"Why bother yourselves coming here! You guys are famous!"
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief now understanding that he wasn't trying to kick them out.
"You! You're Parappa Rappa, Parappa the Rapper! You, you and you!" He points to Katy, Lammy and Ma-san "You're MilkCan! The Drummer Ma-san, the guitarist Lammy and bass guitarist and lead vocal Katy! And you my big man! You're PJ the DJ! DJ PJ!" He hops off the chair and bounces in place as the screen on his helmet emits a happy face icon during his little fanboy dance.
"Wow. And I thought nobody could be a bigger fanboy than Parappa…"
"Hey!"
"Oh it's true, when it comes to the music gig, I make it my duty to know everyone in it and whether they're big or just starting out, there's always my personal faves! And Voila as it turns out you guys are all from the town next door to our technicolored city! And you took time out of your lives to visit my little old club! I am beyond starstruck!"
"Wow...that's uh...nice and all, but who are you?"
"AHHH!" The guy grabs his chest dramatically as he falls onto the chair "Oh how cruel fate is, my popularity is leagues below all yours, so none of you know me…" He gets back up "But that's to be considered! And I don't mind at all!"
"You seemed liked you did mind just a second ago."
"Oh it just stung for abit! That's all! But where are my manners. I really should introduce myself! I haven't used my real name for so long when I donned this here helmet. So the name I have now for a while is Leo Steps!" Upon uttering his name, Ma-san, Paula and Matt all rush in front.
"W-W-WAIT! THE LEO STEPS!" Paula says as she almost topples him over.
"E-Eep...Um...yes?..."
("I THOUGHT YOU LOOKED FAMILIAR! DUDE YOU'RE A CELEBRITY!")
"Eeeh...that's pushing it abit…"
"You kidding?! You've had a streak as a singer, dance and guitar player, but are no stranger to other instruments such as piano or drums! Not to mention you can remix like no other DJ from what they say! And you're even quite adept at soccer and basketball!"
"Oh that's just the tabloids…honestly I really only dabble in those things cuz of my family...hehe...they piled a lot on me growing up and I guess it stuck with me...but I don't really wanna be known for it...Just singing and dancing...and maybe playing my guitar. So that's why I settled as a club owner about two years back."
"That explains why your name started dropping out around then."
"Eh that and I'm not a fan of the press. I rather fan over ACTUAL stars that the press review, not me…I mean I started my career at fifteen and stopped now that I'm twenty…I believe it was a decent run!"
"A star that doesn't wanna be a star?"
"Why even become a star?"
"I didn't by choice...it just sorta...happened to me for doing what I liked."
"Like me!"
"And us!"
"Same here."
"Exactly! Except you guys pull of the star appeal better! Me? I rather host the stars! You guys are always invited here! Wanna play here? Go ahead! Wanna just dance around and enjoy the place! Just do it! Wanna own the place?"
"NO!" everyone shouts at the same time, unwilling to deal with the work.
"Ok…maybe not that one." he taps his helmet until an exclamation point pops up "Well you guys came to have a good time! And the dancefloor is still just out that door! But wait a minute!" He grabs Parappa and Lammy by the shoulder "You two are a glorious duo! I might just hire the two of you to come back and play for the crowd! You two are flawless together! And the crowd certainly sees it! Hell I'll even help get your names out there! All your names! You wanna find more places to blow up? I'm your guy!"
"Wow...thank you!"
"Y-Yeah! T-Thanks!"
"Huh...a chance to catch up to everyone…" PJ glances along the ground.
"Huh? PJ you say something?"
"Huh? O-Oh no, it's nothing dude."
"Well you both can go on your way!"
"Leo, mind if I stay here and relax for abit?...I'm exhausted from having to run from that buffoon." Katy says as she slumps onto the swivel chair.
"Oh sure! But there are more rooms with more efficient places to relax onto if you wanna."
"Nah...this is fine."
"You wanna spin it don't you."
"Yeahhhh…" Katy simply spins the Swivel chair around in circles.
"Ok, you do that! Now let's go party!"
Everyone returns outside except Leo who turns back around "Now, that they're out there, mind telling me what's actually up? You can't have fun on the dancefloor if you're feeling all blegh on the inside!"
"It's nothing! I guess I just feel guilty for sitting here in your main room?"
"First off, that's not a problem! Second off, you're lying!"
"Feh...It's just something personal- what are you doing?" She soon finds herself staring at the screen on his helmet, when suddenly a green light flashes on her face "W-Wah!...what did you do?"
"And the scan shows that you are having…" A heart pops up on his screen with the electronic voice speaking up "Love troubles." prompting Leo to speak up again "Ooooooh that's a toughie to deal with! But i'll do my best!"
"Stop! I don't want help...I can't be anyway…"
"Scanner indicates that target is confused on emotions they've had for a specific individual. Target has recently come across information that has made target rethink things that at first target thought weren't possible."
"STOP SCANNING ME…"
"Sorry! It kinda does that on it's own from time to time…the only way to stop it is to take my helmet off."
"Then can you please do that…"
"Unfortunately I must never remove this helmet."
"That's totally not eerie…"
"Look if you don't want help, at least talk it out? Maybe getting it off your chest will help. I may not look it but I'm a good listener!" An ear icon appears on his monitor.
"Ugh...fine…" she begins spinning the chair again "So yeah...your stupid helmet is right…"
"Is it PJ?"
"What? Ew no! He's also taken."
"The ladies man Matt?"
"Not in a million years...ugh...it's Parappa…"
"Really? I wouldn't have guessed."
"You'd be the first...so...all our lives, we grew up in a sibling manner you know?"
"Oof, I see what you're getting at."
"Yeah...so when the emotions happened...I knew from the getgo...it was going nowhere…"
"Aw…" A frown face appears on his monitor, prompting Katy to chuck a nearby object at his head "Ow!...right...not the appropriate time...sorry…"
"Now...that didn't...stop me though...I wanted to stop the emotions since at first he fell in love with someone else...and I wanted the best for him...but then...another friend fell in love with him...then another...and then the final one...suddenly I felt like it wasn't...fair?...they all had such great chances...and me?...All I could do was be the cheerleader…" She stops spinning the chair from sadness and dizziness "I wanted a shot, but why bother? All the time I assumed he wouldn't see me like that...then...the accident happened…"
"Accident?...right...I recall starting last year Parappa just dropped from the singing scene all of a sudden…"
"Yeah...that was...thanks to us...he tried keeping us all safe and it just...almost went entirely wrong...he was stuck in a hospital bed...thought to be trapped in that state...for an estimated time of a decade, or maybe even longer...heh...at that point...I didn't care for the emotions, I just cared that my first ever friend...who promised to stick with me till the ends of the earth...was just...stuck there in a coma...I was losing him…"
"Oh...I didn't realize the accident was that severe...you have my apologies…"
"Heh...it's fine...you saw him walking and jumping around didn't ya? He's fine now...but back then...it was scary...I couldn't speak at all...during the first day, that's when we were relegated to taking turns watching over him...as if by some miracle he'd wake and the person would call the others...but it was just everyone's way of hoping...that it'd be ok in the end...during my first shift...I couldn't muster a word...and during the second...I manage to pour my heart out...I guess because he wasn't able to hear me...it felt alright…" Katy recalled the day of her second shift.
You'd promise we'd be friends forever...please wake up...please...don't even do it for me...do it for the others…,but you're not going to are you?...am I just fooling myself?...so I'm guessing I'm an idiot for just trying to force something out of you when I know it's not possible...then...is this the end?...huh...oh god...I can't stop crying...I wish I told you...I guess now...is better late than never…I...love...you…
Katy remembers kissing him then and there...it was the end, so she felt she could at the very do that if she was being honest about everything else. And then the miracle happened...he woke up.
"K-Ka-..ty?..."
"O-Oh my god…"
"What's...wrong….? Ow...everything...hurts…"
"D-Don't move!...oh...oh thank everything...you're ok...you're alive...the others are going to be so happy...the others! I-I have to call them!..."
Katy looks up at the ceiling "I kissed him...and just like that old fairytale of sleeping beauty and snow white and whatever other old cliche story...he woke up…"
"Oh my...hm…"
"What?"
"Well I mean it seems fitting on how that worked! Said old folk and fairy tales were based on some strange magic or another. But it's not exactly magic. They say when there's enough emotion between two people. Only one generous action of love between the two can help a lot, whatever the situation."
"Funny you should say that...that's what brings me to why i'm feeling like this. I...recently...like really really recently...found out...he...may feel the same...what I thought was me running in a race where I was handicapped against the other three people having an unfair advantage...suddenly changed...I finally feel like...I have a shot...and all that...is just bewildering…after what I kept telling myself…"
"I see…so...what will you do?"
"I don't know! Because the thing is...I still wanna help my best friend and bandmate win him over…"
"I assume you mean Lammy?"
"Funny how that's what you guess right immediately…"
"Well I mean that was a tad more obvious."
"Got me there." Katy sighs "I'm out of it. I dunno if I even can make any advances…"
"Does she know you also like him?"
"No…"
"Why not tell her? If she knew it was eating away at you, she'd probably both, tell you to stop helping, and to start trying for yourself. You said she's your best friend right? She'd want you to have a steady go to. Unless you just want her to have the guaranteed chance."
"I just want them both to be happy." She places her arms around the back of her head as she reclines on the chair, entranced in deep thought for a while before coming to a personal conclusion "But you know...now...I think I wanna try being happy to..." She hops up from the chair "I'll consider it, for now I'm helping Lammy!"
"Your own choices! Besides I said I wouldn't help, only listen."
"And I thank you for respecting my wishes! Now, I am feeling a tad better, let's get back out there and party!"
"Right behind you!"
The group were having such a entrancing time in the area, especially now that they weren't being pestered by any problems whatsoever.
"Man I am so happy I offered to take you guys here!"
"Same here! Beats just sleeping back at our apartment!"
("Nothing beats sleeping.")
"O-Oh Ma-san! I don't t-think you count!"
"I agree with her."
"You agree with anything that revolves around eating and sleeping!"
"Which is the premises of my upbringing."
"And djing?"
"What do you think I was brought up to do?" Sweety simply rolls her eyes at his remark.
"Speaking of that, Any of you guys wanna hit the stage?" A confused look lights up on Leo's helmet.
"My voice is tapped out for the night!"
"That's a first."
"Oh yeah? What about you then?"
"There's only so much I can do as a dj before I start burning my fingers to the nub."
"Egh that's a mental image." Both Parappa and PJ laugh at each other.
"Well what about you girls?"
"Hm...I think I'm game for it. Lammy? Ma-san?"
("This place seems sturdy enough to play at my full calibre! Hell yeah I'm gonna take any opportunity to do that!")
"Sure thing! If you gotta jam then i'm your lamb!" Lammy simply shows off by strumming a long riff.
"There's you answer Leo!"
"I'll set up the stage! This thing can become almost anything so any specific requirements from what you want from the stage?" Lammy's ears perk up as she starts listing one.
"A cool one! With awesome sound management and has reclining seats, power steering, dual airbags and the sound quality's gotta be superior!" Upon finishing, everyone looks her "O-Oh uh...only if you c-can!.."
"I...um...i'll go check if I can manage that…" Leo walks off, amazed by the request.
("The heck kinda tall order was that?")
"I-I don't know what came over me…"
"I doubt anything can have the things you mentioned."
"I-I'm sorry…I-I'll tell him to sto-"
"GOT IT!" The stage suddenly opens up and from the center rises a platform, a car themed one, and said car is in the form of a guitar.
("Huh...guess it wasn't that tall an order.")
"Wow, guess that almost anything has to be changed to literally anything! You lucked out huh Lammy?"
Lammy doesn't reply immediately, instead staying fixated on the stage "Yeah…~"
("Looks like someone is super happy to get their wish!")
"Well what are you doing just sitting idly by? You gotta rock on your custom stage girl!" Katy grabs the enamoured lamb onto the stage.
As the trio finally got settled, Katy spoke to the crowd "Hello again all you fine Ladies and Gents! Are you ready to groove?"
"YEAH!"
"Great! Cuz we're here ready to jam for all of you! Especially with this song, on keeping your head held high no matter what! Times may not be simple anymore but doesn't mean you should lose your spark!" Their instruments begin to play in a locked harmony as Katy began to sing.
"It was the 36th time that...he broke my heart!"
"It was the 80th time that...I'd fallen apart!"
"I knew from the start that things were gonna be rough, but not as painful as thiiiiiis!~"
The crowd was delighted to hear the song, her friends included, but both PJ and Leo couldn't help but feel the song was probably to convenient in its timing.
"You guys are welcomed ANY time here! And if you want a gig, call literally whenever! I'll always manage a time! Or not! Literally on the spot would also be aight! I'm sure your new adoring fans wouldn't mind!" Every window in the building behind him opened reveal groups of the audience all yelling in cheer for the departing group. "Listen to that love! LET'S HEAR IT FOR PARAPPA TOWNS FULL PRIDE AND JOY EVERYBODY!"
"PARAPPA! MILKCAN! DEE-JAY P-J!" was all they started chanting over and over, causing the pupils of the mentioned five to turn into stars.
"Uh oh…" Matt simply pokes Parappa who nearly topples over in place.
"Better get them out of here quick before the crowd's love gets to em!" Paula says trying to drag Lammy and Katy.
"It looks like we're a tad late there…" Sweety says waving her hand in front of PJ's face, getting no response.
"Mushi, mom and dad would be so proud…~"
"We're…~"
("Super…~")
"S-Stars…~"
"I really am at their level…~"
"Yo Leo! Mind helping us get them in the cars?"
"Oh! Sure!"
The drive back home went smoothly and quickly compared to the drive towards the place.
"...Matt you've been looking at me for the past ten minutes what's up?"
"You cooled down?"
"...yes…"
"Good...so...you and Lammy huh? That was quite a duo!"
"I mean I guess. She was just saving my skin."
"You were pretty happy once she got her guitar in hand to an extra degree, and you can't use your excuse of being a fanboy."
"Can't deny that. I dunno. Just happy I could count on her again really." Matt just laughs "What?"
"You really have cooled down, you got through a sentence over the topic so...calmly without fidgeting every few seconds!"
"...I did didn't I?"
"Not to mention sang phenomenally. It's official. Parappa's back!"
"Hah...well I can't deny that. Come on let me get you guys home."
"Finally home...and it looks like I was barely faster than them." Parappa hops out of the car the same time his roommates do.
"Well it's safe to say tonight was a hell of a night! Right guys?" Parappa says looking at the three.
"Some ups and downs, but yeah! It was! And not to mention we got more adoring fans! And even bigger shots at getting people to know our name~ All thanks to you!" She boops him on the nose.
"Hehehey!"
("She's right though, if we thought we were big before, hoho boy are we now in for a shock.")
"And that's great! The sudden increase in popularity might be a hassle f-for me though…"
("You'll be fine! You were doing great back there from what we saw.")
"I don't think i'll have my guitar on me 24/7 even though I'd want to…"
"We could glue it on you!"
"Katy please…"
"I'm joking! That'd be killer on your wool…"
"You think?...You aren't one to joke that far…"
"Sorry i'm just so giddy and taken aback! This was just a great night! Although once I take my mind off of this, the exhaustion will probably kick in…"
"Let's get inside then before that happens, so you at least have something soft to keel over on!"
("Ain't saying no to that idea mutt!") Ma-san runs past the three of them and into the building before they can even move.
"You'd think the girl with a literal stick of dynamite on her head would be the one to keep going throughout the night, but no always the first one to hit the hay or just plainly veg out when out of stuff to do."
"I mean h-hey at least she keeps c-calm."
"Maybe the sleep is necessary to maintain her explosive personality? Can't burn out all in one place right?"
"Wishful thinking but hey! Ma-san is an enigma at times, and we're her own bandmates!"
"I find it n-nice as a compliment to our g-group dynamic."
"Agreed! It helps liven up a lot! Given energetic personality is our bands main flow."
"Yeah well right now that energy's needing a recharge ain't it? Come on." the three of them head inside and upon entering, the three of them just collapse onto the couch.
"Oof...man that energy in me died the second I set foot in here…"
"N-No kidding…"
"Luckily good old trusty couch is always here for everyone." the three simply sink deeper into the couch.
"I wanna go to bed but I don't wanna get uuuuuup…"
"Same…"Parappa and Lammy say in unison until Parappa speaks up "Why not just watch TV? Since we're plastered here and all." His only reply was the TV being turned on.
They spend the night simply watching, until the trio fell asleep on the couch. And that's how the days went by, just simple daily activities, some slight embarrassment here and there. But over all, they got used to it rather quickly. And in a span of four days no less!
"We're out of eggs."
"I'll buy em, need to get something else anyway for Tamanegi Sensei."
"T-The van has a flat tire!..."
("That's my bad, I'll fix it.")
"Some one go check on the laundry!"
"L-Leave it to me!"
("Hey looks like they'll be showing a classic movie on this channel later today.")
"MOVIE NIGHT!~"
Life sure seemed calm again, as if everything had finally settled down...but this is PaRappa Town after all. On the beginning of the fifth day, the true daily life cycle was about to begin.
"That movie last night may have been a classic, but man that doesn't mean it didn't have its heavy fair share of cliche tropes."
"Ugh, no kidding. Such old romance stereotypes all rolled up into it."
"I-It's like they had a wall with tons of them taped on it, and they just threw darts until they were satisfied…"
("Isn't that most modern cinema now a days?")
"Well yeah, but the movies of today don't have the excuse of being old Ma-san."
("So in other words, flat out terrible.")
"Bingo."
"Man where did movies go so wro-" Parappa is interrupted by his phone, he pulls it out of his pocket and see's that it's Chop Chop "Tamanegi? It's not time for me to head to work yet, I still got half an hour...wonder what he wants…" He accepts the call and holds it up to his ear "Hel-"
"PARAPPA! YOUR ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY REQUIRED! I AM HAVING AN EMERGENCY AT THE CAFE, I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED PJ. I NEED YOU AND PJ HERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!" he then hangs up.
"Lo…" He shuts off his phone and blasts out of the room in a miniature sonic boom.
"Wow...new record for bursting out of here…"
"What's the time?"
"One point six seconds!"
("If only he were that fast when it came to his turn to do the groceries.")
Parappa was running down the streets at such a rush he had realized he had forgotten to take his car, although he didn't really mind as he ran faster than what the car would've taken him. And not long after he catches up to PJ also running.
"You got the call from him to Parappa?"
"Yeah, the heck happened?!"
"Your guess is as good as mine. A lunch rush maybe? That's when he calls us over earlier than usual."
"I dunno, he's usually never that distressed…"
"Oh I'm sure he's fine. It can't be that…" Both him and Parappa stop upon witnessing a horrifying sight. A massive wave of people piled around the cafe that the duo worked at. So much so that they couldn't even fit in the poor building, and they piled and lined up into one ridiculously long line that lasted a few blocks away! One could miscount into thinking it was hundreds upon hundreds when in actuality it was about two hundred "Bad…"
"WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE?! These guys aren't usual Parappa town citizens!"
"Hm...that's true but some of their faces seem familiar...why though. Neither of us have seen any of these people." As PJ states this, a good majority of the people on the nightmarish line call out.
"LOOK! IT'S PARAPPA RAPPA AND PJ BERRI!" The group immediately starts to cheer and even some people begin running towards them.
Both Parappa and PJ look at each other and state in unison "The club…" before running off.
"QUICK! THE BACK ENTRANCE!" Both run into the back door of the cafe where the kitchen is and immediately shut the door as the hear the people stampede on by.
"Ok...this sucks…"
"Yeah you're telling me. At least it's quiet in here...if you don't count the people roaring to be served at the counter in the next room."
"Gah...man we can't handle all these people!...Where's Tamanegi sensei?"
A cupboard opens up, revealing Chop Chop Master Onion the moment he's called for "Hai!"
"Sensei why are you hiding in there?"
"Yeah wasn't one of your teachings to stand in the face of adversity?"
"That is not adversity, that is a deathwish."
"Eh...true."
"Ok now you two are being ridiculous. It's just regular customers, only there's a surplus of them! Nothing changed." PJ crosses his arms and shakes his head at the two of them "Watch, it'll be simple." and with that said, he enters the next room.
"He will be missed." Chop Chop salutes the air.
"Tamanegi sensei have more faith in him! He'll be ok!" As if on cue PJ re enters the kitchen "That was fast! See? He's fine!"
PJ just gives a thousand yard stare before collapsing onto his back, with a snot bubble forming on his nose causing Parappa to run towards him
"OH NO!...THEY OVERLOADED HIM TO THE POINT THAT HE BEGAN STRESS SLEEPING!..."
"Then my dear friend and student, it is safe to say that we are doomed...Or maybe…" he rubs his chin.
"You have an idea?"
"I can manage at least…" He glances around the corner and views the populace "At least half. If you can managed the other half, we may make it out of this ok. We won't be overwhelmed by the customers or receive bad reviews for poor service!"
"I-I dunno if I can manage HALF of this tidal wave sensei…"
"PJ was correct, we must STAND our ground in adversity!"
"B-But!"
"NO BUTS!"
"...ok…"
"Relax my friend, you know what to do, just follow my teaching. And one thing that you always do."
"...yeah" Parappa clutches his hand into a fist "...I know!" determination burns in his eyes "...I GOTTA BELIEVE!" they head on over to behind the counter.
Stage 2: Chop Chop Fruits Cafe
Lesson 1:
"Yes….Tamanegi back again…!"
"Haiiiiyatatatatatata-chaaaa!"
"KICK! PUNCH! CHOP! And now we're back again!
To which I must say, hello my friend."
"You see, I say that me and you are trapped here,
But it's time to blow away all that fear!"
"Order, Chop!" Chop Chop swipes and grabs the customers in his vicinity written orders.
"Order, Chop!" Parappa follows the example.
"Crowd, Swerve!" Chop chop slips through the gaps among the customers.
"Crowd, Swerve!" Parappa dives under the clustered people due to his size.
"Counter, Dive!"
"Counter, Dive!" They leaps over the counter.
"Order, Serve!" .
"Order, Serve!" They sets plates under the tacked on orders.
"Dough, Punch!"
"Dough, Punch!" They begin kneading the dough.
"Shake, Mix!"
"Shake, Mix!"
"Deco- Rate!"
"Deco- Rate!" the decorate the cakes, pies, shakes and drinks
"Caffi-nate!"
"Caffi-nate!" They pour out coffee and tea in the piled up cups.
Lesson 2:
"There's so much to make and so much to do!
Can we pull it off, I don't know do you?"
"We work and we bake till we get it all done,
Yet there's still those that are waiting so we must run!"
"You see we have the orders for all two hundred, and seven!
Now we must unite them for a match made in heaven!"
The burst out from the kitchen on skates.
"Skate on through."
"Skate on through!"
"Out of the blue."
"Out of the blue!"
"Juggle your plates!"
"Juggle my plates!" the skating duo begin juggling their confectionaries, pleasing the audience, but not Chop Chop's or Parappa's stress level.
"Toss your treats!"
"Toss my treats!" They chuck the plates like frisbee's, landing them flawlessly in front of each patron who ordered them, without anything falling off or over.
"Kick, stop on by."
"Kick, stop on by!" they stop at a table loaded with people.
"Here is your pie."
"Here are your pies!"
"Kick on, Re-wind."
"Kick on, Re-wind!" the roll backwards a table opposite to the previous one.
"Here's the parfait."
"Here's your parfait!"
Both spin as the try to avoid each other and the customers before heading on the opposite sides of the room, beginning to pick up their momentum as well as rate of "handing" out the orders.
"It's what we do or donut."
"It's what we do or donut!"
"Quick-kick to, pass the shake."
"Quick-kick to, pass the shakes!" Both punt the many glasses of shakes towards their intended customers, who miraculously catch it without spilling anything.
"Swift-punch more, Hors d'oeuvres."
"Swift-punch more, Hors d'oeuvres!"
"Jelly, Chocolate or Tapioca."
"Jelly, Chocolate and Tapioca!"
"Don't forget the cake!"
"Can't forget the cake!" The duo manage to handle the ongoing mass of people by handling multiple orders at once.
Lesson 3:
"Hand to hand and face to face, none of what we do or make is ever a waste!
Simple measures to handle, and steps to take, so that everyone gets to have a taste!"
"All of what we make, will always satisfy,
With heart and determination you can-not deny!"
"It's time to continue the way of tamanegi,
Here we go again, hope all of you are ready!"
"Swerve, dive, kick and punch to serve!"
"Swerve, dive, kick and punch to serve!"
"Juggle, jump, chop and toss what they earn!"
"Juggle, jump, chop and toss what they earn!"
"Ice cream, coffee or strawberry cake."
"Ice cream, coffee and strawberry cake!"
"Fruit juice, tea and don't forget the chocolate shake!"
"Fruit juice, tea and don't forget the chocolate shake!"
"Pose and attend them, by the dozen!"
"Pose and attend them, by the dozen!"
"Kick punch style, straight from the oven."
"Kick punch style, straight from da oven!"
"I will make you make you make you all say-"
"I'mma make you make you make you all say!-"
"Tamanegi-negi Tamanegi sensei!"
"Tamanegi-negi Tamanegi sensei!"
Lesson 4:
"Here we go now! We're more than halfway done.
Don't ask us how, but can't stop till the day is won!"
"We have rode the wave of people here and there.
Shows that our prowess can truly reach everywhere!"
"Now let's go while we remain intact.
Get ready my friend, it's time for the final act!"
"Kick kick, punch jump chop!"
"Kick kick, punch jump chop!"
"Our service...will always be top!"
"Our service...always gonna top!"
"Chop juggle, punch punch dive!"
"Chop juggle, punch punch dive!"
"We're almost done now, so look alive!"
"We're almost done here, better look alive!"
"Keep it going, so we can take ease!"
"Keep it going, so we can take ease!"
"Do you understand? Do you know what I mean?"
"Do I understand? Do I know what you mean?"
"Do you feel satisfied...or freed?"
"Do I feel satisfied...or freed?"
"Take a look around you...and see!"
"Take a look around me...and see!"
"We have done truly done it, you and me!"
"We really did! You and me!"
"HAIIIIIYATATATATATA-CHAAAAA!" They end it as the roll backwards over the counter, exhausted.
"I can't believe we pulled it off sensei…"
"To be truthful myself, I did not have much faith either…"
"But we did...we handled all two hundred and….eight? Wait...weren't there only two hundred and seven?"
"Hai?..."
"Then where'd this order come from?!"
"Yo." a voice from above the counter calls. As Parappa gets up, he sees Leo.
"DUDE! ARE YOU THE REASON EVERYONE CAME HERE?!"
"Chill man. And no, they found that out themselves. They simply invited me over, and I was like 'well it would be nice to see Parappa again...and I do have a sweet tooth…', but I saw how many people piled on and decided to leave you be. And then I saw you actually managed so I decided…'well...i'll give it another shot.' And so here I am."
"I-I-I-I-I…."
"A chocolate donut with coffee please."
"Here." Parappa looks towards the hand giving the order, PJ had finally woken up.
"Thanks! Guess i'll be on my way!" And with that, Leo leaves the premises.
"Oh man that was a nice nap...and it looks like you guys did it! I think I'll help myself to some cake…"
"PLEASE!..." Parappa runs to the corner of the room.
"NO MORE ORDERS!..." Chop Chop follows suit.
As if on cue, the customers began speak amongst one another.
"Not only is the place the spot where both Parappa and PJ work! But the dishes served here are remarkably delectable!"
"And the service is on point! You don't get much of that anywhere these days!"
"I'll have to make this a daily thing!"
"Agreed! I'll come here every day!"
"Yeah!"
"Me to!"
"I as well!"
"Possibly forever!"
The chat reached the ears of Parappa and Chop Chop as they began sweating bullets.
"C-Come here…?"
"E-Every single day…?"
'P-Possibly FOREVER?!" they both shout in unison.
"N-NO! I-I CAN'T TAKE THAT!"
"ME TO! I-I'M GOING ON BREAK! A VERY VERY LONG ONE!" Chop Chop runs away screaming as he breaks through the wall, leaving a hole in the shape of his body.
"W-WAIT FOR ME TAMANEGI SENSEI…!" Parappa follows his example and is off in hot pursuit.
PJ just stares at the Parappa and Tamanegi shaped holes in awe "To think business would end up booming in this little cafe of ours...Oh boy this might be a problem…"
The Next Day…
The following day at Chop Chop Fruits cafe, earlier than usual.
"Oh you have NO idea how thankful I am to have your guy's help…"
"You sure seem like you've seen angels at your doorstep when we offered man." Matt says as he helps PJ in the kitchen.
"Him AND Tamanegi, he was practically bowing and kneeling and everything!" Paula says as she organizes the tables with Parappa.
"Why didn't you just ask your roomies to help instead?"
"Lammy and Katy work at a music store already, and Ma-san recently started to work at her dad's pharmacy. Besides they're already busy enough as is. I wouldn't wanna add MORE things to their schedule."
"I getcha, sorry man."
"It's fine Matt, i'm just glad you guys can help. You two also don't have to stay the entire time. I'm sure this will be enough for us to handle the rest."
"If you say so. Of course with what you say you had to go through yesterday, I'll count it as a blessing in disguise to be able to leave, but I might still stay a bit to give you a hand."
"Same here. Every extra pair of hands makes the difference!"
"Thanks you two. PJ! How's the stock coming along?"
"Fine, but we're running low on ingredients...hope Tamanegi gets here soon...otherwise we might have a shortage..."
"You don't think he bailed so he wouldn't have to deal with this again do you?"
"Tamanegi would never do that Paula!...would he?"
"OF COURSE NOT! I was simply busy gather supplies." Chop Chop says as he arrives at the front entrance.
"Tamanegi! Why did it take you so loooo….." Parappa simply stares at the massive pile of supplies behind him.
"I believe it is safe to say that we are prepared. Would you not agree my friend?"
"Ya-huh…." Parappa stays nodding, astounded at how overly prepared his sensei decided to be.
"Good! Not help me get these inside!"
"R-Right away sir!" Both Paula and Parappa say as they begin.
The day was about as packed as the yesterday, only the crowd was much more tame thankfully, due to a sign that Chop Chop had added to the front of the facility. No service for the wild, untamed and overbearing.
"Phew what a day...I can only imagine what these two went through yesterday while these guys weren't so calm…" Paula simply sighed as she collected the plates that were left on the tables.
Suddenly the last few remaining customers begin speaking as they get up to leave.
"Deciding to come here to eat at either breakfast or lunch was probably the best choice i've made."
"It might also be good to come here later in the day, who knows!"
"They seemed to have gotten new help to! And she's such a treat to the eyes! Pulls off being cute and beautiful at the same time very well! Makes me jealous!"
"Agreed! She certainly would be a highlight to the atmosphere here!"
As Paula overhears this, stars sparkle in her eyes as she runs towards the counter and immediately yells at Parappa "I WANT A JOB HERE!"
"Wh-Wh-Whoa what-"
"You're hired!" Tamanegi simply nods as he gives a thumbs up before walking off.
"W-WHAT?!"
"Great! You won't be disappointed with me!"
"P-Paula are you sure?.."
"I've never been more sure! I'm certain I wanna work here!"
"I uh...ok then…"
"Welcome aboard! If only Matt had your moxie, but he turned and ran the second he saw the stampede!" PJ chuckles as he walks back towards the kitchen.
As the customers walked out the door. "Oh my look at that! I didn't realize Parappa and her were an item!"
"It explains why she's probably here! Poor girl probably thought the people here would try to take him from her!" They walk off completely misinterpreting the situation "We have to tell the others to back off next time we're here! For her sake!" and thus the gossip and rumors begin.
"Well Paula, would you like to stay for the remainder of the work day or leave for the day? You start your first real day tomorrow."
"Hm...I think I'll call it a day."
"Alrighty, thanks to you,having four people here now means we can actually afford to be here on the intended time rather than hours earlier."
"Glad to hear it." She giggles as she bats her hair away to get get powder from the sweets off of it "I'm happy I was able to lighten the workload! Right?"
"Right…" Parappa says, transfixed at how the evening light glimmered off of her from the windows while she was batting her hair, not her intention, but it still caught his eye.
"You ok?"
"Yeah….erm...I mean yeah! Sorry got a bit distracted…"
"I guess being able to rest easy again while at work does that to you!"
"Y-Yeah haha...t-that's it…" What the heck caused that in me this time?
"Well I'm off, you two take care and I'll see you tomorrow!"
"You take care to!..."
"Later initial P." Paula rolls her eyes with a smile as PJ calls her by her old nickname, and leaves the cafe thereafter.
PJ then walks up to Parappa once he's sure she's far away "Soooo, mind telling me what that gawking was about?" A sly smile spread across his face.
"I have no idea what you're talking about…"
"Ahem" PJ begins mimicking Parappa's reaction in the most over exaggerated way possible "Right…" PJ says drawn out as his eyes open wide while he stares at the front entrance.
"I was NOT that dazed!"
"But you admit you were in general."
"...I hate how you always do that…"
"You and Katy make it soooooo sososo easy to."
"Not our fault, you had years to learn about us."
"A fact which I am glad for, but that's not the point. What was that about anyway?"
"Nothing guess I was just tired."
"I know tired, and that wasn't it. You were focused on something."
"No I wasn't!"
"Then explain the staring!"
"She's PRETTY ok? Paula's always been known to have a unique style that grabs the attention greatly!"
"I won't deny that, but that was more than simple admiration. You were transfixed by her. A first time for it to."
"Guess it was what she-"
"She wore her usual clothes dude, can't weasel your way out of this."
"...She just...looked really nice ok?"
"Dude, I'm your best friends...actually we're basically brothers at this point. Can you seriously not trust me enough to talk to me over this kind of stuff? You know I won't just tell anyone! It's not in me to gossip."
"I...you're right...I'm sorry…"
"You don't need to apologize, just don't be afraid to let the bottled stuff out. It ain't good to keep in."
Parappa sighs, unable to deny PJ's words "Right...ok...she was beautiful alright? But...I dunno if it was just the scenery...or lighting...or I dunno...cuz I didn't see it earlier today while she was helping us...at least...I think?...Maybe I was just to distracted to notice...because once I did notice...it felt as if I was seeing it the entire time…"
"Heh...I get what you mean." PJ leans forward and rests his arms on the counter besides him "What you described shows that you have SOME amount of feelings towards her, it isn't a crush or infatuation" yet "So you don't have to panic about being in love." again, yet "It's just mild attraction towards her. That ain't so bad. And hey even still, like you say, she may not even feel the same way."
"But the thing is...It's the same for the other three girls you know?"
"What I said still applies to them as well, and you know that as much as I do."
"Yeah...thanks. You were right...I do feel a bit better."
PJ smiles as he plucks off his beanie with one hand and ruffles his hair with the other "I'm glad you are man, and don't be afraid to talk to me about this sorta thing again."
"H-Hey!...why'd you do that for!"
"Because I can and it seemed like the proper thing to do."
"Yeah well!..." PJ rolls his eyes, but upon looking at Parappa, he's smiling with a single tear across his face "I'm glad you did."
"Yeah I'm glad to." He pulls him in for a one armed hug.
Tamanegi just watches from the back of the kitchen "Yes yes, brothers not by blood, but bond. No stronger connection even exists to compete with such a bond."
"I'm back."
"Hey! It's just me here." Katy says with a wave as she greets him "You were a little later than usual, what happened?"
"Ah, just spending some time with PJ."
"Sleeping?"
"No. Actual time spent doing stuff."
"Oh is that so? Well that's nice. Beats my day, yesterday me and Lammy had to deal with a massive tidal wave of customers. We managed thanks to using the manager as a meatshield. Today they were more tame and easier to handle, but man is it still to much…"
"Same here…"
"That explains why I found you in fetal position on the couch yesterday!"
"You weren't any better! You were trying to do the same thing I did!"
"You can't prove thaaaat." She chuckles "Alright alright, but hey we managed then AND today. Guess popularity has its drawbacks, but it's not enough to keep us down!"
"Leo told you that they found out where we worked to?"
"Yep."
"He could've at least tried to stop them."
"He could've, but if you were in his position. Could you?"
"...good point…" He shudders after imagining being in Leo's place, having to deal with all that mess "Well I'm glad you managed on your own! Me, PJ and Tamanegi needed Matt and Paula's help…"
"No shame in needing assistance, besides I feel a cafe is much more hectic to run than a music store."
"Probably so, I guess Paula probably thought the same."
"What?"
"Yeah she asked if she could have a job there and BOOM she's hired. Now we're fellow employees."
"Oh is that so. Well that's neat. Extra hands help."
"That's what she said. And I'm thankful!"
"Bet you are, so now what are you gonna do?"
"I dunno, gotta get used to dealing with so many people. PJ handles the kitchen and counter duty with Tamanegi, so that leaves the tables to me and Paula. It shouldn't be to bad if we spread work evenly."
"I mean out of work silly."
"Oh!...I dunno...I don't got much to do recently...hm...actually…" Parappa pulls out his cellphone and begins calling his father.
"Hello?"
"Hey dad."
"OH! Hello son! Whatcha need?"
"That Inventors Expo...you...still wanna go?"
"...Do you?"
"Of course! I'm...sorry about before."
"Nah don't worry! One problem, it's still a couple of days away."
"Aw...I can wait! At least it means we can go in general!"
"Then I'll tell ya the day prior so you can get ready!"
"Thanks dad! Love ya."
"Anytime! And love you to son!" Parappa hangs up.
"Well that was cute! But you still gotta wait a few days, you're currently still empty between then."
"Oh come on now! This is PaRappa Town! Something's bound to keep me entertained!"
"When you word it like that, it sounds more bothersome then entertaining…" She sits down onto the couch.
"Relax! I'll be fine with whatever happens! And besides, you guys got my back right?" he sits right next to her, performing a slightly reassuring nod.
"You're right. Sorry, recent events just make me all the more protective of you."
"You and PJ both! Geez you're like my mom and dad away from mom and dad." He sticks his tongue out at her.
"Well sorry for caring! You've just been a hectic lil guy is all!" She sticks her tongue towards him in retaliation.
"I am not!" He leans closer blowing a raspberry.
"Are to!" She leans closer blowing her own back at him.
The two grown adults acting like children keep this going until they lean a tad to close.
"MPPH…"
It wasn't a kiss, but still, their tongues touching is most certainly not an outcome either would've wanted. And like children they're currently stubbornly acting as, they respond in tow as such.
"BLEGH…."
"ERGH….." Both begin spitting and wiping their tongues profusely.
"Augh...that wasn't a fun outcome…"
"Ick...you're telling me…"
"Sorry Katy…"
"No it's...it's my fault, I got a bit to heated that I acted like a spoiled brat…"
"I wasn't any better…"
"Let's just agree that we're both at fault."
"I'm totally ok with that." They shake their hands and give a quick nod. Then after both begin to try and break conversation by trying to escape each other.
"Well I'm heading to my room, I'm gonna try to plan my days out in case nothing happens after all. Call if you need anything."
"Yeah that's cool, I'll call when it's time to set up dinner, right now Ma-san and Lammy went out to buy the stuff to prepare for it."
"Ah so that's where they are...well ok then! For now see ya!"
"See ya!"
The second Parappa closes the door, he immediately collapses onto the ground, bewildered at what just happened. I am an IDIOT...the hell was wrong with me?! If I was anymore stubborn in accepting her aide I might have accidentally ended up kissing her!...and who knows what would've happened from there! Parappa then begins imagining a rather overexaggerated end result.
"BLEGH…y-you...kissed me!..."
"I-It was an accident!..."
"Oh I just BET it was…!"
"I-I'm serious!...I-I think…"
"YOU THINK?"
"I-I'm sorry!..."
"Oh you're GONNA be sorry!"
"I-Is everything alright? W-We could hear the yelling from outside…"
"Guys! Parappa just straight out of the blue KISSED me!"
("I knew the mutt was sneakily planning something!")
"T-That's not true Ma-san! I-It was an accident-"
"P-Parappa...I-I didn't think you'd be just like Joe…"
"L-Lammy not you to!...P-Please...y-you gotta believe- W-Wait wait what're you doing?...H-Hey p-put me down!..."
"GET OUT AND STAY OUT!..." Katy proceeds to chuck Parappa out the door, followed by all his stuff being thrown right after ontop of him. As he plucks his head from under the pile, the last thing he sees is a blue cat face-shaped bass, a gold guitar and a bass drum smash into his face, snapping him out of his delusion.
"That...would've been bad…" Parappa falls onto his back groaning "I hope she isn't upset at me…"
Meanwhile however, unbeknownst to him, the second he closed the door, Katy had a near similar reaction. I am an IDIOT...what the hell was I thinking? Why didn't I just LET him have his space?! I almost accidentally KISSED him… Wait...oh god...d-did I subconsciously WANT to do that?!...I only did it once to help!...but he didn't know about that one...so if it did happen again here...W-Who knows what would've happened from there!... Katy begins dreaming up her own overexaggerated fantasy.
"WAUGH...D..Did you just KISS me?!..."
"I-It was an accident!...I swear!..."
"It was an accident, I swear!...YEAH RIGHT…I bet this is what you were PLANNING right from the start!"
"I-I wasn't!"
"Leading me here with the belief that everything was fine after the whole Sunny ordeal, but here I learn YOU were just trying to take me for yourself!"
"N-No that's not it!...I-I think…"
"You THINK?!"
"I'm SORRY!..."
"Oh you're GONNA be sorry!"
"(What's going on in here?!)"
"Hey Ma-san! Lammy! Were you guys in on Katy's plan?!"
("Katy's plan?")
"Yeah! Turns out the only reason she brought me here was just so she could hit on me!"
("That's not right, I thought you were trying to help the guy!")
"K-Katy...how could you…"
"T-That's not true!...I-Is it?..." Katy quickly bows her head in apology, but upon looking back up, she sees the three of them. Parappa holding Boxy Boy, Lammy holding her guitar, and Ma-san her bass drum. Immediately after seeing this, the three swing their items directly at her face, prompting her to wake up.
"There's no way that could've turned out worse…" She buries her face in her hands "Ohhh...he's probably upset at me…that's probably why he ran towards his room…"
Then they both say in unison "I gotta fix this!" Katy runs off towards Parappa's room as he opens the door to leave towards her. This causes Katy to trip and crash into Parappa, this time resulting in what they wanted to avoid. Needless to say, the following moments involved a profuse amount of apologizing and tears in distress thinking the other hated them.
"I'M SORRY I'M SORRY, PLEASE DON'T HATE ME!-...wait...hate you?...W-Why would I?...i-it was an accident...right?...of course!...I just wanted to make sure you didn't hate me for the other thing...saying it was an accident and that thankfully it wasn't another outcome...then it was said outcome...hehe...uh...mums the word?~.." after saying an exact word for word apology they simply nod and hug it out. Once they separate, both stay a bit fidgety until Parappa speaks up.
"Heh...well uh...sorry...for kissing you still...probably not the guy you'd ever even wanna do that with heh…"
"Oh nonono don't you worry about that! It's not like you were my first or anything!" why did I just say that out loud…
"Oh well that's good! At least I have the comfort in knowing I wasn't the jerk who accidentally took your first kiss!"
"Haha...yeah...that'd sure be funny wouldn't it…" I don't know if it makes me happy or upset that you don't know that you WERE my first...just not from this specific kiss...I wonder… "I mean…" say itttttt. "I...k-k…"
"Hmmm?"
"K-Ki…" I am the biggest wimp I swear… "K-Kinda wouldn't mind if you did kiss me!..." Oh my fu...how did THAT end up leaving my mouth...and why did it sound even WORSE than what I was trying to say!...
"W-What?...R-Really?..."
That response did not sound reassuring...Quick! Don't just look at him! Explain yourself! Maybe there's a slight chance you can win him over! "H-Hahahahahaha! You know! Like a kiss on the cheek or forehead! Y-You know! Like familial siblings and all that! Like we are Hahahah!..." Katy could only mentally facepalm. And I wonder why he still treats me like a sister…
"Oh! I getcha! You had me going there for a sec." a normal person would've immediately caught on to her fumbling words, luckily (or unluckily) this was Parappa, so he bought it. "I mean I'm cool with that as long as it means nothing and is just that, a family thing.
"Ha….yeah...i'm such a jokester…and good...cuz that's what I want to..." Why is this so hardddd...What am I all flustered over?!...If I get my reply here and now I can finally be done with this...I guess I'm just scared over the no...or am I scared if he says yes?...
She shakes her head to refocus "Point is! Don't worry alright? If..and again IF this happens again, it'll be like it was now, an accident! No need to worry! It won't mean anything between us alright?"
"O-K!" Phew...massive bullet avoided...but…why did my stomach turn once she brought up the family thing?...I'm not UPSET over this am I?...Do I want it to mean something? I did start to heat up when she just said that she didn't mind if I kissed her...but.. Parappa immediately recalls PJ's words.
"It's just mild attraction towards her. That ain't so bad. And hey even still, like you say, she may not even feel the same way."
But…
"Hey Parappa something still bugging you?..."
I want her to feel the same way…I want...all of them to...a-all of them?!...W-What's wrong with me?
"You look like you're a bit...sick?..."
.I can't do that...what kinda sick guy am I?...Maybe I can...stop those bad ideas...If I ask her and only her?...
"No...or maybe something is? H-Hey...if by chance-"
Is this the right thing to do?...
They hear a door slam open from the main room.
("WE'RE BACK!")
"Oh! Ma-san and Lammy returned finally! Uh...I gotta go help get stuff ready. What were you gonna say?"
"...Nah it's nothing important."
"You sure?...you can tell me after-"
"Noooo it's really nothing! I was just thinking about random stuff. No need to bore or annoy you with my ramblings."
"Oooook…well, I'll call you when the foods ready."
"Ok! Hopefully by then I'll have something thought over for the next couple of days!"
"I'd be all ears till then!"
"Ok!" She leaves his room and closes the door, leaving him in isolation. I can't...I just can't...up out of the blue just SAY anything of that sort to her...or ANY of them!...so what do I do?...Parappa recalls his years with Sunny, the joy of being with her, although it didn't start out that way. In fact before the whole noodle problem, their relationship was one sided as he worked to improve himself for her sake, only for her to realize he already was and then some. Then it hit him, he took things step by step with her to see if it started anything. So by that logic...it should work with them!...I-I'll work up bit by bit with all of em! And if I see any of it actually getting somewhere with one of them...I'll...try to pop the question to that specific one...to see if they...like me in that way...Man this is such a terrible idea, but it's...all I have to get this mess within me sorted out…
"I just don't want anyone mistaking my good buddy Parappa the Rapper as Parappa the Player." these words ring heavily in Parappa's head, did PJ know it would come to this?
"That's not how I'll let this end. I don't want to hurt any of em...I just hope none of them hurt me either. I...gotta run this over with PJ. I won't do this stupid plan if he says not to."
When did I become so starved for love? I don't like it...