49.i Wondrous and True

~ Sun Ritsu ~

A part of Sun Ritsu was glad to be back behind the grill. On the way to the Lunch Hero, the sun clone had tried to see where Bodhi was with their research on the different contestants. The monk’s expression hardened by a fraction before they said that they would tell Ritsu about it later.

“First I want to see this powerful demonstration of yours.”

Ritsu wouldn’t go so far as to call it such, but he hoped that Bodhi could do something with it for this next trial.

It wasn’t hard getting permission to go inside the kitchen over at the Lunch Hero. Once the two spirits were alone, Ritsu asked Bodhi to stand a couple of feet back. The monk made an amused sound, but they listened and gave Ritsu some space.

An easy sense of calm washed over Ritsu as he fired up the grill, washed his hands, and, with a cool flourish, tied on his apron. It wasn’t long before Ritsu forgot about Bodhi’s presence. He was there for the meat. The buns, grilled onions, thin-cut potatoes crisping in metal baskets when dunked in hot oil – this was Ritsu’s playground…

Somewhere in the making of an ordinary lunch hero,

the monkey king lost touch with all time and space.

The meat flips itself,

the fries float on their own,

condiments squeeze on a spontaneous note

grease splatters, things sizzle, get melted

All the monkey does is breathe

and listen to what will become

food for someone

he’s the humble messenger

Wind escapes his nostrils as the cookware cools

the tightness in his belly eases for now

that old ache turned temporary hero

a fry cook knows hunger too well

.

.

.

The cuticles around Ritsu’s fingernails were glowing, but he didn’t notice as he handed Bodhi the burger fresh off the grill. Bodhi took their hands out of the pocket of their hoodie and gingerly accepted the offer.

Ritsu used his apron to wipe away some of the sweat on the back of his neck. He’d forgotten how hot the kitchen could get.

“Sweet immortal–”

Ritsu paused. “Is something wrong?”

Bodhi shook the half eaten burger in Ritsu’s face. “You never brought me anything that tasted like this when I was in prison! What the hell is this?”

Ritsu took a step back. “Um… a lunch hero?”

That’s when the door burst open and several of the Lunch Hero staff helped themselves inside, including Ritsu’s old manager.

“Came to check up on you two and we couldn’t help but overhear!”

“You’ve probably never had any of Ritsu’s burgers because they all get eaten by the end of the day. His orders never made it into the leftover pile.”

“Ritsu! The manager says he’s thinking about naming something on the menu after you. But only if you come back!”

“Are you stupid? He can’t come back. He’s competing in the Sevenfold Peach!”

“Then tell me, why is he literally back here? Flipping burgers?”

Ritsu’s old manager – a stocky flamingo spirit – elbowed his way between Ritsu and his overenthusiastic coworkers.

“Listen, Ritsu. How about you stay and help out just for today? We can offer a one day special – a Heaven Born Lunch Blessing. I’ll add it to the menu and you make them ready to order. I can pay you double for the trouble, what do you say?”

A cacophony of whiny protests and hopeful shrieks erupted around the flamingo.

“Awwww! Boss, you can’t do that!”

“Maybe you should check with Ritsu’s master because they look pretty pissed off.”

“No. They’re just mad because Ritsu’s burger tastes so good and they ate it all.”

The manager pleaded with Ritsu again, promising it would just be for today.

Ritsu sighed and looked over at Bodhi. “I kind of want to stay and help them. Is it okay if…”

The monk made an offhanded gesture, saying it was fine. “We can’t really train until we get the right space for cultivating anyway.”

There seemed to be other things on Bodhi’s mind as they said it. Did something happen when Ritsu was preoccupied at the grill?

When Bodhi had left to go hang out in the cafe and Ritsu was in the clear, his old manager said, “By the way, I need you to train a few newbies while you’re here.” He screamed over his shoulder for the new hires to get their cotton tails in there before Ritsu could accept or decline.

The tiny corner of the kitchen was at its capacity with chatty, grease-stained workers. Ritsu took orders and coached the new hires in between. He answered as many questions as he could from his old coworkers and listened to the gossip that he missed while he was away.

All the while, there was something nagging at Ritsu while he cooked. There was nothing special about this new menu item, the Heaven Born Lunch Blessing. It was just an ordinary lunch hero.

“Does it really have to be the most expensive thing on the menu?”

The coworker closest to him laughed and shrugged. “Hey, if spirits are willing to pay for it, then why not? Don’t look so bummed. Your lunch heroes really do taste out of this world. It’s not like we’re lying to the customers.”

Ritsu knew the customers could read the ingredients of the Heaven Born Lunch Blessing, compare them to that of the Ordinary Lunch Hero and see that they were the same exact thing. But the bright neon chalk in huge letters that read: CHEF’S SPECIAL! LIMITED OFFER! was pretty distracting. Not to mention, using words like “blessing” and “ordinary” was misleading.

“But we are lying to them,” Ritsu said. Gong-jon back at the sketchy noodle house where he used to work would pull stuff like this too. Except he was a lot more shady about it. The stuff that he tried to mark up was usually expired.

“Ritsu?” Another coworker came by to top off a refill. “What’s getting you down, buddy?”

The first coworker explained, “He’s bummed because the boss is jacking up the prices on the menu for the new order.”

“It’s not new!” Ritsu gripped his spatula, never losing focus on his task despite how aggravated he was. “There’s nothing blessed or heavenly about what I’m doing. I’m cooking patties. That’s it. I don’t know why they come out the way they do, but it’s nothing special. I’m not special.”

The two spirits faltered, glancing at each other in search of the right words.

Ritsu couldn’t look at them now. He tried to roll out the tension in his shoulders as layered on the cheese.

“Um… boss?”

The flamingo spirit came over. “What is it? Are you two harassing Ritsu? I told you to get those napkin dispensers filled up. And where’s that order of heroic nuggets? Customers are waiting.”

“Is it okay if we change the name on the new item?” The first employee asked.

The other one chimed in. “Yeah! Can we just call it an Ordinary Lunch Hero, but leave the chef’s special price?” Then, lowering her voice, she said, “I think it bugs Ritsu that we don’t just call them lunch heroes.”

The flamingo manager shrugged. “Sure. I don’t care. Get one of the new kids to change the sign. But don’t adjust the rate or I’ll make you scrub toilets for a week.”

Ritsu wasn’t really sure what just happened. After the boss walked off, he tried to catch his coworkers’ eye, but they both scampered off. He felt better, but a little embarrassed too. He was also pretty sure that leaving the price where it was was bound to rile up some customers.

Over the course of the day, nothing really changed. Word must have spread on how legit the chef’s special item was at the Lunch Hero because Ritsu didn’t hear a word about a complaining customer or someone asking for a discount.

During a lull in his shift, his coworker from earlier came over and lightly punched him in the shoulder.

“See? We don’t have to lie to customers. They eat your burgers and know that something really cool is happening here.” She looked up at the kitchen ceiling where the fluorescent panels swung from gray, tangled wires.

Ritsu looked down at his hands, just now noticing the fine glow in his fingertips.

“Something cool…”

The light glinted in the jade of Ritsu’s earring. He reached up to touch it, letting his knuckles brush against the ornamental grooves.

“I never really thought about it that way.”