"So expensive?"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura was immediately shocked.
Such prices might be acceptable in a high-end restaurant, but in a roadside stall like this, it made her suspect that this was actually a rip-off.
"I say, this shop is a scam, isn't it? Let's leave quickly."
Eriri Spencer Sawamura leaned close to Kasumigaoka Utaha's ear and whispered.
As a famous doujin artist, she wasn't short on money, but knowingly buying overpriced food was another matter entirely.
"Although it's a bit expensive, this shop owner possesses strength beyond his age, and the dishes he makes are exceptionally delicious."
Kasumigaoka Utaha said.
"Really?"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura's face was full of disbelief. She couldn't believe that Satou, who looked so young, could make dishes worth such a price.
To sell dishes at such high prices, one would at least need to be a head chef at a high-end restaurant. Even if Satou was a culinary genius, he clearly couldn't achieve that, could he?
"I'll have one portion of Yangzhou Fried Rice and one portion of Hand-pulled Cabbage."
Kasumigaoka Utaha said to Satou.
"No problem."
Satou nodded, then looked at Eriri Spencer Sawamura.
"Hmph! I'm not that easily fooled!"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura crossed her arms, snorted disdainfully, and said Tsundere-like, "It's absolutely impossible to make me pay obediently!"
Satou shrugged, then walked into the kitchen to prepare the food.
Since it was already mealtime, customers started coming in one after another shortly after, including those who had eaten there last time and those who couldn't get Satou's dishes at Kagurazaka-ya.
Satou got the message and hurried out of the kitchen.
"Haha, I couldn't get your dishes over there, but after hearing about your shop, I rushed over immediately!"
A customer laughed heartily.
"This time we should finally be able to buy some food, right?"
Another customer joked.
Some customers even complained, "I say, shop owner, you really should have told us sooner that you opened your own shop!"
"Everyone can eat today."
Satou couldn't help but smile upon hearing this, "Currently, my small shop has two dishes: one is Yangzhou Fried Rice, and the other is Hand-pulled Cabbage."
"Oh? Hand-pulled Cabbage? Can we finally buy it this time?"
Several customers who heard the news immediately brightened up. Back then, Hand-pulled Cabbage was not for sale; they couldn't buy it even if they wanted to!
"I'll have one of both dishes!"
"Me too."
They all readily placed their orders.
"No problem."
Satou smiled slightly and walked into the kitchen.
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri Spencer Sawamura, who witnessed this scene, were both a little surprised.
"No way? This rip-off shop actually has customers?"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura felt very surprised.
"Now, you should believe me, right?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha said.
"Hmph! It must be shills hired by the shop owner. I'm not that easily fooled!"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura lightly snorted, with a look that said, "I just don't believe it!"
After a while, another group of customers entered the shop.
"This must be the place? Hope we're not too late."
"Shop owner, I'll have one of both dishes."
As soon as they entered, they eagerly placed their orders, as if afraid they wouldn't be able to get any.
The small shop was already quite cramped, and soon there was no more room for people inside.
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri Spencer Sawamura on the side were simply dumbfounded.
They never expected that this inconspicuous little shop, from the outside, would have such high popularity, and that people would rush to buy such expensive dishes!
They had never even heard of such a thing in high-end restaurants!
"Huh? Isn't that the famous food critic, Miss Hanayama-in Natsuki?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha recognized one of the customers and covered her mouth in surprise.
"What? Is that the Demoness of Food?"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura asked in surprise.
"Yes."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's anticipation for Satou's dishes grew even stronger, and she asked, "Do you still believe they are shills?"
"Hmph! Anyway, I'm just not buying!"
In truth, Eriri Spencer Sawamura's resolve had already wavered, but remembering what she had said earlier, she could only stubbornly hold her ground.
Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't help but shake her head, secretly amused.
At this moment, the first batch of dishes was ready. Satou personally handed a portion of Yangzhou Fried Rice and a portion of Hand-pulled Cabbage to Hanayama-in Natsuki, and Erina Nakiri also helped serve the dishes.
"This is yours."
Then, Satou handed the dishes to Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Thank you."
Kasumigaoka Utaha said her thanks, then eagerly picked up her chopsticks and began to savor the food.
The fragrant fried rice and the piping hot, spicy yet sweet Hand-pulled Cabbage made Kasumigaoka Utaha close her eyes in ecstasy, a satisfied smile appearing on her face.
She could bet this was the best dish she had ever eaten!
Beside her, Eriri Spencer Sawamura looked at the golden-yellow fried rice and the emerald green cabbage. The aroma of the dishes kept wafting into her nostrils, making her gulp uncontrollably.
"Do you want to buy it?"
Satou couldn't help but secretly laugh at her drooling appearance.
"I'm not buying it!"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura swallowed her saliva desperately while feigning disdain.
If she bowed her head to this shop owner like this, where would her pride go?
Satou shook his head and walked away.
"Are you really not buying it? It's really delicious! I feel as if all my negative emotions have left me, and I feel more relaxed than ever before."
Kasumigaoka Utaha narrowed her eyes, quietly savoring the wonderful taste on her tongue.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura stared longingly at the two dishes in front of her, her mouth watering, and her stomach began to protest wildly.
Buy it, buy it.
A devil's voice kept whispering in her mind.
No, it's too embarrassing!
Still, buy it, my stomach is more important.
No, I absolutely cannot bow my head like this. I also have my pride!
...
At this moment, Eriri Spencer Sawamura was in extreme agony. After countless internal struggles, she finally yelled, "Forget it, pride doesn't matter anymore! Shop owner, give me both dishes!"
This loud shout immediately attracted the attention of many people.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura's pretty face turned red, feeling very ashamed, but she had already thrown caution to the wind.
Even if she was despised or looked down upon, it didn't matter. All she wanted now was to eat the dishes!
"I'm sorry, today's portions are sold out."
Satou said regretfully.
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