Yasuho placed the dumpling carefully into her mouth and chewed slowly with her back teeth, letting the honey-flavored filling release without losing a single drop. The sweetness bloomed perfectly across her tongue—indescribably delicious, and threaded with a strange nostalgia. As though she'd eaten something just like this somewhere before.
But she couldn't remember where.
"Wah!"
Jolyne had been eyeing the dumplings for a while. The moment she saw Yasuho-onee-san dig in, she grabbed her own fork and stabbed one. Her technique, however, left something to be desired—she bit down the instant it reached her mouth, and the filling burst like a popped water balloon. A mix of cream, honey, and bean filling splattered across the table.
"WAH——!"
Some of it even hit Okuyasu's shirt across the table.
The burly teenager snatched a napkin and scrubbed frantically at the wet spot, but it wouldn't come clean. A good thing the culprit was an adorable little girl—if it'd been anyone else, he'd have grabbed them by the collar and demanded compensation.
"Ahaha, that's not how you eat them, Jolyne-chan."
"You absolutely can't bite with your front teeth—pop the whole thing in your mouth and chew with your back teeth!"
"Mmgh... so yummy! Jolyne likes it lots!"
Unable to resist, Jolyne forked another big one—and before she'd gotten it fully into her mouth, bit down again.
She didn't use her front teeth this time. But since the dumpling wasn't all the way in, the burst of filling squirted right out the side... straight at Inori beside her.
Several dark flecks appeared on the girl's fair-skinned face. Warm, too.
"..."
"..."
Inori was still smiling. But at some point, a vein had surfaced on her forehead.
The atmosphere turned acutely awkward. Josuke was pressing a hand over his mouth, fighting for his life not to laugh. Koichi sucked in a breath and held it, too terrified to exhale. Only the simple-minded Okuyasu let loose.
"Hahaha! Onee-san, even you have days like this! Hahahahaha... First time I've ever seen Onee-san look silly."
"Shut it!"
Inori shot him a venomous glare and Okuyasu's laughter died in his throat. He choked, belatedly realizing he should've kept that thought to himself.
"And you!"
Josuke—whose entire body was trembling from the effort of not laughing—jolted upright like a kid called out by his homeroom teacher. He cleared his throat, straightened the hair that laughter had knocked askew, and assumed an expression of total innocence.
Only Koichi was considerate enough to hand Inori a napkin so she could wipe the filling off her face.
"How are you feeling, Hirose-san?"
Tonio had observed the scene with an elegant, courteous chuckle, but his real concern was his customer's response to the food.
"You look like this isn't your first time eating something like this."
"I... I'm not really sure myself. It just feels like, somewhere before... Hm?"
Yasuho pressed a hand to her forehead, answering haltingly—when a sudden sting hit her eyes.
—Wh-what's happening? I feel dizzy... The tears—they won't stop!
She covered her eyes, but the tears kept falling like pearls from a broken necklace. Inori handed over her handkerchief.
"Don't worry, Yasuho-nee-san! That's Tonio's Stand doing its thing—your condition will clear up soon!" Josuke spoke up quickly, worried she and Inori would panic.
"I-Is that so?"
Yasuho kept wiping, but the tears wouldn't stop.
"That's a lot of tears! Same as me—Koichi's sister must have insomnia too!" Okuyasu remarked with wonder.
"...Nee-san, are you okay?" Koichi asked, his voice tight with concern. Watching his sister cry like this, he felt a pang of guilt. He was her brother, after all, and he'd had no idea anything was wrong. "I keep telling you not to listen to music for so long..."
Inori wasn't too worried. Pearl Jam's healing process could look bizarre—even violent—but it was completely benign. Once whatever "ailment" was being expelled as tears had fully run its course, Yasuho would recover.
Soon, the tears stopped. Yasuho slowly lowered the handkerchief. But something was wrong. Her expression had gone blank. Her eyes were unfocused.
"Yasuho?"
Inori's brow furrowed. She called out carefully.
"...Who are you?"
"Huh?" Koichi froze. "Hey, Nee-san, now's not the time for jokes!"
"...Who are all of you?"
She gazed around at them in bewilderment.
Yasuho clutched her forehead, her face twisted in pain. It didn't look like an act. A chill ran through Inori—so this meal wasn't for nothing after all. Had Tonio's cooking exposed some anomaly inside Yasuho? Something that might finally explain how she'd ended up in this world?
"Hey! Tonio, what's going on!?"
Josuke shot out of his chair, staring at the chef in alarm.
"This is impossible! My cooking should cure ailments! It can't erase memories—it would never harm the body!"
"But she really doesn't seem to remember who we are!"
Okuyasu was on his feet and shouting too. Two six-foot high schoolers looming over the chef made for an imposing sight, but all Tonio could do was wave his hands and insist he had no idea what was happening either.
"Quiet!"
Inori glared at the two boys and they shut up instantly. She took Yasuho's hand and spoke gently:
"Try to calm down, Yasuho. I'm Inori. You pulled me from Lovers' Cape and saved my life. You don't remember?"
"Ino... ri." She murmured the name, and at last, life returned to her vacant eyes. "Inori-chan? ...I... what happened to me? My head hurts so much."
Her voice was weak. She massaged her temples and hung her head. Koichi brought her a glass of water.
"Tonio-san, has this ever happened before?"
Inori turned to the chef.
"Never."
He shook his head firmly. His earlier confidence had given way entirely to contrition.
"I'm so sorry, both of you... I never imagined something like this could happen. I'll waive your bill, of course, and cover any expenses Hirose-san may need going forward."
"No. It's not your fault."
Inori shook her head. Accepting would make it look like she'd deliberately brought an untreatable patient here to extort him. Besides, Yasuho had stabilized—a bit more rest and she'd be fine.
"Sorry, Inori-chan. I think I need some air. My head's all foggy."
Yasuho offered a tired smile.
"I'll come with you."
Inori studied her.
"No need—you still have Jolyne-chan to watch. That's your mission, remember?" Yasuho rose from her seat and managed another smile. "I'm fine. It was just a sudden headache. I'll stand by the entrance for a bit. Be right back."
...
Inori held Yasuho's green gaze for a long time, searching for something hidden within.
"I'm heading out, then."
"Nee-san, let me come with—"
"I said I'm fine!"
Yasuho gave Koichi's head a light swat and walked toward the door.
"Josuke."
The moment Yasuho was out of sight, Inori called out to him.
"Yeah?"
"Watch Jolyne-chan for a bit. I'm going after Yasuho."
"Sure! Leave it to me!"
Josuke had zero experience with kids—no younger siblings, just himself. And this was Jotaro-san's daughter. If he accidentally made her cry, the consequences would be severe.
But he knew better than to refuse.