Shinjuku, Okubo, Yakui Barbecue.
Among the many signs with Chinese characters, this barbecue restaurant's sign alone carried a few hiragana characters. It made it clear to passersby that the owner of this establishment was Japanese.
Aozawa and Hojo Shouko entered the restaurant.
He slid open the wooden door, revealing a light-yellow interior from the floor to the walls and ceiling. The lights above looked like vintage lanterns. The seating arrangement resembled that of a bar, except screens were used to divide each table and chair. But they didn't completely block the view. They just shielded the lower half, with everything above the neck visible to others.
It wasn't peak dining time, so there was no need for guests to wait in line; there were open tables as soon as they entered.
The two settled down, and a server quickly approached with a smile. "May I ask what you'd like to order?"
"We'll have two sets of the Kannazuki combo," Hojo Shouko ordered naturally.
