Seoul Kitchen: Chapter 37

His Most Loyal Customer

Chef hummed happily as he cleaned his little corner of the market. While the shutters to his shop remained half closed due to the interview's he'd be making later, he still liked to keep his place clean. It wouldn't look well for his future employees if his place looked like a trash heap. Cleaning also helped take his mind off his talks with the Tyger Claws.

Getting a schedule from the gang's upper echelon was going to take time. He was just some nobody after all, a guy that sells them rare stuff on the cheap, but still a blip in their contacts. It's probably going to take them weeks. So now, he'd just focus on what he can do.

Wiping the tables clean and tying up the trash, he turned to his two new employees, "How's it going there?" he asked. He made good on his promise to that old man and hired two. It might bite him in the ass in the future but he was willing to give them a shot. So far, he was liking how things were going.

"All done Mr. Chef," One of the teens, a girl by the name of Shane, replied softly. She was a mousy little thing. Wearing a drab colored jacket, a faded white shirt, and worn jeans, she all but blended in with the background. If not for her bright pink hair, he would lose her in a crowd.

"Just call me Chef," He replied, before gesturing at the trash bags he wrapped, "And toss those out while I go make us breakfast, ok? Sean, go help her." He told them as the girl nodded with a shy smile, picking up the trash with his friend.

"Got it, Chef!" The older teen shouted as they hauled the trash away. While Shane didn't want to be seen, Sean was the opposite, wearing bright and garish clothes. He might be spikier than a porcupine, with all the studs and piercings he had, he was still a pleasant kid.

Watching them walk away, he couldn't help but smile as well. "Maybe I should get them an apartment," He mused, considering it. While he couldn't house every homeless kid in the city, he could at least help these two. They're willing to work after all. Now, he wants to see how far they'll go with his help.

Shaking his head, he turned back on the tables and gathered his things. Just as he was about to go inside, he felt a sudden chill run up his back. He froze before he sighed, realizing who it was. "You know, a simple hello would be nice," He sighed as he turned around, finding little Red standing behind him, "Would be far better than appearing out of thin air, yeah?" He told her with a wry smile but it would fall on deaf ears.

"You're not open," The girl replied, glaring at the shutters before turning her attention to him. "Why?" She asked. Back then, he would have bolted, but now? He chuckled, walking over and giving the girl a pat for her troubles.

"Sorry Little Red, I'll probably be closed for the day," He apologized, ruffling the girl's hair who leaned into his hands as he pulled away, "I have some interviews today. With all the customers I have, I had to start hiring!" He laughed. Running Seoul Kitchen as a one man operation simply wouldn't cut it.

"Understandable," the girl nodded as she looked away. Despite her monotone tone, he could see how her shoulder sagged and how she let out a heavy sigh.

Grinning, he walked away as he told her, "While I'm close, that doesn't mean I'm not cooking," Catching her attention, he motioned her over as he lifted up the shutters to his kitchen. "Why don't you come inside and join us for breakfast? I was just about to start cooking," he offered. She was his best customer afterall, it wouldn't hurt to have her join them.

"Will there be Bagels?" The girl asked without missing a bit, making him laugh. She really loved her bagels.

"Eggs, Cheese and Bacon with Bagels does sound nice, so why not?" He replied with a warm smile. As the teens returned and all of them got inside the shop, he noted, "For someone who describes my bagels as shitty, you're awfully invested in my shop." Ever since he started making bagels in the morning, she'd come over without fail. Be it rain or shine, she was there.

The girl paused, frowning as she considered his words before looking up and shooting her a glare. "...Shut up," the girl fired back. For a moment, he saw just the faintest hints of pink on her cheeks. Chuckling, he let the girl be as he got to cooking. He had his victory, best not to push too much.

-x-x-x-

The griddle sizzled as he poured beaten eggs into its piping hot surface. Scraping with his spatula, he shaped the giant omelet as he added shredded cheese over the curdling eggs. With the fat from bacon rendering into the griddle, his mouth watered at the scent. He loved breakfast.

Sprinkling some salt and pepper over the molten cheese, he folded it over before divvying them for the bagels baking in the oven. Glancing at the clock at the edge of his vision, he then walked over and opened it. The wave of heat was followed by the heavenly scent of bagels as their doughy surface had turned brown under the intense heat. Truly, cooking was magic.

"Oh man, these are some preem stuff you got here, Chef!" Sean said, his words muffled as she talked through stuffed cheeks. As Shane glared at her, he swallowed before adding, "We never had imitation bacon this good even from the leftovers over at the City Center!"

He smiled back as he nodded; If only they knew. "I'm glad you two like it," he replied as he slipped on some mittens and pulled the freshly baked bagels off the pan and let them cool on the racks. Cutting them open, he stuffed them with the cheesy eggs and crispy bacon as he told them, "Once you're done, help me pack all these bagels. I might have over cooked a bit. How about you two take it home?"

After cooking for so long, there's no such thing as accidents. They didn't have to know that however. Seeing the nervous and unsure looks they shared, he assured them, "Hey, since you're working for me now, I have to take care of you guys," Besides, what kind of restaurant would his shop be if his workers couldn't have the leftovers of their day's work. "Just keep up the good work and I'll make sure you guys are well fed and paid, ok?" He told them, making them lit up with smiles.

"Got it, Chef," Both replied as they ate with more gusto. Red gave him a curious look but he just shook his head. A happy worker was a willing worker after all and no worker was happier than one with a stomach filled with warm food.

Smiling at the sight of their smiles, he turned his attention back to what he was cooking. It'd be a shame if those smiles turned upside down just because he burned the bacon. With the trio's presence, breakfast would feel like a breeze, passing before he knew it. Soon, it was time for them to go.
With bags of food in hand, they waved at him as they walked off; Probably back to their friends. "You two take care now!" He told them as he waved back.

Walking up to his side, Red would watch them disappear into the crowd before turning to him. "They're going to take advantage of you," She told him, making him chuckle.

"On what, free meals and leftovers?" He asked as he sat down on one of the chairs. "It's just food. Best it gets eaten rather than thrown in the trash," He told her as she sat down beside him. When he could just make food, what was there to be worried about? Giving her a smile, he thanked her. "Still, thanks for worrying, Red." It warmed his heart knowing the girl cared.

The girl huffed as she gazed out at the crowd. "Your funeral," She replied dismissively as he waved her off. Grinning, he reached up and gave her another pat. She's cute when she goes into denial. Closing her eyes, she hummed happily.

"So, how's the bagels?" He asked, petting the dangerous little gremlin. If she hadn't told him her job, he wouldn't have known she was working for Arasaka, and as part of the security team at that? For a gothic lolita, she was quite the heavy hitter.

Kicking her legs, she replied, "Much better," She looked almost like a cat with how she acted… or maybe a palmtop tiger was a far more fitting description. "You're improving," He complimented her as she pulled her bag of bagels close and hugged it.

"You sound like you're in a good mood today," He noted, amused at how calm she was. was. As of recently, she was rather pissed; A puffy like a cat that got woken up from their well deserved nap. Probably due to Toga…

Eyeing the Arasaka symbol on her clothes, he asked, "Things calming down at work?" It felt scummy asking the girl for connection but it was as close as he could get to having an insider. Sure, a lot of employees drop by but she's the only one he could talk to on a regular basis.

"Yeah," She nodded as she leaned into his touch, "Lots of free time again," She added before she complained, "It's boring."

He laughed at the reason she gave. It sounds like she lived for the thrill. "What? You didn't get the chance to break someone in half over your knees?" He teased only to pull back in fear as a creepy smile slowly stretched across her face. "You know what… Nevermind," He told her as she let out a hollow laugh.

As the morning rush passed by them, they sat together in silence, just enjoying each other's company. Still, he couldn't quite feel at ease. She was there when they got Toga. She knew… and yet she wasn't telling anyone. Unable to help himself, he asked, "About that night…"

Before he could even finish his question however, he'd feel his finger against his lips, "Stop," The girl scolded him as she gave her a glare. "I saw nothing," She told him insistently as she glanced back at the crowd, acting as if he never asked at all.

He paused before he nodded back with a smile. "Yeah," He whispered. Perhaps the girl truly cared or maybe she just liked his bagel, either way, he was kinda glad the girl looked after him. Opening his contacts, with Chibi Kiwi coming back into view as she tossed junk mail into the trash, he noticed that he didn't have her number.

"Hey, do you mind if you give me your number? Just so I can send you a text if I'm closing down," He asked, sending her a request. "Thinking of expanding the shop. Maybe buy the other two stalls besides mine," He shared, warning her of further disruptions to his shop. Since he was getting more people, maybe it was a good idea to expand his shop as well.

Red gave me a good long look after he asked, long enough that he felt cold sweat dripping down his brow, before her eyes lit up. Accepting my request, I found her number slotted in as one of my contacts. Her name was Eve? It sounded… cute. Red noted as she sat up, "It would be easier if I just drop by."

He gave her a look before he chuckled, "Yeah, it would." It was probably just a joke. Surely she won't actually drop by her house just for bagels… right?