Chapter Text
Mitsuri adjusted the last table setting, silverware clinking softly under her fingers. Steady scrapes of pans drifted from the kitchen along with the low sizzle of oil heating up, warm vapors already drifting out and catching in her hair. Sanji would have everything timed perfectly. The thought settled warm in her chest as plates piled high with his cooking appeared in her mind, faces lighting up all around the room.
Tonight carried a different energy. An extra pair of hands made the whole shift feel lighter, someone lively, quick with a grin, ready to clear plates or jump in wherever the flow needed support back in Vash’s section.
Across the room, Vash shifted a stack of menus under one arm and gave a quick thumbs-up when he caught Mitsuri looking, his waiter vest sitting strangely neat without the red coat. He nearly bumped one hip against an empty chair, caught it with his free hand, then grinned like the chair had started the whole thing.
The final menu card slid into place.
A sharp jangle burst from the front bell.
“Wow, just like last time,” a bright voice rang out.
Turning revealed Sakura Bakushin O in the doorway, the fitted white suit jacket hugging her shoulders and waist with crisp lines that shifted smoothly as she planted a hand on her hip. Purple and pink accents traced the lapels and cuffs, the matching vest and trousers following the strong line of her legs while a long purple-and-blue ribbon trailed from her hair with the energetic tilt of her head. The fabric pulled just enough across her chest with each eager breath, her ears standing high with the same excited attention as the rest of her.
Right behind came North Flight, shorter brown hair with soft blue streaks framing her face. The pale blue dress clung lightly to her frame, its strapless top supported by a delicate pearl necklace and bright purple bow at the bust. Lighter layers flared at the skirt, catching the air and brushing against her thighs with each step, pink accents flashing along the hem and belt. Her ears tilted forward, softer than Bakushin’s, but no less alert.
“North, come on, I told you this place would be the best,” Bakushin declared, half-turning with that familiar bounce. The suit jacket pulled taut across her back for a moment. “The food is amazing.”
“Oh, of course,” North replied, voice gentle, the corner of her mouth lifting as she followed close behind.
“Yep. I told you this was going to be the best place for our… um…”
For a moment, Bakushin’s hand lifted like she meant to declare the answer, then stopped halfway. Her fingers curled against the front of her vest instead, pressing into the crisp fabric like that would somehow push the word out faster.
“Anyhow, our dinner is going to be amazing. The real best stuff. Trust me, I’m the class rep, after all.”
A low, warm chuckle rose from North. The easy exchange drew them unconsciously closer, shoulders angling toward one another.
Approaching with a smooth step that made the wooden floor creak faintly, Mitsuri smoothed her apron down. “It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Mitsuri, your host and waitress tonight. Let me show you to your table. Out for any special reason?”
“Yep. I wanted to take my…”
The word stalled there too. Bakushin glanced at North, whose flush rose visibly above the neckline of her dress and spread across the tops of her shoulders.
A brush of North’s shoulder against Bakushin’s sleeve came as she stepped in, polite as ever, but close enough that the ribbon in Bakushin’s hair shifted against the white line of her jacket.
“Her rival out for a meal,” North finished, steady despite the color in her face. Her fingers brushed the side of the flowing skirt. “Just a lovely meal, nothing fancy. I was so happy when I heard about this place. I had to give it a try.”
A smile widened across Mitsuri’s face as she led them between the tables, faint scents of fresh oil and herbs trailing from the kitchen. From behind the counter, the oil hissed louder for a moment, and garlic deepened under the warm air.
“Anything on the menu is fair game tonight. And don’t worry, if it’s a meal between rivals… or the other thing… that’s fine with me.”
The teasing note landed lightly.
At the edge of her vest, Bakushin’s hand caught and tugged once like the word had made the suit too warm. Beside her, North’s fingers brushed her pearl necklace, her polite smile holding steady even as the blush kept climbing.
“Rivals” had made it out safely.
Barely.
At the table, Bakushin sat with the same sudden energy she brought through the door, straight-backed, eyes bright, both hands near the menu card as if it were a class agenda waiting to be handled. North settled opposite her, the pale blue skirt shifting under her thighs as she smoothed it once and looked toward the kitchen with visible interest.
“We’ll have the, um, special for tonight,” Sakura declared at a loud, fast pace as she looked up again toward Mitsuri. “I am sure it will be great, no matter what it is. Also, extra rice and carrots, please. Sound good, North?”
A quick nod came from North Flight, blue streaks slipping against her cheek with the motion.
“Yep, sounds good. I can’t wait to taste it. It already smells amazing,” she replied.
A smile stayed on Mitsuri’s face, taking in the eager order, the extra carrots, the way Bakushin had only remembered to ask after already charging ahead. With the warmth from the kitchen still rolling past her apron, she turned to head back and put the order in.
“Two orders of tonight’s special,” Mitsuri called out as she stepped into the kitchen, the swing of the door carrying her into a rush of heat, oil, and herbs. Looking over, she couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Sanji standing at the stove in his cooking outfit, clean and stylish as ever, sleeves set just right while one hand moved over the pan with easy confidence.
“Of course, my lady. It shall be handled,” Sanji said, glancing toward the dining room for a quick look before his eyes sharpened with interest. “Just give me a bit and I’ll have it out.” A small pause followed as he looked past Mitsuri again. “Uma girls, huh? Yep, I have an idea. A little change for them should do nicely,” he said before turning back toward the counter.
A carrot came down under Sanji’s knife in quick orange coins, then thinner strips, the pieces sliding into a small bowl beside the peppers. He reached for another, already moving faster, the blade tapping neatly against the board.
“If they asked for carrots, they’re getting carrots properly,” Sanji said, the corner of his mouth lifting as he worked. “No sad little garnish pretending to help.”
“Anything I can do to help?” Vash asked, coming into the kitchen dressed up like a waiter without his normal red coat, his sleeves neat but his posture still carrying that easy, ready-to-move energy.
“Nothing too much at the moment. Everything is mostly prepared,” Sanji said with a nod of his head. His gaze moved to the clock, still early, an hour or so before the normal time guests showed up and the room truly filled. “Actually, get the extra bag of carrots and start peeling them, and the potatoes too. I think they might be needed later tonight. Gut feeling.”
“Gotcha, on it.” Vash was already moving toward storage before the words fully landed, looking a little happier now that his hands had somewhere useful to go.
Between the two of them, Mitsuri couldn’t help but smile. Having someone else helping was nice. It created a warmer environment, a little more life moving through the kitchen, and something about Vash told her that she could trust him to do well by the restaurant.
Taking a pitcher of water, Mitsuri headed back out, the cooler weight of it steady in her hand after the heat of the kitchen. She poured the glasses for Sakura Bakushin O and North Flight, the water catching little flashes of light as it filled each cup.
“Here you go, water, nothing fancy,” Mitsuri said with a soft smile. “Your meal will be out shortly. The cook promised a special dish just for you two.”
“Thank you,” North Flight replied politely, both hands near her glass as she looked down at the water for a moment, then back up.
“Yeah, I can’t wait. If it’s as good as last time, it will be perfect,” Sakura declared, quick again and as loud as ever, her hands pressing against the table like she was ready to launch herself straight into dinner by force of enthusiasm alone.
A little bit later, Mitsuri came back with the two plates balanced carefully, spaghetti with a special sauce and meatballs, but also bell peppers and carrots mixed in, the colors bright through the steam. Beside the pasta sat a side of rice, warm and ready to be shared by the pair of them.
Stepping back, the pink-and-green-haired young woman looked between the two uma girls. Her eyes moved from one face to the other as she waited to see their reactions, wanting to know what they thought of the cooking before she slipped away from the table.
Sakura Bakushin O moved to go first, her fork taking a solid bite from the pasta as she prepared to eat it. Before she could finish loading up her fork, North Flight leaned in and took a quick, small bite of her own.
Bakushin looked over at North, fork still raised, both she and Mitsuri suddenly curious about the reaction that would come from the brunette uma girl.
Chewing slowly, savoring the taste, North remained quiet for a long moment and gave nothing away. The tension in the air grew by the second, filling the little space around the table as both of the others grew more curious about what they would see. Approval? Surprise? Some careful polite answer?
The fork in Bakushin’s hand stayed frozen halfway to her mouth, pasta still steaming against the tines while her eyes stayed fixed on North.
Then, just as quickly, North smiled, looking at Bakushin with warmth opening across her face. Her ears flicked once, the controlled calm breaking apart into something brighter. “You were right. It is amazing. I love it!” she declared loudly, the gentle voice from before suddenly carrying more excitement than expected.
Mitsuri smiled as Bakushin ate her large bite a moment later, quick and eager now that North had given the first verdict. The meal was a winner. She knew anything Sanji made would be great, but seeing the food loved by those who ate it made her happy, proud of him and proud of the restaurant as a whole.
“It is great. Better than last time. The carrots and bell peppers make the sauce perfect,” Bakushin declared, giving her official approval with all the seriousness of a class representative signing off on an important report.
Mitsuri turned slightly, already knowing she wasn’t needed at the table anymore. The two of them had this.
“I’ll be back. I believe carrot cake is on the menu for dessert tonight,” she informed the pair of them.
“Good. We will take that,” North Flight declared, then paused, her voice growing nervous as the blush returned to her face and ears. “One large slice to share. That work, Bakushin?” she asked for confirmation.
For a second, Bakushin’s fork stopped again.
Then her smile came back, bright and almost too fast. “Yeah, perfect. Sounds great, my perfect… rival,” Bakushin declared, only pausing at the last possible moment.
Walking into the kitchen, Mitsuri saw Vash and Sanji still working, the two of them settled into the little rhythm that had formed around the evening. Vash was peeling at the counter, carrot skins and potato peels gathering in uneven curls near his hands, while Sanji cleaned after the first meal he had cooked, making sure his station was ready for whatever anyone else might want next.
“The carrot cake you prepared earlier is ready, right?” Mitsuri asked, looking toward Sanji.
“Yeah, it’s over there,” he said with a nod, the blond pointing toward the glass-covered desserts that had been prepared before the shift. The cake sat under the clear dome, thick and neat, waiting with the rest of the sweets.
“Okay, it seems that the update was a success,” Mitsuri commented, walking over to find a plate before cutting and plating a large slice. The knife moved down through the frosting and soft cake, leaving a clean wedge behind as she eased it onto the dish.
Looking toward the table through the pass, Sanji nodded when he saw the pair. “Those two lovely ladies are enjoying themselves, and the food. That is all a chef can ask for,” he commented, giving Mitsuri a smile while she waited nearby and placed the glass top back over the cake.
“Yeah, they are filled with so much love, I can’t help but find it adorable,” Mitsuri replied, her eyes still warm as she glanced back toward the dining room.
“Yep, filled with the spirit of love and peace,” Vash added from the pantry as he stopped cutting potatoes for a moment, one hand still resting against the knife handle. “Hard to miss that kind of thing.”
The dessert was given out soon after, the carrot cake arriving as one large slice between them, thick frosting catching the light and crumbs already clinging to the edge of the plate.
North cut the first forkful smaller than needed, then paused with it near the plate before nudging it toward Bakushin’s side.
Bakushin blinked, looked at the offered bite like she had been handed an official challenge, and leaned in with the same determined energy she brought to everything else. The frosting hit her tongue and her eyes lit up at once.
“Great,” Bakushin declared after swallowing, almost too loud for dessert but somehow exactly right. “Officially great.”
North’s shoulders relaxed as she took her own bite, the blush still faint along her cheeks. Bit by bit, the two girls finished their meal, the shared plate losing crumbs and frosting until only a few traces remained.
“Now, we will have to remember this for later, right? I am sure that Laurel and Chiyono will love this place,” Sakura said, already thinking about her fellow Sakura gals as she looked over the table like she was making a proper report.
“Yeah, but we should come back too. Not just with them, but just us on another, um…” North Flight paused, unsure of the word, her fingers brushing near the edge of the empty dessert plate. Her ears angled outward for a moment before she managed the rest. “Um, kind of date.”
“Yeah, sounds right. Another dinner, just us,” Bakushin declared bluntly, already nodding as if North had suggested a training schedule rather than a date. “Anyhow, until next time,” she added a moment later before offering North her hand.
North took it, her blush returning as she rose from the table beside her.
From nearby, Mitsuri smiled as she watched the pair of them take their leave, content and glad that the night had started on such a lovely, sweet note. The bell chimed again as they left, softer this time, North’s hand still caught in Bakushin’s. Behind Mitsuri, the kitchen kept hissing, warm and alive, and the first dinner of the night left the room feeling brighter than before.