Chapter 33: Gentle Rewards
Natsume Takashi sat quietly, letting the ambient warmth of the shop seep into his bones. He really didn't expect that he would come to this strange place just because he couldn't sleep and wanted to escape the suffocating feeling of being watched by unseen eyes. But it brought him an unprecedented sense of peace. Here, the shadows didn't move on their own.
Clow Reed, seated nearby, took the small ceramic wine flask. He poured himself a cup, the clear liquid swirling gently. He took a small sip.
His eyes lit up behind his round glasses.
Extraordinary.
It wasn't just the flavor of osmanthus and autumn; there was a subtle, magical resonance within the liquid. It hummed with a gentle energy.
He drank all the wine in the cup in one go and let out a soft sound of praise. "Exquisite."
However, Clow Reed knew that drinking this wine by itself was almost a waste; to unleash its true value, he had to pair it with something substantial. The acidity and floral notes needed a counterpart. So, Clow Reed resisted the urge to keep drinking and set the flask aside, though his fingers lingered on the porcelain.
After sitting for a while in silence, he found that his self-control was being tested. The mellow aroma of the wine kept lingering in his mouth, taunting him. He now felt that even the saliva in his mouth tasted like sweet nectar.
Finally, he decided to distract himself. He turned to the young boy in the corner.
"Natsume-kun~"
Natsume jumped slightly. "Eh? Mr. Clow Reed, are you calling me?"
"Yes, yes~" Clow Reed smiled, his eyes closed in friendly crescents. "I was just curious. Is the power you possess... innate? Or was it a gift?"
Natsume hesitated, clutching his chopsticks. He looked at Clow Reed's calm demeanor and felt compelled to answer honestly.
"Yes... I think so. My mother passed away when I was born, and my father also passed away later. I've been living with relatives ever since, passed around... but no matter where I go, only I can see those Yokai (Spirits)…"
His voice trailed off, heavy with the loneliness of a child who sees what others cannot.
"Is that so…" Clow Reed nodded sympathetically. "Then Natsume-kun, could your grandparents see them too~? Spiritual power often runs in bloodlines."
Natsume was startled. He shook his head slowly. "I don't know. My grandmother, Natsume Reiko, passed away young. She only left behind a Book of Friends... full of names. Mr. Clow Reed, have you also seen Yokai? You don't seem surprised."
Just as Clow Reed was about to answer—perhaps to explain the difference between spirits and magical constructs—a rich, tantalizing aroma wafted over from the kitchen.
It smelled of caramelized sugar, vinegar, and frying batter.
It immediately drew Clow Reed's attention away from the conversation.
Ren emerged from the kitchen partition, carrying a tray. On it was a steaming plate of Sweet and Sour Pork with Pineapple (Gu Lao Rou) and a bowl of white rice.
Ren placed it on Clow Reed's table. "Sorry to keep you waiting. The double-frying takes a moment to get right. Your dessert will take a little longer~"
Clow Reed looked at the dish in front of him. The pork pieces were coated in a glossy, reddish-gold sauce, interspersed with bright chunks of yellow pineapple and green peppers. It looked like a pile of edible jewels.
He shook his head, smiling. "It's fine. If I can eat such delicious food, the wait is absolutely worth it~ Time is relative, after all."
Ren nodded thanks, then turned and sat back in his original seat behind the counter to give them space.
Clow Reed couldn't wait any longer. He picked up his chopsticks.
He picked up a piece of pork. The sauce clung to it perfectly, not dripping excessively.
He put it in his mouth.
Crunch.
The crispy batter shattered effortlessly. Inside, the meat was tender and juicy.
"Mmm! What an exquisite taste…"
With one bite, Clow Reed was truly shocked. The texture was a masterpiece of contrast—the incredible elasticity of the meat, accompanied by that hint of softness from the fat, and yet a crispy coating that hadn't turned soggy from the sauce.
The balance was perfect. The sourness of the vinegar and pineapple cut through the richness of the fried pork, while the sweetness rounded everything out.
All the textures, flavors, and juices erupted in his mouth like a magical spell gone right. He was somewhat addicted. The incredible elasticity made the Sweet and Sour Pork more fragrant with every chew, and he was reluctant to swallow it.
He took a sip of the Osmanthus Wine. The floral sweetness married perfectly with the tangy sauce.
"Phew… Shopkeeper," Clow Reed sighed contentedly. "Your cooking is truly the best I've ever had. And I have eaten in many eras and places. To make a simple Sweet and Sour Pork so perfectly... you must be a good husband~ or you will make someone very happy one day."
Ren chuckled from behind his book. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Natsume also quickly added, his mouth full of egg, "Yes, the Shopkeeper's cooking is excellent! And this is the best Tamagoyaki I've ever eaten! It tastes... nostalgic."
Ren smiled and shook his head. "If it's delicious, eating more is the greatest respect and affirmation for the chef. Thank you both for your compliments."
He paused, looking at the clock. "But Mr. Clow Reed, you really came at a very opportune time."
"Eh? How so?"
Ren said helplessly, "If you had come two hours earlier, they would still be here, and it would have been a complete mess~ You would have walked into a war zone of shouting and eating."
Clow Reed was startled, then asked confusedly, "They?"
"Mmm~ My... regulars. A noisy bunch."
"Does Shopkeeper Ren have many girls who like him? That's truly enviable," Clow Reed teased, sensing the energy residue in the room. "But they would be very sad in the end, wouldn't they? To share? Shopkeeper Ren truly has it tough."
Ren smiled and shook his head. "It's true that there are many girls, but this place is a bit different from your world or era. There are no restrictions regarding the number of partners here. They were mainly arguing over who could be the 'Main Wife' or the 'Big Sister'."
Clow Reed was stunned. Then he laughed, a genuine, hearty sound. "That's truly an enviable boast! But looking at your soul... Shopkeeper Ren is indeed worthy of many girls' affection. You have a stable center."
"Thank you for the compliment~"
Natsume, eating his Tamagoyaki quietly, asked curiously, "Shopkeeper... does your Shop also have a second floor? I heard footsteps earlier."
Ren smiled. "That's where people stay. Many homeless guests, guests being hunted, and drunk guests come here to rest and stay for a while. It's a sanctuary."
Clow Reed's eyes lit up behind his glasses. He leaned forward. "Guests can stay... is that right?"
Ren nodded.
Clow Reed quickly asked, his voice dropping to a serious whisper, "If someone is already dead... or about to die... or existing in a state between life and death... can they also come?"
Ren looked at him. He smiled, unfazed. "Naturally. And guests who come here will not suffer any harm. Death is also a form of harm~ Here, time flows differently for the weary."
Clow Reed nodded slowly, his eyes somewhat excited. "Then... leaving the Shop means dying, is that right? Returning to their fate?"
Ren thought for a moment. "Possibly. That hasn't been tested fully. But my lovely little pet—who is currently sleeping upstairs—previously used a Life Contract to bind her life to mine."
"Oh?"
"The effect is that if the master dies, the contractor dies. If the contractor dies, the contract can be unilaterally terminated by the master. Theoretically, it seems that the longer the master lives, the longer the contractor lives. It shares the lifeline."
"Shopkeeper Ren's pet?"
"It's a Hellhound. Cerberus."
"...Cerberus," Clow Reed repeated, blinking. "The Guard Dog of Hades? Shopkeeper Ren truly commands respect… Is that contract magic?"
Ren thought for a moment. "It is~ Ancient magic."
Clow Reed smiled, a look of relief washing over his features. "That's wonderful… By the way, Shopkeeper, what is the accommodation fee here…"
Ren waved his hand dismissively. "If someone truly needs a place to stay, there's no accommodation fee~ After all, unless there's no other choice, who would leave their own home to sleep in a strange restaurant? I accept payment in stories or help around the shop."
Clow Reed nodded, a slight curve on his lips. He seemed to make a decision.
"Shopkeeper, what method do you use to get here? The door?"
"The way I came before is the way I'll come again. The door finds those who need it. And I can even bring people with me if I invite them~"
"Thank you very much... In a while, perhaps... I might bring a customer. She's very likely to become a tenant here... She needs a place where 'death' cannot touch her for a while. I appreciate your trouble in advance..."
[Akarin's Note: Clow Reed is likely referring to Yuuko Ichihara from xxxHolic, who exists in a state of halted time.]
Ren waved his hand. "It'll be livelier. And the world here is much more interesting than yours, I suspect. Eat up, or the sweet and sour pork won't taste good once it's cold. The candy shell will harden."
Clow Reed nodded and started eating quietly, lost in thought.
Ren looked at Natsume, who had finished his meal and was sipping tea.
"Can you tell me your story now?" Ren asked gently. "I'm still very interested in Yokai and such~ I need new material for my boredom."
"Ah? Uh-huh!"
Natsume looked at Ren's sincere eyes. He saw no judgment, no fear. Finally, he nodded.
After a brief moment of thought, gathering his courage, he slowly and calmly recounted all the strange occurrences and Yokai he had encountered since childhood. He spoke of the loneliness, the fear, but also the strange, poignant friendships he had formed with spirits who were just as lonely as he was.
Ren and Clow Reed listened intently, nodding occasionally.
Clow Reed noticed Ren's gaze—full of empathy but not pity. A certain decision in Clow Reed's heart became clearer. This man can be trusted with secrets.
"The most bizarre thing that happened until today was coming to your shop, Shopkeeper," Natsume concluded with a shy smile. "But... it feels really good. Better than any feeling I've had before... I feel safe."
Ren smiled. "A wonderful life, a blend of sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy—that's the most vivid you. Just like the pork dish. This further proves your uniqueness. Continue to live gently, Natsume; the world will not treat someone who is gentle to everything unfairly forever. This is experience~"
After speaking, Ren stood up. "I'll get your dessert now. Mango Pudding."
He went back to the kitchen.
Clow Reed and Natsume looked at the departing Ren with complex emotions. But more than that, there was a sense of tranquility and warmth filling the room—the reward that gentle people deserved.
"It seems I've found a good place…" Clow Reed whispered to his wine glass. "A place between moments."
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