Chapter 694 Ingredients
The afternoon sunlight generously spilled through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long, warm light spots on the living room floor. The air was filled with a silence so profound it was almost lazy, punctuated only by the almost imperceptible hum of the central air conditioning.
“Eh, to suddenly have so much free time, I really don’t know what to do with myself.”
In the living room, the black-haired girl leaned against the soft back of a chair, her body sinking into it, looking utterly bored. She idly toyed with a cute, squishy miniature ramen bowl keychain in one hand, her gaze unfocused as she stared out the window.
In the distance, beyond the window, a vast lake shimmered like flecks of scattered gold under the strong midday sun. Further still, the cityscape of Miko City was spread out in a well-ordered fashion. The view was expansive and bright, yet it only served to emphasize the quietness and… emptiness of the indoor space.
The girl couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh, her voice exceptionally clear in the overly quiet air.
Lunch for two had indeed been quite simple. On one hand, Satō Shin’ichi had his training scheduled for the afternoon, leaving no time for a leisurely gourmet meal or lingering in a fancy restaurant. On the other hand, just a short walk down from their upscale apartment building, there was a rather famous ramen shop in Miko City, rumored to be decades old and remarkably authentic.
Thus, the dilemma of choice dissolved in the face of such a straightforward need, and the two naturally entered the bustling little shop.
The slightly comical ramen keychain that Kazumi was playing with was a prize from that ramen shop’s “One-Minute Challenge.” The rules were simple: finish a large bowl of a specific ramen within one minute, and you’d win this small souvenir. For someone like Satō Shin’ichi, who devoured his food at lightning speed and possessed an insatiable appetite, this challenge was practically tailor-made for him.
Kazumi still remembered how, out of curiosity, she had merely glanced at the advertisement for the one-minute challenge and the accompanying prize displayed at the ramen shop’s entrance. Satō Shin’ichi had immediately rushed to the counter to sign up, then, in one go, finished the large bowl of ramen that was served, presenting the small prize to her like a treasure.
With that thought, Kazumi’s lips unconsciously curved into a slight smile. Her fingertips unconsciously caressed the cute chibi ramen bowl in her hand, which even had two slightly shrunken soft-boiled eggs and a slice of exquisitely prepared chashu pork in it.
After lunch, Satō Shin’ichi didn’t even have time to return to the apartment for a short rest. He barely put down his chopsticks before checking the time, a hint of urgency appearing on his face.
“Kazumi, uh… I might have to go straight to the training grounds.” He scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. “My appointment there is quite early, and I’ve already missed half a day of training coming from Kyoto this morning. My master specifically hired a teacher for me, and it wouldn’t be good to postpone the afternoon session.”
His tone was earnest, carrying a respect for training and an almost obsessive dedication.
“Alright, I can’t help you with that.” She looked at the blond young man before her, who was so pure he didn’t seem like the “elite second generation” from a wealthy background. Kazumi understood her boyfriend’s pursuit and perseverance. She simply nodded and said, “Go quickly.”
She watched as he hastily paid the bill, slung his pre-packed bag over his shoulder, waved goodbye, and then, like a gust of wind, rushed out of the ramen shop and ran off in a certain direction. His blond hair, glinting in the afternoon sun, soon disappeared around the street corner.
So, now she was all alone. Loneliness was probably the norm for Kazumi. Sometimes, the girl actually got used to this solitary life; or rather, Satō Shin’ichi’s boisterous demeanor was the true culprit behind disrupting Kazumi’s peaceful life. However, Kazumi didn’t dislike it; it was all for the best.
She shuffled back slowly to the overly quiet, upscale apartment. The girl’s faint smile, which had appeared when she was with the young man, faded as she sank deeper into the soft chair and stared at the ceiling for a while. Then, she slowly sat up. The familiar coldness once again crept onto her cheeks. Kazumi scanned her surroundings, picked up her bag, and reached inside. In the unseen depths of the backpack, amidst the flickering green ghostly flames, she pulled out a worn, ancient notebook.
Skillfully turning to the latest page, Kazumi picked up her water-based pen and began to sketch and write, her brain working at full speed.
[Although there are some deviations from the plan, it’s not a big deal and won’t affect the mission on that end. Satō Shin’ichi’s training is also going well, so there won’t be any need to find excuses to leave later. I just need to return here to the apartment before he gets back.
I’ve already obtained the method for long-distance teleportation from Uncle Fukada, so I won’t need to owe favors to anyone else. Besides, right now, I truly can’t find anyone else… ]
Her communication with Uncle Fukada had been completed last night. Her own uncle was very supportive of her. Moreover, due to future missions, he would be active in Kyoto. Shortly after ending the call, a deep, dark crystal of energy emerged from the shadows. According to Uncle Fukada’s description of its use, simply crushing it would create a passage from Miko City to Kyoto.
[However, is the specific timing of the action for confidentiality? Also, even as a participant, Kazumi doesn’t know the organization’s actual attack time. It’s probably to prevent any ghoul within the organization from leaking information. According to Yuki Umi’s statement, I will be notified before the action is initiated.]
Her black ballpoint pen circled the timeline twice more, then extended the lines to the character for “power” on the side.
[As for intel, I’ve done everything I possibly could. The rest depends on my own preparations. Whether the strength of my territory and my own abilities are enough to get through this mission remains to be seen. I need to find an opportunity to go back and check.]
With that thought, the pen in Kazumi’s hand paused for a moment. She then placed the pen flat on the notebook, which was covered in countless revisions and adorned with labels. She looked around the room again, as if searching for something.
“Ding-dong—”
The sudden crisp doorbell sound was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, instantly jolting Kazumi out of her deep contemplation. A flicker of vigilance flashed in her jet-black eyes, but it quickly subsided. Kazumi nodded thoughtfully, as if confirming something, then closed the worn notebook and put it into her bag.
The girl stood up and walked steadily towards the entrance. She cautiously peered through the peephole and saw a middle-aged delivery man wearing a branded windbreaker with a professional smile.
Kazumi opened the door. The middle-aged man outside bowed slightly upon seeing her, holding a seemingly heavy insulated bag. “Hello, may I ask if you are Ms. Shimizu? This is your pre-ordered ingredient delivery.”
