Chapter 148: Revealing the Manifestation of Powers to Haruno Yukinoshita.
...
"Of course!" Rikka Takanashi exclaimed, her excitement palpable.
As I thought! Only Seito is my true kindred spirit here!
Seito couldn't help but chuckle at her antics, though he didn't say much else. He turned his attention to the older sister. "Touka, what brings you all to my place?"
"I was looking for Haruno," Touka Takanashi replied. "Since she was here, I just came over. I wanted to talk to her about investing in a restaurant."
Tooka had plans to open an eatery, but her personal savings weren't quite enough to cover a high-end startup. She intended to put up 500,000 yen—keeping some back for living expenses—and was looking for Haruno Yukinoshita to match the investment.
"A restaurant?" Seito looked at Haruno.
"How much are you putting in?"
"The same as Tooka—500,000 yen for an equal split of the shares," Haruno explained simply. It was a straightforward partnership between friends.
Their vision was a Chinese restaurant specializing in Sichuan cuisine—specifically, the bold, spicy flavors of the Eight Great Traditions. Chiba City didn't have many authentic Sichuan spots yet, so the market potential looked promising.
"What kind of vibe are you going for?" Seito asked.
In his past life, Seito had been something of a foodie. To ensure he always had a good meal to come home to, he had spent a lot of time researching and perfecting famous Chinese dishes.
"Sichuan style!" Touka answered.
Seito shared a brief look with Kanade. "What a coincidence. Have you found a head chef yet? I'd like to go with you and check things out."
Sichuan food was the cuisine Seito knew best; he had a personal weakness for that signature "numbing, spicy, fresh, and fragrant" profile.
"That's perfect, let's go together then,"
Haruno said, standing up. Tooka followed suit. Seito scanned the others in the room, but they all shook their heads. They were just students, after all, and didn't know the first thing about the restaurant business.
Thirty minutes later...
A street across from a major shopping mall.
Seito stared at the restaurant's storefront, slightly stunned. He had assumed it was still a shell, but the renovations were already complete. The aesthetic was impressive—a deep "Gu-feng" (ancient style) theme that felt like stepping back a thousand years into the grand dynasties of ancient China.
Touka unlocked the door and led them inside. The interior was equally tasteful: mahogany tables and chairs, with each private booth bearing an elegant, poetic name.
"Boss, you're here."
An middle-aged man in a white chef's uniform walked out to greet them. "Chef Ye," Haruno acknowledged him.
Chef Ye's gaze lingered on Seito with a hint of curiosity. This young man is doing well for himself, being the 'kept man' of two beautiful bosses. Is this just the perk of being that handsome? He kept the thought to himself and nodded. "I'll go prepare a few dishes for you to sample."
As he headed back to the Kitchen, the trio sat down. Touka looked at Haruno sitting close to Seito and then pointed a finger at him with a deadpan expression.
"Haruno... have you two already slept together?"
Seito: "..."
Haruno: "..."
The bluntness of the question in broad daylight left them both momentarily embarrassed. Fortunately, the restaurant was empty.
"How could you tell?" Haruno asked curiously once she found her voice.
"Do you really not know the difference in 'aura' between a woman and a girl?" Tooka sighed, rubbing her forehead. How is my friend so brilliant at everything else but a total airhead when it comes to romance?
Seito took a playful look at Haruno. "Now that you mention it, she does seem to have a certain... extra charm lately."
Haruno blushed, finally realizing what Touka meant.
"I'm going to the restroom," Touka announced, standing up and heading for the back.
Once she was out of sight, Seito decided it was time for the real conversation. "Haruno, I have something to show you."
"What is it?" she asked, turning to him.
Seito smiled and flipped his right hand. A violet-blue Rubik's cube materialized in mid-air. With a mechanical click, it deconstructed into twenty-seven glowing blocks that hovered around them.
"This is..." Haruno froze. "Your Dimensional Rubik's Cube? From the game? But why...?"
Seito didn't keep her in suspense. He explained the manifestation of his powers and mentioned that Sora and the others had also brought their abilities into reality the previous night.
"Wah! Seito-chan, you're so biased!" Haruno pounced on him, hugging him tight with a pout. "I want to manifest my powers too!"
"I'll take you through it as soon as we log in today," Seito promised with a warm smile.
"Mmhmm~" Haruno beamed. Who hadn't fantasized about having supernatural powers? But her expression quickly turned serious. "Seito-chan, put the cube away. And whatever you do, don't tell anyone else about this."
She clearly grasped the gravity of the situation.
"Don't worry," Seito said, recalling the weapon. "No one knows except for our inner circle."
Haruno nodded, relieved. When Touka returned, she found Haruno practically melted into Seito's arms and her mouth twitched. She said nothing, simply sat down and prepared to endure the "dog food" being served to her.
Soon, Chef Ye emerged from the Kitchen carrying a steaming plate.
"Here we go, everyone. Try my signature: Fuqi Feipian (Sliced Beef and Ox Tongue in Chili Sauce)."
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Thank you for reading.