Episode 2

It’s been a week since the incident at the Outro, another boring day as every day, Xen is chilling in front of the store again. This time Bunny is snuggling under his hand and the small creature is purring loudly as his hand tracing under the chin. Seriously, he still doesn’t understand why it was named Bunny, according the Godle, a search engine online say that bunny and rabbit are two different kinds and this one is clearly a black rabbit. Why previous successors named it Bunny anyway, as far as his master had told him before, this rabbit play an important role in the store and as the next heir of Outro, his job is running the store and take care of the animal. And since when a rabbit can eat meat, on the article they said rabbit are herbivores and this thing clearly is not a plant eater at all. Strange creature.

“You probably not from here, right little guy.” Xen asks, pets the rabbit head “But since you can help me clean the left over and my practice dishes then that fine.” He smiles “Look like it's time to open the store, I better get going. What do want to eat today, Bunny?”

The small animal snuggles under Xen belly and pokes 4 legs up to the sky “Beefsteak it is then. Please wait a moment.”

Beefsteak. Heat the pan and add oil until you can see the smoke, place the steak in the middle, roll it after 20 seconds. Add salt and pepper with thyme and garlic and take out.

“Finish, please enjoy.” He places the plate on Bunny bowl outside the door. The little creature happily digs in the dish and purr softly. Turning back to his job, Xen realize that there was someone is stalking the store, the sense eyes looking directly at him and his six sense is telling him that it not dangerous enough for him to ‘handle the job’.

“Young boy, is store open yet?!” A voice coming from the behind, XEN recognizes it was one of his regular, Sir Octo. A businessman from planet W-96, he formed a man with an octopus head and his favorite are raw fish - sashimi.

“Hi sir, we are open now. Lucky for you, today we have a special ingredient is Navy fish egg from the C-9, it’ll taste wonderful with your favorite. I guarantee.” Xen introduced.

“Oh really! Then I will have as usual with Navy fish egg, please!” Octo laughs and his eyes is sparling with star when he heard Navy fish egg.

“Very good, please wait a moment.”

Sashimi. Raw file fish meat cut into equally size with Navy egg on top. Xen not really into eating raw food but Octo love them. Is it because he parts of octopus? Xen wondered. Octo found the Outro quite a few months ago, when the middle age man was starving from a long working hour and his vitamin drink can’t satisfied him. Xen was killed his time by practicing cutting skill with a carp, when Octo passed by the store and the smell of the fish made the octopus man couldn’t held himself together, he paid all his month allowance onto the dishes and came to the store every weekend or Friday night. But today was only Tuesday, Xen wonders what make the man change his routine.

“Here you go, sir.” he puts down the plate and ask “What make you come here today? You always visit us at weekend or Friday but today was only Tuesday.”

“Oh mind, so you noticed, huh.” Octo laughs “My business trip will start tomorrow. So, I want to eat something good before leaving for a month.”

“Oh really! Well congratulation sir!” Xen cheers “But too bad, we are losing a regular for a month...” Xen said sadly.

“Just a month then I will be back, don’t worry!”

“If you say so, how about I treat you a beer, then?! Since you are our biggest supporter, a beer would be nice.”

“Thank you, young man. I would love to!”

They both spend a next few hour chatting and drinking, outside the door a blond hair woman snickering in the corner listen to their conversation.

A young woman with blond curly hair. It was Emily - Xen best friend; they were introduced not long after Xen moved into with the Master. Since there isn’t much kids as the same age with Emily in the resident, the woman grew fond of Xen and annoyed him every time she visits. Emily haven’t visited the store for a long time, her new job position make she has to stay at work late and leave early in the morning. Luckily today, she finally can get off early and visits him. She wants to give him a surprise, so she is hiding near the store and wait for Xen to come out and scare him.

But that octopus man keeps praising the food make Emily lose her patient. She hasn’t gone to the store for a while and her mouth is watering every time they talk about the dish. She misses the food and her time is running out, but at the same time she about to give up, Octo finish his dinner and leave. The door suddenly open and make Emily jumps.

“Hah, I knew it was you.” Xen teased “Welcome to the Outro, what can I get for you today?” Xen greets introduces the young woman into the bar and gives her the menu.

“What is that smell?! The fragrant smell from that pot?!” She pointed.

“Oh, you mean beef stew. Do you want some? I just finish them.” he shrugs.

“Yes, please. Be hurry, get me that dish before I die because of the smell!”

“Coming.”

Beef stew was another recipe that Xen been practicing. Old man Winston always made this at the weekend, besides the spices are almost expired. Look like this lady over here can become the first tester for his stew. Poor her spends all day snickered around his store, so he better treats her this one before she starts crying and states that he has been bullied her.

What a pain in the ***, he thought.

Looking at the back of the store owner, Emily analyzing the young man. It been almost a year and he change so much. Strong body build with skillful hand, she could hardly recognize him. When Xen place her order on the table, Emily cannot hold herself anymore, she immediately grabs the spoon and start eating. Red-orange soup filled with beef and vegetable; the smell is alluring her saliva; the first spoon of beef stew makes she moans loudly. The meat was juicy and melting in her mouth as the rich and fatty soup scrolls down her throat. Carrot was cooked firmly and soft, soaked in the soup make E hand move faster. She keeps eating until she realizes that the plate has empty and disappointment shows on her face.

“One more, please!” She asks.

Another beef stew brings out and this time Emily told herself to eat slower. She wants to taste the dish carefully. The smell of the dish was so divine make she keep ordering another one. It's only been a year and his skill has been improved, the dish taste wonderful and just like R&B, she has been to the Orb a few times. And right now, Emily can guarantee that Xen dish is better than any chef at the Orb.

“Let’s make a deal!” Emily shouted, one of her dark side is gambling habit and whenever she is excited, everything she said will have 'trading' and 'dealing'.

“What?!” Xen looking confused at his friend.

“Let’s make a deal!” she stands up, open her purse and takes out a poster “Please join the Resources tournament and become the God of Cookery."

“No thanks.” XEN denies.

“But why?! The entire galaxy is fighting for this position and you just declined the most powerful thing in this world!”

“Well, why would I?”

“Because it’s the most important tournament and every chef dream.”

“Erm, no.”

After 10 minutes, the argument still goes on without any sigh of prevention. Both of them are soaking in sweat and nobody is planning on surrender.

“Are you done? I need to close the store. 2 plates will be 100 bells please.” Xen using his final card to push Emily away.

“Fine!” Emily slams the money on the table and rushes out. Her face is red with anger, Xen is the first person declines the most wonderful opportunity. She couldn't understand what he was thinking. Xen is the most skilled chef she ever known and he can climb to chair of the Orb president or God of Cookery easily, and that man just refused all these opportunities. Emily was furious, maybe she rushed him make him panic, she can come back tomorrow morning and try again.

“Tournament...” Xen murmured under his breath “But why me?”

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