"Alright, like I said yesterday, you have an assigned section of tables that you will be serving. Be polite and try to be as fast as possible, and if there are any issues, let me know," Skylor said as she handed Harumi an orange wist apron. "You can put your ticket pad and extra utensils in the pockets."

Harumi took the apron with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The fabric felt strange against her fingers, yet oddly comforting. Wearing this might mean she was stepping into a new role, a potential lifeline. "Got it," she replied, trying to mask the tremor in her voice.

"Don't worry," Skylor said, noticing her anxiety as she tied the apron around Harumi's waist. "Just watch me and follow my lead."

Soon, the bustling restaurant came to life as the lunch rush began. The air buzzed with chatter, laughter, and the clinking of porcelain. Harumi watched Skylor effortlessly glide between tables, her movements confident and sure. Taking a deep breath, Harumi mentally prepared herself and stepped out into her assigned space.

Her first table consisted of a couple, and she approached with a tentative smile. "Hi there! Welcome to Chen's Noodle House. Can I get you started with some drinks?"

The woman looked up at her, a friendly expression on her face. "I'll have the jasmine tea, please," she said before turning to her partner. "What about you?"

"Just water for me," he replied, glancing around the restaurant.

"Sure, I'll be right back!" Harumi said, quickly walking to the counter. She glanced at Skylor, who nodded encouragingly.

When she returned a few minutes later with the drinks, she felt a rush of accomplishment. The couple smiled at her as they took the drinks. "Thank you!" the woman said. "For our main courses, I think we'll get the spicy noodle soup and the chicken chow mein."

"Great choices! I'll put that in for you," Harumi replied, jotting down their order on her pad. As she turned to head to the kitchen, she felt a surge of confidence; her nervousness felt diminished. However, as the orders piled up and the kitchen became louder, the excitement quickly transformed into chaos. A wave of patrons flooded in, and soon it felt as if the café had transformed into a whirlpool of voices. Walking over to a table full of teenagers, she could already feel her patience draining as they continued to be obnoxiously loud and ignore her.

"Guys, stop it! She's ready to take our order," one of the girls laughed, effectively calming the others. Well, as calm as teenagers could get.

"Alright, what can I get you?" Harumi asked, forcing her voice to rise above the noise.

A boy with spiky hair looked up, grinning. "I'll take the shrimp lo mein, but make it extra spicy! And can you... I dunno, like, make my noodles dance?"

A ripple of laughter echoed through the table. Harumi laughed nervously. "I... um, I can't promise that, but I'll get you the spicy lo mein," she responded, quickly scribbling down the order.

"I want the same!" chirped another girl, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "And some spring rolls. Ilovethe spring rolls here! Make those extra crispy, please!" she added with a wink.

"Alright, two extra spicy shrimp lo meins and some crispy spring rolls," Harumi repeated, her eyes darting between the amused faces of the group. They were an eclectic bunch, but they all shared the same infectious energy. "Is there anything else I can get you guys?"

Yeah, can I get a mango bubble tea?" another boy asked, drumming his fingers on the table. "Oh, and can you put extra boba in it? Like, a lot of boba."

Harumi jotted it down and turned to the last two members of the group, who were whispering to each other. One of them, a girl with dyed purple streaks in her hair, smirked before speaking up. "I'll have the miso ramen with extra tofu." She leaned forward slightly. "And if you can get the chef to draw a smiley face with the chili oil, I'd really appreciate it."

Harumi resisted the urge to sigh. "I'll see what I can do."

The last teenager, a boy with a hoodie pulled low over his eyes, finally looked up. "Uh... just a beef bowl. And a green tea."

"Alright then! So, that's two spicy shrimp lo meins, one order of crispy spring rolls, a mango bubble tea with extra boba, miso ramen with extra tofu—and a smiley face—plus a beef bowl and a green tea. Did I miss anything?" The teenagers nodded, some grinning, others already returning to their side conversations.

Harumi turned to leave, barely making it three steps before Skylor slid past her, balancing a tray stacked with plates. "How's it going?" she asked over her shoulder.

Harumi let out a breath. "I think I'm surviving. Mostly."

Skylor smirked. "Welcome to the restaurant life."

Harumi made her way to the kitchen, slipping her order into the queue and taking a moment to breathe. She knew it was only the first day and things could change but she found herself enjoying the job, even the hard parts of it. She felt as though she was actually doing something to contribute and she wasn't being judged or resented. There had been a few people that recognized her but they had been surprisingly forgiving. As she stood by the kitchen, waiting for the orders to be prepared, she felt a strange sense of normalcy settle over her. It had been a long time since she had felt this way—useful, independent, and, most importantly, not defined by her past.

The scent of sizzling noodles and simmering broth filled the air, and Harumi watched as the chefs moved with precision, calling out orders and plating dishes with impressive speed. A steaming bowl of miso ramen was slid onto the counter, complete with a carefully drawn chili oil smiley face. She couldn't help but chuckle. "Here's your beef bowl and green tea," one of the kitchen staff said, placing another dish beside it. "And the bubble tea—hope they like their boba overload."

Harumi smiled and carefully loaded the drinks onto her tray before adding the food. Balancing it took a bit of effort, but she managed, making her way back to the teenagers' table. "Alright, here we go!" she announced, setting their plates down one by one. "Extra spicy lo mein for you two, crispy spring rolls, a mango bubble tea with lots of boba, miso ramen with extra tofu and a smiley face, and a beef bowl with green tea."

The girl with purple streaks leaned in to inspect her ramen before grinning. "You actually did it? Respect."

Harumi smirked. "Told you I'd see what I could do."

The group seemed satisfied, diving into their meals with enthusiasm. As she turned to leave, the spiky-haired boy called after her. "Hey, new girl! You're pretty cool. We'll ask for you next time."

Harumi blinked in surprise but managed to reply, "Looking forward to it."

By the end of the day Harumi was exhausted and her feet felt like they might fall off if she took another step. Sitting at the sushi train she eagerly listened to one of the other waitresses while they waited for the last customers to leave so they could start cleaning. "So anyway my boyfriend moved in with me and has been nothing but a pain in the ass. Like last week he had some of his friends over which is fine, right? The problem was, they made a huge mess in the living room and I had to clean it up the next day."

Harumi hummed in sympathy, rubbing her sore wrist as she reached for a glass of water. "Did he at least help at all?" she asked, glancing at the other waitress.

"Pfft, no," the girl scoffed, rolling her eyes. "He just kept saying he'd 'get to it' and then never did. So I had to clean upeverythingbefore my shift the next morning."

Harumi shook her head, amused but also slightly horrified. "That's terrible. Have you called him out on it?"

"Oh, absolutely." The waitress leaned forward conspiratorially. "He got all defensive at first, but I told him if it happened again, he and his buddies could sleep in the mess they made." She huffed, crossing her arms. "I swear, men have no idea how much effort it takes to keep a place looking decent."

Harumi chuckled, glancing down at her apron. A stray noodle clung stubbornly to the fabric, a testament to how chaotic the shift had been. "You're not wrong."

Before the conversation could continue, Skylor approached, stretching her arms above her head. "Alright, everyone, let's get this place cleaned up. The sooner we're done, the sooner we can all get out of here."

A collective groan rippled through the small group, but they all got to their feet. Harumi grabbed a rag and started wiping down the tables, the repetitive motion oddly soothing despite her aching limbs. As she worked, she caught Skylor watching her with an approving smile. "You did good today, Harumi."

Harumi paused, a warm feeling spreading through her chest at the genuine praise. "Thanks. It was hectic, but... I think I actually liked it."

Skylor grinned. "Told you it wouldn't be so bad. Hey, if you don't mind I'd like to talk to you when we're done cleaning."

Harumi raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Sure. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, nothing bad," Skylor reassured her with a small smile. "Just something I want to check in about." Harumi didn't press further, instead focusing on finishing her task. The restaurant was finally empty, and the clatter of dishes being stacked and wiped down filled the air. It had been a long day, but there was something strangely satisfying about seeing the place slowly return to order after the chaos of the lunch and dinner rush.

Once the last table was wiped clean and the chairs were stacked, Skylor gestured for Harumi to follow her into the small break room. The air was quieter here, the distant hum of the kitchen barely audible. Skylor leaned against the counter, arms crossed in a relaxed stance. "You did really well today," she started. "But I wanted to ask—how are you feeling about this? About working here?"

Harumi considered the question, rolling her sore wrist absentmindedly. "Honestly? I thought it would be harder. Not just the work, but... everything else. I know some people recognized me, and I was worried about how they'd react."

Skylor nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I noticed a few stares, but no one caused trouble. I think people are seeing that you're just... trying to move forward."

Harumi exhaled slowly, a mix of relief and lingering uncertainty settling in her chest. "I guess so. It's just strange, being treated like a normal person again. Like I'm not... the Harumi they all remember."

"You're not," Skylor said firmly. "You're here, you're working, and you're proving that you're not the same person you were back then. That's what matters. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. When I first took over the business I felt the same way you're feeling. I mean the previous owner, myfather, had tried to take over Ninjago and I had temporarily helped him. A lot of the staff and customers were convinced that I couldn't be trusted, and for a while, I wasn't sure if they were wrong. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for someone to tell me I didn't belong here."

Harumi listened intently, surprised by Skylor's honesty. She had always known about Chen and his crimes, but she had never really thought about how that had affected Skylor.

"But over time," Skylor continued, "I proved to them—and to myself—that I wasn't my father. I made this place my own. It took work, but eventually, people stopped looking at me like I was just his daughter and started seeing me for who I am." She met Harumi's gaze. "You're doing the same thing, whether you realize it or not."

Harumi swallowed, the weight of Skylor's words settling deep within her. She hadn't thought of it like that before. She had spent so much time thinking she would never escape the shadow of her past, but here she was, making an effort, taking steps toward something new.

She hesitated before speaking. "Do you... do you ever stop feeling like you have to prove yourself?"

Skylor sighed, offering a small, knowing smile. "Not completely. But one day, you'll realize you're not proving yourself to them anymore—you're proving it to yourself. And that's what really matters."

Harumi looked down at her hands, fingers lightly gripping the fabric of her apron. She had spent so long defining herself by her past mistakes, by the expectations of others. Maybe it was time to start defining herself by what she did now.

She met Skylor's eyes and nodded. "I think I'd like to stick around for a while."

Skylor grinned. "Glad to hear it. Now go home and get some rest. You've earned it."

Harumi chuckled as she untied her apron, exhaustion weighing heavy in her limbs. Walking out into the night air Harumi could feel her body beginning to clock out for the night so the sight of Lloyd's car was like an oasis in a desert. Climbing into the passenger side she let out a yawn and instinctively pulled her legs up to rest her head on her knees.

"So how was work," Lloyd teased his smirk growing at the tired glare Harumi shot him.

Harumi groaned softly, stretching her sore arms as she settled into the seat. "It was... a lot. But surprisingly good. I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did."

Lloyd raised an eyebrow, glancing over at her with genuine curiosity. "Really? You seemed pretty stressed about it yesterday."

Harumi rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at her lips. "I was. But it was just the first day jitters. After a while, I got the hang of it. Still, I can't feel my feet right now."

Lloyd chuckled. "Sounds like you earned a good rest. I'll take you home, let you get some sleep. You definitely deserve it."

"Thanks," Harumi murmured, her exhaustion catching up with her. She closed her eyes for a moment, relishing the brief silence in the car. It had been a long day, but it felt... different. Like she was stepping into something new, even if it was small.

After a few moments, Lloyd broke the silence again, his voice softer this time. "I'm proud of you, Harumi. Really."

She opened her eyes and glanced at him, surprised by the sincerity in his tone. "You are?"

"Of course," he replied, a hint of a smile forming at the corners of his mouth. "I know it's not easy, but you're doing it. Taking steps. You're not running away from it anymore. I see that." Harumi felt a warmth settle in her chest at his words. It wasn't often that she let herself believe she was doing something right, but hearing it from Lloyd—someone who had every reason to doubt her—made it feel real.

She turned her head slightly, resting her cheek against her knees. "Thanks, Lloyd," she murmured, barely above a whisper. He didn't say anything right away, just reached over to turn on the heat, letting the soft hum of the car fill the silence. The warmth seeped into her tired limbs, lulling her into a state of near drowsiness.

"You know," Lloyd said after a moment, "Skylor told me you did well today. She seemed pretty impressed."

Harumi let out a soft huff, though there was a trace of amusement in her voice. "Guess I must've done something right, then."

Lloyd smirked, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel as they idled at a red light. "You should give yourself more credit. You're trying, and people are noticing."

She exhaled, watching the city lights blur past as they drove through Ninjago's streets. It was strange, hearing that—stranger still to believe it. For so long, she had thought the only thing people would ever associate with her was the destruction she had once helped bring. Yet here she was, working, learning, and—maybe—earning a second chance. "You really do love me, Greenie," she joked, letting her eyes close.

The soft lull of the car ride made it harder to keep her eyes open, her exhaustion weighing down on her like a heavy blanket. She didn't fight it, letting her head rest against the window, the gentle hum of the engine lulling her closer to sleep. Just before she drifted off, she heard Lloyd's voice again, quieter this time. As if he were talking to himself, thinking she was asleep. "You have no idea." The corners of Harumi's lips twitched at his words, but she kept her eyes closed, letting the warmth of the car and Lloyd's voice wrap around her like a blanket. She wanted to respond, to tease him or say something witty, but sleep was already pulling her under. Instead, she let herself drift off, feeling—for the first time in a long time—like she was exactly where she was meant to be.