Chapter 24: Kure Karura, Kure Fusui, Kure Raian
"Master, Master, Master! This is so delicious! This thing called ribs! It's different from the bones I used to eat in Hell!"
Cerberus shouted at Ren while gnawing on the Honey Roasted Spare Ribs, her demon tail wagging continuously behind her like a metronome on caffeine. It was clear she was very happy eating something that wasn't charred beyond recognition.
Ren smiled, refilling her water glass. "I'm glad you like it. Just don't choke."
Meanwhile, outside the main gate of Totsuki Academy.
Things were a bit awkward at this moment.
Nakiri Erina was currently holding the small ceramic Osmanthus Wine flask she had bought from Ren earlier. She stood at the school gate with Hisako, waiting for her private car, but instead, she found herself staring at Kobayashi Rindou and Akanegakubo Momo, who were also waiting for a ride.
As the Second Seat of the Elite Ten, Kobayashi Rindou's senses were incredibly keen. She immediately caught a familiar, sweet floral scent wafting from Erina.
She sniffed the air. Osmanthus?
Then she saw the small wine flask in Erina's hand. She was all too familiar with the style of that flask—Ren's personal pottery collection. Akanegakubo Momo also recognized it instantly.
Kobayashi Rindou tilted her head, her cat-like eyes narrowing with interest. "Eh? Erina-chi, where are you going at this hour? And with such fine wine?"
Erina's eye twitched a bit. She tried to hide the flask behind her back but realized it was futile.
"I'm going... to have a meal..." she said stiffly.
"Eh? To Ren's place? Erina, have you been to Ren's Shop?" Rindou grinned, exposing her fangs. "I smell his cooking on you."
Erina's heart skipped a beat. She looked at Kobayashi Rindou's playful eyes and finally nodded, deciding transparency was the best defense.
"Yes. Shopkeeper Ren's cooking is... flawless. I plan to go there often to learn during this period. It is necessary for my development."
Kobayashi Rindou and Akanegakubo Momo both nodded in approval.
Everyone knew Erina was arrogant, but she was also truly a very hardworking person who loved to delve into the culinary arts. Behind a genius, besides talent, there was also immense effort. Now, Erina's open admission made the two of them greatly approve of her, as if they were meeting the real Erina for the first time.
Kobayashi Rindou chuckled and slapped Erina's back. "Perfect! No need to find separate cars, Erina! Let's hitch a ride together! My ride is taking forever anyway."
Erina was startled, then nodded and said, "Yes, you can... Senior Kobayashi, are you two also going to Shopkeeper Ren's for dinner?"
Kobayashi Rindou chuckled, looking away.
Akanegakubo Momo rolled her eyes and said bluntly, "Erina, Momo-chan is telling you, Rindou-senpai is completely a woman obsessed with love. She's just going to see Shopkeeper Ren to mark her territory. But Momo-chan is going to eat cake."
Erina nodded slowly. So the rumors were true.
At this moment, the black limousine arrived. After the four of them got in, the atmosphere was surprisingly congenial.
Erina softly said, breaking the silence, "Shopkeeper Ren is a very skilled chef, and the shop is also very clean. I was surprised."
"That's right, that's right! Ren seems very casual, but he's actually very particular about his quality of life, and he's a bit of a clean freak," Rindou laughed. "He once scolded me for eating chips in bed."
Erina nodded. Then suddenly, she thought of something.
"Senior Kobayashi, it turns out you're not the only one living there~ Is it Shopkeeper Ren's relative? I saw a white-haired woman..."
Kobayashi Rindou froze.
Her instincts flared. A woman? Living there?!
She immediately shouted, grabbing Erina's shoulders. "Is it the black-haired woman who's always being ordered around, looking like everyone owes her money?"
"No..." Erina said, startled. "She had white hair."
"Then is it the purple-black haired woman, wearing very cool clothes? Like an assassin?"
"No..."
"Then is it the black, medium-length haired woman, who speaks very quietly, looking very cute?!"
"No..."
"Then is it..."
Akanegakubo Momo, Hisako, and Erina just listened dumbfounded as Kobayashi Rindou described potential rivals for a full ten minutes, listing distinct features with not a single repetition.
The three girls were completely stunned. Just how many women does he know?!
Akanegakubo Momo patted Kobayashi Rindou's shoulder sympathetically. "Rindou-senpai... so you have so many love rivals... Keep it up! Momo-chan is rooting for you! You must secure your position as the main wife... or at least the favorite pet."
Kobayashi Rindou took a deep breath and shouted, "Hmph! What rivals! They're all losers! As long as I'm not dead, they'll always be concubines! I am the Queen!"
Erina couldn't help but let out a laugh at the absurdity. Then Hisako and Akanegakubo Momo also started laughing.
Kobayashi Rindou, on the other hand, angrily pulled a stress-relief orange out of her pocket, squeezing it until it nearly burst. She looked like she was ready to fight Ren to the death.
"Just you wait, Ren! Hiding women in the attic?!"
Just as Erina and the others were rapidly approaching, another car arrived at the alley entrance.
A sleek black sedan pulled up. The doors opened.
As soon as they got out of the car, the purple-black haired girl (Kure Karura) was full of excitement, bouncing on her heels. The black, medium-length haired girl beside her (Kure Fusui) was also full of anticipation, adjusting her sniper scope (monocle). And the white-haired man (Kure Raian) stretched his neck, cracking it loudly.
[Akarin's Note: Kure Karura, Kure Fusui, and Kure Raian are members of the Kure Clan, a family of assassins from Kengan Ashura. Karura is obsessed with strong men (specifically the protagonist Ohma in canon, but here Ren).]
"I..." Raian started to speak.
"Hurry, hurry!" Karura interrupted.
The purple-black haired girl directly pulled Fusui and rushed into the dark alley, leaving Raian behind.
The white-haired man's eye twitched. "Tch. Brats." He slowly followed, radiating menace.
"Mas..." Karura began to shout as she reached the door.
Bang!
The door was pulled open directly, startling Lucifer and Cerberus inside. They turned their heads, spoons halfway to their mouths.
They saw a purple-black haired girl with a manic grin, and a smiling, calmer girl standing beside her.
Upon seeing Ren, Karura's eyes turned into hearts. She immediately let go of Fusui's hand and ran like the wind.
"Ren~!"
She pounced on Ren, tackling him in a hug that would have broken a normal man's ribs. She completely ignored Lucifer, whose eye twitched at the intrusion, and the startled dog-girl beside them.
Ren caught her effortlessly, patting her back. "Long time no see, Karura~ You've gotten faster."
"Mhm mhm mhm! Long time no see, Ren! I missed you! Did you miss me? Do you want to have my babies yet?"
Ren set Karura aside gently but firmly. "Not today."
He then softly said to the resentful-looking girl beside him, "You too, long time no see, Fusui. Still carrying that heavy rifle?"
"Hmph. No sincerity," Fusui pouted, though she smiled. "It's for protection. Yours."
Ren just smiled and said, "What do you want to eat?"
Karura immediately shouted, "Ren, you decide! We love everything you make! Right, Fusui!"
Fusui nodded, then sat down and pulled Karura over to a table. She continuously looked at Lucifer and Cerberus.
After a long while, she softly said, "These two look unfamiliar, Ren. New guests? Or new... staff?"
Cerberus immediately stood up, slamming her hands on the table. "Cerberus is not a guest! Ren is Cerberus's Master! And I am the Guard Dog!"
Everyone froze when she said that. Master?
After a long while, Fusui finally smiled a dangerous, teasing smile. She leaned on the table and struck a very embarrassing, seductive pose.
"Ren... So you like that kind of thing? Pet play? I can do it too... If you just say the word. I can bark."
Ren walked over and tapped her head with a menu.
Bonk.
"You and Rindou are the same, all talk but scared to death when it comes to it~ They live here too. They're my... family? In a way."
He looked at the empty chair. "Aren't you going to order something for him?"
"Him?" Karura waved her hand dismissively. "He'll be fine as long as he doesn't starve to death~ Let him eat grass."
Lucifer and Cerberus both paused when they heard the phrase "my family," and their previously anxious feelings about the new arrivals slowly calmed down. They both felt a warmth in their hearts.
Family.
Bang!
The door was pulled open again violently.
A burly white-haired man appeared at the doorway, his black sclera eyes flashing with irritation.
"What do you mean I'll be fine as long as I don't starve to death?! You two were brought out by me! I'm the Kure Clan's ace!" Kure Raian shouted.
The man's voice was very loud, making even Lucifer raise an eyebrow in annoyance.
Ren sighed, wiping a glass. "Raian. You'd best be a little quieter. This isn't a Kengan match~ And you're disturbing the Queen."
"Tsk..." Raian scoffed, stepping inside. "Don't order me around, chef boy."
"Hahaha! Raian is such a loser! Ren taught him a lesson again!" Karura laughed, pointing at him.
Karura found Raian's obedient look very amusing. Although she was his cousin/sister in the clan, their relationship was purely based on strength. If it weren't for their shared interest in Ren, they probably wouldn't even hang out.
Raian's vein popped. He opened his mouth to shout a retort.
"You little—!"
Whoosh.
Ren moved. Or rather, he didn't seem to move.
He just... extended his leg.
Raian didn't even see it coming. He felt a massive impact on his chest.
Bam!
Raian's entire body flew out of the open door backwards, at an incredibly fast speed.
Just then, the door was pulled open again by a new group.
Kobayashi Rindou and the other three (Erina, Hisako, Momo) were walking straight in.
Kobayashi Rindou shouted, "Ren! Where did you hide the home-wrecker?! I need to assert my rightful position... It's him again?!"
As soon as Kobayashi Rindou and her group pulled open the door, they saw a white blur fly out backwards towards them.
"Look out!"
They quickly pulled the three bewildered individuals (Erina, Hisako, Momo) to the side.
Zooom!
They watched as the man slammed into the opposite wall of the alleyway with an unscientific, bone-crunching sound.
CRACK.
He stuck to the wall for a second like a cartoon character before sliding down.
"...Ouch," Raian groaned from the pile of trash bags.
Inside the shop, Lucifer's mouth twitched as she looked at Ren, who was calmly dusting off his pant leg.
She said dryly, "So this is why you practiced angles and positions this afternoon? Kicking the air?"
Ren smiled innocently. "Muscle memory is important."
At this moment, the number of strange ways Ren had to hit people increased by one.
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