Yuto called for Tohru.
Since skewers required a charcoal fire—an oven was for roasting whole pieces of meat—her main role was to breathe fire and ignite it.
When Yuto came out carrying five meat skewers, the people from Gensokyo were preparing to leave.
Most of them still had things to do: Yukari had to inspect several barrier points, Reimu had to find Suika to ensure she didn't drink herself into trouble, and Aya had to prepare for the publication of her newspaper.
As the mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, Remilia's prolonged absence could easily cause problems, as thieves occasionally broke in.
"Speaking of which, Boss, why didn't you come to Gensokyo today? I thought that after inviting you last night, you would come today."
Before leaving, Yukari looked at Yuto with an expression carrying three parts complaint and three parts disappointment.
Her voice was soft and charming, unconsciously carrying a hint of seduction. Compared with her shikigami, she seemed more like a fox.
"I had something to do today and forgot for a while. Sorry, sorry," Yuto smiled with apologetic helplessness.
He had remembered his plans to visit during the day, but after getting busy, he had forgotten.
"Then Boss, you must come tomorrow," Yukari said, lightly covering half her cheek with a folding fan.
Her magnificent, purple-gemstone eyes stared straight at him.
Beside her, Yuuka also looked at him, her expression much calmer than Yukari's.
"Tomorrow is a little inconvenient too. How about the day after tomorrow?" Yuto asked helplessly.
He had to accompany Utaha to a comic convention the next day, which would probably take half the day, especially with several people going with him.
"Then it's settled," Yukari smiled faintly.
Beside her, Yuuka's eyes finally showed a slight ripple.
"Mm. Don't worry." After agreeing, Yuto looked toward Sakuya. "Miss Izayoi, how about I teach you how to make fried milk when I go to Gensokyo?"
"Of course. Thank you again, Boss, for agreeing to such an unreasonable request of mine," Sakuya said, bending at the waist.
Her posture was extremely elegant and graceful; if one ignored the two nosebleeds, it would have been perfect.
"Then, as the master of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, I hereby guarantee that when you come, you will certainly receive a grand reception."
As a young lady, Remilia was very proper.
She gently lifted her dress and performed an old-fashioned Western etiquette gesture.
Having lived for nearly five hundred years, the etiquette she had learned was naturally very old.
Not knowing what courtesy to return, Yuto simply smiled.
The people of Gensokyo gradually left, leaving Yuuka alone.
She looked at Yuto, her red lips parting slightly.
"Remember to come early."
Yuto froze for a brief instant before smiling. "Mm. I'll arrive early."
With that, Yuuka left.
Yuto watched her departing figure as a faint ripples appearing in his heart.
'What's Yuuka like in Gensokyo?' he wondered, actually looking forward to the trip.
....
Once the women from Gensokyo departed, the counter instantly became empty.
Kaguya, who had not spoken, stood up with a conflicted expression and walked over to Reiko.
"What's wrong?" Reiko asked, looking at her somewhat strangely. Although she knew Kaguya, the young lady's approach puzzled her.
Kaguya gently inhaled before bowing slightly toward Reiko—a posture that would have been absolutely impossible outside the restaurant.
However, after learning about the restaurant's strange aspects, Kaguya had set aside her insistence on status.
Moreover, if she wanted to compete against her brothers, she would inevitably have to rely on the restaurant, there was no reason to put on airs.
"About what happened last time, I'm sorry," Kaguya spoke with sincerity.
She was referring to leaving without saying goodbye.
At the time, Reiko had shown goodwill toward her, but Kaguya had ignored her and left. The incident had left her feeling guilty ever since she returned to the mansion.
She had wanted to apologize earlier today, but the arrival of the Gensokyo group had interrupted her.
With so many people around, she felt a little embarrassed, but now that they were gone, she seized the opportunity.
"Oh, it's fine. I really don't mind at all, so there's no need to take it to heart." Reiko's eyes paused slightly as she understood what Kaguya meant.
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, like gentle sunlight, and her clear eyes resembled a transparent spring.
She had never taken Kaguya's behavior to heart; having experienced enough things, both big and small, Kaguya's actions were not enough to stir any waves in her heart.
"No matter what, I was the one who offended you last time. If there's anything you need, please feel free to ask. As long as it's something I can do, I will agree."
Even if she lowered her posture, Kaguya was still the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, there were things she could not forget, and she had to apologize for her wrongs.
Reiko froze slightly, then smiled and nodded. "Then, if I need anything, I'll ask you."
"That's good."
Reiko made no requests, merely following along with Kaguya's words, allowing the young lady to let out a slight breath of relief.
Seeing the two of them interact, Yuto smiled faintly.
If his customers could get along peacefully, he naturally felt more at ease.
"Reiko, why didn't you come last night?" Yuto asked. He had worried about her at daybreak when she failed to show up.
His question made Reiko embarrassed.
The usually carefree girl scratched her head with a dry smile, making Yuto curious about what she had done.
"Last night, there was a gathering among the youkai. They insisted on dragging me over, and I had no choice but to go."
Yuto didn't think a simple gathering alone would make her this embarrassed, but when it came to something like this, it was better not to ask.
"Youkai? Miss Reiko, are you not an ordinary person either?" Kaguya asked in amazement.
She hadn't seen anything nonhuman in Reiko's appearance, so she had always thought the girl was ordinary. Hearing the word "youkai" unsettled her.
"No, no. Reiko is an ordinary person, but her friends are not," Yuto smiled, noting Kaguya's surprise.
"If you ignore the fact that I can see youkai, then I can barely count as an ordinary person," Reiko laughed openly.
She was already much, much more composed than before.
The turmoil in Kaguya's heart settled as she accepted the fact that Reiko was not ordinary.
She inevitably felt a little helpless, it turned out she was the only completely ordinary human in the restaurant!
"Miss Reiko, could you tell me some stories about youkai?" Kaguya asked.
In japan, legends about youkai had always flourished due to tradition. Even Kaguya, isolated in a large mansion, knew a thing or two about them.
After learning they were all false stories, she had lost interest, but hearing the word from Reiko rekindled her curiosity.
"Of course," Reiko smiled and nodded.
Hayasaka, who had been sitting on the other side, moved closer to her mistress.
Although she said nothing, she was extremely curious about youkai as well.
Reiko spoke calmly, though her expression unconsciously broke when recounting amusing stories.
Although Kaguya and her maid wanted to remain composed, their emotions rose and fell along with the story.
Happy to see the interaction, Yuto chimed in. "Yuuka and Yukari from earlier are both youkai too."
His words changed Kaguya and Hayasaka's expressions once again.
They had never imagined that the two women were youkai.
Aya, Remilia, Ran, and Chen all had obvious nonhuman traits, giving Kaguya and Hayasaka a clear understanding of them from the beginning.
But Yukari and Yuuka looked like ordinary people, and their bearing was especially striking.
When they entered the restaurant, Kaguya had judged from their aura that they were noble figures, learning they were youkai truly shook both women.
"Didn't I say it yesterday? Most of the customers in this restaurant actually aren't human. Looks like Kaguya-san didn't guess correctly back then. Besides, didn't Yukari say earlier as well? 'Yuuka's youkai energy essence'—those words should have made it quite easy to judge Yuuka's identity."
Yuto's teasing words made Kaguya's face turn a little red.
She truly hadn't noticed Yukari's words, having been entirely focused on the shock of Yuto's lifespan.
"But that's normal too. When I first met Yukari, I also didn't recognize her as a youkai. After all, she was far too different from the youkai in my impression," Reiko comforted Kaguya.
She was speaking the truth; the youkai she usually interacted with were strangely shaped.
She had never seen a youkai as beautiful and noble as Yukari. There were some who were similar, but they were far inferior in comparison.
Aside from Yukari, every youkai girl from Gensokyo had shocked Reiko with their beauty.
When she thought about the youkai around her, she could only sigh helplessly.
While Kaguya, Hayasaka, and Reiko talked, Ainz and Rimuru took the opportunity to drag Fafnir over to the newly opened seats at the counter.
Seeing the three of them equally absorbed in their game, Yuto sighed helplessly.
'These three really are... hopeless...' Looking at Ainz and Rimuru made Yuto think of Saitama.
The hero still hadn't come tonight, which was unusual since he usually came early every day.
'Could something have happened?'
"Do you two know why Saitama hasn't come tonight?" Yuto interrupted Ainz and Rimuru.
The two shook their heads in confusion, making Yuto feeling helpless.
Perhaps hoping these two game-addicted guys knew anything was a mistake.
"Right, Kamisaka. About that VR game, hehe..." Ainz brought up SAO with a laugh.
The enormous contrast between his behavior and his appearance made Yuto sigh.
'What undead great mage? Why does he become like this the moment games are mentioned?'
"As for that, sorry. I wasn't able to buy it."
"Ah?! Did something happen? Did you run into some problem? Do you need my help?!" Ainz slapped the table excitedly and a green light flashing across his body as his emotions surged.
Feeling helpless toward the reaction, Yuto sighed and explained what had happened regarding SAO.
Ainz rubbed his skeletal fingers against his jawbone, analyzing the situation seriously.
"So that means as long as you find Asuna, it'll be fine."
"Yes, that's right," Yuto nodded.
"What is a VR game?" Fafnir snapped out of his study after hearing the phrase.
Ainz and Rimuru were just about to explain it when Saitama finally arrived, bringing someone with him—a rare occurrence, since Yuto knew Saitama usually lived alone.
Looking at the newcomer, a guess arose in Yuto's heart.
'A cyborg?'
"Yo! Kamisaka, Ainz, Rimuru, I'm here," Saitama greeted them, wearing his signature silly grin.
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