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Chapter 65: Actually, I’m a Psychic
🕑 Added 2025-02-04 16:01:31 +0000 UTCThe hamburg steak that Ijichi Seika wanted wasn't difficult to make at all.
After all—
Hamburg steak was just a hamburger patty served without the bun.
It was literally taking the meat from a burger, plating it separately, and calling it a new dish.
Minami Shouji couldn't help but admire Japan's unique creativity when it came to food culture.
Pulling a pack of fresh beef from the plastic bag he had brought,
Minami glanced around the second floor of Starry.
Just like he had seen in his simulations—
Brand new cooking equipment. Pristine kitchen knives. A shining stove.
Since Starry needed a business license,
it had registered as a restaurant to the authorities.
So of course—
It had to include a fully equipped kitchen.
However—
Ijichi Seika was completely incapable of cooking. She relied entirely on Ijichi Nijika to take care of her daily needs. But since Nijika had school, The kitchen was practically abandoned.
[This well-equipped kitchen had been left untouched— until now.]
"What are you doing?"
Yamada Ryo tilted her head, watching as Minami rinsed the beef under water.
"Why aren't you just buying pre-ground beef?"
Indeed—
Wouldn't pre-ground beef be much easier?
Just shape it into a patty, and you're done.
Why bother with a whole cut of beef?
"Pre-ground beef is convenient, sure,"
Minami replied while carefully handling the meat.
"But the texture is completely off.
Machine-ground beef becomes too fine, losing that satisfying meaty bite.
Hand-chopped beef keeps the coarse texture, making it way more flavorful."
"Suit yourself."
Ryo yawned,
leaning lazily against the counter.
"But just so you know— I'm really picky about food."
Minami Shouji didn't even bother responding.
After all—
After this many simulations,
He already knew what kind of woman Yamada Ryo was.
If she could lay down, she'd never sit. If she could sit and get paid, she'd never stand. If she could freeload, she absolutely would.
"This cool, elegant bassist… was actually just a lazy opportunist."
"150 grams of beef should be enough for your portion, right?"
Minami glanced at Ryo,
confirming the amount before cutting.
"Use the whole piece."
Without hesitation,
Ryo's golden-amber eyes didn't even blink as she demanded the entire slab of meat.
"Shouldn't we leave some for the others?"
Minami reminded her.
"Huh?"
Ryo looked at him in genuine confusion.
Her amber-colored eyes filled with a silent "What are you even saying?"
"…Never mind."
Minami raised his hands in defeat.
It seemed like—
"Sharing wasn't even a concept in Yamada Ryo's mind."
"Just 150 grams."
Ignoring her complaints,
Minami swiftly sliced a portion with precise knife work.
His movements were clean and decisive.
But Ryo, on the other hand,
Was silently staring at him, confused.
"What?"
Minami noticed her gaze and asked.
"You're not weighing it?"
Her voice remained calm and nonchalant,
But the underlying suspicion was obvious.
Minami smirked.
"150 grams is just right.
I don't need to weigh it.
I don't make mistakes."
His overwhelming confidence left Ryo momentarily speechless.
Curious,
she grabbed the beef,
Placed it onto a digital scale—
And stared at the result.
[150G.]
Not a gram more.
Not a gram less.
Ryo's expression remained neutral—
But internally?
She was genuinely shocked.
"…Chefs are insane."
"Yeah,"
Minami chuckled,
as if reading her mind.
"Cooking is full of crazy things."
"…"
Ryo tilted her head,
Her large golden eyes narrowing slightly.
"Can he… read minds?"
"And why,"
She silently pouted,
"Didn't he give me more meat, considering how cute I am?"
Minami—
Still chopping the beef—
Suddenly spoke up.
"Humans can't read minds.
And yeah, Ryo, you're cute—
But if I gave you all the meat, Seika-san might actually kill you."
"…How do you keep doing that?"
For the second time,
Ryo was completely baffled.
"Mm…"
Minami paused,
Then grinned.
"Maybe because I'm a genius?"
"…I don't buy it."
Ryo shook her head.
"You should."
Minami set down his knife and turned to her.
"Besides— I've actually studied spiritual energy.
I can see spirits."
"…Hah?"
"You don't believe me?"
Minami smirked.
"Fine. I'll prove it."
Still kneading the beef,
he casually spoke.
"Ryo, your family owns a private hospital, right?"
"That's public knowledge."
Ryo crossed her arms, unimpressed.
"Even Nijika knows that."
"True."
Minami nodded calmly.
But his absolute composure made Ryo feel slightly uneasy.
Then—
"But Nijika definitely doesn't know—"
"That you played the violin when you were little."
"…!"
Ryo froze.
She quickly suppressed her shock,
Forcing herself to remain expressionless.
But internally—
She was panicking.
"How does he know that?"
She scanned Minami's face,
Trying to figure out how he found out.
She couldn't.
What she didn't know was—
Minami had already learned everything about her in past simulations.
Even the number and location of her beauty marks.
"No need to be surprised.
Your guardian spirit told me."
Minami smiled, pressing down on the beef patty.
"Ryo, your grandmother had a dog, right?"
"…"
Ryo tensed up.
"Let me see…"
Minami closed his eyes,
Pretending to "sense" something.
Then, he spoke confidently—
"Its name was 'Headless Bass.'
A big golden retriever.
Lived a long time, didn't it?"
"…!"
"And when you were a kid, you nearly ran into the street."
"That golden retriever bit your collar and pulled you back—
Saving your life."
"…"
Ryo stared at him in shock.
Her expressionless mask—
Had finally cracked.
Yamada Ryo's Elegant & Cold Expression— Shattered
Yamada Ryo's usual calm and composed demeanor had vanished.
Instead, she stared at Minami Shouji in pure shock.
The incident where "Headless Bass" saved her life—
That was a secret she had kept to herself since childhood.
She had never told a single soul.
Yet, Minami had described it perfectly—
The moment. The way it happened. Every detail.
"How… does he know this?"
Even someone as skeptical as her was starting to believe.
A moment later,
Yamada Ryo hesitated—
Then, finally couldn't hold back.
"...Master Minami."
She took a deep breath,
then asked seriously—
"What else did my guardian spirit say?"
Minami paused for a moment,
then sighed regretfully.
"Ah… there is something very important."
His voice dropped into a serious tone.
"But I've already revealed too much.
For the next part… I might have to charge an additional fee."
"How much?"
Ryo narrowed her eyes.
Minami rubbed his chin—
Then, calmly stated—
"1,000 yen."
"Here."
Without any hesitation,
Ryo pulled out a 1,000 yen bill from her small wallet and handed it over.
Something about this still felt off to her—
But her curiosity outweighed her doubts.
Minami took the money without a trace of guilt.
Then, his expression turned dead serious.
"What I'm about to say, Yamada-san—"
"You must remember it."
Ryo's 琥珀色 (amber) eyes widened slightly.
She nodded twice,
Her serious gaze locked onto Minami.
"Your family… ah… rather, your guardian spirit says—"
"Your father should get a health checkup soon."
At these words—
Ryo suddenly stood up.
"Is something wrong with my dad's health?"
Her voice sharpened.
Her parents had always been her greatest weakness.
Just as they had always supported her freedom—
She, too, cherished them deeply.
Minami shook his head slightly.
"I can't say for sure."
He raised his hands,
Then continued—
"But your guardian spirit told me—
It would be best if your father underwent a full pulmonary examination.
If ignored, it might eventually lead to heart and lung failure.
However, if checked now—
There's still a chance for treatment."
For the first time,
Ryo's expression shifted into something uncertain.
"My guardian spirit… said all that?"
She frowned slightly.
"Even understanding medical knowledge…?"
Minami shrugged.
"Your guardian spirit seems very well-educated."
Ryo tilted her head in confusion.
"What kind of person is my guardian spirit?"
She asked curiously.
Minami paused, thinking.
(Guardian spirit…? Let's be real, I totally made that up.)
(BUT— if I think about it…)
(In the simulation, I was always watching over Yamada Ryo, right?)
After a brief moment of contemplation,
Minami spoke solemnly—
"Your guardian spirit…"
"He's… not as handsome as me—"
"But still a rather exceptional doctor."
Minami nodded, satisfied.
That sounded about right.
It was only natural that the simulated version of himself wasn't as perfect as his real self.
"I understand."
Ryo stood up immediately.
Minami blinked.
"Where are you going?"
"Requesting leave from Seika-san."
Ryo swiftly strapped her bass to her back.
"Then, I'm taking my dad to get a checkup."
"What about your hamburg steak?"
"Make it for me next time."
Ryo waved her hand,
walking away without hesitation.
As he watched her leave—
Minami let out a breath of relief.
"Alright… That's one problem solved."
[Your "Lying" skill has increased to LV2.]
"…This damn system is so annoying."
Completely ignoring the intrusive notification,
Minami stretched lazily.
Why didn't he just tell Ryo directly?
Why did he have to be so roundabout?
Well—
Because of one simple phrase—
"A brief friendship but deep feelings"
(Speaking too deeply with someone you don't know well.)
In the simulation,
he and Ryo were husband and wife.
They could talk openly about everything.
But in reality?
If he had suddenly told her—
"You should be more mindful of your dad's health."
She'd probably think he was cursing her father instead.
"Trust must be built first."
That's why he chose this approach.
(…But if anyone overheard that conversation—)
(The entire Starry band might start treating me like some fake psychic…)"
Oh well.
At least,
He had prevented a real-life tragedy.
Just as Minami was thinking about this—
Ijichi Seika and Ijichi Nijika walked upstairs from the livehouse below.
Seika raised an eyebrow,
Looking suspiciously at Minami.
"Minami— do you know where Ryo just ran off to?"
Before Minami could answer—
Seika crossed her arms, looking even more puzzled.
"She just asked me for leave—"
"And kept mumbling weird things like… 'Master Minami knows everything'… 'Guardian spirit'… and 'My dad is dying.'"
"…What kind of prank is this? Some new trend?"
"..."
Minami rubbed his forehead.
(Damn it, Ryo. That was fast.)
He had only been sitting here for a few minutes—
And she had already spread the story across Starry.
"Also, Minami-san—"
Nijika suddenly leaned in curiously.
"Are you… actually a spirit medium?"
"..."
Minami felt a headache forming.
Lying wasn't his strong suit.
He was, at his core—
A very honest, straightforward person.
(Guess I'll just make something up to brush them off…)
Just as he was about to casually deny everything—
Nijika hesitated, then spoke quietly—
"Actually…"
She fidgeted slightly.
Then, with a serious expression,
She finally asked—
"If you really do have psychic abilities…
Can I ask you something?"
"It's about my mom."
For a moment—
Minami froze.
He had no intention of playing along with this spirit medium nonsense.
But Nijika's face…
Was filled with earnestness.
Because, if he remembered correctly—
Ijichi Nijika's mother...
Had already passed away.
