Downtown, in the alley.
As soon as the car stopped, everyone got out.
Hayashi checked the time - exactly 5 PM, still a bit of time before opening.
"Waf~!" (Come quick!)
At this time, Pochita saw Hayashi return and hurried out to alert him.
"What's wrong?"
"Waf~!" (Seeds! Seeds!)
"Come on, take me to see."
Hearing it was about the seeds.
Hayashi followed Pochita into the yard, going directly to where the seeds were planted at noon.
As soon as he arrived, he saw that the soil pit that had been slightly covered had already been pushed up into a small mound.
When planted at noon.
The soil above the seeds had only been lightly packed down, not protruding at all.
But now there was clearly a mound pushed up.
Obviously something was happening underneath.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had watched these seeds being planted.
Seeing this, she was a bit worried: "Could there be bugs under the soil, or something pushing up, or too much water?"
"Shouldn't be." Hayashi was confident about the seeds.
First, they were system products. Second, the seeds had monster attributes.
They couldn't be as fragile as ordinary seeds.
Hayashi squatted down and poked the mound with his finger.
"The moisture and softness are just right, there should be no problem. It's probably just growing too fast."
Utaha didn't quite believe this growth speed: "Can they grow this fast?"
Tohru stepped forward: "Let me handle this, Hayashi-san."
"You have a way to check?"
"Yes."
"Go ahead."
Tohru came to the seed mound.
She first lowered her head to smell it, then nodded in confirmation: "The seeds smell fine, and there's a fragrant aroma, even richer than at noon. No problems."
Then she also inserted her finger, but used magic power to sense around.
Finally, she confirmed.
"No problems, Hayashi-san. The seeds are very healthy. I just injected some magic power into them, so they should grow even faster tonight."
Having been tested with magic power.
Hayashi confidently spread his hands: "Then they're just growing fast."
Utaha was very surprised: "That's way too fast..."
They were only planted at noon.
Only about 5 hours had passed, and the seeds had already pushed up mounds.
At this rate, they'd definitely sprout tonight.
By tomorrow, they could see seedlings.
"I'm thirsty, Hayashi." At this time, Kanna tugged at his sleeve.
"Mm, let's go inside first."
Hayashi hadn't had anything to drink all day either.
Entering the restaurant.
Hayashi first made some refreshing and satisfying lemon tea to quench their thirst.
It was already June, and the weather was getting hotter.
Perfect time for drinking ice water.
He directly made a bucket of lemon tea, nearly twenty liters, put it in a glass jar, then inverted it to form a self-serve drink dispenser.
Several people took 500ml large cups and filled them up.
But before drinking.
Hayashi called out: "Wait a moment."
Everyone looked at Hayashi.
"Put your cups together, watch me work."
Everyone placed their undrunk lemon tea side by side.
Hayashi scanned everyone's full appearance, confirmed their looks, then began making custom ice cubes.
"Ice Devil's Manifestation - Demon's Essence"
A cold air appeared above the cups, then ice cubes of different appearances condensed in the air and dropped into the lemon tea.
Tohru's cup had Tohru-shaped ice cubes.
Kanna had Kanna's, Utaha had Utaha's - basically identical.
"Woah~!"
Tohru had seen this before.
But like Kanna, she still showed delighted expressions.
Maximum emotional value, okay?
Utaha also opened her mouth in surprise, looking at her cup, then at Hayashi.
"Drink up, why are you looking at me?" Hayashi picked up his own cup and dropped a few normal ice cubes in.
Tohru and Kanna immediately started drinking.
Kanna finished hers in one gulp.
Then she took out an ice cube to look at, and after looking, popped it in her mouth to suck on.
Utaha took a sip, then also took out her ice cube.
She looked carefully at the ice cube.
It was exactly the same - even the marks from stockings on her thighs were reflected in the ice cube.
Involuntarily.
She lowered her head, tilting the ice cube to try to see the mysterious area under her skirt.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Hayashi noticed from the side and was speechless: "You're trying to peek under your own skirt? Pervert."
"What!" Utaha was caught and immediately blushed.
She quickly glanced once more, then put the ice cube back in the lemon tea, and said with a red face while being stubborn:
"I was just checking to see how well you know what's under my skirt."
"If you know it very well, then that means hehe~~~"
Utaha hummed twice and gave Hayashi a knowing look.
She had never shown Hayashi under her skirt.
So how would Hayashi know?
Therefore, the underside of that ice cube skirt was actually solid, not hollow.
But Hayashi chuckled.
He leaned back on the sofa and stared at Utaha for a while.
"..." Utaha felt a bit shy being stared at, but still put on a show of displaying her figure: "Does it look good?"
After watching for a while, Hayashi guessed:
"Black? Or dark blue."
"!!!???" Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was showing off her figure, suddenly froze.
She stiffly turned her head to look at Hayashi.
Hayashi had an expression like he'd guessed correctly, and said happily: "Looks like I guessed right."
"Hentai~!!!"
And so.
Just as they were about to open for business, Hayashi ran to the kitchen to prepare ingredients.
Kasumigaoka Utaha chased him to the bar counter before stopping.
Finally, she came back panting and angrily gulped down two mouthfuls of lemon tea.
Hayashi had guessed correctly.
Today's color really was on the black side.
In the kitchen.
Hayashi was actually preparing ingredients.
He took out some commonly sold ingredient materials to process first.
Like fish, whole pieces of meat, vegetables and such.
He generally processed enough for two or three days at once, saving a lot of trouble.
Of course, he didn't need to worry about things going bad from being stored too long.
After processing these things properly.
He would directly put them in the system warehouse, taking them out when needed, and they'd still be in the same condition as when he put them in.
As for why he only made 2-3 days of inventory?
Don't ask - if you ask, it's because he was lazy.
Wasn't 2-3 days enough?
If he stored for a week or even a month at once, how much work would he have to do all at once? Then he'd have nothing to do again.
And so it continued until six o'clock.
When the time came.
Tohru came over to ask: "It's six o'clock, Hayashi-san. Are we opening?"
"Opening. Flip the sign over."
"Okay."
Tohru knew they would open, but the confirmation process was still necessary.
At six o'clock sharp, they opened for business.
Hayashi was in the kitchen processing ingredients, cutting fish and cleaning out innards.
They had been open for a while.
No one had come yet.
But after a bit longer, a new customer arrived.
A youthful and beautiful girl.
Sakurajima Mai!
When Tohru saw Mai at the entrance, she was also slightly surprised: "Oh, it's you, that bunny girl."
"Ugh!" Sakurajima Mai almost had her defenses broken as soon as she arrived.
She blushed slightly, quickly looked around, then added: "Please don't mention bunny girl anymore."
Tohru nodded: "Mm-hmm."
Sakurajima Mai breathed a sigh of relief.
At the same time, countless feelings of relief welled up in her heart.
On the way to the shop.
Sakurajima Mai had been constantly checking her phone, looking at the map, hoping this location really existed and that she hadn't found the wrong place.
When she reached the shop entrance, Mai had to muster up courage to walk in.
She was really afraid that after going in, it would be some other shop.
The owner would ask her what she was doing there, or what she wanted and such.
Then when Mai came back out.
She would definitely have a mental breakdown, with vacant eyes.
Fortunately, Tohru-san at first sight matched up!
It was that dragon maid!
Sakurajima Mai asked with anticipation: "Where's your manager?"
Tohru, holding a towel, pointed toward the kitchen.
"He's processing ingredients. Do you want to order? I can go call him. The food Hayashi-san makes is the most delicious cuisine in the world!"
"Order?" Mai only then remembered this was a restaurant.
She happened to be hungry too, so she agreed: "Okay, let me take a look."
Tohru found her a seat and gave her the menu.
After sitting down, Sakurajima Mai looked at the menu.
Finally, she ordered something she often ate.
"Mapo tofu rice bowl, and a glass of water, thank you."
"No need to thank me, but how about a drink instead? Hayashi-san just made a big bucket, it's really delicious!"
"Um... okay."
"Then I'll go."
Tohru returned to the kitchen.
She stuck her head in from outside and said:
"Mai-san is here. She wants one mapo tofu, mild spicy. I'll get the drink myself."
"Mai came?" Hayashi first curiously went out to take a look.
He saw Mai sitting at a table near the front.
Just as she was looking around.
He raised his hand and waved: "The bunny girl senpai came?"
"Ah!" Hearing this form of address, Sakurajima Mai directly stood up: "Unexpected! Really unexpected! I'll never wear that while wandering the streets again!"
"Hahaha~~"
After Hayashi finished laughing, he waved and went back: "I'll go cook first, just wait a bit."
Seeing Hayashi go back.
Sakurajima Mai, after feeling embarrassed, had a sense of loss.
Three years, a whole three years!
From being unnoticed to being completely ignored!
Today was the first time someone said such things to her, and it could make her happy, angry, embarrassed...
She hadn't had any emotional fluctuations for three years.
Today alone had more than the previous three years!
"Really..." Sakurajima Mai sat down and muttered with unclear emotions: "Good thing I found this place."
At this time.
Power's foster cat was sleeping on the windowsill.
After being woken up by Sakurajima Mai, it rolled over and continued sleeping.
"Meow~"
Sakurajima Mai looked at the cat with delight and said quietly: "Kitty~"
"?" The cat, being called, turned to look at her, nodded, then lay back down: "Meow~"
"!" Now Mai was surprised.
Even the cat in this shop could see her!
This was too unexpected for her!
You should know that in these three years, not only humans, but even animals ignored her existence!
Sakurajima Mai had once thought that if she really had to live like this forever, she could just raise a bunch of animals to keep her company, so it wouldn't be too boring...
But animals ignored her too!
This was ultimate loneliness!
But the cat in this shop could also see her!
"Waf~?"
At this time, Pochita heard the cat's meowing and came over to take a look.
Mai heard the sound and turned to look.
She saw Pochita.
"Wow, what a strangely shaped doggy, so cute too!"
"Waf?" Pochita looked at Mai strangely.
I'm cute now?
You're worthy of calling me cute!
Only my manager, boss, BOSS is worthy of calling me cute!
Pochita glanced at her dismissively.
Hmph, shallow woman.
Then, confirming the cat was fine, he left.
"!" Mai stared blankly as Pochita walked away.
At this moment she also discovered.
Pochita could actually see her too!
This shop was simply too amazing!
Not only people, but even cats and dogs could notice her!
The changes in this one day.
Were more than all the changes Mai had encountered in three years!
"Too incredible."
On the other side of the restaurant.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was a bit confused.
She looked left and right, feeling like she had encountered a ghost.
"Who is Hayashi-kun talking to?"
"Who is Tohru taking an order from?"
"What is Pochita doing?"
"Is there a ghost customer?"
Utaha nervously curled her toes, huddled in a corner, looking around to make sure there was no extra space behind her.
When Tohru walked past her.
She quickly grabbed Tohru: "Who are you serving? Who was Hayashi-kun greeting? Did a ghost customer come?"
"?" Tohru didn't understand: "It's Mai-san. You... oh~!"
Tohru suddenly remembered that Mai's ability was always activated.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was just an ordinary person, so she couldn't see her at all.
"I forgot."
Tohru reached out and touched Utaha's body, magical light flashing on her.
"Alright, from now on, you can see Mai-san too."
After receiving the change.
Utaha immediately rubbed her eyes and looked around.
Now she could see.
She clearly saw a very beautiful girl sitting at a window seat, staring at the little cat.
From her appearance, this girl was really beautiful.
Really too beautiful, making Utaha feel very threatened!
At the same time, she recognized her and remembered!
"It really is Sakurajima Mai. She's actually at our school, and same grade!" Utaha exclaimed.
Sakurajima Mai on the other side heard the voice.
Across the restaurant, the two made eye contact.
Mai also recognized this girl.
She was the person holding the book launch at the gymnasium today, who supposedly had good results.
This manager Hayashi knew excellent girls.
That's what Sakurajima Mai thought.
As for being seen by the other person.
Sakurajima Mai was already getting used to it.
This showed the restaurant's advantages!
But the two only nodded at each other to show recognition.
Then there was no more socializing.
After all, this was basically their first meeting.
Unless...
With a "splash~" sound.
The mapo tofu had already been poured over the rice.
Hot steaming rice paired with red and tender white tofu.
Just one look was enough to whet one's appetite!
"Tohru."
"Coming~"
Tohru came in and sniffed the aroma.
Then she carried out the prepared lemon tea and mapo tofu rice bowl together.
With a soft thud.
Sakurajima Mai looked at the mapo tofu rice bowl in front of her, her eyes widening slightly.
How could it smell so good!
How could it be so fragrant!
Just placing it before her eyes made saliva continuously secrete!
"Gurgle~"
Mai's stomach gurgled.
At the same time, she instinctively picked up chopsticks, started mixing a portion, then picked it up and put it in her mouth.
"Mmm~!"
The moment it entered her mouth, tender, fragrant, spicy, refreshing - various sensations impacted her brain through her tongue's taste buds!
Making Mai's legs involuntarily clamp together, pursing her lips, chin slightly raised, forehead tilted back!
As if her entire body had reached its peak!
Her mouth involuntarily chewed.
The deliciousness kept blooming!
When Mai swallowed, she also pursed her mouth, savoring the taste that had just passed!
"This is so delicious!"
Mai exclaimed: "Is this really cuisine that humans can make?!"
"This is the most delicious dish I've ever eaten!"
After saying this, Mai sped up and began devouring the food.
Her mature woman image instantly crumbled as she began wolfing it down!
So far.
The only one who could maintain maximum rationality in front of Hayashi's cooking was Makima.
Kasumigaoka Utaha in the distance saw Sakurajima Mai's expression.
Also proudly lifted her chin slightly.
As if saying, see, you'll be like this too.
Everyone's the same.
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