Chapter 27: Winter Interschool Festival (3)

"Here’s your order. Enjoy your meal."

Emily handed the tray to the customer with her usual professional smile, though this time it looked more strained than usual.

After spending the entire day smiling and serving customers, it was perfectly normal for a little fatigue to start showing by evening.

At least, that was what the customers thought whenever they noticed how tightly her smile was stretched, as though someone had taped the corners of her mouth in place.

She was about to turn toward the cooking area to pick up the sandwiches Lars had just finished preparing when something caught her attention.

The crowd in front of the stall parted around a massive red-haired figure like snow being pushed aside by a plow.

It was Ryan Foster, captain of Miskatonic’s rugby team.

He was still wearing his padded uniform, which made him look even bigger than he already was.

Around his neck hung the gold medal he had received at the awards ceremony a few minutes earlier.

As the crowd parted around him, three boys from another school finally worked up the courage to approach him.

One of them stepped forward, while the other two hung back slightly.

"Y-You’re Ryan Foster, right? C-Could we take a selfie with you? If it’s not a bother, of course..."

Ryan gave him a friendly smile.

"Of course. And you two back there, what are you so scared of? I don’t bite."

The three crowded around him so they could all fit in the frame, still stiff as boards.

It wasn’t so much his size that intimidated them as the rumors about his aggressive temper, which had spread even to other schools.

Ryan, however, was extremely accommodating.

In fact, once the other students saw how approachable he was, more of them started coming over to ask for photos or autographs.

And he obliged every last one of them.

Emily blinked several times, almost as if she wanted to make sure she wasn’t imagining things.

...First Lars von Rosen, nice and cooperative all day. And now Ryan Foster posing for photos and signing autographs?

Forget Miracle on 34th Street... this is a real miracle!

A hopeful smile appeared on her face as her eyes lit up.

Never before had she been so convinced that this was going to be the most satisfying day of her life.

She couldn’t have been more wrong.

"How are you, Emily? Everything going okay?" Ryan asked.

She nodded firmly.

"Yeah, everything’s going great. Thanks."

Ryan glanced around.

"I can tell. You’ve done a really good job. I’ve heard a lot of people complimenting the organization, and I have to agree."

"I’m really glad to hear that. It’s been tough, I’ll admit, but I’m happy with how things are going."

Emily gave him a radiant smile.

"So, what can I get you?"

"A double cheeseburger and a cola, please."

She then turned toward the cooking area.

"Lars, one double cheeseburger for our champion, please."

Ryan glanced past Emily.

"Oh, he’s here too? I hope he’s not giving you any trouble."

"No, actually. Lars has been a huge help. I honestly don’t know how I would’ve managed without him."

"He’d better be useful."

A short while later, Lars finished preparing Ryan’s burger.

He handed it to Emily, who in turn passed it to Ryan along with his drink.

"Enjoy, Ryan. And congratulations again on the win."

"Thanks."

Ryan took a bite as he started to walk away, but after just one mouthful, he suddenly stopped.

He turned back toward Emily and spat what was in his mouth onto the ground.

"I ordered a cheeseburger, not a charred-burger. This shit’s burnt. Make me another one. And please, you do it this time — not that idiot back there."

Emily’s face immediately turned red with embarrassment.

Not only because of Ryan’s reaction, but also because of the murmurs that began rippling through the line.

A few customers even stepped out of the queue, put off by what he had said.

Ryan shoved the burger into her hands, and Emily set it down on the counter without even checking it.

After all, one of the rules in the manual she had read was to accommodate customer complaints whenever possible, and she had no intention of going against that principle.

"N-No problem, I’ll remake it right away. Lars, please let me use the griddle."

"No."

Lars’s icy gaze settled on Ryan.

"There’s nothing wrong with that burger."

He opened it up in front of Emily, Ryan, and a few curious onlookers who had moved closer to see how things would play out.

"The meat is cooked exactly the same as every burger we’ve served so far, and no one has complained. There’s no reason to make another one."

Then he closed the burger again and slid it across the counter toward Ryan.

"So we’re not remaking it. Eat this and shut up."

"Lars, please. It’s just a burger. I’ll remake it and we can leave it at that. You’re blocking the line."

Emily discreetly tugged at his hoodie, trying to pull him away from the counter. But she couldn’t move him even a single step.

"Let me get this straight. You make me a shitty burger and then you’ve got the nerve to give me attitude when I complain? You’ve got some balls, you little prick. Move aside and let someone who knows what the hell they’re doing handle it."

"Ryan, please don’t start too. I’ll make you another cheeseburger right now, so don’t worry. But that’s enough, both of you. Please. You’re driving the customers away."

It was no use.

Neither Ryan nor Lars seemed to be listening to her at all.

Lars took a few more steps forward, with Emily still trying in vain to hold him back.

By then, only the counter stood between him and Ryan.

"Watch your words, Ryan Foster. Or they might be your last."

That was exactly what Ryan had been waiting for.

"Are you threatening me, you fucking son of a bitch? You’re threatening me?!"

Ryan slammed both hands down on the counter hard enough to make the entire stall shake.

"Now I’m gonna show you what happens to people who fuck with me!"

A sinister grin spread across Lars’s face.

"Go ahead. Show me."