"If Jashin-chan ever bullies you, just tell your sister. Or you can tell me, or Tanaka-kun."

Over at the cash register, Yurine reached out and gently patted Koji-kun's head. Like a little cat, Koji-kun squinted her eyes in enjoyment and gave a soft "mhm."

Then, her gaze fell upon the reward Ryohei Tanaka had given her.

A bowl of Honeyed Pear and Jellyflower Soup!

In the pristine white porcelain bowl, the soup was a translucent, milky white. The delicate jellyflower had unfurled, floating lightly in the crystal-clear broth. The pieces of pear were a pale, creamy yellow, their fine texture complementing the jellyflower, creating an exceptionally gentle and beautiful sight. The soup was also garnished with a few bright red dates and white lily bulbs.

"Itadakimasu."

Koji-kun clasped her small hands together, whispered the word, and then picked up the spoon to begin eating.

Like most children, Koji-kun had a sweet tooth, and this light, sweet, and comforting soup was perfectly suited to her tastes.

The gelatinous broth was smooth and refreshing. The jellyflower was soft yet springy, dancing lightly on her tongue with a tender, resilient touch. The pears, having been stewed, were soft and juicy, melting in her mouth and releasing a sweet, fruity fragrance. The dates were dense and slightly chewy, while the lily bulbs added a crisp, fresh quality, lending a light, layered complexity to the whole dish.

Every spoonful was delicate and smooth, yet contained a subtle texture. It was sweet and comforting, like a warm current flowing down her throat, bringing with it an immense feeling of happiness!

"So yummy~ (whispering)."

Koji-kun couldn't help but lift her chin, her adorably unique face filled with bliss. Her eyes narrowed to a thin line, and a tiny drop of the shimmering soup clung to the corner of her mouth...

…

It was as if she had stepped into a bountiful forest in late autumn, a mountain covered in date and pear trees. The low-hanging branches of the date trees were laden with plump red fruit, glistening invitingly in the sunlight. Full, smooth-skinned pears with a pale-yellow hue hung from the leafy branches of the pear trees, as if waiting to be picked…

The air was filled with the enticing, sweet scent of fruit mixed with the rich fragrance of the earth, a truly refreshing aroma. As Koji-kun strolled leisurely through the woods, her eyes suddenly caught something.

Not far away, a patch of wild jellyflower grew quietly in the shade of the trees, white as snow and crystal clear, swaying gently in the breeze...

…

Back in reality—

After downing half the bowl of soup in one go, Koji-kun extended a short little finger and gently poked Yurine beside her. When she turned to look, she reluctantly pushed her unfinished bowl towards her.

"I don't need any, Kori-kun. You can have it all," Yurine said, looking at her with surprise before breaking into a gentle smile and pushing the bowl back.

"It's really good, you know. (whispering)"

"Mhm, I actually tried some last night," Yurine said, then paused before continuing, "We all came over yesterday afternoon to clean the restaurant, and Tanaka-kun made a lot of delicious food afterward."

Hearing this, a look of regret appeared on Koji-kun's face. It was such a shame that she and her sister had missed it.

"There will be more chances in the future," Yurine quickly comforted her when she saw her disappointed expression. Then, as if remembering something, she asked, "Are you and Yusa free this weekend?"

"Umm… I think so. Big Sis hasn't said we have any plans," Koji-kun replied in a small voice after tilting her head in thought. Her big, dark eyes sparkled with anticipation as she stared at Yurine without blinking.

"Then I'll take you all on a vacation to a private beach." Yurine lifted her chin slightly, a proud look on her face as she held up a finger and said with a smile, "The week before last, when Tanaka-kun and I went to buy furniture, we happened to run into a promotional event. I won the Gold Prize, and the reward is a one-day trip to a private beach. And I can bring guests."

"You should tell Yusa later. Make sure you two get your swimsuits and everything ready in the next couple of days."

"Yurine, you're amazing! (whispering)"

Hearing that Yurine had won the Gold Prize, Koji-kun's eyes went wide. She covered her mouth with her small hands, her face a picture of astonishment. It was the Gold Prize, after all—the grand prize! It sounded incredibly lucky!

"Yes, my luck was really good that day," Yurine said with a smile, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.

Koji-kun nodded lightly, her face full of anticipation. She was quite curious about the ocean. Her hometown was deep in the snowy mountains of the demon world; the first time she'd ever seen the sea was here.

But she had never had the chance to play on a beach before…

…

A little after eight o'clock.

At the counter—

"Chef Tanaka, will you have Miracle Comet Fried Rice tomorrow?"

Kitagawa Sena, a stunningly beautiful and sophisticated woman with an impressive figure and her hair tied up in cute buns, took a seat at the counter and asked eagerly.

"Of course. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we'll have it every day," Ryohei Tanaka replied, taking a moment from his cooking. His current menu was divided into categories: Appetizers, Hot Dishes, Soups, Main Courses, Pastries & Snacks, Desserts, and Drinks. Ryohei was planning to add a "Specialty" category, exclusively for the recreated dishes from his memory.

"Will it… fall from the sky?" Kitagawa Sena asked, looking up from the menu with hopeful eyes.

"No."

She wasn't the first person to ask that question tonight. Ryohei's answer was practiced and emotionless.

"Huh?"

The anticipation on Kitagawa Sena's face instantly froze, replaced by deep disappointment and regret.

She had actually come by the restaurant with her friends around four in the afternoon. But even then, the line was already incredibly long, snaking all the way out onto the main street. After taking one look, she lost all motivation to wait and had arranged for someone to stand in line for her, planning to just get it as takeout and enjoy it at home. Her friends did the same.

Then, around six o'clock, she received a message from the person in line for her, saying that takeout wasn't available today.

'Fine,' she thought. 'I'll just rush over and switch places with them when it's almost my turn. That should work.'

Eating at the restaurant on its opening day would be nice, too. It felt commemorative.

Later, she stumbled upon a video of the Miracle Comet Fried Rice. She was stunned, staring at her screen in utter disbelief.

What followed was a wave of intense regret.

If she had known such an incredible, legendary scene was going to happen, she never would have left! She would have stayed and waited in line herself. This was way more interesting than any summer festival fireworks display!

Even after seeing online comments saying the performance wouldn't be repeated, Kitagawa Sena held onto a sliver of hope. She had to come and ask for herself. And now that she had, the last bit of hope she was clinging to had been completely crushed

~~~

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