Flawed Beauty Restaurant

The night shifted in as Orion emerged from his apartment, fresh and ready for his interview. He had bunked today's classes in favor of resting his troubled mind at home.

Ed and he separated in the morning on the way back where he told him he would be living close to him. So he could contact him when necessary, although he had yet to find an apartment.

He warned him about Florence and her business talk. She had invited them to work with her or we could even join her company but Ed politely declined.

Fortunately, she took the rejection pretty well and only warned us to never cross her and all that yada-yada. Vampires are under her and a problem with one of them would lead to a problem with her.

When both of them departed from the place, it was Roger who raised the important question to Florence,

"My lady, why so much attention to them?

They are weak, and not worthy of your direct attention, and about the warning, I'm sure I could have given the same?"

Florence smiled as she closed her eyes,

"Orion Trudger? I invited him to know what he is exactly?

And the result, ….huh he is just another pretty boy with a big name. No need to pay any attention to him in the future.

But remember we shouldn't touch him. At least not in public, till he is still riding his wave of popularity. He is no use to us."

Although this conversation happened after, Orion had departed. He would be more than happy to know he had exited from the view of the Queen due to his apparent mediocrity.

His phone rang as he checked the message from Ai while taking the lift down.

"Where are you? You didn't come to college?"

Great, Orion rolled his eyes. No sorry for that last stunt you pulled off and also about that girlfriend of yours who came to pick you up.

But he didn't want to appear sour to her thus replied simply.

"Resting from the hangover. Interview at the restaurant now. "

"Cool….You shouldn't drink more than you can stomach. Remember that."

This bi*ch! Orion felt anger coursing through his spine on her words. He took a deep breath to relax himself and then walked towards the taxi he had booked.

"Ebisu, Flawed Beauty Restaurant "

He gave the address to the driver who took it pretty calmly. Although the restaurant was not as popular he thought, it still was known to these local drivers.

He watched as Tokyo once again waking for the nightlife with people all around walking to their destination. Some happy, some busy, some embroiled in their catacombs of emotions. It was the dense array of people who make Tokyo, and the wide range of their feelings and purpose make them truly unique.

'Wonder, what is my place among all of them ?'

Orion began to daydream as he passed through brightly lit Tokyo traffic, seated on the back seat of the Taxi.

His concentration broke as his phone vibrated at the exact time the car pulled into the Flawed Beauty Restaurant(Wabi-sabi).

He checked the message to be again from Ai but it said only one thing which instantly gave him a pretty headache.

"Professor Ren was remembering you…." And it was followed by three laughing with tears emoji.

He closed his phone as he prepared his mind for the interview. Although he didn't have any official degree or training. He had to convince the owner of his food. He should not mess up today.

He entered the restaurant to witness the decent crowd in the sitting area. Some of them looked like regulars while some of them were tourists visiting for the first time. He made his way to the same reception girl who was there yesterday.

"Welcome, sir!. Are you here for a complaint, custom order, or bookings of private rooms?"

"No, no. I am here to meet the owner. I am here for the interview. "

Orion looked at her and gave his best warm smile. The girl looked up from her computer screen,

"So you are here for the job. Don't worry, just give your best. Boss looks like a strict old man but is actually a sweet man. And…"

She leaned forward mysteriously to which Orion also leaned towards her. She whispered to him,

"Daughter is the real Boss. Win her trust, you are clear...."

She winked with her eyes to confused Orion and then informed him.

"Go to the left and enter the empty kitchen hall. It is an area for the busy season, usually empty. The boss should be waiting there. All the best."

Orion thanked her politely and walked to the pointed location. He opened the door to find it was just an empty, slightly large room with kitchen appliances fitted in. The rest of the room was empty.

A middle-aged man was sitting on the chair talking with a girl who was sitting opposite to him. They were whispering with each other, occasionally smiling.

"Mm... May I come in Sir?"

Dai turned back at voice and found that young man from yesterday standing at the door. He was wearing a standard but an easy black t-shirt and loose trousers.

"Ah, come in. Come in. "

Orion walked in and upon reaching them he noticed something. The girl, probably his daughter about whom everyone was talking about. She was a cute, petite little girl with black short hair. She must be some fourteen years of age. But the standing out fact other than her cuteness was her wheelchair.

She had only one leg, the other was amputated at her knee. Orion was suddenly saddened by the terrible fate of the girl, but he reigned his thoughts to respond to her.

"Hello Miss, I am Orion. A pleasure to meet you. "

The girl squinted her two small eyes at Orion and then lifted her hand.

"Hi. I am Shino. You...are not from Japan, right?"

Orion smiled,

"Yes, I'm from the states but my parents were Asian, as I was told, and also you could see. "

He replied by rubbing his face. Although he was not so apparent, his Asian descent was pretty obvious.

The Girl smiled,

"So Brother Orion. What are you going to make for me? "

Orion looked at the Dai who just waved to him. It was all fine you could do as she said. He nodded to him and said,

"What about French Apple tart?"

The girl looked confused for a second, then asked

"Is it sweet?"

"Of course, with a sweetness of apples….what do you say?"

The girl nodded,

"Okay."

Orion sighed in his heart. Although it was not very difficult for him to make this dish. He seriously didn't want to mess up to destroy the experience of French apple dessert to this girl.

He quickly gathered the necessary ingredients including apples, flour, unsalted butter, etc. He didn't find jam but guessed simple whipped cream will do.

Quickly he combined the flour, unsalted butter, sugar, and small salt in a food processor and pulse until pea-size crumbles form. He sprinkled some water into the crumbles and pulse it again to moisturize the dough properly.

He put the dough into the lightly floured surface to roll into the shape of the pie. He put it away to rest the dough for one hour and then proceeded to combine almond flour, sugar, salt, egg, and butter to whip the mixture in the dirty bowl of the food processor.

He pulsed the mixture with the help of little alcohol till it became totally smooth. Now waiting for fifteen minutes, he took out the pan and spread the thin layer of frangipane over it, and placed the pie shell over it.

He heated the oven to 375° and then quickly cut the apples into thin slices to form a rose-shaped tight pattern over the pie dough. He arranged them together to minimize the empty spaces and then sprinkled moderate sugar over them. Finally, flecked the cake with butter to add flavor and then placed it in the oven to bake until golden brown.

He presented the freshly prepared French apple tart in front of the excited Kid and served it with whipped cream. He was confident that the girl would like it but was skeptical about the quality demanded by Boss Dai.

As both father and daughter tasted the dessert, they immediately felt the sweetness melting in their mouth along with the crisp flavor of apples. It was certainly one of the best desserts often, demanded by the foodies all over the world. They now realized that this dish absolutely deserves its hype.

"Amazing, Brother …."

Said Shino as she happily helped herself with another generous serving.

Dai looked at his happy daughter and also felt happy. He was working as a chef for the last few decades, he easily found that Orion didn't have professional training but when the taste had ever mattered by schooling.

The taste of the dish is mattered by the Chef's hard work and zeal for delivering the best he could for the food. And Orion although not a proper degree, had this Zeal and most important experience with him. He was satisfied with him and also he was not going to retire.

He could teach this uncut jade along with him. He had potential and hard work is one request, he would never deny a deserving student like Orion. Not to mention he was already at a half-decent level of becoming a chef.

"So Orion, we could now talk about your hours and pay, shall we? "

Orion smiled happily at the new Boss when he heard the girl in the background,

"Brother, you have to make another dish to celebrate the occasion of getting a job."

The trio laughed at her comment as in this way Orion finally became part of this new family of Flawed Beauty Restaurant.