"Ryusei, wasn’t it?" The old man called out to .
I turned around, still half-expecting another lecture. My shift had just ended, my feet ached, and my shirt slled like smoke and alcohol—classic bar scent. I raised my brows, “Yes?”
He cleared his throat, adjusting his old coat like a grumpy judge about to hand out a verdict. “Good work. You did a great job.”
I froze. Wait. What? Did I hear that right? Was that… praise? From him? My brain glitched like an old video ga.
“Uh… thank you,” I replied, still processing the shock. My inner monologue scread: Is this real life? Did the sun rise in the west today? Did hell freeze over? Did the old man just… complint ?!
The old man sighed, rubbing his neck. “You get this bar.” Then he turned around and walked away, like so mysterious RPG NPC who just dropped a quest reward and disappeared.
I stood there blinking. “Wait… was that approval? Was that just my imagination? Did I just—finally?!” My heart raced. My double shifts… were ending. I felt like shouting to the heavens.
“THANK YOU!!” I yelled after him, though he had already vanished like Batman.
I running ho, grinning like an idiot. Today was 10 November 2026—a date to carve into history.
No, to tattoo on my forehead.
No, wait—that would look weird.
Maybe just put it in my phone calendar. Yes. More civilized.
---
When I arrived ho, the place was quiet. “Keiko?” I whispered.
She was already asleep, tucked under the blanket, her face relaxed and peaceful. I stood there for a while just admiring her. Man, she deserves to see in this victorious state… but she’s too cute to wake up.
I leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. “I’ll tell you tomorrow,” I whispered like so romantic movie protagonist (though I probably slled like whiskey and sweat instead of roses).
After a quick shower, I slipped into bed, holding her close, grinning like a man who just found out ran shops never close.
---
The next morning, I shot out of bed with excitent. The sun was shining brighter than usual—or maybe it was just my mood.
I found Keiko in the kitchen, making breakfast like a graceful goddess wielding a frying pan.
“Keiko!” I scread, running toward her like a puppy seeing its owner after three minutes apart.
“Ahhh—be careful, Ryusei,” she scolded, tilting the pan quickly so the eggs didn’t burn.
I hugged her from behind, unable to hold it in. “The old man approved !”
She blinked, then turned around, “What?! Master did?”
I nodded furiously, imitating the old man’s grumpy expression. “He said, ‘You get this bar.’ Just like that!”
Keiko covered her mouth, giggling. “Congrats, Ryusei. I’m proud of you.”
I swear my ears turned red. Her words felt warr than the stove. Yes. Yes, this. I could live off this praise for years. Soone bottle it and sell it as energy drink, please.
“What’s with you two? All lovey-dovey since morning?” Rin’s voice ca from the dining table.
We turned to see her, already half-asleep but still sohow awake enough to be sarcastic.
“Oh, Rin, your dad will own a bar now.” Keiko smiled, serving her juice.
Rin’s eyes widened. “What?! How?”
I puffed my chest out proudly, then together, Keiko and I gave her the short version of last night.
“Wow… lucky, Dad. Great on you,” Rin muttered, unimpressed.
Her praise always sounded like a side quest reward: minimal effort, no excitent. Still, I held a plate up dramatically.
“Thank you!” I said, bowing deeply with exaggerated elegance, like a Shakespeare actor.
But then… disaster struck.
I lost my balance.
The olette slid from the plate like it was in slow motion.
Ti froze.
Keiko gasped, Rin reached out too late, and I—like a true idiot—tried to save it by diving after it.
The next thing I knew, I was on the floor. Flat. Face first. Plate in hand. And… the olette? It landed perfectly on my head.
Yes. My dignity was now a breakfast topping.
Rin’s scream broke the silence. “Dad!!”
Keiko clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably. “Pffft—Ryusei!”
I sat up slowly, olette still sitting proudly on my head like a crown. “Behold,” I announced solemnly, “The King of Breakfast.”
Rin facepald so hard I thought she’d break her skull. “You’re ridiculous.”
Keiko couldn’t stop laughing. Her eyes teared up, and she nearly dropped the spatula.
I tried to play it cool, standing up with the olette sliding dramatically down my shoulder. “No worries. It’s just… my natural aura. Food is drawn to .”
They didn’t buy it. Rin ignored completely and started eating her olette. Keiko shook her head, still laughing.
---
Keiko offered, “I’ll share mine with you, or I can make a new one.”
But I waved my hand like a tragic hero. “No, no. We don’t have ti. I’ll make do with bread. This is the burden of a man destined for greatness.”
Keiko rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
---
Breakfast ended with Rin giving the silent judgnt stare while Keiko shook her head at my antics, but honestly? It was the happiest morning I’d had in a long ti.
I couldn’t stop smiling. Not because of the bar—though that was huge—but because of them. Keiko, laughing at my clumsiness. Rin, pretending not to care but secretly impressed.
It felt like my ssy, ridiculous, codic little world was finally starting to shine.
And I—olette crown.
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