The phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. Koma Enji, who was holding a food container and savoring the Miracle Comet Fried Rice with a look of pure enjoyment, put down his chopsticks and took out his phone.
Yoshimura Kuzen, Yomo Renji, Kirishima Touka, and Irimi Kaya couldn't help but glance over. The Devil Ape group was in charge of security today. A message at this time… could something have happened?
Koma frowned as he looked down at the message from Mizutani Hayato. "Mizutani saw Jason and a flamboyant man near the crossroads. He said they're heading for…"
At this point, Koma paused, lifted his head, and gestured with his chin towards the restaurant.
They were surrounded by humans; some things were better left unsaid.
He glanced down at a new message and continued, "Jason also called Mizutani a 'fish that got away' and told him to report to Kamata."
"Is it the one with the terrible reputation?" Irimi Kaya asked vaguely.
Koma Enji nodded slightly. His current theory was that Jason had heard from somewhere that Ryohei Tanaka's cooking could be eaten by ghouls and had come over, probably intending to kidnap Ryohei.
He would absolutely do something like that!
The guy was a reckless, unrestrained madman with a cruel personality. Nothing he did was surprising. Plus, he didn't care about exposing his face; after all, he'd already been captured by the CCG before, though he had somehow escaped later.
Koma felt this was going to be tricky.
It wasn't that he lacked the confidence to take Jason down, but he wasn't confident he could do it instantly. After all, Jason wasn't weak; he was rumored to be a half-kakuja.
Furthermore, with so many humans around, it would be terrible to drag them into a fight.
Koma also didn't want to cause a scene near Ryohei Tanaka's newly opened restaurant, and he certainly didn't want to attract the CCG's attention…
After thinking it over, he concluded that negotiation was impossible. A fight was inevitable.
So, Koma decided to find a strong partner to finish the job quickly. He looked at his companions one by one.
"Irimi, you with me? Or maybe you, Manager? How about you, Yomo?"
Kirishima Touka silently shoveled another mouthful of fried rice. Although she wanted to help, she felt her strength would only get in the way.
"I'll go," Yomo Renji spoke up.
Though a man of few words, he had always been reliable.
Koma smiled and nodded at him. He handed his unfinished fried rice to Irimi Kaya, asking her to hold it. Yomo Renji did the same, passing his portion to Kirishima Touka.
Then, the two of them left the group.
Meanwhile, Yoshimura Kuzen was thinking about investigating Kamata later. Something seemed to be happening in the 11th Ward...
"I'm so sorry, that was the last portion. We're sold out," Yusa announced apologetically to the people still in line after selling the final serving of Miracle Comet Fried Rice.
"You're out just when it's my turn?"
The person right behind the last customer looked devastated. "Is there really nothing left?" he pleaded, "Even half a serving would be fine!"
"Not a single grain is left," Yusa said, shaking her head gently while holding the tray.
The person who bought the last portion felt like the luckiest person alive, thinking he should buy a lottery ticket on the way home tonight. He might just win the grand prize!
But the people behind him refused to accept this reality and began to plead:
"Could you ask Chef Tanaka to make another wok-full?"
"Yeah! We're all loyal customers of Chef Tanaka!"
"I'm afraid that might be difficult. The chef is likely too busy," Yusa replied with a patient smile. "Besides, the wok used for the fried rice is now filled with water and has a steamer basket on top. He's steaming something else."
Hearing this, the hopeful few let out sighs of disappointment.
After politely saying, "Miracle Comet Fried Rice will be available again tomorrow, so please come early if you want some," Yusa prepared to leave.
But just then, she noticed a tall, burly figure and a… 'dazzling' figure walking over.
The moment they approached, Koji-kun clutched the cash box and hid behind her sister, peeking out with just the top of her head showing.
"So this is the Glowing Cuisine?"
Oomori Yakumo's eyes were glued to the luminous food in the hands of several humans, and he unconsciously swallowed.
But he disdained eating food that humans had already touched.
Besides, since he was already here, he would naturally just take the chef with him. He could eat slowly when he got back; there was no rush.
"This is the first time I've ever craved human food," Nico, the flamboyant ghoul, said, taking a deep breath with an intoxicated expression. He then placed one hand on his chest and gently caressed his own cheek.
The people in line had already felt uneasy when the hulking, brutish-looking Oomori Yakumo approached. Now, hearing Nico's words, their bodies stiffened, and they broke out in a cold sweat.
'What do you mean by that? You guys…'
A terrifying thought surfaced in their minds.
Just then, Oomori Yakumo shifted his gaze away from them and toward Yusa and Koji-kun, relieving the immense pressure on the customers he had been staring at.
"Are you employees of the shop?" he asked. "Speaking of which, the scent coming from you two is also strange! I've never smelled anything like it…"
Oomori Yakumo looked at Yusa, then at the uniquely dressed little girl behind her. He twitched his nose, intrigued.
However, his main interest was still Ryohei Tanaka. He looked down at Yusa with a grim smile.
"Take me to see your boss. I have a wonderful proposition for him."
Inside the restaurant, Lucoa, who was sipping her plum wine, slowly opened her eyes.
Putting on their masks after a quick disguise, Koma Enji and Yomo Renji finally arrived…
Yusa raised her hand, aiming a slender fingertip at Oomori Yakumo.
A chilling aura spread, and ice crystals began to form!
Then came Yusa's cold, clear voice:
Under the dim yellow light of the streetlamp, a layer of shimmering ice completely encased Oomori Yakumo. The sinister smile on his face remained, frozen in time—lifelike and eternal.
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