After the restaurant closed, Tokai Shizen, sitting on the second floor, was flipping through her recently bought phone with her fingers when a sudden chill came over her.
This sudden cold made her pull her blanket tighter: "Strange, it shouldn't be that cold."
Sijiu: So interesting, it's time to go home.
On a December night, Tokai Shizen sat alone in the heated shop.
Fewer people visited the restaurant in winter, as no one wanted to brave the cold to eat something.
And... she turned her head to look out the window where snowflakes were falling: "When will the snow stop?"
Tokyo snows every December, sometimes even lasting until February of the following year.
Under such circumstances, Tokai Shizen was starting to wonder if it would be better to close earlier during this period.
Ding‑a‑ling~
The bell hanging at the entrance rang, signaling the arrival of a customer.
"Welcome..."
Turning her head, Tokai Shizen's voice trailed off.
She saw someone who should not know her whereabouts.
Tokai... Roman.
Looking at her, Tokai Shizen opened her mouth, but the last word she had prepared remained unspoken.
Unlike Tokai Shizen, Tokai Roman's eyes, as she looked at Tokai Shizen, held only a hint of excitement and sadness.
Thus, after the two looked at each other for about ten seconds, Tokai Roman walked to the opposite side of Tokai Shizen and sat down.
"Is there... a menu?"
A slight hesitation and fear filled her words.
She spoke cautiously, like a child entering a high‑end restaurant for the first time.
"Yes, there is."
Saying this, Tokai Shizen took out a hand‑drawn menu and a cup of oolong tea and placed them in front of her.
The two, not making eye contact, were like a normal customer and a restaurant owner.
Picking up the menu on the table.
Looking at the menu, where the dishes' names gave no clue as to what they were, Tokai Roman simply put the menu down: "Can you make a dish that takes a little longer to prepare?"
Hearing this, Tokai Shizen merely nodded: "Mm..."
Turning around, Tokai Shizen looked at the remaining ingredients, and then began to prepare.
Watching Tokai Shizen start her preparations from the very basic kneading of dough.
Tokai Roman did not speak.
Just like before, both of them tacitly chose not to converse. They were like strangers.
And watching Tokai Shizen turn her back and begin to knead the dough.
Tokai Roman's gaze shifted slightly.
Her gaze swept briefly across the shop, finally settling on the stairs leading to the second floor.
At the corner of the second floor landing, there were a few everyday items.
With just one glance, Tokai Roman confirmed that the second floor was Tokai Shizen's living space.
Thinking of this, Tokai Roman eventually turned her gaze back to the person across the table from her.
Tokai Shizen's body was still not much different from two years ago. Looking at Tokai Shizen like this, Tokai Roman simply watched her back, waiting for her to place her late‑night snack in front of her.
And after about an hour, when the time reached eleven o'clock at night, Tokai Shizen placed a small plate of steamed dumplings in front of Tokai Roman.
"Steamed shrimp dumplings."
Looking at the translucent pink steamed shrimp dumplings and the vinegar dish placed on the side, Tokai Roman raised her head to look at Tokai Shizen, who had already begun to tidy up the kitchen utensils.
She had no idea her younger sister's cooking skills were so good.
And thinking of this, Tokai Roman was silent for a few seconds, then picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.
Not long after, Tokai Roman finished the small plate of shrimp dumplings.
After eating, Tokai Roman stood up: "How much?"
"Two thousand yen."
Upon hearing this response, Tokai Roman did nothing more than take out two banknotes and place them on the table, then turned around: "I'll come again later, probably around this time at night."
Having said this, Tokai Roman left, just as she had arrived.
And after Tokai Roman left, Tokai Shizen turned around.
Staring at the closed shop door for several minutes, Tokai Shizen then refocused her gaze on the table.
On the table lay two Fukuzawa Yukichi banknotes.
"Didn't I say two thousand yen...?"
Saying this, Tokai Shizen picked up the two banknotes and placed them in the cash register.
Only then did she clear the tray Tokai Roman had left behind.
She had to open the shop tomorrow morning, so it was time to rest.
Tokai Roman, who had left the shop, actually hadn't gone far. For her, since she had already wasted a lot of time, going back to the dorm now would only lead to questions from the dorm supervisor. She might as well stay outside and watch for a while longer.
Standing not far from the shop entrance, Tokai Roman watched as the restaurant lights gradually extinguished.
Then,
The lights on the second floor came on.
Looking at the noticeably cooler light tone on the second floor, Tokai Roman merely exhaled a puff of white mist.
A few minutes later, the lights on the second floor of the restaurant went out.
This indicated that Tokai Shizen had gone to sleep.
Watching the extinguished lights, Tokai Roman was silent for a few seconds before shifting her gaze: "It's time to go back."
Saying this, Tokai Roman turned around and walked towards Tracen Academy's school building.
The next day, the restaurant operated as usual, and Tokai Shizen was still sitting in her usual spot. However... the two individuals who routinely came here for tea and coffee once again arrived.
Representative Chiaki, who was openly staring at Tokai Shizen, finally turned to Maruzensky after about ten minutes: "I always feel like Shizen is in a really good mood."
"Her mood is indeed good."
Maruzensky turned her head to glance at Tokai Shizen, then withdrew her gaze: "She must have encountered something good."
The expression on Maruzensky's face, as she said this, became softer than usual.
She felt a slight happiness because Tokai Shizen's mood had improved.
Maruzensky was not a person who was good at empathy, but Tokai Shizen's perpetually worried expression would also affect Maruzensky's mood.
Especially when Maruzensky knew what situations Tokai Shizen was facing, and she herself couldn't solve them, it was even more so.
Looking at Maruzensky's improved mood,
Representative Chiaki simply raised her hand: "Shizen!"
Tokai Shizen, whose attention was drawn by Representative Chiaki's call, looked at Representative Chiaki: "What is it?"
"Make dinner for Maruzen and me!"
She made the request without any hesitation.
And Tokai Shizen merely responded slightly: "Hmm, what do you want to eat?"
"A main dish with more meat, paired with rice."
"I see, wait a moment, I'll finish it quickly."
Listening to Tokai Shizen's slightly higher voice, Representative Chiaki simply sat back in her seat: "Maruzen, what do you plan to eat?"
Looking at Representative Chiaki's face, Maruzensky just turned her head to glance at Tokai Shizen.
Tokai Shizen was busy in the kitchen. Watching her busy, Maruzensky thought for a few seconds before speaking: "Shizen?"
"Yes, I'm here."
"Meat soup over rice, is that okay?"
Hearing the name, Tokai Shizen paused for a second, then responded: "Hmm, okay."