12 Double Naming
"Ugh finally, I am good to go!" I said. "Kanzaki's sure are quick to recover, huh?"
Finally, the hospital finally discharged me yesterday. Someone even booked me a room in this hotel. The hospital didn't reveal who that person was but I guess the institution trusted him. There's even a desktop computer here, which is a good thing since I had the chance to formally send my resume via email to that guy.
Yes, this is the reality now. I have to work on that guy's restaurant. He looks competent and he did beat us but.....
"Argh! I just can't speak the word 'defeat' easily for some reason!" I said.
My dad reminded me to always not lose to anyone. He kept on saying that he doesn't want me to be like him back in the day but whatever! I grew up like this therefore I'll keep up with this! No one can stop me! Wahahaha~
It feels different, though... Dad is not around this time so I had to live alone in this city. I-It's going to be fine.
"Kazuya and that guy are the only males in that restaurant," I uttered. T-There should be n-no problem...."
N-Not to expose myself but, I-I have trouble speaking to guys whenever I'm away to my Dad. H-He told me that boys are monsters or such, that I shouldn't be with them. I wonder why he decided to leave me here, though. It's quite confusing.
Since this is my first time going there, I guess I'll wear something casual. It's just them, anyway.
{I left after an hour. I just walked from the hotel up to the restaurant since the proximity isn't that far, more like twenty minutes away.}
Hmm, so this is the Umami Land, huh? It looks pretty neat. The color choice in the paint could really entice more customers. The signing is digital, which omits to spend more materials.
"Not that I didn't notice but... why are people staring at me like I am a celebrity? Especially the guys...," I uttered. "This suddenly gives me the creeps..."
The exterior looks nice so I guess the staff acts normal, even with that guy as their manager!
{I entered the restaurant and I was expecting everything to be normal in the pre-opening but I was greeted by something.... peculiar.}
"Gyud mowning, Mwaster~," said Chiaki while wearing a waitress uniform then winks.
Men are really scary.
"Waaaah!" I screamed.
"Was that really bad that you have to scream like you've seen a ghost?!" asked Chiaki.
Oh, a girl! I never saw her before. This must be that Kanata girl.
{I took a cover at that girl's back.}
"W-What's wrong?" asked Kanata.
"Please throw that trash out immediately!" I said.
"Excuse me?!" asked Chiaki.
Itsuki-san hits Chiaki in the head with a big paper fan afterward.
"That was much worse!" said Itsuki. "I feel foolish that I believed you can teach me how to greet customers nicely!"
"C'mon, you don't have to be so mad, kyun~," said Chiaki.
"I want to throw up....," said Itsuki.
I'm getting goosebumps from seeing this!
"How rude," said Chiaki. "I'm trying to save you from your tomboyish aura yet you are resisting."
"Well sorry for being boyish!" replied Itsuki as he kicks Chiaki. "What do you want, anyway?"
"A-A woman that doesn't suddenly kick...," said Chiaki.
"Are they always like this?" I asked.
"Well, yeah," said Kanata. "It's surprising that they can interact like that even though they were an ex-couple."
Eh?
"E-E-E-Ex-couple?!!" I yelled.
T-This is like some romantic comedy thing I read from a certain manga. So these things actually happen?!
"D-Don't shout it out, idiot," said Itsuki. "Just remembering those days makes me feel sick...."
"Oh, come on," said Chiaki. "You don't have to be shy about it~"
It's an agony to see this guy being like that. Was my timing to go here a mistake?!
"Please don't misunderstand," said Itsuki. "I was once an ex-girlfriend of this guy but it was way back then."
"Yes, besides no one's gonna fall in love with this gorilla woman anyway, so it's her loss," replied Chiaki.
"Oh, well you're speaking too ill of me, Mr. Handsome Wannabe," said Itsuki. "Care about having a black eye for once?"
"Sorry, I'll stop," said Chiaki. "By the way, let's discuss the employment of the arrogant girl."
Is he referring to me?!
"I have a name, you know it right?!" I asked. "It is Kanzaki M-"
I was about to say my real name but Kazuya interrupted me.
"Dude, someone sent an email," said Kazuya. "It's a resume from someone named Kanzaki Tomori."
"Kanzaki Tomori?" asked Chiaki. "Who's that? What is she applying for?"
T-That is literally me, idiots!
"Managerial position," replied Kazuya.
"Is that person dumb?" asked Chiaki. "Tell her that we ain't hiring managers since I am the manager. Fufufu."
"Kanzaki... Kanzaki...," uttered Itsuki. "You're a Kanzaki, right?"
"Y-Yes, I am," I said.
"Oh, this person must be your sister!" said Chiaki. "Uh, tell her that I can't be moved since I am the best here. Thanks~"
T-This guy.... He's overconfident! It pisses me off!
"As I said, my name is.....!" I replied yet interrupted.
"But also tell her that I admire her courage to apply for such position," said Chiaki. "She must be a fearless and always ready-to-learn type of person. I like this type of person."
The word "like" suddenly replays in my head. Why am I blushing on hearing that simple thing?!
"But dude...," said Kazuya.
"What's wrong, otaku chef?" asked Chiaki.
"The Kanzaki's only has one daughter," said Kazuya.
"Eh?" said Chiaki. "B-But, her job experience says that she worked in the same place with the arrogant girl..."
"That's because it's me!" I said. "My name is Kanzaki Tomori!"
Everyone was silent for like five seconds.
"EEHHH?!" reacted everyone.
"But you said your name was Mona?!" asked Itsuki.
"It was my Mom's name," I said. "I got to use it since this is my Dad's wish after my Mom died. When he hears people call me Mona, he feels that Mom is still alive and her presence is still here even though she's gone."
"G--Grrrrkkk...," reacted Chiaki.
Why is he acting like that? and why is his face red?
"Isn't that being a bit forceful?" asked Kanata.
"Of course, I want people to call me by my real name but if this keeps up Dad's energy to live, then I'll live with it," I said. "Though, he requested that I should live with the name until he finally moves on."
"I guess he already set his heart free," said Chiaki.
"How can you say so?" I asked.
"I mean, he allowed you to live independently here in the city while he relocates himself in the province to start your new restaurant, right?" said Chiaki. "I think that's enough gesture to say that he moved on already."
H-He has a point. B-But...
"I saw it in his eyes when he entrusted you to our care," said Chiaki. "It wasn't dull as the first time I looked at it."
"A-Are you sure about that?" I asked.
"More like I'm shocked because he trusts me so much already," said Chiaki. "He made me feel that we've known each other from before, though I can't remember any scenario with us being close."
I-If that is true, then it's all right.....
"Think of yourself this time, arrogant girl," said Chiaki. "We'll call you by your name. If I repeatedly call you Mona, I think that your Mom will rise from the grave suddenly."
"F-Fine, I'll assume that you're right this time!" I said.
"Then...," said Chiaki.
"Don't call me an arrogant girl or whatsoever!" I replied. "Just call me Tom-"
T-The girls are staring at me....! Am I letting guys call me by my real first name? T-That won't happen, even if it's work!
"Only the girls will call me by my name," I said.
"Okay, hubristic woman," said Chiaki.
"You really piss me off, Enomoto Chiaki-san!" I said.
"Well, then I'll annoy you every single day," replied Chiaki.
Grrrrr!!! I can't stand this guy after all!
After everyone settles down, someone enters the restaurant.
"Sorry, we aren't open yet," said Kazuya.
"Hmmm...," said the woman while staring at Kazuya. "Cherry boy."
"W-What?!" said Kazuya. "An older sister type of woman called me a cherry boy?! I-I should..."
"It's quite an energetic crew here, huh?" said the woman.
S-She really has this Onee-san aura even if it's the first time I saw her!
"I wanna apply as a barista. Fill me in." added the woman.
I-It feels like this place is going to be rowdier soon enough...
