Grand Theft Takoyaki Amid Cherry Blossoms

Steam curled around my hands as I flipped another batch of takoyaki. The familiar motions came easily: pour batter, add filling, rotate each ball precisely when the bottom turned golden brown. No different from flipping burgers at Kaikool, really.

Though I still had to wear this stupid costume while doing it. At least the night air made it bearable.

"Order up!" I called out, sliding another batch onto a paper boat.

A group of high school girls gathered around the stall. They pointed at Little Shit, who was now perched on the stall. Their phones came out in unison, a forest of peace signs blooming beneath him.

"Oh my gosh, can you do the volcano thing?" One of them asked.

I snorted. Good luck with that. Little Shit never listened to anyone except-

Pop Pop Pop

Tiny volcanic vents sprouted around Little Shit, spewing harmless sparks into the night sky. The girls squealed in delight, their phones clicking frantically.

Of course. Should've figured he'd perform for attention.

"Nya-hello!"

I looked up from the grill to see Kurumi bouncing toward the stall, her yukata a riot of pink and white flowers that matched her personality perfectly. Behind her was Toukawa-san in an elegant navy yukata patterned with silver waves. 

"What are you two doing here?"

"We came to see you, obviously!" Kurumi beamed, leaning over the counter. Her eyes darted around. "Where's Sae-san?"

"She's not here. Had some business to take care of."

"Ehhhh? But I wanted to show her my yukata..."

"I'm glad you decided to come after all, Tatsuhara-san." Toukawa-san's calm voice cut through Kurumi's dramatics. "You seemed hesitant earlier."

"I'm more surprised you're here. Festivals didn't seem like your thing."

"They weren't. But recent events have made me reconsider many things."

Before I could process that cryptic response, Kurumi reached across the stall and grabbed my free arm. "Come on, let's go play some games! I saw this super cute plushie at the ring toss-"

I glanced at the line of waiting customers, feeling their hungry stares burning through me. "I should finish serving these people first."

"Fiiiine. Then we'll hang out with Little Shit while we wait! Come on, Toukawa-san!"

I turned around to hand another batch of takoyaki to a waiting customer, their eyes lighting up at the perfectly browned spheres. The night had been a blur of non-stop orders, but with just one batch left, the end was finally in sight.

When I turned back to the grill, it was empty.

A flash of yellow caught my eye. Above the stall, a dozen mini manta rays, no bigger than my palm, bobbed in the air, their bodies glowing like paper lanterns. Each one clutched a fresh takoyaki in its tiny mouth, creating a parade of flying seafood thieves.

So this was why Yukina had bailed on her shift that time.

I moved to chase after them, but a firm hand caught my shoulder.

"Let them be, Kaiju Girl." He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "That's just Manta's crew doing their nightly rounds."

"Manta?"

"Big one, looks like a flying manta ray. Met her a while back at the containment zone near the docks. She's got quite the appetite for squid." He released my arm and adjusted his bandana. "We worked out a deal - she keeps the other kaiju away from the fishing boats, and I make sure she gets her fill. Those little ones are just picking up tonight's payment."

Yukina's dad said it so casually, like this was just another part of life. And maybe, in another reality, one where we weren't counting down to the end, it could've been. Humans and kaiju, figuring out how to share the same world. Little Shit performing for his fans, the Furnace Kaiju fixing our apartment with trees…

The mini mantas swooped and twirled between the cherry blossom branches, their stolen takoyaki creating trails of steam in the cool evening air. Against the pink petals, they looked like stars come to life, painting the festival in surreal strokes of light. The smallest manta snagged the last takoyaki ball, its glow pulsing happier as it rejoined its siblings in their dance through the petals.

A few festival-goers pointed and gasped, but most watched with quiet awe, as if it were all part of the evening entertainment.

"Go on, join your friends." Yukina's dad waved me off with a smile. "I'll handle the rest of the customers."

I hesitated, but Yukina appeared from behind the stall and practically shoved me away. "Go! Take lots of pictures for me!"

With that, I joined Kurumi and Toukawa-san, who were still watching the mantas dance through the cherry blossoms. Little Shit had claimed his spot on my head, probably sulking that something else was stealing his spotlight.

"Food time!" Kurumi grabbed both our arms and dragged us into the maze of stalls. The smells hit me all at once - grilled squid, sweet dango, roasted corn. My stomach growled, reminding me I'd been too busy cooking to actually eat anything.

"What should we get first?" Toukawa-san asked, eyeing a yakisoba stand.

"Everything!" Kurumi declared, bouncing from one stall to the next. She finally settled on taiyaki, its pink filling matching her yukata perfectly.

Toukawa-san opted for grilled unagi on a stick, methodically separating each piece before taking a bite.

I went straight for the melon bread stand. Not because I was craving it, but because Little Shit would throw a fit if I didn't get him some. The vendor's eyes widened when he saw my 'hat,' but he handed over two extra pieces without charging me.

"For your little friend," he winked.

Little Shit chirped happily and snatched his share before I could even offer it.

I was just about to take a bite of mine when a voice cut through the crowd. "Hey, isn't that the Kaiju Girl?"

The terrible singer on stage stopped mid-note, which was honestly an unexpected mercy for everyone's ears. Then his face lit up like he'd just had the best idea of his life.

"Whoa, no way. C'mon up here, Kaiju Girl!"

"Oh hell no," I muttered, turning to escape. But Kurumi latched onto my arm with surprising strength.

"You're not escaping this one, Ryūka! It'll be fun!" 

My protests fell on deaf ears as Kurumi pushed me up the rickety steps. Meanwhile, Little Shit had already scampered ahead to bask in the spotlight.

"Your friend too!" The singer waved at Toukawa-san, who looked ready to disappear into her yukata.

"I don't sing," Toukawa-san stated flatly. It didn't matter - Kurumi had already dragged her on stage.

The singer thrusted a microphone in my face. The spotlights blinded me, and I squinted at the sea of phones pointed our way.

Kurumi launched into a song, completely off-key but with so much enthusiasm it was impossible not to smile. Little Shit joined in with his squeaky chirps, sending tiny volcanic sparks that danced in time with the music.

What the hell. If the world was ending anyway...

I grabbed the mic and belted out the chorus. The crowd went wild, phones lighting up like stars in a night sky made just for us. Even Toukawa-san couldn't help but tap her foot along with the music.

Just for tonight, I didn't mind being in the spotlight.

Ryuka_savings_tracker_v2.xlsx

Updated: [4/23/20XX]

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Current savings | ¥716,757

Flipping takoyaki for “SUPER AMAZING AWESOME TAKOYAKI ٩(◕‿◕｡)۶” (including tips) | ¥32,414

Coins thrown at Ryuka by the crowd, begging for an encore | ¥1,000

Paid Partnership* with Seven Flags (April Payout) | ¥611,903

Total Available | ¥1,362,074

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Tokyo Penthouse Cost | ¥50,000,000

REMAINING NEEDED | ¥48,637,926

Progress: 2.72%

*Includes Little Shit™ Plushies, food items (e.g. pancakes), etc.