The next morning, the two humans were sparring once more in the clearing, Shadow making it more difficult for Anne to properly put on a solid defense, but she managed to adapt, using everything she learned to stay standing, even managing to get several successful attacks in, although they barely did any actual damage. Still, it didn't stop her from trying, as she continued this back and forth with Shadow, taking in any criticism her teacher had and improved upon it.
When they stopped, Anne was wheezing heavily, hunched over and her hands on her knees, before Shadow helped her over to a bench to allow her to sit.
"You're doing better." The boy complimented. "Still, you have a ways to go."
"Thanks." Anne nodded. "I'm still not sure why you're going so hard on me all of a sudden."
Shadow frowned, "There's a lot of dangers beyond the valley that make the creatures here look like small fry. I want to make sure you're ready for when the time comes for us to depart."
"Wait, we're leaving?" Anne said in surprise.
"Not yet." Shadow said sternly. "Only when and if I decide you're ready. So until then, have patience and continue your training."
Anne nodded, then her stomach growled, "Is it too soon for lunch break?"
"It never is." Shadow chuckled.
Sighing, Anne undid the wrappings around her arms while Shadow went to put away the practice weapons, but stopped when he thought he heard something. Focusing his aura, he sensed a fast-moving force coming in his direction.
Anne took notice of Shadow's delay and asked, "Everything alright, Teach?"
Opening his eyes, Shadow quickly drew out his sword to block the fast-approaching blade that was aimed for his head, the attacker jumping some distance away. Taking a better look, the attacker was a green-skinned newt with a yellow underbelly, blues eyes, and lightning yellow hair covered by a dark yellow bandana and wore a red sash over a dark green coat that closed at the waist but opened at the torso, showing his abs, along with black pants and shoes. Despite how tall he seemed to be, he was actually only twelve years old. He also had his swords drawn, while having a third sword clamped in his mouth. The swords themselves looked like katanas, each of varying designs and colors.
"Who's this Zoro looking guy?" Anne gasped.
No words were exchanged between the two before the newt charged forward, swinging his blades forward, Shadow jumping to the side to dodge, swinging his sword, only for the stranger to block with his two swords in his hands, before a fourth blade shot out from behind, Shadow leaning to the side to dodge before jumping away, seeing the attacker holding a fourth sword with his rather long tail.
"Whoa." Anne said in awe. "Zoro, eat your heart out."
The stranger then charged forward, attacking with stabs, slashes, and hacking, Shadow easily blocking and parrying every one, before swinging his odatchi upward, knocking off the attackers balance before swinging downward, sending him skidding back.
Chuckling, Shadow relaxed his stance, "I see you've added yet another sword to your arsenal."
The stranger relaxed his own stance, sheathing his blades one by one, "My latest addition, actually." He held the fourth blade with a lightning yellow color. "The previous owner was pretty fast, but not quick enough."
Watching the whole exchange, Anne had a confused look on her face. One minute, this newt was just now trying to kill her mentor, now they're just talking like old friends.
"What's going on here?" She finally asked.
Sheathing his blade, Shadow gestured to the newt, "Anne, meet Kaemon; friendly acquaintance and sparring partner."
"As well as his student in the way of the sword!" The newt declared proudly. "And who might you be? Another student?"
"Kaemon, this is Anne Boonchuy." Shadow introduced. "She's the lost girl I took in and since then started teaching her my ways."
"Ah, so another student!" Kaemon declared with a smile before offering a hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Anne!"
Anne shook the newt's hand, before her stomach growled, making her flush with embarrassment, "Hey, can we get something to eat? I'm starving."
"Let's head down to Stumpy's." Shadow suggested. "I don't really feel like cooking today."
"Aw, that's too bad." Anne frowned. "I could have your cooking every day."
The trio went down to Wartwood before arriving at what looked like a run-down frog restaurant. Upon entering, it was clear that it clearly a dump. The floor was covered in water, there was moss growing on the furniture, bits of food was scattered about and there were spider webs everywhere. And on top of that, there was a skeleton sat at a table for some reason.
"Oh, wow. This place is not to code." Anne said before she saw a rat crawl on a table and eating out of a bowl of soup while the frog just stirred it. The rat then quickly pulled its head out and threw up.
The trio soon sat down and looked at their menus. "Oh, man. The font on these menus is way too small. Rookie mistake." Anne said with a smirk.
"You must know a lot about restaurants, huh." Kaemon pointed out.
"Yeah, my parents actually own a Thai restaurant back home." Anne said, holding up her phone showing a picture of her cat. "Oh whoops. Hold on." Scrolling through the pictures, she stopped at the picture of the restaurant. "I used to work there all the time and help out. I hope their doing okay without me."
"If they're anything like you, Anne, I'm sure they're still going strong." Shadow said with a reassuring smile.
"Thanks, Teach." Anne returned the smile with a blush on her face.
Kaemon watched the interaction with intrigue, taking notes, before a frog came over with their food. He was a sizable amphibian with yellow-colored eyes and a white shirt, stained with grease and drinks. He had a spatula for one hand and a cleaver for another. One of his legs was missing and had been replaced with a piece of wood. He also had a crab's leg in his mouth and a greasy chef's hat.
"Here you are. Three bowls of slop." He said, dropping three bowls on the table. "Enjoy. Or don't. Makes no difference to me." He then walked off with a dead look in his eyes.
"Thanks, Stumpy." Shadow said before taking a spoonful, much to Anne's disgust.
"You're seriously eating that?" She questioned.
"I've had worse." Shadow shrugged.
"So, how did you two end up meeting?" Kaemon asked.
"I was lost in the woods, hiding in caves and logs when Shadow found me." Anne explained. "He killed two giant mantis' before taking me in."
"She's adjusting well so far." Shadow said. "And like I said, I've been training her, until we find a way to get her back home."
"Ah, understandable." Kaemon nodded.
"So, how did you two know each other?" Anne asked.
"It was a three years ago, when I first met him." Shadow said. "He was a prisoner before I freed him."
"Ever since then, I became his student in the way of the blade!" Kaemon declared proudly. "I went on a journey three years ago to improve my skills!"
"Are you sure you didn't get lost again?" Shadow asked with a raised brow.
"Shut up!" Kaemon said. "Not my fault those maps are hard to read!"
"Excuse me, hello. Over here. Yoo hoo!" A voice called out, the trio looking over to see Stumpy being stopped by a newt, and judging by the way he looked and dressed, he certainly wasn't born and raised in Wartwood. The newt was green with a light green underbelly and darker green spotted tail, had teal hair tied in a ponytail with a purple bow. He wore a purple overcoatlined with golden buttons shaped like crosses, black pants and purple dress shoes with yellow buttons, and a black tricorn hat on his head.
"There be a problem, sir?" Stumpy asked blandly, walking back over to him.
"Um, yes, there's only one fly in my soup." The newt complained. "There should be dozens! I mean, how hard is it to run a restaurant, anyway? You just put food on tables. A tadpole can do it."
"Who's that jerk?" Anne asked before groaning in annoyance. "And why won't he shut up?"
"That would be Albus Duckweed." Shadow said, sending a stink eye towards the newt. "He writes reviews for the paper. They have comic strips sometimes that I bring Sprig."
"Lousy heckler thinks he's all that because he talks good." Kaemon stuck out his tongue.
"A food critic." Anne huffed. "Say no more. We dealt with snobs like him all the time back home. Just listening to him is driving me crazy." She then groaned in annoyance as she tried block out the newt, to no avail. "I can't take this anymore!"
"Anne, don't get involved." Shadow tried to warn her, but the Thai girl had already gotten up and made her way over to the complaining newt.
"I mean, seriously, look at this place." Duckweed continued to complain.
"Hey. Lay off, buddy." Anne said. "Running a restaurant is hard."
"Kid, what are you doing?" Stumpy asked with a nervous sweat.
Duckweed only laughed, "Ha! Well, what does a creature like you know about running a restaurant?"
"Well, what does a little lizard like you know about anything?" Anne countered as Shadow and Kaemon got up and approached. "Besides, my parents ran a restaurant back home, so I know what I'm talking about."
"Anne, let's calm down here." Shadow said, trying to defuse the situation.
"Yeah, he's not worth it." Kaemon nodded.
Duckweed didn't take the lizard comment well before responding, "Well, if your parents are anything like you, I'm sure their restaurant was terrible."
Anne certainly didn't take that comment about her parents restaurant any better, and Shadow could tell when he saw her eyes flash blue for a moment, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder to calm her down.
"Oh, yeah? Well, tell you what, then." Anne said with a challenging look. "Why don't you come back in, I don't know, two days or something?" She said as she pushed the newt towards the door. "And we'll have completely turned this place around."
"Anne, what are you doing?" Shadow asked.
"I, uh, I beg your pardon. What?" Stumpy said, sharing the same sentiment as Shadow.
"Oh, a wager, is it? Fine, I'll be back in two days." Duckweed said confidently, taking off the napkin from his neck and dropping it. "Looking forward to writing my review and shutting this place down."
With the newt gone, Shadow turned to Anne with a serious glare, "Anne, have you lost your mind?!"
"Nope, I'm pretty sure I'm in my mind!" Anne declared confidently.
"Kid, what have you done?" Stumpy cried as they walked back to the booth. "That was the most popular critic in town. One bad review from him and we're finished."
"Stumpy, I know I got carried away, but we can do this." Anne said. "The Boonchuy family pride is at stake."
"You mean Stumpy's job is at stake." Kaemon deadpanned.
"Look, I'm sure we can do this." Anne ignored the jab. "What do you say?"
"I say... you just put me out of business." Stumpy said before limping back to the kitchen. "Bound to happen eventually, I suppose."
Just then, the Plantars walked in, Hop Pop saying, "Hey, kids! What's happening?"
"Anne just promised to save this restaurant." Shadow said.
"In two days." Kaemon added.
"By herself?" Polly asked from atop Sprig's head.
"Yep. That's, uh, that's pretty much what just happened." Anne said before facepalming, realizing how in over her head she was. "Uh, me and my big mouth."
Shadow and Kaemon looked at each other with concerned looks before Shadow stood at Anne's side.
"Not by yourself, no." He said, putting a hand on Anne's shoulder. "She may be the idiot in the situation, but I'm not gonna leave her to struggle."
"Neither will I!" Kaemon declared with a smile. "I'll always be willing to help a fellow student!"
"Thanks guys." Anne smiled before realizing something. "Wait, did you just call me an idiot, Shadow?"
"Sticks and stones, Anne." Shadow only said.
The next morning, Shadow yawned as he got up, getting dressed before preparing a quick breakfast of a steak sandwich. After eating, he went to Anne's room to check on her, only to find it empty. Knowing exactly where his friend would be, Shadow left his hut and made his way to town, going through the front door, still dark inside, and Anne nowhere to be seen. Going behind the counter, the boy entered the kitchen, seeing Anne standing under a lit mushroom, her hair messier than usual and bags under her eyes.
"Hey, Shadow!" She greeted with a big, creepy smile and a two-finger salute.
"Anne, how long have you been waiting here?" Shadow asked.
"All night. Couldn't sleep." Anne replied. "Too excited! Now, let's get down to business!"
Before Shadow could respond, the two saw Stumpy enter through the back, with Kaemon helping him haul in an alligator looking creature.
"Thanks again for helping me, lad." The frog said.
"Think nothing of it!" Kaemon declared with a smile.
Stumpy reached over and tapped on a mushroom to light the room up. At first, it didn't work. A second time, it finally did.
"Dang mushroom needs replacing. Not that it matters anymore." He grumbled to himself, before turning to see Anne and Shadow, much to his shock. "Mother of pearl!"
"Hey, Stumpy!" Anne greeted.
"How did you get in here?!"
"Front door." Shadow spoke up. "Honestly, you should lock it properly sometime."
"So, you ready to beat that critic?" Anne asked with enthusiasm.
Stumpy only scoffed before dragging in his kill and setting it on the table, "Creepy kid."
"What do you wanna start with?" Anne asked. "Change the menu, redecorate..."
Suddenly, a part of the ceiling caved in, green goo spilling on the floor.
"Burn this place to the ground and start over?" Kaemon suggested, partially joking.
"Look, kids, you're on your own." Stumpy waved them off, a look of sadness on his face, as though he was done with everything. "Do whatever you want. It's not gonna make a difference in the end, anyway."
Anne only laughed in response, "Oh. That is where you're wrong."
With Anne walking off, Kaemon turned to Shadow, "She does know what she's doing, right?"
Giving it some thought, Shadow made to go after his friend, "We'd better help her out."
Kaemon nodded before going after his master to make sure Anne knew what she was doing.
Soon enough, the trio began work on getting the diner cleaned up, Anne playing some music while they worked, Anne mopping the floors while Shadow handled the dusting and peeling away the moss, while Kaemon worked on polishing the booths and tables. They soon started gathering up trash, but not before they threw Wally out, who wouldn't leave.
"That's not gonna stop me from comin' back!" The vagrant shouted, before Kaemon pointed a sword in his face, making him change his tone. "But your pointy thing might!"
After chasing out Wally, the trio placed all the trash in trash bags before taking them outside, Anne seemed to struggle with hers, the tightly packed bag suddenly broke apart right over her head, covering her in filth. The Thai girl wiped herself down as best she could before throwing what she could into the dumpster, only for said dumpster to sprout limbs, teeth, eyes…yeah, it was actually a large lizard, the Thai girl screaming before running behind Shadow, the boy only raising a hand to make the lizard halt and sit, the boy picking up one of the bags and throwing it in the lizards mouth.
Anne watched in utter confusion before the boy shrugged at her, "I knew about that garbage lizard."
With the garbage thrown out, the trio then turned to the mounds of dishes stacked dangerously high in the kitchen, Anne sighing before grabbing the spray eel to get started, only for said eel to go crazy and start spraying her and the boys. It then sprayed the tower of dishes, causing it to almost fall over, but thankfully, Stumpy stopped it from falling over, the cook smiling before throwing up one of the plates, Anne then spraying it with water, the now clean plate landing in Shadow's hand before the next was caught by Kaemon, the boys setting them in the dish rack, the four soon finished in record time.
Soon enough, the four finished cleaning up the inside, now looking spotless.
"I gotta hand it to you, kids. This place looks great." Stumpy said with a smile. "We even scrubbed the Wally out. The critic is gonna be blown away."
"Blown away? Ha! No." Anne said before walking over to the window. "All we've done is mop the floors and clean some dishes. This place is still a house of broken dreams."
Upon drawing back the curtains, the outside of the diner was still a wreck, the diner sign having just fallen down and several chicken-looking flies barfing all over the roof.
"Harsh, but on point." Stumpy admitted.
"If we're gonna impress that critic, we've got a lot more work to do." Anne declared.
"Which means a complete and total transformation." Kaemon added.
"What do you mean? Like placemats?" Stumpy asked.
"Bigger." Anne pulled out a schematic for the restaurant.
"Oh. I'm gonna need me hammer hand for this." Stumpy said, putting on his hammer hand.
Soon enough, they got to work, and in record time, they finished. After Stumpy went home, Anne decided to camp out in the restaurant, Shadow deciding to stay to keep her company, while Kaemon decided to head back to the hut.
"I'm proud of you, Anne." Shadow said. "Even though it was still a bullheaded move, you still went out of your way to help someone."
"It just really reminded me of home." Anne said as she finished sewing together her dress. "I'm never allowed to speak out against critics and risk my family's restaurant. But now, I have a chance to help turn things around while telling that critic where he can shove it!"
"And I'm sure your parents would be proud." Shadow said with a warm smile.
Anne smiled back as she held his hand, "Thanks, and I'm sorry for getting you and Kaemon wrapped up in this."
"It's no big deal." Shadow dismissed it. "Besides, I was about to get around to helping the old man out sooner or later anyways."
Anne felt grateful for it before asking, "Do you miss your parents sometimes? From Earth?"
Shadow frowned at this, "I could never miss what I never knew. Like I said, I was brought to Amphibia when I was a newborn, so my memory of my birth home is nonexistent."
Anne felt her heart ache at this, only imagining what it would be like to be taken from your original home and having no knowledge of what it was like. Anne always thought that she had it bad, but after hearing how Shadow ended up in this world? She decided that he had it worse.
"Well, how about this," She said. "Once we find my friends and a way back home, I can show you everything about my home. Create new memories and meet new people. Maybe consider a new path in life."
Shadow seemed to consider this. He knew that it was only a matter of time before he no longer needed to hold his sword. And from hearing more about Anne's life in her world, on Earth, it made the recluse want to see more of the world he missed out on for so long.
"I'll consider it." He decided. "It will take time to get used to some things."
"That's what I'm here for." Anne declared with a smile. "I'll help you through it all the way!"
Shadow smiled at this, "Thank you Anne."
The two soon laid in the booths to sleep, ready for the next day.
The next morning came, as the frogs of Wartwood woke up and went about their day. However, they were amazed by how different Stumpy's diner looked, as a large crowd form outside the restaurant. Lotus flowers surrounded the restaurant in the surrounding ponds, a lotus-themed water fountain sitting in front of the building and paper lanterns hanging from strings. But the most notable change was the entrance of the building, which had a multi-tiered roof over the door.
Stumpy's new Lily Pad Thai diner was now open.
The frogs entered the establishment, Anne greeting them in a traditional Thai attire known as a 'Sabai', consisting of a green wrapped skirt with a geometric print, a cream breast cloth draped over one shoulder, a chain of flowers in her hair and an elaborate flower bracelet on her wrist.
"Sawadee kha." She said in her thainese language, putting her hands together and bowing. "And welcome to Stumpy's! Wartwood's first frog-Thai fusion restaurant, now with napkins." She emphasized by holding up a neatly folded napkin, much to the amazement of the frogs.
Behind her, Shadow and Kaemon poked their heads out, both wearing aprons and chef's hats.
"Hello, everyone!" Shadow greeted. "Who's hungry?"
Everything was going smoothly. While was taking the orders and checking on the customers, the boys were handling the cooking the food.
"Need a refill of fly iced tea? On the house, sweetie." Anne said as she poured a glass for a customer.
"Order up. Enjoy!" Shadow declared, putting another order of three plates of curry at the window, Kaemon strolling by and taking the plates before setting them before three frogs, all three enjoying the food.
"I'll take the maggot larb." Sadie Croaker said, holding a menu. "Did I say that right? Larb?"
"It's actually pronounced 'laap'." Anne politely corrected.
"Well, how about that? One foot in the grave and still learning new things." Mrs. Croaker said with a smile.
Looking out the window, Shadow smiled at how busy the diner looked, pleased with the work that he and his friends had put into it. Looking at Anne, he couldn't help but admired how amazing she looked. Beautiful, even. Shaking those thoughts from his head, he went back to focusing on the food.
Stumpy rang the bell for another order, Kaemon coming by to take it, "I've never seen this place so packed." The frog said in amazement. "What- What's this weird feeling in me chest?"
"That is called hope." The young newt assured. "I think we might actually pull this off, dude."
Their attention was drawn by a constant ringing of the service bell, looking to see it was the Plantars, Sprig constantly ringing the bell before Anne stopped him.
"Please. Please stop ringing that bell."
"Anne, this place is amazing." Sprig said.
"You weren't kidding when you said you were good at this." Hop Pop admitted.
"Oh, yeah! Score one for Anne!" The Thai girl boasted, but a sharp cough from Shadow and a stink eye from Kaemon made her change her tone. "I haven't forgotten you, boys!"
"So, table for three." Hop Pop requested.
"Ooh, sorry guys. All the tables are full." Anne said apologetically.
Suddenly, a frog at a booth cleared his throat, before revealing to be a costume as he unzipped himself, Albus Duckweed taking off the costume.
"They can have my table. I am done here."
Anne let out a surprised gasp, "It's..."
"Duckweed! He's here!" Stumpy gulped.
Back in the kitchen, Shadow and Kaemon prepared more plates to send out.
"I must say, this has been quite the experience." The newt said.
"I've always dreamed of working in a restaurant." Shadow nodded. "Who'd thought that having a guest could change your perspective on things."
"The human girl's really changed you, master." Kaemon said. "And I must say, it's a good thing."
"Yeah, it would seem so." Shadow nodded, a hint of red on his face.
Before they could banter further, Stumpy and Anne barged in, both in a panic.
"Boys, we've got a problem!" Anne declared. "The critic's here and it's not looking good!"
"What? How?!" Shadow replied in shock. "After all the work we've put into it?!"
"Turns out, he's pretty stingy." Anne explained. "Even had a disguise to get e genuine experience."
"Huh?" Shadow tilted his head in confusion.
"That's it. It's over. We're finished!" Stumpy said in a panic. "The second that review goes up, this restaurant goes down."
Anne then smacks the cook in the face to calm him down, "Pull yourself together, man. We can do this. It's time to bring out the big guns. My parents' squid and basil special. No critic in town could resist."
"Okay." Stumpy nodded, before Anne suddenly smacked him again. "I already said okay!"
"Sorry, sorry. I am amped!" Anne said before Shadow suddenly smacked her in the face. "Ow! Hey!"
"Sorry, I'm also energized from this." He shrugged before catching Kaemon's hand. "Really?"
"Oh, sorry, I thought it was a thing." The newt chuckled nervously.
Anne then stepped out and approached Duckweed's table, "Hey, we've got a special dinner just for you. Be right back."
"Don't go anywhere." Stumpy called.
"Amusing." Duckweed said with a smug smirk. "All right, I'll play your little game."
"So...this mean we can't have your table?" Hop Pop asked.
A few seconds later, Shadow kicked open the back door into the kitchen as he, Kaemon and Anne were pulling in a massive Squid into the kitchen, leaving behind a trail of slime as they pulled it.
"Man, squid are huge here." Anne grunted.
"It's more a kraken, actually." Shadow said.
"Eh, potato, tomato."
Together, they got started on the squid and basil special. Once they were finished, they placed the squid on a large plate and covered it, then placed it on a cart and Anne rolled it out of the kitchen with Shadow and Kaemon following her.
"Make way, coming through!" Anne declared with an excited smile. "All right, dude. Get ready to be blown away."
She then removed the cover, the vary smell alone attracted the critic as his interest and appetite peaked, "Oh, my...What an exotic selection.
The two humans, the newt, and the frog all gave each other a wink, watching with confidence, certain nothing could go wrong.
And that's exactly what happened. You see, for squid and basil, you're usually supposed to cut up the squid, which Anne didn't.
Just as Duckweed was about to dig in, the squid opened its eye and roared, causing the newt to scream as it wrapped a tentacle around his neck, letting out a roar.
"Assassinating your critics, I love it." Polly commented, before the squid grabbed the Plantars, the two humans, swordsman newt and chef toad jumping behind the counter.
"Okay, this is a disaster." Anne said in guilt. "I never should have made this dumb wager."
"Anne, calm down." Shadow said. "Maybe we can't save the restaurant, but we sure can save those people's lives. What do you say?"
Anne looked back at him in awe before giving a confident smirk, "I say...let's crush this calamari!"
"Master, allow me to take your stead!" Kaemon declared, readying his swords. "I'd like to show you the fruits of my training!"
"Sounds fine with me." Shadow nodded, before pulling a lemon from Wally's mug. "Anne, while Stumpy and Kaemon distract it, you hit it in the eye with this."
"You've got it!" Anne nodded, taking the lemon before turning to the newt and frog. "You guys ready?"
Kaemon tied his bandana around his head and clamped the handle of his sword between his jaws, "Let's do this!"
"Ready as I'll ever be." Stumpy declared, replacing his pan with a large tenderizing hammer.
Stumpy and Kaemon then charged the squid, Kaemon swinging his swords to severe the tentacles and free the Plantars and Duckweed, while Stumpy smacked it in the face with his hammer. While the hit did push it back, the squid countered by spraying black in at him, knocking the chef back and covering him in black ink.
The chef linked some of the ink off his face, "Mm... Oh, that's good."
"Now, Anne!" Kaemon declared as he dodged a tentacle before slicing it off.
"Pad See Ew, you later!" Anne declared before squeezing the lemon, sending juice into the squid's eye, causing it to screech in agony.
Crossing his blades, Kaemon rushed forward, jumping at it before driving three of his four blades into its eye, making it screech in pain, the newt driving his swords deep inside, causing its ink to spill all ovr him like blood, letting out one last death shriek before falling over with a thud.
Once the danger was over, the frogs all peaked out from behind their cover spots, seeing the newt covered in ink before he gave the ink a lick, giving a hum.
"Actually not half bad." He said with a smile.
With the danger now over, Anne turned to Duckweed with her hands behind her back, "So, Duckweed. Guess you got a bad review to write, huh?"
After what had happened, they could kiss the diner goodbye.
"Bad...Bad?" The critic said before exclaiming, "That was incredible!"
"I'm sorry, what?" Shadow said in disbelief.
"A food that tries to eat you? The irony, the ecstasy!" He declared. "I simply must tell everyone. To the message board!" And with that, he rushed out, the frogs clapping for the humans and newcomer newt.
"You go, girl!"
"Go, Shadow!"
"They lived in my basement."
"Wait, you guys have a message board?" Kaemon said as he cleaned off his katanas and sheathing them.
"Sure do. It's a literal board." Sprig said, pointing outside to Duckweed approaching a message board that was set up at the center of town, the newt pinning his review on it, giving the restaurant five stars.
"Well, guess we better clean this place up. Again." Anne sighed before facing the chef with shame. "Stumpy, I'm sorry about all this. I took things way too far."
"No way, Anne. This whole thing was a big success." Stumpy said with a smile. "You even convinced this old grump to actually care. If your parents could see this, I'm sure they'd be proud."
"He's right, Anne." Shadow chimed in with a smile. "You were able to turn this place around in just two days and managed it like a boss."
"With our help, of course!" Kaemon added.
The Thai girl smiled gratefully, "Thanks, guys. Put her there." She then offered a hand, the chef gave her his spatula hand before shaking, his hand creaking. "Oh, this feels nice. What is this? Oak? Mahogany?"
"It's carved from the bones of me missing hand.
"Oh, come on!" Anne complained while Shadow laughed.
After the chaos involving the squid, Shadow and Anne returned to the hut, with Kaemon following behind, the humans unsure of why though, especially given the rather large duffle bag he was carrying.
"I've decided, master." Kaemon declared, setting his bag down. "I'm moving in with you!"
The humans looked at each other in surprise before staring back at the newt.
"Why?" Shadow asked.
"Yeah, you could always stay at Felicia's tea shop." Anne pointed out.
"I tried, but she doesn't allow weapons." Kaemon said. "And I wanted to continue my training."
The two seemed unsure until Kaemon dropped a rather large bag with clinking sounds within, "I have rent money."
"Did you pack your toothbrush?/Welcome to the family, dude!" Both humans declared, much to Kaemon's delight.