[open] It's a time for new beginnings! And keychains. And making money

[nolicenseyet]

Characters: Keroro, Eve and anyone else in Metokkori R and the Hikan Cafe
Location: Metokkori R and the Hikan Cafe
Rating: G...unless you bring something higher with you.
Time: Febuary 21 onwards~
Description: The Hikan Cafe's grand re-opening and the first Chara Misfortune Series are going on sale!



Long time(?) customers of Metokkori R will notice some changes when they step into the store today. For one, part of the wall between the store and the Hikan Tea Shop has been broken down, and there's a glass shoji-styled sliding door installed in its place. If the customers are feeling peckish they can step through the door and enter to newly renovated Hikan Cafe...after paying for what they bought, of course.

The Hikan Tea shop has been renovated to match Metokkori R's decor. The place has a cute, friendly look to it, perfect for hanging out with friends, going on a date, or for family outings.

More important than all that, though, are the brightly coloured banners hanging from the ceiling of both stores advertising the "Chara Misfortune ☠ Metokkori R presents The Watch of Death City!". The whole series includes keychains of all the Zone Leaders and second in commands of the Watch. The display case near the cashier that usually displays Keroro's latest creation (read: Gunpla) is now proudly displaying a full set of Chara Misfortune Keychains.

((OOC: feel free to state whether your thread is open or closed~. More information about the Chara Misfortune Keychains are here))

Comments

[hoennmaihime]

Eve! Hi!

[Haruka gives her a cheerful little wave.]

Your shop is the bessssssst! The variety of cup ramen is exquisite! I've never even seen most of these flavors!

[hoennmaihime]

[She's resisted asking for half an hour, and finally, Haruka can resist no more.]

Excuse me sir, but...

What is it like, having a keychain version of yourself?

[thewarisover]

Honestly? Bizarre.

[open]

[hoennmaihime]

[More food? Even better.

Currently, Haruka is chilling in her seat, evaluating the menu. What to get, what to get...]

[pawned]

[There is a lot of tea...! Just not in the menu.]

Is something the matter, sir? [asks as he passes by from where he had been checking a banner by the door.]

[pawned]

[WHERE IS THAT SHITTY BUSBOY. Itou is puttering about because that's just what he does, and decides to pick up the work because that's just what he does, too. Have a one-armed man with an apron approaching you, Madame.]

Good day, Madame. Are you ready to order?

[pawned]

[On one hand, Itou is happy to have another adult here.

On the other hand, oh my god he talks a lot.]

Would you like anything to drink, Hughes-dono?

[pawned]

Then I hope you learn fast, Yamazaki-kun. I won't let an idiot get in the way of this café's success. [OMINOUS SMILE.]

[comradery]

It's fine, it's fine! I won't get in trouble, hahaha. I'm the manager, anyhow. Just need to double check things with the boss is all. [Somehow, he doubts Keroro will turn down the prospect of more money.]

Hahaha! Because I had nothing else to whine about! Well, and because I got in trouble by myself, so I had to do it on my own for once, hehe. What are you complaining about though! I skimped you the better food while I was on kitchen duty! [By this point too, Hughes finds it a bit strange that Roy shares this exact same memory despite being from a different timeline. It makes him wonder what other memories are also the same...but that is for another time.]

Anyhow. I'll be right back! [He leaves to get the order of cookies and speak with Keroro.]

[comradery]

[Sometimes, it is like the words just fall out of Hughes' mouth, and he has no way to stop them.]

Drink? Hmm... Yeah, a drink would be nice. Maybe a coffee... Or tea! ...but a milkshake is also good... Hey, weren't you testing out stuff earlier too? Maybe I try one of them? You looked like you were having fun! Is it like chemistry? Mixing stuff like that, I mean. Oh, man, I'll bet they taste really delicious! Oh, and just Hughes is fine y'know! Though I suppose you might want me to call you Itou-dono? Or Sir Itou...or Mr. Itou...or... Oh! How about Master of Drinks Itou? ...Drink Master Itou? Master Barista Itou...?

[Yep. They just fall out of his mouth.]

[ninjainviolet]

Manager? [She had to smile at that. Leave it to Hughes with his personality to immediately find a high position...] All right... But if he says no, I won't mind, okay?

[Somehow she's not surprised he'd risk getting into more trouble for his friend, but she's sensing some kind of confusion between the two... Maybe they're just surprised that they remember the incident so well after all this time.] Ah. Okay. Oh, wait! [She had forgotten to tell him which cookies she wanted. Ah, well; she trusts Hughes judgment. She turns back to Roy.]

Roy, are you okay?

[pawned]

[Itou is very disturbingly reminded of Kondo, complete with the requisite grizzle. He has to stop himself from involuntarily stepping back from the onslaught, as if an extra foot will help him with this. Instead, he purses his lips and adjusts his glasses on his nose (with his one single hand, since his left arm is completely gone).]

It's really all about putting the leaves together so they blend well. [Warily.] And Itou is fine, Hughes. [No need to tell this man it's his surname.]

Do you prefer green or black tea? I also have some red and white.

[comradery]

[Ironically, it was not be the first time Hughes reminded someone of Kondo. SURPRISE.]

Oh? Just Itou? Well, if you say so... [If he looks disappointed, that is because he thought Master Barista Itou actually sounded pretty cool.]

Hrm... I've mostly only ever had black. So it'd be interesting to try a different kind. I think I've had white before too... What's green tea like?

[pawned]

[Get out.]

Just Itou. [KILLJOY, yes. But he latches on to the opportunity to steer the conversation in a direction that is suitably professional.] Fresher, to begin with. It depends on the kind of green tea, since they differ from country to country, but they tend to be more fragrant if somewhat bitter. I'll prepare a brew for you if you like.

[Which is to say, he's walking back to the counter now.]

[starfruitfrog]

Um. Yes, de arimasu. Good job, de arimasu.

[Since you look so proud and all, Masamune. Keroro still has no idea what this is all about.]

[starfruitfrog]

Every single person who is willing to become our customer is a good example, Saya-dono.

[comradery]

[No.

Sigh. Killjoy indeed.] Okay, sure! What kind do we have in stock, anyway?

[And he is following because there is nothing better to do right now, and he is definitely extremely bored too. Good luck, Itou.]

[open]

[starfruitfrog]

[Keroro reappears after a while with her order on a white plate. Dodging patrons, he makes it to her table and gently sets it down.]

Please enjoy your meal, de arimasu!

[starfruitfrog]

Well, they're all listed on the poster, de arimasu. Have you checked to make sure, de arimasu? [Because you might want to buy some in case there are people you know, Bakura!]

[pawned]

Chamomile, jasmine, macha, gunpowder, sencha, mint. [No, he will not entertain you!! But since this is green tea, he starts bringing out the appropriate pot and cups.]

[comradery]

Oooh! Have you tried all of them? Which one's your favorite? Is there any that you dislike?

[Making conversation anyway!]

[pawned]

I'm not overly fond of mint, but I have preference for macha. It's traditional where I come from. Would you like to try gunpowder, though? [boiling water, boiling water.]

I was thinking of making blends according to theme or people for the café. [Obviously, he gets bored.]

[comradery]

Macha, huh? Haven't had that before, I don't think... Sure! ...does it taste like real gunpowder in any way? Because that stuff tastes gross... [Don't ask how he knows.]

Yeah? Maybe you should make some in honor of those key-chains! Rather the people on the key-chains... That'd be interesting, I think! Could be an extra bit for the re-opening and all too!

[pawned]

I'm not quite sure how real gunpowder tastes like, so I wouldn't be able to say. [side... eye.] Dare I ask why you would have the knowledge?

[boiling, boiling water.] Perhaps. I'll bring it up with the boss.

[comradery]

Oh. Ahahahaha... Well, it was kind of an accident...well, okay, more like a prank that backfired in the long run, but I didn't eat it on purpose! [It seems like you've just asked for a long-winded story from Hughes! Congratulations! Here's your reward:]

Back when my best friend and I were still at military academy, we really wanted to get back at this one guy we didn't really like who kept getting on our nerves and never seemed to get in trouble for some of the crap he did. So... Well, we took one of the pepper shakers from the cafeteria and switched it out with gunpowder and put it at the guy's usual table. Worked like a charm! He put it on his scrambled eggs and gagged. It was pretty funny, hehe. But we forgot to go switch it out afterward because we were too distracted. Um...

Anyway, at the end of the day, it's customary for those to all get put in this one box so that they can wipe down the tables and... Having forgotten that we hadn't switched it back, during the next breakfast, I put pepper on my food and didn't bother checking, but it was actually that bottle we switched out and...ugh. It's kind of peppery, but the metallic aftertaste is just gross. My throat got all irritated after that too because it was so weird. I tried to wash it down with tea, but it didn't really do much.

I kept complaining about it and one of the infirmary attendants gave me a bags of almonds to sooth my throat or something. I'm not sure if it helped, but the irritation was gone the next day. Was not a very pleasant experience though. I don't recommend ingesting it in the least.

[Ha. This story reminds me of something.]