Chapter 99: The Elegance of Longjing Shrimp, Sonoko Removes Her Hairband
Kirari had left, her blue lips still curved in a triumphant smile, but the evening was far from over for Suzuki Sonoko and Mouri Ran.
The main course had just begun.
The moderately salty, soft, and enticing Dongpo Pork had already set a high bar. Its rich, heavy flavors were like a passionate, dramatic opera. But the dish that followed, the Longjing Shrimp, was the perfect counterpoint.
It was the finishing touch that brought balance to the meal.
If Dongpo Pork was a feast for the senses, demanding attention with its glossy red sauce and melting fat, Longjing Shrimp did not exude such aggressive allure.
It didn't sparkle with oil. It didn't waft heavy clouds of spice.
If one had to give it a description, it would be elegant. Simply, purely, undeniably elegant.
On the white porcelain plate sat a few dozen pieces of river shrimp. They were as white and flawless as carved jade. Just by looking at them, you could feel their bounce, their freshness, and their elasticity.
It was a refreshing delicacy, a dish that only truly captivated you when you stopped looking for flash and started looking for substance.
Ren had garnished the dish with extreme minimalism. A few tender young leaves of Longjing tea adorned the pure white shrimp, creating an ineffable sense of refined tranquility. The pale green against the white was soothing to the eyes.
Accompanying them were a few green plums on the side, a sprig of rosemary, and a single pure white lily placed gently on top for presentation.
If the previous Dongpo Pork was a voluptuous, charming, and noble imperial concubine dressed in heavy crimson silk, then this Longjing Shrimp was a recluse scholar living in the mountains. It was accompanied only by rivers, the sun, the moon, and clear breezes. Unfettered. Elegant. Like lofty mountains and flowing water.
Despite lacking any elaborate embellishments or heavy sauces, one glance was enough to know not to underestimate it.
Ran picked up her chopsticks.
When the tips of the wood touched the shrimp, the sensation transmitted through them was vivid elasticity. It pushed back slightly. From this feeling alone, one could clearly understand just how vibrant this river shrimp had been in its life just moments ago.
Longjing Shrimp is made with the simplest method in Chinese cuisine: water-frying (or stir-frying with tea water).
It sounds simple, but it requires absolute mastery of heat control. It perfectly brings out the flavors of the Dragon Well (Longjing) tea and the sweetness of the shrimp, as if they were soulmates destined to meet in the wok. The water-frying process was merely the officiant of this wedding.
Ran placed a shrimp in her mouth.
Chew.
Upon tasting the shrimp, the first thing that hit her palate wasn't the fishy aroma of seafood.
It was the tea.
The faint, slightly bitter, yet incredibly refreshing fragrance of new Longjing tea leaves washed over her tongue.
Under that rich tea aroma, the heavy, lingering grease of the Dongpo Pork vanished instantly. The entire palate was cleansed. The mind calmed down.
Only then did the fresh, natural sweetness of the shrimp emerge. It reached the entire brain through the taste buds, delivering a pure, unadulterated flavor of the river.
"Elegant..." Ran whispered.
It was such a refined dish, yet it brought a shock that fiery, spicy dishes could not. It brought a tranquility to the soul. Fresh and tender, with the fragrant aroma of tea leaves and an elegant color. Each flavor was intertwined, leaving an endless aftertaste that made you want to close your eyes and meditate.
At this moment, Mouri Ran and Sonoko were completely captivated by this wonderful texture and refined flavor.
Simplicity is often the most profound, and ordinariness is often the most extraordinary. This dish perfectly encapsulated all of that philosophy.
Mouri Ran and Sonoko were not people who paid much attention to stiff aristocratic dining etiquette when they were with friends. For them, eating required politeness, but not necessarily the rigid formalities of a state banquet.
When Mouri Ran put the last shrimp into her mouth, she let out a satisfied sigh.
"Haa..."
This was the correct order of eating: first the rich, heavy Dongpo Pork to satisfy the hunger and the craving for savory meat, followed by the fragrant, light Longjing Shrimp to cleanse the palate and end the meal on a high, refreshing note.
Even her exhaled breath seemed to carry the scent of green tea.
Sonoko leaned back in her chair, patting her stomach without a care for her image as a conglomerate heiress.
"Ah~ I'm finished! It was so delicious! Shopkeeper Ren's cooking is never enough, right, Ran?"
Mouri Ran wiped her mouth with a napkin, nodding in agreement.
"Yes. Shopkeeper Ren's cooking skills are amazing. I originally thought my cooking skills were already very good since I cook for Dad and Conan-kun every day, but... this is a different level entirely."
Ren, who was wiping down the counter, smiled at the praise.
"Thank you for the compliment," he said humbly. "But it's not as amazing as you say. It just happens to suit your taste and the mood of the evening."
Sonoko rolled her eyes playfully.
"Ren! Although being humble is a virtue, what you just said is really annoying! Just accept that you're a genius!"
"Is it?" Ren chuckled.
"Master... Ren! Ren! Ren!" Cerberus chimed in from the next table, her mouth still full of fruit salad. "Ren's cooking is the best! Better than hellfire roasted souls!"
Sonoko waved her hand at the dog girl. "Exactly~ See? Even Cerberus says so. Do you have the heart to mislead a pure creature like Cerberus?"
"I suppose not."
Ren walked over to clear their empty plates. As he reached for Sonoko's glass, he paused.
He looked at the top of Sonoko's head.
"Speaking of which, Sonoko," Ren noted. "Did your hairband break?"
Sonoko was startled. She reached up to touch her signature yellow hairband.
Snap.
Indeed, she felt a crack in the plastic. It had finally given up the ghost after years of service.
"Ah! It really broke," Sonoko sighed, taking it off and looking at the two pieces in her hand. "Oh no... I quite liked this hairband. It was my lucky one."
Ren thought for a moment. "I remember you always seemed to wear this hairband? Every time you come here."
"Of course not!" Sonoko denied, though her cheeks turned slightly pink. "It's just that I always happened to wear this one when I came to see you. It looks like this one is done for, so I guess I won't wear it anymore. What a shame."
Mouri Ran smiled gently. "Don't worry, Sonoko. Let's buy another one tomorrow after school when we pass by that accessory shop in Shibuya. We can get matching ones!"
"Alright~ Matching ones sound good."
As Sonoko spoke, she completely removed the broken hairband from her hair.
Swish.
Her bangs, usually held back rigidly by the band, fell down. Her light brown hair cascaded softly around her face, framing her features perfectly.
The transformation was instantaneous.
Cerberus and Lucifer, who were watching from the next table, both froze. Their eyes widened.
Sonoko noticed their staring and touched her cheek self-consciously. "Eh? What's wrong with you two? Is there sauce on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Cerberus blinked blankly. "Is that... really Sonoko?! You've changed so much! You look like a different species!"
Lucifer also twitched her mouth, looking between the broken hairband and Sonoko's face.
"This isn't just a change," Lucifer muttered. "This is like directly turning into another person! The 'Hairband Limiter' theory is real..."
With her bangs down, Sonoko's usually loud and somewhat comical appearance vanished. In its place was a soft, delicate, and undeniably beautiful young woman. Her eyes looked gentler, her face shape more refined. She looked like a proper Ojou-sama (rich young lady).
Sonoko smiled and waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, stop it. You guys are exaggerating."
Mouri Ran covered her mouth and chuckled. "Sonoko is actually very beautiful with her hair down. I've told her many times. But she always wears a hairband because she says it's more practical. I'm not quite sure why she insists on hiding it~"
Sonoko thought for a moment, twirling a lock of hair. "Probably because my hair gets in my eyes when I'm looking for handsome guys~ That's not important! No need to focus on that! Eh? Lucifer, what are you doing?"
Lucifer was holding her phone up, the camera lens pointed squarely at Sonoko.
Click.
"Taking photos to post in the group chat," Lucifer stated calmly. "Kirari said she's very interested in seeing 'The Real Sonoko'. She calls it the 'SSR Version'."
Sonoko's mouth twitched. "That's the last person I want to be interested in my hair. But is the reaction really that big?"
Mouri Ran smiled. "Of course~ Because you look lovely. Ah!"
Ran looked at her own phone, which had just vibrated.
"Eh? Did Dad actually come home so early today?! That's so rare! He usually stays out drinking until midnight!"
Sonoko checked the time. "It is getting late. It's really unusual for Uncle Mouri to come home so early. Maybe he ran out of pachinko money."
She stood up, gathering her bag.
"Well then, Ren, Lucifer, Cerberus. We'll be heading off now~ We have school tomorrow."
Mouri Ran stood up as well, bowing politely. "Hmm, I'm sorry to leave so soon, Shopkeeper Ren. The food was amazing. Oh, and the total is..."
Ren smiled. "For the two of you, a total of one thousand two hundred yen~"
"Eh?!" Ran gasped. "Is it that cheap?! But the shrimp... and the pork..."
Sonoko laughed, slapping a bill on the counter. "It's normal, Ran! Brother Ren isn't running a business for profit, he's running a charity for hungry girls! I'll leave the money here. Keep the change! We're off now!"
Ren waved. "Be careful walking at night. Stay safe. And have a good trip home."
Sonoko grinned, flexing her arm. "Hehe, don't worry! I'll tell you a secret. Ran is the Captain of the Karate Club and a regional champion! And not the kind who just puts on a show—she breaks concrete blocks! She's really good!"
"Oh?" Ren looked at the slender, gentle girl with new appreciation. "I can't tell from looking at her, but that's truly impressive. A hidden dragon. Alright, hurry back. Come again when you have time."
"Okay! Brother Ren, we're leaving!"
"Goodbye, Shopkeeper Ren!"
The two high school girls exited the shop, the bell chiming behind them as they disappeared into the night.
Ren smiled and waved until the door closed.
Then, he turned back to the counter.
He leaned on the back of Lucifer's chair, looking down at the silver-haired Queen who was pouting.
"What's wrong?" Ren asked softly. "So quiet all of a sudden~ usually you're making fun of Sonoko."
Lucifer snorted. She turned her chair around to face him.
She pointed an accusing finger at his lips.
Ren was stunned for a moment. He reached out and touched the corner of his mouth.
He looked at his finger.
Sure enough, there was a faint smudge of blue lipstick on his hand.
Kirari... that woman really left a mark.
"Are you jealous?" Ren teased, wiping the mark away with his thumb.
"Hmph!" Lucifer crossed her arms, looking away. "And who is that woman called Albedo that Satoru mentioned earlier? Another rival?"
Ren smiled. He reached out and pinched Lucifer's soft cheek, just as he had done to Kirari earlier.
"She's a game character," Ren explained. "From the game Satoru plays. She's an NPC."
Lucifer blinked. "A game character?"
She broke free from his pinch, but her expression softened slightly.
"Then... tomorrow, I want to play that game too! I want to see this Albedo!"
"Alright~ We can set up an account for you."
"I'm going to rest now!" Lucifer announced, standing up abruptly. "My mood is ruined. Cerberus, you should also rest early!"
Cerberus, who was licking the last of the coconut milk from her bowl, looked up with wide eyes.
"But I'm not sleepy! I had sugar!"
As Cerberus finished speaking, she saw Lucifer's meaningful, glowing red eyes. It was a gaze that promised 'training' if she disobeyed.
Cerberus looked pitifully at Ren for help.
Ren smiled and patted the dog girl's head. "Lucifer is right. If Cerberus rests early, she'll have more energy to play the game tomorrow~ And maybe I'll make breakfast."
"Oh..." Cerberus's ears drooped, then perked up at the mention of breakfast. "Okay!"
Cerberus was dragged upstairs by Lucifer.
Ren was left alone in the quiet shop.
He touched his lips again, the phantom sensation of the blue lipstick still there. Then he looked at the empty plates of the Longjing Shrimp.
The night slowly deepened, wrapping the Dimensional Restaurant in silence once more...
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