It was almost nine o'clock.
Tohru, the employee personally appointed by Yuto, still hadn't arrived. Yuto could only sigh helplessly. He guessed she must have encountered something urgent.
So, for now, he wasn't too worried.
"Wow!"
Not far away, Yuyuko suddenly raised her rice spoon and let out a loud exclamation.
In that exclamation, Yuyuko joy and satisfaction were unmistakably clear.
Yuto had been chatting with his friends at the counter.
After Yuyuko's outburst, he glanced at her. He also instinctively looked at the previously full curry and rice buckets.
Everything was already empty.
Seeing this, Yuto couldn't help but feel a bit emotional. He was genuinely curious about what kind of structure Yuyuko's stomach had.
Despite her slender waist, it could hold so much.
This was truly a matter worth investigating!
"Are you full?" Yuto walked over to her side and asked.
"Ah! Boss!" Yuyuko turned her head to look at Yuto, her expression filled with delight and affection. She even hugged Yuto.
This action immediately made Utaha's eyes widen in shock. On the other side, Yuuka's expression also shifted slightly.
"Yuyuko, what are you doing?" Yuto was a bit flustered.
Being hugged by Yuyuko like this... he didn't know where to put his hands!
Yuyuko hugged him as if he were a large pillow, her expression completely lacking the shyness a normal girl should have in such a situation.
Instead, it was filled with pure, bright affection.
The affection in her eyes wasn't the romantic kind between a man and a woman but a simple, innocent liking.
Yuto could see this, so he only felt a bit helpless and surprised inside.
"Wow! The food the Boss makes is amazing! I love the food the Boss makes so much!!! Boss, Boss, come with me, let's go to Hakugyokurou together! Could you make delicious food for me every day there?~~.~"
Yuyuko had wanted to take Yuto away last time. This time, she wanted it even more. Holding onto Yuto, she pleaded in a coquettish tone.
With such a soft and gentle demeanor, anyone would soften their heart.
Yuto looked at Yakumo Yukari, who was watching the scene with amusement, his eyes clearly conveying a message.
'Aren't you going to help pull Yuyuko away?'
On the side, Youmu hesitated, not daring to intervene due to Yuyuko's status as her master, so Yuto could only ask Yukari for help.
Yukari smiled gently and blinked lightly.
She reached out and patted Yuyuko's shoulder, and Yuyuko, looking a bit airheaded, turned to her.
"Yuyuko, hugging Kamisaka-kun like that might troubling him. If Kamisaka-kun gets angry, he might not make food for you next time."
Upon hearing Yukari's words, Yuyuko's expression immediately turned somewhat horrified and fearful. She quickly released her arms.
"Boss, please don't be angry."
Seeing Yuyuko so hastily pleading with him, Yuto shot an exasperated glance at Yukari.
Yukari didn't mind; she continued to smile softly.
"I'm not angry, Yuyuko. Don't worry, I'll make food for you next time too," Yuto comforted Yuyuko. He found it somewhat amusing inside.
In his eyes, although Yuyuko appeared to be a refined young lady from a noble family with elegant manners, her personality was a bit airheaded and childlike.
This contrast couldn't help but bring a slight smile to his heart.
"That's good!" Yuyuko patted her chest, causing a slight jiggle. "Then, Boss, do you want to come to Hakugyokurou with me?"
"That... I can't."
"Ugh— okay (▽)"
Yukari watched as Yuto comforted Yuyuko, a smile lingering in her eyes. As if sensing something, she slightly furrowed her brows.
Her gaze also inadvertently swept over Yuuka.
There, Yuuka remained silent as ever.
A slight smile curled at the corner of Yukari's lips as she looked toward Yuto.
"Yuto-kun, it's about time we left for today."
Hearing Yukari's words, Yuto turned his gaze toward her.
"Is that so? Very well." Yuto nodded.
Customers coming and going was the norm for a small restaurant, and there was no need to insist they stay. It was just that once the residents of Gensokyo left, the restaurant would immediately become much emptier.
"But I still want to eat a little more..." Yuyuko said.
"Even if I let you stay here all night, you wouldn't be able to eat your fill," Yukari affectionately pinched Yuyuko's nose.
Then she glanced at the residents of Gensokyo.
Ran and Youmu were fine, and Reimu and Marisa also nodded toward Yukari. Suika, however, seemed a bit helpless and resentful.
"Ah—looks like I won't be able to drink with Quetzalcoatl tonight—" The alcoholic oni was still looking forward to a drinking contest with a certain buxom dragon.
But tonight, it just wouldn't be possible.
"Before we leave, I'd like to interview the restaurant owner!" Shameimaru Aya finally broke free from Reimu and Marisa's grasp.
Her stubborn and expectant words made Yuto feel a bit embarrassed.
Being so eagerly anticipated for an interview by a youkai reporter was a rather peculiar experience.
"It seems there's no time today," Yukari smiled as she looked at Shameimaru Aya.
The reporter girl immediately nodded with a hint of grievance.
'Bullying a crow tengu... how unjust...' Shameimaru Aya didn't dare oppose Yukari openly, so she could only complain in her heart.
Seeing the reporter girl so aggrieved, Yuto felt both helpless and amused.
"If possible, come earlier tomorrow. I can accept the interview then."
Yuto didn't have any bad impressions of Shameimaru Aya.
After all, this was his first time meeting her.
Upon hearing this, Shameimaru Aya's face immediately lit up with delight. The look she gave Yuto was as if she were gazing at a benefactor.
Yuto found it a bit hard to bear such a gaze.
"Yuto-kun, there's no need to accept her interview, you know," Yukari said.
"It's fine. I have plenty of time anyway."
Yukari let out a soft, helpless chuckle. 'Yuto-kun, if you knew what Shameimaru Aya's newspaper was like, you wouldn't think that way.' The youkai sage's heart was also filled with helplessness.
"By the way, Yuto-kun, you should be able to come to Gensokyo, right?" Yukari's question caused shifts in the expressions of many. For example, Yuuka.
Yuyuko and the others all left.
Before departing, they extended an invitation to Yuto, which he accepted.
Yuto didn't seem to have any reason to refuse. His daily life was mostly leisurely, so visiting another world could be considered a form of travel.
Moreover, he was curious about the world of Gensokyo. He had heard from Reimu and the others that humans also lived in Gensokyo.
Besides youkai, many other non-human races resided there as well.
Such a place naturally piqued one's curiosity.
Perhaps it was precisely because it was filled with creatures that only existed in human imagination that it was called Gensokyo.
When Yuto agreed to Yukari, he wasn't sure if it was an illusion.
He felt Yuuka was watching him!
But when he turned his gaze, she appeared perfectly calm.
'It must have been an illusion...'
...
After the residents of Gensokyo left, the small restaurant instantly felt much emptier.
The lively, noisy atmosphere from earlier abruptly vanished. A lingering warmth seemed to remain in the air, but it too soon dissipated.
Yuto glanced at the clock, then looked at Utaha. Before long, the girl would also be leaving.
Before that, Yuto decided to talk to Ainz and Rimuru about the comic convention.
Since Utaha was also here, it was a good opportunity to discuss the precautions for attending the convention.
Yuto turned to look at Ainz and Rimuru.
The two were engrossed in playing games, completely unaware of Yuto's gaze. Even Saitama was intently watching them play nearby.
These three were truly the gaming trio!
Tap, tap, tap—
Yuto knocked on the table in front of Ainz and the others.
Ainz and Rimuru paused their game before looking up at Yuto.
Their synchronized movements made Yuto sigh involuntarily.
"What's up, Kamisaka?" Ainz asked, looking at Yuto.
Rimuru and Saitama beside him also looked at Yuto curiously.
"About last night's comic convention..." Yuto deliberately drew out his words, instantly exciting Ainz and Rimuru.
Saitama, however, showed no change.
He wasn't particularly interested in comic conventions to begin with.
Utaha, who was playing with her phone on the other side of the counter, also heard Yuto's words.
She put away her phone, intending to listen to what Yuto would say next.
"How about it?! Can we go too?!"
"Boss, don't keep us in suspense, just say it!"
Both Ainz and Rimuru eagerly pressed Yuto. Yuto smiled.
"I'm fine with you two going, but after all, it was Kasumigaoka-san who invited me..." Yuto intentionally redirected their focus to the girl who was staring blankly at them from the other side.
The girl was momentarily stunned.
Then, she found herself under the intense gazes of Ainz and Rimuru.
Both looked at Utaha with desperate longing and pleading.
Their meaning was clear—they both hoped Utaha would agree!
The corner of Utaha's mouth twitched in slight annoyance, and her beautiful eyes shot a reproachful glance at Yuto.
"Ainz-san, Rimuru-san, don't be fooled by someone's words. I already agreed to go to the comic convention together a long time ago."
Utaha had intended to make Ainz and Rimuru direct their frustration at Yuto.
But as soon as Ainz and Rimuru heard her say she agreed, they became ecstatic!
They completely ignored the earlier part of her statement.
The girl sighed helplessly at the scene.
When she looked up, she met Yuto's teasing gaze. This made her mouth twist involuntarily, and her eyes carried a hint of irritation.
"Hmph!" She let out a delicate snort, filled with dissatisfaction toward Yuto.
Yuto just smiled and didn't retort.
He looked at Ainz and Rimuru. "Ainz, Rimuru, you can go to the comic convention, but we need to set a few ground rules first."
Yuto's smile faded, replaced by a serious expression as he looked at Ainz and Rimuru.
The two of them also calmed down and turned their attention to Yuto.
"Go ahead, Kamisaka!" Ainz waved his robe grandly.
As long as they could go to the comic convention, no rules were a problem!