"Haha, you're joking, customer..."
Although he felt that this late-night diner was talking nonsense in a serious manner, since it was all in good fun, Soma Joichiro naturally wouldn't take it seriously, so he just laughed it off.
And because of this, Gu Mo simply thought the other was being modest, completely unaware of where the issue actually lay.
Thus, the owner and the diner exchanged a few compliments, creating a friendly and harmonious atmosphere.
"Customer, we're basically out of ingredients..." Soma Joichiro said tactfully, looking at a few empty dishes on the table. Although he made an exception to continue serving this simple customer, the fact remains that the restaurant's ingredients were already exhausted.
Having run this restaurant for so long, he naturally knew how much ingredients to prepare each day. It's mostly just enough to be used up, with maybe a little surplus, but more often it would just go to waste, and he didn't want to stockpile too many ingredients in the restaurant, opting for fresh ones each day.
"Really... Is there nothing left at all?"
Gu Mo blinked, knowing full well this was the truth, but was somewhat reluctant to leave just like that. After all, being eight-tenths full meant he wasn't completely sated, but having just eaten the magical dishes here, how could he tolerate the mundane cuisine outside?
"There really isn't any left..." Soma Joichiro replied, somewhat helplessly. Being requested like this by a customer must indeed make a chef pleased, but there was no way to cook without rice or ingredients.
"Ahem, Dad, we actually do have some left..." At this moment, a feigned mature cough was heard beside them. Both turned their heads to see a young man standing at the counter, holding a plate in his hand like he was presenting a treasure.
"I made some improvements since evening, this dish now should..."
"Hmm... I suddenly feel full again."
Gu Mo blinked, confirming that the dish he saw on the plate had a faint silver-like text intertwined with some eerie swirling black effects, completely different from the golden glittering text effect of the earlier dishes, so he decisively made up his mind.
"..."
"..."
"Wait, I haven't even started talking..." Soma Yukihira seemed quite devastated.
Is he really that decisive? He hadn't even gotten a chance to introduce his innovative dish, let alone mention its name. He was hoping to get some useful feedback from this simple customer.
"By the way, boss, do you always stay open until this time every day?" Gu Mo shifted topics, asking a more concerned question. Such a cost-effective restaurant, and so close to his home, just a five-hundred meter walk after going downstairs. He thought he might visit more often if possible.
"That's not certain..." Soma Joichiro smiled and replied, "It depends on the situation; today was relatively late."
"I see..."
Gu Mo raised an eyebrow; by saying this, it seemed he might not even catch them open every day given his current situation?
He currently had a very regular schedule, waking up once every sixteen hours and always waking precisely at midnight every day. If at that time the shop was closed, wouldn't it be a wasted trip? Hmm, he wondered if they accepted advance orders for takeaway.
While thinking this, he stood up and walked to the counter, reaching for his phone—only to look around the counter and find no payment code at all. He shrugged, not too bothered since he had cash with him.
Sometimes cash was necessary, like when dealing with elders at stalls or shops who didn't really accept mobile payments. Gu Mo didn't want to inconvenience them, so he carried some cash as preparation, just in case, better safe than sorry.
Just like now, this place clearly didn't support electronic payment services.
But as soon as Gu Mo took out his wallet, he noticed a new interactive frame in front of the counter in his view.
—"Purchase."
"..."
"..."
Without much thought, just like every impulsive person, he hesitated slightly before instinctively focusing his attention on it, so a new interface jumped out in front of him.
A new list rolled out, a long string of menus lined up neatly, with the top items being the egg fried rice and other dishes he had previously ordered, highlighted in a selected color, with prices marked beside them. At the bottom, as expected, was the "Pay" option with the total price marked on the side.
Gu Mo focused on that pay option, watching its icon's color rapidly change from yellow to dark within a second, and then a line of text emerged in the middle...
"-¥65."
The whole process was thus, feeling very familiar, his mind couldn't help but wander.
"Alright, thank you for your patronage..."
While Gu Mo was lost in thought, Soma Yukihira behind the counter had proficiently tallied the amount, put the money into the cash register, and gratefully thanked cheerfully, despite being slightly upset earlier, he quickly adjusted his mindset.