Kevin slowly woke up in Holli's bed, the warm morning light filtering through the curtains. Holli was still sleeping peacefully beside him, her blonde hair splayed across the pillow. He leaned over and gently kissed her forehead, then slipped out of bed.
After a quick shower, he changed into his uniform for the day. Since they were still short on staff, he would be working as a waiter for the opening. The outfit was a custom-made nautical-themed sailor-style uniform he had ordered from the same shop where he bought his clothes: a blue short-sleeve shirt with white trim on the sleeves and collar, a red neckerchief tied neatly at the front, a white sailor hat with "AHOY" printed boldly on it, a red-and-white striped undershirt peeking out underneath, and blue pants. A simple watch completed the look.
He checked himself in the mirror and adjusted the hat. Behind him, he heard the rustling of sheets. Holli sat up, rubbing her eyes sleepily. When she saw him, a slow, appreciative smile spread across her face.
"Well… don't you look adorable," she purred, her voice still husky from sleep. "My little sailor boy."
Kevin grinned and walked over to the bed. He cupped her face and gave her a deep, lingering kiss on the lips. "Today's the opening. Invite the club staff to come eat, okay?"
"Hmmm… alright, darling," Holli replied, still smiling.
"I'm heading out now," he said, giving her one last quick kiss before walking out of the club.
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Kevin entered the Krusty Krab and found SpongeBob already there, cheerfully mopping the floor with energetic strokes.
"Good morning, boss!" SpongeBob greeted him brightly, waving the mop like a flag.
"Morning, SpongeBob. You're here early," Kevin said with a smile.
"I couldn't sleep! I'm just so excited for opening day!" SpongeBob replied, practically bouncing in place.
Kevin chuckled. "I can see that. Come on, help me prep the ingredients we'll need today."
They worked together in the kitchen, organizing stations, prepping buns, slicing vegetables, and making sure everything was ready.
An hour later, at 9:30 AM, Colette, Margaret, and Squidward arrived. Kevin had asked them to come thirty minutes early so they could go over last-minute details before the official 10 AM opening.
Kevin gathered everyone in the dining area.
"Today is a big day," he said, looking at his small team. "This is the first day of the Krusty Krab. I want everyone to have fun, stay positive, and give our customers the best experience possible. We're a team now. Let's make this place special."
He then brought out several neatly folded uniforms the same sailor-style outfit he was wearing: blue short-sleeve shirts with white trim, red neckerchiefs, white "AHOY" sailor hats, red-and-white striped undershirts, and blue slack pants or shorts.
"Chop chop, let's get dressed and get busy!" Kevin clapped his hands.
Everyone quickly changed into their uniforms. SpongeBob looked adorably enthusiastic in his, Colette looked professional yet cute, and Margaret's red-and-white feathers contrasted nicely with the blue shirt. Squidward, of course, wore his with visible reluctance.
______
Meanwhile, three bears were walking down the street.
Grizzly, the big brown bear, turned to the white one. "Where should we eat, Ice Bear?"
"Hmmph," Ice Bear shrugged.
Panda was busy looking at his phone when Grizzly suddenly stopped and pointed. "Hey, what's that?"
They walked closer and saw a brand-new restaurant with a large clam-shaped sign and a big "GRAND OPENING" banner hanging over the door.
Grizzly's eyes lit up. "Hey Panda, Ice Bear, let's eat here! It's a new restaurant!"
Panda looked up from his phone and gasped. "Whoa, the design is so cool!"
The three bears stepped inside and were immediately impressed by the nautical theme, steering-wheel tables, barrel chairs, and the unique boat-shaped order counter.
They approached the counter where Squidward stood in his sailor uniform, looking slightly bored.
"Welcome to the Krusty Krab. What's your order?" Squidward asked in his usual monotone.
The bears looked up at the menu board and discussed for a moment before ordering.
Grizzly got a Krabby Patty, Chum Sticks, fries, and orange juice. Ice Bear ordered a Krabby Patty, coleslaw, soft-serve ice cream, and iced tea. Panda chose a Krabby Patty, a milkshake, onion rings, and they added one Krusty Krab Pizza to share.
They paid, and Squidward handed them a numbered stick with "1" on it. The bears found a table, placed the stick in the holder, and sat down.
Panda immediately started taking photos. "This interior is awesome! Even the tables are cool."
A few minutes later, Margaret the red-and-white feathered robin waitress walked over with their orders and said cheerfully, "Here you go! Enjoy your meal!"
Grizzly took his first bite of the Krabby Patty and his eyes widened. "Whoa… this is incredible!"
Even Ice Bear, who usually kept a stoic expression, showed a rare look of pleasure as he ate. Panda hummed happily while devouring his onion rings and milkshake. They all tried the Chum Sticks and quickly became addicted to the crispy, savory flavor. When they finally dug into the Krusty Krab Pizza, all three bears let out satisfied sounds.
The food was hitting harder than they expected.