The American Dream, Part 2

After putting on their uniforms, Yui goes out of the kitchen and sees Eugeo still busy cleaning the floor of the dining area. She walks over to the cash register where Teddie is waiting for her so he can teach her how to use it.

Meanwhile, Kirito joins Asuna at the three metal tables at the center of the kitchen where the assistant chef is ready to instruct him what to do before the restaurant's next dining period.

"How do you feel in that uniform?" Asuna asked.

"It's comfortable." Kirito said, smiling down at his new black chef uniform and apron he is currently wearing.

"That's good to hear." Asuna briefly smiled at him. "Now let's get down to business. The restaurant opens for breakfast service from 8 am to 10 am, which just ended ten minutes ago. Lunch service will be from 12 noon to 3 pm, And dinner service is from 6 pm to 9 pm."

"Understood." Kirito nodded.

"So, before lunch begins…" Asuna now gestures Kirito to the ingredients and equipment she had laid on the tables. Kirito notices there are tomatoes, onions, garlics, a large pepper shaker, a bottle of olive oil, knives, two wooden chopping boards, a blender, and a pan. "Our job now is to make the sauces which we usually serve on our dishes, starting with the restaurant's signature tomato sauce."

"Tomato sauce?" Kirito slightly tilts his head to the side in confusion.

"Yes." Asuna nodded before frowning at him. "Is there a problem?"

"Well, I know what tomato sauce is, but…" Kirito pointed at the equipment on the table. "We're making it with just that?"

"Yes, exactly." Asuna said.

"Oh um…" Kirito sheepishly rubs the back of his head. "Can you teach me how to make tomato sauce with all of that?"

"What? Seriously?" Asuna asked incredulously. "Have you ever made tomato sauce in your life?"

"I did!" Kirito cried. "It's just…never this way."

Asuna stares blankly at him for a few seconds. "Where did you work before coming here?"

"Ummm…" Kirito momentarily turns his head away from Asuna as he struggles to answer her question without giving away any information about his home world. But Asuna soon holds up her hand in front of him.

"Never mind. We can get to know more about each other later. Addie doesn't like seeing us rest for a second." Asuna turned to the table and picks up a knife and an onion. "Not to worry though. Since you have never made tomato sauce this way before, I'm here to teach you how to do so. Now, watch me closely and get it memorized."

"Got it." Kirito frowned solemnly as he cups his chin and gazes at Asuna intently.

"Alright first, chop two onions in half." Asuna explained as she places the onion on the chopping board in front of her and chops off the top and bottom of it before cutting the rest of it in half. She grabs the other onion and hands it over to Kirito. "Would you like to volunteer in chopping the other one?"

"Sure." Kirito said, taking the onion off her hand. He places it on the other chopping board in front of him and proceeds to perform the same thing Asuna had done to her own onion earlier.

"Good job, and don't forget to peel off the skin after doing so." Asuna said, removing the skin off the chopped onions before picking up her knife again. "Now, it's time to cut them into smaller pieces. I'll show you how to do that."

Kirito watches in awe as Asuna swiftly chops one half of her onion into multiple smaller slices as if she was a fellow swordsman. After doing so, she carefully wipes off whatever small slices that are stuck on the blade of her knife onto the chopping board and join them with the other ones she has made.

"You can do it slowly if this is, you know, your first time cutting onions this way." Asuna said.

"Oh, don't worry, I got this." Kirito said as he grabs one half of his onion and puts it on the center of his chopping board.

"At least you know that." Asuna chuckled. But instantly, she widens her eyes and gapes her mouth open as she sees Kirito chops the half of his onion a lot faster than she and Addie usually do. After doing the same thing his co-worker did within less than a second, Kirito uses the blade of his knife to push the small onion slices he had made to the right side of his chopping board and looks down at his knife to see nothing is left stuck on both sides of the blade. After examining it thoroughly, he turns back to Asuna and notices the awestruck expression on her face.

"Did I do something wrong?" Kirito asked concernedly.

"Oh, no. Not at all." Asuna shakes her head. "Why don't you continue cutting the onions while I work on the garlic?"

"Sure thing." Kirito flashes a smile at her before he grabs the other half of his onion to chop. Asuna on the other hand grabs four garlics and chops each of them into four quarters with her knife.

"So, tell me, what other sauces have you made besides tomato?" Asuna inquired as they worked.

"I've also made soy sauce." Kirito responded as he now chops the other half of Asuna's onion.

"Oh? With soybeans, salt and wheat?" Asuna asked while chopping her third garlic.

"Yes, and also with toad blood and crab shell powder." Kirito added as he examines the blade of his knife again after pushing all the onion slices aside.

Asuna paused her work and stares incredulously at Kirito. "Toad…blood?"

"Hai. And crab shell powder." Kirito turned to Asuna. "Both make for great seasoning to enhance the flavor of your food. Do you have any of that here?"

Asuna continues staring blankly at the face of her co-worker for a few moments. She thought he is pulling her leg as he explains the clearly nonsensical stuff he claims to use to make his soy sauce. But the longer she stares at him, she realized there weren't any twitches on his lips and cheek muscles at all. He seriously does mean every word he just said out of his mouth, making her wonder where he originally worked at again.

She briefly pursed her lips before replying awkwardly to him, "No."


Meanwhile, at the front counter, Yui has been listening and watching attentively as Teddie is almost done instructing her how to use their electronic cash register.

"Once you found their order, you press the print button which is…um…" Teddie narrows his eyes at the screen as he struggles to find where the key to print the receipt is.

"Right there?" Yui asked as she quickly points out to Teddie the large red button at the bottom right corner of the screen that reads 'Print'.

"Ah yes, right there." Teddie nodded. "And the cash register will print out the receipt."

About two seconds after he pressed the red button, Yui watches in awe as a small piece of paper comes out from the top of the cash register. Teddie tears off the piece of paper and continued, "Tear off the receipt and hand it over to the customer in front of you. Plain and simple, right?"

"Right!" Yui said cheerfully as she nods her head.

"Good. Thank you so much for your time, Yui." Teddie said as he crushes the receipt and throws it into the trash bin below the counter.

"My pleasure." Yui smiled and bows her head to him.

As Teddie turns to the dining area, he sees Eugeo walking over to him and Yui while dragging the mop and wheeled bucket with him.

"I'm almost done cleaning the floor, Teddie. I only have the left side of the floor left to deal with." Eugeo said.

"Then get to it." Teddie said sternly as he leaves the front counter.

"Yes, Teddie." Eugeo responded as Teddie walks past him and heads over to the right side of the dining area to straighten the tablecloths. He turns to Yui and smiles weakly at her. "So, did you get everything Teddie taught you into your head?"

"Yup! All memorized!" Yui said cheerfully to him.

"Good." Eugeo muttered as his smile instantly turns into a frown. "It's about time we got someone to do the cash register here while Teddie can focus more on waiting the diners."

"What do you mean?" Yui asked in confusion.

"Before you came along, Teddie is the only one who is allowed to operate it." Eugeo explained. "But the problem with him is that he has so much trouble remembering where the important functions are. Such as where the print key is, and how to bring up the customers' orders when he forgets what they have ordered or when they are ready to pay. This is even worse when we have more than one order coming in at the same time and Teddie had a hard time remembering them all."

"You sound like you have knowledge on how to use a cash register and record orders at the same time."

"I do. I have operated an electronic cash register in every job I've done before working here."

"So why doesn't Teddie just appoint you to use the cash register then?"

"Because neither he nor Addie allow me to."

"Why?"

"Because they don't trust me!" Eugeo said irritably with his eyes widened and teeth gritted. "I'm one of the waiters here. I can remember orders well, and things can get done much quicker here if I am allowed to operate the cash register at the same time just like Teddie does. But no, he wouldn't let me lay a finger on the thing because he and Addie thinks this whole business is their show and no one else's. And it's only just recently did he and Addie finally got out of their thought bubbles and realize 'Oh yeah. We need someone to use the cash register if we want to get and record their orders faster!'"

After watching Eugeo complain hysterically in front of her, Yui stays silent for a few seconds and replied awkwardly, "That's…not good."

Eugeo sighs heavily. "Exactly. I'm glad we now have someone else here besides Asuna who understands me." He said calmly.

"You're welcome." Yui bows her head to him. "And I'm glad I'm starting to make a friend here in my new workplace." They both smile at each other until they are interrupted by Teddie.

"Eugeo! Did I pay you to talk?! Go finish cleaning the floor already!" Teddie shouted at him from the other side of the dining area.

"Yes sir!" Eugeo responded as he quickly pulls out the mop from the bucket and resumes cleaning the floor. As she watches her co-worker turn away from her and continue working, Yui frowns as she contemplates what Eugeo had just told her. Could what he and Asuna say about the restaurant owners actually be true?

"Yui! Help me place the plates and napkins on the tables!" Teddie ordered her.

"Yes sir!" Yui quickly responded while standing up straight and giving him a salute.


Back in the kitchen, Kirito watches Asuna put two fresh tomatoes into the blender and closes the lid on top of it. She places her hand securely above the lid and activates the blender to let the machine mix and crush its contents.

"Amazing!" Kirito said in awe. "This machine beats stamping the tomatoes in a mortar for five minutes!"

"Pffft, what?" Asuna chuckled.

"Oh um, nothing. Carry on with what you usually do." Kirito said with a sheepish grin. Asuna sighs inwardly before she stops the blender and opens the lid. She picks up the jug of now blended tomatoes and turns around. Kirito follows her over to the stove where their pan filled with olive oil and the chopped onions and garlics they made earlier is placed above it. They lean forward to smell the aroma of the onions and garlics and Asuna lets out a sigh.

"You smell that?" Asuna asked as they stand back up straight, and she puts the jug of blended tomatoes on the counter next to the stoves. "That fresh aroma coming out from the onions and garlics? That means they are ready."

As they turn their heads to each other, the assistant chef drops her jaw upon seeing tears brimming in Kirito's eyes and rolling down his cheeks like tiny rivers.

Kirito takes a gulp and manages to choke out, "Y-yes, they do smell nice and fresh."

"Clean your eyes, will you?!" Asuna cried as she quickly grabs two pieces of kitchen paper from a paper towel holder hung on the wall. She hands the papers to Kirito, who takes them to wipe his tears away.

After doing so, Kirito turns back to Asuna, who is now using the shaker to pour some black pepper onto the chopped onions and garlics.

"Pour the pepper onto the onions and garlics to give them more flavor and stir them well." Asuna explained as she puts the shaker aside and grabs a wooden spoon to stir the onions and garlics around in the pan for a few moments. "Not too slow, and not too fast."

"Got it." Kirito said. With the wooden spoon still in one hand, Asuna grabs the jug of blended tomatoes and holds it to him.

"And now we pour the most important ingredient into the pan. Care to do the honors?" Asuna asked.

"With pleasure." Kirito carefully takes the jug off Asuna's hand. She moves aside to allow Kirito to slowly pour the blended tomatoes all over the onions and garlics. Once the jug is empty, Kirito backs away and Asuna uses the spoon to stir the contents in the pan again. When she is done, she turns off the stove, puts the wooden spoon aside, grabs two tablespoons, and hands one to Kirito.

"And now, we taste it." Asuna said. Kirito grabs the tablespoon from her and they both scoop some of the sauce they have created from the pan. They both take a sip and Kirito widens his eyes.

"It's good!" Kirito said amazed.

"It sure does." Asuna agreed.

"And different at the same time!" Kirito added as he and Asuna look back at each other.

"What do you mean?" Asuna asked. "Does tomato sauce from where you came from taste different from this?"

"Yes. Tomato sauce in where I came from tastes great in its own right, but the tomato sauce you guys make here has its own unique flavor too!" Kirito said enthusiastically.

"Well, that's…good to know." Asuna said. Kirito smiled and bowed his head to her.

"Thank you for showing me how to cook this." Kirito said gratefully.

Asuna blushes and stares blankly at him for a moment as she never had anyone expressing such amount of gratitude towards her in a long while. Her lips soon curved up into a wide smile as she bows her head back and replied, "And thank you for allowing me to be your instructor."

"I look forward to seeing what other recipes you can teach me." Kirito said.

"Me too." Asuna said. "Just don't expect anything that requires toad blood and crab shell powder."

The two chefs laugh for a while before staring back at each other with smiles on their faces. Although she had only started working alongside him for less than an hour, Asuna already found Kirito to be a strange character, as judging by everything he had said to her so far, his background and cooking style are certainly bizarre. Nevertheless, she is still glad and relieved to have someone in the kitchen whom she can work comfortably alongside with, and she hope to get to know more about him as time goes on.


Before everyone knows it, it is now 11:59 am, and Addie's Baking Company will open in a minute for lunch service. Addie has finished making the dough which they would use later for their pizzas and raviolis. Asuna and Kirito are also done with making the soup, and they place it along with the jugs of sauces and bowls of smaller food on the left metal table on standby, and Yui, Eugeo and Teddie are going around the dining area one last time to make sure the tablecloths are straightened, and the napkins, plates and glasses are placed neatly on the tables.

Addie looks down at her watch and sees the time is now exactly 12 noon. She shouted to her husband through the kitchen window, "Teddie, we are ready!"

"Good! We're open for business!" Teddie yelled.

Eugeo walks over to the entrance and flips the sign around. He unlocks the glass doors and opens them up for the several people who are already queueing outside the restaurant. After the diners walk in and take their seats, Eugeo and Teddie began going around the dining area to give them their menus and take their orders.

A few minutes later, Teddie passes the first three lunch orders of the day to Yui. She quickly types and records all three orders into the electronic cash register before she turns around and passes the papers to Addie through the kitchen window. Addie snatches the orders from her hand and hangs all of them at the aluminum paper holder underneath the window.

"Alright, first order! One salami pizza and one beef spaghetti bolognaise!" Addie ordered Kirito and Asuna before going to grab a large piece of pizza dough.

"Yes ma'am!" Kirito and Asuna replied to her in unison as they walk over to the tables at the center of the kitchen. Asuna grabs the jug of tomato sauce and walks back to the front of the kitchen while Kirito grabs a bag of uncooked spaghetti and goes over to the stove where there is already a pot of boiling water placed on top of it. After removing the lid, he pours some uncooked spaghetti into the pot with a smile on his face. It would seem everything is going well so far.

Back at the dining area, as she continues standing behind the cash register, Yui watches Teddie grab some canned drinks from the square-shaped refrigerator underneath the wine shelves. She turns around and realizes that Eugeo is now currently the only one going around the dining area taking customers' orders.

"What did the ladies at Table 12 want again? Coke? Root beer?" Yui could hear Teddie mumbling to himself in confusion while staring at the drinks inside the refrigerator. Yui quickly turns to the electronic cash register, brings up the order for Table 12 on screen and looks through it.

"Table 12 wants a can of coke, and a can of orange soda." Yui said to Teddie.

"Yes, thank you!" Teddie replied irritably to her before grabbing a can of orange soda from the refrigerator and closes it.

"Um, you're welcome?" Yui replied nervously as Teddie stands back up.

"Just focus on the register while I deal with the customers." Teddie said in annoyance, not making eye contact with Yui as he rushes out of the front counter and back into the dining area.

In the kitchen, after Asuna pours some of the tomato sauce all over the pizza dough, she backs away to allow Addie to stand behind her workstation. As the head chef proceed to add the toppings onto the pizza which she took from a row of containers underneath the kitchen window and paper holder, Kirito walks over to her from behind.

"Addie, I'm working on the spaghetti right now." Kirito said to her.

"That's good to know." Addie replied flatly while still intently working on the pizza in front of her.

"So, what does the next customer order have at the meantime?" Kirito asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, while I wait for the spaghetti to be boiled, maybe I can start working on the food listed on the next order?"

"No. No other orders until the one we are dealing with is done."

"What? But Addie-" Kirito is quickly cut off by Asuna, who hastily walks over to him and places her hand on his chest.

"No buts, Kirito. Back to your station." Asuna said as she gently pushes him away from Addie.

"That's right, Asuna. Please tell Kirito to know his place. Thank you." Addie said as she finishes adding the toppings and gets ready to put the pizza into the large oven beside her workstation on the right.

"Addie! Five more orders!" Yui calls out to her.

"Oh great." Addie rolls her eyes to the side as she closes the oven and walks back to the kitchen window.

After Asuna escorts Kirito back to the stoves, she removes her hand and frowns apologetically to him.

"I'm sorry, Kirito. It's just that Addie usually wants to take credit for all the food she serves here." Asuna explained softly to him.

"But wouldn't it be easier for her if we can help out in making the other orders? Working on only one order at a time would slow things down and cause the diners to wait longer than they need to." Kirito said concernedly.

"That's what I thought too." Asuna shrugged. "But Addie and Teddie are the bosses here. What can we do? Now focus on the spaghetti and bring it over to the tables when they are done."

While Asuna turns to her left and heads to the storeroom, Kirito lets out a sigh and turns around to face the pot and stoves.

"Alright." He said as he removes the lid to check the spaghetti.

At the dining area, Yui notices Eugeo walking up to Teddie after the restaurant owner placed two cups of iced water on one of the tables for the diners.

"Teddie, Table 4 wants another can of root beer." Eugeo said to him.

"I know, I know!" Teddie cried irritably, much to the concern of the diners sitting beside him and Eugeo. "I can't do so many things at once!"

"I'm sorry. It's just that one of them is really thirsty." Eugeo said apologetically.

"Just tell them to wait! What can I do?! There are two other tables I have to attend to!" Teddie yelled at him before he turns around and walks back to the doorway leading to the back of the front counter. As Yui watches Teddie storm over to the refrigerator, she felt she needs to speak up.

"Teddie, can I ask you something?" Yui asked.

"What is it, I'm busy." Teddie responded, not looking back at her as he opens the refrigerator and searches for a can of root beer.

"Why not let Eugeo help serve the drinks to the diners as well? I'm sure it will be a lot faster and easier for everyone if you have someone to assist you."

"Eugeo does not have access to anything here." Teddie said after taking the can of root beer out of the refrigerator and closing it.

"But he's also a server in this restaurant, isn't he?" Yui asked.

"Is your job to attend the cash register or ask questions?" Teddie asked in annoyance as he turns around and faces her.

"Attend the cash register?" Yui replied apprehensively.

"Yes. So, focus on that!" Teddie chided before storming off. Yui stays silent as she watches him walk back into the dining area and places the can of root beer on one of the tables, only to be told by one of the diners that neither she nor her friend ordered it.

Yui elicits a sigh. It seems what Eugeo said to her is slowly starting to make sense now.

About ten minutes later, Kirito finished cooking the spaghetti and places it on the center metal table. Asuna places the meatballs and fresh small tomatoes onto them before she passes the dish to Addie who also just remove the now cooked pizza out of the oven. The head chef takes the food from her and places both dishes onto the kitchen window. She grabs a small silver bell and rings it.

"Yui, order for Table 5." Addie said to Yui as the short girl walks over to the other side of the window.

"Got it!" Yui replied cheerfully as she grabs the two dishes and turns around. She walks up to Eugeo who is already standing in front of the cake chiller. "Salami pizza and beef spaghetti bolognaise for Table 5."

"Understood." Eugeo replied as he takes the dishes from her. Yui watches him walks over to the diners who order them and place the dishes onto their table in front of them. Yui smiled for a moment, feeling glad that the diners at Table 5 are now getting to enjoy their food until she is interrupted by a man who approaches her.

"Excuse me?" The man asked politely.

"Oh! Yes, sir?" Yui asked.

"Can I have a glass of iced water with a slice of lemon? I did ask the older waiter to get me one like several minutes ago, but he is still busy attending to the other tables first."

"Oh sure. So sorry for the wait." Yui replied as she grabs a clean empty glass and a jug of cold water with ice cubes. But before she could pour the water for the man in front of her, she got interrupted by Teddie who noticed her.

"YUI, STOP!" Teddie snapped as he storms right over to her.

"Oh! I'm sorry, Teddie." Yui tried to explain as she places the cup and jug down. "It's just-"

"I know! This man wants his lemon water, right?!" Teddie shouted at her before turning to the man with a cold glare. "Look sir, I already told you that you will eventually get your lemon water! Now sit back down!"

"Sir, calm down." The man tried to reason with Teddie as he backs away. "I was just-"

"SIT!" Teddie shouted once more, jabbing his finger at the man's table. The man shakes his head disappointingly as he turns and walks back to his table without saying another word.

"And you!" Teddie now turns his attention back to Yui as he walks to the back of the counter and stands in front of her. "Mind your own business and focus on the cash register!"

"I'm really sorry, sir!" Yui apologized. "I was just trying to-"

"Excuse me." Eugeo suddenly interrupted. Yui and Teddie brought the commotion to a halt as they turn to the younger waiter and see him placing the plates of salami pizza and beef spaghetti bolognaise onto the top of the cake chiller. "Don't mind me interrupting?"

"What is it, Eugeo?" Teddie asked with his tone softened as he walks over to behind the cake chiller and stand in front of Eugeo.

"The customers at Table 5 complained that the pizza dough is soft and raw, the meatballs on the beef spaghetti bolognaise are undercooked, and the tomato sauce on both dishes taste weird." Eugeo said.

"What?" Yui uttered with her eyes widened. She and Kirito had never come across a restaurant where the diners are unsatisfied with the chef's food.

Teddie presses his finger onto the pizza and sure enough, the dough feels soft.

"Huh. I don't know how it came out like this because Addie normally cooks the pizza just fine." Teddie remarked, causing Yui to arch an eyebrow at him.

"Well, the customers request if they can get the pizza and meatballs redone anyway. Can you tell Addie that?" Eugeo asked.

"Very well then." Teddie responded as he picks up the dishes and slowly pushes through the kitchen door. Out of curiosity, Yui turns to the kitchen window and watches Teddie conversing with his wife.

"What's wrong?" Addie asked her husband. "Why did you return the pizza and spaghetti for Table 5?"

"N-n-nothing wrong, my dear." Teddie said apprehensively as he places the returned dishes onto the right metal table at the center of the kitchen.

"Then why did you return it?" Addie asked anxiously. Noticing that her voice is starting to sound frantic, Kirito turns away from the gravy he is working on at the stove for a moment and stares at the head chef.

"There's nothing wrong." Teddie turns to his wife and shrugged. "It's just…you are doing well. The food is okay."

"No, it's not." Yui spoke up through the kitchen window.

"WHAT?!" Addie shouted as she turns to Yui with her eyes nearly bulged out from their sockets.

"Yui!" Teddie chided her.

"The customer complained the pizza dough is too soft and raw, the meatballs are undercooked, and the tomato sauce on both dishes taste weird." Yui explained.

"What?" Kirito said incredulously.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Addie screamed hysterically, causing all the diners in the dining area to turn their attention to her.

"Oh boy." Eugeo muttered as he stands beside one of the dining tables and its occupants.

Asuna sighs heavily as she momentarily stops cutting the lettuce and cabbage on the center metal table.

"Here we go…" She mumbled.

"Okay, that's it Yui! Time out!" Teddie shouted at the girl as he walks out of the kitchen and over to her.

"That's impossible. How did the customers not like the tomato sauce we made?" Kirito asked as he and Addie walk over to the returned food on the right metal table.

"Exactly! How can it be bad?!" Addie turns to Asuna and snapped, "ASUNA! Did you follow the procedure properly?!"

"Yes, I did!" Asuna yelled back at her.

"Then how can it still be bad?!" Addie shouted back at her. "Clearly you did something wrong!"

"I didn't!"

While the two female chefs continue their argument, Kirito decides to grab a tablespoon and scoop up some of the tomato sauce from the spaghetti he had just made. He refuses to believe that the diners did not like the tomato sauce he and Asuna had made together as they know just how fresh and magnificent it turned out. He must know if the customer is telling the truth or-

Kirito's eyes grew wide as soon as he inserts the spoon into his mouth and lets his taste buds feel the flavor of the tomato sauce. Much to his shock, rather than feeling the same delicious taste he experienced with Asuna earlier, the sauce instead tastes cold and a little bit sour. This is clearly not the same sauce they have made earlier at all.

Kirito whirls about and retches in disgust after removing the spoon from his mouth. And once Addie finished arguing with Asuna, she turns back to the food on the table, picks them up and throws them into the trash compactor underneath her workstation.

"Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable." Addie grumbled as she continues working on the beef burger in front of her by carefully placing the meat patty onto the bottom bun. "All that food and effort I made are completely wasted. There are starving people out there in this world who could have eaten it instead, but these selfish diners decide they are going to mess up my life instead. ASUNA, WHERE IS THE OTHER BUN?!"

"It's right next to you!" Asuna yelled back at her before turning to Kirito. She places her hand on his shoulder as he turns his head to her. "Kirito, what's wrong? Is the gravy done?"

"Almost done." Kirito winced. "But that tomato sauce…yikes! What happen to the one we made earlier?"

"Oh well…" Asuna leans over to Kirito's ear and whispered, "It's in the storeroom."

"What?" Kirito replied softly and incredulously.

"The one we are using now is the one I made yesterday."

"It's reused?! What kind of restaurant serves food that is reused?"

"KIRITO! WHERE'S THE GRAVY?!" Addie suddenly shouted, causing the two of them to cringe.

"We'll talk later." Asuna replied to Kirito before turning to Addie. "It's coming!"

Back at the front counter, Teddie continues berating Yui for the trouble she had unwittingly caused to Addie and the kitchen.

"Why do you have to tell her something negative, huh?!" Teddie scolded.

"But I was only telling her the truth. The truth always sets people free, doesn't it?" Yui asked apprehensively.

"NO! It's just-UGH!" Teddie stomps his foot and rubs his temples. "You know, maybe it was a mistake to hire someone to attend the cash register after all. It was that darn Eugeo who came up with the bright idea to get someone to work on the cash register while I focus on the diners' orders in the first place!" He looks back at Yui with a scowl. "Tell you what. I'll have you do something else instead."

"Like what?" Yui asked nervously. "Wait the diners? Clean a part of the restaurant?"

"No." Teddie said flatly.


Yui later got her answer when Teddie forces her to stand just outside the sidewalk and about a hundred meters away from the restaurant and the rest of the strip mall while wearing a sandwich board that says on both sides, 'Come and eat at Addie's Baking Company! Dine on the fresh and finest food in all of Chicago!'

As she sees several people walking down the sidewalk, Yui swings her cowbell up and down and cry, "Come and eat at Addie's Baking Company! You won't regret having your meal here!"

Some of the passers-by ignore her while others snicker as they glance and walk past her.

"We won't regret eating in there? Yeah, right." Yui could hear a woman saying to her friend as they continue walking down the pavement, and she watches them throw their heads back and laugh uncontrollably. Yui sighs despondently as she lowers her bell. She soon yelps when a driver suddenly honks his car horn at her, and she whirls about to see the back of his yellow car stop at about two feet away from her.

"You're inside my lot, girl! Move out of the way!" The driver yelled at her.

"Sorry!" Yui replied apologetically as she backs away from the parking space and into the center of the sidewalk. Unfortunately, she backs away a little too fast and accidentally knocks against a skateboarder who was trying to roll past her. As the teenage boy groans and falls off his skateboard, Yui gasps and turns around to see him falling onto the narrow field of grass between the sidewalk and the road.

"Are you alright? I'm so sorry!" Yui cried to the teenager, who looks up at her with a snarl.

"Watch where you're going!" The teenager barked as he gets back up. Yui lowers her head in shame as he gets on his skateboard and rolls away. She lets out another sigh as she begins to think that she and Kirito made the wrong decision to move and work here after all.

While she isn't looking, a tall man with spiky brown hair and wears a teal long-sleeved jacket, a white shirt underneath it, blue pants, black shoes, and a black bandana around his forehead, snickers as he walks down the sidewalk on her right while holding up a large piece of cardboard with a message he had written on it.


It is now nearly thirty minutes into lunch service, and most of the diners still have not received their food, and those who do received them however are expressing their dissatisfaction to the waiters.

One man with short blonde hair and glasses, who is sitting at a table at the far-right corner of the dining area with his friend, looks down at his watch in annoyance.

"Critter, I'm so sorry. I don't know why I even thought of eating here in the first place." His friend who has chin-length dark blonde hair and moustache said to him.

"It's alright, Hans." The short blonde-haired man replied as he looks back at him. "But I have never waited this long for one pizza."

"How is your food? Are you enjoying it?" Teddie asked a man and a woman who are sitting at a table next to the large glass windows.

"Unfortunately, no. The mayonnaise and the lettuce on our Caesar's salad are…" The woman shakes her head in disgust and confusion. "I don't know."

Teddie chuckled and said, "So you don't even know what you dislike about it."

"No." The man frowns at him. "It's just-"

"No, no, no. If you came here to eat and enjoy, then you should know what you like to eat." Teddie said to him before he walks away and laughs.

"Apparently, we don't know what we like to eat." The woman said to the man while rolling her eyes.

"Exactly." The man muttered as he picks up his glass of water and takes a sip.

As soon as he puts down his glass, the brown-haired man walks over to the glass window beside him and the woman and slams his cardboard onto it, startling both of them.

"What on Earth?" The woman cried incredulously. Eugeo gasps and turns to Teddie who is struggling with the cash register while three diners are standing and waiting in front of him.

"Umm, where is the button to bring up the order again?" Teddie mumbled to himself while looking around the electronic screen in confusion.

"Teddie! That man with the bandana is back!" Eugeo yelled.

"WHAT?!" Teddie exclaimed and slams his hands on the counter, causing the customers in front of him to yelp.

"Did I hear the man with the bandana?!" Addie asked her husband lividly through the kitchen window as she pauses her work on the fish and chips on her workstation.

"That's right! That clown is back!" Teddie shouted to his wife.

"I hate that guy!" Addie stomps her foot and swings the jug in her hand through the air so hard that some of the tomato sauce spill onto the kitchen floor. She places the jug aside on her table and turns to Asuna. "Asuna! Watch the kitchen while I'm gone!"

"Yes ma'am!" Asuna replied as Addie rushes out of the kitchen.

"Come on Teddie! Let's show him who he's dealing with!" Addie yelled to her husband as she walks through the small passage behind the front counter and joins him.

"Let's go! I have enough of him too!" Teddie yelled as the couple walk out through the small doorway and past the diners.

"Sir, what about our bill?" One of the diners asked as she and the other two watch them. But they are completely ignored as Addie and Teddie rush over to the entrance.

While the restaurant owners are busy, Kirito decides to take the opportunity to do some investigation. He lowers the heat of the stove before going off to the left side of the kitchen and walk into the storeroom.

He first turns to the metal shelves on the left side of the room and once again look at the ingredients and supplies that he and Yui saw earlier today. The lettuces, cabbages, onions, garlics, potatoes, spices and definitely the tomatoes he and Asuna used earlier certainly look fresh and clean, but what about the sauces stored inside the plastic containers on the top shelf?

Kirito grabs one of the containers and opens the lid to reveal it is filled with mayonnaise. He sniffs the sauce and immediately winced in disgust.

"This definitely doesn't smell like it was made today or yesterday." Kirito commented as he closes the lid and puts the container back to where it was originally placed. He grabs another container and opens the lid to see it is filled with tomato sauce. He smells it and nods his head. "This is definitely the one Asuna and I made today. So why didn't they use this?"

Kirito continues taking down every container from the top shelf and smells each and every sauce inside them. With the exception of the tomato sauce that he and Asuna made, all of them smelt sour to him. It is no wonder why the diners are complaining their food taste weird and awful.

As Kirito turns around and begins investigating the containers on the metal shelves at the right side of the storeroom, Asuna opens the door with a knife still in her other hand.

"Kirito! What are you…doing…" Asuna softens her tone and trails off as she watches Kirito opening a container filled with raviolis. He picks one of them up and rubs his fingers all over it.

"These raviolis." Kirito shakes his head in disbelief. "They're cold and sticky."

"Yes, they are." Asuna said as she walks over to him.

"So why are they here?" Kirito asked as he throws the ravioli back into the container and closes it. "Why didn't you throw them away? And why are we using sauces that are made yesterday? Why not use the ones we made today?"

"Addie believes food can still be consumed and reheated within 48 hours. Only then do we throw them away." Asuna explained.

Kirito gasps and stares at Asuna in shock for a few seconds before yelling in response, "No! She's wrong! You should throw away whatever unused sauce and food that is made that day right after dinner service is over! And reheating doesn't work either!"

"Yes! I agree with you but-"

"And look at this." Kirito puts back the container of raviolis and turns around to grab the container of gravy on the other shelf. He opens the lid and gestures Asuna to lean closer to it. "Smell it."

Asuna obliged and winced upon smelling the sour aroma of the gravy. "It's weird."

"Exactly. Again, unused gravy that day should be in the trash!" Kirito closes the container and puts it back on the shelf. He turns back to Asuna with his brows furrowed. "And tell me, Asuna. What is the temperature Addie usually use to bake the meatballs?"

"A-About…180 degrees Celsius?" Asuna replied. Kirito sighs in response.

"No wonder why the diners complain they are undercooked. The right temperature should be 200 degrees Celsius." Kirito said.

"But Kirito-"

"And how much time did Addie use to bake them?" Kirito asked, his voice growing with frustration.

"Eighteen minutes?"

"No!" Kirito suddenly yelled. "Meatballs should be baked for at least 20 to 24 minutes!"

"Well it's just-"

"Asuna! You are the assistant chef! You should be advising the head chef what she is doing wrong, and what she can and cannot do with her food!"

"I know!" Asuna cried. "You think I don't know that?!"

"Then why aren't you or Teddie telling her anything?"

"Because it's her restaurant."

"A restaurant that is endangering diners with uncooked and reused food!"

"But Kirito-"

"But what?!"

"It's just-"

"Asuna-"

Kirito's shouting was becoming too much for her. First Addie, then Teddie, and now him as well. She has endured so much of their yelling, nagging and false accusations for the past three months, and she just can't take it anymore. The frustration she had built up inside her from Addie and Teddie's constant yelling and blaming on others, the sadness she felt every time she sees a former co-worker leave this place because they could not bear the insufferable behavior of the restaurant's owners, and now the irritation she had from Kirito's accusations that she isn't doing anything to advise Addie to do better.

Asuna cracked. She suddenly stomps her foot and bellows at Kirito.

"WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH?!"

"Because Yui and I were the head chefs for the emperor of Mizuho before we worked here, and we would never serve this kind of food for him!"

Kirito instantly gasps and places his hand over his mouth as soon as he realized what he had just admitted to Asuna. The assistant chef fell silent as well, now staring back at Kirito with utter bewilderment as all the anger and frustration she had before has quickly disappeared.

"Emperor…of Mizuho?" Asuna uttered.

Kirito shifts his eyes side to side for a moment before he removes his hand from his mouth and lowers his head in defeat, knowing that he cannot take back what Asuna had clearly heard from him.

"Y-Yes." Kirito nodded. "I was originally the head chef for the emperor of my hometown along with Yui."

"A head chef…for an actual emperor?" Asuna frowned. Kirito nods his head again.

For a few moments, Asuna could only stare quietly at Kirito and contemplate what he had just said to her. She soon pursed her lips and lowers her head with a mixture of sadness and betrayal.

"First you said you made soy sauce with toad blood and crab shell powder, and now you're claiming that you were a former head chef for a monarch of a country that obviously doesn't exist." Asuna muttered softly. "Kirito…I wanted to know more about you. But not like this. I thought you were normal. Someone different from Addie and Teddie. Someone who can actually make my day here feel a lot better…" Asuna glares back at Kirito as she flatly finished, "I was wrong."

"Asuna…" Kirito uttered. But she ignores him as she whirls about and makes her way back to her workstation. He extends his arm and tries to reach out to her as he desperately called out, "Asuna, wait!"

With her head still down, Asuna hastily walks away from the man who hurt her feelings without looking where she is going. And when she stepped onto the puddle of tomato sauce that Addie had spilled earlier, it was too late for her.

Asuna yelps and widens her eyes in shock as she slips over the puddle and finds herself being flung back and ready to have the back of her head slam against the kitchen floor. And if that is not enough, the knife she had been holding has also been tossed into the air and flips around vertically until it has the tip of its blade pointing down at her as it begins to fall. Asuna could only helplessly watch in horror, preparing for the worst to happen to her.

But it never came, because as soon as Kirito sees certain doom is about to befall on his co-worker, without having any second thoughts, the former captain of the Mizuho Defence Army charges his legs up with electricity and swiftly dashes over to Asuna within less than a second.

He reaches and catches Asuna in time by wrapping his left arm around her shoulders. And right before the blade of the knife could land on top of them, Kirito makes a 90-degree right turn and skids through the floor to get themselves out of the way. After slamming himself against the side of the metal table, the knife lands onto the floor with a clang, and there was another moment of silence between the two chefs.

Both Kirito and Asuna stare blankly at each other over what just happened, and they both felt an emotional sense of shock and disbelief for different reasons. While she does feel relieved that she got out from what could have been a dire situation completely unharmed, Asuna could not comprehend how her co-worker was able to dash from one place to another like a speeding bullet. And Kirito cannot believe that he had once again made another mistake by exposing a magical ability that he can do to an inhabitant of a world filled with people who are extremely fearful of what they cannot understand.

"Asuna…" Kirito uttered with his eyes wide.

"W-What…" Asuna managed to regain control of her vocal cords and speak up. "What was that?"

Back outside the restaurant, the brown-haired bandana-wearing man cackled as he flees from the enraged restaurant owners. While running through the carpark, he looks over his shoulder to see and indulge the livid looks on their faces.

"Good luck trying to take down my message! The adhesive tapes on it are super strong and sticky!" He shouted back at the couple.

"GET OUT OF HERE, YOU LOONY!" Teddie roared while jabbing his finger at him. He and Addie stood several meters away from their restaurant and the latter records the man laughing and running away from them with the camera of her phone.

"COME BACK HERE AGAIN AND WE'LL RIP YOU APART!" Addie bellowed.

"DOWN WITH THE WORLD'S WORST RESTAURANT EVER! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!" The man laughed hysterically from a distance as he now runs on the sidewalk and away from the strip mall. When she is done recording, Addie lowers her phone and snarled.

"One of these days, I will seriously murder that man!" Addie growled.

"I hope karma bites him on the ass one day!" Teddie added before they turn around and walk back into the restaurant. As soon as they step back inside the dining area, Teddie ordered the younger waiter, "Eugeo! Take down that message off the window right now!"

"Got it, sir!" Eugeo replied as he hurriedly walks past Teddie and Addie and steps out of the restaurant to remove the large piece of cardboard.

The two restaurant owners push away the curtains as they walk through the small doorway. Addie returns to the kitchen while Teddie goes behind the cash register. As soon as Addie steps into the kitchen, Kirito and Asuna manage to snap out of their thoughts and quickly stand back up.

"What are you two doing?! Continue working!" Addie scolded.

"Yes ma'am!" Kirito and Asuna responded in unison. They both glance at each other one more time before they return to their workstations.

As Teddie continues struggling with the electronic cash register, Critter walks over to the front of the cake chiller.

"Excuse me, sir. My friend and I have been waiting for our pepperoni pizza for more than thirty minutes now." Critter said politely to Teddie.

"Yes, we know that." Teddie said, not making eye contact with him as he finally found the key to bring up the list of orders.

"I just want to know if it's coming or not." Critter continued.

"Look at him! He's like 'where's my pizza?'" Addie cried mockingly to Critter through the kitchen window, and she scoffs and rolls her eyes before resuming her work on the fish and chips.

"Seriously?" Critter said, appalled by Addie's attitude towards him. "Is this how you react towards your customers?"

"It's coming, sir. Okay?" Teddie said as he walks over to the back of the cake chiller to talk directly to Critter's face. The three diners who are still standing in front of the cash register sigh disappointingly as they would have to wait longer for their receipt.

"But my friend and I have to go back to work soon." Critter said in annoyance.

"If you want to wait, you wait. If you don't want, THEN GET OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW!" Teddie roared at Critter, much to the shock of him, Hans, Kirito, and every other diner in the restaurant.

"What?" Critter said incredulously.

"OUT! GET OUT I SAY!" Teddie continue shouting at the top of his lungs as he jabs his finger to the entrance.

"Are you kidding me? Is this a joke?"

"YOU ARE THE JOKE! NOW GET OUT OF HERE!" Teddie bellowed as Addie steps out of the kitchen again to join in the commotion.

"THAT'S RIGHT! GET LOST, YOU UNGRATEFUL PRICK!" Addie added, pointing her finger at the entrance of her restaurant as well.

"I don't believe this! This is all happening because I asked a question!" Critter cried as Hans hastily walks over to him from behind and places his hand on his shoulder.

"Forget about them, man. They're not worth it." Hans said calmly to his friend.

"Yeah, you're right. Let's get out of here." Critter replied to Hans as they begin making their way out.

"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!" Teddie shouted at the two men as he and Addie rush through the small passage and out into the dining area. "PAY UP BEFORE YOU GO!"

"Pay for what?! Our food didn't even come!" Critter yelled back at the now deranged restaurant owners, who stand in front of him and Hans to block their way out.

"Give us your money or I'll call the police!" Addie said threateningly to them as she holds up her phone.

"Seriously?! We didn't do anything wrong!" Hans cried as he too has lost his tolerance towards the restaurant owners.

"Pay up now or you're in trouble!" Teddie pushes Hans on his chest without a second thought.

"Don't touch me." Hans warned while Critter defensively holds up his arm in front of his friend.

"If you don't want me to, THEN GET OUT!" Teddie steps aside and points his finger at the entrance one more time.

"Are you telling us to pay up or get out? Make up your mind, you crazy old man." Critter commented as he and Hans hastily walk over to the doors.

"SHUT UP, YOU STUPID FOUR-EYED CLOWN!" Addie snapped.

"I hope this place goes under!" Hans shouted back one last time as he and his friend quickly walk out of the restaurant.

Taking offense by his comment, Addie instantly raced to the entrance and called out to them while they run over to where Critter parked his car and plan to never come back to this crazy strip mall ever again, "Shut up and get out, you little pansies! Cry to your mommies for your pizza, will you?!"

With that, Addie slams the doors shut and she turns to the remaining diners in her restaurant.

"I can't believe the state of the people in this city these days!" Addie yelled frantically at the diners, who stay at their tables and watch her with a mixture of disgust and bewilderment. "You think you can come over here and say all these nasty things to us?! Good Lord! Are you kidding me?! I have NEVER seen anything like this before!"

Kirito notices some of the diners shaking their heads in disgust or snickering in amusement while watching the entire display of a sad and pitiful couple who have clearly lost all their sanity. He sighs inwardly and quickly returns to his workstation before Addie comes back into the kitchen to finally resume her work.

That's what he thought though, because after Addie bursts through the kitchen door, she storms over to the backdoor and leaves the building.

"Where is she going?" Kirito asked while standing at the stoves and scooping up the spaghetti from the pot.

"Probably the restrooms." Asuna replied, not looking back at Kirito as she continues making more raviolis with Addie's dough at the center metal table.


After stepping inside the female staff restroom located behind the center of the strip mall, Addie rushes over to the nearest marble sink and slams her hands on the sides. She breathed heavily for a few moments before she looks up at the mirror in front of her and sees tears welling up in her eyes, which are slowly smearing her eyeshadow.

"You are a great chef, aren't you Addie Brassington?" Addie grins at her reflection with her bottom lip quivering. She slams her hands on the sink again as her face instantly distorts into a ferocious snarl and her tears trickle down her cheeks. "AREN'T YOU?!"


The rest of the day went uneventful. Despite some shouting and a little bit of cursing inside the kitchen, dinner service was thankfully less chaotic than lunch earlier. But Kirito was not concern for the current state of Addie and Teddie however, but more with Asuna. Aside from working on the sauces, soup and food toppings before dinner, she and Kirito rarely spoke to each other after their conversation in the storeroom and his revelation of his magic to her, and he isn't sure if she could feel comfortable towards him and Yui again.

Eventually, the last diners have left the restaurant, and both Addie and Teddie decide to call it a day. Everyone in the restaurant including Kirito, Asuna, Eugeo and Yui help clean up the kitchen and dining area before they all remove their uniforms and change back into their casual clothes. While Addie and Teddie remain in their restaurant a little longer to do some paperwork and accounting, Kirito and Yui are the first to step out of the building through the kitchen backdoor.

Eugeo steps out of the kitchen about a minute later after dressing back into his black beanie hat, black pants, orange shoes, and a long-sleeved blue jacket with a shirt with white and dark blue horizontal stripes underneath it. After closing the kitchen door behind him, he sees Kirito and Yui staring at the large piece of cardboard that he took down from the window earlier today, which he later placed it in front of the dumpster.

Kirito chuckled at the message written on the cardboard which says 'Down with Addie's Baking Company! For their wet, soggy, sour and undercooked food that could have killed you and your children!'.

Kirito and Yui turn to Eugeo and he remarked, "At least the writer has brilliant handwriting."

"He must have taken a lot of calligraphy classes." Yui giggled while Kirito places his hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah. My thoughts exactly." Eugeo chuckled before waving his hand at them. "See you tomorrow, guys."

"See you!" Kirito said as he and Yui wave their hands back and watch him turn to his left and leave.

"Have a safe journey home!" Yui added. Shortly afterwards, Asuna also steps out of the building, now dressed back in her casual clothes.

"Hello Asuna." Yui greeted.

"Hello Yui." Asuna responded before turning to Kirito. "Hello Kirito."

"Hello Asuna. Are you alright?" Kirito asked concernedly.

"Yeah…I'm fine." Asuna replied softly with her head lowered for a moment. She looks back up at Kirito and gave him a weak smile. "Thank you…for what you did back there."

"No problem." Kirito said as he rubs the back of his neck. "And I am sorry for my outburst in the storeroom earlier today."

"Don't think about it." Asuna said. "Anyways, I hope you two now discover what it's like to work here."

"We sure do." Yui said. "Addie and Teddie seem like nice folks at first. But within a short amount of time, it's like they have remove their masks and show off their true nature."

Asuna sighs heavily. "Exactly right. Anyways, I must go now. Have a safe trip home, you two."

She makes a 90-degree left turn and begins her departure from the restaurant and strip mall. But she soon stops at her tracks when she realized Kirito and Yui have not move. She turns around and sees them still standing where they are.

"Guys? What's wrong?" Asuna asked in concern. Kirito and Yui sadly lower their heads for a moment before looking back up at her.

"The thing is…we don't have a home." Kirito admitted.

"What?" Asuna asked in confusion.

"Kirito and I just arrived here yesterday. We did try to buy an apartment for us to live in, but our money does not work here. That's why we wanted to work here to earn some money. But we still have to wait until the end of the week to receive it." Yui explained.

"So where will you guys stay at the meantime?" Asuna asked concernedly.

"Somewhere…that is warm during the night." Kirito said with his hands stuffed in his pockets. Yui suddenly sneezed, causing Kirito to quickly kneel to her level and wraps his left arm around her shoulders.

Asuna stares wordlessly at them for a few moments. She never realized how desperate the situation Kirito and Yui are in truly is until now. They currently do not have a roof over their heads, and it will probably take about a year for them to finally earn enough money to buy a small and livable apartment for themselves. And after experiencing what it is like to work for someone as explosive and unbearable as Addie and Teddie, there is no way Kirito and Yui will be able to stay in their jobs long enough till they finally reach their financial goal in getting a home of their own.

Asuna thought hard for a while, until she finally made her decision. She knows it will be tough, but it is ultimately still the right thing to do.

"Kirito? Yui?" Asuna spoke up, causing them to look back at her. Her lips curve into a small smile as she asked them, "Would you like to stay with me?"

Kirito and Yui widen their eyes and drop their jaws for a second before they shout back at her enthusiastically,

"Can we?!"


Sovereign: I would like to thank Allfather-Ford, cosmicblader12, AquaBluey, LayLay lives, Austin Morgan, Magic Detective, NeoXen7 and Zenaku Prime for reviewing, favoriting, and following my story.

Firstly, thank you all so much for the positive reception towards the first chapter of this story! I am really happy to see it since this is the latest story that I have published in more than two years.

Secondly, I apologize that this chapter took a while to come out because December is always one of the busiest months in my personal life. But I'm dedicated to keep this story going and hopefully, things will calm down for me by January next year.

And finally, in case you miss the update on the first chapter, a very special thanks again to Beatrice of So Beat! for drawing the wonderful cover artwork for my story! Check out her Tumblr at beatradical dot tumblr dot com, her Deviantart at deviantart dot com/fuyukichi, and her Instagram at instagram dot com/fuyu_tjondro/

That's all from me for now. I hope you all enjoy reading the second chapter, and until next time!