Chapter 97: Girls' Friendship, Someone Always Walks With You
Lucifer felt a strong, chilling sense of crisis washing over her.
It stemmed entirely from Momobami Kirari's casual, possessive words.
"The follow-up isn't over yet."
For the first time since her birth in the celestial realms, and her subsequent fall into the fiery pits of Hell, Lucifer had found someone she genuinely liked. Someone who made the eternal boredom of immortality fade away.
Ren.
Although she knew, logically, that he wouldn't be easily snatched away by a mere human, the threat felt visceral.
She had just moved in! She was supposed to be far ahead in this race! She had the "live-in" advantage!
Yet, sitting across from this blue-lipped gambling queen, Lucifer felt her position wavering. She didn't want her territory encroached upon.
At this moment, Lucifer's pride as the CEO of Hell finally manifested.
Her silver hair seemed to shimmer with static energy. Her crimson eyes narrowed.
I am the Queen of Hell. I manage legions of demons. I punish the wicked. Am I going to let a high school girl intimidate me?
...Well, yes. Because this high school girl was scary in a way that demons weren't. Demons were predictable; Kirari was a chaotic variable.
However, Lucifer shook her head, physically dispelling the dark aura.
She didn't care anymore. She wasn't planning on going back to the underworld anytime soon anyway. So why bother with so much overthinking? If it came to a fight, she had Cerberus.
(People of Hell: Understood! The Queen is busy falling in love! We're taking a vacation!)
People are different.
Personality bleeds into every action, but it is most evident in how one eats.
At the corner table, Suzuki Satoru—the human guise of the Overlord Momonga—was clearly the type to prioritize efficiency and sensation.
He wolfed down his food.
He attacked the Water Boiled Beef with a fervor that suggested he hadn't tasted real food in years (which, considering his skeletal true form in the other world, was technically true). Sweat beaded on his forehead, his face flushed red, but he didn't stop.
In stark contrast, at the center table, the atmosphere was one of aristocratic refinement.
Sayaka Igarashi and Momobami Kirari ate with a grace that made it look like they were performing a tea ceremony.
Although both of them had slightly flushed cheeks from the warmth of the soup and the wine, their movements were precise.
Kirari cut her foie gras into perfect, bite-sized geometric shapes. She chewed slowly, savoring the texture, her back perfectly straight. Sayaka mirrored her President's elegance, though with a bit more nervous stiffness.
Watching this dichotomy, Mouri Ran felt her anxiety ease.
The rumors about Hyakkaou Academy being a den of savages seemed... well, maybe half-true. But at least the President had table manners that rivaled Sonoko's mother.
Sonoko, having finished her own appetizer, propped her forehead in her hand. She looked at Kirari with a mix of annoyance and familiarity.
"Kirari~" Sonoko whined. "Watching you eat is really tiring. You act like you're at a state dinner even when eating at a casual diner."
"It's called standards, Sonoko," Kirari replied without looking up.
"By the way," Sonoko continued, looking around. "Didn't Sister Rindou say she was coming too? Why haven't I seen her? Usually, she's the first one here when new food is announced."
"You should call her directly and ask her that question," Kirari said, wiping the corner of her mouth with a linen napkin. "I am not her keeper. And why don't you call me Kirari-nee? I'm older than you, aren't I? I'd spoil you too, you know~"
Sonoko rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful.
"No thanks! I can't afford an older sister like you. The interest rates on your 'love' are probably too high."
Ran giggled behind her hand. It was refreshing to see Sonoko bickering with someone who could keep up with her.
"But really," Sonoko pressed, her tone turning curious. "Where exactly is this Kengan Annihilation Tournament taking place this time?"
The atmosphere at the table sharpened instantly.
Kirari placed her fork down.
She reached out across the table. With a speed that Ran almost couldn't track, she pinched Sonoko's cheek.
"Ouch! Hey!"
"Sonoko, you little brat," Kirari smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. "You don't know anything, and yet you're trying to pry into adult business? Are you trying to snatch Ren from me by gathering intel?"
"Ow, ow! Let go!" Sonoko pulled back, rubbing her red cheek. "I'm just curious! Where is it?"
Kirari retracted her hand, picking up her wine glass again.
"I'm not sure yet," Kirari admitted, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Everyone is waiting for the official announcement from the Kengan Association. But it seems the Kure Clan—Karura and the others—will be going this time too. It's going to be a big event."
She looked at Sonoko. "Are you going? If the Suzuki Conglomerate is sending a representative, you could tag along. And if you go, bring Mouri Ran along~"
Kirari's blue eyes drifted to Ran. "You don't have to come, of course. But Mouri Ran... she has the look of someone who appreciates martial arts."
Mouri Ran was startled. She pointed to herself, blinking rapidly.
"Me?" Ran asked. "But I don't even know what that is. And it sounds like a long trip?"
Suzuki Sonoko finally recovered from the pinch. She waved her hand dismissively.
"Ran, don't worry. It's basically a rich people's quarrel resolution system."
Sonoko explained, "The Kengan Matches are about commercial disputes. To solve them, a bunch of CEOs and bosses find people with super strong fighting abilities to compete in an arena. Whoever wins the fight, wins the business deal. It prevents full-scale corporate warfare."
[Akarin's Note: The Kengan Matches (from Kengan Ashura) have existed since the Edo period as a way for merchants to settle disputes through proxy unarmed combat.]
"Oh~" Ran nodded, understanding the concept. "Like a tournament? That sounds... civilized?"
"But what does 'Deathmatch' mean?" Ran asked innocently, recalling the term Kirari used earlier.
Sonoko sighed when she heard that word.
Lucifer also looked over from the next table. It was her first time hearing the name Kengan Matches, but "deathmatch" was a term she was very familiar with in Hell.
Kirari took a slow sip of her red wine. The liquid looked dangerously like blood against her pale skin.
"It means exactly what it says," Kirari smiled. "A fight to the death."
Mouri Ran's beautiful violet eyes widened in horror.
"Fi... fight to the death?!"
"You're allowed to surrender, of course," Kirari added casually. "But accidents happen. Bones break. Necks snap. And sometimes, fighters simply refuse to stop until the opponent stops breathing. This upcoming tournament is special. It's being held to compete for the seat of the Kengan Association Chairman."
"That's barbaric..." Ran whispered, clutching her skirt.
"Yes. It is," Kirari agreed. "I'm not the one who initiated it this time. It was likely that old fox, Metsudo, or perhaps someone trying to dethrone him. I still don't know exactly who pulled the trigger."
Kirari sighed, looking genuinely annoyed for a moment. "If I wasn't pushed so hard by the political pressure, I wouldn't get involved in this mess. It interferes with my school management."
Although Kirari spoke with an innocent and indifferent expression, Ran could sense a terrifying excitement beneath the surface. Kirari wasn't afraid of the violence; she thrived on the stakes.
Mouri Ran suddenly remembered something. She looked toward the kitchen.
"Wait..." Ran said in disbelief. "If Ren is involved... is Shopkeeper Ren really that amazing? To fight in a place like that?"
"Of course," Kirari replied instantly, her voice filled with pride.
"He's never lost a single match. Not one. He is the 'Undefeated.' And because he doesn't have a fixed contract with any specific company, he's a freelancer."
Kirari licked her lips. "Many female bosses really want to buy him for their own companies. It's not just me. Lucifer, Ren... he has more than just a few people interested in him. He is the ultimate prize."
Sonoko added with a smirk, "Of course, most of them aren't qualified to join our group. They're just thirsty piranhas."
Lucifer nodded in agreement from her table. Ren is mine. And maybe Kirari's. But definitely not some random CEO's.
Just then, the kitchen curtain parted.
Ren walked out.
He wasn't carrying the heavy, savory main dishes yet. Instead, he was holding a massive, crystal-clear glass bowl.
Cold air radiated from it, creating a mist that cascaded over the rim.
It was the first time Lucifer had seen Ren bring out such a large cold dish. She had only seen small scoops of ice cream before.
Ren walked over to the center of the room. He placed the bowl down on a side table.
He then reached out and tapped Cerberus's head. The three-headed dog girl was currently slumped in a chair, looking like a deflated balloon after eating too much chicken.
"Hey," Ren said softly. "Don't lie there like a rug. Get up. Have some dessert."
"Dessert?!"
The word was a magic spell.
Cerberus immediately bolted upright. Her three distinct personalities seemed to sync up instantly.
"I want! I want!"
She had already digested her food. Or rather, her "fullness" was a mental state that vanished the moment sugar was mentioned.
Ren smiled. He looked at Sonoko and Ran.
"It must be boring for you all just waiting for the Dongpo Pork," Ren said. "And since Mouri Ran is here for the first time, I can't let you sit with empty plates. Let's entertain you with this first."
He gestured to the bowl.
It was a Giant Fruit Salad.
But calling it a salad was an insult. It was a treasure chest of jewels.
Chunks of bright yellow mango, ruby red watermelon, emerald kiwi, and pale lychee floated in a creamy, white coconut milk base. Interspersed among the fruits were translucent cubes of nata de coco and small, chewy tapioca pearls.
And sitting right on top was a massive, perfect scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, garnished with fresh mint leaves.
Mouri Ran waved her hand politely. "Oh, no need! We can wait..."
Sonoko, however, was already picking up a spoon.
"It's fine, it's fine! Brother Ren is very warm-hearted," Sonoko grinned, winking at Ran. "This is normal practice here. Service! Service!"
She looked at the bowl. "Eh? Is this a fruit salad made with coconut milk and ice cream? It looks super delicious!"
Ren walked over and lightly tapped Sonoko's hairband.
"Don't add any strange passive abilities to me, you girl," Ren scolded playfully. "I'm not 'warm-hearted,' I just need to clear out the fridge. Eat quickly, otherwise the ice cream will all melt into soup."
He turned to the other table.
"Lucifer. Stop playing on your phone for now. Come eat some. It will cool your head."
Lucifer obediently put away her phone—where she had been searching 'How to defeat a gambling addict in love'—and nodded. "Un."
Just then, a voice boomed from the corner.
"Ren! Ren! Check out!"
Suzuki Satoru took off his headphones. He raised his hand, looking thoroughly satisfied.
"Phew~ That was really satisfying... I feel alive again."
Ren walked over to the counter. "Eight hundred yen. It seems to be a level of spiciness you can handle."
Suzuki Satoru stood up, placing the money on the counter. He rubbed his stomach.
"Any more chili oil and I might have a stomachache all night. I can't even feel my lips right now. They're numb."
Ren smiled, looking at Satoru's slightly swollen lips. "Hmm, purplish-red lips. A very avant-garde look. If this color were made into lipstick, many girls would probably like it. Maybe I should suggest it to Kirari."
Suzuki Satoru waved his hand helplessly.
"Please don't. I'm not like you, Ren. You have an excessively good way with women. It's terrifying."
Satoru leaned in slightly, lowering his voice so only Ren could hear.
"To cooperate with you on that 'project,' I didn't even send you Demiurge as a liaison. I directly assigned Albedo."
"Albedo..." Ren mused.
"She certainly looks a lot more pleasing to the eye than Demiurge. No offense to the demon strategist."
"Thank you," Ren nodded.
(Somewhere in the Great Tomb of Nazarick, a suit-wearing demon with glasses sneezed. Little Demiurge: Hmm? I feel offended. Is Lord Ainz talking about me?)
[Akarin's Note: Albedo is the Overseer of the Guardians in Overlord, known for her incredible beauty and obsessive love for Momonga. Demiurge is a demon strategist who looks... less approachable.]
"If you're really grateful to me, then raise your level in the game," Satoru grumbled good-naturedly. "Well, I'll be going now. I have a guild to run."
"Take care."
Watching Suzuki Satoru leave the shop and vanish into the night, Ren shook his head with a helpless smile.
"It seems I'll be led by Albedo again in the next session..."
After saying that, he quickly tidied Suzuki Satoru's table, wiping away the chili oil splatters. He then turned back to the kitchen to finish the main courses.
Meanwhile, the girls had gathered around the fruit salad.
They were eating with small silver forks and spoons.
Like foie gras, there aren't many girls in the world who would dislike ice cream and fresh fruit. It is a universal language of happiness.
There's not much to say about fruit salad in terms of complex cooking techniques. It relies entirely on the quality of the ingredients.
It's just the fresh, explosive taste of various seasonal fruits. The sweetness of the mango hits first, followed by the tartness of the kiwi.
Then comes the dressing.
The fruit was coated in a mixture of condensed milk and coconut cream. It provided a slight saltiness that elevated the sugar.
It was like digging for treasure in a swimming pool made of clouds.
Clink.
Mouri Ran's spoon hit something chewy. She scooped it up. A cube of nata de coco.
She took a bite. The texture was fun and bouncy.
You don't know what fruit your fork will pick up next, but you will definitely not dislike its taste.
Finally, add plenty of the sweet, rich, melting vanilla ice cream. The cold temperature provided a refreshing shock to the palate, cleansing it of any lingering flavors.
It felt like opening Santa Claus's gifts on a summer day.
"This is amazing!" Ran exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "The coconut milk makes it so creamy!"
"Right?" Sayaka agreed, pushing her glasses up. She had relaxed considerably after the first bite. "Ren-san always knows the perfect balance."
The girls ate fruit with their forks while chatting.
The atmosphere shifted. The heavy talk of deathmatches and corporate takeovers faded away.
Mouri Ran relaxed completely. Sayaka was no longer so reserved and stiff. Even Lucifer joined in, arguing with Cerberus over who got the last piece of melon.
Their conversations covered everything except serious matters. They talked about the new seasonal cakes in Ginza, the annoying boys in class, and the latest fashion trends.
Girls' friendships are built so quickly. A shared dessert is often all the foundation that is needed.
Ren, busy inside the kitchen chopping pork belly, listened to the laughter drifting in from the dining room.
He chuckled softly.
"Hmm~ a nice atmosphere."
A quiet night in Tokyo. A group of friends gathered to eat fruit salad under soft, golden lighting.
They were waiting for the main course, but the wait itself had become a memory.
Time was peaceful. The clock ticked slowly.
But there were always people by your side accompanying you. Just like these laughing girls—warm, lively, and alive.
[Akarin Note:
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