"Two lattes. That's it for now."
Makoto handed the menu back to Reze.
"Ehh~ I'm only treating you. The other Uncle has to pay for himself."
Reze made an exaggerated face.
"We have business to discuss. Don't disturb us."
Yu coldly pulled out a ten-thousand-yen bill and placed it on the tray.
"Hmph! Annoying."
Reze shot Yu a fierce glare, took the money, and leaned close to Yukiko, whispering, "Owner, don't give him the change. Let's split it between us."
Yukiko tapped Reze's head in annoyance. Truth be told, she quite liked this girl who worked part-time… at least until today.
Makoto's fingers moved rapidly across the table.
Most people seeing this would think he was just randomly fidgeting, but only those who knew him well understood he was writing words. Yu was one of them.
[The final battle is coming soon.]
Yu also wrote quickly on the table, replying: [It's Makima, right?]
Makoto took a sip of coffee and nodded slightly.
Yu wrote again: [Senpai's Chainsaw power has been weakened a lot. Will that be okay?]
Makoto replied: [I have a backup plan, and I can pretty much guess her plan. It'll be fine.]
Seeing Makoto's reply, Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then, something like a game notification popped up in front of Yu's eyes.
Player [Nishikawa Makoto] requests an item exchange. Accept?
Yu was momentarily stunned again.
"Senpai, I still have some work matters to handle, so I'll take my leave first."
Five minutes later, Yu stood up first.
"Yeah, take care."
After Yu left, Makoto finished the last sip of coffee in his cup.
"Hey hey, was that long-haired old man whose eyes are covered by his bangs your partner? Working with someone like that must be tough, right?"
Just as Makoto was getting up to leave, Reze suddenly sat down next to him, asking with a smile.
To be honest, even including his previous life, Makoto had never met such an outgoing girl.
Seeing Reze practically leaning against him, Yukiko behind the counter felt a vein throb violently on her forehead.
'Little vixen,' She cursed inwardly.
"Are you always this forward?"
Makoto asked with interest.
"I just thought you seemed interesting, Uncle. Hey hey~ is being a Devil Hunter fun? Did you go to school? Want me to tutor you?"
Makoto found it a bit amusing.
Even though his grades in his previous life weren't great, tormenting a little girl pretending to be a student would be a piece of cake, right?
Half an hour later, Reze was left dizzy and confused by the problem Makoto had given her: "A cage has 35 heads and 94 legs. How many chickens and how many rabbits are there?"
"Oh man! Who came up with this problem? Anyway, why would you put chickens and rabbits in the same cage? It's inconvenient! Just kill them all and make fried chicken and roasted rabbit."
Reze crumpled the draft paper in front of her into a ball and threw it, shouting angrily.
"Looks like your grades aren't that great."
Makoto chuckled. While the future students' math level at the same age was definitely higher than the current students, a problem at this level should have been solvable by the current time middle school student too.
"Don't litter!"
Yukiko got up, picked up the paper ball, walked over, tapped Reze's head again, and secretly stepped on Makoto's foot, cursing inwardly: 'Stop seducing young girls!'
"Anyway, I don't like studying at school!!"
Reze slumped on the table, staying in that position, turning her head to glance at Makoto, curling her lips into a mischievous smile: "Hey, a new arcade opened nearby recently. Want to go together? I'm super strong at Street Fighter!"
"Hoho~ Are you challenging the skills of me, the number one Mai Shiranui player in the world?"
Makoto said in an exaggerated tone.
"Pfft! Idiot, Mai Shiranui is from King of Fighters, you know? And you like using that big-breasted chick, you're such a pervert, Uncle!"
As she said the last part, Reze deliberately hugged her chest, making a disgusted face.
No wonder they say guys like eighteen-year-olds.
Girls this age often represent the most beautiful aspect of youth, especially those who haven't seen much of the world. You can chat about anything and make them laugh out loud.
Of course, Makoto didn't deny that this girl, Reze, was largely acting.
But his experience also told him that while she was acting, she was already starting to show her true feelings.
Ah, in the assassination business, the worst taboo is falling in love with your target.
"Excuse me, if you're finished with your coffee, could you leave? There are other customers waiting."
Yukiko couldn't help but walk over and say. If you looked closely, you could see the veins on her forehead pulsing slightly.
'Damn, if these two kept chatting, they'd probably soon find a bed for themselves.'
'Did I look dead or something?'
"Ehh~ Owner, don't be like that, right? The customers are all greasy old men anyway. I don't want to serve them."
Reze said with a look of disgust.
Yukiko pinched her cheek, saying fiercely, "Get back to work right now, or I'll deduct your pay."
"Fine, fine~"
Reze reluctantly got up, but before leaving, she secretly made a 'call me' gesture to Makoto.
"You're jealous?"
Makoto teased.
"No!"
"I think you are."
After saying this, Makoto got stepped on by Yukiko again.
…
A month later, the Tokyo Summer Festival.
This was a large-scale celebration held annually in July and August across various regions in Japan.
Since the Gun Devil incident, such festivals had rarely been held.
But as the Chainsaw Man's fame grew louder and Devil incidents decreased, the Summer Festival had started to be held again over the past two years.
Various fireworks decorated the night sky, dazzling and brilliant.
Down below, Takoyaki, candied apples, cotton candy, various snack stalls, along with goldfish scooping, darts, and other game stalls packed the streets.
Men and women wearing yukata were everywhere.
Public Safety had dispatched motorcades and barriers to maintain order, and of course, Devil Hunters were also essential.
"Give me one shaved ice with watermelon."
Makoto said as he walked up to a stall.
While waiting, Makoto suddenly felt his left shoulder being tapped. He instinctively looked left… no one was there.
Then, the right side of his face was gently poked by a finger.
Turning his head again, he was greeted by Reze's signature playful smile.
"Hey, Uncle, wearing sunglasses at night. Are you trying to look cool?"
Reze pointed at the glasses on Makoto's face, asking with a giggle.
"Can't help it."
Makoto pushed the glasses up the bridge of his nose, saying calmly.
Over the years, Makima had practically turned him into a national idol, so his fame was naturally undeniable.
"Customer, your shaved ice."
At that moment, the stall owner handed over the watermelon shaved ice Makoto had ordered.
"I want some too!"
Reze shouted impatiently.
"Buy your own."
Makoto held the shaved ice high up.
Reze jumped repeatedly but couldn't reach it.
"I only have 100 yen left."
"What happened to your money?"
Makoto asked curiously.
'Had Yukiko really been targeting this girl and not paying her salary?'
"On the way here, there was a kid crying because he lost his allowance and had to go home, so I gave him my money. I kept 100 yen for the bus fare."
Reze showed an expression that said, "Pretty cool, huh?" which directly made Makoto laugh.
Makoto scooped up a spoonful of shaved ice and brought it to her mouth. Reze took it in one bite.
Suddenly, as if something occurred to her, she said, "You know, us two like this, doesn't it kind of seem like a father and daughter?"
Hearing this, Makoto immediately pulled the shaved ice back and said, "No more for you."
"Ah~ Don't be mad…"
"Daddy~"
"Mm, mm, mm~~"
Makoto really couldn't hold it together anymore.
She was just too good at this.