Where's Ayaka? [Odd Squad and Friends]

[Tensei Kaori]

Life in Konoha, so far, was going quite well.

Ayaka had slowly but surely gotten used to her job at the cafe, and was now allowed to take orders and serve customers without any help if the cafe wasn't too busy. She kept any tips she made all to herself, and was paid a normal wage on top of that. That didn't even begin to mention all the food Oyaji and Obaa-chan gave her; she hardly ever ate at the food tents anymore. Ayaka wasn't sure what was in that food to make it the way it was, but it seemed like the more she had that instead of the bare necessities, the better she felt. Maybe it was just the fact that it was made by someone who cared about her, or maybe it was just the portions. Whatever it was, though, she wouldn't have minded if she were only allowed to eat at the cafe for the rest of her life.

Most of what she earned got stuffed into the leaky kettle she had found in her bag, but she hadn't forgot her arrangement with the man from the plush animal shop, so it wasn't too terribly long before a smiling, pink octopus made its way onto her cot. She couldn't help but wonder what the others thought of it, but she'd been so busy working at the cafe (she had begged Obaa-chan to let her stay longer to get used to working there) that she had hardly seen her friends at all. She missed them, but there never seemed to be a good chance to talk anymore, and she wasn't entirely sure how to tell them she was working as a waitress.

But as for right now, it was lunchtime, and there were customers to be served.

Ahhh, lunchtime at last!

Today's job - filing papers at the Academy - was only a morning job, meaning that once midday had come, Takeo was free for the rest of the day. He could either go back to the Admin building for some afternoon work, go help out with the reconstruction, try to find his friends, or just randomly wander around. He wasn't sure which he'd do yet, but there was something very important to be taken care of first: his stomach.

He had come to enjoy the little cafe where he and his friends had recovered after the incident with Ichi-chan, and it seemed like the perfect place to grab a bite to eat. And so he sauntered by, looking in the window to see if there were any empty seats...

... and received the shock of a lifetime.

So that's where she'd been vanishing off to! But why...? How....?

Either way, Tsutomegi had to see this.

A few minutes later, after a haphazard dash through the streets to the tents, a rather winded Takeo ran up to Tent #7. "Tsutomegi! Ooooooi, Tsutomegi!" he called, tearing into the tent like he was on fire. "You in here, man?"

[strangevisitor]

THUD

Well, so much for going out to see if he could find Ayaka-san. Looking up from where he had been run over, Utsuro blinked.

"Takeo-sama? Is everything ok??"

[Tensei Kaori]

"Ow ow ow.... yeah, it's fine," Takeo answered distractedly, rubbing his now sore head with one hand and extending the other to help Tsutomegi up off the ground. Okay, so maybe he should have run in a little slower....

.... or maybe walked.....

"Are you okay?"[/i] he asked. Jeeze that stung!

[strangevisitor]

"F-fine.." Accepting the hand up, he dusted himself off gently. "Sorry..I have...a rather firm skull it seems.."

Waiting until his friend had recovered from the impact, he tried again. "Is everything ok? You came running in here so quickly.."

[Tensei Kaori]

"Oh yeah! Heh.... it kinda got knocked outta me there for a sec. Anyways!" He cleared his throat and gestured rather pointedly, as though trying to emphasize what he was saying. "You know how Aya-chan's been vanishing all day, right? Weeeelllll," he announced with a grin, leaning towards Tsutomegi in a nigh-conspiratorial manner. "I found her. And you're not gonna believe what she's been doing."

[strangevisitor]

"Eeeh? You found Ayaka-san? I was just about to go looking for her.......again." He replied a bit sheepishly. "I...would like to know what she has been up to...she's been so distant, and looks so exhausted when I do see her...but..

"She also seems...happier. Which is good.."

[Tensei Kaori]

"Actually, it was kind of an accident," Takeo explained, chuckling a little. "I was on my way to... well, you'll see. C'mon, it's this way!"

And with that, he was off, leading Tsutomegi through the village and to the cafe. He set a quick pace, but made sure his friend was able to follow (and that he was, indeed, still following). And before long, they were approaching the cafe.

"C'mon, she's in here," he explained, opening the door. "I actually didn't recognize her at first..."

The bell on the front door rang, announcing the arrival of yet more customers. It was Ayaka's job to welcome people into the cafe, so as soon as she had finished giving a couple their drinks she put on her best 'welcome' smile and spun around to greet the new guests in the happy, sing-song voice obaa-chan had taught her to use.

"Irasshaima...se..... EHHHHHHH!?" she gasped, eyes going wide. The hand that wasn't clutching her round tray raised to shakily point at the two boys. "W-w-w-w-what are you guys doing here!?"

[strangevisitor]

THUD

Holy crap..

At least he wasn't burning up. Utsuro wasn't quite sure he should be seeing stars at this time of day, though...

...Or inside.

[Tensei Kaori]

"Utsuro!" Ayaka gasped, dashing over to kneel by her fallen friend. "Oi! Tsutomegi!" Takeo-kun was calling from their friend's other side, and the gasping crowd of guests had begun muttering concernedly to themselves.

"Utsuro, are you all right?" Ayaka asked, concern painted all over her face. "Obaa-chan! Help!" she called, then immediately turned back to her friend. "C'mon," she pleaded anxiously, "You have to be okay...."

[strangevisitor]

The room spun, and Utsuro was vaguely aware of talking around him. One thing he was VERY aware of, was that the cafe had a very hard floor.

"You've got a pretty face, Ayaka-san...you shouldn't hide it.." He mumbled somewhat incoherently, and unfortunately aloud.

[Tensei Kaori]

"C'mon, man," Takeo said encouragingly when a dumbstruck Aya-chan froze in place and didn't say anything, moving as he spoke to help pull his friend up. "C'mon, you've gotta get up. You don't wanna worry Aya-chan, do you?" he asked, knowing full well how badly Tsutomegi hated the very idea of having inconvenienced anyone. "Or stop people from getting into the cafe? C'mon," he kept urging, noticing that the cafe's owner was now helping Ayaka up and reassuring the customers that everything would be okay.

"Up we go. C'mon, let's get you into a booth."

[strangevisitor]

Grunting softly, Utsuro staggered to his feet. Takeo-sama was right, he was in the way. And he definitely didn't want ...to..

"Utsuro, are you all right?"

"C'mon,"

"You have to be okay...."

Ayaka-san had sounded so worried about him..

"I...I am all right....Ayaka-san..." Sitting down in the booth mercifully, he rubbed the large bump on the back of his skull. "S-sorry...I must have....slipped or something..."

[Tensei Kaori]

"Thank goodness," Ayaka breathed in relief, happy to finally see her friend up and about again, even if it was with help.

"And what about me?" Takeo-kun was muttering with a dejected look as he slid into the booth across from Tsutomegi. "I was worried too..."

"I'll have to check the floor again," Ayaka mused thoughtfully. "I don't remember anyone spilling anything..."

"Here we are, dear!" came Obaa-chan's voice, and just as Ayaka was sitting down next to Tsutomegi, a welcome face appeared, smiling warmly as she set a glass of water and a couple pills on the table. "That should help your head. I'll fetch you an ice pack in just a moment. Ayaka, dear, isn't it past time for your break?"

"Well, there were customers..."

"And now it's lunchtime, and your friends are here. You just sit tight and I'll bring you all something nice, all right?"

"Ah..." Ayaka began, but Obaa-chan was gone, and so she let her hand fall back to the tabletop with a sigh.

"I guess I'm on break now," she observed rather sheepishly to her friends, not caring if she sounded redundant or not. "So... uhh..... hi."

[strangevisitor]

"S-sorry Takeo-sama...Thank you for your concern..and help.." Utsuro mumbled, eying the pills and water for a moment...the woman positively radiated grandmotherly warmth, he felt a bit silly for even doubting their purpose. He would have to thank her when she returned. Pausing to take the medicine and drink the water, he relaxed a little in his seat.

"Hello Ayaka-san....I'm glad you found a place to work.."

[Tensei Kaori]

"Ah... yeah, thanks," Ayaka replied, obviously embarrassed, before realizing she was still clutching her tray. She sighed and set it on the tabletop before going back to her awkward fidgeting.

"Uhh... sorry I didn't tell you guys," she sighed. "I just... It's kinda embarrassing, y'know? Looking for a job by myself.... and the clothes and all...."