Chapter Text
Okuyasu felt the smile pasted on his face slowly wearing. His lips, which had been forcibly held up by muscles, were drooping at the sides. Brown caramel colored eyes losing their spark as soon as the boy entered his (mostly) empty house.
It happened most days. Okuyasu wasn’t putting on a persona--it was nothing like that. When he was with Josuke and Koichi laughing and joking Okuyasu found himself genuinely feeling happy. The issue came after school, when Josuke and Koichi went to their respective homes or activities and Okuyasu was left to go back to his house.
Of course, his house wasn’t always truly empty. His father, if Okuyasu could even call the man that, was always home. He always held a small bit of resentment towards the monster that lived upstairs, but that hatred was overshadowed by a desperate yearning for love. This was the only family he had left, and damn him if he abandoned the man he once called his father. He would not be like everyone else.
Maybe Okuyasu hadn’t had the best childhood. But if he was completely honest, Okuyasu was a pretty simple-minded individual--he didn’t put too much care into the way he grew up. He didn’t put much thought into....anything, really. A lot of people called him stupid, but he wasn’t. Okuyasu wasn’t stupid, he was just simple.
Sighing softly, the boy set his backpack onto the old slightly dusty chair that had been pulled away from the table. Humming to himself, Okuyasu walked to the kitchen and opened up the fridge, which made a loud groaning sound as the handle was pulled.
Empty. The fridge was utterly bare of any foods whatsoever.
“Fuck.” Okuyasu muttered, cursing his past-self. He had run out of food yesterday, and told himself to write down a reminder. Of course, he never did. He was too scatter-brained. Or at least, that was what all his teachers told him.
Worrying his bottom lip in-between his teeth, the boy felt anxiety slowly rise up in his chest. Rocking back and forth on the heels of his feet, Okuyasu slowly exhaled.
What could he do, what could he do….
Racking his brain desperately, Okuyasu’s search for an idea was becoming more and more frantic.
Josuke. The Higashikata family had always been welcoming to him. But Okuyasu knew that as soon as he stepped foot into the warmly toned house he would be nailed with a Look. The only times he had gone there in the past was when something was truly wrong-and he didn’t want to cause unnecessary worry.
Shaking his head, Okuyasu leaned his back against the cold countertop. Josuke was out of the question, then. If there was one thing Okuyasu hated, it was causing people to waste emotions. If there was nothing to worry about, then the worry itself was wasted. Or at least, that was the philosophy by which Okuyasu lived by.
He heard a groan ring through the house. His father was getting hungry-understandably, and Okuyasu was still at a loss for what to do.
….Tonio’s. He could go to Tonio’s. Fishing around his pockets, a worried frown made its way onto Okuyasu’s face as he felt the distinct lack of coins in his pockets. He didn’t even know if Tonio would let him eat-didn’t know if he had enough money for it, but he had no other choice.
Sighing, Okuyasu grabbed a coat from the hanger and shrugged it around his bare shoulders. It was getting quite chilly outside, and he could see a hole in the side of the coat. The material was slowly wearing down, getting thinner and thinner.
Add a new coat to the list of things to buy.
Opening up the door, Okuyasu stepped a heavy foot outside of the house. Immediately his oddly-shaped body was hit with a gust of cold wind. A shiver striked up his back as his coat did little to nothing to protect him.
His shoulders were trembling slightly as he pulled his coat around him tighter, trying to contain the little heat emitting from his body. Teeth chattering, Okuyasu forced his numb body to move. Tonio’s was only a few minutes away--he could handle it.
He was Nijimura Okuyasu! He was the happy go lucky guy that anyone could rely on to lighten up the mood!
Exhaling, he watched as his breath became visible to the air. Every step only served as a reminder of the biting air flowing by.
After many minutes, Okuyasu finally arrived at the front of the brightly lit restaurant. He could already smell the strong scent of freshly cooked pasta--it brought a small warmth to his chilled body.
Bringing a shaky hand up, Okuyasu pushed the door open. The warmth of the lights in the restaurant relaxed his tense weak muscles. The smells from outside were even stronger, and Okuyasu relaxed into the homey tones of the restaurant.
It was surprisingly empty. It was already a small establishment to begin with, but the lack of people was a little unexpected.
Walking over towards a table, Okuyasu shrugged his jacket off and draped it over the back of one of the chairs. He didn’t dare sit down though. The boy stood in anxious silence until finally he saw Tonio walking towards him.
“Welcome Okuyasu! What can I get you started with? And, if you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing here so late? Aren’t your parents worried?” Okuyasu flinched, biting his lip so hard blood started trailing down. One question at a time.
Shuffling slightly, Okuyasu hesitantly dug the few coins and bills in his pocket out, holding them in his hand and presenting them to Tonio with a burning face. “Is...uh, is this enough to-to get somethin’ to eat?” He kept his face locked onto the floor, face bright with embarrassment.
Okuyasu wasn’t expecting a warm hand to place itself on his shoulder. Looking up, he was met with Tonio’s slightly concerned face. “Follow me.” The man said, determined. Confused, Okuyasu followed the older man.
He led the boy into the back kitchen. There was a table in the corner of the room-covered in loose papers and a calculator. Okuyasu awkwardly stood in the center of the room as Tonio cleared off the table. “Cool room!” He exclaimed as he looked around.
Tonio grinned. “Thanks, kid. Why don’t you take a seat and I bring you the first course?” Okuyasu’s mouth fell open into a shocked gape.
“I-I don’t have enough money for a multi-course meal.” Okuyasu murmured, voice trailing off in the second half of the sentence. People already knew the Nijimura family wasn’t exactly well off, but saying it out loud was a stark reminder that he was different. He knew he shouldn’t, but Okuyasu felt embarrassed.
Shaking his head, Tonio simply gave Okuyasu a light push into the chair.
“It’s on the house.”
Worrying his lip in between his two bottom teeth, Okuyasu almost protested before he remembered what his brother always told him. “Never deny free food.”
Snapping his jaw closed, Okuyasu sunk into the chair, watching as Tonio busied himself in the kitchen. Humming softly to himself, Okuyasu gently tapped his foot on the ground. He wrung his hands together in an attempt to bring feeling back to his numb fingers.
Eventually, Tonio approached Okuyasu, setting down a plate of gnocchi. Against his will, Okuyasu’s mouth started salivating when the heavenly smell hit his nose. Tonio grinned, taking a seat right across from the kid.
Without sparing a glance towards Tonio, Okuyasu started shoveling the food into his mouth. Halfway through his meal, his face lit up as he remembered this wasn’t home, he wasn’t alone. Table manners were key. No table manners meant getting kicked out of the establishment, more often than not.
Not everyone was as kind as Tonio.
The man simply waved his hand in nonchalance. “I made this so you would eat it, Okuyasu. I do not care how, as long as the food gets to your stomach. Is it good?”
Okuyasu swallowed down the bite he had been shoveling into his mouth before responding. “S’great. You never miss, Tonio. Seriously, I don’t know how you do it.” Tonio laughed.
“Thanks, kid. If you don’t mind me asking, why were you out so late?” The man couldn’t help his slight concern for the child in front of him. Tonio had always held a soft spot for kids, having grown up as his brother's caregiver. Okuyasu especially reminded him of his younger brother, and Tonio wished he had an excuse to spend more time with the youth.
“You really don’t know? It’s kinda....uh, people talk ‘bout it a lot.” Okuyasu murmured, bringing his hand to the back of his head to rub sheepishly at his neck. Tonio simply shook his head, pinning Okuyasu with a questioning glance.
“I was, uh, tryin’ to find a place to eat. Forgot to go grocery shopping the other day, so…” He trailed off, setting his fork onto the table and wiping at his mouth with the napkin. Tonio sighed softly, tilting his head.
“Why don’t your parents do the grocery shopping? Seems like a heavy responsibility for a boy your age, no?”
Okuyasu openly gaped at the man in front of him. He really didn’t know.
“My, um, my ma passed when I was young. And my pops....used to rough up me and my brother a bit. But now he’s some sorta monster, because of a curse. And, well, my big bro is dead, so I gotta take care of pops.”
This time around, it was Tonio’s turn to gape. That was horrible, something no child should ever go through. It was too much responsibility to rest on one person’s shoulders-especially when there were people surrounding the boy who were more than happy to pitch in. Okuyasu had been doing this all alone, but that was about to change.
Not on his watch. Tonio would not allow Okuyasu to continue the way he was. It was obvious the boy was running himself ragged with all of his responsibility, and Tonio berated himself for not checking in sooner.
Leaning forwards, Tonio rested his arms on the small circular table before him. “Okuyasu, how would you feel about working here?”
The boy’s eyes widened with surprise. He laughed nervously, fidgeting increasing tenfold. How was he meant to respond? This was a little sudden, and out of nowhere at that.
“Uh, why? Or, I mean, I dunno if I would be able to do that. Don’t ya need, well, qualifications and shi-stuff? Don’t really have any experience with the whole workin’ thing. And I’m a little dumb, so I’m a little confused on why you would want me to work here.”
Tonio’s expression twisted itself into a frown. “Well, of course I would teach you. There’s a very specific way I want things to be done in my restaurant, so whatever qualifications you may or may not have don’t really matter to me. Can you follow directions?”
Okuyasu nodded. That was one thing he had no issue with doing.
“Good. That’s all you need. Of course, since you would be my apprentice, you would be spending a majority of your day here. I would provide meals. You’re in school, right? That’s just as important, so I would give you time to get homework done. I’ve been looking for someone to teach my knowledge to, and you seem perfect, Okuyasu. What do you say?”
He was left speechless. Okuyasu had never been picked out for anything. Really, the attention he was getting was making his heart burst. It was nice to be chosen for something, and the confidence Tonio seemed to have in him only served to raise his own.
“Yes! That would be awesome.” Okuyasu exclaimed loudly, allowing a grin to flourish on his face. Tonio nodded in satisfaction, pushing his arms against the table and standing back up.
Okuyasu watched him curiously. “Where are you going?” He asked, a small bit of worry bleeding into his voice.
Tonio stretched a hand towards Okuyasu.
“I told you that you were getting a full course meal. I never said I was going to make it all. Second dish, arrosticini. Your first lesson starts now.”
Okuyasu’s eyes lit up, and he grinned.
Yeah, maybe this job wasn’t going to be so bad after all.