Chapter 148: The Party Has Just Begun
While the Hori family chattered animatedly near the center of the room, the rest of the establishment was relatively quiet.
At one table, Cerberus lay sprawled across the surface like a tired cat, her chin resting on her crossed arms. Her phone was propped up against a napkin holder, and she was scrolling through social media with a lazy finger, occasionally giggling at a meme.
At the adjacent table, Lucifer sat with perfect posture, her silver hair shimmering under the pendant lights. She was deeply engrossed in researching human technology on her own device. The more she read, the more she found that humans were truly a formidable species—capable of inventing nuclear reactors, space stations, and self-heating bento boxes. It was terrifyingly impressive.
Unlike them, Inui Hinako was in full professional mode.
She sat near the window, a small leather-bound notebook open in front of her. She observed her surroundings with the sharp eye of a restaurateur, jotting down notes about the lighting, the spacing of the tables, and the texture of the wood.
"Hmm," Hinako murmured, tapping her pen against her chin. "The layout here is indeed very impressive. This lamp... is it hand-blown glass? It diffuses the light so softly..."
As she was writing, a shadow fell over her table.
A black ceramic cup was placed gently in front of her. Steam curled from the rim, carrying a fragrant, roasted scent.
Hinako looked up. Ren had already moved on, pushing a wooden dining cart toward the Hori family table.
"This is for Souta and Miss Hori," Ren announced, placing two tall glasses filled with a vibrant pink liquid on the table. "Since I didn't know what the two of you wanted to drink, I took the liberty of preparing Strawberry Guava Juice. It's fresh."
"Wow!" Souta cheered, grabbing his glass with both hands. "It's pink!"
Ren turned to the adults. "Would the two of you like something to drink?"
Hori Yuriko thought for a moment, looking at her son's drink. "Just give me one like Souta's, that'll be fine. I need some vitamins."
Hori Kyosuke leaned back in his chair, looking at Ren with interest. He grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Since we're eating out, and since I'm off duty... of course, it has to be beer. Do you have anything good?"
Ren nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "That's a good way to relieve fatigue. Cold or room temperature?"
"Beer, of course, has to be cold!" Kyosuke declared, slamming his hand on the table for emphasis. "Ice cold! Like my daughter's heart!"
"Dad!" Kyoko kicked him under the table.
"Understood," Ren laughed. "Please wait a moment."
Watching Ren leave with the cart, Yuriko sighed contentedly. "He's really thoughtful for his age. And so professional. When did you meet Shopkeeper Ren, Kyoko?"
Kyoko took a sip of her juice. Her eyes widened. "A friend introduced him. That day, the power was out at home, and I was going to order takeout, but then I suddenly remembered this place and brought Souta along. I didn't expect it to be even more delicious than Yuki said. It was like magic."
"Whoa!" Souta exclaimed, a milk moustache forming on his lip. "This is so good!"
Yuriko took a sip of her own juice. "Oh my. This must be that strawberry guava juice you mentioned. It was super delicious? You undersold it, Kyoko. What's mine this time? Ooh! Such a rich flavor! It tastes like real fruit, not syrup!"
"Eh? Is it really that good?" Kyosuke asked, looking jealous. "I'm looking forward to my beer."
Across the room, Inui Hinako smiled as she watched the family interact. She closed her small notebook, satisfied with her observations. She picked up the black cup next to her and brought it to her lips.
She took a sip.
Her entire being paused. Her shoulders dropped an inch. Her eyes closed involuntarily.
"Such fragrant Oolong tea..." she whispered. "This is homemade... roasted in-house?"
Oolong tea, in a culinary sense, is a peculiar entity.
It doesn't belong to the black tea family, nor does it belong to the green tea family. It sits in the middle—a semi-fermented tea, also known as Qing tea. But precisely because of this semi-fermentation, oolong tea possesses a flavor profile completely distinct from its siblings.
It lacks the heavy, malty aroma of black tea, and it avoids the grassy, slightly bitter elegance of green tea.
The taste of good oolong tea is sweet. Not sugary, but a natural, floral sweetness that lingers on the back of the throat—a quality known as Hui Gan.
This cup of oolong tea at this moment was at the perfect temperature—hot enough to warm the chest, but not enough to burn the tongue. The aroma was orchid-like, and the sweetness was profound. Everything was just right.
A glass of beer can relieve a person's physical fatigue, numbing the aches of the day. But a cup of tea can calm the mind, smoothing out the wrinkles of the soul.
No matter what kind of tea, as long as everything is handled properly—the water temperature, the steeping time, the quality of the leaf—it is enough to make a person relax, allowing tranquility to overflow from the heart.
"Hehehe..."
A sudden giggle broke the quiet atmosphere.
Lucifer looked up from her phone. She turned to Cerberus, puzzled. "What's wrong? Why did you suddenly start laughing like a villain?"
Cerberus grinned, handing her phone to Lucifer. "Look! Look at this!"
Lucifer took the phone. On the screen was a social media post. It was a photo taken earlier that day at the basketball court. It showed Ren in a basketball jersey, mid-air, executing a perfect dunk, with Ryota Kise looking up in awe in the background.
The caption read: [Defeated by a Chef! Brother Ren is a monster! #Basketball #GenerationOfMiracles]
Lucifer paused. Then, a slow, amused smile spread across her face. "Where did you get this photo?"
"Kise posted it!" Cerberus chirped. "He tagged Ren!"
"In that case," Lucifer mused, "that person named Ryota Kise is quite interesting. He has good taste in idols. But I didn't expect Ren to play basketball too. Is there anything he can't do?"
Cerberus nodded vigorously. "That's right, that's right, that's right! Super amazing! Kise couldn't resist at all! He couldn't even touch the ball! Ren was like whoosh and then bam!"
Lucifer's smile faded slightly when she heard this. A memory surfaced—the memory of playing tennis against Ren weeks ago. The fear of being dominated on the court. The absolute lack of mercy.
"Absolutely no mercy..." Lucifer muttered, shivering. "Too much! He treats sports like war."
However, despite her traumatic flashbacks, Lucifer still imagined Ren playing basketball. The sweat, the focus, the jumping...
She hummed, typing a reply on her own phone. She posted the photo in the Dimensional Chat Group.
The result was predictable. The group exploded with comments.
[Momobami Kirari]: Oh my. A new skill unlocked?
[Sonoko Suzuki]: KYAAA! Ren-sama looks so cool in a jersey!
[Nakano Ichika]: Is that Kise-kun? The model?
What truly surprised Lucifer was that they all seemed to know about Ryota Kise's existence. The world of humans was smaller than she thought.
[Location: Kise Residence]
Ryota Kise, who was already home and changed into comfortable loungewear, stood on his balcony. He held his phone to his ear, looking out at the city lights.
"I knew you guys would call me," Kise sighed, though he was smiling. "But Satsuki, you're the fifth person in ten minutes. Even Midorima-cchi texted me to ask if my form was off."
"Eh? Really?" Momoi Satsuki's voice chirped from the speaker. "That sounds pretty good then. So he really beat you?"
"Crushed me," Kise admitted cheerfully. "Brother Ren said that no matter which school wins the Inter-High, they'll all go to his Restaurant then. He invited everyone."
"Everyone?" Momoi sounded surprised. "Even Aomine-kun?"
"Especially Aomine-cchi. Brother Ren said he doesn't want to see boring matches. You and Aomine can talk about this. I won't be so free either. I have to train."
"Okay! Bye bye, Ki-chan!"
"Bye bye~"
After hanging up the phone, Ryota Kise looked at the now dark night sky. The stars were faint, drowned out by the city glow, but they were there.
He clenched his fists on the railing.
"Now..." Kise whispered, his eyes burning with determination. "Everyone should be able to get fired up, right? We have a goal."
Looking at the dim night and listening to the rustling evening wind, the night was cool. But in many places across the city—in gyms, in offices, in study rooms—there were those who endured this chill to keep burning.
Whether it was men or women, athletes or students, this flame was Hot. It was the heat of ambition.
While countless young men and women were burning brightly, there were also places that were quiet and gentle, offering sanctuary from the heat.
Just like Shop Ren's Restaurant at this moment.
Inui Hinako sipped her Oolong tea in small mouthfuls, its sweet taste making her feel much more at ease. She watched the steam rise, losing herself in the aroma.
On the other side, Yuriko and Kyosuke also enjoyed the drinks Ren had brought out midway.
Whether it was strawberry guava juice or a cool, refreshing beer with condensation dripping down the glass, for people who had been working hard for a long time, all fatigue and worries would slide into their stomachs with a single sip of their favorite drink.
At the same time, it was a signal. It told everyone who felt this way that work was over. School was out. The obligations of the day were done. It was time to relax.
Don't let this feeling go to waste; when you feel it, be like a pampered child. Indulge in your whims. Enjoy this well-deserved ease and relaxation. The night should be quiet and pleasant.
As everyone was enjoying this tranquility, a new sensation intruded.
Sniff.
An enticing aroma wafted from the kitchen. It was savory, spicy, and rich with the scent of garlic and sizzling oil.
It immediately reawakened Inui Hinako's heart, which had completely calmed down. Her eyes snapped open.
What quiet? What emptying her mind? All empty talk! This smell told her she was hungry!
Yuriko also opened her eyes, sniffing the air like a connoisseur. "Ah... What a fragrant smell! Husband, this Shopkeeper Ren is truly extraordinary. It smells like... happiness."
Kyosuke took a long sip of beer, wiping foam from his lip. He chuckled. "Ah? Isn't that obvious? The man knows what he's doing."
Sizzle...
The sound of something wet being dropped into hot oil rang out from the kitchen. It was a violent, joyful sound.
A voice immediately echoed in Inui Hinako's mind: This is my Mixed Tempura!
With the sound of frying, the evening's tranquility ignited.
Besides quiet, the night also held indulgence. The night was deepening, but the tongue was not yet ready for rest.
This party had just begun.
[Akarin Note:
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