Chapter 68: Alice Nakiri is here~
The Restaurant became lively with the arrival of Kobayashi Rindou and the rest of the Totsuki contingent. The air was filled with chatter, the clinking of utensils, and the warm, comforting scent of food.
Lucifer, however, was in a world of her own. For some reason, she had developed an obsession with the Chocolate Crepes. It was as if she was trying to erase the memory of her earlier failure by consuming the successful version until it became part of her DNA.
Rindou, sipping her Royal Milk Tea with a contented sigh, leaned over. "I didn't expect you, Lucifer, to be so interested in sweets. You struck me as a 'wine and cheese' type of demon."
Lucifer paused mid-bite, a smudge of chocolate on her lip. She dabbed it away with a napkin. "I don't know. I just feel like I should like eating this... It's a matter of conquest. I must understand the enemy to defeat it."
Momo Akanegakubo, propping her face in her hands while Bucchi sat on her lap, nodded sagely. "Is it that magical? This must be some kind of calling~. Or maybe sugar addiction."
"Perhaps," Lucifer mused, eyeing the stack. "But it's still quite delicious. This should be the last one, right~? Eh? There's still one more hidden under the napkin…."
Erina's mouth twitched as she watched Lucifer reach for the "hidden" crepe. From the moment they entered, the Queen of Hell seemed to have flipped a strange switch.
Since most of the dishes Erina and the others ordered required slow cooking—braising and simmering—Ren didn't stay in the kitchen the whole time. He came out, wiping his hands on a towel, and looked at Cerberus.
The poor Hellhound was sprawled on the table like a rug, playing on her phone with one hand while the other clutched her stomach.
"Feeling better?" Ren asked gently.
"Much better," Cerberus groaned. "But still uncomfortable... my tummy feels like it's doing somersaults."
Ren sat beside her. He reached out to touch the hot water bottle she was hugging. It was lukewarm.
"It's getting cold and you didn't say anything~," he scolded lightly, tapping her head.
Cerberus whispered, her ears drooping, "It's still warmish... I didn't want to bother Master... Ren, I think I can get better before this hot water bottle gets cold! I have demon regeneration!"
"I don't think you can. Physiology doesn't work like that," Ren sighed. "First, rub your stomach yourself. Just like how I rubbed it to help you digest that day, but this time be gentler. Clockwise motion. Don't press too hard~."
"Oh~. Like this?" Cerberus began to rub her belly obediently.
Ren returned to the kitchen and quickly replaced the water in the bottle with fresh, hot water. He also poured a cup of warm water with a slice of lemon and brought it out.
"Put this on," he said, placing the fresh bottle against her. "And drink this hot water in small sips. When your stomach stops hurting, go up and rest early. A good sleep will fix it~. If you try to sleep now while in pain, you won't sleep soundly."
Cerberus nodded, her eyes grateful. "Thank you, Master."
Just as Ren was about to say something else, he heard footsteps outside.
Click. Click.
It was a light, energetic rhythm.
Erina and the others also looked towards the door. Ren was a little surprised; someone actually came at this time? Most of his regulars had already arrived.
The door opened, but no one walked in immediately.
As everyone was wondering if it was a ghost (which wouldn't be unusual here), they saw a small head with silver-white hair peek in from the bottom of the door frame, looking around mischievously.
Erina was startled, then her eyes widened. "Alice?! Why are you here?!"
It was Alice Nakiri at the door. She had practically sprinted from the car the moment it stopped. She was very interested in "Shop Ren." Since she came relatively early and the alley wasn't very dark yet, she wasn't scared and ran over following the warm glow of the sign.
Ren looked at the intruder and said with a welcoming smile, "Student Alice Nakiri, why are you here? Did you follow the scent of science?"
Alice Nakiri straightened up and walked into the Restaurant properly, her hands clasped behind her back. She took slow, deliberate steps, examining the interior with a critical, scientific eye.
It didn't have the vast indoor space of the Totsuki resorts, nor the crystal chandeliers of a Michelin-starred hotel. It was just simple wood furnishings, but it was impeccably clean, tidy, and the lighting was warm and soft. It gave people a relaxing feeling, as if they had returned home after a long journey.
Alice smiled, her red eyes curving into crescents. "Shopkeeper Ren! You're not a teacher now. So there's no need to call me 'Student'. Just call me by my name, like you do Erina. It's only fair~."
Ren nodded, amused by her directness. "Then, Alice. How did you know about this place? Could it be…."
"That's right! It was this old man who brought her! He couldn't keep a secret!"
A booming, cheerful voice came from behind Alice.
Senzaemon Nakiri, the Demon King of Food, stepped into the shop, wearing his traditional kimono and haori.
"Director / Grandpa?!" Erina and Hisako exclaimed in unison, standing up.
Although it wasn't their first time seeing Senzaemon here, they still felt that the scene was surreal. The ruler of the culinary world, just walking into a small diner? As for Erina, she was simply curious why her grandfather would also come tonight—he usually had endless meetings.
Ren smiled and said, "You really spoil your granddaughter~. Bringing her to the lion's den?"
Senzaemon laughed. "She has claws of her own. So, what would you like to eat, Alice?"
Alice Nakiri sat in the seat next to Erina, bumping her cousin's shoulder playfully. She looked around, scanning the walls. "It's really true, just like Grandpa said, there's no menu~. How avant-garde."
Ren nodded. "The menu is in your mind."
Alice chuckled. "I never thought Shopkeeper Ren would actually serve me. What should I eat…. It's so hard to decide when the possibilities are infinite."
She tapped her chin, her eyes darting around.
After pondering for a while, Alice clapped her hands. "I've decided! I'm feeling a bit homesick for Scandinavia today, so… an open-faced sandwich (Smørrebrød) with smoked salmon and dill foam! And Oslo Crab Cakes... Eh? Or a Wellington Steak? That's British, but still... So conflicted…."
Ren said with a smile, "You can have both. The Oslo Crab Cakes can be made a little smaller, as an appetizer~."
Alice shook her head vigorously. "No! If it's less, it loses its soul! The ratio of crab to breading must be maintained! Never mind, I'll have both, full size! And a Wild Mushroom Soup, this can be a smaller portion. For drinks…."
Ren thought for a moment. "You've ordered very classic Nordic and Western cuisine. If you want a pairing that bridges them, you could try a cocktail."
Alice's eyes widened with an expectant look. "Really?! Mom never lets me drink alcohol! She says I'm too young! But I had a little champagne at a party once, and it was delicious!"
Ren smiled reassuringly. "If it's a cocktail you can drink, it's almost like juice—low alcohol content, high flavor profile. So of course you can drink it. And with Erina and the Old Man here to supervise, it's fine~."
Alice immediately bounced in her seat. "Yay! I want a cocktail! Shopkeeper Ren, you decide what kind! Surprise me!"
Ren nodded, noting the order. Then he turned to Senzaemon. "The usual for you? Sashimi and sake?"
"No," Senzaemon shook his head, rubbing his shoulder. "I'm a bit tired today. The bones ache. Give me a single-serving Sumo Hot Pot (Chankonabe)! I suddenly feel like having that hearty warmth! And also a pot of Peach Blossom Wine! That's all~."
After confirming the orders, Ren headed towards the kitchen.
Senzaemon called out, "Aren't you going to tell me what kind of soup base you'll use, you rascal?"
Ren leaned against the doorframe, turned to look at Senzaemon with a confident smirk. "Would I give you a soup base that isn't delicious?"
"Hahaha~!" Senzaemon laughed heartily. "Fair point! Then this old man will wait with peace of mind!"
Senzaemon sat opposite Alice.
At this moment, Erina looked at Alice with a complicated expression. It was as if her cherished secret toy, which she had been hiding to enjoy alone, had been discovered by the neighborhood kid she had a rivalry with. She felt an inexplicable irritation.
"Alice! Why are you really here?" Erina hissed.
Alice leaned back, crossing her legs. "Because I wanted to! I told Grandpa, and he was very supportive of me coming. Besides, Erina, why can't I come~? Is this your private club?"
Erina crossed her arms and huffed. "Of course you can come, but don't just eat! You also need to analyze the principles behind the dishes! This is a learning opportunity, not a vacation! Oh, where's your attendant? Where is Kurokiba?"
Alice waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, Ryo? Didn't Shopkeeper Ren give a lecture on Bouillabaisse during the break? Then Ryo was acting like he had too much caffeine! He became completely excited, his 'Berserk Mode' activated without the bandana! He immediately ran back to the dorms saying he wanted to replicate that dish tonight. He wouldn't come with me."
Erina nodded, understanding. "Hmm! Shopkeeper Ren's lesson was truly rare. Even Ryo was inspired. You must go back and consolidate it well, do you understand?"
"Understood, understood, Mother," Alice teased. "But Erina, this is the first time I've seen you like this. So defensive. So... obedient."
Erina blushed. "I am not obedient! I am respectful! Because Shopkeeper Ren is a very respectable chef!"
"Respectable, huh?" Alice grinned. "We'll see about that."
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