Chapter 131: The Gentle Elegance of Silver Ear, The Kunoichi's Realization
The atmosphere in the Dimensional Restaurant had settled into a comfortable, drowsy rhythm, distinct from the rowdy energy of a typical izakaya. Here, the silence was a garnish to the meal.
Mai Shiranui sat before the white porcelain bowl, the spoon hovering near her lips. She had already taken the first few bites, but the experience was evolving with every second.
If the Longjing Shrimp—a dish she had only heard rumors of—was likened to a reclusive scholar wandering through bamboo groves, detached and ethereal, then this Silver Ear Lotus Seed Soup was something far more intimate.
Ren leaned against the counter, observing her reaction with a knowing calmness. He didn't rush to speak, allowing the flavors to settle.
"It lacks the aloofness of the hermit," Ren said softly, picking up the thread of his earlier explanation as if reading her thoughts. "Instead, it possesses a 'Gentle Grace.' Think of it not as a scholar, but as a well-bred young lady from a prestigious family."
Mai looked down at the soup. The translucent clusters of tremella fungus floated like silk ribbons in the amber broth, accompanied by the pristine white lotus seeds and the deep crimson jujubes.
"She sits by a window," Ren continued, his voice painting a picture in the air. "Dressed in a plain white kimono embroidered with red plum blossoms. She isn't strikingly beautiful in a way that demands attention, but she is educated, sensible, and possesses a quiet strength. Skin like ice, bones like jade."
"Gentle... elegance," Mai murmured, taking another sip.
The description was terrifyingly accurate. This wasn't just food; it was character personified.
Complex cooking methods were often used to mask inferior ingredients, but for a dish with this kind of temperament, simplicity was the only path. To over-season would be to put heavy makeup on that refined young lady—it would only cheapen her grace.
Boiled. Simply boiled.
Yet, in that simplicity lay the mastery. The texture of the Silver Ear was slippery and soft, gliding over the tongue. The lotus seeds crumbled effortlessly, releasing a powdery, nutty sweetness that mimicked taro paste but with a cleaner finish.
"It's sweet," Mai whispered, her eyes half-closing. "But not the sugar-rush sweetness of the Botamochi. It's... a tranquility that starts in the mouth and settles in the heart."
"That is the nature of the ingredients," Ren explained, wiping down a spot on the counter. "It strengthens the essence, nourishes the Yin, and moistens the lungs. For a martial artist constantly exposing her skin to the elements and her lungs to the dust of the battlefield, this is better than any potion."
Mai felt a prickle of vanity—the good kind. Replenishing blood. Beautifying skin. Lightening spots.
She was a warrior, yes. But she was also Mai Shiranui. The concept of a dessert that could actively repair the toll her lifestyle took on her body was intoxicating. She ate with a rhythmic dedication, a spoon of the warm, viscous soup followed by a bite of the sweet, chewy Botamochi, and washed down with the crisp, bamboo-infused sake.
The Queen (Botamochi), the Noble Lady (Soup), and the Samurai (Sake).
The combination was a symphony. The differing textures and temperatures harmonized in a way that made her forget the lateness of the hour.
To her right, a stifled sound broke the serene atmosphere.
Pfft... Giggle.
Mai glanced over. Lucifer, the silver-haired beauty who ran Hell itself, was curled up in her chair. She was holding a smartphone, her shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
"Lucifer?" Ren asked, not looking up from the glass he was polishing. "What's wrong? You've been giggling at that screen for ten minutes. It's unnerving."
Lucifer gasped for air, covering her mouth with a slender hand. "I can't help it! It's this novel... the author has no idea..."
She slid the phone across the counter towards Ren.
Ren picked it up, his eyes scanning the text. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He shook his head, sliding the phone back.
"Why is everyone in the chat group still so active?" Ren mused, checking the digital clock on the wall. It was well past midnight. "Don't the students have school tomorrow? And the office workers... well, I suppose overtime is a cultural staple."
He looked at Lucifer. "And this novel you recommended... it's surprisingly sharp about the bureaucracy of the underworld."
"Right?" Lucifer beamed, her crimson eyes sparkling with delight. "It's hilarious! But it's too short. I need more chapters!"
She tapped her chin, her expression shifting from amusement to curiosity. "Hey, Ren. Speaking of fighting and novels... do you think it's dangerous?"
"What is?"
"The tournament," Lucifer said, her voice dropping a specific name that made the air in the room grow heavier. "Momobami Kirari. She's forcing you to participate in the Kengan Annihilation Tournament."
Clink.
Mai's spoon hit the side of her bowl. She froze. Kengan?
Ren paused. He looked thoughtful. "Are you asking if I am in danger, or if I pose a danger?"
"Huh?" Lucifer blinked, tilting her head like a confused puppy. "Is there a difference?"
Ren chuckled, a low, resonant sound. "Do you mean, will I get hurt? Or do you mean, will the other contestants survive the experience?"
Lucifer stared at him for a second, processing the sheer, casual arrogance of the statement. Then, she grinned—a wide, demonic grin that showed she absolutely adored that answer.
"Okay, point taken," she giggled. "But Kirari only signed you up for five matches. Just five. Who are you fighting?"
"I don't know," Ren shrugged, returning to his relaxed posture. "I'll let President Momobami handle the logistics. Are you going to watch? or are you going to stay here and mind the shop?"
"Of course I'm going!" Lucifer slammed her hand on the counter, puffing out her chest. "I have to supervise! I can't let Kirari have you all to herself. She has that 'collector's look' in her eyes."
Ren smiled and shook his head, his fingers drumming lightly on the wooden surface.
While he appeared casual, Mai Shiranui, observing from her seat, noticed the subtle shift in his demeanor. His fingers didn't just drum; they moved with independent precision. He enjoyed cooking, that was obvious. But the mention of the tournament... there was a glint in his eyes that had nothing to do with culinary arts.
"Phew..."
Mai exhaled a long, satisfied breath. She placed her empty bowl on the tray. Her stomach was full, but she didn't feel heavy. She felt revitalized.
"Shopkeeper Ren," Mai said, her voice clear. "That was... truly magnificent. Without a doubt, the best meal I have ever had."
Ren turned to her, his professional mask back in place. "You flatter me, Miss Shiranui. But I am glad you enjoyed it. Have you had your fill?"
Mai rubbed her flat, toned stomach. "More than enough. But... I have two questions. Since I'm paying, consider them part of the service?"
Ren leaned back, crossing his arms. "Ask away. I can answer anything. Unless it's a very strange question."
Mai leaned forward, her expression turning analytical. "First. The Rose Tea you served when I arrived. It wasn't just Rose. There was a lingering fragrance... something spiritual. It felt extraordinarily familiar, but I couldn't place it."
Ren smiled. "Sharp nose. It was Jasmine petals."
"Jasmine!" Mai snapped her fingers. "Of course!"
"I added a pinch of dried jasmine to the rose blend," Ren explained. "Rose is heavy, romantic. Jasmine is light, uplifting. It balances the aroma so it doesn't become cloying. To be able to separate the two scents... you have impressive senses."
Mai grinned, clearly pleased with the praise. But then, her expression shifted. The playfulness vanished, replaced by the intensity of a fighter.
"Second question," she said, her voice dropping an octave. "Shopkeeper... you mentioned the Kengan Matches."
She looked him dead in the eye.
"That's an underground circuit. Brutal. No rules. And you... you're a fighter, aren't you?"
Ren tilted his head, looking genuinely innocent. "Eh? How did you come to that conclusion? I'm just a humble cook."
"Don't lie to a ninja," Mai said, wagging a finger. She pointed at his legs. "I am the successor of the Shiranui Style. I know how a body moves."
She stood up and demonstrated a small pivot. "Earlier, when you kicked the trash bin lid? It wasn't just a kick. It was a snap. immense power generated from the hip, zero wind-up, and speed that was almost invisible to the naked eye."
Mai narrowed her eyes. "You weren't using your full strength. In fact, you were barely using any effort at all."
From the corner of the room, a gruff, sleepy voice chimed in.
"Hmph. I felt it too."
Roronoa Zoro opened his single eye, leaning back in his chair with a toothpick in his mouth. He looked at Ren with a lazy, predatory grin. "The moment I walked in. He walks softly, but his center of gravity never shifts. Like a sword in a sheath."
Ren scratched the back of his head, looking a bit sheepish under the scrutiny of two master combatants.
"Well," Ren admitted with a helpless smile. "You have good eyes. Indeed, I wasn't using my full strength. If I had used full power on a trash can... well, I'd need to buy a new trash can. And probably a new wall."
Zoro's mouth twitched. Cocky bastard. But he didn't dislike it.
Mai Shiranui covered her mouth in surprise. "So it's true!"
She looked at Ren with renewed fascination. This man... he could cook food that touched the soul, he treated the Demon Queen with gentle patience, he was undeniably handsome, and he was a secret martial arts master capable of entering the Kengan Tournament?
A gentleman in the kitchen, a beast in the ring?
Mai felt a flush that had nothing to do with the alcohol. She sighed internally.
What a pity, she thought, glancing at Lucifer who was still hovering possessively near Ren. Such a perfect catch, and he's already taken.
She shook her head, dispelling the distraction. She was a Kunoichi; she had a mission (and a grandfather) to return to.
"Shopkeeper Ren, check please!" Mai announced, pulling out her wallet. "And... can I come back? Next time, I want to bring my grandfather, Hanzo. He's an old-fashioned man, loves his sake and traditional food."
Ren nodded, tapping the register. "Of course. The door opens to those who seek it. You are always welcome. The total is 1,200 Yen."
"1,200?!" Mai exclaimed. "That's... that's practically free! Are you running a charity?"
"Consider it a promotional price," Ren winked.
Mai happily placed the bills on the counter. She turned to leave, adjusting her ponytail. But just as she reached for the door handle, the tranquility of the evening was shattered.
Ding-Dong!
A notification sound echoed from Ren's phone.
Lucifer, who was still casually monitoring the device, froze. Her aura, previously warm and bubbly, instantly turned into a blizzard. The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.
"This... This Esdeath!"
Lucifer shrieked, jumping up. She shoved the phone screen toward Ren, her face twisted in indignation.
"Why does she want photos of your room?! Look at this message! 'Ren, send me the layout of your bedroom. I need to calculate the chain length.' Chains?! Ren! Your luck with women is too much!"
Mai stopped dead in her tracks. Esdeath? As in... General Esdeath of the Empire? Chains?
Ren sighed the sigh of a man carrying the weight of the world's most chaotic harem. He gently took the phone from the fuming Demon Queen.
"She's likely joking... mostly," Ren muttered. He checked the time again. "Forget about her for a moment. I need to prep. Yumiko just messaged."
"Yumiko?" Lucifer blinked, her rage instantly pausing.
"She's on her way back from a divination job," Ren said, moving toward the kitchen. "She'll be cold. I need to make stomach-warming porridge. Lucifer, go steam some corn. Pick the sweet ones."
"Oh! Yumiko-nee is coming?" Lucifer's anger vanished as if it never existed. "Okay! I'll get the best corn!"
She skipped off to the kitchen, humming a tune.
Mai Shiranui stood by the door, her hand frozen on the handle. Her brain was trying to process the rapid-fire information.
"Yumiko? Esdeath?" She turned back to Ren, her expression bewildered. "Are they... your friends too, Shopkeeper?"
Ren paused while washing rice. He looked up, a complicated, wry smile on his face.
"Friends..." Ren mused. "You should have added one more word to that sentence, Miss Shiranui."
"Huh?" Mai tilted her head. "One more word?"
"Girl," Ren corrected softly. "Girl-friends."
"Eh?!"
Mai's jaw dropped slightly. She looked at the kitchen where the Queen of Hell was cooking corn, she thought of the sadistic General demanding bedroom photos, and she looked at the handsome chef calmly preparing porridge for a fortune teller.
Is this a restaurant... or a harem hub?
"Ah..." Mai stuttered, her face turning red. "I... I see. Well! Good night!"
She practically fled out the door.
As the cool night air hit her face and the door to the Dimensional Restaurant vanished behind her, Mai Shiranui couldn't help but mutter to herself, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Just how strong is that man's... stamina?"
[Akarin's Note: The "Yumiko" mentioned is Yumiko Fuji from Prince of Tennis, Shusuke Fuji's older sister. She is a recurring character/love interest who first appeared in Chapter 46.]
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