How the Rank 0 Chef Survives 097: Cherry Blossoms and Stalkers
"...?"
Why's she so curious about this? Is she that bored?
"Uh... what was this place called again?"
I glanced around the restaurant interior and spotted the name.
A moment later, a message arrived that seemed to confirm she'd actually checked it out.
"...?"
No more messages came after that.
"What the heck?"
I shoved my phone back in my pocket and turned my gaze to the window again, munching on my pork cutlet.
"Wow, the weather's really nice today."
Dahyun returned from the bathroom and sat down, commenting as she did.
"Yeah. Feels like a perfect spring day."
I nodded in agreement. It really was a clear, bright day.
Japanese restaurant Dong-gyara-dos. By the window, Dahyun and Hura chatted about the warm spring weather while eating pork cutlet.
And at a table behind them sat a woman with a cap pulled low over her eyes and dark sunglasses, quietly munching her pork cutlet.
"Mmm. This is good."
Her mouth worked busily on the cutlet, but her ears were perked up, listening intently to Dahyun and Hura's conversation.
"Oh, that reminds me—I had a question."
"What is it?"
"Can NPCs interfere with the game system?"
"No way. Absolutely impossible."
"...Really?"
"Even if some bug made it possible, Simus wouldn't let it slide."
"Hmm... I see..."
Munch munch.
"They only talk about the game."
The capped woman muttered to herself.
"Eh, doesn't matter. They look like they're having fun."
Her identity? None other than Sera, Hura's sister, out on her day off to spy on her little brother's date out of boredom.
Having planned everything with Dahyun, Sera knew exactly where they'd go, making it easy to tail them unnoticed.
The game talk continued back and forth, and soon the meal was wrapping up.
"Customer-nim, all done?"
"Yeah. This place is great."
"Um... I have a bit left on mine. Want some more?"
"Nah, I'm good. I'm stuffed."
"Aww, but it's a waste to throw it out. You ate so cleanly—here, no need to hold back."
"Mmph—"
Dahyun shoved her leftover pork cutlet into Hura's mouth. Sera chuckled at the sight.
Dahyun was following the tips Sera had given her to the letter.
Step 1: Secure the window seat.
Step 2: Stuff him full.
"There's some udon left too. Eat up."
"Ugh, I'm so full."
"Still, when will you get to try a place like this again? Just finish this much."
"...Alright?"
Slurp. Hura polished off the remaining udon.
"Now you're definitely full, right?"
"Ugh... bloated even."
Steps 1 and 2: Success.
Now for the grand finale, Step 3. The first two were just groundwork for this.
Dahyun glanced out the window.
"Th-the cherry blossoms are so pretty. Haha."
Hura naturally followed her gaze.
"Yeah. Really feels like spring now."
Dahyun called out to him cautiously.
"Um, customer-nim."
"Yes?"
"How about a walk to help digest? Over there?"
She peeked at his reaction and pointed outside.
"Weather's nice, cherry blossoms are pretty..."
"Sounds good."
Hura nodded readily.
"I was thinking of walking off the food anyway."
"Ahaha, really?"
Step 3: Casually suggest cherry blossom viewing. Success.
Yes!
Sera watched Dahyun secretly pump her fists, finding it adorable.
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah. Let's head out."
The two stood, paid, and left the restaurant.
"Thanks for the meal!"
"No problem."
Sera quickly settled her bill and followed.
Hurrying down the stairs so as not to lose them, she spotted the pair walking amiably ahead.
She paused.
Her steps halted as she gazed warmly at them.
"...They look like the perfect couple."
Their backsides were a pleasing sight.
Leaning against the wall with arms crossed, she admired the scene for a bit when someone caught her eye.
A completely unexpected figure.
"...Huh?"
A slender woman in a long-brimmed baseball cap pulled low, just like Sera.
Sera glanced between her and the pair ahead.
She wasn't the only one tailing Hura and Dahyun.
Looked like she'd waited outside the restaurant and followed them out.
"Well, well..."
The corner of Sera's mouth twitched up.
A sly, Hura-like grin spread across her face. Siblings take after each other, after all.
"What's this now?"
Sera watched her closely.
"Ow."
The mystery woman bumped her head on a street tree. Clearly a newbie at stalking, she looked pretty clumsy.
"Idiot. Don't just stare at your target—watch where you're going."
Sera clicked her tongue.
"First time tailing someone?"
But despite her tsking, Sera's eyes sparkled with interest.
They gleamed with excitement.
"This... could be fun."
Things were getting interesting.
"Heh heh heh..."
Sera chuckled villainously and quietly trailed her.
And so, Sera stalked the mystery woman stalking Hura and Dahyun.
This bizarre chain of tails headed toward streets bursting with cherry blossoms.
Cherry trees lined both sides of the street. A cool breeze blew.
Petals drifted down gracefully in its wake.
"Waaah! So pretty!"
Dahyun fluttered in the midst of the swirling petals like she was part of the scene.
"Ahaha!"
It felt like stepping into a movie frame.
Cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Petals scattering like great snowflakes.
The white flowers evoked winter's snow blooms.
And in the center, a lovely woman spinning like a flower herself.
A spring day that paradoxically felt like midwinter.
"Eek."
Dahyun lost her balance mid-spin and flopped over.
...Knew it.
I offered her a hand.
"You okay?"
"Hehe, yeah."
Such a childlike laugh. Pure and innocent.
She dusted off her legs and stood briskly.
Then dashed off somewhere.
Grabbing a low-hanging cherry branch, she turned to me. It was laden with plump blossoms.
"Who's the flower?"
"...?"
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. Intimidatingly so.
Not used to this kinda thing.
"...Whoa! The flower's talking?!"
"Ahaha!"
"No way! And it laughs?!"
"Ehehe."
"Should I water it?"
"That's enough."
"...?"
We strolled slowly down the petal-strewn street.
Lots of people around.
Couples, families, couples, friends, vendors, couples, families, couples, couples, couples... Overwhelmingly couples.
"Crowded, huh."
Especially the kind I hated seeing.
"Yeah. Lots of families too."
Dahyun smiled as she replied.
"Ahaha! Look at those kids over there."
Following her pointing finger, I saw two little ones running around.
One chasing the other, one fleeing.
-Ehehehe! Take this! Petal Wave Fist!
-Eeeek! Stop! Stooop!
-Uahaha! Running's useless! Surrender!
-You'll bully me anyway!
-How'd you know?
-Waaah!
The apparent big sister was pelting her brother with handfuls of petals.
"Ahaha, so cute."
They barreled past us in a flurry of petals.
"Take this! Take this!"
"Mom! Sis is bullying me!"
Dahyun laughed brightly at the sight, but I gave the fleeing brother a sympathetic look.
I get it. Your pain.
I feel it in my chest.
Your sorrow.
Life with a big sister is the same everywhere. Happy siblings are happy for the same reasons, but unhappy ones suffer uniquely.
At least you're lucky. Petals are soft.
I got whacked with tough cherry branches.
She loved how the petals flew when she hit me.
"Kuh..."
My eyes welled up unbidden.
"C-customer-nim? What's wrong?"
"Seeing them brought back old memories."
"Aah. You must've played like that with Sera-unnie."
"...Something like that."
"Must've been fun."
"Fun..."
I swallowed the rising emotion and continued calmly.
"...Yeah. Fun for someone."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
"...?"
I started walking again. No sense dredging up sad feelings in such a nice spot.
Dahyun matched my pace.
"How's the snack shop going?"
"The shop?"
"Yeah. You settling in okay?"
"Of course. Wasn't easy at first, but I'm getting the hang of it."
"Ahaha, so humble. Boss was singing your praises. Said you were a lucky charm."
"Haha, come on. She's embarrassing me."
I waved it off bashfully.
"Said she'd never seen anyone adapt on day one. And you're even better at business than her?"
"Aw, stop. Boss is exaggerating."
"You lined up customers with the barrier arm and upgraded the tteokbokki taste too? Sales doubled thanks to you."
"Hahaha, enough."
"Okay, I'll stop."
"...Huh?"
"You said stop."
"No, I didn't mean actually stop."
"...Humble revoked."
"No more? Other stuff Boss praised?"
"There is, but I don't really wanna say."
"What? Jealous?"
"Jealous? Of what?"
Dahyun looked incredulous.
"You know the shop inside out. You've worked there too, right? More than just a regular customer."
"...?"
Silence usually means yes.
"Spot on. I did. That's why I'm tight with Boss."
"...And how's that jealousy?"
"Beats me. You'd know better if you're jealous."
"Ugh. Wanna bet who makes tteokbokki faster?"
"Hmph. Better quit before you embarrass yourself."
"Oh yeah? I was practically the shop mascot. Tons of boys came just to see me."
"M-me too?"
"Who? Spill."
"Th-there's this one from Baekrim Girls' High."
"Pfft. Just one?"
"That one's the president of the High School Tteokbokki Association."
"...Really?"
She was momentarily speechless. Guess that title carries weight.
"St-still, Boss likes me more... probably?"
"Tch. Fine, whatever."
I said it magnanimously.
Dahyun bristled.
"For real! Want me to call her?"
"Come on, Dahyun. You're the winner here."
"Argh, pissing me off. Hold on."
"...?"
"I'm really calling."
She pulled out her phone and punched in the number.
Then realized I'd vanished from beside her and looked around.
"Huh? Customer-nim?"
"Yeah?"
I replied from where I was crouched on the ground a bit away.
"...What're you doing there?"
"Wait just a sec."
"For what?"
She crept over curiously.
I blew a handful of petals right in her face.
"Take this! Petal Wave Fist!"
"Kyaaah!"
"Hahaha! How's it taste?!"
"Hey! You wanna die?!"
"Hahaha! Catch me if you can!"
I bolted down the petal-lined street, feeling refreshed.
Is this why Sis bullied me?
A chilling warning echoed behind me.
"If I catch you, you're dead, customer-nim~"
Whoosh—whoosh. The scary sound of air slicing.
"Huh?"
Glancing back in instinctive fear, I saw Dahyun swinging her handbag like a morningstar, charging like a rhino.
"Huh? H-huh?!"
"Told you—you're dead if I catch you~"
"It was just a joke!"
"Last words?"
"Waaah—!"
"...They're playing around."
Crack. Her clenched fist ground with ominous pops.
Ji-hyun watched the breathless chase from behind a cherry tree.
Tap. A hand landed on her shoulder.
"Huh?"
Ji-hyun whipped around reflexively.
"Hi there?"
There stood the scary sunglassed sister, smiling sweetly.