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Entry tags:
KHR Rarepair Week - Lightning - Single Parents
When the little gang of foreigners first try to start something in his restaurant, Tsuyoshi's first thought is that he's just glad that Takeshi has gone off to school already, because he really doesn't want to be a bad influence on his son.
At least their Japanese is still perfectly pronounced, he has to hand it to them there, even if every single thing that comes out of their mouths is so cliche that he can remember hearing that sort of thing when he was young and hot blooded. "Did you hear us, old man!? Hand over everything that you have in your safe and the register, right now!" Like that? Really now! Maybe he should be glad that some things remain unchanging.
"Haaaaa." Tsuyoshi scratches the back of his neck, feels how worn and leathery his skin seems to have gotten with his old age. Every year, the wrinkles just multiply, and he can feel his joints starting to ache in ways they never used to. Probably, he's getting to be too old for this, but he still has some fire in him yet. "We haven't even opened for the lunch rushes yet, and there's already this sort of thing happening, eh?" Best it doesn't happen when he has customers, either. It's taken him a long time to build up his reputation nice and properly; it'd be embarrassing to lose all of that just because a couple of hot blooded thugs want to pick a fight.
None of his sushi knives ought to have human blood spilled across their blades. It'd be unhygienic. But there's a box opener resting along the counter, when he'd had to open up a fresh box of napkins, and that fits quite neatly into the palm of his hand as anything else.
He won't do anything too nasty. If that happened, he'd have to clean up a lot more blood, and it'd be far more noticeable than he'd like. Just a little something to teach them some manners, when they're going into a restaurant far away from their own home. That's all. Really, that's all.
And yet before his other hand can fully brace against the counter, haul him up over it, knuckles wrap thickly against the doorframe outside. "Excuse me," says a deep voice, passingly familiar but in a distant sort of way.
The thugs all exchange glances, and one of them already has his mouth open, ready to say something as cliche as all the other words that have left this lot so far. Not even a sound gets a chance to form, however - not when the curtains to his shop flutter in the wind of movement.
Not when there's a palm striking upwards, slamming so hard into his chin that Tsuyoshi can hear teeth crack in their jaw.
Thug 1 wobbles in place, but he's still on the way down as the newest guest into the restaurant twists around, snaps a chop into the wrist of another thug before a trigger can be pulled. Every single movement, from the arm grab to the throw which follows, is neat and elegant, and Tsuyoshi has to admit he forgets himself for a second just watching it all. It reminds him of when he was young, when he was with other fine young men who were -
Okay, he can't say his old friends were quite as skilled as the man there in front of him, who's smashed someone's fingers underneath his shoes, but they weren't too bad either, in those old days. Tsuyoshi's a little too biased, obviously, to say if he once fought so neatly.
In the span of a single minute, every single wannabe thug is on the floor and groaning, some of them leaking blood from their lips or noses. Yet it looks like some of them are still able to move, at least a little bit, with a few struggling up onto their knees, elbows, looking up at the man that's put them all down onto the floor. It takes a second - maybe their heads are all spinning after being laid out so thoroughly - but they seen grow pale. Even from behind the counter, Tsuyoshi can see that. "Y-You -"
Tsuyoshi's latest guest straightens up, slow, decisive in the way that he tugs at his shirt collar to straighten it up. "If you recognize me, then you should have recognized that this store isn't one to be played with," he says, cold as ice in the mountains. The next word he says isn't one that Tsuyoshi can recognize - Italian, maybe? - but it's enough.
Just like that, the men scramble to their feet, nearly falling over one another and dragging each other along. The man only steps to the side so that they're not all in the way.
And the restaurant is quiet.
Tsuyoshi whistles. "Well then! Isn't that something! And here I thought I would have to call the cops, ha!"
With the steps of the men fading away, the helpful guest turns to face him and gives a polite enough bow. Nice and practiced, just the right amount. "I apologize for making such a mess. I'll clean it up, if you would like. Just direct me to where you store the cleaning supplies."
"Now, I could hardly do that to the guy who saved me from getting robbed!" Tsuyoshi laughs, slyly sliding the box cutter away and out of sight. It looks like he won't have to make do after all. "Now I remember where I've seen you! You would be one of Tsuna-kun's friends, wouldn't you? I remember seeing you at that sumo competition victory party." Which wasn't what it really was, of course - you don't learn the way of the sword for sumo. But he can understand the need to keep secrets, here and there, and Takeshi has never seemed to regret the outcome. What more can a father ask for?
"Yes... That's right. That was some time ago, so I'm surprised that you recalled that..."
"Ha! It was a victory for my son, so why wouldn't I remember every little detail?" Tsuyoshi laughs some more, and takes in the man as he straightens up. They hadn't really spoken with one another that much, during the party. Tsuyoshi had been busy doing all the cooking, after all, and there'd been so many people too talk with. Giving congratulations to Tsuna, talking up his own son, talking with Ms. Sawada about little neighborhood matters, all those sorts of things. He's more than aware that he'd missed chatting up various others, especially newcomers to his restaurant, besides maybe a brief greeting. "So what brings you around to the neighborhood again?"
Had he been a friend of that blond man - Dino, Tsuyoshi thinks it was? Maybe they're both back in town. And yet he shakes his head. "No. Actually, I was simply doing a favor for Mrs. Sawada."
With that, he ducks outside again, parting the curtains just enough to call out down the street. A trio of little footsteps later, and a group of familiar faces are all peering around the man's legs. "Hello, Mr. Yamamoto!" Fuuta says, beaming at the sight of him even as I-Pin and Lambo shove their way around him with all the excitement that only children can possess.
That certainly explains it, and Tsuyoshi laughs. Now that he thinks about it, back then, hadn't the man - Lancia, that's right, his name is Lance - hadn't he been carrying around and watching over the children then too? A real natural. "Hello, you three! Hey, hey, why don't you take a seat, and this uncle can see what candies he has stored in the back for you all?" And like all children, just those words enough gets them chattering and obedient, up on the seats in no time at all.
Kids have the miraculous ability to still be plenty noisy even when eating, but food in their mouths quiets them down at least a little. Tsuyoshi takes that time to settle down at the other end of the counter with Lancia, catching up on why he's in town. It's nothing too big or special, apparently. While he doesn't go into detail, he'd apparently "made amends" in all the ways he possibly could and had nothing more asked of him, and so, not sure on where else to go or what to do with his job, he'd drifted back to Japan where he'd known someone important who'd helped him a great deal.
"I've gotten a job offer from someone else - I believe you met him as well during the sumo victory party," Lancia explains, and Tsuyoshi can't help but be amused at how they both can say such a thing with a straight face when they both know that wasn't what happened at all. "However, I find myself unsure if I should take it. He is a good man, and a good boss, but I wonder..." He shakes his head, trailing off.
Tsuyoshi knows that particular inflection which goes into boss. Across languages, regardless of accent, there's something about it that's always the same... Well, he won't get into that right now, not when they're still relative strangers. He just nods along, cleaning his knives. "Well, the past can be a heavy burden," he says.
A grimace crosses Lancia's face, warping the inked scars there on his face. "Especially when it bleeds into the present."
A sign of unfinished business? Tsuyoshi can only wonder. It's not unusual, in this kind of business. Sometimes, you can only try to pull out when you can, or not cross a line. "Well, either way, sometimes the beset thing you can do is get into a line of work that frees up your mind a little bit," he says, before laughing. "Perhaps you should be a babysitter! You seem to have a talent for handling kids!"
He has to laugh all the more at the boggled look on Lancia's face. Such an intimidating guy, and with such a hilarious expression! But maybe he's just not used to being called out on it; he settles down after a second. "I suppose so. At least, Mrs. Sawada doesn't seem to mind me handling the children for her while she has business that she has to do. But I do not think so many people are as open minded as Mrs. Sawada is when it comes to that sort of thing."
Right, right. A serious face, a towering height, inked over scars, and a clear foreign disposition to him.... That might be a lot for some housewives in the area. Tsuyoshi can understand that sort of concern, although he still doesn't think it's acceptable.
Right, right. A serious face, a towering height, inked over scars, and a clear foreign disposition to him.... That might be a lot for some housewives in the area. Tsuyoshi can understand that sort of concern, although he still doesn't think it's acceptable. For him, anyone who can appreciate good food is welcome in his restaurant, and in his home if he gets to know them well enough.
"I'm sure you'll find something here in Japan, if you decide to stay," he encourages him. "I could even ask around, if you'd like! You're a handsome and strapping guy. There'll be people who want you, and they'll be the ones with the good eyes."
Probably not the Hibari-kai, if he's trying to get a life away from all the criminal activity. They do have, like any self respecting yakuza, have things which are technically legal.... but it's probably for the better if it's avoided entirely. Just to be particularly careful. Besides, Tsuoyoshi is more than well aware that if that eagle eyed pair spot a guy with this much talent, they may just lunge for him... Ha, they can be really troublesome, that Hibari family.
Maybe he's not used to encouragement, because that so intimidating face of Lancia's starts to grow a sakura pink. "...I'm glad that you think so. Still, I would rather find things sooner than later. Mrs. Sawada is a very kind woman, but she's also extremely capable. I'm sure that she doesn't truly need my help looking after the children like this, even as a split favor."
"Well, it's true that she's always prided herself on being an ultimate home woman," Tsuyoshi chuckles. Really, with all the things that she has to do, he wonders how she manages. Different recipes, keeping a whole house clean on her own with a son - and then she added three more young children and a young woman to the mix. Sometimes it's enough to make him wonder if she could run the ultimate hotel industry if she'd ever decided to go into it - or a ryukan, with an onsen. When it comes to hospitality, it's hard to say Nana Sawada is beat there. "But, you know, she's still a single mother, all on her own, and the number of ducklings underneath her wing only seems to grow these days." He nods over to the group of children that are happily babbling with each other, able to keep themselves perfectly occupied even with no adult attention.
And in the end, no matter how impressive or disappointing someone might seem... In the end, they're still human. It's important to always remember that.
Lancia seems to understand that as well, the way he nods, but that doesn't stop the small smile on his lips as he looks over to them as well. "It's true... but considering how good the kids are, I can understand why she'd go to all the effort."
Really now - with care like that towards kids, which could be care towards customers too with some training he bets, Lancia would be a great addition to any business. People really don't know a quality man when they see one. "Well, that's true enough. So, do you and the kids have any plans today, since she's left them in your care?"
"They just wanted to see some people they know. We'll probably go to the park after this, and I'll see how much I can exhaust them afterwards. That should help make less of a mess back at the house, and the laundry will be done drying by then too, I imagine."
"Ho! What a busy day you have scheduled, then." Tsuyoshi rubs his chin, thinking thoughtfully. "You know... Ms. Sawada really did me a favor, not that long ago. How about, after you've taken the kids over to the park, you drop by here again before going back to the house? I'll have a little dinner all ready for you, her, and the kids too! Along with anyone else who might stop by, which could be the whole neighborhood!" he laughs.
It's really the least that he could do. Ever since the two of them got to talking not that long ago, more indepth than simple pleasantries, he can at least be assured that Nana Sawada has his back. What kind of man would he be if he didn't return the favor in little ways now and then?
"But that would be so much food, and you still have to set up the restaurant," Lancia protests. "Listen - please, allow me to help you out, if you insist on sending us off with some food. I have some little bits of experience in the kitchens of different restaurants, so I can at least clean things, and pick other items up if they're heavy."
The Sawadas really do have a knack for attracting some good people around them, don't they? He's serious, if Nana Sawada opened up a chain of anything, he'd be tempted to go work under her. "Ah, but don't you have some of the kids to entertain at the park?" he teases right back. Although honestly, with how those guys had barged in right in the middle of him trying to get things set up... Ugh, now he's being tempted for something else entirely. "Well, how about this - you take them to the park for a little while, and, if you're really that set on not accepting a little kindness so easily, you can come back and help me with a few things. And Takeshi has a few things that could probably distract them too." Video games, and the like.
That's enough to make Lancia seem a little more at ease; are Italians as fussy as the Japanese when it comes to accepting gifts? Things perhaps to ask him when he comes back. But in the present, that's enough for Lancia to nod, and then he takes the kids back out, all of them climbing all over as though he's a jungle gym.
With that bit of morning excitement over and done with, everything else goes just like it does every other morning. Making sure the counters are all clean, doing inventory stock, all of that. He even double checks around the entire restaurant, and back home, just to make sure that there's no problematic thugs lingering around with ideas of revenge. Criminals can be pretty petty, after all!
Ask him how he knows.
But in the end, nothing of particular note happens, besides that only an hour or a little near to two passes before there's a familiar knock at his restaurant's door. "Well, that was quick!" he remarks, as Lancia ducks back inside once again with two children cradled neatly in his arms. Lambo and Fuuta, from what he can tell. Ipin is still bouncing about with energy, a smile on her little face. "I thought you'd be gone for a good part of the morning, all the way past noon."
"If I was gone until noon, I have a feeling that you would be right in the middle of a lunch rush," Lancia says, absolutely correctly. So he really has done a little bit of kitchen work. "It's not that hard to exhaust kids, when you know what they like to play."
Spoken like a true professional. Tsuyoshi chuckles a little bit, guiding him to the back and upstairs so that they can let the kids rest down on some blankets. Even Ipin gets to settle down, apparently quite satisfied with how her day has gone. A nap is no doubt the best way to finish it all off. "Well, as long as the kids have had a good time, then I guess that's all that matters in the end, isn't it?" he says as they go down the hall and down the stairs, making sure his voice stays low even then. "You sure are a serious type of fellow, wanting to get all of this done. Usually I would just have Takeshi help me manage the dishes when he gets back from school."
"But Takeshi is in the baseball club, isn't he?" Lancia says. He really does know those kids well - although it's not as though Tsuyoshi can say his son has ever really hid his passions, ha ha. "And along with all the time hanging out with his friends..."
It means that, as much as Takeshi might want to help him out, there's just a lot of things now on his plate that take up his time, and the restaurant can't be his entire world. "Well, he's young," Tsuyoshi notes in amusement. "That is the time in a boy's life when he should be doing things like throwing himself into baseball, and playing around with people his age." He leads Lancia over to the door leading back into the restaurant's kitchens. "If I'm honest, I'm glad to see him at it. My boy's always been great with people, but he's never really delved into relationships before. It was baseball or nothing! I'm glad that he can be with other people who understand that, and are with him."
Some people do well with isolation. Tsuyoshi can't judge that. Every person is made different, and he doesn't have to understand that, just know that they're different and make his peace with it. Takeshi forging his own path in the world, even if that path had been lonely... As long as he could look back on it all with a satisfied smile on his face, Tsuyoshi would be happy himself.
But the world can be difficult, for people like that. Isolation means that one's only support is themself. It's probably a little bit selfish of him to want to impose on his son's wishes like that, but he'd always wanted to be sure that Takeshi could have someone, at least one person, that could give him that little bit of support.
After all, while he'd be happy for it to be himself, he knows that he's not going to be in this world forever.
"Anyway, so this is what I'll be needing your help with," he says, moving the conversation along. "With the day being what it is, we probably won't get too much of a lunch rush, but the business can always surprise you. So, I'll start off with you moving a few of the ingredients closer up to the counter in order for me to access them more easily while I'm at work, and then I'll have you do some dishes as the customers come in. Maybe, depending on things, I'll ask you to do a few more favors - just until the kids wake up, and you can go back to the Sawada house."
Reasonable enough, he figures, and Lancia certainly doesn't complain. All he does is shrug off the jacket he was wearing ever since he arrived in the morning, folding it neatly and setting it to the side. White shirts are white shirts all across the board, he knows that, but, with that suit, is it the same thing he wore when he last showed up in Tsuyoshi's restaurant...?
Well, clothes are meant to be reused. Tsuyoshi doesn't think too much more of it, instead going back to the front of the restaurant, and preparing it for a nice busy day.
And it is a bit busy, as it turns out. Not so much that it becomes one of those days where he regrets not having an apprentice, but just a little more than he was expecting, in the end. That's the way the stars align, really. Sometimes people get friends visiting, and their first stop for lunch is his little restaurant. He's honored, really. What more could he ask for?
Maybe more days like this, with someone right there in the back with him, patiently and quietly taking things to and from the kitchen, refilling drinks before Tsuyoshi can even look over, and even ringing up a few bills. All of that, and Tsuyoshi is just left to do what he loves the most, handling his knife and making little works of art out of fish and rice. It was the thing he always thought he would do more of, when he first started up the business. But there's more to a business than just the thing you're selling. He had to learn that the hard way, a long time ago, even before he first had Takeshi.
And speaking of Takeshi-
"Dad!" There he is, right after the lunch rush, ducking past a few people who are on their way right outside. He grins as he sees him, and grins even wider when he catches sight of Lancia ducking back into the kitchen. Friendly as ever, he makes sure to wave to the man before leaning against the counter towards Tsuyoshi. "Hey. I didn't know Lancia was going to be helping out here now."
"Oh, it's just a little thing he insisted on for today," Tsuyoshi chuckles, waving his free hand about aimlessly. "But we can get to that later. You know, it's pretty bold to go skipping school and then look your own dad right in the face while you're doing it!"
Ah, he'll never get tired of teasing his Takeshi just a little bit. There's that split second expression where he looks absolutely flustered, before it eases away naturally to a bright laugh. "Hey, it's nothing like that! come on, you know that if I skipped school, my grades wouldn't be able to handle it, even with Gokudera helping tutor me~. But something happened at the school that disrupted all the classes, so they let us all out a little bit early to help clear it out."
Maybe around dinner, he'll ask a little more about that, although Tsuyoshi can probably guess on whatever might have happened. Probably. Either way, half days haven't become too unusual in Namimori Middle lately, due to all sorts of shenanigans. You know, like sumo wrestling competitions in the middle of the night.
A dinner question, a dinner question. Something for later. For the now, Takeshi nods over to the doors leading into the kitchen. "So is it later now?" he asks, just a little bit cheeky with the way he grins before his smile eases up into something more earnest. "It's great to see Lancia after so long! He's really helped us out a lot before, and he's a pretty strong guy! You know-" Takeshi laughs again, flexing one arm. "Really macho! But he's always really nice too. And with how busy the restaurant gets sometime, I was a little bit excited that maybe you'd not only got some help to deal with dinner rushes, but it was someone like that!"
Jeez. When he puts it like that, and considering what Lancia told him earlier.... What had been an idle thought in the back of his mind, distant and quiet through all of the morning, now starts to feel as though there's a bit of tinder to it. "Well, he is a good man, I can't lie," he says, cleaning off one of his knives. "Anyway - go put your bag away, and you can help clear the tables and counters. And watch out, some of the kids are in your room."
Takeshi is a good kid - and he's good with kids, too. He puts away his things and changes out of his uniform in no time at all, chatting up a storm with Lancia even as he weaves in and out from the dining area to the kitchen. There's even more conversation that happens in the back, as the two of them wash all the dishes that have managed to pile up and whatnot.
Not that Tsuyoshi really hears too much of that, just the faint noise which says conversation is happening. One of them has to stay in the front, and it's best to leave that position to the sushi chef. Whatever they talked about, however, seems to have put Takeshi in a good mood when he pops out again with suds still clinging to his knuckles. "It was great to catch up with him again," Takeshi tells him happily, settled back down onto the stools in front of the counter. "He went to Italy for ages, y'know? And apparently it was really hard to keep a track of where he was and where he went. I'm glad he decided to come visit the shop."
"Well, you have the kids to thank for that," Tsuyoshi comments idly, making sure he still has plenty of rice prepared for the afternoon and evening.
His comment just has Takeshi laughing, and his son slumps forward along the counter, chin to his crossed arms. "Anyway... You know, I was wondering something, dad. Did you never think about getting remarried?"
Tsuyoshi suddenly fumbles his knife, and it's only years of skilled reflexes that keep it from slicing his palm right open. "Wh - Well! That's a question to ask your old man!" he exclaims, setting the knife down. Where it's less likely to hurt anyone, and all. "Where did that come from?"
Takeshi's gaze drifts away, quiet, thoughtful. It's not often that his son likes to show this side of himself to other people, Tsuyoshi knows, and that includes even him. But, still, it does have its appearances, and something about it has Tsuyoshi settle as well. "With Lancia here... It made me think about how you don't really hire a bunch of other workers too much. And then it made me think about other things, and you never remarried, either, although I'm positive that'd make it easier for stuff like, y'know. Finances, taking care of the house. Stuff like that. And, I mean, obviously it'd be better for it to be someone you like, but..."
This sort of question was inevitable, when Tsuyoshi thinks about it, past all the shock. He used to prepare for it all the time, back when Takeshi was still a little toddler, learning more and more about the world. Seeing more and more families that didn't look quite like theirs. He was sure that, any day, Takeshi would ask why they didn't look like those other families.
But Takeshi never did, and still managed to grow up a bright young boy turning into a shining young man. Tsuyoshi supposes it's a blessing, that it took this long for that kind of conversation to finally come up.
"Well, I would be a liar if I said I hadn't thought of finding someone again," Takeshi admits, smiling a little bit. "Your mother's place in my heart would never be budged regardless - that's how it is with every person you meet, even when you find a new love. But, as time went on, I became so preoccupied with being a good dad for you, and taking care of the restaurant, that it completely slipped my mind. Before I knew it, I was so used to doing things like that, and it had managed to turn out well enough, that I just never bothered." He laughs again. "Sometimes that's how life goes!"
Sometimes, you find yourself simply adapting to life without one other person at your side, and then the compensation is just the new normal.
Takeshi nods slowly, understanding as usual. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense... But things are changing a lot, y'know? And stuff keeps piling up on my end..." Baseball, his friends, all of that. And Tsuyoshi knows he's not going to be handing the restaurant down to his son. They both know that, with Takeshi's own dreams. "So, I've been thinking about it more." And then there's that daring little grin of his again. "So, how about Lancia?"
This boy is seriously going to make him choke on his own air, really! Tsuyoshi makes a noise that only makes Takeshi's grin grow. "What - for marriage?"
"What, you don't think he's really handsome, Dad?"
"That he's handsome is besides the point!"
Takeshi laughs even louder, tears at the corners of his eyes which have to be wiped away. "Okay, but then how about just helping out in the restaurant?" he asks, and, oh, Tsuyoshi gets it. This little scamp was messing with him. Honestly! "It's not the same thing as the house, or even marriage, and I know you have your own reasons for wanting to keep it to being just yourself... But you've looked a lot more relaxed then I've seen you in a while, with Lancia helping out in the back like he has been. So maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to keep him around? Especially since he's looking for a job anyway!"
In truth, it's not as though he never had anyone working for him. But Takeshi was so young back then; it's little wonder he doesn't remember that. However, as Lancia probably knows, it's a hard thing to completely leave the past in the past. It's like a piece of toilet paper stuck to the shoe, that way - always trailing behind you when you think you've finished your business.
Tsuyoshi decided he didn't want to see another worker in his restaurant end up in the hospital.
But Lancia, huh? Tsuyoshi's gaze gets lost in the many grains of white race there by his hands, thinking back to how skillfully the young man had moved in to intercept an entire gang of thugs. True, he'd had the element of surprise on his side, Tsuyoshi can't deny that. At the same time, he'd fought like he'd done it a million times before, and against far more troublesome enemies than some thugs who thought they could shake down an old man all alone in a restaurant.
If it's a man like that... Well, Tsuyoshi doesn't want to say anything that would end up rebounding to him like a curse, but he suspects it'd be anyone trying something that would end up in the hospital rather than a man like Lancia.
Besides, when he thinks about it... It wouldn't be bad, having a reliable and handsome young man like that working in the place.
"That'd have to be something he decides for himself," is what Tsuyoshi says in the end, making sure the rice gets properly stored away. It's the most important thing in a sushi restaurant, after all. "So don't get too disappointed if he says no, Takeshi. In the meanwhile, shouldn't you make sure that your homework gets done this time before your teacher calls me again?"
If there's one way to get Takeshi all worked up, it's sure that, and he's running up the stairs to his room in no time at all, ha. Well, that's good, Takeshi thinks to himself as he cleans up the counter again before turning to the kitchen doors. He hears that Tsunayoshi's own grades have definitely been improving a lot as well, thanks to that home tutor of his. It wouldn't do for his own Takeshi to lag behind his own friends, right?
Takeshi should take care of it, if he's sent him off like that. For now, the next person to bother with... "Hey, Lancia. Good work today," he says brightly, and earns a smile from that rough face. Really, it makes him look a million times softer. "It sounded like you and Takeshi were having a great time back here, ha!"
That little rascal of a son - he must have been ribbing Lancia, too, because the man coughs into his hand and looks away. "Takeshi has always been a good kid. He knows how to keep a conversation going, and he was to Italy once before, so he had a lot of questions about where I'd visited there. It seems like things went well on the front end of things."
"Oh, definitely. A little busier than usual, but nothing that can't be handled." Especially with another pair of hands. After all, it only takes one extra customer to make things go chaotic across a whole restaurant, depending on things. Well, that's besides the point. For now.... Crossing his arms, Tsuyoshi taps a finger to his chin. "So, with that said, I was wondering if you'd thought any further on where you'd go looking for a job? Since you said you don't have one now, and don't plan on relying too much on Ms. Sawada."
As expected, Lancia shakes his head. "No... I haven't thought of anything too set in stone just yet. Takeshi said that he would talk to some people about it, to see if they had heard of any openings, but I'm not entirely sure how well middle schoolers are acquainted with the job market."
Of course, but it wasn't middle schoolers that Takeshi was actually thinking of asking, was it? Tsuyoshi shakes his head, even as he smiles to himself. Despite what his grades may make people think, that son of his really is a sharp one when he decides to be. "I see. Well then, since you don't have any plans and nothing else lined up, what do you think about coming here to do a bit of work? I won't be anything too fancy at first, mostly just keeping things clean, but I'll see if I can impart a few tricks and techniques here and there." He's already passed down his knowledge of the sword to Takeshi; maybe it's time he pass down some of his chef knowledge too. It's about time, isn't it?
The hand towel in Lancia's hands nearly slips out of his grasp for a moment, but it strengthens at the last second, and his expression eases up. "Really? I had thought that you were not intent on hiring anyone soon."
"Hm, well, that was this morning. But having you here in the back end of things has made the day a lot easier, I've found, and I'm no spring chicken." He laughs boisterously, hand clapping down to his bicep instead of his chin. "Probably should have hired someone ages ago!"
"You've still managed to do an excellent job here by yourself."
"If you go on giving me compliments like that, I may just blush." And he really might, too. Who doesn't like a compliment, now and then? It's been too long since he's heard it from a new face and not one of his many regulars.
Carefully, Lancia goes to put aside the hand towel, and his brow furrows ever so slightly in thought. "While I do appreciate your consideration... Are you certain that will be alright? I don't want to scare away any customers. I understand that this is a small restaurant, so to speak, and every customer makes a difference."
A considerate thought, but Tsuyoshi waves it away. "I make most of my money off of my regulars; Namimori is hardly a big tourist destination now is it? And my regulars won't be chased away by a little bit of scar tissue on a man." He actually laughs again. "Honestly, even for newcomers, we could just tell them that you got your scars in a fishing accident getting things for the restaurant! People eat that kind of thing up almost more than the fish!"
"Well, that sure is sneaky." Lancia smiles some as he says it, however. Well, whatever works works, right? "Then, if you truly do not mind my intruding... I'll gladly take up space in your kitchen. "
Stepping forward, Tsuyoshi offers out his hand. "I'll gladly have you take up that space, so long as you keep working as excellently as you did today." Again, he seems far too pleased about a little compliment, judging by the way his cheeks pinken. "Anyway, I think I can hear some of the kids getting rowdy again, so let me make some of that dinner I promised all of you, and you can head on out, alright? Think of it as advanced pay, too!"
As though he'll take it out of Lancia's paycheck, ha. Rather, Lancia better be prepared to get fed all sorts of things so long as he works at Tsuyoshi's restaurant. What kind of person would he be, if he couldn't manage even that much for his employee?
He's just gotten the tops on the boxes for Lancia when there's the sound of excited happy yelling, and there's the kids rushing out into the restaurant again, herded patiently by a laughing Takeshi. Lancia scoops them up into his arms without hesitation, not feeling their weight a single bit as he turns to take the bagged boxes too. Seriously, it might be a waste to just keep him in the back rooms. "Thank you for your hospitality," Lancia says politely, Japanese absolutely perfect, before he turns away.
The curtains flap over them all, but that doesn't manage to drown out the sound of Fuuta's voice, chattering away. "I'm so glad that you suggested we come to this restaurant, Lancia!"
Tsuyoshi blinks, arms crossed in front of himself. Didn't Lancia say the children wanted to come to the restaurant...?
At least their Japanese is still perfectly pronounced, he has to hand it to them there, even if every single thing that comes out of their mouths is so cliche that he can remember hearing that sort of thing when he was young and hot blooded. "Did you hear us, old man!? Hand over everything that you have in your safe and the register, right now!" Like that? Really now! Maybe he should be glad that some things remain unchanging.
"Haaaaa." Tsuyoshi scratches the back of his neck, feels how worn and leathery his skin seems to have gotten with his old age. Every year, the wrinkles just multiply, and he can feel his joints starting to ache in ways they never used to. Probably, he's getting to be too old for this, but he still has some fire in him yet. "We haven't even opened for the lunch rushes yet, and there's already this sort of thing happening, eh?" Best it doesn't happen when he has customers, either. It's taken him a long time to build up his reputation nice and properly; it'd be embarrassing to lose all of that just because a couple of hot blooded thugs want to pick a fight.
None of his sushi knives ought to have human blood spilled across their blades. It'd be unhygienic. But there's a box opener resting along the counter, when he'd had to open up a fresh box of napkins, and that fits quite neatly into the palm of his hand as anything else.
He won't do anything too nasty. If that happened, he'd have to clean up a lot more blood, and it'd be far more noticeable than he'd like. Just a little something to teach them some manners, when they're going into a restaurant far away from their own home. That's all. Really, that's all.
And yet before his other hand can fully brace against the counter, haul him up over it, knuckles wrap thickly against the doorframe outside. "Excuse me," says a deep voice, passingly familiar but in a distant sort of way.
The thugs all exchange glances, and one of them already has his mouth open, ready to say something as cliche as all the other words that have left this lot so far. Not even a sound gets a chance to form, however - not when the curtains to his shop flutter in the wind of movement.
Not when there's a palm striking upwards, slamming so hard into his chin that Tsuyoshi can hear teeth crack in their jaw.
Thug 1 wobbles in place, but he's still on the way down as the newest guest into the restaurant twists around, snaps a chop into the wrist of another thug before a trigger can be pulled. Every single movement, from the arm grab to the throw which follows, is neat and elegant, and Tsuyoshi has to admit he forgets himself for a second just watching it all. It reminds him of when he was young, when he was with other fine young men who were -
Okay, he can't say his old friends were quite as skilled as the man there in front of him, who's smashed someone's fingers underneath his shoes, but they weren't too bad either, in those old days. Tsuyoshi's a little too biased, obviously, to say if he once fought so neatly.
In the span of a single minute, every single wannabe thug is on the floor and groaning, some of them leaking blood from their lips or noses. Yet it looks like some of them are still able to move, at least a little bit, with a few struggling up onto their knees, elbows, looking up at the man that's put them all down onto the floor. It takes a second - maybe their heads are all spinning after being laid out so thoroughly - but they seen grow pale. Even from behind the counter, Tsuyoshi can see that. "Y-You -"
Tsuyoshi's latest guest straightens up, slow, decisive in the way that he tugs at his shirt collar to straighten it up. "If you recognize me, then you should have recognized that this store isn't one to be played with," he says, cold as ice in the mountains. The next word he says isn't one that Tsuyoshi can recognize - Italian, maybe? - but it's enough.
Just like that, the men scramble to their feet, nearly falling over one another and dragging each other along. The man only steps to the side so that they're not all in the way.
And the restaurant is quiet.
Tsuyoshi whistles. "Well then! Isn't that something! And here I thought I would have to call the cops, ha!"
With the steps of the men fading away, the helpful guest turns to face him and gives a polite enough bow. Nice and practiced, just the right amount. "I apologize for making such a mess. I'll clean it up, if you would like. Just direct me to where you store the cleaning supplies."
"Now, I could hardly do that to the guy who saved me from getting robbed!" Tsuyoshi laughs, slyly sliding the box cutter away and out of sight. It looks like he won't have to make do after all. "Now I remember where I've seen you! You would be one of Tsuna-kun's friends, wouldn't you? I remember seeing you at that sumo competition victory party." Which wasn't what it really was, of course - you don't learn the way of the sword for sumo. But he can understand the need to keep secrets, here and there, and Takeshi has never seemed to regret the outcome. What more can a father ask for?
"Yes... That's right. That was some time ago, so I'm surprised that you recalled that..."
"Ha! It was a victory for my son, so why wouldn't I remember every little detail?" Tsuyoshi laughs some more, and takes in the man as he straightens up. They hadn't really spoken with one another that much, during the party. Tsuyoshi had been busy doing all the cooking, after all, and there'd been so many people too talk with. Giving congratulations to Tsuna, talking up his own son, talking with Ms. Sawada about little neighborhood matters, all those sorts of things. He's more than aware that he'd missed chatting up various others, especially newcomers to his restaurant, besides maybe a brief greeting. "So what brings you around to the neighborhood again?"
Had he been a friend of that blond man - Dino, Tsuyoshi thinks it was? Maybe they're both back in town. And yet he shakes his head. "No. Actually, I was simply doing a favor for Mrs. Sawada."
With that, he ducks outside again, parting the curtains just enough to call out down the street. A trio of little footsteps later, and a group of familiar faces are all peering around the man's legs. "Hello, Mr. Yamamoto!" Fuuta says, beaming at the sight of him even as I-Pin and Lambo shove their way around him with all the excitement that only children can possess.
That certainly explains it, and Tsuyoshi laughs. Now that he thinks about it, back then, hadn't the man - Lancia, that's right, his name is Lance - hadn't he been carrying around and watching over the children then too? A real natural. "Hello, you three! Hey, hey, why don't you take a seat, and this uncle can see what candies he has stored in the back for you all?" And like all children, just those words enough gets them chattering and obedient, up on the seats in no time at all.
Kids have the miraculous ability to still be plenty noisy even when eating, but food in their mouths quiets them down at least a little. Tsuyoshi takes that time to settle down at the other end of the counter with Lancia, catching up on why he's in town. It's nothing too big or special, apparently. While he doesn't go into detail, he'd apparently "made amends" in all the ways he possibly could and had nothing more asked of him, and so, not sure on where else to go or what to do with his job, he'd drifted back to Japan where he'd known someone important who'd helped him a great deal.
"I've gotten a job offer from someone else - I believe you met him as well during the sumo victory party," Lancia explains, and Tsuyoshi can't help but be amused at how they both can say such a thing with a straight face when they both know that wasn't what happened at all. "However, I find myself unsure if I should take it. He is a good man, and a good boss, but I wonder..." He shakes his head, trailing off.
Tsuyoshi knows that particular inflection which goes into boss. Across languages, regardless of accent, there's something about it that's always the same... Well, he won't get into that right now, not when they're still relative strangers. He just nods along, cleaning his knives. "Well, the past can be a heavy burden," he says.
A grimace crosses Lancia's face, warping the inked scars there on his face. "Especially when it bleeds into the present."
A sign of unfinished business? Tsuyoshi can only wonder. It's not unusual, in this kind of business. Sometimes, you can only try to pull out when you can, or not cross a line. "Well, either way, sometimes the beset thing you can do is get into a line of work that frees up your mind a little bit," he says, before laughing. "Perhaps you should be a babysitter! You seem to have a talent for handling kids!"
He has to laugh all the more at the boggled look on Lancia's face. Such an intimidating guy, and with such a hilarious expression! But maybe he's just not used to being called out on it; he settles down after a second. "I suppose so. At least, Mrs. Sawada doesn't seem to mind me handling the children for her while she has business that she has to do. But I do not think so many people are as open minded as Mrs. Sawada is when it comes to that sort of thing."
Right, right. A serious face, a towering height, inked over scars, and a clear foreign disposition to him.... That might be a lot for some housewives in the area. Tsuyoshi can understand that sort of concern, although he still doesn't think it's acceptable.
Right, right. A serious face, a towering height, inked over scars, and a clear foreign disposition to him.... That might be a lot for some housewives in the area. Tsuyoshi can understand that sort of concern, although he still doesn't think it's acceptable. For him, anyone who can appreciate good food is welcome in his restaurant, and in his home if he gets to know them well enough.
"I'm sure you'll find something here in Japan, if you decide to stay," he encourages him. "I could even ask around, if you'd like! You're a handsome and strapping guy. There'll be people who want you, and they'll be the ones with the good eyes."
Probably not the Hibari-kai, if he's trying to get a life away from all the criminal activity. They do have, like any self respecting yakuza, have things which are technically legal.... but it's probably for the better if it's avoided entirely. Just to be particularly careful. Besides, Tsuoyoshi is more than well aware that if that eagle eyed pair spot a guy with this much talent, they may just lunge for him... Ha, they can be really troublesome, that Hibari family.
Maybe he's not used to encouragement, because that so intimidating face of Lancia's starts to grow a sakura pink. "...I'm glad that you think so. Still, I would rather find things sooner than later. Mrs. Sawada is a very kind woman, but she's also extremely capable. I'm sure that she doesn't truly need my help looking after the children like this, even as a split favor."
"Well, it's true that she's always prided herself on being an ultimate home woman," Tsuyoshi chuckles. Really, with all the things that she has to do, he wonders how she manages. Different recipes, keeping a whole house clean on her own with a son - and then she added three more young children and a young woman to the mix. Sometimes it's enough to make him wonder if she could run the ultimate hotel industry if she'd ever decided to go into it - or a ryukan, with an onsen. When it comes to hospitality, it's hard to say Nana Sawada is beat there. "But, you know, she's still a single mother, all on her own, and the number of ducklings underneath her wing only seems to grow these days." He nods over to the group of children that are happily babbling with each other, able to keep themselves perfectly occupied even with no adult attention.
And in the end, no matter how impressive or disappointing someone might seem... In the end, they're still human. It's important to always remember that.
Lancia seems to understand that as well, the way he nods, but that doesn't stop the small smile on his lips as he looks over to them as well. "It's true... but considering how good the kids are, I can understand why she'd go to all the effort."
Really now - with care like that towards kids, which could be care towards customers too with some training he bets, Lancia would be a great addition to any business. People really don't know a quality man when they see one. "Well, that's true enough. So, do you and the kids have any plans today, since she's left them in your care?"
"They just wanted to see some people they know. We'll probably go to the park after this, and I'll see how much I can exhaust them afterwards. That should help make less of a mess back at the house, and the laundry will be done drying by then too, I imagine."
"Ho! What a busy day you have scheduled, then." Tsuyoshi rubs his chin, thinking thoughtfully. "You know... Ms. Sawada really did me a favor, not that long ago. How about, after you've taken the kids over to the park, you drop by here again before going back to the house? I'll have a little dinner all ready for you, her, and the kids too! Along with anyone else who might stop by, which could be the whole neighborhood!" he laughs.
It's really the least that he could do. Ever since the two of them got to talking not that long ago, more indepth than simple pleasantries, he can at least be assured that Nana Sawada has his back. What kind of man would he be if he didn't return the favor in little ways now and then?
"But that would be so much food, and you still have to set up the restaurant," Lancia protests. "Listen - please, allow me to help you out, if you insist on sending us off with some food. I have some little bits of experience in the kitchens of different restaurants, so I can at least clean things, and pick other items up if they're heavy."
The Sawadas really do have a knack for attracting some good people around them, don't they? He's serious, if Nana Sawada opened up a chain of anything, he'd be tempted to go work under her. "Ah, but don't you have some of the kids to entertain at the park?" he teases right back. Although honestly, with how those guys had barged in right in the middle of him trying to get things set up... Ugh, now he's being tempted for something else entirely. "Well, how about this - you take them to the park for a little while, and, if you're really that set on not accepting a little kindness so easily, you can come back and help me with a few things. And Takeshi has a few things that could probably distract them too." Video games, and the like.
That's enough to make Lancia seem a little more at ease; are Italians as fussy as the Japanese when it comes to accepting gifts? Things perhaps to ask him when he comes back. But in the present, that's enough for Lancia to nod, and then he takes the kids back out, all of them climbing all over as though he's a jungle gym.
With that bit of morning excitement over and done with, everything else goes just like it does every other morning. Making sure the counters are all clean, doing inventory stock, all of that. He even double checks around the entire restaurant, and back home, just to make sure that there's no problematic thugs lingering around with ideas of revenge. Criminals can be pretty petty, after all!
Ask him how he knows.
But in the end, nothing of particular note happens, besides that only an hour or a little near to two passes before there's a familiar knock at his restaurant's door. "Well, that was quick!" he remarks, as Lancia ducks back inside once again with two children cradled neatly in his arms. Lambo and Fuuta, from what he can tell. Ipin is still bouncing about with energy, a smile on her little face. "I thought you'd be gone for a good part of the morning, all the way past noon."
"If I was gone until noon, I have a feeling that you would be right in the middle of a lunch rush," Lancia says, absolutely correctly. So he really has done a little bit of kitchen work. "It's not that hard to exhaust kids, when you know what they like to play."
Spoken like a true professional. Tsuyoshi chuckles a little bit, guiding him to the back and upstairs so that they can let the kids rest down on some blankets. Even Ipin gets to settle down, apparently quite satisfied with how her day has gone. A nap is no doubt the best way to finish it all off. "Well, as long as the kids have had a good time, then I guess that's all that matters in the end, isn't it?" he says as they go down the hall and down the stairs, making sure his voice stays low even then. "You sure are a serious type of fellow, wanting to get all of this done. Usually I would just have Takeshi help me manage the dishes when he gets back from school."
"But Takeshi is in the baseball club, isn't he?" Lancia says. He really does know those kids well - although it's not as though Tsuyoshi can say his son has ever really hid his passions, ha ha. "And along with all the time hanging out with his friends..."
It means that, as much as Takeshi might want to help him out, there's just a lot of things now on his plate that take up his time, and the restaurant can't be his entire world. "Well, he's young," Tsuyoshi notes in amusement. "That is the time in a boy's life when he should be doing things like throwing himself into baseball, and playing around with people his age." He leads Lancia over to the door leading back into the restaurant's kitchens. "If I'm honest, I'm glad to see him at it. My boy's always been great with people, but he's never really delved into relationships before. It was baseball or nothing! I'm glad that he can be with other people who understand that, and are with him."
Some people do well with isolation. Tsuyoshi can't judge that. Every person is made different, and he doesn't have to understand that, just know that they're different and make his peace with it. Takeshi forging his own path in the world, even if that path had been lonely... As long as he could look back on it all with a satisfied smile on his face, Tsuyoshi would be happy himself.
But the world can be difficult, for people like that. Isolation means that one's only support is themself. It's probably a little bit selfish of him to want to impose on his son's wishes like that, but he'd always wanted to be sure that Takeshi could have someone, at least one person, that could give him that little bit of support.
After all, while he'd be happy for it to be himself, he knows that he's not going to be in this world forever.
"Anyway, so this is what I'll be needing your help with," he says, moving the conversation along. "With the day being what it is, we probably won't get too much of a lunch rush, but the business can always surprise you. So, I'll start off with you moving a few of the ingredients closer up to the counter in order for me to access them more easily while I'm at work, and then I'll have you do some dishes as the customers come in. Maybe, depending on things, I'll ask you to do a few more favors - just until the kids wake up, and you can go back to the Sawada house."
Reasonable enough, he figures, and Lancia certainly doesn't complain. All he does is shrug off the jacket he was wearing ever since he arrived in the morning, folding it neatly and setting it to the side. White shirts are white shirts all across the board, he knows that, but, with that suit, is it the same thing he wore when he last showed up in Tsuyoshi's restaurant...?
Well, clothes are meant to be reused. Tsuyoshi doesn't think too much more of it, instead going back to the front of the restaurant, and preparing it for a nice busy day.
And it is a bit busy, as it turns out. Not so much that it becomes one of those days where he regrets not having an apprentice, but just a little more than he was expecting, in the end. That's the way the stars align, really. Sometimes people get friends visiting, and their first stop for lunch is his little restaurant. He's honored, really. What more could he ask for?
Maybe more days like this, with someone right there in the back with him, patiently and quietly taking things to and from the kitchen, refilling drinks before Tsuyoshi can even look over, and even ringing up a few bills. All of that, and Tsuyoshi is just left to do what he loves the most, handling his knife and making little works of art out of fish and rice. It was the thing he always thought he would do more of, when he first started up the business. But there's more to a business than just the thing you're selling. He had to learn that the hard way, a long time ago, even before he first had Takeshi.
And speaking of Takeshi-
"Dad!" There he is, right after the lunch rush, ducking past a few people who are on their way right outside. He grins as he sees him, and grins even wider when he catches sight of Lancia ducking back into the kitchen. Friendly as ever, he makes sure to wave to the man before leaning against the counter towards Tsuyoshi. "Hey. I didn't know Lancia was going to be helping out here now."
"Oh, it's just a little thing he insisted on for today," Tsuyoshi chuckles, waving his free hand about aimlessly. "But we can get to that later. You know, it's pretty bold to go skipping school and then look your own dad right in the face while you're doing it!"
Ah, he'll never get tired of teasing his Takeshi just a little bit. There's that split second expression where he looks absolutely flustered, before it eases away naturally to a bright laugh. "Hey, it's nothing like that! come on, you know that if I skipped school, my grades wouldn't be able to handle it, even with Gokudera helping tutor me~. But something happened at the school that disrupted all the classes, so they let us all out a little bit early to help clear it out."
Maybe around dinner, he'll ask a little more about that, although Tsuyoshi can probably guess on whatever might have happened. Probably. Either way, half days haven't become too unusual in Namimori Middle lately, due to all sorts of shenanigans. You know, like sumo wrestling competitions in the middle of the night.
A dinner question, a dinner question. Something for later. For the now, Takeshi nods over to the doors leading into the kitchen. "So is it later now?" he asks, just a little bit cheeky with the way he grins before his smile eases up into something more earnest. "It's great to see Lancia after so long! He's really helped us out a lot before, and he's a pretty strong guy! You know-" Takeshi laughs again, flexing one arm. "Really macho! But he's always really nice too. And with how busy the restaurant gets sometime, I was a little bit excited that maybe you'd not only got some help to deal with dinner rushes, but it was someone like that!"
Jeez. When he puts it like that, and considering what Lancia told him earlier.... What had been an idle thought in the back of his mind, distant and quiet through all of the morning, now starts to feel as though there's a bit of tinder to it. "Well, he is a good man, I can't lie," he says, cleaning off one of his knives. "Anyway - go put your bag away, and you can help clear the tables and counters. And watch out, some of the kids are in your room."
Takeshi is a good kid - and he's good with kids, too. He puts away his things and changes out of his uniform in no time at all, chatting up a storm with Lancia even as he weaves in and out from the dining area to the kitchen. There's even more conversation that happens in the back, as the two of them wash all the dishes that have managed to pile up and whatnot.
Not that Tsuyoshi really hears too much of that, just the faint noise which says conversation is happening. One of them has to stay in the front, and it's best to leave that position to the sushi chef. Whatever they talked about, however, seems to have put Takeshi in a good mood when he pops out again with suds still clinging to his knuckles. "It was great to catch up with him again," Takeshi tells him happily, settled back down onto the stools in front of the counter. "He went to Italy for ages, y'know? And apparently it was really hard to keep a track of where he was and where he went. I'm glad he decided to come visit the shop."
"Well, you have the kids to thank for that," Tsuyoshi comments idly, making sure he still has plenty of rice prepared for the afternoon and evening.
His comment just has Takeshi laughing, and his son slumps forward along the counter, chin to his crossed arms. "Anyway... You know, I was wondering something, dad. Did you never think about getting remarried?"
Tsuyoshi suddenly fumbles his knife, and it's only years of skilled reflexes that keep it from slicing his palm right open. "Wh - Well! That's a question to ask your old man!" he exclaims, setting the knife down. Where it's less likely to hurt anyone, and all. "Where did that come from?"
Takeshi's gaze drifts away, quiet, thoughtful. It's not often that his son likes to show this side of himself to other people, Tsuyoshi knows, and that includes even him. But, still, it does have its appearances, and something about it has Tsuyoshi settle as well. "With Lancia here... It made me think about how you don't really hire a bunch of other workers too much. And then it made me think about other things, and you never remarried, either, although I'm positive that'd make it easier for stuff like, y'know. Finances, taking care of the house. Stuff like that. And, I mean, obviously it'd be better for it to be someone you like, but..."
This sort of question was inevitable, when Tsuyoshi thinks about it, past all the shock. He used to prepare for it all the time, back when Takeshi was still a little toddler, learning more and more about the world. Seeing more and more families that didn't look quite like theirs. He was sure that, any day, Takeshi would ask why they didn't look like those other families.
But Takeshi never did, and still managed to grow up a bright young boy turning into a shining young man. Tsuyoshi supposes it's a blessing, that it took this long for that kind of conversation to finally come up.
"Well, I would be a liar if I said I hadn't thought of finding someone again," Takeshi admits, smiling a little bit. "Your mother's place in my heart would never be budged regardless - that's how it is with every person you meet, even when you find a new love. But, as time went on, I became so preoccupied with being a good dad for you, and taking care of the restaurant, that it completely slipped my mind. Before I knew it, I was so used to doing things like that, and it had managed to turn out well enough, that I just never bothered." He laughs again. "Sometimes that's how life goes!"
Sometimes, you find yourself simply adapting to life without one other person at your side, and then the compensation is just the new normal.
Takeshi nods slowly, understanding as usual. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense... But things are changing a lot, y'know? And stuff keeps piling up on my end..." Baseball, his friends, all of that. And Tsuyoshi knows he's not going to be handing the restaurant down to his son. They both know that, with Takeshi's own dreams. "So, I've been thinking about it more." And then there's that daring little grin of his again. "So, how about Lancia?"
This boy is seriously going to make him choke on his own air, really! Tsuyoshi makes a noise that only makes Takeshi's grin grow. "What - for marriage?"
"What, you don't think he's really handsome, Dad?"
"That he's handsome is besides the point!"
Takeshi laughs even louder, tears at the corners of his eyes which have to be wiped away. "Okay, but then how about just helping out in the restaurant?" he asks, and, oh, Tsuyoshi gets it. This little scamp was messing with him. Honestly! "It's not the same thing as the house, or even marriage, and I know you have your own reasons for wanting to keep it to being just yourself... But you've looked a lot more relaxed then I've seen you in a while, with Lancia helping out in the back like he has been. So maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to keep him around? Especially since he's looking for a job anyway!"
In truth, it's not as though he never had anyone working for him. But Takeshi was so young back then; it's little wonder he doesn't remember that. However, as Lancia probably knows, it's a hard thing to completely leave the past in the past. It's like a piece of toilet paper stuck to the shoe, that way - always trailing behind you when you think you've finished your business.
Tsuyoshi decided he didn't want to see another worker in his restaurant end up in the hospital.
But Lancia, huh? Tsuyoshi's gaze gets lost in the many grains of white race there by his hands, thinking back to how skillfully the young man had moved in to intercept an entire gang of thugs. True, he'd had the element of surprise on his side, Tsuyoshi can't deny that. At the same time, he'd fought like he'd done it a million times before, and against far more troublesome enemies than some thugs who thought they could shake down an old man all alone in a restaurant.
If it's a man like that... Well, Tsuyoshi doesn't want to say anything that would end up rebounding to him like a curse, but he suspects it'd be anyone trying something that would end up in the hospital rather than a man like Lancia.
Besides, when he thinks about it... It wouldn't be bad, having a reliable and handsome young man like that working in the place.
"That'd have to be something he decides for himself," is what Tsuyoshi says in the end, making sure the rice gets properly stored away. It's the most important thing in a sushi restaurant, after all. "So don't get too disappointed if he says no, Takeshi. In the meanwhile, shouldn't you make sure that your homework gets done this time before your teacher calls me again?"
If there's one way to get Takeshi all worked up, it's sure that, and he's running up the stairs to his room in no time at all, ha. Well, that's good, Takeshi thinks to himself as he cleans up the counter again before turning to the kitchen doors. He hears that Tsunayoshi's own grades have definitely been improving a lot as well, thanks to that home tutor of his. It wouldn't do for his own Takeshi to lag behind his own friends, right?
Takeshi should take care of it, if he's sent him off like that. For now, the next person to bother with... "Hey, Lancia. Good work today," he says brightly, and earns a smile from that rough face. Really, it makes him look a million times softer. "It sounded like you and Takeshi were having a great time back here, ha!"
That little rascal of a son - he must have been ribbing Lancia, too, because the man coughs into his hand and looks away. "Takeshi has always been a good kid. He knows how to keep a conversation going, and he was to Italy once before, so he had a lot of questions about where I'd visited there. It seems like things went well on the front end of things."
"Oh, definitely. A little busier than usual, but nothing that can't be handled." Especially with another pair of hands. After all, it only takes one extra customer to make things go chaotic across a whole restaurant, depending on things. Well, that's besides the point. For now.... Crossing his arms, Tsuyoshi taps a finger to his chin. "So, with that said, I was wondering if you'd thought any further on where you'd go looking for a job? Since you said you don't have one now, and don't plan on relying too much on Ms. Sawada."
As expected, Lancia shakes his head. "No... I haven't thought of anything too set in stone just yet. Takeshi said that he would talk to some people about it, to see if they had heard of any openings, but I'm not entirely sure how well middle schoolers are acquainted with the job market."
Of course, but it wasn't middle schoolers that Takeshi was actually thinking of asking, was it? Tsuyoshi shakes his head, even as he smiles to himself. Despite what his grades may make people think, that son of his really is a sharp one when he decides to be. "I see. Well then, since you don't have any plans and nothing else lined up, what do you think about coming here to do a bit of work? I won't be anything too fancy at first, mostly just keeping things clean, but I'll see if I can impart a few tricks and techniques here and there." He's already passed down his knowledge of the sword to Takeshi; maybe it's time he pass down some of his chef knowledge too. It's about time, isn't it?
The hand towel in Lancia's hands nearly slips out of his grasp for a moment, but it strengthens at the last second, and his expression eases up. "Really? I had thought that you were not intent on hiring anyone soon."
"Hm, well, that was this morning. But having you here in the back end of things has made the day a lot easier, I've found, and I'm no spring chicken." He laughs boisterously, hand clapping down to his bicep instead of his chin. "Probably should have hired someone ages ago!"
"You've still managed to do an excellent job here by yourself."
"If you go on giving me compliments like that, I may just blush." And he really might, too. Who doesn't like a compliment, now and then? It's been too long since he's heard it from a new face and not one of his many regulars.
Carefully, Lancia goes to put aside the hand towel, and his brow furrows ever so slightly in thought. "While I do appreciate your consideration... Are you certain that will be alright? I don't want to scare away any customers. I understand that this is a small restaurant, so to speak, and every customer makes a difference."
A considerate thought, but Tsuyoshi waves it away. "I make most of my money off of my regulars; Namimori is hardly a big tourist destination now is it? And my regulars won't be chased away by a little bit of scar tissue on a man." He actually laughs again. "Honestly, even for newcomers, we could just tell them that you got your scars in a fishing accident getting things for the restaurant! People eat that kind of thing up almost more than the fish!"
"Well, that sure is sneaky." Lancia smiles some as he says it, however. Well, whatever works works, right? "Then, if you truly do not mind my intruding... I'll gladly take up space in your kitchen. "
Stepping forward, Tsuyoshi offers out his hand. "I'll gladly have you take up that space, so long as you keep working as excellently as you did today." Again, he seems far too pleased about a little compliment, judging by the way his cheeks pinken. "Anyway, I think I can hear some of the kids getting rowdy again, so let me make some of that dinner I promised all of you, and you can head on out, alright? Think of it as advanced pay, too!"
As though he'll take it out of Lancia's paycheck, ha. Rather, Lancia better be prepared to get fed all sorts of things so long as he works at Tsuyoshi's restaurant. What kind of person would he be, if he couldn't manage even that much for his employee?
He's just gotten the tops on the boxes for Lancia when there's the sound of excited happy yelling, and there's the kids rushing out into the restaurant again, herded patiently by a laughing Takeshi. Lancia scoops them up into his arms without hesitation, not feeling their weight a single bit as he turns to take the bagged boxes too. Seriously, it might be a waste to just keep him in the back rooms. "Thank you for your hospitality," Lancia says politely, Japanese absolutely perfect, before he turns away.
The curtains flap over them all, but that doesn't manage to drown out the sound of Fuuta's voice, chattering away. "I'm so glad that you suggested we come to this restaurant, Lancia!"
Tsuyoshi blinks, arms crossed in front of himself. Didn't Lancia say the children wanted to come to the restaurant...?