Chapter 425: Yakumo Yukari, the Eternal Seventeen-Year-Old
While the upper floor was buzzing with life, the ground floor possessed its own quiet atmosphere. Ren was scrolling through his phone, and beside him, Lucifer was doing the same—or to be more precise, she was peering over his shoulder at his screen.
At that moment, Ren let out a soft, helpless sigh as he stared at the manga panel. "It's such a tired old trope. Why does the female lead always have to start out disliking the protagonist, only to have a complete change of heart later? And the male lead just accepts her stoically, without a second thought?"
Lucifer nodded in agreement, adding her own critique. "Mm, and the worst part is, it feels like the main character is just a stand-in. The girl's previous love interest dies, and she immediately latches onto the protagonist. He doesn't even like her back, but she acts like it's his problem. It's just... bizarre."
Ren sighed again, locking his phone. "I have no idea who comes up with these boring plots. It's so painfully cliché it's giving me a headache. I'd rather spend the time reading a simple slice-of-life manga."
"Slice-of-life? Like what?"
"Like... like a battle series where the highest stakes are a shouting match."
Lucifer stared at him for a second before rolling her eyes. "That's not slice-of-life, that's a documentary."
"Aren't all slice-of-life manga just documentaries? They just cherry-pick a few representative events to draw."
Ren's logic made Lucifer pause and think for a moment before she nodded. Just as she was about to reply, the soft chime of the entrance caught her attention as the door glowed with light. "Eh? Is Potts here for dinner this early?"
"Why couldn't it be Miss Kazami?" Ren asked, looking up.
"Would Yuuka come so early? She probably just woke up from a nap and can't be bothered to move yet."
The words had barely left her lips when Yuuka Kazami stepped through the door, her expression as placid and unreadable as ever. It was a face that Ren managed to provoke into twitching every single night, yet by the next day, it would always return to this serene mask.
Ren was about to greet her when he noticed another figure following her inside. This woman, who seemed to have misplaced her parasol, held a folded fan in her hand. Her mysterious eyes swept across the shop, taking in every detail with a slow, deliberate gaze. After a long moment, she took a deep breath, a faint smile gracing her lips. "My, my... What a clean and refreshing place."
"So, Yuuka... this is the beautiful little spot you've been sneaking off to every night? It's truly lovely."
Ignoring her companion, Yuuka Kazami walked to her usual seat and sat down with practiced ease. The spot had practically become her exclusive territory. Of course, since the shop's upgrade, she had claimed a new favorite—a corner table from which she could see the potted plants from any angle and still have a clear view of the entrance. It was a spot she liked very much.
Once settled, Yuuka spoke, her voice low and laced with a warning. "Yakumo Yukari, you'd best not cause any trouble. And put away those strange ideas of yours."
Yakumo Yukari's smile widened. "Oh my, Yuuka, don't be so tense. You know I've always been the soul of politeness. By the way, you just sat down without even offering me a seat? How rude."
A muscle in Yuuka Kazami's jaw twitched as she watched Yakumo Yukari gracefully take the seat directly across from her. If the furniture in this shop wasn't indestructible, she would have flipped the table by now. This ancient hag had been staring at her since the moment she started walking toward the table—did she think she hadn't noticed?!
Yuuka remained silent, simply placing a single, perfect sunflower on the table. Ren understood the gesture immediately. He walked over and, under Yakumo Yukari's faintly surprised gaze, picked up the flower. "The usual for you, Miss Kazami?" he asked with a warm smile.
Yuuka nodded, then added after a moment's thought, "And a botamochi."
"Of course. And this must be the friend you mentioned."
Yuuka's voice was flat. "Where did you get the idea that we're friends?"
Yakumo Yukari simply waved her fan dismissively. "My, my, Yuuka. Is that how you introduce me? I'm truly touched, I never expected you to be so... affectionate."
The corner of Yuuka's mouth tightened. Bringing her here was a mistake. A huge mistake.
Yakumo Yukari's smile turned playful as she looked from the fuming Yuuka to the calm shopkeeper. "So, this is a restaurant..."
Ren nodded, his voice gentle. "It is. Is there anything you'd like to eat?"
Yukari didn't answer. She simply stared at Ren, her gaze intense and probing. Ren met her look without flinching, his own expression patient and unwavering. After a long, silent moment, Yukari abruptly turned her head away, shielding the lower half of her face with her fan. "I never expected the owner to be so handsome," she purred. "But it's truly shameful to stare so intently at a pure and shy girl like myself."
Ren raised an eyebrow. Good heavens, she was certainly a peculiar customer.
Yuuka's composure nearly cracked. 'Pure? Girl?'she thought incredulously.'The second word is technically accurate, I suppose, but the first? And her age... there isn't a word in any language to describe that ancient existence! And her integrity?! Did it all shatter in my sunflower field? The contamination will poison the flowers!'
Ren let out a soft sigh. "While I appreciate the compliment, Miss Yakumo, I wouldn't go that far. I was simply waiting for you to place your order."
Yukari's playful expression faltered for a fraction of a second. "Mm? Oh my, Boss, I do believe you've forgotten something. A menu, perhaps?"
"Ren's shop doesn't have a menu," Yuuka stated softly. "He can make anything you desire, provided he has the ingredients."
Ren smiled. "Miss Kazami is indeed one of my most valued regulars."
A flicker of genuine surprise crossed Yukari's features. "Wow. Boss, you're really quite amazing. But if you put it like that so suddenly, I don't know what to choose... Perhaps a cake... No, no... Hmm... This is so difficult... Ah! Let's have some meat. Any cooking method will do!"
Ren nodded, his tone gentle. "And to drink?"
"Wine! Bring me wine! Any kind will do. I'll leave it to your discretion, Boss!"
Seeing the genuine anticipation in her eyes, Ren was briefly taken aback before his professional smile returned. "Alright, I understand. Please wait a moment. I will prepare it as quickly as possible."
"Mm, mm! I'm looking forward to it immensely!" Yukari chirped, her eyes glinting. "Looking forward to it in every sense of the word!"
She then leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Like what kind of dish could possibly make Yuuka part with one of her own sunflowers!"
Yuuka frowned, her voice cold. "Yakumo Yukari, you seem a little too excited."
"Of course I'm excited! This is the most interesting thing I've encountered in seventeen years!"
"Seventeen years?"
"That's right," Yukari declared, her expression perfectly earnest. "After all, I'm just a seventeen-year-old girl."
At that moment, Yuuka felt the last of her self-control begin to fray.
"Then please wait a moment," Ren interjected smoothly. "Miss Kazami, would you care for some salted cherry blossoms with your tea today?"
Yuuka looked at Ren, a hint of surprise in her eyes. Seeing his calm, knowing smile, she subtly relaxed her shoulders. He was deliberately changing the subject to de-escalate the situation. As expected, he was the only human male she had ever acknowledged.
Yuuka gave a slight nod. "Yes."
"Very well. Please wait. Pandora, Lucifer, would you two like a refill?"
"Mhm!" came the unified reply from the counter.
When she heard the name 'Lucifer', Yakumo Yukari's eyebrow arched. She opened her fan, covering the lower half of her face as she cast a subtle, calculating glance at the silver-haired girl absorbed in her phone. A slow, knowing smile curved her lips.
'Interesting...'
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