Chapter 146: The Hori Family and the Chemical Chocolate
[Location: The Hori Residence]
The sound of the clock ticking on the wall was the only thing filling the silence in the Hori living room.
"Onee-chan..."
Hori Souta, currently sprawled across the beige sofa like a salted fish drying in the sun, groaned. He stared at the ceiling. "Why isn't Dad back yet? My stomach is eating itself."
Hori Kyoko glanced at her little brother, smiling despite her own impatience. She was dressed in a casual but stylish outfit, ready for their rare family outing. "It might take a while longer, Souta. Dad's always a little unpredictable with time. Be patient."
She turned her attention to the other occupant of the room.
Hori Yuriko, Kyoko's mother, was sitting on a chair near the entrance. She was frantically rummaging through her handbag, pulling out items one by one—a wallet, a lipstick, a pack of tissues, a stray receipt.
"But Mom," Kyoko asked, tilting her head. "What are you doing? We're supposed to be leaving as soon as Dad gets here."
Yuriko paused, holding a tube of hand cream. She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Eh... I wanted to find the USB drive with my work plan on it. I need to check something for tomorrow. But I can't remember where I put it."
Kyoko stared at her mother. Then she looked at the bag. Then she looked back at her mother.
"Eh?" Kyoko's face twisted into a mask of confusion. "Mom... wasn't that the bag you were carrying when you came back from work?"
Yuriko blinked. She looked at the bag. "Eh? Oh! Yes, yes, yes! That's right! I brought it in with me!"
She laughed, a light, airy sound. "As expected of Kyoko! You're really reliable! I would have searched the whole house."
Kyoko sighed, her shoulders slumping. "So, be a bit more reliable yourself then, Mom. Honestly..."
Yuriko giggled, finally finding the small silver drive at the bottom of the bag. She looked at her daughter with a teasing glint in her eyes. "But Kyoko... you seem very eager today. Usually, you'd be complaining about Dad coming home."
"What?" Kyoko bristled defensively. "I just want to eat."
"Is that so?" Yuriko hummed. "Or is it that you want to take your father and me to this highly-rated 'boy's restaurant'? Is it highly-rated for the food... for the restaurant... or for the boy?"
Kyoko felt her cheeks heat up. She crossed her arms, looking away. "Shopkeeper Ren is amazing! And he's a really good person! Right, Souta?"
Souta sat up immediately, nodding vigorously. "Yes, yes! Big Brother is very nice! He gives me juice! And he's very handsome!"
"Handsome?" Yuriko raised an eyebrow. "That word is 'cool,' isn't it? But now I'm really curious. What kind of person is he to charm both my children?"
Click.
The sound of a key turning in the lock cut through the conversation.
The three of them froze. Then, in unison, they stood up and walked towards the entrance hall.
The door opened. A man with messy, silver-grey hair and a stubbly chin stood there, one foot halfway out of his shoe. He looked tired but relaxed.
Hori Kyosuke.
He looked up, expecting an empty hallway. Instead, he saw his wife, daughter, and son standing in a phalanx, staring at him.
Kyosuke paused. He blinked. Then, a look of profound emotion crossed his face.
"Yuriko... Kyoko... Souta..." he whispered, clutching his chest. "Even if you missed me, you don't have to specially come to the door to greet me like this. I feel so loved."
"Eh? Eh? Eh?!"
Before he could finish his heartfelt speech, three pairs of hands grabbed him.
"We've been waiting for you for ages!" Kyoko shouted, pushing him back out the door.
"Husband, you're back too late," Yuriko added calmly, shoving his shoulder.
"Dad, let's go quickly! I'm hungry!" Souta cheered, pushing his leg.
Kyosuke stumbled backward onto the porch, completely dumbfounded. "Wait! I came back at the normal time! Eh, eh? At least let me sit down and rest for a bit! Let me change my socks! At least have a glass of water! Eh!"
The door slammed shut behind them. The Hori family was on the move.
[Location: The Street Outside the Restaurant]
The sun had set completely, and the streetlights were buzzing overhead.
"Cerberus, what do you want to eat tonight?" Ren asked as they walked down the street.
"Meat!" Cerberus replied instantly, swinging Ren's hand.
Ren sighed, shaking his head with a smile. "I really can't do anything with you. But you also need to eat more vegetables, Cerberus. A balanced diet is key to a shiny coat."
He turned to Inui Hinako, who was walking beside them. "Miss Inui. That's where my shop is located."
He pointed ahead.
Hinako looked at the bustling main street, lined with bright shops and restaurants. She nodded approvingly. "Oh? It looks really nice. Such a lively place. Prime real estate."
"No," Ren corrected, pointing slightly to the left. "It's the street next to it."
"Eh?!"
Hinako followed his finger. He was pointing at a narrow, dimly lit alleyway that branched off from the main road. It looked deserted, quiet, and distinctly un-commercial.
She looked at Ren, then at the alley, then back at Ren. She was completely stunned.
Why?! she screamed internally. Why would such an amazing chef open a restaurant in this place?! It's a ghost town!
If it weren't for the fact that the Cerberus beside her was very beautiful, cheerful, and clearly adored Ren, Hinako would have seriously wondered if Ren was trying to trick her into doing something in a dark room.
"It's quiet," Ren explained, sensing her hesitation. "I like the quiet."
[Location: The Dimensional Restaurant]
Inside the shop, the atmosphere was warm and filled with the scent of baking cake.
"Hmm~ It smells so good!"
Fuji Yumiko took a deep breath, savoring the aroma of the chocolate cake cooling on the rack. "Yumiko is amazing!"
"It's alright," Yumiko smiled modestly. "I've learned well from Ren. But Lucifer, you're really good at making dark chocolate! The taste and texture are almost the same as what you buy outside! It's professional quality."
Lucifer preened under the praise, wiping a smudge of cocoa from her cheek. "Hmph. Of course. I am a fast learner."
Just as the two were exchanging compliments, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the shop.
Ding-Ling.
Ren walked in, followed by Cerberus and a stunned Inui Hinako.
Hearing the voices from inside, Ren shook his head with a smile. "They sound happy."
Cerberus turned her head and glanced at Ren, her eyes filled with skepticism. "Can Lucifer really make chocolate? Last time she tried to make toast, the toaster exploded."
Ren said nothing. He just ruffled Cerberus's head.
Lucifer turned her head sharply. She saw them enter. Her eyes swept over Inui Hinako and dismissed her instantly as a non-threat. Her focus locked onto Ren.
The unease in her heart finally subsided. He was back. The house wasn't empty anymore.
Cerberus ran directly to the counter, her nose twitching. "Chocolate!"
She looked at the exquisite dark chocolate truffles lined up on a tray. Although she couldn't eat them, the smell was intoxicating.
Ren turned to Hinako. "It seems we came back a bit too quickly. The shop won't open for another half an hour. Miss Inui, please wait a moment. We still need to tidy up here and prep the stations."
Hinako shook her head, looking around the interior with admiration. "It's fine. Mr. Ren's shop is really beautiful. It has a... calming atmosphere."
Ren smiled, then walked up to the counter. Lucifer was watching him with an expectant, almost challenging gaze.
He reached out and picked up a piece of the dark chocolate ganache. He popped it into his mouth.
The texture was silky smooth. It melted instantly, coating his tongue in rich, bitter-sweet cocoa notes. It was perfectly tempered.
Ren was stunned for a moment. He looked at Lucifer.
"Hmm!" he nodded appreciatively. "I didn't expect you, Lucifer, to have such a talent for making dark chocolate! This is excellent."
Lucifer secretly breathed a sigh of relief, her shoulders dropping an inch. Then she crossed her arms and lifted her chin. "Of course! It's just chocolate! Child's play!"
Ren looked around the kitchen. He frowned slightly.
"Eh? I remember getting a lot of white chocolate ingredients, didn't I? I bought the same amount as the dark. Why is there only this much white chocolate left?"
He pointed to a small, lonely pile of white truffles.
Hearing this, Fuji Yumiko covered her mouth and turned away to hide a chuckle. Lucifer's gaze shifted rapidly to the side, avoiding Ren's eyes.
Ren followed her gaze. It landed on a large stainless steel bowl on the back counter, conspicuously covered with a cloth.
"Ren! That's not chocolate!"
Seeing Ren reach for the cloth, Lucifer panicked. She rushed forward, shouting, her face flushed. "Don't look! It's... it's a failed experiment! It's cursed!"
Ren smiled, catching her wrist gently. He pinched her cheek with his other hand. "Don't worry, Lucifer. It's just chocolate. Even if it seized, I think I can save it. Maybe turn it into a crumble or a filling."
Lucifer's face turned bright red. She looked away, biting her lip. Sure enough, she thought. This smelly man couldn't be left out for too long. I really wasn't used to him not being around to fix my messes.
Ren lifted the cloth.
Gulp... Pop...
A sound bubbled up from the bowl. A wet, squelching sound.
Ren froze. His mouth twitched.
The substance inside was not white chocolate. It was a brown, oily, separated sludge that was bubbling slowly, like a swamp in a horror movie. It smelled of burnt sugar and... paprika?
Ren stared at it.
He dropped the cloth.
"I..." Ren started, then stopped. He looked at Lucifer. "I stand corrected."
A few minutes later.
Lucifer stood by the sink, her cheeks puffed out in a pout, her hands restlessly playing with the hem of her apron.
She watched as Ren tipped the contents of the bowl into the trash can.
Splat.
"This smelly man!" Lucifer muttered under her breath. "He said he could save it! He just pulled the oxygen tube, didn't he! Too much! Where is the perseverance?"
Ren sighed as he washed the bowl. It wasn't that he didn't want to save it. But the white chocolate had turned into a non-Newtonian fluid that smelled like spicy despair. It was beyond saving. It was a biological hazard.
"Ugh..." Cerberus peered into the trash can, wrinkling her nose. "Lucifer is so amazing... This chocolate is still bubbling in the trash can... Is it alive?"
"Cerberus!" Lucifer snapped. "Be quiet!"
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