"May I ask what you would like?"
The newcomer had a pair of light leaf-green eyes, slightly flushed cheeks, a mole beneath each eye, and three long sakura-pink braids with grass-green tips.
It was a girl. Seeing the newcomer, Rika immediately stepped forward to greet her.
Upon closer inspection, the person was wearing a pure white haori, an open-chested uniform with a short skirt, and knee-high thick white socks. Although her face was somewhat youthful, her figure was explosively good.
"Do you have any recommended dishes here?"
Looking at the exquisitely decorated shop, Kanroji Mitsuri's eyes showed a hint of surprise. Her gaze swept around the restaurant, but after searching for a long time, she couldn't find the menu. So, she asked Rika, who was closest to her.
"You'll have to ask the shopkeeper about that. Shopkeeper, do you have any recommended dishes?"
Since there was no menu for guests to order from, Rika didn't know what to recommend, so she scurried to the kitchen doorway, poked her head in, and asked Hoshino Sora inside.
"A customer has arrived? Let me see…"
Since he had just acquired the Nine-Tailed Cloak, Hoshino Sora was undoubtedly excited to hear a new customer had arrived. He eagerly poked his head out of the kitchen, and Kanroji Mitsuri's figure quickly appeared in his line of sight.
She truly was a beauty, he had to admit!
Hoshino Sora exclaimed with a hint of emotion. He recognized the newcomer: Kanroji Mitsuri, the Love Hashira from Demon Slayer.
Although Kanroji Mitsuri was an 'old' maid who couldn't marry in Demon Slayer, her appearance was truly not bad: fair skin, beautiful face, long legs, distinct and characteristic hair color, and most importantly, an amazing figure!
He wondered which lecher designed this split-front uniform; it was in between revealing and not revealing, giving a sense of being faintly visible. The visual impact was absolutely first-rate!
"We are about to eat, so we don't have time to entertain guests for now. If you don't mind, you can eat with us. Of course, you won't be disappointed with the taste."
"Is that alright? Won't I be bothering you…?"
Hearing that Hoshino Sora couldn't entertain guests, Kanroji Mitsuri couldn't help but be stunned, and her expression became a bit hesitant, thinking to herself if she had come at an inconvenient time.
"Not at all. With such a beautiful girl joining us for a meal, we couldn't be happier. Just find a seat anywhere."
Hoshino Sora said with a smile, then, without waiting for Kanroji Mitsuri's agreement, he turned and went back into the kitchen. The other party, under Asaka's enthusiastic invitation, chose a seat in the inner corner and sat down.
Because she had seen the Nine-Tailed Cloak suddenly appear earlier, and combining that with Hoshino Sora's excited demeanor, Asaka guessed that the ability was very likely given by the departing customer.
The reason for this guess was simple: time.
As soon as the customer left, Hoshino Sora gained that ability and looked excited as if it were his first time seeing it. It was clear that these customers' payment method was not money but some kind of ability.
"Here, if you're thirsty, have a glass of water first."
Having figured this out, Asaka's attitude towards Kanroji Mitsuri became exceptionally good, with a constant smile on her face. This also made Mitsuri feel a good impression of these shop employees.
"This shop is really nice," Kanroji Mitsuri thought to herself.
However, the style of this shop is so unique; I've never seen it before, although this is also my first time here. I wonder how the food tastes.
Oh no, I forgot to tell the shopkeeper that I eat a lot. Will it be awkward when we eat together later? Should I go tell him now? Will it be too sudden? I'm so conflicted!~
Suddenly quiet, many thoughts surfaced in Kanroji Mitsuri's mind, and her face showed a conflicted expression.
She still had to go kill demons tonight, so she had to fill her stomach, but going to say it now felt a bit abrupt. Perhaps she should wait until after dinner to tell the shopkeeper, and then pay a bit more money. Although it would be a little awkward, but...
Conflicted and hesitant, time passed by minute by minute, and a scent of food drifted from the kitchen.
Sniffing with her small nose, there was fried pork cutlet, sweet and sour pork ribs, roasted chicken, stir-fried water spinach... various smells intertwined, some familiar and some strange. It felt so rich!
"Sorry for the wait, dinner is here. Customer, just eat to your heart's content. Today's main dish is Golden Fried Rice, which is my specialty."
"There are more dishes in the kitchen. Asaka-nee, Rika-nee, come lend a hand, and also move that table over. Put two tables together, otherwise, it might not fit."
Carrying a large platter of Golden Fried Rice out of the kitchen, Hoshino Sora pointed to a nearby dining table and instructed. After placing the fried rice down, he turned and rushed back into the kitchen without stopping.
"There's… more?"
Looking at Hoshino Sora's retreating back, Kanroji Mitsuri was clearly a bit surprised. Although this large basin of fried rice wasn't enough for the four of them, it certainly wasn't a small amount.
Yet, Hoshino Sora said he needed to get another table. One should know that this basin of fried rice only occupied about one-fifth of the table's space, with most of the table still empty.
However, as the two dining tables were pushed together and Hoshino Sora and Asaka emerged from the kitchen carrying more dishes, Kanroji Mitsuri's doubts gradually dissipated.
The two moved incredibly fast, their dishes held steadily and smoothly. Soon, both dining tables were covered with delicious food, and a rich aroma filled the entire restaurant, lingering endlessly.
Among them, Kanroji Mitsuri saw the dishes she had smelled earlier. While feeling a little smug, she was also somewhat surprised. Why did Hoshino Sora bring out so many dishes?
Without knowing her appetite, it was impossible for one boy and three young girls to finish so much food. Was it pure extravagance and waste, or did the other party also have an astonishing appetite?
Not knowing the reason but also not asking, Kanroji Mitsuri sat obediently in the corner, then saw the shopkeeper naturally sit beside her. At that moment, a faint feeling of shyness welled up in her heart.
No other reason: the shopkeeper was handsome and very charming.
The kind of person who would score 9.9 out of 10. The moment she first saw him, her heart started pounding. That was probably why she chose to stay.
But now it seemed, this shopkeeper's cooking skills were also excellent. Such a large table of delicious food made her mouth water!
No, no, a girl must be reserved, must be reserved, mhm! Reserved...
That's what she said, but the aroma of the food in front of her was simply too tempting! Saliva secreted profusely in her mouth. At this moment, she had a strange feeling: the dishes before her would be more delicious than all the dishes she had ever eaten!
It was a deep, profound craving from the depths of her heart!
If she weren't a Hashira, and her self-control wasn't so strong, she would definitely be unable to resist pouncing on it directly and eating the dishes in front of her with the ugliest eating posture of her life.
But she was!
After strict training, she could barely control her gluttony, so she had endured until now, managing to maintain her image in front of Hoshino Sora.
"Why are you just standing there? Is it not to your taste?"
Hoshino Sora asked, quite puzzled, facing Kanroji Mitsuri, who was trying to act like a lady while suppressing her appetite.
The food was all served, emitting such an alluring aroma, and the colors were all just right. Even he couldn't help but want to dig in. Wasn't she hungry?
"No, no, it's very much to my liking. These dishes look very appetizing. I'm just a bit reserved, that's why..."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's voice and seeing his handsome face so close, Kanroji Mitsuri instinctively recoiled a bit. Her heart raced to an extreme, and her head shook like a rattle, causing her words to become a bit jumbled.
"Pfft, there's no need for that. I'm not a lion or a tiger, so there's no need to avoid me like that. Try my cooking. Our shop just opened today, and we haven't advertised, so there haven't been many customers. Just treat this place like your own home."
Noticing Kanroji Mitsuri's nervousness, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but find it amusing. His impression of her in the anime had always been of a generous girl, so he didn't expect her to have such a shy side.
"My own home... Ah, okay..."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Kanroji Mitsuri felt her heart race intensely. What did he mean by 'my own home'? It was so strange. Was this a confession? No, no, no, that couldn't be it, no matter how she thought about it!
Her peripheral vision glanced at Hoshino Sora, and she found that he had refocused his attention on the dishes in front of him, unaware that the ambiguity of his previous sentence had caused her distress.
Following his gaze, Kanroji Mitsuri swallowed as she looked at the beautifully plated, brightly colored, and richly fragrant dishes in front of her. She picked up her chopsticks and joined the 'battle'.
A bite of braised prawns, a bite of cumin beef, another bite of Spicy Chicken, and two big mouthfuls of fried rice. The sense of satisfaction in her heart instantly reached its peak! Especially this Golden Fried Rice; once she started eating it, all the other dishes became bland!
She declared it the strongest!
"Amazing! Shopkeeper, your cooking is so good!"
A blissful expression appeared on her face, and her body trembled slightly. Although she could control her breathing with her Breathing Technique to make herself appear less alluring, the comfortable feeling that arose from within could not be completely alleviated by the Breathing Technique!
"Hmm, I feel... my body feels so strange."
Kanroji Mitsuri's voice trembled slightly, and the pride of a young woman also changed in amplitude with her body's trembling, making Hoshino Sora dizzy with admiration.
Aka Rika saw Hoshino Sora's reaction and simultaneously showed a hint of disdain on their faces, but they didn't say anything and continued to eat their food.
"It might be the influence of the food. When people eat food they like, they feel a genuine sense of pleasure. This pleasure, when it acts on the body, can produce strange sensations."
"Hmm, although it feels very strange, there's no discomfort in my body at all. It's a comfortable kind of strange. Hmm... *cough*, sorry, I made such an unseemly sound."
Kanroji Mitsuri said with a blush. Although she wanted to control it, the extreme comfort would be exceptionally hard to bear if she held it in. This feeling now was like doing something in public that makes one feel good, which is wonderful and stimulating, but she couldn't make a sound. It was a double challenge, both physiological and psychological!
"It's fine. Many people who try my cooking for the first time react this way. You're actually quite good at self-control."
Hoshino Sora said matter-of-factly, looking at the quickly disappearing dishes on the table. As he spoke, he picked up a piece of cumin beef and put it into his mouth, chewing patiently to savor the taste, eating very elegantly.
No matter how good the food, eating it every day would make it seem ordinary. These dishes, which were top-notch in the eyes of outsiders, were just ordinary dinner in Hoshino Sora's eyes, nothing special. But for Kanroji Mitsuri, they were truly a delicacy.
"By the way, Shopkeeper, why did you open a shop in such a remote place? With your skills, you could succeed even in a big city."
Her stomach gradually filled, and looking at the almost empty table, Kanroji Mitsuri asked a question that had puzzled her. Hoshino Sora's cooking was so good, why would he open a restaurant in this desolate forest? It was impossible to have any customers!
If she hadn't happened to encounter it while heading to a town plagued by demons and happened to be hungry, she wouldn't have dined at this strange restaurant.
Of course, there was also a certain element of 'boldness due to skill,' wanting to see if this restaurant was run by a 'Demon.' Some more intelligent 'Demons' enjoyed doing such things.
"Acting on a whim."
Without much elaboration, Hoshino Sora only replied with four words. He didn't know where his restaurant had been transported to in the Demon Slayer World. Saying too much would only reveal his secret, so he simply found an excuse to gloss over it.
"Alright, but it's really been a long time since I've eaten this much."
Patting her gradually rounded belly, Kanroji Mitsuri leaned back on the sofa, looking completely satisfied. The dishes in front of her made her want to eat more and more, and before she knew it, she had eaten until she was full.
"Good that you're full. Wait a moment, I have dessert prepared in the kitchen."
Hoshino Sora said, standing up and heading to the kitchen to retrieve the tiramisu from the refrigerator. He had learned a lot about that dessert, known as the king of desserts, at Akikubo Momo's factory.
"There's still dessert?"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, an expectant look appeared on Kanroji Mitsuri's face. What girl doesn't like sweets? As a loyal sweet tooth, she naturally couldn't resist such a temptation.
"Sora's desserts are also incredibly delicious, you can look forward to them. Speaking of which, your hair color is so beautiful, is it dyed?"
Seeing Hoshino Sora return to the kitchen, Asaka, who had been silent until now, spoke up. As she spoke, she got up from her seat and went to Kanroji Mitsuri's side, looking at her hair color with curiosity.
"Huh? It's natural. Is this beautiful...?"
Hearing Asaka's compliment, Kanroji Mitsuri's face showed some hesitation. She had been rejected countless times by potential marriage partners because of this strange hair color, and now someone actually thought her hair was beautiful. Oh no, why did she suddenly feel like crying?!
"It's very beautiful. Your long cherry-pink braided hair with grass-green tips. Both cherry-pink and grass-green are elegant colors, and even as complementary colors, they don't look bad together at all. Instead, they create a strong visual impact. Of course, this might also be related to your cute appearance. A delicate face paired with beautiful hair—you're the kind of bright protagonist who stands out in a crowd and is outstanding wherever you go. Your figure is also great; you're simply the most perfect wife candidate."
Carrying four boxes of tiramisu, Hoshino Sora walked out of the kitchen. Hearing the two of them chatting, he couldn't help but interject, his words full of praise for Kanroji Mitsuri, clearly very fond of her.
"Cute? Are you talking about me? I'm so big; no boys in my hometown liked me. They all liked girls with black hair and petite figures. Don't make fun of me; I know I'm not very good-looking, and my hair is ugly..."
Although Kanroji Mitsuri was very happy to hear Hoshino Sora's words, she still put on an incredulous expression, thinking he was just comforting her.
"I have no intention of making fun of you. Everything I said comes from the heart. Moreover, I'm not the only one who thinks so. Right, Asaka-nee, Rika-nee?"
As he spoke, Hoshino Sora sat next to Rika, placing the tiramisu in front of them, then turned to the two for affirmation.
"I also think you're very beautiful. Those men who don't appreciate you simply have bad eyesight. If you were in my hometown, you'd at least be an idol-level celebrity! The kind that countless people adore."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Asaka also joined in the praise. She wasn't lying; Kanroji Mitsuri was not only good-looking but also distinctive. In the Japanese idol world, she would definitely be a very popular figure, easily able to debut as a star.
"Really?"
"It's true. Just have a little confidence in yourself."
Rika also added from the side.
"Alright, let's not talk about this topic anymore. Quickly try the tiramisu. It's just out of the refrigerator, very fresh, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied with the taste!"
"What is tiramisu...?"
Kanroji Mitsuri's face was flushed with curiosity as she looked at the tiramisu, a dessert contained in a box, for the first time.
"It's a dessert that originated in the West. Both its taste and texture are first-class, making it very suitable for after-meal consumption. Try it first; you might like it," Hoshino Sora said with a smile, extending a spoon.
"Mhm." Seeing the spoon Hoshino Sora offered, Kanroji Mitsuri naturally reached out to take it. During the process, their fingers accidentally touched, making intimate contact.
In just an instant, Kanroji Mitsuri recoiled as if she had been electrocuted. Her cheeks visibly reddened, and her gaze instinctively darted away.
Upon closer inspection, one could even notice her eyes becoming somewhat shifty, occasionally stealing glances at Hoshino Sora, as if hinting at something, but she was too shy to express it.
Besides the reaction on her face, her neck also became somewhat red, appearing even more delicate and lovely, which inexplicably made Hoshino Sora want to put a hickey on her neck.
No, no, no. Especially at times like this, he must show gentlemanly conduct. In this situation, he could only offer a smile and pretend not to care.
"Ahem, try this Western dessert. Its taste will definitely not disappoint you."
As Hoshino Sora spoke, Kanroji Mitsuri picked up the tiramisu in her hand and took a small bite. Instantly, her eyes lit up, as if her entire being was intoxicated by the dessert's deliciousness.
"Amazing! This taste is so good, and it doesn't have the strong impact of other dishes; it's a peaceful and harmonious taste."
She gently chewed the ladyfingers, savoring the aroma and taste of coffee, while also enjoying the creamy sweetness from the filling made of mascarpone cheese and fresh cream.
As the dessert melted in her mouth, Kanroji Mitsuri closed her eyes, savoring the wonderful experience of that moment.
She felt the warmth and comfort the tiramisu brought, as if the whole world had become soft, and she herself was floating in a cloud, light and airy.
Finally, she gently licked her lips, tasting the bitter flavor of the cocoa powder, which perfectly balanced her taste buds.
"What a perfect dessert! I never thought there could be anything tastier than Sakura Mochi in this world. Is this called tiramisu? I'll remember that."
Looking at the empty tiramisu container, Kanroji Mitsuri's face showed clear enjoyment. This thing, both in taste and texture, was more delicious than Sakura Mochi!
The slight bitterness at the end swept away the previous sweetness, creating a perfect balance that prevented the entire tiramisu from being too cloying.
"Do you like Sakura Mochi? Then next time you come, I'll make it for you. Don't worry, the Sakura Mochi I make will definitely be no less delicious than this tiramisu."
Hearing Kanroji Mitsuri's words of emotion, Hoshino Sora said opportunistically. He could make simple desserts like Sakura Mochi; it was just that he didn't have the ingredients right now, so he couldn't put it into practice.
"Really? Shopkeeper, you're so kind! I'll definitely come again!"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Kanroji Mitsuri's face showed an expression of gratitude.
The other party was actually willing to make her favorite dish for her. The shopkeeper was truly a good person! He was handsome and gentle. These two next to him must be his sisters, right? Maybe something could develop.
Looking at Hoshino Sora's simple, smiling face, such thoughts popped into Kanroji Mitsuri's mind.
However, although she really wanted to stay, it was getting late. There were already signs of nightfall outside, and worried that demons would continue to harm people, she prepared to bid farewell and leave.
"How much do these cost, please?"
Pointing to the messy dining table, Kanroji Mitsuri pulled out a bulging purse containing a large stack of banknotes. She turned out to be a little rich lady.
"It's free. You are my first customer in this life, so I've decided to give it to you for free."
Waving his hand, Hoshino Sora did not intend to collect money.
The biggest reason was that he wasn't interested in money, and then he had too much money on hand now and couldn't spend it all. Who would care about something like waste paper?
"How can that be?"
"I'm the boss, and what I say goes. I told you to treat this place like home; there's no reason to pay for food at home. And here, take this for the road."
"Thank you."
Hoshino Sora said jokingly, then, without further ado, took a few sesame seed cakes from the kitchen and told her to take them for the road.
In response, Kanroji Mitsuri quietly thanked him, her heart filled with warmth.
So, how would the system reward him for his dedicated efforts?
Watching Kanroji Mitsuri push open the restaurant door and prepare to leave, Hoshino Sora's heart was filled with anticipation at that moment, expressed by him rubbing his hands together like a fly.
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