"U‑uh… e‑excuse me… ah—"
When she saw Shichen, the girl's eyes clearly lit up with delight for a moment, but she immediately pretended not to know him and shifted her gaze away, taking in the shop's interior instead.
"A customer's here… Kanna, why don't you two go play your game first? I'll join you in a bit."
"Okay—"
Obediently, Kanna took Yoshino by the hand and walked toward the stairs.
"Shichen-nii!" Yoshino waved cutely at Shichen.
Smiling, Shichen waved back.
After the two girls were on the stairs, he turned to the newcomer, gave a small smile, and said,
"Welcome."
"Ah… y‑yes." The girl nodded shyly; to someone inexperienced, Shichen's looks were a bit overwhelming.
"May I help you with something?" he asked the petite girl in a gentle voice.
"Um, hello. I'm Hoshino Ai. This is the famous café from the internet, right?"
After bowing, the girl—Hoshino Ai—asked in a small voice.
"Famous on the internet?" Shichen frowned slightly.
Of course he knew Hoshino Ai.
Although the girl in front of him looked several years younger than he remembered, there was no doubt it was her.
But what was this about a "famous café"?
Tohru and the others hadn't mentioned a thing to him.
"Huh? You didn't know?" Ai was astonished. Her beautiful, star‑like eyes widened, and she unconsciously stepped closer to Shichen.
She pulled out her phone, fumbled it open, tapped a few times, and held the screen out for him.
Shichen moved his gaze from Ai's brilliant eyes to the phone screen, and at a glance his expression turned odd.
"This is…"
What Ai showed him was a tweet with a photo attached—the photo featured a beaming Chisato Nishikigi and a stern‑faced Takina Inoue.
The tweet was clearly introducing this café, and the account that posted it was Chisato herself.
In other words, Chisato had been advertising the café online—without telling him!
The comment section was lively, full of familiar names, everyone calling out "Chisato, Chisato," clearly regulars.
"Um, you're the manager, right?" Ai peeked out from behind the phone, confirming.
"I am." Shichen nodded lightly—he was wearing the manager's uniform, after all.
"Then why do you look like you had no idea?"
"Hmm?" Shichen lifted his eyes from the screen to Ai.
"Sorry, I was just curious," she apologized quickly.
"It's fine… Honestly, I just got back. I really don't know what's been happening in the shop lately."
"Oh, I see…" Ai nodded in understanding and gave a faint smile.
"Then I really did come at the perfect time…"
"What was that?" Shichen pretended not to hear.
"Nothing."
Ai lifted her head, her smile bright. "May I order something? The café's open now, right?"
"Of course."
"Then I'll have a set of handmade cookies and a glass of iced fruit juice."
"No problem. Find a seat anywhere—you'll have it shortly."
"Okay~"
Light‑footed, Ai left the counter and sat at a nearby table for two.
After sitting down, she kept glancing around the shop, curiosity all over her face.
Shichen quietly moved his gaze away and headed to the kitchen to prepare her order.
There was no doubt Ai had come here to see him.
He had noticed her special reaction the moment she entered and saw him.
And it wasn't their first meeting—back when he first left this world, they'd had a brief encounter in a deserted spot.
She'd even seen him vanish into thin air.
Now Ai looked only eleven or twelve, a complete little girl.
If she came looking for him, it could only be out of curiosity—nothing else.
Apparently she hadn't doubted what she saw that day.
"Shichen-dono, what brings you here?" Tohru, who had been experimenting with a new dish, pounced on him as soon as she saw him in the kitchen.
Catching her, Shichen explained, "A customer's arrived."
"So early? Need me to do anything?"
"No, the customer only ordered cookies and juice."
"Okay then."
"Down you go." Shichen smiled and patted her shapely butt.
"Ooh~" Tohru's tail wagged happily and she hopped out of his arms.
Shichen ruffled her hair and started preparing Ai's cookies.
They'd been baked at breakfast, so they were still warm.
Tohru stood beside him, eyes squinting in a smile, her tail swishing in tune with her mood.
Plate ready, Shichen chuckled and asked, "What's got you so happy?"
"Hehe~ Being with Shichen-dono is the best."
"Is that so…"
Shichen paused, set the plate aside, then pulled her into his arms.
"Sorry to keep you waiting so long…"
"It's fine~" Tohru hugged him back. "Shichen-dono's matters are more important…"
"Not just that." He held her tighter. "I also brought Tohka and the others back."
"Well, Shichen-dono is a man—being a bit of a flirt is normal."
Though Tohru said this, her pouting lips showed her jealousy.
"Tohru…"
He released her, cupped her face, and gazed into her golden eyes.
He knew she'd be jealous, and he knew his own feelings.
Guilt alone wasn't manly; what mattered was making Tohru happy.
That was easy enough.
Shichen slowly leaned in and kissed her.
Tohru's big eyes blinked; she hadn't expected him to be so forward.
But it suited her just fine—she wrapped her arms around him and kissed back passionately.
Ten minutes later, Shichen carried the cookies and juice out of the kitchen.
He set the plate on Ai's table and sat across from her.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No worries."
Ai smiled and shook her head, then picked up a cookie for a taste.
"Mmm! So good!"
"Glad it suits your taste."
"It's delicious! I think I'm going to love these cookies."
Without any ladylike restraint, Ai kept munching away.
Shichen didn't interrupt; he simply watched her eat quite a few cookies until she paused to sip her juice.
"Hoshino-san—"
"Manager, just call me Ai."
"Is that so? Then—Ai."
"Mhm!" Ai nodded, eyes curved in a smile.
"Ai, how come you came here all by yourself?" Shichen continued.
"Eh? Ah…" Ai froze for a second, eyes wandering, then answered slowly,
"I saw this place online. Reviews said the atmosphere was great, so I came."
"I see… No one came with you?"
"I don't have any friends," Ai said cheerfully.
"What about family? You're so young—"
"None either," she replied, smiling the same. "I'm an orphan… though I do have a guardian now."
Hearing her situation for real, Shichen found he couldn't stay calm.
"Manager, what's wrong? Oh—are you worried about me?" Ai asked teasingly.
"Of course I am—you're still so little." Shichen answered, half exasperated.
"You're a good person, Manager. But I'm fine now~ It's a bit hard getting used to the big city, but the president is kind."
"President?"
"Mhm. She runs an agency, and she wants me to be an idol."
"Could she be a scammer?"
"What's there to scam from me?" Ai countered.
"A lot! You're adorable. When you grow up you'll be a real beauty—what if she has bad intentions?"
"Haha~ Thanks for the compliment, Manager. But I don't think she's like that."
"Still… if you run into any trouble, you can always come to me. I'll help you."
"Eh? Really? Why are you so nice to me, Manager?"
"That's a good question…" Shichen leaned in, grinning, and whispered,
"Actually, I'm a lolicon!"
Ai blinked, stunned, then burst into a girlish giggle.
"Haha~ Are you serious, Manager? Or are you tricking me?"
"Hmm… what do you think?" he replied.
"I'm not sure~ But you really are a good person, Manager. I'm glad I came!"
"Oh? 'Glad you came'? What do you mean?"
"Ah!" Ai realized and quickly covered her mouth in a cute gesture.
"So you really did come looking for me, huh?" Shichen dropped the act and asked straight out.
Still covering her mouth, Ai stared at him with those beautiful starry eyes and stayed silent.
"Keeping quiet won't help~"
Amused, Shichen reached out and flicked her forehead lightly.
"We've met before, right? I remember you, you know~"
~~~
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