The sake shop - Kamisama Kiss

The Restaurant

Early the next morning, Mizuki was woken up by his snake slithering over his body. He got up, stretched and yawned.

Humming happily, he opened the door of the shop and stepped out. As he looked at the outside of it, he realised how plain and boring it looked. The only thing that distinguished it from any other normal building was the title 'Mizuki's Sake Shop'.

He gazed intensely at his shop, considering what he could do to it to make it look more special and appealing.

'Hmm, there's a lack of colour. It also needs decorations and posters.' He nodded at his own ideas. "I guess that boy from last night did have a point. He was quite strange, but also helpful I guess."

So, he sent his magical pet snake to get some materials and stuff from the Mikage Shrine. Mizuki often used his snake for things like transport and communication. It was effective, easy and it worked.

"Bye! Thanks for doing this for me!" He waved at the snake as it flew away into the air with its mystical powers.

Mizuki was starving, so he decided to head to one of the nearby restaurants  to get something to eat.

He walked for a few minutes, then reached it. As he did so, he realised how much busier and more decorated it was compared to his little sake shop.

On the outside, there were posters and images of delicious food. It looked way more welcoming and interesting than his shop.

He stepped inside and looked through the menu. He sighed when he realised this place sold sake too. No wonder he barely had any customers. They all probably came here for sake instead.

"There's no way their sake is better than mine. No way. They're just overrated here. That's the problem." Mizuki thought.

Inside, all the tables were filled with people and there was a queue in front of the place to order food from. He joined the queue.

As he waited, he looked around at how much work was put into making this place look good. There were nice plants and flowers on each table. The air in here was warm, and gentle yet upbeat music played as people chatted with each other while eating.

As much as Mizuki didn't want to admit it, the atmosphere in here was extremely pleasant. More pleasant than his failing little business.

It was soon his turn to order. Eyeing the display behind the waiters, he ordered sushi and ice cream with cake.

"Thank you." Mizuki said as he paid the price and took the food.

"It was a pleasure to serve you. Please come again soon." The waiter respectfully said.

Mizuki went outside with his food. There was a nice breeze that went through his hair while he ate on the way back to the sake shop.

"I've got a serious amount of work I've got to put in if I want my sake shop to be half as good as this restaurant. It'll take some time, but I'll definetely prove to Tomoe and Nanami that I can manage a business. I know I can. (Also, this food is quite delicious, but I bet I could make better food.)" Mizuki's mind was racing as he ate and walked to his sake shop. "That gives me an idea! I could make some traditional and special food to make up a little menu. That would make my shop more popular!"

He was just a few metres away from his shop when he noticed a young woman standing right outside of it. She had her back to him and was gazing into the shop, as if pondering whether to step in or walk away.

Something about her short, pink, fuffy hair and summer dress made her seem really familiar to Mizuki. He just couldn't remember where he knew her from yet. It made him stop dead in his tracks. He stared at her for a minute, thinking about how he was going to greet her.

Eventually, he decided to walk up to her. He stood next to her, and using his natural confidence, he spoke up.