Since Neun-san readily told her that she was the First Hero, Kaori-san seemed to have received quite the damage. However, Kaori-san is someone who switches her thoughts fairly quickly, and after a little while, she seems to have recovered and approached Neun-san.
[Errr, Neun-san…… I swear to keep Neun-san’s true identity a secret! It may not seem like it, but I can keep my mouth shut!]
[Fufu, no need to feel that pressured. The fact that Kujou Hikari still lives has already become widely known, especially back in Hydra Kingdom’s Founding Festival…… The fact that Kujou Hikari is in this world is something you can casually mention without any issues. Even if it were accidentally revealed, nominally speaking, I don’t belong to any camp…… in reality though, one could say I’m considered as Kuromu-sama’s subordinate…… Any amount of misdirection and adaptability works. In fact, I go around quite freely without worrying about my identity too much.]
Come to think of it, when it comes to Kuro’s camp, they’re more like a family rather than the King and her subordinates, so Neun-san isn’t exactly Kuro’s subordinate.
Kuro had simply taken in Neun-san, who doesn’t have any family, and treated her like family. Despite the actual situation, given the unique circumstances of the Underworld King camp, she can’t really give any explanation……Now that I think about it though, she does casually participate in events like the Sacred Tree Festival, the White God Festival, and Founding Festivals, so I don’t think there are almost no restrictions on her actions. As for Friendship City, she just doesn’t visit this place because she doesn’t want to……
[Neun-san, Kaori-san, chatting is nice and all, but since we’re here……]
[Ahh, you’re right! Neun-san, Kaito-san, please take a seat at the counter.]
Upon hearing my words, Kaori-san brightly smiled, guided me and Neun-san to our seats and handed us the menu. And then, as Neun-san browsed through the menu, her eyes sparkled, and her expression changed to one of keen interest.
[……This is wonderful. Everything on the menu looks delicious. While it’s tempting to order some of these unfamiliar set meals, I’ll go for the classic and order the grilled salmon set meal please.]
[Then, I’ll have the same thing.]
[Yeeeees. Two grilled salmon set-meals, please wait a moment~~]After receiving our order, Kaori-san began skillfully cooking the dishes, while Neun-san nodded in admiration as she looked around the restaurant.
[The interior of the restaurant is very relaxing. I can feel the attention to detail here and there.]
[Ah, you get it!? That’s right. I’m quite particular about the interior design.]
The interior of Kaori-san’s restaurant, Suiren, is a typical Japanese restaurant, and it has an atmosphere that is quite rare in this world. Having a purely Japanese style for an interior is one thing, but the menu and other items also seem to have been carefully crafted.
In fact, it seemed to be just as Neun-san had said, and Kaori-san seemed happy to be praised.
After a while, our grilled salmon set meals were served, and with a “Thank you for the food”, Neun-san started eating with beautiful movements…… but she stopped eating immediately, seemingly deeply moved. This might just be my imagination, but there even seemed like a hint of tears in her eyes.
[……This is it. This is what I wanted to eat.]
[You looked quite moved there. However, doesn’t Kuro’s place usually serve a lot of Japanese food?]
[Yes, that’s right. That’s certainly the case but…… No, I’m aware that this is an extravagant problem, but it’s just not the same.]
From the fact that Kuro is apparently accustomed to using chopsticks and how their “breakfast is mostly Japanese cuisine”, I can tell that Japanese cuisine is often served at Kuro’s residence. According to what Acht and the others say, that’s apparently something Neun-san strongly wished for.
Hearing my words, Neun-san looked awkward, averted her eyes, and started muttering something.
[No, the Japanese cuisine served at Kuromu-sama’s residence is truly wonderful. Ein-sama is the one preparing them, so each dish is truly a taste that can be described as supreme…… but umm…… each dish is so refined that I feel like I’m eating in a ryotei or a luxury ryokan…… No, of course, they’re undoubtedly delicious, but it’s just, there’s this homeliness to it…… saying it’s not perfect might sound rude, but I’ve been craving this kind of simple deliciousness.]
[……Ahh, indeed, if it’s Ein-san, she would undoubtedly create dishes at the pinnacle of refinement, as she’s someone who absolutely doesn’t compromise.]
[Yes. That’s why, these dishes that capture the atmosphere of Japanese home-cooked meals are so moving that it seems to stir up old memories. There’s this warmth from having someone else prepare it for you, as opposed to when I make them myself…… It truly gives a wonderful feeling.]
[A- Ahaha, hearing you say all that makes me happy. I started this restaurant for the same reason, wanting people from our homeworld to remember the taste of home.]
Although it doesn’t have a perfect…… 100% taste, Kaori-san’s cooking, with its homely warmth, seemed to touch Neun-san’s heart, and as she continued to eat her set meal, seemingly finding the dish delicious, Kaori-san also looked somewhat happy.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [It seemed like she’s gonna become a regular.]
? ? ? : [Well, the location would become the biggest barrier for Neun-san though.]
