Spirit Diner: A Departure with the Taste of Memories, Episode 23

◆Click here for Episode 1

Chapter 3: The Farewell Omelet Rice

7: To Glamorous Ginza

However, the situation began to change significantly.
It was three days later.
I'm heading out now, would you like to come along, Yahiro?
Suddenly addressed by Kazuki, Yahiro stopped cleaning the shop.
Of course, I'll go! Where are we going?
It was 4:00 PM.
Where on earth could he be planning to go at this hour? Is he not opening the shop today?

Wow! Kazuki-san, you look cool!
Kazuki appeared in the kitchen wearing a three-piece suit.
Is he going somewhere formal?
Yahiro looked down at his own attire.
He was dressed far too casually in jeans and a sweatshirt. Is it really okay for him to tag along looking like this?
I may have found the whereabouts of the woman from the other day.
What! Really?
He was greatly surprised, as he hadn't expected to actually find her. That said, I'm not yet certain it's the same woman, but I'm going to meet the person who provided the information and hear what they have to say.
Understood!

With that, Yahiro headed to the location specified by the informant, with Kazuki driving.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Yahiro glanced sideways at Kazuki as he drove.
He thought that Kazuki, driving in his suit and sunglasses, looked truly cool.
Even as a man, Yahiro found himself admiring him.
Noticing Yahiro's gaze, Kazuki glanced over at him.
Is something wrong?
No...
Unable to say he had been staring at him, Yahiro hurriedly returned his gaze to the front.
Um, where are we going?
Is he going somewhere formal enough to warrant such a sharp suit?

To Ginza.
Oh, Ginza?
For some reason, just hearing the name Ginza made him nervous.
After all, it was a place completely unfamiliar to Yahiro.
Before long, the car entered a bustling area.
They parked in a lot and got out of the car.
Yahiro followed timidly behind Kazuki, who had taken off his sunglasses and started walking with a brisk, dashing stride.
It was nearly dusk; lights were beginning to turn on in shop signs here and there, and the neon lights began to sparkle, coloring the town in a glamorous glow.
While Yahiro walked around looking wide-eyed, unaccustomed to the novelty and the glamorous setting, Kazuki blended into the town without any sense of awkwardness.

His smart movements and stylish attire.
With looks that made one think he was a model, the women passing by widened their eyes, blushed, and even turned around after walking past him.
Witnessing such a scene, they walked along Namiki-dori for a while before Kazuki stopped.
Here it is.
Here?
The place Kazuki pointed to was a building along the street. Yahiro looked up at the building as if to crane his neck, his eyes wide and his mouth agape.
The place they had arrived at was a club called 'Yukihana'. And it was no exaggeration to say it was likely a high-class establishment.

Just looking at the entrance made his legs feel weak from the high barrier to entry, and he instinctively moved closer to Kazuki. Kazuki, on the other hand, didn't seem intimidated at all, acting just as he always did.
A-a-are we going in here?
A strange, high-pitched voice escaped Yahiro's lips. For Yahiro, who had never even been to such a place—no, who would likely never come here in his entire life—this was uncharted territory.
Yes, we are. Let's go.
Kazuki walked into the building without hesitation.
W-w-wait for me!
Pathetically, Yahiro followed behind with timid steps, trying to hide behind Kazuki.
He was trembling, wondering if he would suddenly be glared at by a tough-looking staff member in black clothes.
Do you come to places like this often, Kazuki-san?
Not often, no.

If it's not often, does that mean he comes here occasionally? He was surprised. Is that why he is so composed without any hesitation? Compared to that, how pathetic his own lack of confidence was.
When they entered the shop, since it was still before opening time, there were no customers, but several women seemed to have already arrived for work, and the moment Kazuki stood at the entrance, the shop became noisy.
Hey, who is that?
Oh my, how wonderful...
He's so cool.
The dressed-up women blushed as they saw Kazuki.
Well, it's only natural that such a handsome man would draw attention.
Someone as plain-looking as me wouldn't even get a second glance.

Kazuki.
A beautiful woman in a kimono appeared from the back.
She approached while waving her hand with elegant gestures, calling out to Kazuki.
She had a presence and dignity unlike the other women. The aura she emitted was extraordinary.
Who is that woman?
Trying to hide behind Kazuki, Yahiro asked who the woman who had appeared was.
She is the mama of this club.
The lipstick she had applied neatly was alluring. The woman smiled enchantingly.
I'm sorry for making you go to the trouble of coming all this way.
Not at all, since I was the one who asked. Yuko-san, I'm sorry for taking your time when you're so busy.

Laughing with her hand over her mouth, the woman called Yuko guided them to a seat.
The women in the shop sent passionate gazes toward Kazuki as he started walking.
The way they looked at him was almost painful. Though, of course, they weren't looking at me.
As he sat in a chair feeling unsettled, Yuko sat down next to Kazuki.
As expected of a mama of a high-class club, her demeanor was refined and elegant.
As he was admiring Yuko's gestures, she turned her gaze toward Yahiro and smiled.
He felt a jolt from her enchanting smile and sex appeal.
How old is she?
She looks young, but if she's a mama, she must be of a certain age. In any case, her age is a mystery.

Sorry, but everyone, please step away for a moment.
At the mama's word, the women who had gathered around left with sounds of disappointment.
The three of them—Kazuki, Yahiro, and Yuko—were left in the spacious seating area. Yuko's gaze turned back to Yahiro.
What a cute child. Kazuki, who is this?
From Yuko's perspective, Yahiro must look like nothing more than a child.
More than that, Yahiro was startled by the fact that Yuko called Kazuki by his name without any honorifics.
What kind of relationship do these two have?
They seemed to fit together quite naturally and looked good together.

N-nice to meet you! I'm Yahiro Hirota. No, that's my name!
Yahiro bowed deeply, saying 'how do you do'.
Hehe, what a lively child.
I've asked him to help out at my shop.
Yuko stared intently at Yahiro as if to say 'I see.'
Being stared at intently by a beautiful woman, Yahiro blushed and let his gaze wander.
I see. It seems you have various deep circumstances. My name is Yuko. It's a pleasure to meet you.
Y-yes. Likewise, a pleasure to meet you.
He felt like his face was about to burst into flames, his attitude making it obvious that he was unaccustomed to this atmosphere and to women.
On top of that, he lacked social skills and couldn't even say a clever word, making him feel like he might be laughed at behind his back.

However, the person he was dealing with was a professional in customer service.
She never made him feel uncomfortable and never let her pleasant smile falter.
Still, the 'deep circumstances' Yuko-san mentioned... well, it's true that he had been wandering the streets without a home, so it was a deep circumstance, I suppose.
Before long, coffee was brought out, out of consideration for Kazuki, who had driven.
Of course, there was some for me too.
The man in black who brought the coffee looked at Yahiro with a puzzled expression.

Huh? Why are you looking at me with that face?

Unable to bear it, Yahiro bowed his head and said, 'I'm sorry.'
I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. A young guy like me, and in these clothes, coming to a place like this. I'm ruining the atmosphere of the shop, aren't I?
Sakai.
Noticing the man's gaze fixed on Yahiro, Yuko sent the man away with a stern look.

- Continued in Episode 24 -

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