Chapter 147: Home is a Good Thing, The Flavor of a Family
Ren stood behind the counter, a white towel in hand, methodically wiping down the stainless steel surface. His movements were rhythmic and precise, erasing the sticky remnants of cocoa powder and sugar syrup.
Lucifer sat at her usual table, her chin resting heavily in her palm. Her crimson eyes were fixed on Ren's back, but her focus was inward. Her cheeks were puffed out in a pout that could only be described as royal dissatisfaction.
Fuji Yumiko had left nearly forty minutes ago, carrying the successfully baked chocolate cake and several boxes of handmade chocolates like war trophies. She had walked out with a spring in her step and a confident smile that had irritated Lucifer to no end.
"Hmph..."
Lucifer let out a low, disgruntled noise, drumming her fingers on the wooden table.
"What does she mean, 'Rindou made up her mind first'?" she muttered to herself, her voice dripping with indignation. "It clearly looks like Yumiko went first. She's really bold... declaring secrets and history like that in front of me. Does she not know who I am? I am the CEO of Hell!"
She glanced at the small, perfect box of dark chocolate truffles sitting on the counter—her own creation. They were good. They were excellent, even. But the feeling of being a step behind gnawed at her pride.
Ren finished cleaning the last spot of ganache. He tossed the towel into the hamper and turned around. His gaze landed on the third occupant of the room.
Cerberus.
The Hellhound was currently standing on her tiptoes near the prep station, her nose twitching rapidly. She was staring with intense, unblinking focus at a large glass bowl sitting on the top shelf. Inside the bowl was the white chocolate ganache Ren had managed to salvage from Lucifer's earlier disaster—he had transformed the seized, spicy mess into a stable, albeit unique, filling.
The scent radiating from that bowl was potent. It smelled of vanilla, condensed milk, and a strange, spicy kick of paprika that tickled the nose.
"Cerberus," Ren called out gently, his voice breaking the Hellhound's trance.
Cerberus jumped, her white ears flapping. She looked at Ren with wide, pleading eyes. "Ren, Ren, Ren... it smells sweet. It smells like sugar clouds."
"White chocolate is also chocolate," Ren reminded her, walking over and leaning down to meet her eye level. "It still contains cocoa butter. And cocoa butter contains theobromine. If you eat that, you won't just get a stomach ache. You might actually need a resurrection spell."
Cerberus let out a whimper that was truly heartbreaking. She looked at the bowl, then at her stomach, and then back at Ren.
"But..." she sniffled, wiping a trace of drool from the corner of her mouth. "It smells so good..."
"I know," Ren smiled sympathetically, patting her head. "But health comes first. I'll make you something meat-based later to make up for it."
Cerberus sniffed back her drool. The promise of meat was a powerful motivator. She nodded solemnly, accepting her fate. Compared to the momentary joy of eating delicious white chocolate, the memory of the last time she ate a brownie—the cramping, the rolling on the floor, the feeling of dying—was a deterrent even her chaotic brain respected.
"Good girl," Ren praised her.
He turned and walked toward the changing room. "I'm going to get changed for the dinner service. Watch the shop for a moment."
Five minutes later, the curtain parted.
Ren emerged, and the casual young man in the jacket was gone. In his place stood the Chef. He wore his pristine white chef's uniform, the fabric crisp and spotless. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing forearms toned from years of handling heavy woks. His demeanor had shifted too—sharper, more focused, radiating a professional aura that commanded respect.
He walked over to the corner table where Inui Hinako had been waiting patiently.
The owner of Misty House had been sitting there quietly, sipping her tea and observing the domestic interactions with a serene smile. She looked completely at home, despite this being her first time inside the shop during business hours.
"Miss Inui," Ren said, bowing his head slightly. "You've waited a long time. Please forgive me for the delay. The prep work took longer than expected."
Hinako waved her hand dismissively, her smile widening. "Not at all, Mr. Ren. Watching your... staff... interact is quite entertaining. It's very lively here."
"Lively is one word for it," Ren chuckled. "So, the shop is officially open. What would Miss Inui like to eat for dinner? As a fellow chef, I'm sure your standards are high."
Hinako tapped her chin with her index finger, looking genuinely distressed. Her eyebrows knitted together.
"That is the problem, Mr. Ren!" she sighed. "Your shop has no menu. You can make anything. That means the possibilities are infinite! It's too much pressure for a decisive-impaired person like me!"
She looked around the room as if the walls would suggest a dish.
"Ah!" Her eyes lit up. "I've thought of it! Since I served you Japanese cuisine earlier, I would like to see your take on it. How about Housho Yaki and Chawanmushi? And maybe some Mixed Tempura on the side?"
Ren raised an eyebrow. "A classic Kaiseki-style selection. Testing my fundamentals?"
"Maybe a little," Hinako giggled.
"Excellent choice," Ren nodded. "And what would you like to drink?"
"Oolong tea, please! To cleanse the palate."
"Understood. Please wait a moment."
Ren walked to the front door. He reached up and flipped the wooden sign hanging in the glass panel from "Closed" to "Open."
Ding-Ling.
The bell chimed softly, signaling the start of the night.
Ren walked back towards the kitchen. Before entering, he paused and turned to his resident demons.
"Cerberus? Lucifer? I'm starting the stove. What do you want for dinner?"
The response was immediate.
"Meat!"
Cerberus shouted the word before Ren had even finished his sentence. She raised both fists in the air, her eyes burning with a primal hunger.
"Meat! Big meat! Juicy meat!"
Ren laughed. "I figured. And you, Lucifer?"
Lucifer looked up from her phone. She shrugged elegantly, though her eyes betrayed a desire for something comforting. "Anything is fine. Just... make it tasty. And maybe something that pairs well with red wine."
"Understood," Ren smiled. "Leave it to me."
He disappeared behind the navy blue noren curtains. Within seconds, the sounds of a busy kitchen—the rushing of water, the clack of a knife against a cutting board, the whoosh of a gas burner igniting—began to fill the silence.
Cerberus, now bored again, trotted over to Hinako's table. She rested her chin on the edge of the table, staring at the woman with unblinking curiosity.
"Hinako, Hinako, Hinako!" Cerberus chirped.
Hinako blinked, surprised by the sudden proximity. "Yes, Cerberus-chan?"
"What was that third dish you tried with Erina today?" Cerberus asked. "The one Ren fixed with words? Why did it look so strange? It looked like a white mountain!"
Hinako paused, then smiled gently. "Ah~ that thing. That was a Lotus Steamed Dish. It's a type of Shinjo—fish paste mixed with yam and egg white, steamed until fluffy. It's quite troublesome to explain the technical details, so just think of it as a fancy, fluffy fish cake."
"Oh, oh, oh!" Cerberus nodded, her pigtails bobbing. "It smelled so good! But I feel like it's a bit different from the first two dishes! The first two smelled like fire. That one smelled like steam."
"You have a good nose," Hinako praised her. "The first two focus on appearance and presentation. They are complex, delicate. To put it in culinary terms, they are 'high-end' dishes meant for the eyes as much as the tongue. The latter one... is a very common, rustic dish elevated to perfection."
Cerberus tilted her head, processing this. "I always feel like that teppanyaki tastes better... The grilled one."
"That's why I mentioned the strange culinary perspective," Hinako laughed softly. "Unless someone is very fond of bland, refined food, most people would choose the hearty, smoky flavor of teppanyaki over the subtle, steamed Housho Yaki. Flavor is subjective, after all."
Lucifer, who had been pretending to ignore them, found herself listening with interest. She looked at Hinako, really observing her for the first time. This woman wasn't just a hanger-on or a fan of Ren. She was a professional. She spoke about food with the same passion Ren did.
Humans and their food, Lucifer mused. They put so much philosophy into something that just turns into energy.
Just then, Ren walked out of the kitchen. He was holding a basket of fresh ingredients—a whole sea bass, fresh bamboo leaves, and vibrant lemons.
"Miss Inui," Ren called out. "For the Housho Yaki... I'm thinking Sea Bass. We had beef for lunch, so let's have some white fish for dinner to balance the heaviness. Is that acceptable?"
"Hmm," Hinako nodded approvingly, her eyes inspecting the clear eyes of the fish in the basket. "Fresh Sea Bass. As expected of a Japanese cuisine expert. A splendid choice."
"Mr. Ren, you flatter me," Ren smiled.
He turned to go back into the kitchen, but suddenly, his gaze shifted to the front door. He paused.
"Eh?" Ren muttered. "We have a customer..."
Hearing this, everyone turned.
Ding-Ling!
The door didn't just open; it burst open.
A small blur of motion shot into the restaurant. It was a young boy with messy hair and a backpack that looked slightly too big for him. He ran directly into the center of the room, his energy levels rivaling Cerberus's on a sugar high.
"Big Brother! I'm here again!"
Hori Souta skidded to a halt, beaming.
Ren smiled, stepping forward to catch the boy before he could crash into a table leg. "Souta! Welcome back. Why are you alone? Miss Hori wouldn't let you run over by yourself across the city, would she?"
"Souta! Don't run off! You'll get lost in the alley!"
No sooner had Ren finished speaking than the door opened again. This time, a young woman appeared. She was panting slightly, a strand of brown hair sticking to her cheek. She looked relieved but exasperated.
Hori Kyoko.
Souta turned to look at his big sister and immediately shrank back towards Ren, using the tall chef as a human shield against the impending scolding.
"Onee-chan is slow!" Souta accused.
"I am not slow! You are too fast!" Hori retorted, straightening her clothes. She looked up and saw Ren. Her expression softened instantly into a bright smile.
"Shopkeeper Ren! We meet again. Sorry for the noise."
Ren smiled warmly. "Miss Hori, welcome. Are you here for a meal this time? Or another rescue mission?"
Hori composed herself, smoothing her hair behind her ear. She walked over, reached behind Ren, and pulled Souta closer by his collar. "That's right! We're here to eat. Dad came home today, and Mom, for a change, didn't have to work overtime. So we all decided to come out to eat together! A rare family event!"
"Oh? A family outing, how nice," Ren nodded appreciatively. "So, your parents are behind you?"
"Mm! Ah, here they come!"
As they were talking, two adults walked through the door.
The woman, Hori Yuriko, looked almost exactly like an older version of Kyoko. She had the same features, the same air of casual elegance, but with a more relaxed, airy demeanor.
The man, Hori Kyosuke, was tall, with messy silver-grey hair and a bit of stubble. He wore a casual jacket and had the look of a man who had just woken up from a nap, yet somehow still looked cool.
Both of them paused slightly as they entered. They looked around the Restaurant's decor—the warm wood paneling, the soft amber lighting, the strange mix of customers (a white-haired girl, a silver-haired foreign beauty, and a woman in a kimono).
"Oh wow," Yuriko breathed. "Kyoko wasn't kidding. It's beautiful in here. It feels... hidden."
Kyosuke, however, focused his gaze on Ren.
He looked the young chef up and down, assessing him. He noted the posture, the confident grip on the ingredient basket, the calm smile.
So this is the guy, Kyosuke thought. Young. Handsome. Can cook. Dangerous.
He gave an imperceptible nod of approval.
Ren saw them and bowed slightly. "Welcome. Please sit wherever you like. The tables are open."
"Thank you!" Yuriko smiled, walking over to a large table near the center. "Come on, Kyosuke."
The Hori family sat down. The chairs scraped softly against the floor. They settled in, looking around with curiosity.
"Would you like anything to eat?" Ren asked, walking over with menus—or rather, standing there ready to take requests, as his menu was dynamic.
Hearing Ren's words, the Hori family fell into deep thought. They stared at Ren, then at each other. The silence stretched.
Souta piped up, breaking the deadlock. "Big brother, big brother! Onee-chan, Dad, and Mom have been thinking all the way here and still don't know what to eat! They argued in the car for twenty minutes!"
Ren was momentarily stunned, then laughed. "I see. Analysis paralysis. So, Souta, have you decided what you want to eat?"
"Omurice!" Souta shouted without hesitation, raising his hand high. "With the flag!"
"Omurice it is," Ren nodded, noting it down mentally. "A classic choice. Hmm, so, have the rest of you not decided yet?"
Hori Kyoko sighed helplessly, resting her forehead in her hand. "Shopkeeper Ren, your Restaurant really makes it hard to decide. Since there's no fixed menu, the possibilities are endless. It's overwhelming! Do you have any recommendations?"
Ren considered the group. A family of four. Parents, a teenager, and a child.
"Do you want Japanese cuisine, Chinese cuisine, or French cuisine?" Ren asked. "If a family is gathering, I highly recommend Chinese Cuisine. It's meant for sharing. Large plates in the center, everyone taking what they want. It encourages conversation."
Hori looked at her parents.
"Chinese sounds good," Kyosuke nodded. "I could go for something savory."
"Me too," Yuriko agreed.
"Then Chinese cuisine it is," Ren confirmed. "Three dishes to share should be enough for us, plus the Omurice."
"Vegetarian or meat dishes? Can you eat spicy food?" Ren asked, looking at Yuriko.
Yuriko thought for a moment. "Then two meat dishes and one vegetarian dish. We can eat spicy food. In fact, we like it. Kyosuke loves spicy."
"I do," Kyosuke grinned. "Bring the heat."
"Alright," Ren nodded. "I have some excellent tofu and fresh pork loin. How about Mapo Tofu, Sweet and Sour Pork (Gu Lao Rou), and Stir-fried Garlic Greens?"
"Perfect!" Yuriko clapped her hands.
"Please wait a moment."
Ren bowed slightly and walked back into the kitchen, the basket of fish for Hinako still in his hand. He had a lot of cooking to do.
Yuriko watched Ren's retreating figure, propping her face in her hand with a dreamy expression. "Wow... I didn't expect Shopkeeper Ren to be surprisingly young and handsome. And so polite! Kyoko, you have good taste in... restaurants."
Souta raised his hand high. "Mm! Big brother is very kind! He gives me extra sauce! And he plays games with me!"
Hori Kyoko also didn't hold back her praise. "He's amazing, Mom. You'll see when you taste the food. It's not just good; it's comforting."
For a while, the mother and two children chatted happily about school, work, and the restaurant decor. The atmosphere was warm and familial.
However, Hori Kyosuke had no interest in joining the conversation.
He sat quietly to the side, leaning back in his chair, staring at the wooden ceiling beams. He looked like a philosopher contemplating the void, or perhaps just a man wondering if he had left the stove on at home.
"Husband... Husband!"
Yuriko's voice cut through his trance.
Kyosuke blinked, coming back to reality. "Hmm? What's wrong, Yuriko? Is the food here?"
"Instead of me," Yuriko teased, leaning across the table, "why don't you tell me what you were thinking just now? Why didn't you respond after I called you for so long? Are you mesmerized by the handsome chef too?"
Kyosuke scratched his head, looking genuinely puzzled. "Eh? Really? I didn't hear you. Mesmerized? No. I was just thinking about the architecture. But why were you calling me? That look makes me nervous. You have your 'plotting' face on."
Hori Kyoko sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. She gave her father a look of exasperated affection.
"We were talking about when you, Kyosuke, would leave again," Hori said bluntly.
Kyosuke recoiled as if he had been slapped. "Eh?!"
He clutched his chest dramatically. "I just got here! I haven't even had a sip of water! Why are you in such a hurry for me to leave? Am I unwanted in my own family? Is this a mutiny?"
"Huh?" Kyoko tilted her head, immune to his theatrics. "Do I need a reason? You're annoying. And you take up space on the sofa."
Kyosuke's mouth twitched. He looked at Yuriko for support, but she was just smiling.
"Kyoko..." Kyosuke whined. "I think you should give your father a reason, shouldn't you? Isn't it said that a daughter is her father's little cotton jacket? His source of warmth in a cold world? Why is my jacket so cold? It feels like it's made of ice!"
"Eh?" Kyoko deadpanned. "Is that so? Maybe the cotton jacket has a hole in it. It's leaking warmth. So, seriously, when are you leaving again?"
"Souta..." Kyosuke turned to his son, his last hope. "Defend your father!"
Souta ignored him completely. He was staring intently at the kitchen curtains, swinging his legs. "What dishes will big brother make? I hope the egg is fluffy..."
Kyosuke slumped in his chair, defeated. "I am alone. Truly alone."
From the corner table, Lucifer watched the Hori family.
She watched them bickering, teasing, and laughing. It was chaotic. It was loud. It was completely unrefined compared to the courtly manners of Hell.
But a smile played on her lips. She rested one hand on her stomach, just observing quietly.
The noise didn't bother her. In fact, it filled the empty spaces in the room perfectly. It chased away the silence that had haunted her earlier.
Indeed, Lucifer thought, watching Kyoko scold her father while pouring him tea.
A home... is a good thing.
The warmth of the scene settled into her bones, replacing the chill of loneliness with something far more enduring.
[Akarin's Note: Hori Kyoko and her family are the central characters of Horimiya. The dynamic of Kyoko "bullying" her laid-back father Kyosuke is a staple of their relationship.]
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
As a special offer, I've opened a few limited-time tiers at a discounted price! You will get all the benefits of "The Founding Pillars" (normally $20), but at a much cheaper rate.
These slots are extremely limited:
"The Plot Uncoverer": $4.99 (Save 75% / $15.01) - Only 3 slots
"The Dedicated Fan": $9.99 (Save 50% / $10.01) - Only 7 slots
"The Lore Diver": $14.99 (Save 25% / $5.01) - Only 15 slots
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]