Chapter 98: Dongpo Pork, Kirari's Reward
Some things in this world possess a unique magic.
Like the simple fruit salad currently sitting on the table. It not only kept the carnivorous Cerberus from demanding more meat, but it also made someone like Momobami Kirari chat like a normal high school girl, which was a phenomenon rarer than a solar eclipse.
In the kitchen, Ren was meticulously plating the next dish.
As he watched the steam rise from the clay pot, he thought of Jinx. If that chaotic blue-haired girl were here, she would definitely be treated like a dress-up doll by Kirari and the others. The image of the President of Hyakkaou Academy braiding Jinx's braids was both terrifying and amusing.
Back at the table, the conversation had shifted to the woes of love—or lack thereof.
"Eh? Mouri Ran-san," Kirari said, twirling a forkful of mango. "Why do you put up with such a childhood friend? A man with no romance is like a meal with no flavor."
Sonoko slammed her fist on the table (lightly) in agreement. She forked a piece of dragon fruit with unnecessary force.
"Exactly! Kirari! You're so right this time! Shinichi's brain, really… it's all Sherlock Holmes, soccer, and homicide cases. I'm really fed up with him! If he doesn't call Ran soon, I'm going to hunt him down myself."
Mouri Ran sighed, her expression a mix of fondness and exasperation. She swirled her spoon in the melting ice cream.
"Shinichi is indeed a bit too outrageous in some ways. He disappears for months, only calls occasionally... sigh…"
Sonoko smiled, patting Ran's back. "This is the first time I've seen you complain about Shinichi so openly, Ran. You've made great progress! Come, let's 'cheers' an apple slice to celebrate your awakening!"
"Eh? Isn't it 'cheers' with drinks? Why 'cheers' an apple?" Ran laughed.
"Because our wine glasses are empty, but our spirit is full! Cheers!"
Clink. The apple slices tapped together.
After swallowing the fruit, Sonoko turned her gaze to the quiet, silver-haired beauty at the next table.
"But Cerberus," Sonoko asked, leaning over. "I've always been curious. Lucifer says she is a CEO, which fits her vibe perfectly. But what do you do? Are you her bodyguard?"
Cerberus froze mid-chew. Her three internal personalities panicked simultaneously.
Does guarding the Gates of Hell count as a profession?
Is 'Soul Devourer' a valid job title on a resume?
Should I just say I'm a dog walker?
Even if it did count, she couldn't say it out loud. Not because it was embarrassing, but because she was afraid of scaring these nice humans who gave her food.
Lucifer, sensing her pet's distress, lightly coughed. She adjusted her apron with practiced dignity.
"Cerberus is my... employee! Yes. She handles security and logistics."
Cerberus nodded repeatedly, her ponytail bouncing. "Yes! Security! I bite bad people!"
Sonoko smiled, seemingly buying it. "I finally know why you were the first to move in here. You came and even brought an employee with you. Impressive. A CEO who travels with her staff."
Lucifer waved her hand helplessly. Cerberus was indeed called by her, but she really didn't have the intention of bringing a "staff member" at the time. It was more like bringing a chaotic pet who refused to stay home.
Just as Kirari was about to make a witty comment about labor laws, the sound of wheels rolling on wood silenced the room.
Ren emerged from the kitchen, pushing the dining cart.
The aroma that accompanied him was different this time. It wasn't the sharp spice of Sichuan pepper, nor the buttery richness of foie gras.
It was a deep, savory sweetness. A smell that felt like history itself.
Ren stopped the cart in front of the girls. He looked at Kirari, who was laughing softly at something Sonoko said.
"I didn't expect you, Kirari, to have such a normal girl side," Ren remarked, placing a trivet on the table. "Usually, you're busy calculating probabilities and crushing souls."
Kirari tilted her head, her blue eyes gleaming. "Haven't I always been like this when I'm with you? You bring out my... softer qualities."
"If by 'softer,' you mean 'slightly less terrifying,' then yes."
Ren opened the lid of the large white ceramic pot.
Whoosh.
A cloud of steam billowed out, carrying a fragrance so potent it almost had a physical weight.
"Alright, the main course is ready. The white ceramic pot contains Dongpo Pork. And this side dish is Longjing Shrimp. Please enjoy."
He then placed tall glasses filled with ice and a pale pink liquid on the table.
"Oh? And these are your drinks~"
Ran looked at the glass. "It's just lemonade~ Eh? Wait. There are cherry blossoms floating in it!"
"Salted Sakura Lemonade," Ren explained with a smile. "Because the pork is rich, this drink is designed to cut through the fat and refresh the palate. Please enjoy."
He turned his gaze to the Student Council President.
"Kirari, we can talk about business now while you eat."
Kirari sighed. She picked up her chopsticks, her expression shifting from playful to serious in a heartbeat.
"Ren, it seems someone wants to unseat me this time. A faction of the elders has grown tired of my reign. So, they entered the Kengan Matches in the name of the Momobami Clan without my initial approval."
She stabbed a piece of shrimp.
"I only received the notice afterward. And according to the rules of the clan... I couldn't refuse. It's a challenge for the throne."
Ren sighed. He walked up to Kirari.
Without hesitation, he reached out and pinched her pale, soft cheek.
"Ren?!" Sayaka gasped in the background.
"I hope you learn your lesson this time," Ren scolded gently, ignoring the secretary's shock. "I won't help you next time if you keep playing with fire. You're really a handful."
Kirari didn't struggle. She didn't slap his hand away.
She just looked up at Ren with a smile that reached her eyes.
"Don't you think it's too simple? That I'm trying to fool you into fighting for me?"
"I don't think so," Ren replied, releasing her cheek. "Because you've never lied to me. Manipulated? Maybe. But never lied."
"As expected of you, Ren," Kirari purred. "You really leave me with no choice but to rely on you."
"If you had a choice with me, you wouldn't be here right now~"
Momobami Kirari smiled, conceding the point.
She moved over a bit to let Ren pour her drink. "The Kengan Annihilation Tournament—specifically the qualifiers—starts at the end of the month. I'll come find you again then. In the meantime, I need to stabilize the students' emotions at the academy and deal with some paperwork in advance."
Lucifer, from the next table, forked a piece of apple. She spoke up, her voice tinged with genuine curiosity.
"But isn't someone trying to unseat you? Aren't you worried that someone will play tricks while you're away watching the Deathmatch?"
Kirari licked her blue lips. A dark, confident aura flared around her for a split second.
"There's absolutely no need to worry about that," she said coldly. "Whether I'm there or not, they wouldn't dare to make trouble in my school. My shadow is enough to keep them in line. That's deterrence, Sonoko. Learn from it."
Sonoko gave her an annoyed look. "I don't want to rule by fear, thanks!"
She turned her attention to the real star of the evening.
Sonoko eagerly lifted the lid of the white ceramic pot completely.
What met her eyes wasn't just meat. It was light.
Inside the pot sat perfect squares of pork belly. The skin, dark red and glistening with sauce, looked like translucent amber or agate. It emitted an alluring, oily glow that promised decadence.
A bed of vibrant green bok choy lay beneath the meat, soaking up the juices and adding a touch of brightness to the heavy colors. A few strands of julienned spring onion sat atop the neatly arranged Dongpo Pork like noble spirits.
Everything was stacked like a pagoda. Layer by layer. Skin, fat, meat, fat, meat.
Looking downwards, there was no feeling but allure. No scent but fragrance.
"It's beautiful..." Ran whispered.
Sonoko, somewhat impatiently, picked up a piece with her chopsticks.
The meat was so tender it threatened to fall apart. The viscous, dark-red sauce slid down the skin of the pork, coating it in a glaze that reflected the restaurant lights.
Her chopsticks sank into the meat with zero resistance.
She brought it to her mouth. The fatty part on top trembled slightly—a jiggly dance of collagen and flavor.
Chomp.
The moment it entered her mouth, it was pure enjoyment.
The fat melted instantly. It didn't require chewing. It dissolved like a savory marshmallow, coating her tongue in rich, unctuous goodness.
With the help of the Shaoxing wine and soy sauce reduction, there was not a trace of greasiness. Only a word: Fragrant.
The remaining skin provided a slight, gelatinous chew, while the lean meat was tender and soaked in the sauce.
The fragrance of the skin. The fragrance of the sauce. The fragrance of the pork.
Three fragrances in one, creating a harmony that made you wish you could swallow your own tongue just to keep the taste longer.
If one absolutely had to use a texture to describe the three-layered pagoda from skin to lean meat, then only 'soft and glutinous' would suffice.
It felt as if you were eating a piece of soft, edible gemstone.
Bright red, yet emanating a delightful aroma. Moderately salty and sweet. Soft but not mushy. Fatty but not greasy.
Unforgettable upon the first bite.
This is the beauty of Dongpo Pork. Its magic is irresistible.
Both Sonoko and Mouri Ran were, at this moment, immersed in the illusion woven by this soft and glutinous texture. Their eyes were closed, their expressions blissful.
If they could, they would continue to eat like this forever...
Lucifer looked at the enjoying expressions of Sonoko and Mouri Ran. She felt an inexplicable sense of pride swelling in her chest.
See? she thought. The man who made such delicious food is the one I like. He is mine.
Kirari ate quietly, savoring every bite.
After finishing her last bit of the pork and wiping the sauce from her blue lips with a napkin, she stood up.
She looked at Ren.
"Ren, there's something I want to tell you in person. Regarding the tournament details. Let's go outside for a moment."
Ren put down the book he was reading behind the counter. He nodded.
"Alright. But Kirari, you really drank all that wine, didn't you? Your face is quite red."
"Because it was delicious~ And I needed some liquid courage."
Ren smiled and walked out of the shop with her.
Lucifer and the others didn't think much of it. They assumed Kirari had some confidential Kengan Matches information or clan secrets to tell Ren that couldn't be discussed in front of outsiders like Ran.
Outside the restaurant, the night air was cool and crisp. The streetlights cast long shadows.
"Hmm. The air is really nice," Ren said, stretching his arms. "So, Kirari, what do you want to say? Is the opponent that formidable?"
Kirari leaned against the wall of the alley. She licked her lips, her eyes hazy with alcohol and something else.
She beckoned with a finger.
"Come closer. Why are you so far away from me? Are you afraid I'll bite?"
Ren approached upon hearing this, stopping a foot away. "I'm not afraid, just cautious."
Kirari's lips curved upwards.
Then, without warning, she lunged.
She jumped up directly, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Ren, reflexively, caught her by the waist to stop her from falling. He smiled, looking at her flushed face inches from his.
"What does this mean, President?"
"A reward for you," Kirari whispered, her breath smelling of sweet wine. "After all, I can't let you work for me for free. And I need to leave my mark."
She pulled his head down.
Ten minutes later.
The door to the restaurant opened.
"Sayaka. We're leaving."
Kirari walked in. Her hair was slightly mussed, but her expression was one of utter, triumphant smugness. Her cheeks were flushed a deep red.
Lucifer looked at Kirari's expression and felt something was off. Her demon instincts were screaming.
Ren walked in behind her. He looked calm as always.
However, as he passed under the light, Lucifer's sharp eyes caught something.
There was a faint, bluish smudge at the corner of Ren's mouth. The exact shade of Kirari's lipstick.
And... was his collar slightly askew?
Lucifer narrowed her eyes.
Hmph! You scoundrel!
Kirari's necktie was definitely perfectly tied before they went out! Now it's loose!
Lucifer muttered curses in her heart. She aggressively stabbed a piece of pork.
She picked up her phone again, typing furiously into the search bar.
[Search Query: How to remove lipstick stains from a rival?]
[Search Query: Spells to keep a man faithful]
Ren just smiled and shook his head at Lucifer's busy appearance, unaware—or perhaps fully aware—of the chaos he caused.
This little Queen is still as interesting as ever. And truly very cute when she's jealous.
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