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"You shut-in hag, what are you doing! Let go!"
Fujiwara no Mokou was reluctantly, violently dragged across the wooden floorboards to the green-felt pool table by Kaguya Houraisan. She had actively tried to resist, digging her boots into the floor and letting out sparks of fire, but the smug, infuriating argument from the Moon Princess remained exactly the same: You just ate some Elixir of Immortality by stealing it and painfully learned a few cheap tricks from common Youkai in the dirt. How dare you ever confidently compare yourself to a legitimate, pure-blooded Princess of the Lunar Capital? I usually just lazily play along with your tantrums. If we really fight, don't make your older sister Kaguya laugh. Your pathetic immortality is literally nothing more than my inherent, passive ability.
"Play a round of pool with me. I'll cover your tab today."
Kaguya gracefully took two polished wooden cues out of the glass cabinet, casually tossing one over the green felt. The simple rules of eight-ball were clearly posted on the wall; Youkai absolutely aren't idiots, they could easily figure out how to mathematically play with a single glance at the angles. Kaguya, with her eternal boredom, never refused a competitive game.
"This old lady absolutely doesn't want your filthy money! Get lost!"
Aggressively catching the flying cue mid-air, Fujiwara no Mokou was just about to violently snap the thick wood completely in half over her knee, but then her burning anger paused. She remembered the expensive equipment actually belonged to Lord Leo, absolutely not that lazy, shut-in hag Kaguya. She slowly lowered her leg and gently, respectfully placed the cue down on the pool table. She was a woman of strict principle; she exclusively targeted that awful woman Kaguya, and politely maintained good, friendly relationships with absolutely everyone else. Back in Gensokyo, she even often went out peacefully foraging for medicinal herbs in the bamboo forest with Reisen.
"Then how about this: exactly one drink per game, the loser pays? Surely the great Mokou isn't afraid of a little wager like that?"
Kaguya smirked, pulled out a silk hair tie, and elegantly bound her massive, waist-length black hair into a high, practical ponytail to avoid hitting the balls. She then confidently set up the heavy, clinking billiard balls on the wooden tripod rack herself. To effectively deal with Mokou, she absolutely didn't need any complex, deep strategy; just constant, condescending provocation was more than enough. She just strictly had to magically control the 'temperature' of her insults so Mokou didn't completely disengage and burn the building down.
As completely expected, upon hearing the direct challenge to her pride, the short-tempered Fujiwara no Mokou immediately agreed. She bent down over the green felt, lined up her shot, and struck the cue ball so violently hard it nearly exploded into white powder upon impact with the rack, scattering the balls like a gunshot.
"Easy! Do you actually think the ball is my face?! Hit it so hard, and you'll personally have to pay the World Lord for it if you break the table."
Kaguya waved dismissively at the trembling Reisen, who wasn't hiding far away, actively telling the rabbit to go buy a few cold bottles of alcohol and happily bring some salty snacks back to the table. The game area was designed very thoughtfully by Leo, with plush velvet sofas and low glass tables specifically for spectators, comfortably allowing people to drink and eat while watching the tense games unfold.
Meanwhile, behind the long mahogany bar, Leo was already incredibly, exhaustingly busy.
At first, he foolishly tried to expertly emulate some flashy bartender flair he had watched on Bilibili videos back on Earth, tossing ice cubes, cracking eggs, adding fresh Springs, and dropping sliced tropical fruit into the silver shaker. He shook it aggressively twice, poured only a tiny, cheap amount of expensive liquor into the tall glass, and filled the rest to the brim with cheap ice and fruit to maximize profit.
But more and more thirsty people aggressively gathered at the bar. Many exhausted Youkai who were still actively participating in the treasure hunt competition completely stopped searching for boxes and rushed over the exact second they heard the bar was officially open for cold drinks. Leo was violently shaking his silver Cocktail Shaker so fast his arms were blurring and the metal was almost smoking from friction, yet he absolutely couldn't keep up with the endless, shouting orders. Left with absolutely no other choice, he desperately called upon absolutely everyone usable in his chaotic household.
This was easily the absolute most useful Flandre's clones had ever been in their entire chaotic existence. With four identical Flandres buzzing around, plus Chen and Kogasa Tatara, the massively increased manpower instantly sped up the cocktail making. Moreover, these three hyperactive little ones were much, much more lively and entertaining to watch than a sweating, panicking Leo.
Flandre's chaotic bartending style focused entirely on whimsical, highly dangerous creativity. The ancient Youkai absolutely couldn't logically understand the messy, complex English names on Leo's printed menu—Bloody Mary, Tequila Fire, Long Island Iced Tea, Seven-Color Rainbow, Passionate Coast—they just slammed their fists on the wood and shouted, "Give me a strong drink!"
So, Flandre happily put in absolutely whatever liquids she currently had on hand: glowing green Slime Mucus from the mines, fresh cow's milk, raw eggs, spicy peppers, and all sorts of random, explosive things. Surprisingly, the chaotic, magical flavor had incredibly great complexity, earning loud, burping praise from many hardened Youkai with strong, poison-resistant palates.
Chen, on the other hand, specialized entirely in lethal cuteness. Who in their right mind could possibly refuse an adorable, fluffy black cat shaking its two tails excitedly while tightly hugging a massive silver Cocktail Shaker to her chest and wiggling around the bar? Consequently, Chen's specific ordering area was completely packed and filled with older, doting Youkai, aggressively watching her happily selling her cuteness with benevolent, melting motherly smiles, and absolutely no one impatiently rushed her. Everyone in the area Chen was actively responsible for practically radiated pink, loving light as they admired her adorable, clumsy movements.
Kogasa Tatara and her living, One-eyed umbrella were by far the absolute most energetic and flashy. Fancy, professional tricks Leo fundamentally couldn't physically do without dropping the glass—like rapid Bottle Flipping, Backhand Bottle Dragging, Two-Week Front Hand Pours, Behind-the-Back Bottle Tosses, and Bottle Rolling—the One-eyed umbrella could flawlessly accomplish using absolutely nothing but its massive, wet, flexible purple tongue!
Kogasa Tatara would happily secure the cold shaker and toss it high over her shoulder, and the One-eyed umbrella would effortlessly catch it with its prehensile tongue before starting a dazzling, acrobatic cirque-du-soleil performance, perfectly controlling several heavy glass bottles and shakers flying rapidly in the air with a single tongue. They were infinitely better and more entertaining at it than Leo ever was.
Since absolutely all the thirsty Youkai in front of him had been happily snatched away by the entertaining little ones, Leo was incredibly happy for the sudden break. He wiped his sweaty forehead with a towel and happily ran to the hot back kitchen to aggressively stir-fry dishes with Ran. Many drunk Youkai had suddenly ordered heavy snacks to soak up the alcohol, and Ran absolutely couldn't safely handle the massive cooking volume alone.
"Ran~~"
Imitating exactly how the kitten Chen usually affectionately begs for hugs, Leo lightly, stealthily floated up directly behind Ran Yakumo, tightly hugged her soft waist with a loving smack, buried his face deeply in her clothes, and took an epic, deeply inhaling breath of her comforting scent mixed with the smell of sizzling spices.
"Lord Leo, please stop fooling around. I'm holding a very sharp chef's knife right now."
Ran Yakumo was currently dressed comfortably in loose Home Clothes with a frilly Apron tied tightly in front, radiating a massive, incredibly strong and comforting 'wife' aura in the warm kitchen. Feeling Leo's strong hands suddenly wrapped tightly around her waist from behind, her whole fluffy body trembled slightly, her nine tails swaying happily, and even her voice was breathless and shaky.
"I came back to happily help you cook. Flandre and the others are completely handling the front desk rush."
Ever since he miraculously ate incredibly well and survived those intense nights on Spring Island, Leo was even more romantically motivated than Ran Yakumo. A pure, lonely young man who absolutely hadn't even had a single romantic relationship for over twenty years back on Earth suddenly had a wife as incredibly beautiful, powerful, and gentle as Ran. He honestly wished he could just happily stick to her side every single second of the day, deeply regretting only that the chaotic, noisy children in the house couldn't legally move out yet, and that the annoying Yukari Yakumo was permanently around—these loud people constantly staying at home meant he genuinely didn't even have the free time or privacy to do any fun 'bad things' with his wife!
"You two, be mindful of your public surroundings! Where exactly are the hot dishes we ordered?! Hurry up and cook them!"
A dark, eye-filled Gap violently appeared out of thin air directly in the middle of the kitchen ceiling. Yukari Yakumo aggressively poked her blonde head out upside down, looking completely speechlessly at the two intimately hugging people. She had genuinely wondered why the massive pile of greasy dishes she ordered hadn't been cooked and delivered after such a long wait—it turned out they were busy hugging and flirting over the stove!
"Stop your annoying nagging, old lady! Just eat some free cold snacks for now. I'm incredibly busy here!"
Ran Yakumo was so completely embarrassed by her Mistress's mocking words that she violently blushed, dropped the spatula, and buried her burning head deeply in Leo's chest, absolutely not daring to look up at the Gap.
Leo, however, didn't care about the Sage's authority at all and immediately, aggressively retorted. If that lazy old hag wasn't constantly opening terrifying Gaps and blatantly spying on their private lives, would he and Ran desperately have to hide in the hot kitchen for a simple hug?!
"Tch, just hurry up and cook! Yuyuko is starving mad out here and is eating the coasters! You absolutely don't want your pristine new shop to suffer the tragic, bankrupt fate of the Night Sparrow Diner, do you?!"
Yukari closed the Gap with a loud snap, feeling completely speechless, then brought over a few plates of cheap, free bar snacks to the lounge for Yuyuko to eat first to tide her over. Her purple eyes suddenly darted around the room, and a highly mischievous, incredibly wicked smile appeared on her elegant lips.
"Youmu. Go directly to the back kitchen and actively help them with the heavy cooking. That dense little brother and the others are clearly far too busy back there."
Turning her head, she innocently instructed Youmu Konpaku, who was sitting obediently next to Yuyuko. After watching the clueless, dutiful gardener nod quickly and walk purposefully toward the swinging back kitchen doors, Yukari Yakumo absolutely couldn't forcefully suppress her evil smile anymore. She briefly opened a tiny Gap, stuck her ear through to listen, laughed heartily and evilly to herself a few times, and then returned to her normal, aristocratic posture.
Knock, knock!
"Um, excuse me, I was officially instructed by Lady Yukari Yakumo to come help you cook..." Youmu pushed the heavy swinging door open. "...I think my timing is incredibly bad. I was far too presumptuous for knocking without waiting for permission!"
The simple, pure-hearted Youmu absolutely didn't think too much of it, knocked politely twice, and immediately pushed the wooden door wide open. She instantly, completely locked eyes with Leo and Ran Yakumo, who were currently pressed tightly against the counter, aggressively hugging and taking deep, passionate 'nuclear acid tests' (deeply locking lips).
Youmu's pale face instantly, violently flushed a boiling, tomato red, steam practically shooting out of her ears. When in her entire sheltered, ghost-gardening life had she ever accidentally witnessed such a highly explicit, intimate scene?!