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Quito, the bustling port city of the Amitia Republic, thrummed with activity.

The port teemed with vessels of every size, from large merchant ships to gurries for transport and iron-clad warships. Sounds of water splashing against hulls, the cries of seabirds, and the creaks of masts as sails were hoisted or lowered melded into a symphony of portside life under the clear sky.

A mid-sized ship was docked at the port, with several men carrying luggage down its gangplank. Nearby, larger ships that couldn’t dock sent small boats to shore for transporting passengers and cargo. Shouts and greetings rose from the crowd, their voices carried by the sea breeze to enliven the nearby market of Quito.

Not far from the bustling port, inside a corner restaurant, a different kind of commotion was underway.

“Hiyu, add a white wine steamed flounder for table three!”
“Right away, I’ll start on that as soon as I finish this grilled bluefish with cheese.”

I responded to the proprietress’ order as she bustled about the cramped restaurant, expertly handling a well-worn frying pan.

“—Excuse me, Ma’am. There’s a huge line outside, and we’re running low on ingredients.” Joey, donned in an apron, voiced his concern from behind the counter, his tone uncertain.

“Why are you staring at me? Get to the market, quick! For heaven’s sake, don’t be as useless as that lazybones over there.”
“Um, alright, but what exactly should I get?”
“How would I know? Hiyu knows what we need; ask her!”

With a look as pitiful as a rain-soaked pup, Joey turned to me, seeking guidance after the proprietress’ sharp command.

“Pick up some white fish, flounder, and maybe another large, lean fish. Given the season, grab some herbs for grilling too. Oh, and don’t forget a variety of prawns and other shellfish.”
“Okay, but how much should I buy?”
“Good grief, didn’t you see the crowd? Use your head to judge the quantities! And we’re short on wine and spirits, so add those too.”

“Hmm… well, I’m somewhat familiar with the market, but I’m clueless about where the liquor stores are.”
“Is your head just for show? Or have you lost your tongue? Ask for directions if you’re unsure!”

Clutching a wooden tray, the proprietress playfully smacked it against Joey’s head before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a handful of coins, which jingled as she handed them over.

“Ouch… Okay, got it. I’ll head out now.”
“Take care out there.”
“And no slacking off to snack! We’re about to hit the evening rush, and we can’t have any delays!”

I watched Joey dash out of the restaurant and turned back to my cooking duties. The restaurant was already bustling, and with the evening rush on the horizon, I had to double my efforts.

Reinvigorated, I turned my attention to descaling fish, knife in hand, ready to tackle the task with renewed focus.

I drizzled olive oil into the frying pan, placed the flounder in, flipped it, then took it off the heat to finish cooking on its own… when suddenly— “Wait… why am I even here…?” Confusion struck, and I paused, perplexed by my own actions.

“Hiyu! There’s an order for hololo clam pasta and the white wine steamed flounder for table three—ready yet?”
“Ah, yes, just finishing it up now.”

Caught up in the flow, I quickly plated the freshly prepared dish and passed it to the proprietress as I glanced out of the kitchen. “Oh my goodness!” As soon as I appeared, for some reason, a cheer erupted from the sun-tanned patrons lined up at the entrance. Despite the distraction, I remained focused on my tasks.

Yet, as I re-entered the kitchen, the fleeting doubt faded as quickly as it had arrived.

◆◇◆◇

Now that I’ve finally snapped back to reality, let’s sort things out.

“Just as we finished lunch and settled the bill, preparing to leave, I inexplicably found myself in the kitchen, cooking.”

How did we leap from one scenario to such a wildly different one? It’s bewildering, really.

It felt like pieces of my memory were missing…
I was staring into nothingness…
It felt like I was merely filling in temporarily…
Phrases like ‘finish what you started’ echoed in my head…
I encountered the daunting presence of a ‘dried-fish woman.’

As the day turned to night and the details remained hazy, we were finally able to shut the shop. Exhausted, Joey and I collapsed onto a table and chairs. Once we’d regained our composure, we reflected on the day’s events.

“Still with us, Hiyuki?”
“Just about… feels like I’m down to my last few HP.”
“Odd question, but do you know why we ended up helping out?”
“Oddly enough, I was asking myself the same thing…”

We wearily got to our feet and looked at each other. Our attention then drifted to the Proprietress, who was enthusiastically tallying up the day’s sales in the back.

“As I recall, we were just leaving after our meal when the proprietress’ piercing voice called us back.”
“Just as we turned around, the proprietress emerged, her husband hoisted onto her back from the depths of the shop.”

A noise like an earthquake preceded the proprietress’ arrival; worry etched on her face. Her imposing figure commanded space, and as she passed by, she demanded, ‘My husband’s hurt his back, so I’m off to our healer. Mind the shop!’ She didn’t wait for a response and hurried off, stirring up a cloud of dust.

I assumed the shop would stay quiet, so after updating my discreetly stationed security team about the situation, I returned. However, contrary to my expectations, passersby who had been observing from a distance began to flood in, occupying tables and counters and placing orders as if drawn by some unseen force.

The kitchen was well-stocked, so I started preparing dishes swiftly. Joey, leveraging his past experience as a shop assistant, took on the role of waiter. We were both preoccupied with serving the unexpectedly growing crowd, all the while awaiting the proprietress’ return, which seemed increasingly unlikely as more customers streamed in.

The bustling of the shop had us in a near-trance-like state when the proprietress finally returned. I felt a fleeting moment of relief—short-lived as her expression shifted from shock to a mischievous grin. ‘You’re not planning to quit just when it’s getting busy, are you?’ she joked, half-pulling us deeper into the fray by the scruffs of our necks.

That’s how we found ourselves embroiled in this chaotic situation. “Isn’t it a bit much that we got roped into their domestic spat?” I mused.

“Give it up; it’s just a typical marital spat. Wait a moment—I’ve just remembered something crucial.”

We both let out a sigh of relief, only for Joey’s face to suddenly light up with realization.

“What is it?”
“You know, we could’ve avoided all of this if you had just healed Master’s back earlier, right?”
“……”

Regret, they say, is the feeling of remorse after the fact—hence the term “regret.” Without realizing it, I found myself cradling my head in my hands, when suddenly, the door flew open with a loud bang.

“Thanks for stopping by, but we’re closed for the day!” The proprietress looked up and kindly asked the newcomers to leave.

“Whoa, this is it! They said there’s a beauty here who can get you anything, right?” Completely ignoring her, a group of four or five men swaggered in, making their presence known.

Though the sun had just begun to set, the night already creeping in, the men were visibly intoxicated, their faces flushed from the alcohol. They were young, dressed in high-quality clothes, yet they wore them carelessly, giving off a reckless and untamed vibe.