Chapter 569: The Little Girls' Dinner
Karura's words dropped like a lead balloon. "Luckily that day was a weekend and I didn't have to go to school."
The girls stared at her, utterly robbed of the romantic drama they had been anticipating. They had wanted a sweeping tale of destiny, and instead, they got a scheduling convenience.
Karura laughed at their flat expressions. "Oh, come on. Did you really think I'd just casually spill all my secrets? I'm not Fusui, you know."
Kasugano Sora tilted her head. "How did Fusui meet him, then?"
"She was on her way back from a mission," Karura explained. "She got way too caught up listening to music while driving, took a wrong turn, and completely ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Then she ended up here. Fusui has ridiculously good eyesight, so she spotted the shop's lights from a mile away. That's how they met."
Sora sighed softly. "That sounds a bit careless... But I haven't seen her in quite a while. Where is she now?"
"Her? Probably somewhere in Northern Europe right now."
"Oh, she really is busy." Sora glanced past the table. "Ah, Ren is here. I'll head upstairs first. If you girls aren't in a hurry, come find us when you're done eating!"
With a gentle tug, Sora led Cerberus away from the dining area.
The remaining four girls—Karura, Kotori, Umi, and Elena—turned their attention to the approaching figure. Ren moved with a quiet, unhurried grace, pushing a sleek dining cart toward their table. They were already burning with curiosity; if a man could make a simple fruit salad taste like heaven, what could he do with a main course? Karura, of course, was simply staring at Ren himself, her eyes tracing his features with unabashed affection.
Ren paused at the edge of the table, catching her intense gaze. A faint, amused smile touched his lips. "If you keep staring at me like that, I'm going to get nervous."
Minami Kotori and the others bit their lips to stifle their giggles.
Ren began transferring the plates with practiced elegance. "Steak salad to start. Then the beef and potato stew, the Squirrel Fish, and..." He set a vibrant, aromatic plate in front of the Kure girl. "Karura, your order. Kung Pao Chicken. Would you ladies like anything to drink?"
Kotori and Sonoda Umi stared at the spread. The rich, layered aromas wafting from the hot porcelain were intoxicating. As girls who knew their way around a kitchen, they instantly recognized the sheer mastery radiating from the dishes.
Karura beamed. "We'll just have the same juice as before. Right, Kotori? Umi?"
"Mm! Shopkeeper Ren, that juice was incredible!" Kotori chimed in.
"Thank you. I'll leave you to it, then. Please, enjoy your meal."
As Ren retreated to the kitchen, Kotori leaned in, her eyes sparkling. "Karura-senpai, Shopkeeper Ren really is such a wonderful person."
"Right?!" Karura's grin widened. "Hehe, come on, let's eat. I'm telling you, one bite and you'll fall completely in love with his cooking. I highly recommend the Kung Pao Chicken!"
They began with the appetizer. Despite the casual atmosphere, the steak salad demanded absolute respect.
One bite was all it took to completely conquer Umi and Kotori. The beef was flawlessly seared—tender, bursting with savory juices, and carrying a faint, smoky char that elevated the natural richness of the meat. Each chew released a flood of flavor, perfectly balanced by the crisp, refreshing greens.
Next was the Squirrel Fish, a dish that immediately seared itself into their culinary memories.
Growing up in Japan, the girls were no strangers to seafood; fish was a daily staple regardless of a family's wealth. Yet, Umi and Kotori instantly realized they had never tasted anything quite like this. The freshness was absolute.
The exterior was fried to a delicate, golden crisp, while the white meat inside remained astonishingly soft and flaky. A vibrant sweet and sour sauce coated every crevice, creating a brilliant harmony of textures and tastes. Umi, who frequently pored over gourmet magazines and experimented with cooking, had ordered this specific dish. She had tried her hand at Chinese cuisine before, often struggling to balance the complex flavor profiles. Tasting Ren's rendition, she realized it surpassed every written description she had ever read.
Then came the beef and potato stew—a nostalgic, universal comfort food. It was the kind of dish children dreamed of, though rarely executed to such perfection at home.
The potatoes had absorbed the rich, savory broth, melting instantly on the tongue. The beef, having been slow-cooked to perfection, retained a satisfying chew without being tough. Every strand of meat was saturated with deep, earthy flavors. It was a dish that rewarded patience; the more they chewed, the more the fragrant meat juices flooded their palates. It was a masterclass in textural satisfaction.
Kotori's eyes widened in sheer delight. "Wow! This beef and potato stew is amazing! How does Shopkeeper Ren even make it taste like this?!"
Karura smirked, leaning back in her chair. "I know exactly how Ren would answer that."
"How?" the other three asked in unison.
Karura placed a hand over her heart, adopting a look of deep, exaggerated solemnity. "With heart... Hahahahaha!"
The table erupted into laughter.
The cheerful banter continued until Elena finally reached for the dish Karura had been hyping up: the Kung Pao Chicken.
She took a bite, and her eyes immediately lit up. "This... this smells so incredibly good!"
Curiosity piqued, Kotori and Umi followed suit. The moment the flavors hit their tongues, they were hopelessly hooked.
Kung Pao Chicken is a globally renowned staple for a reason. Ren's version took that legendary reputation and elevated it to an art form. The diced chicken was impossibly tender, maintaining a smooth, velvety texture beneath its glossy coating.
The brilliance of the dish lay in its complex balance. Diced carrots, crisp peanuts, and tender scallions mingled in the wok, converging into a kaleidoscope of textures: crispy, soft, tender, and smooth.
The flavor profile was a masterclass in contrast. It was sweet with a subtle undercurrent of spice, and spicy with a comforting wave of sweetness. The heat was vibrant but never aggressive, warming the palate rather than scorching it.
As they ate, the tip of the tongue registered a pleasant, tingling numbness from the Sichuan peppercorns, immediately followed by a rich, savory sweetness. As they chewed, a faint, appetizing tartness emerged, tying the complex flavors together. The combination of the tender chicken, the crunch of the peanuts, and the aromatic green onions created an addictive loop.
It was the perfect companion for a bowl of steamed rice. The only flaw—if it could even be called one—was the agonizing nature of the diced ingredients. Because the pieces were so small, each bite offered only a fleeting glimpse of perfection before it was swallowed, forcing the diner to constantly reach for more, chasing that euphoric taste.
By the time Umi and Kotori snapped out of their culinary trance, Ren had quietly returned to the table, setting down a tray of chilled glasses.
Kotori looked up, her cheeks slightly flushed from the warm food. "Shopkeeper Ren! Your cooking is absolutely incredible!"
Umi nodded emphatically, completely abandoning her usual reserved demeanor.
Ren offered a soft, appreciative smile. "Thank you. Eat as much as you'd like. Here is your juice. The cheesecake is currently resting in cold storage, so please take your time."
"Okay!" the girls chimed together, their attention already drifting back to the feast before them.
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