KyokaSuigetsu
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Chapter 76. Utaha's Number One Enemy, It's All the Manager's Fault for Making Us Like This
🕑 Added 2025-05-30 10:43:32 +0000 UTCDuring Mai's ravenous eating.
Hayashi had already come out of the kitchen wiping his hands.
After drying his hands and putting the towel aside, he saw Sakurajima Mai eating in a rather inhuman manner.
Girls don't usually wolf down food like this.
She even choked after a few bites.
Then she would grab the lemon tea beside her and gulp down a couple of mouthfuls.
Then continue eating.
Hayashi watched with interest while also taking out his phone to snap some photos.
Her mouth wide open while shoveling rice.
Her cheeks bulging like a hamster while chewing.
Grabbing the lemon tea and gulping it down.
Though these were all unflattering angles with facial expressions breaking down, since the subject was Mai, the photos actually looked better and more interesting.
This was why good-looking people looked good no matter how you photographed them.
"Sigh~, can't help it, I'm the same way."
Hayashi turned around, using the same photography angle as Makima that day, taking a selfie while leaving the upper right corner for Sakurajima Mai.
Click, one shot, done.
Hayashi put away his phone, checked his work, smiled and put it away.
These would all be nuclear weapons in the future.
He was still keeping those bunny girl photos too.
After Sakurajima Mai ate ravenously for a while, she finished the entire plate of mapo tofu in less than ten minutes.
"Phew~~~!"
After finishing, Mai let out a long breath, then picked up the lemon tea beside her.
"Gulp gulp gulp~~~"
Finally, she took a tissue and wiped her lips.
"It really was too delicious." Mai sighed.
At this moment.
She felt a powerful "magic power" automatically circulating within her body.
Like a thin membrane, or a core.
This sensing ability seemed to be her presence-erasing power!
"This is my ability?"
Mai carefully sensed it, trying to touch, control, and master it with her consciousness.
But just as her consciousness began to guide the ability.
This feeling suddenly disappeared.
As if it had never happened.
Only leaving behind a trace of lingering sensation.
"So mysterious..."
Sakurajima Mai opened her eyes and looked around.
She found that not only Hayashi, but also Tohru were watching her with interest.
"Mmm~"
Mai recalled how she had just eaten, and immediately felt embarrassed again.
As said before, she hadn't felt as much shame in three years as she had in this one day!
"Set... settle the bill, no wait, another lemon tea."
Sakurajima Mai was about to say settle the bill, but looking at the empty lemon tea beside her, she decisively ordered another cup.
She wasn't planning to leave right after paying.
"Okay." Tohru went to pour another cup of lemon tea and brought it to Mai.
Mai paid for one rice bowl and two lemon teas.
She settled the bill at the counter.
Mai then sat down in the seat in front of the bar counter.
"I didn't expect your cooking skills to be so amazing. How did you do it?"
"Hmm..." Hayashi pretended to think: "Added drugs?"
"Ah?!" Mai's eyes widened.
"You actually believed that. If I drugged you, would you still be sitting here? Of course it's all through my own effort and talent."
"That... that's amazing." Mai thought about it and savored the memory: "I ate food from Totsuki when I was little, though I haven't had any these past three years, but yours seems even more delicious than Totsuki's!"
"Thanks for the compliment." Hayashi gave a thumbs up.
The two exchanged compliments.
After Sakurajima Mai finished speaking, she mentioned feeling that power of her ability.
"It's in my heart. I could feel it just now, but now it's gone again."
Mai looked down and clenched her palm.
Those signs were still quite obvious.
Hayashi nodded: "Remember this feeling. Next time you have it, make deeper contact. You'll be able to control it someday. All beginnings are difficult."
Sakurajima Mai remembered and repeated: "All beginnings are difficult."
Well, actually the middle was difficult, the end was difficult - everything was difficult.
But having gotten through the difficult beginning, you had to grit your teeth and get through the rest of the difficulties too.
Not far away.
Kasumigaoka Utaha watched Sakurajima Mai chatting with Hayashi.
She couldn't help but feel a sense of crisis.
And this sense of crisis was even stronger than with Takatsuki Sen!
Takatsuki Sen didn't dress up and wasn't youthful and beautiful enough. Since she and Utaha were both writers, Utaha felt she could win.
But Sakurajima Mai was different.
She had been popular since childhood, a household name star.
Even grown up she was this attractive, also a senior, practically the embodiment of youthful beauty.
Compared to Utaha, she was superior in fame.
In appearance it was at most a 50-50 split.
So Utaha thought about it, looked at her lemon tea with a bit left, drank it all in one gulp, and went over with the empty cup.
"Hayashi-kun, another cup please."
Utaha sat down next to Mai.
"Uh..." Hayashi drew in a slight breath, then took the cup to pour lemon tea: "No problem."
He went to pour a cup of lemon tea.
At the same time, he hand-made a few ice cubes and finally handed it to Utaha.
Utaha took a sip.
Only then did the two have a chance to observe each other.
Both were very attractive in looks and figure.
The only difference might be in style and temperament.
Sakurajima Mai was youthful and beautiful, reserved and lazy, full of pure and seductive charm.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was mature and voluptuous, with long straight black hair, long stockings, tall figure, full of big sister energy.
If you asked Hayashi to comment.
There really wasn't much he could say.
It really was a 50-50 split!
"You must be Sakurajima Mai-sensei. I'm Kasumigaoka Utaha, same grade senior year. Please take care of me." At this time, Utaha actively introduced herself.
Sakurajima Mai's smile was also very standard: "Yes, Kasumi Utako-sensei, your work is also excellent. These past three years, I've been troubled by something for a long time, so I haven't been able to meet you."
"It's fine, it's good that we're meeting now." Utaha also had a standard smile.
Hayashi watched from the side.
He felt battle power levels rising in the aura between the two!
He was afraid they might pull out transformation devices and transform in the next moment!
Their smiles were too formulaic.
Absolutely standard Japanese business smiles.
They had met, sure.
But it definitely wasn't a good meeting.
Hayashi couldn't accept this.
He went back, took out two boxes of bear cookies, and placed them on the table with a thud.
Both turned to look at Hayashi.
Hayashi refilled both their lemon teas, then said "gently":
"Today's lemon tea has unlimited refills, the bear cookies are on me. Please chat properly and get to know each other for real, okay?"
When he said this, he actively used his ability to break the ice wall.
Mai and Utaha didn't react in time.
They both felt their right hands uncontrollably lift up and move forward.
Then they clasped together with each other!
Their hands were holding each other.
Genuine smiles also bloomed on both Mai and Utaha's faces.
"No problem."
"Okay."
After saying this, their right hands regained control.
A white fuse line also disappeared.
"?" Mai and Utaha looked at each other.
They both understood this was Hayashi's reminder.
No conflicts allowed in the shop!
He hated that!
Hayashi most hated when his friends had conflicts with each other, even turning against each other.
In such situations, he was actually the one who suffered most.
So he had to firmly oppose such situations.
Nip it in the bud!
After the two shook hands, the barrier between them immediately disappeared.
The feeling between same-grade classmates.
Also warmed up.
"Hello." Mai nodded and reintroduced herself.
Utaha also returned the greeting and reintroduced herself.
"Mm." Hayashi watched with satisfaction, then turned back to the kitchen: "I'll go get busy first. You two get to know each other well - maybe you'll even get into the same university."
He turned and entered the kitchen.
Mai and Utaha also had a new understanding.
"You've been completely missing these three years because of this ability?" Utaha now communicated normally.
"Yes." Mai nodded: "I can't control it, but it keeps getting stronger. Now whether it's ordinary people or animals, they all ignore my existence."
Utaha became even more curious: "Have you been to any mysterious places?"
"?" Mai was stunned: "What... places."
"Well..."
One was curious about the other's ability and celebrity daily life.
The other was also curious about the other's work and status.
The two began communicating like this.
These two really were among the few ordinary people in Hayashi's shop.
Mai of course also counted as an ordinary person.
After all, their worldview consciousness was different.
And so.
During the afternoon hours.
The sun slowly set, the sky changed from yellow to red, finally gradually darkening.
By around 8 PM.
The operating hours of Anteiku coffee shop were about to end.
Kirishima Touka brought the Fueguchi mother and daughter to eat.
As soon as she saw Hayashi.
Fueguchi Hinami immediately waved and greeted: "Manager big brother, we came to eat!"
"~~"
Hayashi felt extremely comfortable hearing this.
He stepped forward and rubbed the top of Hinami's head.
"What do you want to eat? I'll make you a big portion, guaranteed to fill you up."
"Um... let me see."
Fueguchi Hinami held the menu and looked carefully.
She found she wanted to eat everything!
"I want to eat everything..."
Hearing this, Fueguchi Ryouko patted her head reproachfully: "Hinami..."
Then she said apologetically to Hayashi: "Sorry."
"It's fine. When I see delicious food, of course I want to eat everything too."
Hayashi thought for a moment and helped suggest:
"Since you want to eat everything, then eat them in order slowly. Someday you'll try them all, then choose the most delicious."
Fueguchi Hinami thought that was good and nodded in agreement.
"Then I'll have a Kung Pao chicken rice bowl, big brother."
"Mm~" Hayashi nodded with satisfaction.
Then he looked at them: "What about you two?"
Kirishima Touka raised her hand slightly: "I want braised meat rice."
Fueguchi Ryouko touched her daughter's head: "Same as Hinami is fine for me."
"Alright then." Hayashi turned and went to the kitchen.
Before leaving, he also asked: "Their takeout orders are all the same, right? I'll make those last."
Kirishima Touka nodded definitely: "Yes, thank you for the trouble."
"No trouble."
Hayashi entered the kitchen to cook.
In the restaurant.
Utaha and Mai looked at everyone with thoughtful expressions.
Utaha was more straightforward: "Hayashi-kun's shop really is full of beautiful women."
Mai was more curious: "Are there other good-looking ones?"
"Many." Utaha directly counted on her fingers: "Last time I saw a public safety squad, led by a woman with red hair and golden pupils, very dignified, probably a commander."
"Also Takatsuki Sen is a customer here, though I haven't seen her these past few days. Anyway, there are all kinds of beauties."
Hearing this, Mai had an interested expression.
At the same time exclaiming: "Then Hayashi-kun is also a very charming man."
Utaha helplessly shrugged her shoulders, tacitly agreeing.
Compared to men, women...
When men see that a woman they like has many male suitors around her, most will give up and choose someone else - this is called downward mate selection.
But when women see that a man they like has many high-quality female suitors around him, most won't give up but will compete instead - this is called upward mate selection.
Having many women around a man is also a manifestation of charm that can't be stopped, unless you stay indoors and don't socialize at all.
So the reason a playboy is a playboy is for this reason...
In the kitchen.
Hayashi was cooking.
Braised meat was something that required precise timing and was time-consuming.
If he started braising now, the customers outside would have to wait at least one or two hours to eat.
So Hayashi directly bought pre-blanched meat from the system.
He bought quite a lot at once, a whole bucket of meat to braise together.
Then he matched it with his own seasonings, timed it properly with the right heat, and began slow braising.
This bucket had at least dozens of pounds of meat, enough for many people.
As for Kung Pao chicken, it was simple.
Match the ingredients properly, time it right, follow the sequence, methodically putting things in and taking them out of the wok.
Then pour it over rice.
The Kung Pao chicken was ready first.
"Tohru."
"Coming~" Tohru entered.
Hayashi took the opportunity to remind: "Serve the Kung Pao chicken first, the braised meat needs another twenty minutes."
"Okay."
Tohru went to serve the Kung Pao chicken and reminded them the braised meat would take another twenty minutes.
So the Fueguchi pair ate first.
Kirishima Touka now watched the two eating Kung Pao chicken.
Those chicken pieces and sauce, mixed with rice, Fueguchi Hinami contentedly putting it in her mouth...
"Gurgle~~~"
From smelling and watching, Kirishima Touka's stomach rumbled like thunder.
Both Fueguchi Hinami and Fueguchi Ryouko heard Touka's stomach gurgling.
So Ryouko asked: "Want to share half with you? We can exchange later?"
Kirishima Touka immediately waved her hands: "It's fine, just a little while longer."
"Okay."
Over ten minutes later.
The aroma of braised meat came from the kitchen.
After the sauce and meat quality combined, braised meat was one of the best feasts when hungry!
Mai and Utaha at the bar counter heard this.
Mai licked her lips: "I want to eat this next time."
Utaha looked down and pinched her stomach: "After eating this, I'll have to resist eating when I go back, or I'll get fat..."
Hearing this, Mai also smiled bitterly: "Exactly."
A few minutes later.
Following Hayashi's call.
After Tohru went in, she brought out a dish that caught everyone's attention.
The aroma of the braised meat was really too rich.
The smell of meat made people's taste buds secrete large amounts of saliva just from smelling it.
"Thud~"
As Tohru placed the braised meat in front of Kirishima Touka.
Everyone gulped audibly.
"Thud~"
Another thud came from outside the door.
Everyone turned to look - Kamishiro Rize had returned. She slightly raised her head, smelling the aroma of braised meat with an intoxicated expression.
"Please give me one too, thank you."
Tohru first spread her hands: "I don't know if Hayashi-san has any extra, let me go ask."
She went to the kitchen to mention this.
Hayashi was just about to finish, and hearing this he looked like he had expected it.
"Good thing I prepared extra braising. Serve one portion."
Finally Kamishiro Rize also got a portion.
Kirishima Touka was already eating ravenously, with no ladylike image at all.
Kamishiro Rize was also a bit crazy.
She kept licking her lips, swallowing saliva, and when the braised meat arrived, she immediately began eating.
No, it could be called devouring.
Kamishiro Rize ate with flushed cheeks, red ears, misty eyes, as if in a state of having gone but not completely gone.
Sakurajima Mai watched dumbfounded.
"This... is too amazing. Just now such a dignified and intellectual big sister, in the blink of an eye became like this."
After saying this, Mai suddenly remembered something and quickly asked Utaha:
"Utaha, was I like this just now too?"
"Yes indeed." Utaha's smile was very teasing: "Actually everyone's about the same. Just now, you also weren't in a ladylike posture."
"Ah~" Mai covered her face with a "pained" expression: "How could this happen..."
"It's all Hayashi-kun's fault."
"Mm, it's all his fault, making us like this..."
