Chapter 73: The Girl with a Machine Gun and Rocket Launcher
Ren carried Alice out of the Restaurant, her small, silver-haired form curled against his chest. Kobayashi Rindou, Erina, and Hisako followed close behind, like a royal procession escorting a fallen princess.
Looking at Ren holding Alice with such ease and care, Kobayashi Rindou felt a prickle of something sharp in her chest—jealousy, perhaps?—but on the surface, she maintained her cheerful smile. Erina, on the other hand, didn't feel much beyond relief that someone else was dealing with the chaotic cousin.
Suddenly, Alice stirred. Perhaps it was because Ren was holding her so steadily, or because Alice was naturally a clingy child, but her little head nuzzled deeper into Ren's shirt. She murmured something unintelligible and rubbed her cheek against his shoulder like a cat marking territory.
Ren stopped walking. He turned his head slightly and looked at Senzaemon Nakiri, who was watching with amusement from beside his sleek black car.
"I didn't expect her to be such a spoiled child," Ren chuckled softly. "Old man, let's wait a moment until she settles down before putting her in the car. If I move her now, she might wake up grumpy."
Senzaemon Nakiri smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I didn't realize you had the potential to be a good father, young man~. You have a calming aura."
Ren was stunned for a second, then smiled. "I guess so. I personally really like children. They are honest eaters."
Kobayashi Rindou's face flushed a deep crimson at the 'father' comment, her mind instantly supplying images she wasn't ready to process. She looked away, whistling at the streetlamp.
After a minute, Alice's breathing evened out. Ren looked down at her. Alice was mixed-race, inheriting her father's Japanese features and her mother Leonora's Danish beauty. Her porcelain skin glowed under the streetlights, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her cheeks.
At this moment, Alice didn't have her usual mischievous, scientific intensity. Instead, she exuded a sense of tranquility. Her nose occasionally twitched, and her jelly-like lips were slightly pouted. She looked... peaceful.
Ren gently lowered her into the backseat of Erina's limousine, where Rindou had opened the door.
When he straightened up, he noticed a damp patch on his shirt.
"Ah," Ren touched his chest. "It seems she really is a restless girl when she sleeps~. A little drool monster."
Rindou rolled her eyes playfully. "You should say you hit the jackpot. Alice is very popular at school. Fans would pay for that shirt."
Ren ignored the teasing. He turned to Erina and Momo. "Alice's alcohol tolerance is low, so she'll wake up soon, but she might have a headache from the sugar crash. Let her go back and rest well. Make sure she eats something light tomorrow morning—miso soup or porridge~."
Erina and Hisako nodded, Hisako taking notes mentally. "Understood, Shopkeeper Ren. We will take care of her."
Ren smiled. "Then I'll head back first. Miss Hori and her brother are still waiting inside, and I shouldn't leave guests alone for too long. Be careful on your way."
After Ren finished speaking, he gave a small wave, turned, and walked back towards the alley. His figure disappeared into the shadows.
Erina watched him go, sighing. "Shopkeeper Ren really is decisive in his actions.... He doesn't waste a second."
Kobayashi Rindou leaned against the car door, smirking. "While that's true, you still don't understand Ren's priorities, Erina-cchi. Ren is rushing back not just because he's busy, but because Hori and her brother are almost finished eating. Ren can't let them wait to pay or leave. After all, the child and the sister both need to go to school tomorrow. Children especially need enough sleep."
Erina blinked. "Oh. He's... considerate."
Senzaemon Nakiri's car pulled up alongside them. The window rolled down. "Then you all can take your time going back to the dorms. I'll go back to the main mansion to handle official business first. If Alice wakes up and complains, she can stay in your dorm, Erina, tonight! Don't let her run any experiments."
"Yes, Grandpa," Erina replied dutifully.
After speaking, the Director's car drove away into the night. Erina sighed, signaling the driver to start. She and Hisako essentially lived in a dorm building by themselves—the perks of being the Queen.
As the Totsuki group departed, Ren returned to the Restaurant.
The moment he entered, Hori Kyoko and Souta were just putting down their utensils. The plates were clean.
Ren smiled, walking behind the counter to wash his hands. "It seems I returned just in time~."
Kyoko smiled, her face glowing with satisfaction. "Yes, Shopkeeper! Your cooking is truly amazing! Even the stew, which I don't usually like because of the texture, was perfect! It melted in my mouth!"
Ren dried his hands and leaned on the counter. "As long as it suits your taste. But strictly speaking, this should be a braised meat dish. For a vegetable stew, I'd have to use a different cooking method to keep the vegetables firm."
Kyoko nodded, impressed. "That's really impressive. I thought I was pretty good at cooking for my family. But compared to you, Shopkeeper, I'm far behind. I never even thought there were so many different nuances to a single dish."
Ren thought for a moment. "Cooking is like doing scientific research or creating art; you have to be bold. Every dish was initially created by a someone trying something new. So don't be too rigid in your thinking. I can tell from the way you talk about food that you're also very good at cooking. You care about the eater."
"Mm~ But it's just some home-cooked meals...." Kyoko blushed slightly.
"But for everyday life, home-cooked meals are enough, aren't they? As long as they're delicious enough to make the eater happy, it's a successful dish. Little guy," Ren looked at Souta, "is your Onee-chan's cooking delicious?"
Souta nodded vigorously without thinking. "Mm! Onee-chan's cooking is the best! Especially her hamburger steak!"
Ren smiled. "See? My cooking and your cooking receive the same praise. I face many customers; you only need to face your family. If your family is completely satisfied, then it's a success. That is the heart of cooking."
Kyoko looked at Ren with sparkling eyes. His words validated her daily efforts in a way few things did. "Shopkeeper... you really know how to flatter people. But thank you. How much is it in total?"
"One thousand yen~."
Kyoko froze while reaching for her wallet. "One thousand... in total? That cheap? For beef stew and curry?"
Ren smiled. "I don't even have a menu here, so does the price still matter? I charge based on the vibe. And tonight, the vibe is 'good siblings'."
"You're a strange person.... But a good one. Oh, by the way, I heard from Minami that your name is Ren, right, Shopkeeper?"
Ren nodded. He took the bill Kyoko handed him. "Ren. Just Ren."
Kyoko stood up, helping Souta with his jacket. "Minami was right, this is a Restaurant you absolutely must visit. Shopkeeper, if I get the chance, I'll bring my friends next time~. Though Hori-san might be busy."
"You're very welcome~. Be careful on your way home. It's dark."
"Mm!"
"Big brother! My name is Souta!" the boy piped up.
Ren smiled and waved. "Mm. I know. Goodbye, Souta. Although it's not very late, as the man of the house right now, you must protect your Onee-chan well when walking at night."
Souta puffed out his chest. "Mm! I know! I have my karate chop! Goodbye, big brother!"
Ren stood at the door, waving goodbye to the siblings until they turned the corner.
After leaving the alley, Kyoko looked back at the warm light spilling from the shop.
"What a magical place...." she murmured.
"Onee-chan! We should go! Aren't you on student council duty tomorrow?" Souta tugged her hand.
"Oh my! I completely forgot... Souta, you really are reliable~."
"Because I'm a man!"
"Pfft~. Yes, yes, my little man."
"Onee-chan! Don't laugh!"
Listening to the sounds of their banter fading into the distance, Ren smiled and shook his head, softly saying, "What an interesting pair of siblings… Katagiri really is a good place. Full of youth."
Perhaps because there were too many customers during the "dinner rush," there wasn't a single customer even as it approached midnight.
Ren was happy to be at ease; after all, it had been a busy day for him, starting with the early morning call from Senzaemon. While he wasn't physically tired, he still wanted to rest his mind properly for a while.
He brewed a fresh cup of Earl Grey tea, the bergamot scent filling the air. He leaned back in his chair, picking up his book again. The only sound in the Restaurant was the soft turning of pages and the hum of the refrigerator.
This kind of environment was exactly what a restless and weary soul needed.
Just as Ren was about to pick up his teacup for a sip, the atmosphere changed.
The door lit up.
It wasn't the soft glow of a returning customer. It was a sharp, erratic blue light.
Before Ren could even put down his teacup, the door was kicked open.
Bang!
A girl stumbled in, almost tripping over the threshold. She was panting heavily, her face smeared with dirt and gunpowder residue.
She had huge, expressive purple-red eyes, a beautiful, chaotic face, and long blue hair tied into two massive braids that trailed behind her like comet tails. Her body was covered in intricate, cloud-like blue tattoos that glowed faintly in the dim light.
She was very thin, almost manic in her energy. She wore a ragged crop top and striped pants.
But that wasn't the key.
The key was the massive, rapid-fire machine gun (Pow-Pow) in her hand.
And the shark-mouthed rocket launcher (Fishbones) strapped to her back.
After the girl ran in, she slammed the door shut with her foot and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. "Hah... hah... lost them!"
She paused, looking around the clean, wooden interior. Her eyes landed on Ren, who was still holding his teacup mid-air, frozen in a pose of sophisticated relaxation.
For a moment, their eyes met.
An eerie silence fell over the shop.
Ren blinked.
The girl blinked. Then a manic grin spread across her face.
"Hi!" she chirped, raising her machine gun. "Is this where I order a sandwich? Or do I need to blow something up first?"
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