Late at night, the last rays of the setting sun had long since vanished.
Silver-white moonlight spilled onto the ground, and the stars sparkled like diamonds; everything seemed quiet!
At this moment, on the second-floor balcony of the Izakaya, Sosuke, who had just returned from Akihabara, was leisurely sipping sake and enjoying the beautiful night sky.
Perhaps the most flavorful thing in the world is simple, unadulterated joy!
Although the fruit sake in his hand wasn't strong or spicy, its fresh, elegant fruity aroma always lingered at the tip of his nose.
Just a small sip was enough to bring a sense of tranquility.
…
In fact,
Sosuke was not only a master brewer, but he also enjoyed drinking.
However, ever since he transmigrated to this world, he rarely showed his drinking side in front of customers.
Sometimes, some customers would feel bored and invite him to drink with them to make the atmosphere more cheerful, but he declined each time.
The reason was not that he intentionally wanted to be a spoilsport or that he got drunk easily due to a low alcohol tolerance.
Rather, for a Chef managing an Izakaya, alcohol affects one's neural reactions and judgment.
Especially when cooking in a slightly tipsy state, mistakes are often easily made.
These mistakes could include inaccurate cutting, improper seasoning, poor control over cooking time, inability to properly handle ingredients, and so on.
Even the pungent smell of alcohol could further impair the sense of smell, thereby greatly altering the quality and taste of the entire dish.
Therefore, during this period, Sosuke never drank.
It was only because the Izakaya was being renovated and upgraded today that he didn't have to cook or entertain customers, allowing him to drink alone and indulge his troubled mood a little!
…
"Ding-dong!"
"24 hours have passed. The Izakaya upgrade is complete."
Just then, a sudden system voice broke Sosuke's quiet thoughts.
Upon hearing that the Izakaya upgrade was complete, Sosuke was startled awake from his reverie.
He then quickly ran to the dining area on the first floor and turned on the lights.
The next moment, the brand-new sight of the Izakaya's upgraded interior completely astonished him!
What first imprinted itself on his eyes was the dining experience centered around the Chef's performance: a custom-designed walnut counter surrounded the cooking area, placing customers in an immersive relationship with the kitchen.
The floor tiles had all been replaced with brick-sized red travertine tiles.
The color variations between each tile miraculously created unique patterns, bringing a strong sense of warm embellishment to the space.
In the corner, a new lounge area and smoking area were set up.
As for the lighting, in addition to traditional Japan paper lanterns, some designer pendant lights and wall lamps were also used.
Clearly, these redesigned lights not only filled every corner of the Izakaya with warmth but also added an alluring color to the food and beverages.
In addition, some independent dining tables were also set up.
These tables, while expanding the capacity for customers, also allowed customers to deeply feel the warmth of "home" while enjoying delicious food here!
Outside, the antique architectural style of the facade and the full-length glass allowed people to feel the warm and classic atmosphere just by stopping outside the door.
The original flowerbed had been replaced by a Zen-inspired bamboo water feature.
And above the round lantern signboard, a plaque reading "Drinking Alone Under the Moon" was hung.
Don't be fooled by the mere 50 square meters added; the Izakaya's scale was still not very large, but the more reasonable spatial layout meant that it could accommodate more customers.
In short, the overall style after the upgrade gave a sense of balance and peace.
Details often determine the quality of the entire space.
Whether it was the wall decorations, the floor coverings, or the addition and placement of tables and chairs…
These updated details made the Izakaya's upgrade even more perfect, completely capable of bringing customers a higher quality dining experience!
…
"Am I seeing things?"
"My Izakaya has changed too much after the upgrade!"
"It might be fine for new customers, but those regulars who used to come often for drinks and food, wouldn't they be startled when they walk in and see this dining environment?"
Though he said that,
the more he, Sosuke, looked at this brand-new Izakaya from beginning to end, the more convinced he became.
After reopening, such decor and environment would definitely attract more customers to spend.
"Ding-dong!"
"Special task issued."
"Please, Host, successfully recruit an employee within one week. Upon task completion, you will be rewarded with 1 special cooking utensil!"
"It seems that recruiting new employees is urgent!"
In fact, even if the system hadn't issued this task, with the upgraded Izakaya's increased customer capacity, it already meant that in the future, Sosuke alone would likely find it very difficult to sustain the entire Izakaya's operation.
Thinking of this, Sosuke couldn't help but sigh deeply.
Although there was no shortage of excellent Chefs in the food wars!: shokugeki no soma world.
However, who could he recruit to work for him on such short notice?
…
An Izakaya is a very magical place; it seems to unlock the door to societal inhibitions.
Usually rigid office workers make fools of themselves here, but the myriad flavors of common life overflow in this small place, amidst the wooden counter and the Chef's laughter and conversation!
Order a snack, have some Japan sake, and the fatigue from a day's work is slowly relieved by the delicious food.
"Ah… mm-mm-mm…"
When the still-warm sushi was eaten by Rindo in large mouthfuls.
She could instantly feel the white, translucent sashimi slices, after being chewed, transform into an elegant and astonishing deliciousness.
And the subtle mixed flavors, through her small throat, began to smoothly fall into her stomach.
The perfect sourness, like a gentle caress on the skin, and the fresh taste of the rice and sashimi, while blending in her mouth, also continuously filled her tongue.
So much so that after eating one sushi, Rindo couldn't help but feel a sense of complete comfort throughout her body.
"Mm!"
"As expected of Sosuke's cooking."
"This sushi, a full mouthful, is truly refreshing!"
"The ingredients are very abundant, especially the crab roe wrapped on top of the rice; you can feel that it's all processed from seasonal crab roe."
"The crab roe mixed with the rice explodes in the mouth, the fresh taste paired with the mellow aroma, one bite after another, that exhilarating texture simply makes one unable to stop."
Rindo, she just sat there quietly, her eyes tightly closed.
In the end, even after the entire sushi was swallowed by her, she still felt unsatisfied, her face filled with intoxication.
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