By the time Yuto returned to the small restaurant, it was past three in the afternoon.
The opening time wasn't far off.
After checking the freezer, he went upstairs to rest.
He hadn't slept in ages!
...
When Hayasaka returned to the Shinomiya Estate, Kaguya's gaze was fixed on her.
Her eyes held a complex mix of emotions.
Like a child who's clearly angry but trying to pretend otherwise, Lady Kaguya was in just such a state. Though her gaze held irritation, it was more like the kind of annoyance between close friends. Not a malicious anger.
Hayasaka initially tried to ignore it, but no matter where she turned, Kaguya's unwavering gaze remained fixed on her.
She was remarkably persistent and determined!
"Kaguya-sama, what's wrong?"
Finally defeated, Hayasaka sighed and turned to face Kaguya.
At that moment, Kaguya didn't seem cold at all.
She stared blankly at Hayasaka, her lips pouting in mild irritation.
This childish demeanor made her look like a little girl.
"Hayasaka, did you tell the Boss something?!"
"Just some trivial things, nothing Kaguya-sama needs to know."
"Why did the Boss say that to me before leaving?! You must have told him something!"
Facing the relentless Young Lady, Hayasaka felt a mix of emotions.
She was delighted by the sudden change in demeanor, yet exasperated by her relentless questioning.
"Kaguya-sama, you really want to taste the Boss's cooking, don't you?"
"N-no... I don't!"
Hayasaka's sharp retort left Kaguya speechless.
Even if Hayasaka was telling the truth, Kaguya refused to admit it. This awkward contradiction in her personality somehow made her endearing.
"Then why do you always hesitate before eating?"
"This... this..."
"If you don't want the Boss's cooking, we won't eat it anymore. We won't visit his little restaurant, and I won't invite him to cook for you again. Is that what you want?"
Kaguya's expression changed at Hayasaka's words. "Of course not!"
"Hmm? Why? Didn't Kaguya-sama not want to eat the Boss's cooking?"
Kaguya was speechless, trying to find the right words.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "No! Since my brother might come looking for the Boss, I have a responsibility to look after him!"
Watching the Young Lady's flustered expression, Hayasaka smiled inwardly.
"Okay, then I understand. Should we go to the Boss's restaurant tonight?" Hayasaka asked.
Kaguya's expression froze for a moment.
After a brief pause, she murmured hesitantly, "Well... then let's go..."
Seeing the Young Lady act like an ordinary girl brought Hayasaka immense joy!
She never imagined that inviting Yuto back today would cause such a dramatic change in Kaguya.
It was as if some kind of acceleration had kicked in.
Hayasaka didn't mention the change to Kaguya. She simply watched the adorable Young Lady, her heart swelling with happiness.
Meanwhile, Yuto's parting words echoed in Kaguya's mind:
'No one will ever laugh at you. I promise.'
Kaguya couldn't help but wanted to say something.
'Who needs your promise?!'
Though inwardly annoyed, a slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
At that moment, Kaguya remained oblivious to the shift within her. Her previously icy heart was now overflowing with warmth.
Hayasaka watched Kaguya standing alone, lost in thought. Her earlier suspicion had solidified into conviction.
'Kaguya-sama... could it be...?'
...
As the clock approached seven, Yuto descended to the restaurant below.
He lit the lamps.
Though daylight still lingered outside, the narrow alley left the small restaurant in shadow. The warm yellow glow illuminated the space.
Even after two nights, the flowers and plants Yuuka had nurtured remained vibrant and fresh.
The green grass cascading across the roof sparkled under the lamplight, resembling a constellation of stars in the night sky.
The flowers continued to bloom with their sweet fragrance, their petals vibrant and full even after two days without watering.
Not a single sign of wilting.
With Tohru still absent, Yuto had to wipe down the tables and chairs himself.
He wrung out the cloth and began scrubbing diligently.
Running a restaurant, though it sounds like a cohesive whole, is actually a patchwork of countless small tasks.
From minor cleaning to daily meal prep, every detail demands meticulous attention.
Yuto's busy figure was captivating under the lamplight. His shadow danced across the floor, shifting with each movement.
'Maybe I should ask Tohru to come earlier every day?' Yuto mused with a mischievous thought.
It was just a fleeting joke, he wouldn't actually do it.
"Kamisaka-kun!"
Utaha was the only one who ever came to the restaurant before it opened.
The girl pushed open the door and called out cheerfully, then settled onto a stool at the bar.
The seat by the wall was almost always reserved for Utaha.
"Kasumigaoka-san, if you want to eat now, you'll have to wait a little while. I need to finish wiping down the tables."
Yuto, who was wiping the tables, had grown accustomed to Utaha arriving so early every day.
"Okay~" Utaha drawled lazily, her voice naturally carrying a soft languid quality.
Yuto couldn't help but smile faintly as he continued wiping the tables.
She took out her phone and started playing with it.
Today, she was feeling much better than yesterday.
Today, she was the first to arrive!
Yesterday, she had been delayed on her way and arrived to find the entire Gensokyo crew already seated in the restaurant.
It had made her feel a little awkward.
Facing so many beautiful women—even another woman like Utaha felt a bit tongue-tied. Thinking about it now, she was puzzled.
'How had Yuto, as a man, remained so calm in that situation? Did he have that high of a resistance?'
...
Gensokyo.
As Gensokyo's most event-hungry journalist, Shameimaru Aya had already sensed the aroma of a major news scoop.
For three consecutive nights, she had observed the miko of Hakurei Shrine disappearing for periods of time.
Moreover, she had noticed that Scarlet Devil Mansion had become quiet recently.
In the past, a book-stealing witch would often cause disturbances there, but lately, the witch's presence had vanished entirely.
To investigate this, Shameimaru Aya stealthily infiltrated the Magic Forest.
There, she made a startling discovery: the black-and-white witch had also been disappearing at night, and at the exact same times as the Hakurei Miko!
What did this mean? It was a clear sign of a major news story!
The journalist's soul buried deep within Shameimaru Aya's heart stirred to life!
Hakurei Miko disappearing at night, black-and-white witch vanishing simultaneously!
To uncover the truth behind the recent events, Shameimaru Aya had disguised herself at a vantage point above the skies of Hakurei Shrine.
As a youkai who could manipulate the wind, she could render herself invisible.
While waiting, she jotted down notes with her pen—387 entries in total.
These were all potential news leads.
Sensational headlines like "Hakurei Miko Suspected of Indecent Behavior at Night" or "Witches of Magic Forest Finally Extend Their Grubby Hands to Children..."
All sorts of explosive, attention-grabbing content filled her notebook.
Though clearly fabricated, such headlines were guaranteed to draw readers.
As a journalist, if you can't even write clickbait, what's the point of being a journalist?
This was the hard-earned wisdom Shameimaru Aya had gleaned from her long career in journalism.
Finally, movement stirred at Hakurei Shrine!
She raised her camera and began filming.
Through the lens, Reimu was heatedly arguing with Suika.
Shameimaru Aya scribbled the scene into her notebook: Hakurei Miko Expresses Displeasure with the Oni, Engages in Major Clash with the Four Heavenly Kings of the Oni.
Though her records of the facts were biased from the truth... It didn't matter!
News needed to be a little exaggerated!
"Suika!!! Don't make me drink with you again tonight!!!!" Reimu roared at the long-horned oni girl.
Even facing such a shout, Suika remained cheerful.
She hugged the wine gourd to her small frame like a child clutching a toy.
"Come on~ Don't be so mean~ We're at a restaurant—how can we not drink?" Suika said cheerfully.
Then she took another swig from the gourd.
Perfect! A drinking oni had no regrets in life!
"If you make me drink one more toast, I'll call you 'Watermelon' for the rest of your life! Watermelon, Watermelon, Watermelon!"
[Suika is Watermelon in japanese]
Reimu's declaration finally gave Suika a hint of distress.
She hated being called "Watermelon"!
"Fine," Suika agreed dejectedly.
Only then did Reimu's expression soften. "Alright, let's go."
As Reimu turned away, she glanced toward the sky, toward where Shameimaru Aya was watching.
Reimu frowned but paid no further heed.
In Gensokyo, there were only a few youkai known for their penchant for spying.
Reimu wasn't bothered.
She wasn't doing anything embarrassing, so let them watch!
Up in the air, Shameimaru Aya trembled.
'Whew— that was close! I'd almost been discovered! This is so thrilling! This is the true joy of being a journalist!'
The thrill of walking the tightrope, always on the edge— it sent a thrill through Shameimaru Aya every time.
She'd always relied on stealth photography, and in Gensokyo, any youkai who caught her sneaking photos would inevitably beat her up.
At which point she'd flee.
The sensation of escaping was, for Shameimaru Aya, like plunging into a cold bath on a scorching summer day— invigorating.
Though it sounded a bit twisted, what harm was there in being a little twisted?
Shameimaru Aya trailed Reimu and Suika.
The longer she followed, the more alarmed she grew.
They were heading straight for the sunflower field!
If Shameimaru Aya had to name a subject she dared not photograph, the owner of that sunflower field would be at the top of the list!
'This is terrifying!'
She had once tried to snap a photo of them from a distance.
But the moment they looked up and met her gaze, the murderous intent that erupted from them froze her wings, making her too afraid to even flap them.
'I'd die! I'd really die!'
Ever since then, Shameimaru Aya never dared to take any more secret photos of them.
Now, as Reimu and Suika hurried toward the sunflower field, Shameimaru hesitated.
'Is my life more important than this scoop...?'
Just then, she spotted Marisa.
She raised her camera and snapped photos. To her shock, she discovered that Marisa was also following Reimu and Suika toward the sunflower field!
'This is huge! This is definitely a major scoop!'
Shameimaru steeled herself and made her decision.
Today, she would risk everything for the dignity of journalists!
Suika, who had just taken a swig of sake, glanced back at the sky.
A carefree smile played on her lips. "Looks like a youkai is tailing us."
"Ignore it. I doubt she'd dare follow us into the sunflower field."
"How come I didn't sense it? Hey, Reimu, do you know who it is?"
"It's probably that Shameimaru guy."
Finally, they reached the edge of the sunflower field. Shameimaru Aya hesitated, torn between entering and staying back.
'If I go in, I'll probably get killed. But if I don't, I might miss a big scoop. Ugh, this is driving me crazy!'
Just as she was agonizing over what to do, a dimensional rift appeared behind her.
In an instant, Shameimaru Aya was swallowed up before she could even cry out for help!
When she emerged on the other side, she was stunned.
Kazami Yuuka, Saigyouji Yuyuko, Yakumo Yukari, Yakumo Ran, Konpaku Youmu, Hakurei Reimu, Kirisame Marisa, Ibuki Suika...
'Why are so many big shots watching me? I can't even run!'
The top powerhouses of Gensokyo were all here.
Shameimaru Aya could already imagine the consequences of trying to escape.
"Hi, everyone," she said with a subservient smile, addressing the crowd. "It's good to see you all."
In that moment, she truly looked like a pitiful, helpless puppy!
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