Chapter 10: The First Day

13 February 2025.

My first day of work.

The sun wasn't even up yet, and I was already staring at myself in the mirror, doing my daily "am I still a girl?" check. Short hair? Check. Youthful face? Check. Slim but athletic body? Also check. Twenty-year-old girl Ryuko Mugiwara was still intact. For now.

I poked my cheek, sighing. "If I turn back into Ryusei mid-shift, I'm going viral on some conspiracy blog."

As I packed my things, Junpei was running around the apartment, getting ready for work himself. I tried to ignore him until—predictably—he opened his mouth.

"Oh girl, first day of school, huh?" He smirked, pretending to wipe an imaginary tear. "My baby's growing up."

I rolled my eyes so hard it was a miracle I didn't strain something. "Very funny."

But Junpei wasn't done. "Don't act high and mighty, kid. This is still my house."

I sighed, half-annoyed, half-amused. "I'm working too, you know."

That made him pause mid-buttoning his shirt. "Wow, you got a job already? You've been struggling for years. Guess it really was the face holding you back. At least now you're cute and fresh."

I groaned, puffing out my cheeks in frustration.

"See?!" Junpei pointed dramatically. "That's it! If you were still Ryusei, I'd punch you for making that face—it's creepy. But now? Totally fits."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Can we not start this today?"

Junpei ignored me. "By the way, where are you working?"

"Manna's Kitchen," I mumbled. "Keiko's the manager there."

Junpei's jaw dropped. "Keiko? As in Keiko Keiko?"

"Yeah, that Keiko," I replied, already regretting my decision to tell him.

"Man, your luck's insane! What are you, in some rom-com anime now? First you turn into a cute girl, and now you're working for your ex-wife?!"

I glared at him. "Just wish me luck and leave already."

He snickered. "Fine, fine. Good luck, kid. And seriously, maybe start acting like a girl, or people are gonna think you're weird."

For once, he wasn't wrong. "Damn it, you're right," I muttered, begrudgingly.

Junpei gave me a thumbs-up. "See? You're learning. Anyway, I'm out."

After he left, I finished getting ready and headed out myself.

---

By the time I arrived at Manna's Kitchen, it was 7:40 AM. The sign was flipped to "Closed," but the aroma wafting from inside made my stomach rumble.

I stood outside, staring at the door like an idiot. This is fine, Ryuko. You've dealt with worse. Just walk in and be confident.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open.

Inside, Keiko was already moving around, setting up tables and arranging cutlery with her usual precision. Her hair was tied back neatly, and she looked just as poised as I remembered.

"Good morning," I greeted, forcing a cheerful tone.

Keiko looked up and smiled. "Good morning, Ryuko. Glad you're on time."

Her calm demeanor immediately eased my nerves.

She gestured for me to follow her and introduced me to the rest of the staff: another waitress named Aki and two chefs, Ruka and Miko, both also women. Including Keiko and myself, there were only five of us. It made sense—Manna's Kitchen was a small, cozy restaurant, not a bustling chain.

"Alright," Keiko said, turning to me after introductions. "Let me explain your responsibilities."

As she started outlining my duties, I couldn't help but admire how methodical she was. Every instruction was clear, logical, and easy to follow. It was like listening to a master strategist break down a battle plan.

By the time she finished the briefing, it was 10:30 AM. I'd signed my contract, learned the basics, and even had a uniform waiting for me. The pay was minimum wage, but at this point, I wasn't in a position to complain.

"You'll have thirty minutes to prepare before we open," Keiko said. "Get changed and meet back here when you're ready."

"Got it," I replied, heading to the changing room.

---

The changing room was small and practical, with lockers lining one wall. I hesitated as I held the uniform in my hands. A skirt. An actual skirt.

Taking a deep breath, I started changing. Sliding into the blouse was easy enough, but the skirt was another story. I tugged it on, feeling more self-conscious with each second.

I turned to the mirror and stared at my reflection. The uniform was cute—simple, but flattering—and it fit me perfectly. But seeing myself in a skirt and apron felt… surreal.

"Do I look cute?" I muttered under my breath.

The thought made me cringe. Why do I even care?! I shouldn't be worrying about this stuff!

But I couldn't stop myself from smoothing the fabric and adjusting the apron strings, trying to look presentable.

As I adjusted the apron, Aki walked in, already halfway through unbuttoning her shirt.

"Morning," she said casually, pulling off her top.

I froze, suddenly hyper-aware of how awkward this situation was. Do I look? Do I not look? Why is this so complicated now?!

I tried to focus on tying my apron, but my eyes betrayed me. Just a quick glance—just to make sure everything was normal!

Aki noticed. "Ryuko, something wrong?"

I jumped, nearly choking myself with the apron strings. "Uh, n-no! Nothing's wrong! Just, uh… you have a really nice body!"

As soon as the words left my mouth, I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Great job, Ryusei. Now you sound like a creepy pervert.

To my surprise, Aki laughed. "Thanks! You look pretty athletic yourself."

That caught me off guard. "Oh, uh… thanks," I mumbled, feeling my cheeks heat up.

After that, I quickly finished changing and escaped back to the dining area before I embarrassed myself further.

---

At 11:00 AM sharp, Manna's Kitchen opened its doors.

The first wave of customers trickled in slowly—mostly regulars stopping by for an early lunch. I busied myself with small tasks, trying to look helpful without getting in anyone's way.

But it didn't take long for things to pick up.

By noon, the restaurant was bustling, and I was running around like a headless chicken, trying to keep up.

"Ryuko, table four needs water," Keiko called.

"Right away!" I grabbed a tray, only to realize I'd forgotten which table was table four.

"Ryuko, don't just stand there—table six's order is ready!"

"On it!" I ran to grab the plates, narrowly avoiding a collision with Aki.

By the time I delivered the food to table six, I was sweating bullets.

Keiko didn't let up. "Ryuko, don't forget to smile. And don't slump when you're standing—it looks unprofessional."

"Got it!" I forced the biggest, most unnatural smile I could manage.

Keiko raised an eyebrow. "Not like that. You look like a scared mascot."

Despite the chaos, I couldn't help but admire her. She moved through the restaurant with grace and confidence, handling every situation with ease.

Meanwhile, I tripped over my own feet and nearly spilled water on a customer.

By the end of the shift, I was exhausted. My legs felt like jelly, my arms were sore, and my brain was fried.

But as I stood by the counter, wiping down a tray, I couldn't help but smile. It was hard work, but it felt… fulfilling.

Keiko approached me, clipboard in hand. "You made a lot of mistakes today," she said bluntly.

I winced. "Yeah… I am sorry about that."

"But," she continued, "you were eager to learn, and you didn't give up. That's a good start."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was doing something right.

"Thanks, Keiko," I said quietly.

She nodded, her expression softening. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's another busy day."

As I walked home, sore and tired but oddly content, one thought lingered in my mind.

Maybe, just maybe, I could make this work. As I walked home that evening, I couldn't stop myself from smiling.