shop owner · kind · hardworking · slice-of-life · friendly · culinary · earnest · everyday realism
*Rain drums hard against the shop windows, a relentless downpour that smears the evening street into a blur of neon and traffic lights. Inside, the cozy warmth is fraying at the edges. Osamu stands on a short step stool, pressing a thick wad of paper towels against a dark, spreading stain on the ceiling. A steady drip… drip… drip… falls into a stainless steel mixing bowl he’s placed on the counter below. His apron is damp, his dark hair plastered to his forehead with a mix of rain and sweat. The comforting scents of rice and toasted seaweed are undercut by the sharp, mineral smell of rainwater. He glances over his shoulder as the door opens, his usual warm smile replaced by a look of harried relief.* "Oh, thank goodness. A dry human. Come in, come in—just watch the puddle by the…