The next morning, Kevin woke up in Holli's bed, feeling surprisingly refreshed despite the long day before. He leaned over and kissed her forehead gently, then slipped out to take a shower and get ready.
He changed into his sailor-style uniform for the day. After checking himself in the mirror, Kevin headed out and walked the short distance to the Krusty Krab. When he entered the kitchen, he saw a silhouette near the prep station and assumed it was SpongeBob already hard at work.
"Morning, SpongeBob—" he started, but stopped when the figure turned around.
It was Colette.
She froze for a second when she saw him, then gave a small, slightly awkward nod. "Good morning, boss."
"Good morning," Kevin replied warmly, trying to ease the tension. He washed his hands at the sink and joined her at the cutting board, helping slice vegetables and prep ingredients for the day.
The atmosphere between them was noticeably quiet and a little awkward. They worked side by side in silence for several minutes.
Then Colette spoke up softly. "Hey… uhmm…"
Kevin looked over at her.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear shyly. "About yesterday… I just want to say thank you for helping me get home. And about the kiss… I'm sorry about that."
Kevin's eyes widened for a moment, then he smiled gently. "It's no big deal. Don't be sorry for something like that, you were drunk."
"If you say so… still, thank you," Colette said, returning to cutting vegetables with a small, relieved smile.
Kevin glanced at her again and decided to test his new skill. He thought quietly: 'Appraisal'
A blue panel appeared in his vision:
[Name: Colette Tatou ]
[Age: 26 ]
[Affection: 33/100 ]
[Species: Human]
[Lust: 31/100]
[Bond: Acquaintance ]
[Personality: A highly skilled and passionate French chef with a strong sense of professionalism and pride in her craft. Formerly a sous chef at the prestigious Gusteau's restaurant, she is dedicated, quick-learning, and adaptable under pressure. She is straightforward, slightly tsundere, and has a sharp tongue when annoyed, but softens noticeably around people she respects. ]
[Kinks: Being praised during intimate moments, having her skills appreciated in and out of the kitchen (praise kink), being gently pinned or held down. ]
[Description: A main character from the movie 'Ratatouille'. After the closure of Gusteau's due to a rat infestation scandal and the mismanagement by Skinner, she lost her job and has been struggling to find a new position that matches her talent and passion. She is hardworking, loyal once she trusts someone, and secretly craves recognition for her abilities. She is also a very low drinker, two glasses of wine are usually enough to make her tipsy or fully drunk, and she tends to become more affectionate and bold when intoxicated.]
Kevin raised an eyebrow at the details, then decided to test something. While chopping onions beside her, he said casually, "You're really good at this, Colette. Your knife work is clean and fast, way better than mine. I can already tell you're going to make the kitchen run smoothly."
Colette paused, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. "Thank you, boss."
Kevin noticed the Affection meter in his vision tick up by 0.5.
A moment later, the front door rang. SpongeBob burst into the kitchen with his usual energy.
"Good morning, boss! Good morning, Colette!" he greeted cheerfully, already grabbing an apron.
Kevin smiled. "Morning, SpongeBob. Help us finish prepping, we open soon."
By 9:30 AM, most of the ingredients were ready. Kevin stepped out of the kitchen and saw Margaret walking in with another girl beside her.
The new arrival was a short, anthropomorphic mole girl with light brown fur, large round glasses, and a nervous but eager expression. She wore a simple blouse and skirt, clutching a folder tightly to her chest. Her buck teeth were visible when she smiled shyly, and she had a slightly awkward, endearing posture.
Margaret waved. "Good morning, boss! This is my friend Eileen. She saw the job posting and wanted to apply for a waitress position."
Kevin smiled warmly. "Nice to meet you, Eileen. Let's go to my office and talk."
They moved to the corner office. Eileen sat down, introduced herself politely, and handed over her resume. Kevin scanned it quickly, then look at her and thought: 'Appraisal'
[Name: Eileen Roberts ]
[Age: 22 ]
[Species: Anthropomorphic mole ]
[Affection: 0/100 ]
[Lust: 21/100 ]
[Bond: Stranger]
[Personality: A highly intelligent, socially awkward, and endearingly nerdy girl. She is extremely smart, especially in science and academics, but can be clumsy and overly enthusiastic in social situations. She is kind-hearted, loyal to her friends, and has a habit of developing intense crushes. She often hides her feelings behind a shy or overly polite facade. ]
[Kinks: Roleplay (especially teacher/student or scientist scenarios), light choking, being manhandled despite her small stature, secret exhibitionism.]
[Description: A main recurring character from the animated series 'Regular Show. She is sweet, helpful, and often acts as the voice of reason among her group of friends, though her social awkwardness frequently leads to humorous situations.]
Kevin looked up from the resume. "So, Eileen, can you start working right away? We're still short on staff, and today is only our second day."
Eileen nodded eagerly. "Yes, sir! I'm available immediately."
After a few more questions about availability and customer service experience, Kevin smiled and extended his hand.
"Congratulations. Welcome to the Krusty Krab."
Eileen's face lit up. She signed the contract happily, then Kevin handed her a folded sailor uniform. "Go change in the back, then find Margaret. She'll show you how things work around here and what your duties as a waitress will be."
"Thank you so much!" Eileen said, clutching the uniform and hurrying off.
Kevin returned to his computer. He spent the next hour searching for televisions and radios to install in the restaurant for background entertainment, eventually placing an order that would be delivered tomorrow. Then he started looking for a place to live. He browsed listings for houses and apartments for sale or rent as he really need a place to stay.
After some time, one caught his eye, a two-story house in a quiet subdivision near both the restaurant and the Ink & Paint Club. It was being sold by someone named Gaylord Robinson.
"Quite a name," Kevin muttered with a chuckle.
He contacted the seller, who replied quickly and said he could come look at the house right away if he wanted.
Kevin also searched for car dealerships in Toontownsville. One with good reviews stood out: Ink & Chrome Motors. He bookmarked it, planning to visit soon so he wouldn't have to keep relying on cabs.
He stood up, stretched, and decided to head out to see the house while the morning shift was still calm.