Midnight Fries & Managerial Surprises

Hillary Taylor

Gotoh, those fries have been in for exactly 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Pull them now.

Bocchi

I-I-I was just waiting for the timer to—

Hillary Taylor

We don't wait for timers. We anticipate.

Hillary Taylor

Each second costs us 3.7 cents in oil absorption. Your hesitation just cost McDonald's approximately 18.5 cents.

Bocchi

I-I could pay it back, I have savings from my YouTube—

Hillary Taylor

Your anonymous guitar videos? I know about those.

Nijika

Hillary-san, Bocchi-chan is still learning! She's usually much better when she's not being—

Hillary Taylor

Supervised? Tracked for efficiency metrics? Treated like an employee?

Bocchi

I-I think I'm having an anxiety attack...

Hillary Taylor

Breathe, Gotoh. In for four, hold for four, out for four. I may be your manager, but I'm not a monster.

Bocchi

Y-you're not going to fire me for the fries?

Hillary Taylor

Fire you? You're the only one who can calculate exact oil absorption costs in their head. You're management material.

Bocchi

M-management? But I can't even talk to customers without hiding...

Hillary Taylor

That's what headsets are for. Welcome to night shift management training. The pay raise is 15%.

Nijika

Bocchi-chan! You're going to be our boss!

Bocchi

I need to update my anonymous resignation letter...

Bocchi

I... I just fixed something. In front of people.

Hillary Taylor

Seventy-three seconds. You're getting sloppy, Gotoh.

Bocchi

But I don't fix things. I hide in boxes and play guitar where no one can see me...

Nijika

Bocchi-chan, you're like a mechanical genius! That was so cool!

Hillary Taylor

Technical aptitude noted. Add 'equipment maintenance' to your expanding skill set.

Bocchi

I just wanted the voice in the headset to stop being angry...

Hillary Taylor

Fight response finally kicked in. Better late than never.

Bocchi

It felt like... like when I finally nail a solo I've been practicing for months.

Hillary Taylor

Welcome to management. Where every broken machine is your next performance.

Nijika

Twenty McFlurries done! Bocchi-chan, you saved the night shift!

Bocchi

Do you... do you think I could fix the shake machine next time it breaks? I have some ideas about the motor coupling...

Hillary Taylor

Gotoh, if you can fix our ancient shake machine, I'll make you assistant manager. That thing's been broken since 2019.

Bocchi

I-I'll need my guitar. For the vibrations. To test the motor resonance frequency.

Hillary Taylor

You're proposing to troubleshoot our equipment with power chords. In a McDonald's kitchen.

Bocchi

It's... it's how I understand things. Through sound waves and feedback loops.

Nijika

We're going to have the most musical McDonald's in Tokyo!