Chapter 296: A Study in Contrasts
Lucifer was currently stewing in a state of deep displeasure. It was a trivial matter, really, but her pride was stung, and that was enough to make her unhappy. The worst part was that she couldn't ask Ren about it now; Kasugano Sora was right there, and the girl would undoubtedly laugh herself to death at Lucifer's expense.
Buzz.
Her phone vibrated, announcing a new message. Lucifer glanced down at the screen and saw Ren's name. A moment later, after reading the contents, the tight line of her lips finally curved into a subtle, satisfied smile. That infuriating man finally had some conscience.
Just as she'd demanded, Ren had sent her the login details for his social media account. Lucifer immediately dove in, her fingers flying across the screen as she began a treasure hunt through his past posts. Her expression shifted with every new discovery.
"Hmm? How do so many people know him…?" she murmured, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Eh? Who is this Yukimura Seiichi…?"
"What a strange name… It sounds like a pseudonym…"
"Eh?! Is Kirari still awake at this hour? Coffee… what coffee is he talking about…?"
Ren watched her from across the counter, a helpless smile touching his lips. He observed the full spectrum of her reactions: the thoughtful frown, the twitch of her lips as she fought back a grin, the flicker of surprise in her eyes. The little queen was still as transparent as ever.
Turning her gaze from the engrossed demon lord, Yuuka Kazami looked at Ren, her voice soft with genuine confusion. "Do you not get many customers here?"
"It's manageable," Ren replied. "Occasionally a few more will wander in, but I doubt it's ever exceeded twenty at once. Why do you ask?"
Yuuka's voice was a low murmur. "You truly are a strange person."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"With your level of culinary skill," she explained, her curiosity evident, "you chose to open a restaurant—an establishment that relies entirely on patrons—in a location where a single glance out the window confirms there is no foot traffic whatsoever."
Ren simply smiled. "We've had this conversation before, haven't we? If this place were bustling, Miss Kazami, you might not be the only one sitting here. It would likely be filled with the chatter and noise of many others."
She had learned from Ren only a short while ago that she could return to this place anytime, simply by thinking of it while passing through any door. Yuuka considered his words. If this restaurant were filled with chaotic noise, she might be tempted to… humanely dispose of anyone who disturbed her peace. After all, she was already planning to visit from time to time to enjoy this newfound slice of life.
Just as Yuuka was about to respond, Ren added with a light chuckle, "Besides, if we were located in a crowded area and a guest from another world happened to arrive, it might just make the evening news."
Yuuka gave a subtle nod, conceding the point. "That does make a certain amount of sense," she said softly. "But framing it that way only reinforces my opinion that you are…"
"Of course, there's also the most crucial reason," Ren interjected smoothly. "If my restaurant were in a bustling city, I wouldn't have the pleasure of meeting fascinating guests like you, Miss Kazami."
The youkai blinked, startled. She raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, a hint of bemusement in her voice. "Me? Interesting?"
Yuuka was momentarily stunned. It felt like the first time anyone had ever described her as interesting—and a human, a human man, no less. A sudden, sharp curiosity bloomed within her. What, precisely, did he mean by that?
No one had ever looked past her overwhelming presence to see anything else. Yet this man had. She found that she actually cared about the positive evaluation… Just kidding.
Right now, Yuuka wanted to scream. 'Give me back my expectations! Damn it! Undo that feeling! Master Spark warning!'
Her brief moment of intrigue was shattered when Ren, looking at her with that same infuriatingly calm expression, stated as a matter of fact, "Because you have the air of a queen, Miss Kazami. I was just thinking that if there was a certain contrast to that image, it would be quite… cute."
Yuuka's mouth twitched. This man… was he truly impossible to predict? "You…" she began, her voice tight, "did you not just say 'interesting'?"
"Hm? You must be getting sleepy, Miss Kazami. You seem to be experiencing auditory hallucinations. What I said was 'cute'."
Her eye twitched again as she stared at his unchanging, flawless expression. But whether he had said 'interesting'or something else entirely, she found herself stuck on his final word. Was'cute' a term anyone could possibly apply to her?
Yuuka tried to imagine what sort of 'contrast' he was talking about, but after a long moment of contemplation, she came up with nothing. In the end, she turned back to the only human who had ever managed to completely unbalance her.
"What kind of contrast are you referring to?"
"For example," Ren began, a thoughtful look on his face, "muttering amusing nonsense when drunk. Or perhaps finding your heart flutter when you see something adorable. Or maybe feeling deeply wronged or frustrated by something, but stubbornly holding it in without saying a word. Things like that."
A vein throbbed at Yuuka's temple. "And you're suggesting I would be like that?" she asked, her tone laced with disbelief.
"It seems you believe you wouldn't be?"
"That is a certainty."
"But that's precisely it," Ren said playfully. "It's because you yourself can't imagine what it would be like that the contrast would be all the more compelling, wouldn't it?"
"Hmph… Let's ignore the first two for now," Yuuka countered, "but that third one… are you certain such a situation could even occur?"
Ren paused, tilting his head as if in deep thought. "Miss Kazami, what is the one thing you wish to protect and cherish above all else?"
"My flowers, and my garden," she answered immediately. "…What are you about to say?"
A sudden, terrible premonition washed over her. This man, who always seemed to have her figured out, felt like he was about to deliver a critical blow. Still, she refused to believe she would ever react in the way he described.
Ren considered for a moment before speaking, his voice calm and measured. "Imagine, Miss Kazami, that you return home one day to find your entire garden burned to ash. You confront the one responsible, but you cannot defeat them. Then, you are suddenly teleported to a desolate other world, a barren wasteland devoid of all plant life. Any seed you try to sow withers and dies. After countless failures, you finally manage to grow a single pot of flowers, only for some stray animal to devour it. You persevere, and you succeed in growing another pot. But before you can even feel a moment of joy, you are teleported back to your ruined home. How would you feel then?"
Yuuka stared at Ren, her eyes wide with sheer, unadulterated disbelief. Nearby, Kasugano Sora and even Lucifer were looking at him with strange expressions. Good heavens, that wasn't just frustrating; that was enough to shatter a person's spirit. The sheer malice of that scenario would send anyone's blood pressure through the roof.
After a long, stunned silence, Yuuka finally spoke, her voice hollow. "You're actually the devil, aren't you?"
She had allowed herself to picture the scene he described, and it was simply too outrageous. How could he voice such a demonic hypothetical with such a placid expression? Indeed, this man was an enigma she could not solve.
Right now, she wanted to say only one thing: 'Hello? Is anyone there? Why must you always frighten this delicate, seventeen-year-old maiden? Why do you insist on seeing her look so aggrieved? This world is truly a dark place…'
However, Yuuka quickly snapped back to reality. Even if she couldn't return to her own world, she could still come to this restaurant. How could she ever be trapped in some desolate dimension? It was confirmed: this human was just trying to scare her.
Even so, for the first time since her birth, she felt a deep sense of frustration and helplessness. She turned her head away from him, fixing her gaze on the vibrant flowers blooming on the windowsill. Looking at them was far better than looking at him. How could such a black-bellied man grow such beautiful, pure things? It made no sense at all.
Lucifer witnessed the entire exchange, a flicker of knowing amusement in her eyes. This scene… yes, she was all too familiar with it. Terribly, intimately familiar.
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