Chapter 116: Only The Weak Need To Wear Clothes!
"Hmm… So Winter-sensei is the type who stares at other girls…"
Noticing the direction and lingering nature of Kasumigaoka Touji's gaze, Kani Nayuta puffed out her pink cheeks in a theatrical, adorable pout. It wasn't true jealousy—not yet, anyway. It was more a playful test, a chance to tease him and see his reaction.
"Ahem." Kasumigaoka Touji cleared his throat lightly, wrenching his attention back to the safe harbor of their table. He settled onto the plush sofa and met Kani Nayuta's eyes, offering an explanation that was as truthful as it was dangerous. "I was just… looking out of curiosity. It's not every day you see something like that, you know?"
"Actually," Kani Nayuta's faux-annoyed expression melted into a conspiratorial grin, her earlier act discarded. She leaned forward slightly, the motion causing her abundant assets to press gently against the edge of the grill table. Raising a hand to her mouth as if sharing a great secret, she whispered, her eyes darting toward the neighboring booth, "That outfit is incredibly bold, right? It's like someone from a hentai game just… walked into reality. It's surreal."
It was a wonderfully bizarre, yet oddly apt, metaphor.
If we're going by her analogy, Touji's thoughts spiraled helplessly, then this would have to be a 'Monster Girl' themed hentai…
Uh-oh.
His mental detour was abruptly cut short.
In the adjacent booth, Jashin-chan's delicate, pointed ears—clearly not just part of the headband—twitched visibly. A wicked, calculating glint entered her serpentine eyes.
Hmm… 'People from hentai'… that's defamation! An insult to my divine dignity! The gears in her head turned rapidly, landing on a brilliant, time-tested scheme: This is a perfect chance for a free meal!
If she could scam lunch off these two, she could save her precious funds for the pachinko parlor. A few lucky rounds, and she'd be rolling in yen!
"Ehehehe~."
The mere thought of hitting the jackpot, of wiping out past gambling shames with a glorious, coin-spewing victory, made her giddy. Jashin-chan lowered her head, her long golden bangs casting a shadow over her face. The corners of her mouth stretched into an exaggerated, sharp-toothed grin.
"I HEARD EVERYTHING!"
With a dramatic flourish, Jashin-chan rose to her full, albeit petite, height. She planted one hand on her authentically slender hip (the part that was still human), thrust the other finger accusingly at Kasumigaoka Touji and Kani Nayuta, and leaned back in a pose of supreme arrogance.
"To actually say that we, the great Jashin-chan and Minos, are 'people from hentai who walked into reality'… THAT'S TOO MUCH! An unforgivable slander against my divine being!"
She jabbed the air for emphasis. "You must treat us to a proper meal to appease my righteous wrath! Lunch is on you two! That's the only way I, Jashin-chan, might consider forgiving this transgression!"
She struck a fighting pose, one foot lifting slightly. "Otherwise… you'll get to experience my ultimate technique firsthand—the Jashin-chan Flying Kick! Hi-yaah!"
"So embarrassing, Jashin-chan…"
Despite being a demon herself, Minos's values were surprisingly—and inconveniently—upright. She looked at her millennia-old friend with a deadpan, squinting expression of utter fatigue.
"Who's the one who insisted on going out in public basically naked? You can't blame people for getting the wrong idea." She then turned her calm, red-eyed gaze toward the stunned couple. "You don't have to pay her any mind. Please, ignore her."
"HEY! Minos! Whose side are you on?!" Betrayed by her own ally, Jashin-chan whirled around, grabbing fistfuls of Minos's cow-print jacket collar. She shook her vigorously, the bell around Minos's neck jingling in protest.
"Ding-ling-ling-ling! Having someone else pay is a good thing! Are you an idiot?! How could I have such a foolish friend with over 7,000 years of friendship!?"
She released Minos with a huff, striking a proud, chest-out pose. "And another thing! Only the weak need to hide behind clothes! The truly strong are always open and aboveboard!" She gestured grandly to her own scales. "This is the symbol of my supreme power! Hi, hi, hi!"
"Uh-huh, yeah, sure." Minos raised a hand in a long-suffering, perfunctory wave, pushing Jashin-chan's smug face away. "Let's just… order our food first. I'm hungry."
"Hmm… Well, I suppose that's acceptable." Jashin-chan was momentarily distracted by the more immediate promise of food. The two supernatural beings huddled over their table's ordering device, their argument temporarily shelved.
"Yosh—! Let's get the barbecue platter first!" Jashin-chan declared, her culinary wrath momentarily redirected.
"Phew…"
Back at their own table, Kasumigaoka Touji let out a low breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He clapped his hands together softly, the sound pulling Kani Nayuta's wide-eyed attention away from the surreal spectacle next door.
"Right! Let's focus on our own barbecue!" he announced, injecting forced cheer into his voice.
Kani Nayuta offered an embarrassed, apologetic smile and stuck out the tip of her tongue. "Sorry, sensei. My big mouth…"
"I'll take charge of the grilling," Touji said, smoothly picking up the long metal tongs and appointing himself chef. He needed something normal to do.
He surveyed their battlefield. All of Kani Nayuta's initial selections were now present. The skirt steak was a magnificent, marbled strip nearly twenty centimeters long. The beef flank, tiger prawns, corn, and potato slices all looked impeccably fresh, promising a delicious feast.
First, he took the oil brush and painted a thin, sizzling layer of oil onto the hot wire grill. Then, with practiced moves, he began placing the ingredients: a couple of potato slices in a cooler corner, a few pieces of corn, the hefty skirt steak, the more delicate beef flank, and two majestic tiger prawns. The moment they touched the hot surface, a glorious, hissing symphony began.
Under the intense heat of the charcoal, tantalizing aromas immediately started to rise—the savory, meaty scent of searing beef, the sweet promise of caramelizing corn. The air around their little nook became irresistibly delicious.
Inhaling the wonderful smells, Kani Nayuta's eyes lit up, her earlier surprise forgotten. She leaned in closer, her gaze finally settling on the thinly sliced beef flank, which was cooking the fastest. She wanted meat now. The skirt steak was too large and would take time; the flank was perfect.
"Saliva… saliva…" she murmured unconsciously, her hand drifting toward her mouth.
Then she caught herself.
"Hmm…? Winter-sensei is trying to trick me! So mean!" she playfully accused, a blush touching her cheeks as she realized she'd been caught in a moment of pure, food-driven instinct.
"Who's tricking anyone? I'm the one whose saliva is about to drip," Kasumigaoka Touji retorted smoothly, not looking up from his careful flipping of the beef. His tone was the picture of casual sincerity. Whether you believe it or not, I'm sticking to this story!
As he said this, his eyes lifted briefly to meet hers. That's when he saw it again—the soft, golden glow of an exclamation mark hovering just above Kani Nayuta's silver hair. Her dream, clear and vivid, unfolded before his mind's eye:
[Kani Nayuta's Dream]
Idol's Lover!
Dream Level: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Dream Introduction: That fateful day, she fell in love at first listen with the voice streaming through her headphones. She wants nothing more than to become the lover of the culinary and musical blogger known as 'Winter'!
(Note: This long-term quest is divided into stages. Completing a stage grants partial points and unlocks the next.)
First Stage: Become lovers with 'Winter' and ascend the 'adult ladder' together. Reward: 30,000 Dream Points.
Final Dream Reward: 100,000 Dream Points.
[Accept] or [Reject]
"..."
His second five-star dream since obtaining this peculiar ability. With a task slot now open after Utaha-senpai's stage was completed, he didn't hesitate. A mental nudge, and he selected [Accept].
The timing was impeccable.
"Hmm~." Kani Nayuta let out a soft, deliberate hum. She placed her left hand flat on the warm edge of the barbecue table, using her right hand to cradle her cheek as she gazed across the sizzling grill at Kasumigaoka Touji. A smile, both charming and dangerously playful, touched her lips. "Winter-sensei was staring right at my mouth when he said his saliva was about to drip…"
She leaned a fraction closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial, honeyed tone. "Could it be… your saliva can drip down from my mouth?"
Freed from the subtly watchful presence of Kasumigaoka Utaha-senpai and the familiar eyes of any other acquaintances, a more audacious, flirtatious side of her nature was stretching its wings. The privacy of their leafy booth was a potent catalyst, emboldening her.
"That's… a distinct possibility," Kasumigaoka Touji admitted, not missing a beat as he used the tongs to flip a piece of beef flank. He glanced up at her, his eyes glinting with a familiar, mischievous light that she knew from their online chats.
'Among other things…' he added silently to himself.
"Is that so?" Kani Nayuta's rosy lips curved into an even more enticing, challenging smile. "I don't believe it, sensei. You'll have to prove it."
Slightly emboldened by her own daring and the playful atmosphere, Touji's reply took on a shade of his usual online banter. "Demanding proof already, sensei? So impatient."
He glanced at the three small pots of barbecue sauce provided by Yume Miya—a rich tare, a spicy miso, and a refreshing citrus soy. He dipped a clean brush into the light soy-based one and painted an even, glistening layer onto the nearly cooked beef flank. "But first, sustenance. The beef flank is almost ready. A critic must have her strength."
"I'll be the judge of that," Kani Nayuta shot back without backing down, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "And later, you must let me experience this 'proof' you speak of."
With that promise hanging in the smoky air, her focus snapped back to the grill.
The thinly sliced, perfectly square cuts of beef flank had transformed under the heat, their color shifting to a tempting, caramelized brown. They sizzled enticingly, tiny beads of juice dancing on their surfaces. They looked utterly delicious.
"Three… two… one!" Kasumigaoka Touji performed a final flourish, sprinkling a precise amount of freshly ground black pepper and aromatic cumin over the meat. The countdown brought Kani Nayuta's anticipation to a delicious peak.
On "one," he deftly picked up one piece with the tongs and placed it on her waiting plate. "You may begin your analysis, Kani-sensei." He then took the remaining piece for himself.
No further ceremony was needed. Almost in unison, they clasped their hands together with a quick, "Itadakimasu!" and brought the steaming meat to their lips.
Kasumigaoka Touji blew gently on the morsel twice before taking a careful bite. Instantly, a rich, savory wave of flavor swept through his mouth. The initial heat gave way to the unique, profound charm of perfectly grilled beef—a deep, meaty sweetness enhanced by the gentle char of the grill marks.
He chewed slowly. The meat was tender yet possessed a satisfying, juicy resilience. The interplay of the sweet fat, the savory meat juices, and the enhancing notes from the light sauce and spices created a complex, addictive taste that spread across his palate, coaxing an involuntary, contented smile onto his face.
"Mmm…! So delicious! So fragrant… and so tender!" Kani Nayuta's eyes slid shut in bliss after her first bite. Her praise was immediate and effusive. "Crispy on the outside, incredibly tender and juicy on the inside… The texture is sublime, and the flavor profile is wonderful!"
She swallowed and continued, her tone shifting into that of a passionate, if slightly dramatic, gourmet. "Beef flank is truly at its peak at this medium-rare doneness… With one bite, the slightly charred, smoky aroma from the grill immediately fills your entire mouth. Then comes the sensation—tender, plump, soft yet elastic… It becomes even more captivating under the influence of the sauce, cumin, and pepper… It's the kind of thing that makes you more and more addicted the more you eat!"
Her vivid, sensory-rich commentary, spoken with genuine delight, was impossible to ignore. It drifted over the ferns, reaching the neighboring booth where Jashin-chan and Minos were still waiting for their charcoal and first plates. Two pairs of supernatural eyes immediately locked onto them, gleaming with undisguised, ravenous longing.
Kasumigaoka Touji naturally noticed their stares.
After a moment's hesitation—a mix of residual awkwardness and a strange, burgeoning sense of 'when in Rome'—he made a decision. Using the tongs, he picked up the hefty strip of skirt steak from their grill. With his other hand, he took the provided kitchen shears and expertly snipped it into several generous, bite-sized pieces. He then brushed each piece with a layer of the rich, dark tare barbecue sauce.
He let them sear for another ten seconds, allowing the sauce to caramelize slightly and the aroma to become even more potent, almost chemical in its deliciousness. Then, he slid about half of the pieces onto a clean side plate. Leaning slightly, he offered it across the leafy divide to the two drooling entities.
"Here. Consider this an… apology for the earlier comment," he said, his tone diplomatically neutral. Being caught gossiping was embarrassing, even if the subject of the gossip was, by all reasonable standards, asking for it.
"Oh! Is… is that really alright?" Minos looked from the offered meat to Touji's face with wide, surprised eyes. Her silver cow tail began wagging behind her with such eager, dog-like happiness that it thumped softly against the booth's backrest.
Jashin-chan, however, showed no such restraint. She snatched the plate with a triumphant cackle. "Fuhahaha! Not bad, human! You possess decent judgment!"
She held a piece aloft, inspecting it like a jewel before popping it into her mouth. Her eyes widened. "Mmgh! I approve of you! Your offering is acceptable!"
She swallowed, then pointed a finger at him, her expression turning shrewd. "Tell me, human, do you wish to join my Evil God Cult and devote yourself to my glorious worship? I shall appoint you as my High Priest! All it requires is a modest monthly tribute of… let's say 100,000 yen! A bargain for divine favor!"
"..." Touji stared at her for a beat, then slowly pulled out his phone, holding it up. "Moshi moshi, is this the police? Yes, I'd like to report a suspicious individual running a blatant pyramid scheme and attempting religious extortion at a barbecue restaurant in Sumida…"
"W-Wait! Don't call the police, you idiot!" Jashin-chan's bravado evaporated instantly, replaced by genuine panic. The last thing she needed was to attract the attention of that particular officer—the chuunibyou, sadistic, yandere policewoman Tachibana Mei. Among all humans, Mei was the one being Jashin-chan wanted to avoid at all costs.
A traumatic flashback assaulted her: a routine trip to the supermarket for discounted pudding, suddenly ending with her wrists in cuffs. Tachibana Mei's reason for arrest?
"You have stolen… my heart." Where was the logic in that?! It was utterly unreasonable!
┻━┻︵╰(‵□′)╯︵┻━┻!
The memory of Yuriel nearly being bisected for trying to intervene still sent shivers down her scaly spine. Truly, a terrifying existence!
Touji easily dodged Jashin-chan's desperate swipe for his phone, taking a smooth step back. He turned the screen to show her the blank home screen. "Just kidding. Don't get so excited."
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
Enraged and embarrassed, Jashin-chan let out a shriek. In a move that defied physics and common sense, she used the tip of her coiled snake tail to propel herself upward, her body elongating and rising until she loomed over two meters tall, looking down at Touji with clenched fists and a 'menacing' grin. "You dare mock a god!?"
"Mmm… he already gave us meat, and it was just a joke… so don't get so worked up, Jashin-chan…"
A slightly muffled, placating voice came from beside her. Jashin-chan sensed something amiss. She looked down.
Her eyes widened in utter betrayal. "YOU! You actually started eating without me! How sneaky!"
She immediately forgot about Touji, her form 'shrinking' back to its usual one and a half meters as she dove back into the booth to wrestle for the remaining meat.
"I didn't 'sneak'… I ate openly and honorably!" Minos protested around a mouthful of beef, deftly holding the plate just out of Jashin-chan's reach. "And the meat is at its absolute peak flavor immediately after grilling! I simply wanted to experience the most optimal, delicious moment!"
As she chewed, a full-body shudder of pleasure ran through her. She raised a hand to her flushed cheek, her expression one of pure, unadulterated ecstasy.
"It's… it's just too delicious!" she moaned. "The meat is so tender, yet it has such a satisfying chew… The flavor is profoundly rich, the texture is substantial, and it has this special, smoky aroma… The more you chew, the more the flavors unfold… and this sauce is magnificently robust…"
She swallowed, her eyes taking on a dreamy, faraway look. "It… it has the taste of Daddy…!"
"..."
Kasumigaoka Touji, who had just safely returned to his seat: "..."
Kani Nayuta, who had been frozen in stunned silence since Jashin-chan's two-meter-tall transformation: "..."
Filial piety.
That is some next-level, patricidal filial piety.
Touji shook his head internally, clearing the bizarre image. He then focused on Kani Nayuta, who wore a complex expression somewhere between shock, bewilderment, and intense curiosity as she kept stealing glances at the now-quarreling duo next door.
He blinked at her, deliberately bringing the focus back to their table. "Kani-sensei? The food is getting cold. The flavor and texture will be ruined if it overcooks."
He quickly used the shears to portion the remaining skirt steak on their grill, flipped the corn and tiger prawns, and added a few fresh slices of beef flank to the now-vacant hot spots.
As if on cue, a waiter arrived, smoothly delivering the additional premium meats Touji had ordered—the marbled beef, ribeye, and thick-cut tongue. At the neighboring table, another server finally delivered Jashin-chan and Minos's charcoal and a mountain of raw ingredients, temporarily halting their squabble.
"..."
Touji had some guesses about Kani Nayuta's reaction. She was sharp; she'd undoubtedly noticed the… unusual aspects of their fellow diners. The sudden vertical growth spurt was rather hard to miss.
What truly puzzled him, however, was the public's apparent non-reaction. With behavior and appearances this flamboyant and unconcealed, how had these two never trended on social media? Minos could maybe pass as an extremely dedicated cosplayer, but Jashin-chan?
Even ignoring the very realistic snake tail, her upper half's… lack of conventional attire should have caused a commotion. And that growth trick just now—surely someone else in the restaurant must have seen it? Yet the ambient chatter continued uninterrupted, and no staff came rushing over.
It was profoundly, deeply strange. It was as if a subtle, unspoken rule existed, a collective agreement to treat the supernatural with a bizarre sense of mundane normalcy when it appeared in everyday settings. This world, he was realizing, had its own peculiar set of operating instructions.