Chapter 140: The Alchemy of Chocolate and The Hori Family's Day Off
In the end, Ren never found out exactly what Lucifer and Fuji Yumiko had been whispering about on the stairs. But judging by the lingering flush on Lucifer's cheeks and the knowing smile on Yumiko's lips, it was one of those little secrets between women that men were better off not knowing.
"My... Ren, Ren, Ren!"
Cerberus's voice broke Ren's train of thought. The Hellhound was standing on her tiptoes, peering into a large stainless steel bowl filled with water.
"What is this little thing?" she asked, pointing a finger at the dark, wrinkled objects submerged in the liquid.
Ren walked over, drying his hands on a towel. He smiled at her curiosity. "These are cacao beans. They are the raw material used to make chocolate. But be careful, Cerberus—you can't eat them."
Cerberus immediately snatched her hand back as if the water had bitten her. She looked at the beans with a mix of suspicion and betrayal.
"Dangerous?" she whispered.
"For you, yes," Ren confirmed. "Cocoa beans contain theobromine. It's toxic to dogs. Even demon dogs."
Cerberus sniffed the air cautiously. Despite the danger, the beans emitted a faint, earthy fragrance that was surprisingly alluring. It smelled like soil and bitterness, a far cry from the sweet, creamy scent of the finished product.
She tilted her head, her three personalities seemingly debating the risk. "My... Ren! Why are they swimming? Are they dirty?"
"Because we need to wash out the sand, dust, and any small stones hiding in the batch," Ren explained, demonstrating by swirling the water gently. The beans clattered softly against the metal. "After washing, we have to dry them quickly. Only then can they be roasted."
Cerberus watched the beans bobbing in the water. She thought for a moment, trying to connect these hard, ugly little stones to the smooth, sweet bars she saw in the shops.
"Then..." she looked up at Ren, her eyes wide. "Then how long will it take for these to turn into chocolate? They look so... different right now. Like rocks."
Ren tapped his chin. "If we are making high-quality chocolate, the process is very extensive. It involves roasting, winnowing, grinding, conching, and tempering. It takes days."
He gestured to a sleek, modern machine humming quietly in the corner of the kitchen.
"I'll take care of that batch. The machine will handle the grinding and conching. But for today, our main focus with Yumiko and Lucifer is simple chocolate—specifically, Nama Chocolate."
"High-quality chocolate? Simple chocolate?" Cerberus blinked. "Is there a difference? Isn't chocolate just... chocolate?"
Ren chuckled. "Oh, there is a huge difference."
He picked up a whisk and pointed to the machine.
"For high-quality chocolate, the 'conching' process alone—where the chocolate is stirred and aerated to develop flavor and texture—takes a very long time. Probably over one hundred and fifty hours for the best stuff. The temperature must be strictly controlled to within a fraction of a degree. It's alchemy, Cerberus."
"One hundred... and fifty hours?!" Cerberus's jaw dropped. "That's forever!"
"It feels like it," Ren agreed. "But the result is worth it. The texture becomes silky smooth, and the flavor becomes deep and complex."
"Oh, oh, oh! That sounds really troublesome..." Cerberus shook her head violently. "Then... what about simple chocolate?"
"Simple chocolate, like the ganache we are making today," Ren smiled, "takes about three hours from start to finish."
"So fast!" Cerberus cheered. "I like fast!"
"That's right," Ren nodded. "But remember, speed isn't everything. If you want to eat truly good quality, better-tasting chocolate, you still have to respect the slow process."
Cerberus nodded solemnly, though her eyes were already drifting back to the bag of sugar.
Nearby, Lucifer was struggling with a bag of cocoa powder. She poured it into a bowl, a small cloud of brown dust poofing into the air and settling on her nose. She sneezed—a cute, high-pitched sound—and then wiped her nose, leaving a brown smudge.
"Ren," Lucifer asked, looking puzzled. "So, besides the difference in taste... is there any other difference? Why go through all that trouble?"
"Roughly speaking," Ren explained, walking over to help her clean her face. "Simple chocolate often uses compound coatings or vegetable oils. It's a snack. It tastes sweet, but it lacks depth. High-quality chocolate uses pure cocoa butter. It's... real. It melts at body temperature."
"Eh?" Lucifer tilted her head.
Fuji Yumiko, who was expertly chopping a block of couverture chocolate, smiled.
"Lucifer," Yumiko said, her voice carrying the authority of an older sister. "If you look at the ingredients of cheap white chocolate, you'll know it's not even technically chocolate. It's mostly sugar and fat."
She held up a piece of the dark chocolate she was cutting.
"But truly good chocolate? It doesn't just taste better. It's beneficial. It contains antioxidants."
"Benefits?" Lucifer asked, skeptical.
"Roughly," Yumiko listed on her fingers, "it can help with stress relief, boost immunity, improve heart health, and..." she paused, giving Ren a sly look, "...it is said to help with love between couples. An aphrodisiac, of sorts."
Ren cleared his throat loudly. "Yumiko, don't teach the Queen of Hell strange things."
"You can look it up online yourself," Yumiko winked at Lucifer. "Then you'll understand."
Lucifer immediately pulled out her phone, her thumbs flying across the screen. 'Chocolate benefits love couples...'
Ren shook his head, returning to his station. He watched the three women—well, two women and one demon-dog—working in his kitchen.
Cerberus was running back and forth like a hyperactive waiter. One moment she was carrying a bowl of cream to Yumiko, the next she was fetching a spatula for Lucifer. She was essentially running errands, but she seemed to enjoy it immensely, treating each task like a sacred mission from her Master.
The kitchen was filled with the sounds of chopping, whisking, and laughter. It was warm. It was lively.
It was home.
[Location: Katagiri High School]
While the dimensional restaurant was a haven of warmth and chocolate, the outside world was experiencing the stark reality of a Monday morning.
For most people, Monday was a tragedy. It was the day you lost your freedom. The weekend was over, the warm bed had to be abandoned, and the unfinished manga had to be left on the nightstand.
Students across the city dragged their feet, fighting the post-holiday inertia as they swapped their comfortable pajamas for stiff uniforms. The transition from rest to responsibility was a harsh one.
However, at Katagiri High School, the atmosphere was slightly different.
Students streamed through the gates, their chatter filling the morning air. Among them, a group of girls stood out.
"Hori! Good morning!"
Hori Kyoko turned around, her long brown hair swaying. She smiled brightly. "Oh~ Aoi... Good morning! Yuki said you went shopping this weekend? Did you manage to get in line for that sale?"
Hinami Aoi, a quiet girl with a gentle demeanor, smiled and nodded. "Of course! I got in line without any problems. It was crowded, though."
Just as Hori was about to reply, a blur of energy rushed towards them.
"HORI! AOI!"
Yoshikawa Yuki skidded to a halt in front of them, her sleeves usually too long for her hands, flapping in the wind. She was beaming.
"Good morning! Hori~ We went to Shopkeeper Ren's shop this weekend! And it was truly delicious! Like, life-changing delicious!"
Hori's eyes lit up. "Really? I'm glad you went! It's a truly nostalgic taste, isn't it? Souta is still talking about it. He keeps begging me to take him back to eat there again."
Hinami Aoi looked surprised. "Oh, I remember now. Hori, you have a younger brother, don't you? I was always wondering why you ran off so quickly after school. So you were rushing to pick up your brother?"
Hori nodded, a slightly sheepish look on her face. "That's right. It should be a bit easier when Souta starts elementary school and can walk home by himself. But for now... big sister duties call."
She looked at Yuki and Aoi. "Eh? Wait. You two were dragged along by Minami, weren't you?"
Yuki nodded vigorously. "Of course! Minami had been talking about that shop non-stop since the night before. She basically kidnapped us. But I'm not complaining! It was the first time I'd seen Aoi eat so much!"
Aoi flushed pink. "You don't need to dwell on that, Yuki. It's just... the cheese and cream really appealed to me. It was very rich."
Yuki giggled. "Rich? You licked the plate, Aoi!"
"I did not!"
"Did too!"
Hori laughed at their antics. Then she looked around. "By the way, how come I haven't seen Minami? Usually, she's the first one here to talk about food."
Yuki tapped her chin. "Oh! Minami seems to have gone to the library to return some books. She said this morning was the deadline, so she ran over as soon as she arrived. She was sprinting like an athlete."
"Speaking of running," Aoi checked her schedule. "It seems like there aren't many classes today..."
"Hmm... Oh right!" Yuki snapped her fingers. "Because today is all math class! And it seems the math teacher went out for training or a seminar. So today is all self-study!"
"Self-study?" Hori's eyes sparkled. "Wait, does that mean this week's self-study classes have all become math catch-up?"
"Basically," Aoi confirmed. "But since the teacher is gone, we just have to sit there."
Hori waved her hand dismissively. "Small problem. But this way, we have a lot more freedom today. And there's also a PE class later. Looking at it this way... today is really a good day."
A rare day of slack at school was a treasure for any high schooler.
Buzz. Buzz.
Hori's pocket vibrated.
"Eh?"
She pulled out her phone. The caller ID flashed "Mom".
Hori froze. Her mother, Hori Yuriko, rarely called during school hours. Usually, she was busy at work. Was something wrong with Souta?
The girls exchanged confused looks.
"Hori?" Yuki asked concernedly.
Hori held up a finger and answered the call. "Hello? Mom? Is everything okay?"
There was a pause as she listened. Then, a wide, surprised smile broke across her face.
"Really? Dad too? Mmm! Okay! I'll find a place. I'll give you a surprise~"
"Mmm! See you later~"
She hung up the phone, clutching it to her chest with a happy sigh.
"Hori, what's wrong?" Yuki asked, confused. "You look... happy?"
Hori grinned at her friends. "Dad is coming home today! And Mom is actually off work early! They said they want to go out to eat together as a family tonight!"
"A family dinner?" Aoi smiled. "That sounds lovely."
"So," Hori's eyes glinted with a predetermined destination. "I need to pick a place."
Yuki and Aoi looked at each other, then back at Hori. They spoke in unison.
"Shopkeeper Ren's shop!"
Hori snapped her fingers and pointed at them.
"Bingo~"
[Dimensional Restaurant - Afternoon]
Back in the kitchen, the chocolate-making session had turned into a full-blown production line.
The aroma of melting chocolate was overwhelming in the best way possible. Bowls of ganache were setting in the fridge, dusted with cocoa powder.
Ren watched as Lucifer carefully poured melted chocolate into a mold. Her tongue was sticking out slightly in concentration, a rare crack in her cool composure.
"Careful," Ren whispered. "Don't overfill it."
"I know!" Lucifer hissed, her hand trembling slightly. "Stop breathing down my neck! You're ruining my artistic vision!"
Ren raised his hands in surrender and backed away. He looked at the clock.
"It's almost evening," he noted. "The dinner rush will start soon. We should wrap this up."
Cerberus looked up from a bowl she was licking (it was cream, not chocolate). "Ren, Ren, Ren! Are customers coming?"
"Yes," Ren nodded, looking toward the door. "And I have a feeling... tonight is going to be busy. Families, friends... maybe even a few surprises."
He didn't know it yet, but Hori Kyoko was about to bring her entire chaotic family to his doorstep. And knowing Hori Kyosuke, Ren's peaceful evening was about to get a lot louder.
[Akarin's Note: Hori Kyoko is the protagonist of Horimiya. Her father, Kyosuke, and mother, Yuriko, are known for their eccentric and laid-back personalities. Nama Chocolate refers to a type of ganache made of fresh cream and chocolate, dusted with cocoa powder, famous in Japan.]
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