“Let me take a look…”

Ash and Luke crouched at the doorway to the Restaurant. Ted and Jack peered through the front windows. All four of them were watching the hustle and bustle of the highly successful and universally acclaimed Galaxy Lip restaurant across the street.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” Luke said.

“No no, I want to give it a try. Usually I try to trick people into leaving me alone. Now I’m going to trick them into following me. I want to feel the challenge of it.”

Ash scanned the line of customers for the Galaxy Lip. Tourists were lined up halfway around the block waiting.

“Is it right to be stealing customers from a rival restaurant?” Jack crossed his arms.

“Is there anything illegal about it?” Ash said.

“No…”

Ash carefully examined the tourists.

“Got em!” Ash’s eyes locked in on a target. He got up and jogged across the street.

#

The Impatient Tourist tapped their foot on the ground.

“This line is so long. The food had better be worth it.”

The Impatient Tourist looked down at their mechanical watch then back up at their companion.

*Impatient Sigh*

Out of nowhere a young man in an aggressively tailored outfit slid up beside them.

“Good evening.”

“Good evening.” The Impatient Tourist tried not to make eye contact.

“Got someplace to be?”

“If you must know, we are waiting for a dinner reservation.”

“At the Galaxy Lip?”

“That’s right.”

“How about everyone else?”

“What?”

The young man waved a hand at the line of people. “Do you think that they also have dinner reservations?”

“Uh… hmmm…” The Tourist nodded.

The young man looked down the line of people that were waiting out in front of the restaurant. The Tourist followed his gaze.

"Looks like it might be a while before you get a table."

The Impatient Tourist turned to their companion. "What should we do? We have tickets to meet with the fish trainer after this."

"If you want, I could make a suggestion for an alternative restaurant." Ash grinned.

"I don't think that-"

"It's very close."

"That won't be necessary-"

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"And you won't won’t believe how quickly our food is prepared. From the kitchen to your table in a matter of minutes.”

"Hmmm... But the Galaxy Lip is the most acclaimed restaurant in Kaseihgaeu.”

"And think of how impressive it will be when you're one of the first people to discover a new hidden gem restaurant right across the street."

"Right across the street you say?" The Impatient Tourist checked their watch.

"That's right. And did I mention that there’s no wait for a table?" Ash swept his arm in the direction of the E-teary.

The Tourist stroked their chin. "Hmmm."

#

The Cottontail Excursionist shifted with indecision.

"I don't know. I've never heard of that restaurant before."

"That's why it's so great. No one else has heard of it either. Look at the Galaxy Lip." Ash pointed at the other restaurant. "It's big. It's loud. It is absolutely filled to capacity with obnoxious, egotistical people that are only there because they think that it's the most famous restaurant in town."

"Isn't it the most famous restaurant in town?"

"That's not important. What you want is a nice quiet restaurant with a modest atmosphere."

"That does sound nice." The Cottontail Excursionist chewed a fingernail with her front teeth. “Is the food any good?”

“It will make you reevaluate every meal you’ve ever had in your life.”

#

“But who is the chef?”

The Curious Sightseer looked at the sign for the E-teary.

“That’s one of the most interesting things.” Ash leaned in close. “The chef has requested not to be named.”

The Curious Sightseer leaned in as well. “Really? Why? Are they someone famous?”

Ash shook his head. “I’m afraid that I’m not allowed to give out that information. Let me just say that if I did tell you who they were you would be very surprised. Our *Cough* eatery is one of the most unique dining establishments in the city.”

“Interesting.” Curious Sightseer casually stroked the chest feathers of a finch that was perched on their shoulder. “But what’s the theme of your restaurant?”

Ash blinked. “It’s… what do you think it is?”

“I… I don’t know. I can’t see any obvious continuity. Is it a mystery?” The Curious Sightseer’s eyes sparkled.

“That’s right. A mystery. Exactly. Let me get you a table.” Ash put a hand on the tourist’s elbow and guided them across the street.

#

"Impressive." Plinth nodded. "You've managed to bring in more customers in fifteen minutes than we've seen all week."

"Ah, it was nothing." Ash rubbed his neck.

"You can be very persuasive when you want to be."

"Stop..."

"Is this the phantom restaurant that everyone has been talking about?" A Tardy Voyager poked their head in the door.

"Huh? Ah, yes. Hold on. I'll find you a table." Ash looked around the room. "Crap. We're running out of tables. And the orders are piling up at the window."

"Don't worry, we'll take care of the tables." Rosy said.

Rosy, Ave, Tasha, and Eins walked into the dinning room from the courtyard.

"Oh." Jack looked up from his table. Ted straightened up in his chair. Ash paused in the doorway.

The three women were dressed in matching white, sleeveless, button-up blouses.

Rosy wore a burgundy skirt with a slit up the side. She had on a pair of five cm heels. Rosy's hair was braided straight across the back of her head and then curled down over her shoulder. Her braid partially concealed the hilt of the sword that was still strapped to her chest, making it look like an oversized hairpin.

Tasha was wearing a knee length, navy colored, tiered skirt and black flats. A deep blue eyeshadow with black eyeliner highlighted her eyes. Her hair was braided down the sides of her head and curled into a bun in the back. A line of barrettes was clipped to her hairline starting at her left temple. The last barrette was larger and flatter than the others. It was clipped tight above her bun with its claws holding it in place. Claws? Sorry, I meant barrette clips.

Ave was dressed in her regular boots and a pair of viridian green, wide leg, linen pants. A small braid pulled her shorter hair away from her face and behind her ear while the rest of her hair hung loose in the back. The faintest shade of peach lip gloss had been applied to her lips.

Tasha and Ave paused in the doorway to the dining room.

"I have to say. You all look very lovely." said Plinth.

"Don't they look nice?" Rosy smiled.

Jack stood up from his table. "Uh, *Cough* here ladies. Please take a seat." He pulled a chair out from the table.

Ted stood up and did the same on the other side.

Rosy nodded. "You two go ahead and relax for a second. I'll get started waiting tables."

Rosy walked over and pulled some dishes from the kitchen window. Ave and Tasha sat down at the rear table. Jack and Ted sat back down next to them.

Jack sat up straight and put on a smile.

"So how do the two of you know Ash and Luke?"