Chapter 317: Ichihara Yuko and the Trouble with Clothes
The addition of a new family member brought a wave of quiet joy through the restaurant. Though Ichihara Yuko carried herself with the bearing of a queen, her easy smile and relaxed posture made it clear she was surprisingly approachable.
She, in turn, didn't miss the opportunity to properly acquaint herself with Lucifer and Cerberus. To her, they were family now, a concept that felt both foreign and precious.
The word 'home'… it was a warmth that bloomed in the chest. The word 'family'… a comfort for the soul. For someone who had spent an eternity in solitude, the sudden acquisition of a family was like being gifted a perfect, crimson rose. It was startling, leaving one at a loss for what to do, yet the overwhelming feeling was one of deep, touching gratitude. You hold it close, carefully, and place it in the most prominent spot in the room, where its beauty can always be seen.
"So… Yuko, you've collected quite a few titles over the years, haven't you?" Cerberus asked, her curiosity practically buzzing in the air.
Ichihara Yuko simply nodded, a casual wave of her hand dismissing ages of history. "Mm, but those are all things from the past. The Dimensional Witch, the Witch of the Far East… none of it really matters anymore."
Cerberus, brimming with questions, found a willing subject. Yuko held nothing back, answering each query with a frankness that required no thought at all. It was all just history, after all.
Propping her chin on her hand, she let out a soft sigh. "I have to admit, being alive again… it feels a little strange. I'm not quite used to it."
Lucifer tilted her head, her silver hair catching the light. "You'll get the hang of it soon enough. Oh, you haven't seen your room yet, have you? Come on, I'll take you to pick one out. The other two should still be sleeping at this hour."
"Eh? There are more people?" Yuko's interest was piqued. "Who are they?"
"You'll meet them at breakfast," Lucifer said with a knowing smile. "They're two very cute girls. Especially Sora."
"Oh? Well, now I'm really looking forward to it."
Ren watched as Lucifer eagerly pulled Yuko upstairs, with Cerberus trotting along to join in the fun of choosing a room. He let out a quiet sigh. "Life is full of unexpected turns, isn't it, Miss Kazami?"
Yuuka Kazami, who had been serenely admiring the scenery outside the window, felt the corner of her mouth twitch. So, he hadn't overlooked her after all. Was her presence that obvious? Or was it simply impossible to hide from this man?
"Your restaurant is indeed a very interesting place," she said, her voice a soft murmur.
A faint smile touched Ren's lips. "If it were boring, I wouldn't have opened it. And it certainly wouldn't attract interesting customers like yourself."
Yuuka blinked, a flicker of surprise in her emerald eyes. She pointed a delicate finger at herself. "Me? Interesting? I haven't done anything."
"And that's precisely what makes you interesting, Miss Kazami," Ren replied smoothly. "In a situation like this, surrounded by beings from other worlds, most people would try to do something. Perhaps make a few new acquaintances, for instance."
Yuuka considered his words for a moment, her mind drifting. "Clow Reed…"
"He's practically a ghost with one foot in the grave," Ren countered gently.
The realization dawned on her. In a single night, the only person she had truly interacted with was a man on the verge of death. Thinking back, her behavior did seem rather… peculiar. No, wait! Why was she even letting his words get to her? Why did she need to get to know them at all!
Just as she sorted out her thoughts and turned to face Ren, she was met with that same faint, knowing smile. In an instant, Yuuka's composure crumbled. He was teasing her again!
Was her reputation so insignificant here? The thought was irritating, but the fact that there was nothing she could do about it made her blood pressure spike.
Ren's smile widened slightly. "There must be quite a few individuals of your caliber where you're from, correct?"
Her eyes narrowed. "What are you getting at?"
"I'm no warmonger," he assured her, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I'm simply curious. Someone of your strength vanishes from their world, yet no one else seems to have noticed or followed. Why is that?"
The question startled Yuuka. Her mind instantly conjured images of certain… individuals. The one who insisted on calling her, a true seventeen-year-old maiden, an "old hag" to her face. And then there was…
As the pieces clicked into place, Yuuka felt a wave of foolishness wash over her. Logically, her departure should have been detected the moment it happened. The fact that no one had noticed her absence, that no one had peered into this place to see what was going on, was utterly wrong. A grim thought settled in her mind: when she returned, it seemed a long-overdue "chat" was in order. Otherwise, her hard-earned title of 'Flower Field Tyrant' might just lose its bite.
Ren watched the play of emotions on her face—from confusion to dawning realization and finally to cold resolve. He sighed, shaking his head with a sense of helpless understanding. It seemed he'd just stumbled upon a complication that threatened to sour his otherwise pleasant morning.
Just as he was about to speak again, Cerberus's head popped out from the top of the stairs. "Master, Master, Master! Lucifer is calling for you!"
Ren nodded, then turned back to Yuuka. "If you'll excuse me for a moment."
He walked towards the stairs, leaving her to her thoughts. Yuuka made no move to leave. The reason was simple: she wanted to stay a little longer. It wasn't just that she liked the atmosphere here. If she returned now, she'd likely be found by that gap-hopping "old hag" who was surely looking for her. But if she waited… perhaps the old woman would have gone back to sleep.
She could return in the evening, or perhaps visit another world entirely. When that "old hag" finally woke up, she'd find her gone again. The thought of the woman's resulting frustration brought a small, mischievous smile to Yuuka's lips. Yes, this could be quite fun.
At that very moment, in a place far away, a certain golden-haired 'girl' let out a great yawn, her expression one of pure puzzlement. "So… where did she go? She's been gone for so long. If she doesn't come back soon, I'm just going to go to sleep…"
...
Upstairs, Ren found himself looking at Lucifer and Ichihara Yuko with a strange expression. The scene before him wasn't wrong, precisely, but it felt slightly surreal. The two beautiful women—one a vision in white, the other an embodiment of night in black—were standing back-to-back, a measuring tape in Lucifer's hands as she carefully recorded Yuko's various dimensions.
"What are you two doing?" Ren asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Yuko was saying that her height is considered tall even among men," Lucifer explained, focused on her task. "That, combined with her… rare proportions, means most of her clothes have to be custom-made. Especially things like sportswear."
Ichihara Yuko held her arms out to the side, allowing Lucifer to measure her wingspan. She nodded in agreement. "It's true. Lucifer mentioned we should go to the gym together sometime, and I'm quite interested, but finding clothes for it… sigh."
Ren nodded, taking in Yuko's statuesque frame. "With your height and figure, I can see how buying off-the-rack would be a challenge. Keep measuring for now. When you're done, just give me the data and a list of the clothes you want. I'll have a few sets custom-tailored for you."
Yuko's eyes brightened with a grateful smile. As Ren turned to leave them to it, her voice stopped him.
"Hey, Ren," she called out, her tone shifting slightly. "Wait for me by the door for a moment. There's something I need to tell you."
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