Chapter 285: A Whirlwind Visit and a Quiet Voice
Ren walked through the evening streets, a carefully prepared meal in hand. He glanced down at the container, a helpless sigh escaping his lips. "She's really something else with her pickiness," he murmured to himself. "I wonder if she and Sora would get along. They might have a lot in common."
Miles away, Kasugano Sora suddenly shivered, an inexplicable chill tracing a line down her spine as if unseen eyes were watching her. She glanced over her shoulder, but found nothing out of the ordinary. Shrugging, she turned her attention back to the glowing screen of her phone.
Her daily life was a simple, unchanging loop: playing games, browsing forums, watching movies and TV shows, scrolling through social media feeds. Occasionally, she would pick up a textbook, stare at a page for a moment, and then toss it aside with a soft huff. It was a small miracle she could remain so content being cooped up all day.
Perhaps Sakura Hibiki had been right; she was a rich little lady who was perfectly happy to be a shut-in. Many of Sora's current habits were, in fact, picked up from the online updates posted by Yumiko and the other friends in her contact list.
Back at the restaurant, Lucifer rested her chin on her hand, sipping a cool beverage. "You know," she mused, "I feel like Ren has a lot of customers, but it seems many of them don't visit very often."
Sōryūin Akemi, seated nearby, nodded in agreement. "That's true. When I used to come with my sister, I always saw so many interesting people. They don't seem to come around as frequently now. They must all be very busy with their own lives."
Courage considered this for a moment. "Have you noticed that all of Ren's customers are remarkably polite? And they're all so fascinating. That one man from before... Saitama, was it? He was very interesting. He seemed like a good person, too."
A wave of nods went around the table. Akemi smiled. "Mr. Saitama! I haven't seen him in a long time. I wonder if he still has his hair..."
"He doesn't!" came a synchronized chorus of three voices.
Lucifer, Cerberus, and Courage all spoke at once, their sudden declaration startling the others. Akemi blinked, then burst into a fit of giggles. "Imagine Mr. Saitama's expression if he lost his hair... Hahahahaha!"
Lucifer and Courage couldn't hold back their own laughter. Cerberus chimed in, her voice full of mirth, "Yes, yes! That customer, Saitama! He looks so goofy and fun. He's kind of shaped like an egg..."
"Hahaha!" The three of them were completely overcome with amusement, while Sakura Hibiki and the others just looked on in confusion. Kasugano Sora, having only ever ordered takeout, had never laid eyes on Saitama and had no idea what he looked like.
Ayaka smiled gently. "Perhaps it's because of all these interesting customers that Brother Ren enjoys running a restaurant. After all, he doesn't seem to be short on money."
Courage nodded emphatically. "There's no way he could be. Otherwise, a meal of this quality wouldn't be sold at this price. And besides, he's a fighter. How could a man like that be short on money?"
Gina's eyes lit up, her body practically vibrating with excitement. "I really want to see Brother Ren and Kaolan fight! It would be amazing! Whoosh whoosh whoosh! A real clash of fists must be so thrilling!"
Lucifer tilted her head, a confused expression on her face. "When Kaolan was here before, Momo also said he was some kind of 'Thai God of War.' Is that man really that strong?"
At this, Gina shot up from her seat, her face alight with pure admiration. "Of course! Kaolan is a legend! He dominated four major boxing organizations, perfectly fused Muay Thai with boxing, and is considered invincible in his home country!"
Courage nodded along, adding her own knowledge. "She's right. He's incredibly famous. You know, while most boxers use straight punches or uppercuts, he specializes in jabs. His attack speed is blindingly fast and carries immense power. Rumor has it he can throw sixteen jabs in a single breath. It's truly impressive!"
Ayaka's mouth twitched slightly. "Ah... I suppose that is..."
Lucifer pondered this for a moment. "Oh, that does sound quite formidable. But... it seems he can't beat Ren. Kaolan admitted it himself."
"Eh?!" A collective gasp of six voices filled the room.
After Lucifer recounted the events of that night, describing the brief but intense confrontation, Gina could only stare blankly. "No way... That's just too much..."
Without another word, she bolted out of the restaurant. The others watched as she stopped to examine a small, web-like crater in the pavement not far from the entrance, then craned her neck to look at the fine cracks spidering up the wall. A moment later, she ran back inside, her eyes wide.
"Wow! He was completely fine after taking a hit like that?! Is Brother Ren's level really that high?!"
Cerberus puffed out her chest, her tail wagging with pride. "Of course! Ren is amazing! In every aspect!"
Hearing the emphasis on "every aspect," Courage's gaze flickered toward Lucifer. The corner of Lucifer's eye twitched almost imperceptibly. That simple sentence was loaded with meaning, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it on the surface.
Seeing Lucifer's subtle reaction, Courage understood immediately. A wave of shock washed over her, leaving her completely stunned. She didn't know where she found the nerve, but she quickly typed out a message—a direct translation of what Cerberus had just said—and sent it to Decora. Then, as if all the strength had drained from her body, she simply laid her head on the table and refused to move.
"Yo! Hello, everyone! Eh? Isn't that Sora? And Akemi is here too!"
Just then, the group saw Kure Fusui stride in, carrying a large box. Kasugano Sora and Akemi both nodded politely. "Good evening, Sister Fusui."
"Mm. You're all doing well," she said, her eyes scanning the room before landing on Lucifer. "Where's Ren?"
"He went out to deliver an order. Do you want to wait for him?"
Kure Fusui waved a dismissive hand and marched straight into the kitchen as if she owned the place. A moment later, she emerged with a sandwich in one hand and a carton of juice in the other. "I'm leaving now," she announced between bites. "Left the money for Ren on the counter. I have important business to attend to. See you around!"
And with that, she was gone as quickly as she had arrived, luggage in tow. Sakura Hibiki and the others could only stare after her, bewildered.
Lucifer tilted her head. "What's she so busy with?"
Akemi shook her head. "I have no idea. I only know a little about what my sisters do... Speaking of which, I think it's been almost ten minutes."
Lucifer froze. Her eyes widened in panic as she threw her phone onto the table and scrambled toward the kitchen. Cerberus, however, paid her no mind, continuing her cheerful chat with the person known only as the 'Electronic Empress'.
Meanwhile, Ren stood before a familiar building, letting out a soft sigh before clearing his throat. The next moment, a small sign on a stick slowly extended from a second-story window, waving back and forth.
Ren sighed again, a faint smile on his face. "It's at the door, okay? Remember to eat everything. I made your favorite tomato and tofu soup, no meat. Just... don't drink it too fast this time."
He was about to turn and leave when a very soft, hesitant voice drifted from inside the house.
"Brother Ren... thank you..."
Hearing it, Ren stopped dead in his tracks. A genuine, warm smile spread across his face. "You're finally using your own voice," he said gently. "It's nothing. Eat up before it gets cold. But next time, maybe you can try eating a little meat, or adding a bit more salt. You won't have any strength if you keep eating like this."
"...Mmm."
"Alright, I'll be leaving now," he said, his voice soft. "Eat it all, Sagiri."
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