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Passing through the back kitchen and storage room, Asakura led the group to the shop's operating area.
The walls of the operating area were off-white with a grayish tint, without excessive decoration. Only a simple abstract painting hung above the dining tables, adding a touch of artistic flair to the space.
The floor was laid with light gray wood-grain tiles, probably for durability and ease of cleaning—or possibly just because they were cheaper—but overall, they complemented the overall style.
The dining tables were rectangular wooden tables; to put it politely, they had smooth lines, but to put it bluntly, they lacked any design sense, highlighting their cheapness.
Each dining table was paired with chairs of the same color. Several tables against the wall also had soft-padded sofas with slightly reclined backs, which were somewhat ergonomic and comfortable to sit on, though for a family restaurant, this reduced table turnover, possibly making it a rather poor choice.
—Asakura subtly understood the reason for this family restaurant's closure.
On the other side of the shop, against the wall, a built-in bar counter was custom-made, with coffee saucers that Asakura hadn't had time to clear yesterday still on it.
The cabinet body was pure white, blending with the wall, visually expanding the sense of space. The cabinet was divided into two parts: the upper part was an open grid, where some commonly used tableware and decorations could be placed; the lower part had closed cabinet doors, which could store less frequently used items, keeping the space tidy.
Although it seemed very odd to appear in a family restaurant, if it were placed in a cafe or a light bar… it didn't seem that stylish either. The reason why the original owner made such a choice was baffling.
The entire restaurant had no excessive decoration. Although it somehow had a sense of coordination, the minimalist decoration style was still very particular about people's aesthetics.
"Is this Takkun's shop? It feels…"
Yuigahama Yui's tone started high, but the end dropped sharply: "It, it doesn't seem that good-looking…"
Gokou Ruri nodded in agreement, and Chihaya Anon's expression also looked rather uninterested.
It was clear that the decor, a paragon of minimalist style, in the shop gifted by the system (or rather, pilfered from the Togawa conglomerate), wasn't exactly in the strike zone for teenage girls.
"After all, it's just a bankrupt shop. The acquisition price was surprisingly low (0 yen), so don't expect too much from its original appearance."
Asakura spread his hands.
Honestly, he thought it should be redecorated, but after briefly checking the cost of redecorating a shop on his computer yesterday, the number of zeros after the quote immediately deterred him.
Anyway, the system task was just to make a profit. Perhaps a half-dead one would work? Not having a deficit counts as a victory!
"Oh, is this… the shopping district below the slope?"
As she spoke, Yuigahama Yui had already pushed open the glass door and stepped out of the shop, only then realizing that she was in the bustling Toyama Shopping District—while inside the shop just now, she couldn't feel any of the lively atmosphere outside.
What was even more bizarre was that in a prosperous shopping district, a bankrupt shop with a rather 'haunted house' vibe should have been quite eye-catching. After all, there were still several young men and women dressed as Soubu High School students inside the shop (and even a cute Gothic Lolita with cat ears!), yet the passersby seemed to completely ignore the shop, not even showing interest in a momentary glance.
This level of disregard could almost be considered abnormal.
Recalling the Clubroom embedded in the wall of the club building, the girl couldn't help but wonder, 'Can ordinary people not see this shop either?'
"Not full power."
Asakura, who had appeared beside her at some point, said abruptly, startling the girl.
"What?"
Yuigahama Yui asked subconsciously.
"Your expression just now, you must have been thinking something like, 'Opening a family restaurant in Toyama Shopping District, encountering Wagnaria, failing to defeat them with all my might, and finally going bankrupt,' right?"
Asakura said with a Swampert-like expression of 'I've seen through everything'.
"No, I was just wondering if ordinary people couldn't see this shop."
The girl chuckled dryly and retorted.
"Nani? I guessed wrong!"
Asakura was greatly surprised.
"Most people wouldn't think that… By the way, what's Wagnaria?"
Chihaya Anon also came to the door and asked curiously.
"A family restaurant on this street—" Gokou Ruri, who had once been treated there by Asakura, said: "The food is decent, but the waitstaff are all a bit strange."
"Isn't Miss Taneshima quite normal?"
Asakura, who frequently visited Wagnaria, protested.
"Such a small stature yet such large breasts, it's definitely strange!"
Gokou Ruri said very firmly.
"So, is it true that this shop is invisible to ordinary people?"
Yuigahama Yui asked curiously.
"Yes, Muggles won't notice this place for now, but once it opens, this effect can be turned off."
Asakura nodded and replied: "Otherwise, how would we even be able to operate?"
"Hey, hey, how about opening a Livehouse! Once I form my own band, I can come here to perform for Asakura~"
Chihaya Anon said happily, a look of 'As expected of me, to have thought of such a good idea!' on her slightly chubby face.
Asakura recalled checking various shop renovation quotes yesterday. The Livehouse, with all its equipment, had two more zeros at the end of its quote compared to family restaurants and cafes. He decisively shook his head: "I'm not interested in a Livehouse… By the way, you haven't given up on forming a band yet? Even though that misunderstanding about mental stress has already been resolved."
"Hmph hmph, Asakura, you really don't understand."
Chihaya Anon hummed lightly, then showed a slightly silly smile: "Even without mental stress, I still want to be looked at by others with admiring eyes!"
"A vain woman."
Gokou Ruri spoke her mind directly.
"That's also human nature…"
Yuigahama Yui smoothed things over awkwardly: "Wanting to be the protagonist and all, Ruri-chan must have similar thoughts, right?"
"That's not true at all! We, the Night Demon Queen, have stood above the heavens from the very beginning!"
Gokou Ruri immediately said proudly in a tone filled with chuunibyou flair.
"So, Ruri-chan is the type who likes to be a hidden powerhouse in the story, is that it?"
Yuigahama Yui understood.
Gokou Ruri didn't speak, but her haughty expression seemed to imply that she didn't object to Yuigahama's statement.
"That kind of setting is too boring! A truly exciting life is about a triple jump! Dash, jump, 1800-degree aerial spin and land!"
Chihaya Anon said.
"Your exciting life is a bit too full of ups and downs!"
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones=1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr | 16 novels being updated, I can't read all comments