The tension from the previous day still lingered in the air as Petra entered the restaurant. It was subtle, but Petra could feel it. A lot of people had seen the blow-up between Oluo and Eren, and while things had settled down after Levi's intervention, it hadn't truly resolved.

Oluo wasn't in the kitchen yet, and Petra found herself wondering how he'd be when he showed up. Would he still be tense? Angry? Or would he try to pretend like nothing had happened?

The morning rush was light, and as Petra went about her usual tasks, she caught a glimpse of Eren in the back, wiping down tables and clearing dishes. His expression was neutral, but there was a stiffness to his movements. He wasn't as laid-back as usual, clearly still upset about the argument.

By the time Oluo finally arrived, Petra had worked herself up with worry. Would he keep his distance from Eren? Or worse, would the tension flare up again?

To her surprise, when Oluo walked in, there was something different about him. His usual confidence was there, but it was muted, more thoughtful. He nodded at Petra in passing as he slipped into the kitchen, and she caught a brief glimpse of the same Oluo she'd seen the night before—the one who was carrying more weight on his shoulders than he let on.

Petra continued to wait tables and check in on the guests, but she kept an eye on Oluo, watching as he moved through the kitchen, quieter than usual. He wasn't joking around with the other cooks, and he wasn't tossing out his usual sarcastic comments. Instead, he seemed to be working through something internally, and Petra had a feeling she knew what it was.

Finally, after the lunch rush had slowed and the kitchen had quieted down, she saw him head toward the back where Eren was clearing plates from a large party. Petra felt her heart race a little—she wasn't sure how this would go, but she hoped it wouldn't turn into another confrontation.

Oluo approached Eren, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. Petra could feel the tension in the air from across the restaurant.

"Hey," Oluo finally said, his voice quieter than usual. "Got a minute?"

Eren glanced up, his expression wary. He set down the plates he was holding and straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest. "What is it?"

Oluo hesitated for a moment, clearly not used to this kind of conversation. Petra watched from the corner of her eye as he rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncharacteristically awkward. It was strange to see Oluo like this—usually, he was so confident, so sure of himself. But now, he looked uncertain.

"Listen..." Oluo began, his voice low. "About yesterday. I was out of line."

Eren blinked, clearly caught off guard. He hadn't expected Oluo to start with an apology, and honestly, neither had Petra. But Oluo wasn't done.

"I shouldn't have gone off on you like that," Oluo continued, his tone sincere. "It wasn't your fault. I've been dealing with some stuff, and I took it out on you. That wasn't fair."

Eren's arms slowly uncrossed, and he looked at Oluo with a mix of surprise and confusion. "You're... apologizing?"

Oluo let out a short, humorless laugh, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah. I guess I am." He met Eren's gaze, his expression serious. "Look, you're a good worker, alright? I know I give you crap sometimes, but yesterday... that was on me. I shouldn't have lost it like that."

For a moment, Eren just stared at him, like he was processing what Oluo had said. Then, slowly, his posture relaxed, and he nodded. "It's cool. I get it. We all have bad days."

Oluo seemed to exhale in relief, and Petra, watching from a distance, couldn't help but smile. Eren wasn't one to hold grudges—especially not over something like this. And it was clear that Oluo's apology, awkward as it had been, was genuine.

"Thanks," Oluo said after a beat, his voice a little lighter. "And, uh, if I ever do that again, feel free to tell me to shove it."

Eren nodded with a small grin. "I'll definitely take you up on that."

The tension between them seemed to evaporate, and for the first time since the blow-up, Petra felt like things might actually go back to normal. Oluo clapped Eren on the shoulder, and the two of them shared a quick, knowing nod before going back to their respective stations.

As Oluo returned to the grill, Petra took the opportunity to slip over and catch his attention.

"Hey," she said softly, giving him a small smile. "That was really... good of you."

Oluo glanced at her, his usual smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "What, apologizing to Eren? Yeah, well, don't get used to it."

Petra chuckled. "I'm just saying, it was a nice thing to see. You handled it well."

He shrugged, but there was a warmth in his eyes now, the tension from yesterday finally gone. "I guess I figured if I didn't, Levi would have my head on a platter. Plus... I wasn't exactly proud of how I acted."

Petra nodded, her smile softening. "It's good to admit when you're wrong. And it seems like Eren appreciated it, too."

"Yeah, well, he's not as bad as I make him out to be," Oluo admitted, leaning back against the counter. "Kid's got a lot of fire. Reminds me of myself at his age, which is probably why he gets under my skin sometimes..."

They stood there for a moment, the busy kitchen noise fading into the background as they shared a quiet exchange. Petra felt a wave of relief wash over her. Oluo had taken a step toward mending the rift between him and Eren, and it was clear that he was trying to make things right—not just for the sake of keeping his job, but because he knew it was the right thing to do.

"You're a good man, Oluo," Petra said, her voice sincere.

Oluo chuckled at her comment, though there was a softness in his expression. "Hey, don't be saying things like that... and don't spread it around, either. I've got a reputation to maintain."

Petra laughed, shaking her head. "Okay, okay. Your secret's safe with me."

As the day continued, the atmosphere in the restaurant lightened considerably. The kitchen hummed along as usual, and Oluo seemed to return to his normal self—teasing, sarcastic, but with a new sense of calm. The tension between him and Eren had dissolved, and the kitchen staff moved in harmony once more.

By the end of the shift, Petra felt lighter too, the weight of the past couple of days finally lifting. As she gathered her things and prepared to head out, Oluo caught up with her near the exit.

"Hey," he said, his voice softer now, "thanks for, you know, having my back. You didn't have to, but... I appreciate it."

Petra smiled up at him, warmth spreading through her chest. "Anytime. That's what friends are for, right?"

Oluo gave her a small, genuine smile—one that she didn't see very often. "Yeah. Friends."

As they stepped out into the cool evening air, Petra couldn't help but feel like something had shifted between them again. Oluo had opened up more, let her see more of the man behind the tough exterior, and she was starting to realize just how much she cared about him—not just as a co-worker, but as something more.