Chapter 10: The White-Haired Girl at the Shop Entrance
Eishi Tsukasa, the First Seat of the Elite Ten, sat at the head of the long conference table. He looked visibly stressed, his pale fingers tapping rhythmically on a stack of documents.
He thought for a moment, then said to Akanegakubo Momo, his voice carrying a hint of pleading, "He sounds like a very impressive Shopkeeper. Truly. I'll definitely make time to see him after graduation... But Akanegakubo-san, could you please call Rindou-san back? We need a quorum for the budget approval. It's difficult to proceed with today's meeting without her signature..."
Akanegakubo Momo hugged her stuffed cat, Bucchi, and was silent for a moment. She assessed Eishi's desperation level, then nodded slowly.
"Fine. Momo-chan will call her."
Eishi Tsukasa breathed a visible sigh of relief, slumping slightly in his chair. He was the First Seat, yes, the "White Knight," but the Elite Ten Council was less of a knighthood and more of a gathering of eccentric warlords. His title represented culinary strength and resource allocation, but it did not give him the power to command the lower Elite Ten members like soldiers—especially not someone as free-spirited as Rindou.
At this moment, in the warm sunlight of the Dimensional Restaurant.
Kobayashi Rindou and Ren were still eating their breakfast. The atmosphere was peaceful, filled with the clinking of silverware and the smell of fresh coffee.
Bzzt. Bzzt.
Hearing her phone vibrating on the table, Kobayashi Rindou paused mid-bite. She glanced at the screen, saw Momo's name, and frowned. She looked at Ren, who was calmly drinking his coffee.
Ren just said softly, not looking up from his news feed, "Is the phone ringtone nice? Are you composing a symphony with it? Why aren't you answering?"
Kobayashi Rindou swallowed her pancake and pressed the answer button. She grinned mischievously. "Eh? Ren-kun, usually in this situation, shouldn't you be a jealous boyfriend? Shouldn't you ask me who it is, or if it's a man or something? Where's the drama?"
Ren turned a page on his phone screen. "Be serious when you answer the phone. Also, I'm done eating. You just eat your own food before it gets cold."
"Tch. Boring" Rindou pouted. She pushed her plate slightly towards him. "Oh. This onsen egg is for you. I can't eat any more I'm stuffed."
All the Elite Ten members on the other end of the phone—Momo had put it on speaker—were a bit stunned.
Is that really Kobayashi Rindou?
The "wild beast" who could devour entire menus was sharing an egg? And speaking in such a domestic, spoiled tone?
Kobayashi Rindou took a sip of water and said, her voice shifting back to her usual casual tone, "Momo-chan, why are you calling me? Did you miss me already?"
Akanegakubo Momo tapped the table and said into the phone, "Rindou-senpai, let Eishi talk to you. He's about to cry."
Eishi Tsukasa was startled by the accusation but quickly leaned forward. "Kobayashi-san..."
He heard Kobayashi Rindou speak. The tone was no longer the lazy, cheerful, flirtatious one she used with Ren. It was flat, cold, and sharp.
"What is it?"
Normally, everyone might not have found anything wrong. But this obvious shift in tone—from warm sunlight to arctic frost—really caught them off guard. It highlighted just how different her treatment of "Shopkeeper Ren" was compared to her colleagues.
Eishi Tsukasa gave a wry smile, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Uh... don't get excited, Kobayashi. It's like this... there's a budget meeting here that you absolutely must attend. The administration won't release the funds for the Moon Festival preparation without the Second Seat's seal."
There was a silence on the line.
Then, Kobayashi Rindou simply said, "I understand."
Click.
She hung up.
After putting away her phone, Akanegakubo Momo looked at Eishi Tsukasa with deadpan eyes. "Eishi, you're the one who called Rindou-senpai back. It has nothing to do with Momo-chan. She's clearly having a romantic breakfast with the Restaurant owner, and you interrupted."
Eishi Tsukasa's body trembled. As one of the few male friends Kobayashi Rindou could still talk to casually, Eishi Tsukasa knew Kobayashi Rindou's personality all too well. She was vindictive when annoyed.
He felt like he was doomed. "I... I should prepare an apology gift."
Back at the Restaurant.
Kobayashi Rindou sighed, a long, exaggerated sound of suffering. She slumped on the table. "Ugh. Work calling. They are so annoying."
She stood up, stretching her arms. "I'm leaving now. I have to go stomp on Eishi for a bit. I'll be back tomorrow night! Call me if you miss me~ Or text me! Send me pictures of food!"
Ren began clearing the plates. "Hurry up, a lot of people are waiting for you. Don't bully Tsukasa too hard."
"Oh, I know. I'll be gentle~"
After speaking, Kobayashi Rindou picked up her school uniform jacket, threw it over her shoulder, and walked out. She left as if she was just stepping out from her own home to buy milk, without any reluctance or awkward goodbyes.
Anyway, she would still come back. This was home now.
Ren looked at the wobbly onsen egg in his bowl that she had left behind. He sighed, shaking his head. "Always leaving leftovers when she's full. Next time, no matter what, I'll make that girl wipe the table as payment."
Ren's Restaurant had an automatic cleaning function powered by the System, but he had never used it for the dining area when guests were present. It felt too impersonal. For him, running a Restaurant was just running a Restaurant; he never considered it a particularly impressive place or a magic castle, just a sanctuary where he could cook and save money on high-quality ingredients.
He finished the egg in one bite. "Delicious."
He checked the time. It was still early morning.
"Let's go for a walk... it's been a long time since I've taken a stroll in the neighborhood..."
Facing the recently risen sun, Ren pushed open the door and walked out.
This time, he didn't engage the dimensional lock. He stepped out onto the real street in Japan.
He smiled and shook his head at the deserted surroundings of his specific alley. But as he turned the corner, the scene changed.
"Yo! Ren! It's been a long time since I've seen you so idle! Want to come in and play a round of mahjong?"
"Ren! That meat curing method you told me about last time was really effective! The customers love it! Take this honey, it's rare wild pure honey I got from my cousin in the countryside!"
"Long time no see, kid! Fish caught by my father-in-law this morning, very fresh! Here are two mackerels for you! On the house!"
Ren walked down the bustling market street next door. Everyone on the street knew Ren. He had been here for years, quietly integrating into the community. Despite his young age and mysterious aura, he was polite, helpful, and occasionally gave excellent cooking advice, which made him very popular.
After walking the length of the street, Ren's hands were full. He received rare good merchandise from most of the shopkeepers—vegetables, spices, fresh fish.
The only place he avoided was the establishment with purple neon lights in the alley at the end of the street.
Actually, rather than saying the adult entertainment establishment didn't give him anything, it's more accurate to say Ren just walked away quickly. For some reason, the older sisters ("Onee-sans") working there really enjoyed teasing the handsome, silver-haired chef. They would wave and call out "Ren-kun~!" in voices that made him walk faster.
"Looks like I'll have to find another place to walk in the future... people might think I'm going to restock on something other than food..." Ren muttered, adjusting his grip on the bags.
Ren looked at the large and small bags in his hands, feeling both helpless and gratified. Everyone around him was very kind. It grounded him, reminding him that he was living a life, not just completing a mission.
But when Ren walked back to the Restaurant entrance, he froze.
A girl stood at his door.
She was striking. She had long, flowing white hair that shimmered in the sunlight and deep, crimson eyes. She wore a strange outfit that looked like a school uniform mixed with fantasy armor elements. But the most noticeable feature was the two small horns protruding from her head.
She was sniffing the air like a lost puppy.
"Can I help you?" Ren asked politely.
The girl seemed startled. She jumped slightly, then moved a step to the side, creating distance. She looked him up and down, assessing him.
"I can smell food," she said, her voice blunt but melodic. "But there's no sign here. Are you the owner?"
Ren nodded. "I am."
Just as he was about to say something else, a loud sound broke the silence.
Gurgle~
It was the sound of an empty stomach protesting violently.
The girl's face immediately darkened, a blush creeping up her neck. She clutched her stomach, looking away in embarrassment.
Ren smiled, his eyes crinkling. "Want to come in and eat something? I just got some fresh mackerel."
The girl was startled. She looked at the 'Closed' sign hanging on the door. "But... isn't it closed?"
"It's closed to the public," Ren explained, unlocking the door. "But I'm both the owner and the chef, so of course I can cook whenever I want and open the Restaurant whenever I want~ Especially for a hungry neighbor."
The girl paused, processing this. Then she said with a faint smile, "A willful man..."
Ren didn't say anything to that. He held the door open.
The girl walked in. She immediately felt a sense of warmth and cleanliness that relaxed her tense shoulders. It felt safe here.
After finding a seat near the counter, she stared intently at Ren, watching him put away the groceries.
Ren sighed, washing his hands. "So you're also someone who's indifferent about what they eat? You haven't ordered yet."
"Also?"
Ren nodded and said, "That's right. Very few people who come to my Restaurant have something specific they want to eat. They all just say, 'whatever' or directly ask for 'meat', or 'soup', and so on~ It's a challenge for a chef."
The corner of the girl's mouth curved upwards slightly. "Then... whatever?"
"Got it~"
Ren walked back into the kitchen. He tied his apron. Then, as if remembering something, he poked his head out. "Is there anything you don't eat? Allergies?"
The girl shook her head. "I eat everything."
Ren nodded and went back to work.
Only the girl was left in the large Restaurant. After looking around at the strange decor—a mix of modern Japanese and something else—the girl nodded to herself.
Suddenly, she felt something. Her red eyes narrowed slightly. The air here... it was thick with mana, yet stable.
Ten minutes later.
"Tom Yum Goong Soup (Thai Hot and Sour Soup) with Rice. And I didn't know what you drink, so I prepared a glass of Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice for you. For your current state—likely tired and hungry—there's probably nothing more satisfying than a pot of sour and spicy soup to open up your appetite. I've improved it and added some pork meatballs."
Ren placed a steaming clay pot and a bowl of white rice in front of her. The aroma was explosive—lemongrass, lime, chili, and galangal.
"Tom Yum Soup?" the girl repeated, unfamiliar with the name.
"A very good soup from the south. Well then, you start eating. I'll go take care of the things I brought back. They're really a very enthusiastic bunch, those shopkeepers."
The girl watched Ren leave to organize his fridge. She looked at the soup. It was a vibrant orange-red color.
She took a small spoonful of soup. She blew on it gently.
Sip.
The girl froze.
Her eyes widened.
Sour. Spicy. Savory. Sweet.
The flavors hit her tongue all at once, electric and vibrant. It was like a wake-up call to her entire body.
"Mmm..."
She looked at the steaming soup in front of her. She softly said, "It's delicious."
And then she couldn't stop. She scooped the rice into the soup and ate rapidly. When the last meatball entered her mouth, and the savory juice inside burst upon chewing, the girl knew she had probably fallen in love with a food she couldn't even pronounce.
Fifteen minutes later.
Draining the last drop of juice, the girl sat back, contentedly rubbing her stomach. A small sheen of sweat was on her forehead from the spice.
"It was delicious, thank you..." she whispered.
Ren walked over. He looked at the soup bowl, which was polished clean. He smiled. "Thanks for the compliment. It seems it really suited your taste~"
The girl nodded with a slight smile. She looked at him with renewed interest.
Then she softly said, her voice turning serious, "Your Restaurant isn't simple, is it...? I can feel a faint, special energy. It's like... a node."
Ren was startled. He stopped wiping the table. He looked at her.
He nodded. "So you're not an ordinary person either?"
The girl nodded. She looked at Ren with a hint of playfulness and pride in her crimson eyes. "I am far from ordinary."
Ren thought for a moment. He put down the cup he was holding. He slowly extended his hand towards her head.
The girl was startled. She leaned back slightly. "What are you—"
Then her eyes widened sharply, a look of disbelief on her face.
Ren didn't attack her. He didn't cast a spell.
He was gently holding her horn.
He pinched it lightly, studying it carefully like a curious scientist, completely ignoring the fact that this was a part of her body.
The girl's face turned red to the point of almost dripping blood. Her lips twitched. This was... incredibly sensitive! And intimate!
Ren softly said, completely oblivious, "Oh... So this horn isn't just a headband or an ornament. It's warm. It has texture, like bone or keratin... wait, are there nerves in here?"
"I... I..."
The girl trembled.
"I can't go back..." she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of embarrassment and shock. "You touched it..."
[Akarin's Note: The girl is Lucifer from Helltaker. In fan lore, touching a demon's horns can be considered very intimate or rude depending on the context.]
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