A cook from heavens

Chapter 7

"Is this what the mall is... Just stores infused in one large building?"
"Yeah basically but it's really fun trust me"
"I would like to believe that but it isn't there... Too many people around..."
Y/n was nervous because he was ok with being in a crowd, but with hundreds of people around him was hard to bear. He looked around and fiddled with his fingers. Ryoko looked at this and slowly held his hands and smiled warmly at Y/n. Trying to reassure him that everything would be okay and that nothing would happen. Still, it was not a concern to him, what he only saw was an abundant amount of people in one building. Just holding her arm and taking a deep breath he walked around with her. They spent most of their time rummaging through clothes, mainly for Ryoko, Y/n was more interested in a small table with samples and a person desperately attempting to attract attention. They succeeded in grabbing his attention as he walked away from Ryoko not noticing.
"You! Young man, would you like to have a sample of my new product that I'm selling just down the street?!"
Y/n nodded and took a sample from the old man and took a little bite. The flavor was bland and the texture was nothing too special to look at. The old man was excited that someone finally tried out his sample, as everyone else in the Mall would just ignore him. Y/n looked at the old man's face and looked a little worried about how he was going to answer him. He sighed, his eyes downcast.
"I don't mean to be rude sir but... the food is pretty bland and well.. the texture is- well it's nothing to eye gazing?"
"O-oh I-I see.. well thank you for your honest opinion young man..." the old man was less enthusiastic to attract people now that he's heard the truth from one participant. It was clear that he didn't have much confidence in what he had on display.
Y/n felt bad, he grew up with grandparents and so he had sympathy with the old man. He kept thinking of "what if's" and the one that kept reacquiring was "what if this were my grandpa if he had lost his confidence?". It didn't make sense to him but he just felt like he needed to help the old man since he hurt him emotionally and since he had a store, this could make the old feller go into bankruptcy.
"I have an idea, I could maybe help you with creating something better?"
"You can..?"
"Mhm, I go to school at Tōtsuki Culinary Academy"
"Tōtsuki Culinary Academy? Isn't that place full of rich spoiled kids?"
"Well uh, I guess? But I'm not one of them I grew up with my grandparents in this small village"
"Oh! So you are new to this type of setting?"
"You mean- like this area?"
"Yes. Of course"
"Well.. yes I am"
"Do you love it so far?"
"Well I can't really say right now"
"Ah it's ok, I know it'll be a hard time for a while but it'll grow onto you"
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I used to be like you-! Although I wasn't in the famous Tōtsuki Culinary Academy, I was just a normal teenager who had to move because of my father's job." Y/n nodded and was intrigued by his story since he was always interested in other people's stories and their experiences. He might have forgotten that he offered to help. Time went on, and Y/n was still listening to the old man's story while Ryoko panicked trying to find him.

"Has anyone seen this boy? He's new to this place and he got lost!" Ryoko walked around asking anyone that was around her with her phone on and a picture of Y/n on display. She had no look like most people's mindset in the city was that their time mattered more than others. She groans in frustration after being ignored for the seventh time.
"Sir! Sir! Have you seen him he-"
"Oh, I think he's by this sample guy. S-so um... what's yours?"
"Thank you!"
She left the instant she knew what the stranger tried to pull. She didn't want to hurt the poor man but she had interests in Y/n and she was also upset that he ditched her. As she distances herself farther from the stranger, she regretted not asking where he saw him. She shamefully sped walk back to the boy she silently rejected and gazed away from his eyes and spoke up
"Sorry I forgot to ask, do you know where this sample guy is at?"
"In the uh... center of the mall..." his voice stuttered in embarrassment since he had attempted to ask her out but failed to finish what he wanted to say before she left.
"Oh great! Ok thank you, sir-" she said and turned around to go where the possible location of y/n was
"Wait! I um.. I could show you the way if you'd like.." he stopped Ryoko from running away.
Maybe she could find Y/n faster if she knew where exactly he would be. It took a couple of seconds for Ryoko to consider this offer, but she knew it was better than nothing. So she grabbed his hand and ran with him, hoping to find Y/n. So she ran with a guy behind her who could barely keep up, they made it to the middle of the mall and looked around.
"I don't see him anywhere... you sure you saw him here?" she looked around worried if Y/n got lost or worst, ditched him.
"Why don't you just text him..?" he said looking skeptical as that would've been an easier solution than actually looking around for one person in a building full with hundreds of people.
Ryoko groaned and covered her face with her hand "no no I don't think he has a phone, if he did then he would've used it like crazy" she said, still looking around to hopefully find him, but to no avail
The boy who accompanied Ryoko scratched his neck and looked puzzled "what do you mean he doesn't have a phone? Everyone has a phone nowadays.."
"Well if he did I'm pretty sure I would've seen him use it or at least trade numbers" Now Ryoko began questioning if Y/n really didn't have a phone. But before she could think more on thy she gave another quick gaze across the shops and saw Y/n still conversating with the elderly man. Her first instinct was to give him a hug, so she ran over to Y/n and without saying a word, hugged him from behind.