Chapter 3: The Suddenly Arriving Black-Haired Girl
The rhythmic symphony of cooking echoed from the kitchen—the sharp tck-tck-tck of a knife against a cutting board, the hiss of ingredients hitting a hot pan, and the bubbling of liquids. To Kobayashi Rindou, these sounds were more melodious than any concerto.
She sat at one of the newly polished mahogany tables, resting her chin in her palm, her golden, cat-like eyes tracing the wood grain. A permanent, contented smile played on her lips. She looked around the familiar yet unfamiliar Restaurant. The expansion had made it grander, yet it retained that cozy, enigmatic warmth that kept drawing her back like a moth to a flame.
While she was lost in her reminiscence of how she first stumbled upon this place, the sound of footsteps approached.
Ren emerged from the kitchen, not with a plate of food, but with a simple glass of water. He placed it gently in front of her, the ice cubes clinking softly against the crystal.
"I don't even need to guess to know you skipped class," Ren said, his voice calm and teasing. He wiped his hands on a towel, leaning casually against the table. "You probably haven't had a sip of water all afternoon while running around, have you?"
Kobayashi Rindou chuckled, her shoulders shaking slightly. She reached out and poked the glass with a manicured fingernail, the condensation cool against her skin.
"It's just ordinary water..." she pouted playfully, looking up at him through her lashes. "I thought you'd pour me a mixed cocktail. Something strong, colorful, and dangerous."
Ren tilted his head slightly, his silver hair shifting with the movement. "Why? It's barely evening."
Rindou narrowed her eyes into sly crescents, her sharp canines peeking out as her grin widened. "Tomorrow's a day off, isn't it? Shouldn't you get me drunk, take advantage of the situation, do all sorts of naughty things, and then force me to stay and be the Boss's wife?"
Her tone was light, but there was a heat in her gaze that suggested she wouldn't exactly fight him off if he tried.
Ren didn't flinch. He reached out and gently tapped the top of Kobayashi Rindou's head, a gesture of familiarity that he allowed with few others.
"Stop talking nonsense," he scolded without heat. "If you really want to be the Boss's wife, you don't need to get drunk to scheme your way in. My room is the one at the very back on the second floor. After you finish eating, go take a shower and then just lie down obediently on the bed."
Kobayashi Rindou's face flushed instantly, a vibrant red spreading from her cheeks to her ears. Small swirls seemed to appear in her eyes as her brain short-circuited. She hadn't expected him to counter-attack so smoothly.
She quickly regained her composure, snorted, and turned her head away. "Hmph No such cheap thing! You have to work harder to catch me! By the way What are you making back there? It smells amazing."
Ren smiled behind his mask—or rather, the mask of indifference he usually wore. Inside the shop, his expression was relaxed. "I was going to start on your usual, but then I saw your friend arrived, so I came out to ask her what she wants to eat."
"Friend?" Rindou blinked, looking genuinely confused. "Who? I've always come alone~"
"She's not very good at hiding," Ren gestured with his chin toward the entrance.
Kobayashi Rindou turned her head, scanning the entryway. Then, she froze.
Near the door, behind a large, leafy potted plant that Ren had added during the renovation, stood a small figure. Or rather, a large stuffed bear head was poking out from behind the leaves, trembling slightly.
It was Akanegakubo Momo. She was clutching her beloved plushie, Bucchi, so tightly that the bear looked like it was being strangled. Her eyes were squeezed shut, as if believing that if she couldn't see them, they couldn't see her.
Kobayashi Rindou's mouth twitched. The sight was equal parts pathetic and adorable. "Momo-chan? What are you doing here?"
Akanegakubo Momo flinched. She slowly opened one eye, realizing her stealth had failed miserably. She sighed, a small puff of air, and tiptoed out from behind the plant. She glanced nervously at the tall, silver-haired man, then quickly scurried over to huddle next to Kobayashi Rindou for protection.
Rindou laughed, slapping Momo's back heartily. "Ren! Let me introduce you! This is my roommate and good friend, the Fourth Seat of the Elite Ten, Akanegakubo Momo. People who know her well call her Momo-chan. She's a girl whose cuteness can almost rival mine~"
Ren rolled his eyes, automatically filtering out Kobayashi Rindou's narcissism. He turned his gaze to the small girl. She looked like a doll, delicate and easily broken, but he knew better. To hold a seat in the Elite Ten, one had to be a shark in the kitchen.
"Welcome," Ren said, his voice gentle to avoid startling her further. "So, Miss Akanegakubo, what would you like to eat?"
Akanegakubo Momo looked up at Ren. She sized him up—his posture, his hands (clean, steady, with calluses in the right places for a chef), and his aura. Her eyes lit up with a mixture of challenge and curiosity.
She whispered, hugging Bucchi's paw, "Is there no menu?"
Ren shook his head. "No. In my Restaurant, I can make anything you want, provided I have the ingredients—and I usually do. So there's no need for a menu. Just tell me what you crave."
It was an arrogant claim. Any chef would tell you that specializing is key, but this man claimed to do everything.
Akanegakubo Momo pursed her lips. Her competitive spirit flared.
"Momo-chan wants..." she tapped her chin with the bear's paw. "Hmm... the appetizer doesn't need to be too complicated. Momo-chan is hungry, so a regular Waldorf Salad will do."
Ren nodded. A classic American salad. Simple, but reliant entirely on the freshness of apples and walnuts.
"For the main course," Momo continued, her voice gaining a bit more confidence, "I want Veal Stew in White Sauce (Blanquette de Veau), and also Tempura. For dessert, a Napoleon (Mille-feuille) will be fine."
It was a chaotic order. She was asking for a crisp American salad, a heavy, traditional French stew, a delicate Japanese fried dish that required precise temperature control, and a notoriously difficult French pastry that required time and precision to layer. She was testing his versatility, his time management, and his technical skill all at once.
Hearing Akanegakubo Momo's words, Ren didn't even blink. He simply nodded. "Alright. Veal Blanquette, Tempura, Waldorf, and Mille-feuille. Coming right up."
He turned to leave, then paused. "You two can chat for a bit. It won't take long. Would you like something to drink while you wait?"
Momo blinked, surprised he accepted the challenge so easily. "Whatever."
"I'll make something special then."
Watching Ren's retreating back as he disappeared into the kitchen, Kobayashi Rindou reached out and pinched Akanegakubo Momo's soft cheek.
"Momo-chan You still dare to follow me? Aren't you afraid of getting lost in this part of town? There are bad wolves out there"
Momo swatted Rindou's hand away, puffing out her cheeks. "Momo-chan isn't afraid at all! And... and I also want to see what kind of strength and charm the person who changed Rindou-senpai so much possesses..."
Kobayashi Rindou chuckled, leaning back in her chair and stretching her arms overhead. "He is my biggest goal in terms of strength and life~ Also, Momo-chan, you're probably overthinking it if you're trying to find flaws in Ren's cooking to prove a point. There's no dish that can stump Ren."
Akanegakubo Momo blinked, clutching Bucchi tighter. "Then I'll have to see even more! Momo-chan doesn't believe it! No one is perfect."
Although she said that, Akanegakubo Momo still believed it in her heart. For no other reason than the fact that Kobayashi Rindou—a culinary monster who devoured everything in her path—respected him. Rindou was stronger than Momo, and if Rindou submitted to this man's cooking, his strength was self-evident.
Kobayashi Rindou began to hum a tune while lying on the table, her feet swinging constantly under the table like a happy child.
Akanegakubo Momo watched her. She had never seen Rindou this relaxed, this... domesticated. She tried to speak several times, hesitating, before finally gathering the courage.
"Rindou-senpai... do you like Shopkeeper Ren?"
The question hung in the air.
Kobayashi Rindou froze. Her humming stopped abruptly. Her face flushed a deep crimson, and she quickly sat up, waving her hands frantically.
"No way! That idiot Ren is far from being able to win me over! Far from it! I just... I just like his food! Yes! The food!"
Akanegakubo Momo blinked slowly, saying nothing more. Her silence was louder than any argument.
It was already clear. It was almost to the point where 'I LOVE HIM' was tattooed on Rindou's forehead. If she didn't like him, why would her lock screen be his photo? And it was clearly a candid shot taken from a distance—stalker behavior.
If she didn't like him, why did she suddenly start caring about her appearance, checking her hair in the window reflection before entering? Why did the wild "Knight of the Table" start wearing lip gloss?
Moreover, the blush earlier explained everything. What's more, Akanegakubo Momo wasn't deaf; she had heard what Kobayashi Rindou said about the 'Boss's wife' earlier. It seemed her good sister had truly fallen into the snare of love.
"What bad things are you two saying about me?"
Not long after Kobayashi Rindou's denial, Ren's gentle voice sounded in their ears, making Rindou jump.
Ren returned, holding a tray. On it were two tall glasses filled with a mesmerizing, multi-layered colorful liquid, and a plate containing the Waldorf Salad.
When Kobayashi Rindou saw the colorful drink, she immediately smiled, her embarrassment forgotten. "Hehe! Ren! You still remember that I like to drink this~"
"Is there anything you don't like to drink?" Ren teased, placing the glass before her. "You two arrived early, and no one else is here yet, so I have time to make this for you. Miss Akanegakubo, you should try it too. This is Rindou's favorite—a Rainbow Fruit Sparkler."
Akanegakubo Momo nodded, accepting the glass. The drink was beautiful, transitioning from deep violet at the bottom to a sunny yellow at the top. She then suddenly thought of something and whispered, "Early time...?"
Kobayashi Rindou nodded naturally, taking a sip of her drink and sighing in happiness. "That's right~ Ren's Restaurant is a night Restaurant, only open in the evening. This time should be shortly after opening. Am I right?"
"Remove 'should be,'" Ren corrected as he set down the silverware. "Aside from the times I've been closed for errands, you've never missed a day. You practically live here. How could you not know?"
"Hehe~ Go on, go on! Hurry up and make the main dishes! I wonder if any interesting guests will come tonight?"
Ren smiled upon hearing Kobayashi Rindou's dismissal and re-entered the kitchen to tend to the veal and tempura.
Akanegakubo Momo looked at the salad and drink in front of her. She placed her teddy bear, Bucchi, on the empty chair next to her, and picked up a fork.
She looked at the Waldorf Salad. It looked deceptively simple. Crisp apples, celery, walnuts, and grapes dressed in mayonnaise. But the presentation was exquisite, the ingredients glistening with freshness.
It's just a salad, she told herself.
She took a bite.
Crunch.
Kobayashi Rindou, who was sipping her drink with a look of intoxication, watched Akanegakubo Momo with a playful, predatory gaze. She knew exactly what was coming.
The moment the flavors hit Momo's tongue, she froze.
Her eyes widened. The world around her seemed to dissolve. She wasn't in a small restaurant anymore. She was standing in the middle of a lush, sun-drenched orchard. The apples were crisp and sweet, the walnuts provided a deep, earthy crunch, and the dressing—oh, the dressing—it was light, airy, and perfectly acidic, tying everything together in a harmonious dance.
"Nnn..."
She let out a sound loud enough to be confined to a dark room, a moan of pure culinary ecstasy.
"So... so delicious!" she gasped, her cheeks flushing pink.
Kobayashi Rindou grinned, leaning in. "Of course~ Ren's dishes are top-notch! He can make anything, and it's all delicious! Super amazing! Welcome to the dark side, Momo-chan."
Akanegakubo Momo didn't refute. She abandoned her reserve and focused on devouring the salad in front of her. She had never eaten such a delicious salad before. It was fresh, vibrant, and alive. After finishing the salad and drinking the beverage, the intense taste sensation almost made her lose herself in the flavor, unable to extricate herself.
She panted slightly, looking at the empty plate. "Rindou-senpai... how did you and Shopkeeper Ren meet?"
"Secret~" Rindou winked, putting a finger to her lips. "Hehe. Speaking of which, it's about time for people to start arriving..."
Ding-a-ling.
The bell above the door chimed, cutting through the warm atmosphere.
Just as she finished speaking, the door opened.
A girl with long, jet-black hair flowing down her back like a waterfall walked in. She wore a traditional school uniform, but her aura was anything but traditional. Her eyes were sharp, cold, and dangerous, like unsheathed katanas. She carried herself with an air of absolute authority, an "Empress" surveying her domain.
The moment she saw Kobayashi Rindou, a slight change appeared on the girl's icy face—a flicker of recognition. Kobayashi Rindou's expression mirrored it, her smile turning slightly sharper.
"Rindou... it's really been a long time~" the black-haired girl said, her voice smooth but carrying a hidden edge.
"What do you mean, 'long time'! We just saw each other recently at that inter-school mixer!" Rindou laughed, waving her hand. "But I didn't expect the third person tonight to be you~"
The girl said nothing to Rindou's chatter. She walked forward like a proud peacock, ignoring Momo completely. Her gaze was fixed on the kitchen.
Ren came out, wiping his hands. He looked at the new arrival, his eyes showing no surprise, only a hint of resignation.
It was the girl from the phone call. The girl who stood atop a mountain of defeated bodies.
Ren sighed, shaking his head slightly.
"You really came, Kirukiru..."
[Akarin's Note: Amou Kirukiru is a main character from Armed Girl's Machiavellism. She is known as the "Empress" and wields the "Supreme Sword" style of martial arts.]
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