"Where are you?" Makino called in a playful singsong voice, opening the cupboard and shifting bottles aside. As she searched, a customer's laughter caught her attention, and she turned to see him finishing his drink with an amused grin.
"What's got you so entertained? Need another round?" she asked. "Yeah," he said, still chuckling as he set down his glass. He pointed toward a section of the counter where tiny orange-tipped horns, no taller than five centimeters, jutted up through scattered splinters. "Thanks, but Shhh," Makino whispered, pressing a finger to her lips as she crouched down and threw open the cabinet doors. Inside sat a small boy, his face buried in his hands in a futile attempt to hide.
"How did you even squeeze yourself in there?" Makino asked, fighting back laughter. "You barely fit, and you've poked holes straight through the countertop."
"I don't know," Garso admitted, pointing to the small horns protruding from his head. "It would've been the perfect hiding spot without these giving me away. Your turn to hide now!"
"Not now, little one. It's time to get to work, but we can play more later. Go grab your apron so you don't ruin your clothes."
"Okay, mama," he said without argument, racing to the back room. He returned moments later carrying a wooden stool, which he positioned carefully before climbing up to take James's order just as the emergency town bell began to ring. The piercing sound sent Garso tumbling from his stool to the floor, where he curled into a tight ball, hands clamped over his ears as he screamed in pain.
"What's wrong?" James asked in alarm, leaning over the bar. "Did I say something wrong?" "No," Makino said, rushing to Garso's side as he remained huddled on the floor, now sobbing. "That bell sounds loud to you and me—imagine hearing it five times louder." Her voice carried deep empathy as she knelt beside the trembling child.
She looked up at James with sudden realization. "That was the pirate warning bell, wasn't it?" "I think so, yeah," James said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Why do you—" Before he could finish his question, Makino scooped Garso into her arms and sprinted toward the dock. As his ears slowly stopped ringing, Garso lifted his head and opened his eyes. "Where are we going?" he asked.
Makino's face had lit up as she said excitedly, "he's back. Hopefully to pay back the treasure tab." She said chuckling to herself