.
Upon hearing them both say the same name, they looked at each other in slight shock. A small smile and blush then formed on their face, knowing that they and everyone else in the other world will agree to the name.
"Nekoya... Nikola... That sounds extremely similar," Red noticed.
Tomoe giggled at that one fact. "Yes. And if you translate it in our language, it means 'smiles'. In another, I believe it was 'victory of the people', which would symbolize the greatness our baby will have here. And also... It kind of sounds like we're naming her after this restaurant."
Daichi smiled along with his wife. "I agree. Nikola sounds perfect. And I've a feeling the others will agree." To Red, he then said, "Thank you."
The dragon looked at him in confusion. "For what? You two came up with the name," she pointed out.
Daichi came out with a plate of her beef stew. "True. But you were the one who came up with the meaning. All that define our child so well. Then again, it is to be expected."
Red felt proud when he said that. "Well, of course. Who do you take me for?"
"Yep. As expected of our child's godmother."
Upon hearing that, Red spat out some of the soup in shock. "... Come again?"
The head chef looked at her in shock. "Wait, you didn't know? I thought Tomo asked you," he said.
"Asked me what?" The dragon turned to the wife, who looked away shyly.
"Well... I was wondering and hoping... if you could be our child's godmother. Or something like a second mother to her," she said.
Red looked at her as though she grew a second head. "You want me, a dragon, to be mother of a human child?"
"I understand if you refuse. It's just... you remind me so much of my sister, I can't help but think you'd make a great mother like she will. Besides, you're practically the guardian of our restaurant. I've a feeling you'll be attached to our baby more than you will for Nekoya."
"I doubt it."
The next Day of Satur, the couple had told the diners news of the name. As they expected, they loved the name more than all the other names they came up with and were all for 'Nikola'. Months after that, Tomoe finally gave birth to her and Daichi's child. A healthy, adorable daughter, donning the name of Nikola. And since she was born on a Saturday, the diners had to wait an extra seven days to meet the newest addition to the family. Though the wait was quite unbearable for some, it also gave them enough time to make or buy something for the young child as a gift. Daichi told them all that they didn't need to do such a thing, but they all insisted on doing just that.
On that said next Day of Satur, the diners all met young, baby Nikola and were in love with the smiling, happy infant. The giggles and laughs the baby gave to each of them showed how happy she was to meet them all as well. There were some sad exceptions for some of the more monstrous customers, as it were to be expected. The scars on said diners didn't even help much with the baby's reaction to them. Little did they know, in a few years' time at most, the frown on Nikola's face will turn upside down upon seeing them, but that is a story for another time.
Soon enough, the day flew by fast, and it was Red's turn to meet the newest, youngest addition to her treasure. The dragon simply stared at the infant resting in Tomoe's arms in wonder.
"So this is your child," she said.
"Yes. This is Nikola," the mother introduced. "Sorry, to have her sleeping like this. It's a long day for a baby like her."
"So I can imagine."
Tomoe noticed the gaze Red was sending to Nikola, one of curiosity. A soft smile formed, as she got a good guess what the dragon wants, even if she didn't know herself. "Do you want to try holding her?"
Red Queen looked at her in surprise. "W-What are you talking about?! Why would I want to hold a human child?"
"You may not want to, but I'm sure Nikola wants to know who her godmother is."
"Hang on. I don't remember accepting the position."
"I don't remember you rejecting the idea, either."
Since Red Queen reminds Tomoe of her sister back when they were in high school, she knew exactly how to deal with the dragon. If anything, she can read her like an open book.
Admitting defeat, this one time, Red held out her arms for the human to gently place her daughter in. "Be gentle with her."
"I know," Red answered, being real careful with the baby, as she leaned the child against her chest like how she saw Tomoe did.
Feeling the shift, Nikola woke up, her eyes laid on Red's. The dragon froze upon seeing the infant awake, not knowing what to do at all in the situation. This was especially true, as the baby raised her arms up. Red looked over to Tomoe's way for help, in which the woman giggled.
"Okay, okay. I got it," she said, gently taking the child out of Red's arms.
It was here though, the unexpected had happened. Once Nikola felt herself leaving Red's arms, she let out a cry, surprising the women and Daichi, who was just leaving out the kitchen with the diner's beef stew in hand.
"Whoa! What happened?!" he asked.
"I-I don't know," Tomoe answered, rocking the child in an attempt to calm her. "Hey. Hey, it's okay. It's okay, Nikola. Don't cry."
"Is she hungry?" Daichi asked.
"I don't think so." Despite the answer, Tomoe lowered the collar of her dress, in an attempt to breastfeed Nikola. Instead of taking her milk, Nikola pushed her mother away and was... reaching out to Red?
Seeing this, Daichi placed the plate down and approached them. "Hmm... I wonder..." Gently taking Nikola in his arms, he transferred her over to the dragon, much to the latter's shock, as she took the child in her hands.
"Wait, why are you passing her to-?!" The dragon trailed off there, as Nikola ceased her crying upon her presence.
It was silent, as dragon and baby stared at each other in the eyes. Like before, Nikola reached out to Red, much to the dragon's confusion, as she looked over to Tomoe.
Now realizing what her daughter wanted, the human mother gestured the dragon to bring the baby closer to her face, in which she did.
Once close enough, the baby lightly touched her face, and giggled. That one contact and one sound, Red felt something in her beat. It was not painful, and it didn't feel like any sort of magic attack or curse. Before she knew it, the dragon rested the babe in her arms, close to her breast where her heart was, listening to her innocent giggles. Bringing a finger to the child's face, she felt something warm and pleasant hit her soul when Nikola took her finger in her little hands.
Watching the final diner act lost and lovestruck like she was brought grins on Daichi and Tomoe's faces. In fact, she remained with such an expression for the rest of the night, even as she left with her pot of beef stew. Thankfully, Nikola wasn't greedy enough to want to stay by the dragon's side for the whole night, or a week.
"Today sure was something," Daichi said, making something for himself and his wife for dinner.
"I agree. It's a lot different from our usual Saturday," Tomoe said, breastfeeding Nikola. "But, it's also a good first Saturday for our Nikola."
Daichi smiled, agreeing full-heartedly to that statement.