Chapter 7 – Aesthetic Overload
Chapter 7 – Aesthetic Overload
June 13, 2010 – 10:42 PM – Baratie (After Hours)
The last customer waved goodbye, the bell jingled, and I flipped the "OPEN" sign to "CLOSED." My body ached. My legs felt like overcooked soba noodles. My apron was soaked in burger juice and yuzu soda.
I slumped into a chair, gulping the last bit of iced tea. Max wiped a table with robotic slowness. Brie was sitting on the counter, legs swinging, too tired to talk.
"Okay," Max said, voice flat. "That was... apocalypse."
"No," Brie wheezed. "That was war."
I glanced around at the aftermath—crumbs, stacked trays, sauce splatters. Even the bonito flakes looked traumatized.
"Guess being famous sucks, huh?" I mumbled.
Max snorted. "Famous? Bro, you made Iron Man moan. The entire block knows your burger now. We had a TikTok kid try to lick the window."
"...Did we stop him?"
"Nope," Brie said, sipping straight from the whipped cream can.
11:10 PM – home – Gacha Time
The sky was a velvety black. The city buzzed below, headlights streaking through the night.
I pulled the Mystery Token from my pocket. It shimmered gold-blue, with shifting shapes on its surface.
"Alright," I muttered. "Let's see what the hell 'mystery' means…"
Mystery Pull Activated!
Cool, tactical, lightweight. White gloves, reinforced boots, modified rabbit head mask(the mouth are moving while talking when wearing it).Charisma +20. Badass aura unlocked.
The wind shifted. My gacha inventory pulsed.
The suit materialized in my hands.
It was… sick. Long butler style suit with gray-black accents, with bunny mask that looks like a bunny on crack, and the boots that looks like it can break somone head if its thrown
I slipped it on.
"…Yo."
It fit perfectly. Like it knew my shape. The mirror by the rooftop door caught my reflection.
"...I look like I'm about to fight vampires and drop a mixtape."
Outfit Stored to Inventory – White Rabbit Gear Equipped (Casual: Inactive)
Bonus Gacha Token – Activated
I pulled out the bonus coin and tossed it into the air. It vanished mid-spin.
Bonus Reward: Trait – Artisan Plating (Rare Skill)
Your dishes now look stunning. Colors pop, sauces glide, cuts are artistic. Can cause food-based emotional damage. Cameras love it.
My jaw dropped.
"Wait, so now my food… glows up?"
Passive Effect: Enhanced Visual Appeal unlocked. Customer first impressions improved.
I grinned. 'So now I don't just cook bombs—I serve them like art.'
Next Morning – June 14, 2010 – 8:02 AM
The café was packed before the doors even opened. People were literally sitting on the curb with folding chairs.
A line. Wrapped around the block. People taking selfies next to the door. One guy was holding a sign that said "BURGER GOD BLESS US".
"Wait..huh?..what the actual f*ck??".
I stared at the crazy guy with my mouth open.
———
Brie was panicking. Max was already sweating through his shirt.
Café Chaos Begins
"Order up!"
"Where's Table 4?!"
"We're out of yuzu soda!"
"WHO PUT MAYO IN THE DESSERT?!"
The kitchen turned into a war zone. I moved like a machine—chopping, flipping, plating, yelling.
The new trait kicked in hard. My food came out looking like it belonged in a five-star food magazine. Even the fries were standing tall like proud golden soldiers.
Brie shouted, "Why does everything look… sexy?!"
"It's the new me!" I yelled back.
Customer POV – Food Blogger "MikeyCraves"
I thought it was overhyped. Another viral gimmick.
But when I saw my burger? I nearly wept.
It was... beautiful.
Sauce drizzled like calligraphy. The patty shimmered like it was blessed by flavor angels.
I took a bite.
Gasped.
Choked a little.
Then cried.
Customer POV – Old Man Takashi (Retired Sushi Chef)
I saw the plate.
I sat in silence.
Then I whispered, "This boy is touched by the gods."
Back to Alex
By lunch rush, Brie snapped.
"We need help," she groaned, elbows deep in fries. "Real help."
Max nodded. "We can't keep doing this with just three of us. I'm out here refilling drinks, running orders, AND plunging toilets."
I exhaled. 'He's right. We're drowning in our own success.'
"I'll start putting out feelers tonight," I said. "Friends of friends. Maybe someone who actually knows food service."
Later That Day – 5:10 PM – Job Inquiry
The door jingled open.
A woman in her forties stepped in. Soft brown hair, kind eyes, gentle face. She looked nervous but determined.
"Hi," she said with a warm smile. "Um… I heard you were hiring? Part-time? Flexible hours?"
Max blinked. Brie stood upright.
I stepped forward. "Yeah. We are. Do you have experience?"
"Quite a bit, actually. I used to help out at community centers, did a little kitchen work back in the day."
I smiled back. "Great. What's your name?"
"May Parker."
…
Wait.
My brain glitched. I looked at her again.
'…Peter Parker's Aunt May?!'
She handed over her resume. "I live just a few blocks down. I live with my nephew, he's 9, but I've got time in the mornings until early afternoon ."
I nodded quickly. "We'd be lucky to have you."
System Notification
Staff Expansion Detected!
– New Staff: May Parker (Probationary)
– Position: Front of House / Light Prep
– Trait: Calming Presence (Reduces customer stress and improves tip rate)
Passive Bonus Activated: Stability +1
Special Mission Update – Feed 50 Strangers: (49/50)
System Status
[Gacha System – Beta Access]
User: Alex Walker
World: MCU – Earth-199999
Timeline: June 14, 2010
Gacha Points: 223
Bonus Gacha Token(s): 0
Mystery Pull Token(s): 0
Active Templates:
Vinsmoke Sanji – 30% (Mid Baratie Era)
Yukihira Soma – 96%
New Trait Acquired:
Artisan Plating (Rare Trait)
– All dishes now look chef-curated
– Improves first impression by 30%
– Increases customer photo/sharing rate
– May cause tears (of joy)
New Equipment (Mystery Pull):
White Rabbit Outfit (DMC)
– Combat-ready suit, boots, mask, tactical gear
– Charisma Boost +20
– Passive Aura: "Cool Presence"
– Stored for casual/non-combat use
Inventory Highlights:
Takoyaki Maker
Chef Knife Set
Secret Cooking Notebook
Pop-Up Café License (NYC)
Bag of Marbles (Don't ask)
Cash on hand: $908.000
Deep Storage: Tsunade's Panties (Still there,hidden)
Mission Board:
Daily Missions: Active
Weekly Reset: 3 Days
Special Mission – Feed 50 Strangers: (49/50)
– Reward: Template Sync Boost ×2 + 1 Mystery Pull
Business Track:
– Café: Baratie
– Staff: 4 (Alex, Max, Brie, May)
– Public Rating: ★★★★½
– VIPs Fed: Tony Stark
Stat Overview:
Physical:
– Strength: Human+
– Speed: High Human
– Stamina: Improving
– Reflexes: Sharpened
Cooking:
– Instincts: Pro Level
– Recipe Knowledge: Vast
– Plating: Master-tier (with new trait)
– Customer Satisfaction: Near 100%
– Viral Factor: Exploding
Current Status:
– Business booming
– Staff expanded
– Next Goal: Feed one more soul… and level up again
"You still open?" I heard somone said that and i turn around to the voice.
"...uh....stan lee??"
The man smiled...
To Be Continued…