Just Keep Moving (a Beastars Fanfic)

Ch3. First Day(Night) on the Job

    I didn't know when in the evening to show up, so I just went to the meeting location at eight. The weasel was there, and he smiled when he saw me. He walked up to me and handed me a mask, trench coat, and gloves. "Put these on," he said, "and follow me." 

    As I walked behind the weasel, I asked, "What will I be doing for this job, and how much exactly does it pay?" 

    "You'll be a chef," the weasel said. "As for pay, how does 4000 yen per hour sound?"

    "That's a decent amount of money," I said. "You wouldn't be paying that much right at the start for nothing. What's the catch, and what made you think I'd be good for the job?"

    "I'm starting to like you, kid," the weasel said. "The catch is that you keep everything you learn confidential, and that there is some danger in the area you'll be working in. Do you still want the job?" 

    Desperate to get a job, I nodded and continued following him after pausing to reconsider. We walked into an alleyway, at which point I started thinking that I was going to be mugged. My fears were dismissed when I was led through the alley and into a brightly lit market. A glance at what the stores were selling, however, revealed to me why I would have to keep my knowledge secret. Hanging from the stalls of different vendors were the carcasses of different animals.

    "Isn't this illegal?" I asked the weasel. "You know, cause you're eating other people?"

    "Yeah, but the police don't bother to regulate this area," the weasel said. "See that lion over there? He works at the local police station. There's more crime in here than the rest of the city combined, but the meat in my restaurant is sourced more legally from deals with hospitals and funeral homes and whatnot. Other stores kill their prey, if you know what I mean, but we can't exactly do anything about them. Criminals are going to be here no matter what, and that's why I gave you that disguise." As the weasel talked, I followed him to a restaurant labeled "Pete's Meat". 

    "Your name is Pete?" I asked the weasel. 

    "No, that's my grandfather," the weasel said. "I'm Peter." 

    "So what types of meat do you sell?" I asked. "Seafood, some beef, some chicken, and some pork," Peter said. "I serve them grilled, as soup, and a variety of other things. Today's your first day, however, so I won't start you on cooking just yet." 

    I nodded, and he led me past the kitchen and into a meat locker. "From left to right is beef, pork, chicken, then seafood," he lectured. "Salted meats are in the back." Peter then went along each animal carcass, pointing out the different cuts of meat and how best to process each type of animal. After he finished speaking, I was handed me a booklet with the information he told me, and then he said to study it when I could. Then, he led me back into the kitchen. He pointed out that the recipes were carved into the walls, then guided me through the different pots, pans, knives, and other kitchen implements and their uses. He lectured me on different terms to be used in cooking, like how boiling was different from broiling. At the end of it all, my head was spinning with new information. 

     "For the first five work days, you'll work as waiter with 2000 yen per hour pay," Peter said. "Your shifts start at nine and end at midnight on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Once you've worked five shifts, I'll test you on your knowledge to see if I should fire you or promote you too a chef with the promised 4000 yen per hour pay. Notify me if you'll need to miss a shift, or else you're fired. Good luck." 

    When he finished saying that, he gave me a notepad and pencil to write orders, then pushed me out of the kitchen to seat customers and take their orders. At first, I wasn't sure where to stand, so I just stood by the entrance and reviewed what Peter had taught me while I waited for the first customer.