It was already 5:30 PM.
The Krusty Krab had been unexpectedly busy for its very first day, a rare and welcome surprise. Customers had poured in steadily throughout the afternoon, drawn by the fresh smell of grilled patties and the eye-catching nautical design. Now, only a few tables remained occupied, the dinner rush finally winding down.
Margaret, the only waitress on duty, finally had a moment to sit down at an empty table near the counter. She let out a tired but satisfied sigh, rubbing her aching feet under the barrel chair.
Kevin glanced at the clock and thought to himself, 'Only 30 minutes left before we close.'
Even though the store hours were a bit early, he wanted to be considerate of his employees. They had already worked a full 8-hour shift with no second team to take over. For now, this schedule would stay.
In the future, once they had more staff, they could extend hours and add night shifts but today, everyone had earned an early close.
When the last customer finally left, Margaret walked over and flipped the "Open" sign to "Closed," locking the door with a soft click.
Kevin gathered the small team in the middle of the dining area.
"Everyone, come here for a second," he said with a proud smile. "I just want to say… today was incredible. For our very first day, we had way more customers than I expected, and you all worked incredibly hard. SpongeBob and Colette kept the kitchen running smoothly, Squidward handled the register like a pro, and Margaret you were fantastic out on the floor even though you were the only waitress. Thank you. None of this would have been possible without every single one of you."
He clapped his hands once. "And because of that… dinner tonight is on me. Let's celebrate! No one escapes."
The group cheered loudly. SpongeBob jumped with joy, Colette smiled brightly, Margaret looked relieved and happy, and even Squidward allowed himself a small, satisfied smirk.
They quickly changed out of their sailor uniforms in the back and met outside. Just a short walk down the street from the restaurant, still close to the border between Toontownsville and Spicy City was a cozy Korean-style barbecue place. They took a large table and ordered a feast: grilled meats, banchan sides, spicy stews, rice, and plenty of beer and wine.
The celebration was lively. They tried different dishes, laughing and sharing stories about the day. Margaret pulled out her phone and raised it for a group selfie.
"Say cheese!" she called.
Everyone leaned in and smiled as the camera flashed.
Kevin raised his glass. "To the Krusty Krab, our first day, and many more to come. Cheers!"
"Cheers!" the group echoed, clinking glasses.
Colette, however, downed her first glass of wine in one go. Her cheeks turned bright red almost immediately. By her second glass, she was already starting to slump in her seat, giggling softly at everything.
The celebration continued with more food and laughter, but Colette only managed three glasses before she was clearly drunk, head resting on the table, eyes half-closed.
When the night finally wound down, Margaret, SpongeBob, and Squidward said their goodbyes and headed off in different directions. Colette, however, was now wobbly and barely able to stand.
Kevin looked at her and shook his head with a sigh. ''To think you can't handle your liquor…"
He gently put her arm over his shoulder, lifted her up, and supported her weight as they stepped outside. He flagged down a cab and helped her into the back seat, sliding in beside her.
Kevin checked Colette's resume on his phone for her address and gave it to the driver. "Terra Verde, Lime street, please."
The driver nodded and pulled away.
_____
Half an hour later, the scenery outside the cab window had changed completely. They were now deep in Spicy City. The nightlife here was vigorous and loud as neon signs for casinos, bars, and strip clubs lit up the streets, giving the area a much wilder, more adult energy than the cheerful chaos of Toontownsville.
The cab stopped in front of a modest apartment building. Kevin paid the fare, then carefully helped Colette out and up to the second floor. He found room 23, fished the keys from her pocket after a bit of fumbling, and opened the door.
The apartment was small but cozy, neat, with simple furniture and a few personal touches. Kevin carried her into the bedroom and gently lowered her onto the bed.
Just as he was about to straighten up, Colette suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she looked at him with hazy, drunken eyes.
"Hey, handsome…" she murmured.
Kevin smiled softly. "Hello, Colette. You should go to sleep now."
"I don't want to…" she said, her voice thick with alcohol. Then, without warning, she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.
Kevin was caught completely by surprise. A soft notification briefly appeared in his vision:
[Toon Essence +15]
He gently but firmly pulled back, lowering her onto the pillow. "You should sleep now, lady. You're getting wild."
Colette pouted for a second before grabbing a pillow and hugging it tightly, already drifting off.
Seeing that she was safe and comfortable, Kevin smiled and shook his head. He quietly left the room, locked the door behind him, and stepped back out into the night air.
He touched his lips lightly and muttered with a small smile, "She tastes like cherry…"
He chuckled at the thought.