Goodbye Oliver

It all fit into two bags. The larger luggage held all Oliver's art supplies, while a backpack held everything else.

"I don't know whether to be amazed or not," commented Sierra as Oliver passed by. He gathered his luggage in the lobby of the diner. Anita, Leigha, Shasta, and Norman were occupying a booth in the front. The rest of Tormino's employees were working as normal, minus one. Norman became an art connoisseur in one night and was explaining to Anita and Leigha the finer points of acrylic painting.

Oliver took a seat in the booth as Miles handed them all drinks, Leigha pouting when he gave her water.

"I ordered a beer," she snapped, crossing her arms.

"People who can't control their alcohol consumption don't deserve it."

Leigha continued to pout but took a sip of water.

"Be sure to send us a New Year's card. Everyone will want to hear how you’re doing," insisted Anita, turning the group's attention to Oliver.

"I will."

"And let me know if you see any hands with a soulmate mark. Here's a picture for reference." She handed him the picture, Oliver taking out his wallet to put it inside.

 "I'll be sure to let you know if I find anyone," offered Oliver. Anita brightened up and Norman and Shasta were both frowning.

"Unless I find her soulmate for her first," challenged Leigha. "I found Ramona and Miles, didn't I? And I helped her find Norman!"

They heard a rattle of plates and looked over to see that Miles had caught Ramona and her dishes again. Both turned red before running away.

"I don't know if you deserved credit for that one," argued Oliver.

"Well, I am his sister, so I deserve credit for supporting it."

"I'm not sure that's how that works," countered Shasta.

"Of course, it works, what sister wouldn't want to see her beloved brother happy with a cute girl?"

She waved over at Miles, who immediately turned the opposite direction to get to a table a few down from them.

"Miles," Leigha whined, following after her brother for affection. Much to the patrons' amusement as he tried to wriggle free of his sister's grip.

"Please let me know how that all goes," said Oliver. He gestured to Leigha, Miles, and Ramona while looking at Anita.

"Will do."

"Oh, Oliver!"

The group turned at Sierra's voice to see her skipping towards them, hiding something behind her back.

"Are you sure Olivia can't come to serve one more time," she pleaded, pulling out the female uniform. 

Norman looked over at Oliver, confused. Oliver scrambled back into the corner of the booth, trying to get away from the outfit. Shasta slid out of the seat before they could even think about getting him in the uniform.

"No!"

"Come on, please!"

"Please! I could do your make up this time too," offered Leigha, attention from Miles diverted. The girls tried to pull Oliver out of the booth. He was clinging to the seat and table for dear life when Master Malzieu showed up.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he stated, looking between the girls, Oliver and the dress. 

Oliver stood up out of the booth, knocking the two girls and the dress into the booth opposite.

"No, Master."

Master Malzieu sighed.

"I realize I came a bit early, but if you need more time to prepare…"

"My stuff is ready, Master," Oliver answered, pointing to his luggage at the door. "I just need to say my goodbyes."

"Very well."

Oliver turned around to see Norman, extending his hand for a shake.

"Good luck up there."

"Thank you."

Anita scooted out of the booth, standing up to hug Oliver. 

"Thanks for your help. My hand artwork has gotten a lot better thanks to your reference photos."

"Oliver!"

Leigha jumped on while he was still hugging Anita.

"Have fun!"

"I'm going to Hokkaido to learn," he corrected.

"It can be the same thing if you do it right," she assured him before stepping back.

Sierra stepped up to give him a hug that went a little above his waist.

"Let me know if you hear my song."

"I will if I remember it."

She skipped to the kitchen, leaving room for Miles, who gave him a handshake, Oliver pulling him in for a hug.

"Good luck with your art. If or when Leigha leaves, you're always welcome to come over."

"What do you mean when I leave? He's been to our house before," asked Leigha. Not that anybody answered her question.

Ramona was quick to hug him, probably to save herself from falling.

"I'll miss you," she whispered, squeezing him tight. Oliver could feel the dampness of her tears through his shirt.

"I'll miss you too. Who else is going to give me my best ideas?" Oliver teased, bringing a smile to Ramona's face.

When she finally let go, Shasta pulled him in for a hug, much to the shock of everyone else.

"Stay safe and learn a lot up there. So you can fix the mural when you're back," he requested, gesturing to the mural as he let go. Oliver had painted over the original wall art that had been there when he first started working. The painting was much better than the original one. The current workers were all hiding somewhere in the art, including Oliver.

"Will do."

"Even if you come back to visit, you still aren't allowed in the kitchen."

"Understood," Oliver chuckled as he stepped away from the group.

"Where's Cyrus? I thought he would have come out of his cave," commented Oliver. Everyone looked around to notice that Cyrus hadn't joined them.

"I'll go check and you go on ahead." Anita patted his arm as she ran to the back.

Oliver grabbed his bags, heading out the front door. He had left his restaurant key in the breakroom and all his things were safely inside his luggage. 

The summer was well underway and the summer breeze rushed in when he opened the restaurant door. He and his new master continued down the walkway, Oliver pulling his extra luggage after him.

"Agate!"

Oliver turned at his name to see Cyrus at the door of the restaurant, everyone lining the windows to watch. He held a thick envelope in his hand.

"As a parting gift."

Cyrus handed the envelope over. Oliver peaked inside to find several hundred dollars. 

"Your paychecks for rent. To help you get started."

"You kept the rent?"

"No one can live in the building, so I could never report to HR to deduct your pay. So when I got the rent, I kept it in the safe. For when you decide to move out since you…" Before Cyrus could finish his explanation, Oliver pulled him in for a hug, near to tears himself.

"Thank you," he whispered.

Cyrus wasn't sure what to do, so he patted his back before pushing him away.

"Now go on, you have a train to catch," Cyrus snapped.

"Right."

Oliver turned to the restaurant and waved to his friends, who all waved back. He turned back to follow his master down the road, knowing very well the others were watching them through the window.

"You have good friends here, it seems," commented Master Malzieu.

"That I do, sir." Oliver smiled. He cast one more glance at Tormino's as everyone went to work, and Cyrus left from his place on the sidewalk.

"That I do."

---

Everyone was very surprised when Oliver showed up to work a few days later.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were going to live in Hokkaido?” asked Anita.

"Turns out that Master works in a studio here in Tokyo. So we'll be staying here most of the time, with occasional visits to his hometown of Hokkaido." Oliver slid lower into the booth, eventually in a sleeping position.

"If you are going to stop by," said Cyrus coming from the back and smacking him on the head, "at least order something."