Thinking about...
Dessert Chef! Tendou Satori who is the first kind colleague on your new job.
You are a young waitress hired in that new, uptown restaurant in the centre but you immediately come to notice that it's not a relaxed ambience: the waiters are extremely competitive and sometimes dishonest, ready to see the others fall and drown.
The cooks are snobby, always looking down on you waiters, ordering you around without ever thanking or saying "please".
You notice all of this, but what are you to do? Nothing, except endure it.
Until one evening, during a particularly busy service, you crumble: it's nearing the end of the night and you've been carrying plates for hours without ever taking a break. It's a moment of distraction, really: you accidentally step on a puddle of grease (spilt a few moments prior) and your foot slips, your body slamming down on the floor, breaking the two full plates you were carrying.
The entire kitchen turns quiet, and then the chef starts yelling at you to stand up and clean your mess, al while the sous chefs arrange the line to recook those dishes.
Exhaustion meets with embarrassment and you start tearing up like a little kid scolded by their mom, and the scene takes a turn for the worst when you hear your colleagues snicker in the back, instead of helping you.
"Just leave for now!" The manager screams in your face and you scramble away holding your bruised knees, limping to the backyard.
The air outside is crisp, cold on your uncovered skin, but it's silent and calm and if you focus enough you can pretend you don't exist, pretend you're not going through what you're going through.
"'ello there!" A masculine, jovial voice pulls you back into reality. You turn and recognize one of the youngest chefs, Tendou, peeking from the backdoor.
"That was quite the fall back there. Are you alright?"
You shake your head, suddenly conscious of your swollen knees.
"Well, I've just got the right thing for you." He shoves his hand towards you. "Chocolate!"
You stare at the red-haired man and then move your gaze to the small, decorated chocolate in his palm. As if detecting your wariness, he gives you another smile.
"I make these, you know? They're to be boxed and sold to customers after dinner, but I snatched this one. I want you to try it, if you'd like."
You would refuse, politely decline his kind offer, but you're tired and angry and depressed and chocolate looks so... inviting. So you hesitantly grab it and give it a quick bite: immediately your mouth is filled with the rich taste of chocolate, sweet and delicious, a combination of creamy and crunchy parts embracing your palate. An involuntary moan leaves your throat, eyes widening when you realize it's your voice; Tendou just laughs, refreshing as always.
"I'm glad you find it good, but I'm even more glad to see that you've stopped crying. Feeling better?"
Nodding, you give him a small smile. "Yes, a lot. I'm sorry for what happened... back there." You sigh, bracing yourself to go back.
"Why are you apologizing? It was their fault for making a mess on the floor! It was an accident."
Looking at your gloomy expression, Tendou grabs your hand gently. "I'll do you a deal. You stop blaming yourself and I'll give you another chocolate."
The way your eyes sparkle at his proposal makes Tendou's chest feel tight in the best of ways.
He'll get you two chocolates.
