少女 (The Girl)


    He hadn’t taken more than two steps into the restaurant before Takuya noticed that something was wrong.


    No matter how he looked at it, the restaurant was not ready to open. The air inside was stale, and he could see a thin layer of dust on everything. It was as though the shop was indeed closed, and had been for a while. Noting the immaculate detail of the outer design, it was hard to imagine that the owner was the type of person to open in such a state.


    The small girl stood inside, staring at him with wide eyes, as though surprised that he had followed her in. Then she shook her head and bowed to him.


    “Welcome, dear customer… Pl…please have a seat.” She stammered out hesitantly. She raised her hand toward one of several wooden tables by the windows, directing him to where to go.


    It was all too strange to be comfortable. From a design perspective, just like the impression from outside the restaurant, the interior was both stylish and beautiful to look at. It was furnished with the perfect size and shape of tables and chairs for a restaurant of this type and design. A mix of two and four-chair square tables, with plenty of distance between to offer a sense of space, but also giving the cafe a cozy and comfortable feel. The lighting was perfect, not too bright, with comfortable soft lights bathing the room in a warm glow. On the first floor, there wouldn’t be the problem of too much external light, and the shades were closed now anyway, but Takuya imagined when properly opened, the space would feel lively and inviting, comfortable, and familiar. It was a nice, and somewhat familiar looking space.


    Yet, there was still something bothering Takuya. It was clear that opening prep had not been completed. Perhaps for a long time. There was also the issue of the only staff member present. A young child, clearly not old enough to be here alone. She stood beside the table, with an expectant look on her face. Just like the restaurant, her uniform was impeccable. It had to have been tailor fitted to make it look so perfect on her small frame. The uniform was a European-style maid’s uniform, not the costume type favored by the otaku cafes in Akihabara. Her’s had simple but classic design, with practical details and a long skirt that extended just above her matching shoes.


    “Please, dear customer…”


    The look on her face pulled at his heart. He could see nervousness, frustration, and sadness, all while she was trying so hard to act like a professional waitress. It was hard to imagine what was going on in her mind, but despite part of his brain telling him to flee immediately, Takuya found that he couldn’t leave. Instead, he walked over to the table, put his old and dusty knapsack on one of the four chairs, and sat down beside it. The look of relief on the girl’s face reassured him that he had made the right choice. That was until a male voice came from the far end of the room.


    “Sayla? What are you doing? Oh, it’s so dusty. Come on. You’re going to get your clothes all dirty.”


    An older gentleman emerged from a door on the far wall. He was dressed like a stereotypical retired former businessman. His grey hair was neatly trimmed and oiled, and he wore a light green sweater vest over a pressed white dress shirt and tan trousers. Takuya felt that he slightly resembled the former emperor. He had a kind, but dignified face. Then, the old man turned and noticed Takuya sitting at the table.


    “Oh! Oh my, what… Sayla? Did you open the door?”


    “Yes! Of course! Sayla knows Sayla’s job. Open the door. Put on the sign. Welcome the customer. Sayla remembers.”


    The girl spoke with a quivering voice, referring to her own name in the cute way children did. It simultaneously warmed and broke his heart to see the child struggling.


    “Oh no. This is no good. The restaurant is not ready. Sayla, what have you done?”


    The man did not speak in anger, but in the calm and sympathetic voice a person might use when they find a pet had spilled a glass of water on the floor. The girl, however, took the rebuke poorly.


    “No! You promised. You said we were going to do the restaurant. Sayla was good. You promised Sayla could do her job, just like before!”Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Tears were already starting to form in the girl’s eyes as she pouted. In a flash, the old man was at her side, stroking her head and holding her by the shoulder protectively.


    “Yes, yes. I know. But we still need to do things before we can open. See? It’s dusty. We can’t let the customers come in and see things like this.”


    “But Grandpa said Sayla was ready. You said…”


    “Yes, yes. You look adorable. We just need a little more time to clean up the restaurant before we can open. We don’t even have any food to serve.”


    Sayla’s eyes opened wide at this piece of information.


    “No food? How come? How can Sayla serve the customers?”


    Takuya was feeling more and more uncomfortable as the situation was starting to become clear to him. Entering the restaurant had been a mistake after all.


    “Ah-kun is bringing the groceries now. He just needs some more time. Remember? Grandpa said we would clean the restaurant first, then we can open,” the old man adopted her childish speaking style, and it seemed to be getting through to her.


    “Oh… I forgot. Yes. We need to clean first, then open the restaurant.”


    Then her eyes shot open.


    “Oh no! What can we do? Sayla already brought in the customer! But it’s not clean yet.”


    She turned to look at Takuya with panic on her face.


    Taking that as a cue, he moved to stand up, and grabbed his bag.


    “I’m terribly sorry, We are not ready to start business yet. I feel ashamed to ask, but could you perhaps come back another time?” The grandfather asked while bowing humbly.


    It was strange to have such a proper gentleman treat him so deferentially. Takuya knew that his appearance did not leave a good impression on most people.


    At twenty-five, he should still have his youthful looks, but the harsh life he had lived for the past few years had taken a toll. His hair was long and unevenly cut, he hadn’t shaved in a couple of days, and the stubble was at that awkward stage where it made his face look dirty, even though he made a point to wash himself as best he could in the public bathroom near the small park he had stayed in a couple of nights ago. His clothing was not stained, and he washed each piece by hand at least once a week, but despite his best efforts, he knew he must look worn down and decrepit.


    Still, to have this man look at him without any anger, or disgust, and to treat him with a kind look and respect, took Takuya by surprise. He quickly stood up and bowed back in response.


    “No, please. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have entered without permission. I’ll leave.”


    The old man looked up at Takuya, with a slightly puzzled expression, but it faded in an instant, and he again bowed.


    “Again, I deeply apologize for our error. I hope this will not inconvenience you too much. We shall be opening properly soon…”


    Takuya caught the look of concern on the old man’s face as he surveyed the restaurant. It was clear that this activity to please his granddaughter had gone a bit too far, and the old man seemed hesitant to commit to when the restaurant would actually be ready to open. Sensing the moment, Takuya shouldered his bag and moved to the door.


    “No!” Shouted the girl.


    “The customer can’t go! He hasn’t eaten yet!”


    Shocked by the outbust, Takuya turned to the girl, watching as the tears came freely now.


    “He can’t go! Papa said we should always let the customer eat. No matter what. Papa always said…” She was now squatting on the floor, her hand over her face, words no longer forming properly as she began to sob freely.


    Takuya stopped and caught the stricken look on the old man’s face. He had seen expressions like this before. The sadness of not being able to do something you knew that you should. The feeling of helplessness in the face of the cruel nature of fate. This wasn’t a simple child’s tantrum. There was more going on, and Takuya couldn’t stop the words that exited his lips, despite knowing the impropriety of them.


    “Do… Could I help in some way?”


    “Oh no, I’m sorry. Please don’t mind us. She has just been a bit tired lately. I hope you won’t take it poorly. Again, I apologize for causing you trouble…”


    The helpless look on the man’s face again, forced the response before Takuya could fully grasp the moment.


    “If… if it’s cleaning, I can help. I used to work in a restaurant. I know how to prep a dining room and kitchen.”


    “Oh, no, no, no. We couldn’t possibly…”


    “Please, it wouldn’t be trouble for me in the least. Besides, I came here because I don’t have any…”


    He managed to stop the words that were falling unbidden from his mouth, but it was perhaps a moment too late. He was just here for a free meal, after all. Takuya was sure that any goodwill the old man had held for him, was now out the door. The same door he knew he should move to quickly exit.


    Instead of the expected look of judging disapproval, the old man smiled. He shook his head, as if remembering something.


    “I’m terribly sorry. I have treated you poorly. Sayla is right. You are the customer, and we cannot let you leave without eating first. That is a rule of this establishment.”


    With those words, the little girl stopped crying and looked up. Her tear-streaked face was searching for comfort from her grandfather. He moved over quickly, removing a handkerchief from a pocket and wiping the girl’s face gently.


    “Really? He is going to stay?”


    There were now two pairs of eyes on him, and Takuya felt very uncomfortable. Despite not fully understanding the situation, however, he felt in his heart that he knew the correct response. He placed his bag back on the chair, then again, bowed deeply.


    “I am in your care.”