"How the hell did things end up like this…"
In a sushi restaurant on a shopping street near Tracen Academy, two gray-haired girls—one tall, one short—sat on either side of Sakuraba Ryo, each clutching one of his arms as they glared at each other.
If not for the gunpowder-thick tension hanging between them, being sandwiched in the middle might actually have been pretty nice…
But Sakuraba Ryo was in no state to appreciate it.
Ah…
This feels like prison…
Please let me go…
...
Time rewound to an hour earlier.
Oguri Cap had brought Sakuraba Ryo to this shopping street.
There were a lot of good places to eat here, and she came often.
The only unfortunate thing was that she had gone to some of them so many times that they had actually put up signs outside saying "Oguri Cap Not Allowed."
Oguri Cap found that deeply regrettable.
The food at those places is so good… so why won't they let me keep eating there…?
"A shopping street, huh? The ones in Tokyo definitely feel a lot livelier than the ones in Kasamatsu."
Sakuraba Ryo looked over the street in front of him. Everywhere he looked was packed with people; the sheer volume of foot traffic alone was enough to show how prosperous the area was.
Well, this was Tokyo. It was only natural for there to be a lot of people.
If anything, precisely because this was Tokyo, this was the perfect chance to lose money!
As a big city, Tokyo naturally had higher prices than Kasamatsu, didn't it? Wasn't that exactly what made it such a great place to lose money?
Sakuraba Ryo looked around, and his eyes lit up when he spotted a sushi restaurant.
A high-end sushi place?
That felt like a solid choice!
Expensive sushi like this came in tiny portions but cost a fortune—if he brought Oguri Cap here, couldn't he lose a ton in one go?
Sushi was the right call!
So Sakuraba Ryo brought Oguri Cap to the entrance.
"Do you have a reservation, sir?"
At the door, a hostess asked in a warm, courteous tone.
"Ah… right, reservations."
Sakuraba Ryo slapped his forehead. He had nearly forgotten.
At high-end sushi restaurants like this in Tokyo, you could not just walk in and expect to be seated.
Places like this generally only served guests with reservations.
If someone like Sakuraba Ryo showed up without booking ahead, they usually would not serve him. After all, the day's menu and number of servings were already planned out in advance. They were not going to alter the chef's whole schedule just for one guest.
Once she learned they had no reservation, the hostess looked apologetic.
"I'm very sorry, sir, but we do not accept guests without reservations. My sincerest apologies!"
"Uh… what if I pay extra?" Sakuraba Ryo attempted to deploy money power.
"That… would have to be cleared with the manager…"
The hostess waved her hands, indicating that it was beyond her authority.
"Then could you call the manager over? I don't mind waiting."
"Of course. Please give me a moment…"
They watched the hostess hurry back inside. Sakuraba Ryo and Oguri Cap waited at the entrance, and before long, a bespectacled middle-aged man emerged from the restaurant. Clearly, he was the manager.
"My deepest apologies, but our restaurant does not accept guests without reservations."
"Not even if I pay extra?"
"I'm terribly sorry, but rules are rules…"
"I see… that's a shame."
Sakuraba Ryo sighed. He had thought the sushi place was a pretty good pick too…
Just as he was about to take Oguri Cap somewhere else, the manager looked him over, then suddenly called out to stop him.
"Um, sir, one moment…"
"Hm? What is it? Is there something else?"
Sakuraba Ryo turned back in confusion, but what the man said next made him pause.
"May I ask… are you Sakuraba-san?"
"Huh?"
Sakuraba Ryo was dumbfounded.
Wait, no—how do you know my name?
What the hell, have I been exposed?
"Y-yes?"
"As I thought! Please, you absolutely must dine here! I'll make the arrangements at once!"
"??"
As the manager's attitude abruptly flipped, Sakuraba Ryo was left with a head full of question marks.
Did this guy know him?
Did he really have connections like that?
How come he was the last to hear about it?
...
Once inside, Sakuraba Ryo and Oguri Cap were warmly guided by the manager to a rather elegant seat.
The restaurant was quiet and refined, the air carrying the faint aroma of vinegared rice and fresh ingredients. Soft lighting spilled across the polished counter, making it feel like a world completely separate from the noisy shopping street outside.
The moment she sat down, Oguri Cap's attention was immediately caught by the menu placed in front of her. Her eyes lit up as she began studying it in earnest, her finger moving back and forth across the different sushi options and set meals. She was clearly already focused on what to order.
While Oguri Cap was completely absorbed in ordering, Sakuraba Ryo finally could not hold back his curiosity any longer. Lowering his voice, he turned to the manager waiting nearby.
"Um… Manager, can I ask you something? At the door just now, you were insisting on the rules. So why did you suddenly let us in afterward? And you even seemed to know my name…"
Hearing that, the manager smiled even more deferentially, with a look that suggested he understood perfectly. He gave a slight bow and explained in a measured tone.
"Sakuraba-san, there's no need to be puzzled. The reason we made an exception is because our owner gave specific instructions that you are a distinguished guest who is to receive 'special care.' Whenever you visit, whether you have a reservation or not, we are to serve you with our fullest attention. Naturally, a privilege like that has been granted to you."
"The owner? Special care?"
Instead of easing, Sakuraba Ryo's brow furrowed even deeper. The question marks in his head were practically becoming visible.
"But… I don't know your owner. For someone who can open a place like this in Tokyo, how could I possibly…"
He quickly ran through all the people he knew, both back in Kasamatsu and since arriving in Tokyo, and was certain he knew no restaurant owner on this level.
The manager maintained his professional smile. He did not seem surprised by Sakuraba Ryo's confusion, but nor did he explain the owner's identity any further, only saying vaguely,
"That… we only follow the owner's instructions. As for the exact reason, perhaps you'll learn it someday. Please just relax and enjoy your meal."
The manager's words were flawless, but they only made Sakuraba Ryo more suspicious.
He looked at Oguri Cap across from him, who had already ordered enough food to cover the table and was now staring at it with sparkling eyes. Then he looked around the refined surroundings, which somehow still left him uneasy, and sighed.
Forget it. Whatever.
Whoever the owner was, now that he was already sitting here, he might as well order a lot and help boost their sales!
Sakuraba Ryo glanced at the menu. One set meal cost 33,000 yen!
But the portion looked tiny…
A total rip-off!
But this was exactly the kind of rip-off he wanted!
Small portions, huge bill…!
With Oguri Cap here, she could probably eat ten or more of these set meals.
Oh yeah, today he was finally going to lose a decent chunk of money!
And just as Sakuraba Ryo was secretly rejoicing over the chance to lose a little, a familiar voice came from the restaurant entrance.
"Hm? Isn't that Sakuraba? What are you doing here?"
Sakuraba Ryo turned around, stared at the short gray-haired Umamusume standing at the entrance, and froze in surprise.
"Tamamo?"
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T/N: hmmm who could be the owner of a high end sushi restaurant hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm