Chapter 71: This is the Reason for the Warmth Here
Inside the Restaurant, the atmosphere had shifted from the initial rush to a comfortable, settled rhythm.
Lucifer had already been taken to the back kitchen by Momo Akanegakubo, who had finished her own meal. The 4th Seat of the Elite Ten had agreed to teach the Demon Queen the secrets of making the perfect crepe batter. Although Lucifer had experienced a lot today—from perverts on the bus to the humiliation of the 'Black Sludge Incident'—her determination to conquer the crepe remained unshaken. She would not be defeated by flour and eggs.
Kobayashi Rindou and the others were still eating at a leisurely pace, savoring the night.
As for Alice on the other side…
"Hehe… Erina… this is so delicious… why is the room spinning?"
Erina looked at Alice, who was draped over her shoulder, giggling. The silver-haired girl was already a little tipsy after just one glass of the fruit cocktail.
"Alice! Sit up properly!" Erina hissed, trying to maintain decorum while propping up her cousin. "You're embarrassing the family name!"
"But Erina-chan... you're so warm..." Alice nuzzled Erina's neck.
Erina sighed, looking at Ren helplessly. Ren just chuckled from the counter. "Lightweight," he commented. "This girl didn't even drink cocktails like water, she drank them like air."
Souta, sitting at the adjacent table with his sister, looked at the drunk older sister and the dazed bald older brother (Saitama) nearby. He wanted to laugh a little, but he held it in, covering his mouth with his small hand. He felt that laughing out loud would definitely not be very polite in such a fancy-feeling place, so he just sat there obediently, swinging his legs.
"Onee-chan~ Don't you usually dislike stews…?" Souta whispered to Kyoko. "You say they are heavy."
Kyoko thought for a moment, tapping her chin. "That's true, but... I always feel like there might be a surprise here~. And Minami-chan said it's a taste you can't forget after one bite, so I have to have confidence! Besides, I'm hungry enough to eat a cow."
"Hmm! It's the older brother!" Souta pointed.
Ren walked over, carrying a tray with two vibrant drinks. He placed them on the table.
"One is a Strawberry Guava Juice, rich in vitamin C. And the other is a Lemon Blood Orange Sparkling Water. Children should like this drink; it fizzes."
Souta looked at the sparkling water in the large glass in front of him. The liquid was a beautiful sunset orange, with bubbles dancing to the surface. His eyes shone.
He moved closer, took a sip with a straw.
Fizzy.
Then the flavor hit him.
"Older brother! This drink is so delicious! It's sweet and sour and tickles my nose!" Souta shouted, his face lighting up.
Ren smiled and ruffled the boy's hair. "It's good that you like it. But because crushed ice is added, you can't drink it too fast, or your throat will hurt and you'll get brain freeze. Sip it slowly. Now, please wait a moment, the main dishes are almost ready."
As Ren turned back to the kitchen, voices drifted out.
"Lucifer~ What are you two doing? Don't whisk it so hard!" Momo's voice, usually quiet, was now firm with instruction.
"I am whisking with the fury of a thousand suns!" Lucifer retorted.
"Too much fury. The gluten will develop. You can try adding a little full-fat cream inside. Don't add too much."
"Understood. Cream. Fat. Good."
"Lucifer, hand me the beef I cut for the stew. It's on your left." Ren's voice cut in smoothly.
"Here. Don't order me around, human."
"Keep up the good work~."
From time to time, the domestic sounds of Ren, Momo, and Lucifer chatting came from the kitchen, adding a layer of intimacy to the restaurant.
Senzaemon Nakiri looked at Alice, who was still clinging to a resigned Erina, and smiled, shaking his head. "Youth," he murmured, taking a sip of his sake.
Kobayashi Rindou, having finished her main course, rested her chin on her hand and looked over at the new arrivals.
"Hey. That young lady over there~," Rindou called out.
Kyoko was startled. She pointed to herself. "Me?"
Rindou nodded, her cat-eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Are you a high school student? You have that 'I just finished homework' vibe."
Kyoko nodded politely. "Yes, I'm a second-year student at Katagiri High School~. What's wrong?"
Rindou narrowed her eyes. "You said… Katagiri?"
Kyoko nodded.
Rindou stood up and walked over to Hori Kyoko with a smile. She leaned down and whispered something in her ear.
Kyoko's eyes widened. She pondered for a moment and said, "Yes... she is indeed from our school. I've seen that name on the roster. Is something wrong? Is she in trouble?"
Rindou smiled, straightening up. "Nothing. It's just that that person is my friend—a fellow connoisseur of chaos. So I was a little surprised to know you're from Katagiri and a second-year student~. Small world."
Kyoko nodded. "She's very amazing. Whether it's academics or sports, she's a very capable person. But I don't know why she's always not at school. I only saw her once at the school's awards ceremony before~. She seemed... distant."
Rindou chuckled. "Eh. So that girl is that amazing at school too? She usually acts like a delinquent around us."
Ren walked out with a tray, carrying steaming bowls. "Rindou. What are you doing running over here to gossip? Don't harass the customers."
Rindou snorted and hopped back to her seat. "What's wrong with me! I just wanted to confirm if that guy was fooling us about his grades~. But now I'm sure… she's fooling us! She's clearly a perfect student at the academic prodigy level! I have leverage now!"
Ren shook his head. He rarely interfered with Kobayashi Rindou's affairs. If she spoke, he listened; if she didn't, he wouldn't pry, unless there was something important.
He placed a tray in front of Saitama.
"Then Saitama, this is your Tomato Beef Brisket Tofu Soup. This is kimchi on the side. And for the Egg Mixed Rice, the soy sauce is here, you can do it yourself~. Crack the egg while the rice is hot."
Saitama nodded. A glimmer of light appeared in his usually dead eyes as he looked at the dishes. The steam rising from the soup smelled rich and tangy.
"Ohhh..."
Ren smiled and turned to Kyoko. He placed two large plates on their table.
"I heard you don't like stews before because they are often heavy or greasy. Don't worry, I didn't make it like those stews~. This is a Red Wine Beef Stew, reduced until the sauce is silky, not oily. Is the drink okay?"
Hori Kyoko looked at the dark, glossy stew. The beef chunks were large and tender-looking, surrounded by carrots and pearl onions.
She took a sip of her drink. "Hmm! It's very delicious, but there's not only strawberry and guava in it… There's also a strange taste, but it's very good… like a frozen treat?"
"Just grapes," Ren explained. "But they're Kyoho grapes, frozen and crushed into ice chips inside to act as edible ice cubes."
"Oh! No wonder it tastes so familiar! That's clever!"
Ren glanced at Kobayashi Rindou, who was eyeing the stew enviously. "Are you finished eating?"
"No! I still have room for dessert!" Rindou complained. "Mainly I'm tired of eating savory things. Today is the first time I've had so many classes since becoming an Elite Ten! I'm exhausted! Running around everywhere, suppressing rebellions, eating your students' food... Today's students are really amazing~, but it's tiring work."
Ren rolled his eyes and said, "Why don't you say I also taught classes all day~. And cooked for you."
"Oh my. It's different. I'm a delicate young girl~. I need pampering."
Hearing this, let alone Ren, even Senzaemon Nakiri almost choked on a shrimp paste ball.
Delicate?!
What a joke. Kobayashi Rindou is a delicate young girl?
Which delicate young girl can catch crocodiles with her bare hands in the Amazon?! And can skillfully stew poisonous snakes for you in the wild with a pocket knife?! Which delicate young girl eats alligator gar for breakfast?!
Ren sighed, realizing arguing was futile. "Alright then~ you're a delicate girl.... A delicate girl with the appetite of a T-Rex."
Kobayashi Rindou nodded smugly.
Senzaemon Nakiri smiled, wiping his mouth. "Ren, now I know why Rindou is becoming more and more lawless. It's all because you spoil her. You feed the beast."
Ren shook his head helplessly. "That's why I'm not good at being a teacher. I'm too soft."
He turned back to Saitama. "Ah, it's time. Saitama, there's white pepper next to you. I added some vanilla powder to it. You can pour a little on the Egg Mixed Rice, it's quite delicious~. It brings out the creaminess."
Saitama sprinkled it on. He took a bite. "Oh... It's good. Really good."
Suddenly, Saitama looked up, his expression unusually serious. "But Ren... your cooking is as delicious as ever. Why did you open a Restaurant here?"
This question made the others pause. Erina, Alice, even Senzaemon looked over.
Ren's skill was undeniable. No matter where it was—Ginza, Paris, New York—he would surely attract crowds and Michelin stars. Why would he choose such a quiet, out-of-the-way alley? And there wasn't even a proper Restaurant name on the sign.
Ren leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. He looked out the window at the quiet street.
"Isn't it more interesting to let fate bring people here like this?" he said casually. "Besides, I didn't open a Restaurant to make money or fame in the first place. I opened it to cook."
He looked at them.
"You'll understand if I ask you a question in return. If I opened a Restaurant in a very lively place, like Shinjuku or Roppongi... not to mention whether I could meet interesting customers from other places... just from this simple situation: if it were in such a crowded, noisy place, with lines out the door and reservations booked months in advance... would this still be a place where you could enjoy and relax?"
Everyone remained silent.
They looked around the warm, quiet shop. They looked at Alice sleeping on Erina's shoulder. They looked at Cerberus napping upstairs. They looked at Saitama eating in peace without people staring at his bald head.
If Ren had indeed opened a Restaurant in a bustling area, they might not be customers. They would be just another number in a queue. They wouldn't have this much free time to chat, to bicker, and to relax from the day's fatigue.
It wouldn't be a sanctuary. It would just be a business.
Ren smiled, seeing their realization. "See? This is the reason for the warmth here. It's quiet."
Just then, a bell dinged from the kitchen.
"Hmm. It seems Lucifer's chocolate crepe is finally successful."
As Ren spoke, he walked back into the kitchen. The atmosphere in the Restaurant was the same as before—calm and welcoming—but now, a sweet, rich chocolate aroma wafted out, adding a few hints of sweetness to the savory air.
Kobayashi Rindou sniffed the air and smiled, her eyes closing. "It's precisely because of this that it's so cozy here.... Ren! I want a chocolate crepe too! The delicate girl needs sugar!"
"Coming right up."
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