In the end, Jashin-chan's prank only managed to annoy herself. Strangely, though, Yurine didn't punish her for it, which actually made her feel a little unsettled, almost… itchy for a beating. Wait a minute, is it normal for me to feel this way? she wondered, shocked at her own thought.

Early in the morning, they first delivered a basket of the Stardew Valley produce to Yurine's uncle, who was very grateful. Afterward, they went to the market to buy ingredients for the day. With the new house secured, Ryohei decided to celebrate by making the Omurice and Crème Caramel he had promised Yurine, not just for her, but for all the customers. Having the trolley made the shopping trip much more manageable.

Not long after they returned home, they were once again sitting in Mr. Suzuki's van, this time on their way to view a potential shop. Mr. Suzuki, based on Ryohei's requirements, had recommended several properties over the past two days. The one they were going to see now was a former izakaya that was up for lease transfer. It was located in the Higashi-Yukigaya neighborhood, not far from their new house. The property had two floors and a total area of 202 square meters, the largest of all the places he had recommended.

From the photos Ryohei had seen, the first floor had an open kitchen, a counter seating area where customers could watch the chef cook, and two small private rooms. The second floor had a break room, one large private room, and three medium-sized ones. The decor was a modern, minimalist style that Ryohei liked, and everything looked new and well-maintained. If the in-person viewing went well, he could take over the lease and start operating almost immediately after getting the necessary licenses, saving him the trouble and expense of renovations.

"While the location of this property is a bit secluded, the transport links are excellent, and it's not as noisy as the city center. The foot traffic is still quite good, and the rent is relatively affordable…" Mr. Suzuki was a natural salesman, effortlessly turning a potential negative into a positive.

And he was right; a secluded location had its advantages. When Ryohei had given Yurine his requirements, he had specifically said that a remote location was fine, as long as it was accessible and had parking. In fact, he preferred it. He was confident he wouldn't be short on customers, and a quieter spot meant easier parking and cheaper rent.

"Let's have a look inside," Ryohei said.

"Of course." Mr. Suzuki quickly opened the door with a key from his briefcase. This time, there was no need for shoe covers, much to Jashin-chan's delight.

They toured the entire property, from the first-floor cashier counter, open kitchen, and private rooms, to the second-floor break room and larger party rooms.

"So, what do you think? Are you satisfied?" Mr. Suzuki asked, his professional smile in place as his gaze landed on Ryohei. He knew who the decision-maker was.

"Hmm…" Ryohei crossed his arms, stroking his chin as he looked around the shop. "The rent is a little high," he finally said. "And I was hoping the transfer fee could be a bit lower." He was signaling that he was interested, but not at the current price.

"We can certainly negotiate that," Mr. Suzuki's smile instantly became more genuine. He loved decisive clients like this.

After a round of negotiations—with Ryohei and Yurine tag-teaming the discussion and Jashin-chan providing useless commentary—and several phone calls between Mr. Suzuki, the landlord, and the previous tenant, they reached a deal. The monthly rent was lowered to 600,000 yen, and the transfer fee was reduced from 1 million to 850,000 yen.

After confirming all the other miscellaneous fees, Ryohei gave Yurine the signal to sign the contract. The restaurant would be opened under her name. For Ryohei, as a foreigner, the process would have been much more complicated, requiring him to first establish a company with 5 million yen in registered capital. Locals, as always, had certain advantages.

Of note was the deposit, which was a whopping seven months' rent. Apparently, ten months was standard, but due to their limited funds, the landlord had agreed to lower it. After paying the deposit, the key money, the prorated rent, and the agency commission, Ryohei's wallet was once again squeezed dry. All told, their remaining capital was less than 300,000 yen. It sounded like a lot, but in reality, it was barely anything. He still wanted to buy a car, and 300,000 yen wouldn't even cover a used one.

The revolution is not yet successful; we must still work hard, he thought to himself on the ride home, watching the scenery fly by. It's far too early to be thinking about relaxing.

"Heian-kun, I'm heading to school now. I'll drop off the produce at my family's place on the way," Yurine said, coming into the living room with her school bag.

"Okay." Ryohei, who was starting the prep for the demi-glace sauce, wiped his hands and walked over to her. He gently took her face in his hands and gave her a soft kiss. Her lips were, as always, sweet and soft.

"Be careful on your way," he said gently, letting her go.

"Mhm," she replied, her face slightly flushed.

My girlfriend is the best, he thought.

In the open kitchen, Jashin-chan, who was mincing meat, watched them. I can't take it. Can't you two stop being so clingy… Wait a minute!

A spark of inspiration flashed in her mind, and a crafty smile spread across her lips.

Maybe… while Yurine is distracted and infatuated with a man, I can hit her with a surprise Jashin-chan Dropkick!

Hehehe—! She could already picture her glorious victory. She may lose in reality, but in her imagination, she was undefeated. She was so pleased with her plan that she giggled.

"What are you grinning about?"

She snapped back to reality. Yurine was gone, and Ryohei was looking at her with a strange expression.

"N-Nothing," Jashin-chan said, quickly schooling her features. She wouldn't reveal her plan until the time was right. She was very tight-lipped!

"I'd advise you not to do anything stupid," Ryohei said with a knowing look.

"Shut up! Mind your own business!" she shot back. And after I've dealt with Yurine, I'll teach you a lesson too!