Even though the shop was ready, even though the location was perfect and curiosity was already starting to build around the strange two-wheeled machines people had begun whispering about, he knew better than to open without preparation.
So instead of throwing the doors open immediately, he focused on something far more important.
Training.
Atsuko stood in front of the shop, staring at the bike like it was some kind of puzzle she hadn't quite figured out yet, which, to be fair, it was. She had already seen Henry ride it, and she had heard him explain it, but actually getting on it herself was a completely different matter.
"Alright," Henry said, leaning slightly against another bike, arms crossed. "Get on."
Atsuko hesitated.
"Dont be afraid, you'll learn to control it."
She stepped forward, placing her hands on the handle carefully before swinging a leg over, and the moment she settled onto the seat and pushed ahead with her feet the way she had seen Henry do, but the bike wobbled hard instead of going straight.
"I'm going to fall—!"
Henry stepped in instantly, grabbing the back of the seat and steadying it before it could tip over.
"You're not falling, I'm holding the bike, you can pedal" he said calmly.
That became the pattern for the first day.
Atsuko tried, failed, adjusted, and tried again, while Henry stayed close enough to keep her from hitting the ground but far enough that she actually had to learn instead of relying on him completely.
Progress was slow. But it was there.
—
By the second day, she could move forward without immediately losing balance, though it was still shaky enough that Henry didn't trust her without staying within arm's reach.
And she wasn't the only one.
Ganyu had joined them again.
Unlike Atsuko, she wasn't starting from scratch anymore, because the private lessons she had taken with Henry earlier had already pushed her past the initial fear stage. She still wasn't perfect, but she could ride without constant support, and that alone put her far ahead.
Atsuko noticed immediately.
"How is she already doing that?" she asked, watching Ganyu ride in a slow, controlled line across the open space.
Henry glanced over briefly.
"She's had practice."
"That's not fair," Atsuko muttered under her breath, clearly frustrated as her own bike wobbled again.
"You'll get there," Henry said. "Focus on your own balance."
Meanwhile, Ganyu slowed to the foot of a slope nearby, stepping off the bike more smoothly.
"You've improved," Henry said.
Ganyu nodded slightly, though there was a hint of quiet satisfaction in her expression.
"…It's easier than before."
The third day was when things finally started to click.
Atsuko's balance improved, her movements became less rigid, and while she still struggled with turns and sudden shifts, she could ride forward without Henry constantly holding the bike, which was a significant step forward from where she started.
Ganyu, on the other hand, had moved beyond basic riding and was now working on control- turning smoothly, adjusting speed, stopping without overcorrecting.
At one point, she rode past Henry and slowed down beside him.
"…Am I improving?" she asked.
Henry glanced at her, slightly dumbfounded. "Ganyu, you're riding perfectly now—why are you even asking me?"
"…Oh… thank you," she murmured, a faint blush rising to her cheeks at the compliment.
Over those few days, the time they spent together extended beyond just practice, because teaching turned into conversation, and conversation turned into something more natural, less structured than before. Ganyu spoke more now, responded more easily, and didn't retreat into silence the moment things shifted away from work.
—
Training wasn't just about riding.
At some point, Henry shifted Atsuko's focus toward something more practical.
"If you're going to work here," he said, crouching slightly beside one of the bikes, "you need to know how to fix it."
Atsuko blinked.
"…Fix it?"
"Yeah. Maintenance, repairs, basic checks. You won't just be standing around."
She nodded quickly.
He showed her how the parts worked, how to check for issues, how to handle small repairs, and to Henry's surprise, she picked things up faster than he expected.
—
The next day Henry returned to the shop after his lunch at Wanmin restraunt, only to find someone waiting near the entrance.
A young boy with short blue hair stood there, his posture straight, his expression calm in a way that felt oddly composed for his age. His clothes were well-kept, refined and extravagant, and there was a certain confidence in the way he carried himself that didn't come from arrogance, but from familiarity with structured environments.
"Isn't this!!"
He stepped forward the moment Henry approached.
"You wanted a ledger keeper and receptionist for your shop?" he asked.
"I did," Henry replied. "Who are you, young man?"
"I'm Xingqiu," he said without hesitation. "I saw your advertisement at the guild board. Since the shop operates only until the afternoon, I thought it would suit my schedule."
Henry raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…And what are your qualifications, Xingqiu?"
"My father runs a business, and my elder brother manages most of its operations. I've been taught accounting, inventory handling, and basic trade practices from a young age."
Henry watched him for a moment longer, then nodded once.
"Alright," he said. "You're hired."
Xingqiu was surprised at how quickly he was hired, but decided not to question it.
"Thank you for hiring me, Mr?"
"Henry."
—
With everything finally in place, Henry stood inside the shop later that evening, looking at the two of them—Atsuko and Xingqiu—both now assigned clear roles in what would soon become a fully running business.
"You," he said, turning his attention to Xingqiu, "will handle sales, accounts, and customers, so I expect the records to stay clean and nothing to be overlooked."
Xingqiu nodded without hesitation. "Understood."
Henry then shifted his gaze to Atsuko. "You'll be responsible for helping customers learn how to ride and handling any repairs if something comes up, so make sure you stay confident in both."
She straightened slightly and nodded quickly.
"We open tomorrow," Henry said, his tone steady but carrying enough weight to make both of them focus immediately.
"Be here early," he added, glancing between them.
Both of them nodded again, this time with more intent.
With nothing else left to address, Henry bid them goodbye. " Go get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be busy."
---
Only 36 Power Stones. 😭I'm uploading the next chapter anyway, but I expect you all to do the needful on your side too. 100 Powerstones goal.
Read Advanced Chapters on Patreon- we are ahead by 11 chapters
https://patreon.com/A_Peverel