A/N: Still waiting on chapter 83. Any predictions?

shininglegacy22: Yeah, I did. We also have to present the app, so I'm hoping to see the two utterly fail to add to the presentation. I might just try to hand it off to them. And great news on your finals! I might try a few chapters where they're dating. Don't have a lot of experience though, so who knows how it'll turn out?

Ouchanrrul: Well, thanks for adding what you did, and my last final is/was (depending on when you read this) today. Take care yourself, man!

BlackDragon829: How'd the all-nighter go? Did you pull it off? And honestly, I don't think he's enough to be considered an antagonist; just another annoying guy like those two at the family restaurant.

Leokunn: Thanks!

"Hachioji! Table 10's order is ready!"

"On it!"

The new hire grabbed the tray and carefully carried it from the kitchen to the designated table, where he proceeded to hand out the various dishes.

"You had the Yaki Udon, Baked Tonkatsu, and an order of cold soba. Is there anything else I can get you?" the waiter asked.

A quick round of "No thank you" passed, and the boy returned to the kitchen.

"I have to say, Hachioji, you're pretty good at this for having just started a week ago. Most people take two or three weeks to get the hang of this place as well as you have," one of the cooks mentioned upon the teen's quick return.

"R-really? Thanks. But is it just me or is it slower than usual today?"

"Don't jinx it!" one of the waitresses called out. "But yes, normally it's a bit busier around this time of day."

"Too late. Got some newcomers," another chef said with a nod towards the door. Both waiters looked, and a shiver went down Naoto's spine.

"Hey Mei, do you think you could take this group?" he asked, notably on edge.

"What's wrong? Do you know them?" the waitress asked with another look at the four girls.

"Kind of. Look, I'll take the next two if you take this group," he offered, which only piqued the others' interests.

"Actually, I want to see what happens now," she replied with a gentle nudge.

"Fine. But you're taking the order to them," he said before going up to the group.

"Um, h-hey guys. Do, do you know what you want to order?"

"No. Way. Senpai?"

"Yeah. Do you have an order yet?" he asked again.

"Do you have any anpans?" Gamo asked with a tone that said, "Remember that one time?"

"No, we don't."

"Figured. I'll get a lemonade," the orange-haired girl ordered.

"I'll get a water, Senpai-kun," Sakura requested.

"Water, please," Nagatoro asked, which Yoshi also got.

"Okay, I'll be back with those soon," he said out of habit, forgetting that he was going to have his coworker bring their orders.

"Three waters and a lemonade," Naoto told the cooks, which were quickly prepared.

He went to hand the tray to Mei, who held her hand up in response. "You just told them you'd be back with their orders."

He sighed, and gave a quiet "Fine." before returning with the drinks.

"Here. Water, water, another water, and a lemonade. Do you have your orders yet?"

"What do you think? Should we let Senpai touch our plates with his gross fingers?" Nagatoro sinisterly asked, causing the other three to smile evilly.

"Gross fingers!" Yoshi squealed with an inside voice, which she accompanied with a dramatic nose pinch.

"I don't know. Who knows what Paisen'll do to our food before bringing it out," Gamo threw in.

"I-I'm on the job right now. Can you save this for-for later?" he requested.

"Let's ease up on him; we don't want him to cry on our food," Sakura snickered.

Before any of them could get another word out, the boy quickly retreated into the kitchen.

"Senpai?" Nagatoro called out as he walked away, to which he didn't respond. Shortly after his retreat, a girl came from the kitchen and stepped up to their table.

"Hello. I'm Mei, and I've been asked to cover your table. Are you ready to order?"

The four girls shared glances between themselves before speaking to the new girl.

"Uh, I'll-I'll get the Oyakodon, please," Nagatoro requested.

"Soba, please."

"I think I'll have the salmon."

"Katsudon."

"Okay. I'll be out with those as soon as possible," Mei offered before leaving.

"Did he really leave us?" Yoshi asked disappointedly.

"Well, he actually does have power over us this time. He can choose whether or not to be our waiter. Normally he can't just run away like that," Gamo suggested.

Back in the kitchen, Mei had started getting an explanation from her coworker.

"Sorry, I didn't know about your...relationship with them," she offered with a pat to his arm.

"It's-it's fine. You wouldn't have." He wasn't crying or even getting teary eyed. He just decided enough was enough and finally decided to take a break.

"Don't worry; I'll deal with them for the rest of the shift. You just wait until you feel like going back out, okay?"

"Th-thanks, Mei. I'll be fine again soon." He received a friendly bump on the shoulder from the girl, who was soon ushered out to take another table's order.

"Maybe we pushed it too far," Sakura worriedly mentioned when Mei took another table.

"Maybe," the others admitted.

The four watched as Naoto carried a tray of drinks to the new table and returned to the kitchen without incident. A few minutes later another few groups entered the restaurant, which he also dealt with quickly and efficiently.

"Here you go. Soba, katsudon, salmon, and oyakodon," Mei listed off as she placed the plates down one at a time. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Actually, could you tell Sen...Hachioji that we're sorry for pushing him like that?" Nagatoro asked.

"I'll let him know."

"So, Hayachi, when did you start referring to Paisen by his last name?" Gamo questioned once the waitress departed.

"It was just this one time," Nagatoro replied with a bite of her food. "Besides, I wanted to get the point across."

A few minutes later the four saw Mei stop Naoto on his way from a table and pointed at them. He gave an unsure nod and headed over their way.

"Uh, hey. Can-can I get you anything?"

"Yeah, I'll get a refill, please." Gamo slid her mostly empty glass to the edge of the table, which was soon joined by two more glasses.

"Um, right. I'll be right back."

"So, think you girls can go without pushing him to far this time?" Mei asked as she passed by, not stopping or even slowing down to get a response.

The teen quickly returned with the three glasses and placed them on the table.

"Hey Senpai, when's your shift over?"

"A little under half an hour. Why?"

"Well, we're heading to that festival on the school grounds after this. Want to tag along?"

"I'll-I'll think about it. Just, promise me no collars this time?"

"Sorry Paisen, no can do." The girls chuckled as Naoto was called back to the kitchen.

He sighed and walked away, not looking forward to later that night all that much.

Thankfully, no collars ended up getting involved. Just a whole lot of enthusiastic ragging from his four inviters.

A/N: Well, that happened.
Also, guess who was the only one who did any presenting in the presentation for the final?

Anyway, I'll probably be updating less starting next week, as I'm going to be working more and have less time at home to work on these.