There I was—starving, annoyed, and standing outside what looked like the sketchiest takoyaki stand in all of Graaswell.
The smell? Heavenly. The vibe? Suspiciously... dead.
No customers. No staff. Just an open stall, sizzling gently like it was waiting for someone to roll initiative.
I leaned in. "Hello? Anybody here?"
Silence.
Was this a trap? A prank? Some weird fantasy-world pop-up that disappears if you blink?
Then I spotted him—half-slouched behind the counter. Curly hair, comically huge mustache, a drooping hairnet, and a grease-stained apron. And yep, the dude was fast asleep. Like, full-on knocked out. Snoring like he just finished a marathon and a feast.
Seriously? You open shop, set the grill, and then just peace out into dreamland?
I tried to be patient.
"Hey, man! Your stall's open. Wake up, unless you're trying to get robbed… or starve someone to death!"
Still nothing. The snores actually got louder.
I slammed my hand on the counter. "HELLO?! I'm dying out here!"
BAM!
The guy jerked awake like I'd hit him with a lightning spell. Arms flailing, chair wobbling, face panicked—honestly, it was kind of impressive how dramatic his reaction was. Like he'd woken up in a boss fight.
"You okay?" I asked, trying not to laugh.
He blinked up at me, wide-eyed. "Y-yeah. Just… whoa. You scared the life outta me."
I sighed, shaking my head.
That's when it happened.
I leaned over the counter, trying to see if he was actually okay—and I felt it.
My brown dress, the sleeveless one with the low-cut neckline? It slipped just a bit. Nothing major, but enough to turn an awkward moment into an awkward anime moment.
His eyes shot down for half a second before he whipped his head away.
"S-Sorry!" he stammered. "I have a wife and three kids!"
My eyes narrowed. "Bro. I'm just trying to order takoyaki, not flash the cook."
I pulled my dress back up with a sigh and muttered under my breath, "Note to self—next time, wear something with straps."
He nodded furiously. "Right! Takoyaki! One order coming up, immediately! I—I'll even throw in extra bonito flakes!"
Finally, some results.
As he scrambled behind the grill, I couldn't help but laugh. All I wanted was a snack. Instead, I got a panicked shopkeeper, accidental fanservice, and a dramatic wake-up call.
Just another day in Graaswell.
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To be continued…