Chapter 294: Kazami Yuuka, a Beauty with a Pipe in the Moonlight
After clearing the dishes and returning to the main dining area, Ren saw that the young woman was still seated at her table. He said nothing, simply returning to his own seat behind the counter.
It was she who broke the silence, her gaze fixed on him with a curious intensity. "You don't mind if I linger for a while longer?"
"It's perfectly normal to rest in a restaurant after a meal," Ren replied with a casual shrug. "Why would I mind?"
The young woman nodded, her voice a soft murmur. "It's simply that I find guests from other worlds... fascinating. I trust that isn't a problem?"
"Of course not," Ren said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Who knows? Your presence might pique the interest of the next customer. Could be good for business. Also, Miss, if you..."
She offered a faint, knowing smile, cutting him off. "I told you, human. You are the first and only man of your kind to ever earn my interest... and my admiration. So... call me Kazami Yuuka."
"Kazami Yuuka," Ren repeated, letting the name settle. "A fitting name for one who cultivates and appreciates flowers. And if it's all the same to you, I hope you'll call me Ren. After all, there are countless humans in this world. But just as no two leaves are ever identical, there is only one of me."
Kazami Yuuka inclined her head in acknowledgment and said nothing more, content to sit in quiet observation. Ren, for his part, picked up a book and began to read. He'd forgone watching a movie tonight for a simple reason: Lucifer and Cerberus were thoroughly engrossed in their group chat, and Kasugano Sora had discovered that playing on her phone right in front of him was a thrilling little act of rebellion she couldn't bring herself to stop.
The scene proved that while Kazami Yuuka possessed power beyond measure, she still yearned for a life of peace and tranquility. She longed for the gentle evening breeze caressing fields of flowers, carrying their fragrance on the wind. A life without competition or strife, where she could occupy her own quiet corner, watching the four seasons turn, the passage of time marked by the blooming and fading of petals. A life of simple enjoyment and occasional journeys.
At this moment, Yuuka rested her delicate cheek on one hand, slowly savoring the last of her floral tea. The restaurant, bathed in the soft glow of its indoor lighting, felt exceptionally warm and inviting. Her gaze drifted to the potted plants by the window. Every so often, a gentle breeze would stir the wind chimes hanging nearby, their crisp, clear notes pulling the drowsy youkai back from the edge of sleep.
After a satisfying meal, sitting in such a room, listening to the faint, occasional laughter from the kitchen, and gazing out at the soft lights of the neighboring street, it was easy to feel the pull of slumber. The subtle scent of flowers in the air was a gentle lullaby, tempting one to close their eyes for just a moment.
The most natural, most soothing sounds in the world were the ones that aided sleep: the crisp sound of laughter, the soft patter of rain, the rustle of leaves in the wind, the quiet turning of pages in a book, the murmur of a flowing river, and the whisper of flower beds releasing their fragrance into the night.
Kazami Yuuka felt this place was almost too perfect for a short nap, yet a part of her wanted to stay awake, to see the moment the next customer arrived.
Perhaps it was a privilege of her domain, but the wind seemed to favor her. Each time she was about to drift off, a gentle evening breeze would caress the wind chimes, the sound brushing against her senses like a soft touch to the cheek.
Waking from the precipice of sleep is always disorienting, and even a being like her was no exception. She would be roused by the chime, look around in a daze, then shift her position slightly, a strange sense of anticipation keeping her company as she continued her vigil.
Sometimes, waiting is an aimless act. Perhaps one waits merely to see a scene that mirrors a fleeting thought, or perhaps... perhaps there is no purpose at all. For one who waits with a heart full of expectation, time's shadow stretches long, a feeling known intimately by all who chase it.
Finally, deciding she needed something to do, Yuuka turned her head. She watched Ren, whose lips had curved into a slight smile at something he was reading, and asked softly, "Human... Ren. Did you plant all these flowers?"
Ren lowered his book, his eyes glancing toward the potted plants by the window. "Mhm. Grew them all from seeds. It's not very difficult."
Kazami Yuuka seemed taken aback. "Planting flowers is... simple?"
"It's much like raising a person," Ren explained. "Generally, if you treat any living thing with the same kindness you would a person, it will flourish."
Kasugano Sora, her head bowed over her phone as she watched an amusing video, extended a hand without looking up. "Except for bugs and mice!" she declared. "Especially mosquitoes!"
Ren chuckled. Sora's hatred for mosquitoes was deep, though he supposed few people actually liked them. He still remembered the time she had called him to order takeout, only to beg him to come over and help her swat the pests.
The day before that call, she had been drying her clothes on the balcony and had forgotten to close the door, allowing a swarm to invade her apartment. The onslaught that followed left Sora with a deep-seated trauma. Her face, arms, legs, and even her feet had been covered in red, itchy welts. Ren could still picture her pitiful expression.
He smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Sora. There won't be any mosquitoes in the restaurant."
Her head snapped up, eyes wide. "Really?! Not even with the windows open?!"
"Nope."
"Yay!"
Kasugano Sora was ecstatic. No mosquitoes, plus an endless supply of snacks and the entire internet at her fingertips! It was confirmed! Moving here was absolutely the right choice! This was heaven!
Kazami Yuuka's gaze returned to the flowers. Their leaves and the nearby wind chimes swayed in unison with the occasional breeze. They were not rare or exotic specimens, yet they displayed a proud spirit, a vibrant and unapologetic beauty.
'Treating them like people, huh...'She murmured the words to herself, her thoughts drifting to her own attitude toward humans. After a moment, she gave a slight shake of her head. Her eyes found Ren again, who was now gently teasing Sora. A quiet sigh escaped her lips.'A man I cannot comprehend at all...'
While the restaurant was steeped in its own quiet rhythm, elsewhere, Clow Reed's eyes finally opened fully. A peculiar light gleamed within them as he looked up at the moon, now hanging high and brilliant in the night sky.
"The Hour of the Rat," he whispered to the silence. "It is nearly time. I should depart."
A voice, seemingly from the air itself, questioned him. "Do you not need to prepare anything?"
"A dead man... a dying man... carrying nothing but stories and a final hope for one last taste of true cuisine," Clow Reed said, his voice a low, melodic hum. "That is all I need."
"But..."
"The moon has risen... It all began because of that single thought, yet I have no regrets. I know not if it is my good fortune or hers, but for her to be alive in another world... it should make the passage of time more fulfilling..."
With those words, Clow Reed vanished from the mansion. The vast estate fell silent once more. Moonlight spilled onto the balcony, reflecting off an untouched glass of red wine, painting a scene of exceptionally lonely beauty.
On yet another side of the world, a woman whose beauty defied simple description leaned against a pillar before a doorway, a long-stemmed pipe held delicately in her hand. She gazed up at the same bright moon, then, as if lost in thought, reached out her free hand and closed it on the empty air.
"Moonlight..." she murmured, her voice a wisp of smoke. "I've never found it so beautiful before..."
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