Fine Dining Gratitude and Ominous Whispers
Ryu Harin's relationship with her fine dining family was pretty good overall. After all, she was officially listed as a big corporation employee to the outside world.
"Show your face a bit. At this rate, we'll all forget what you look like."
Ryu Harin had come home to her parents' place for the holiday. She nodded vaguely at her mom's words.
"...Busy. That's why."
"No matter how busy you are, isn't skipping even the holidays going too far?"
"What can I do? That's just how the company is."
Anomalies didn't exactly check the holiday calendar before popping up. And even more than that, Ryu Harin actively avoided spending time with her family. It was like some lingering inferiority complex. Her whole family were doctors, pharmacists, lawyers... that kind of thing. She just didn't want to see them much. Sure, on the surface, she was a big corp employee too, so she wouldn't lose out to them, but still.
"Even so, try to make it out this holiday. Your brother was disappointed too."
"......"
"Ah, it's been a while—should I call your brother? We could all get together for a nice meal out."
"No thanks. I said I was heading out today. I'll eat and come back."
Ryu Harin said sharply. But she hadn't gotten into the Foundation through academics. It was pure aptitude. Felt like she lucked into it, so it made her uncomfortable all around. Unlike her brother who'd studied to become a doctor or the other relatives, it wasn't pure skill. Made her feel like she was deceiving her family somehow. Which she technically was. You couldn't tell anyone outside the industry about monsters.
And above all... she knew being a Foundation employee meant a life as fragile as a fly's. Maybe she was using that as an excuse to run away.
"Your outing was today, right?"
"Yeah."
"Where'd you say you were going?"
"Fine dining."
"Did you get a boyfriend?"
"...As if."
With a sigh, Ryu Harin headed out.
Was this her second time experiencing fine dining? I ate a course meal at a friend's wedding once before, Mayuri thought, staring at the fine dining dish in front of her. Back before she'd become the universe's cutest girl. In other words, her past life. Weddings usually had buffets, but that day had been uniquely a course meal. Was what she'd eaten back then fine dining? She was a total newbie, so who knew. But one thing was certain—this was her first time at a fine dining restaurant.
"First time at a place like this?"
"Yeah... that's right."
"I figured. Oh, not being sarcastic."
Ryu Harin nodded a couple times at Mayuri's words.
"I put a lot of thought into it, even if it doesn't look like it. What to get for you, Mayuri."
Her favorites were pork soup, pork cutlet, spicy pork stir-fry, burgers... stuff like that. Sending chicken gift certificates felt half-hearted. So she'd flipped her thinking: don't buy what she likes, give her something she's never experienced.
"You're the type who prioritizes cost-performance in food, right? Or am I wrong?"
"...Mayuri."
"What? Don't like the way I call you?"
"Not that... just feels fresh being called Mayuri. Yeah, Harin, you're right."
Mayuri affirmed Ryu Harin's words. When paying for food, shouldn't you at least fill your stomach? So even with the same money, she ended up focusing on quantity over taste. But ever since becoming the universe's cutest girl, her stomach had shrunk a lot. Lately, she'd started prioritizing taste over amount. Stuff like honey bread—she never would've bought it in her past life. Still, blowing cost-performance out the window didn't sit right. That mindset hadn't changed, so places like fine dining restaurants had never crossed her path. She definitely wouldn't come here paying her own money.
"That's why I set this up. Might not suit your taste, but trying it once won't hurt."
"Y-you didn't have to go to such lengths..."
Naturally, it felt burdensome from Mayuri's side. She hadn't thought much of it. She'd have happily scarfed down pork soup or whatever. And besides, there were two more besides her and Ryu Harin.
"...Ari, tasty?"
Mayuri subtly asked Ari. In front of her was pasta. The plate was huge, but the pasta portion was fist-sized. The plating was gorgeous, but it looked like only two or three bites.
Ari poked her fork into the pasta casually. Wound it up, and om nom nom—ate it. Still no reaction, no expression change. But way better than when they first met. Back then, table manners were nonexistent.
"Small portion. But tasty."
"Good if it's tasty. ...Can't do anything about the small portion."
"Know."
"You know...?"
Ari had "knowledge"...? Mayuri was shocked.
"Saw on TV."
Ari said. Come to think of it, she'd been watching some chef show on Netflix lately. Ari watched cooking shows when idle. And since Ari was always idle, she was always watching cooking shows. Mayuri had thought it was just window-shopping for tasty food. ...Who'd have guessed she was building up knowledge on cuisine. Even fine dining.
Even a dog in a school learns poetry in three years—guess it applies to cats too.
"Delicious."
And Lisa, sitting to Mayuri's left, seemed a bit excited too. She was eating unusually slowly. Lisa carefully put food in her mouth and rolled it around on her tongue forever.
"I can feel the chef's skill is top-notch. Mayuri, if you're interested, shall I make something like this at home?"
"Huh? You can make this too, Lisa...?"
"If I have the right ingredients, I think so. Though since it's new to me, not sure if I can replicate it exactly."
She said that. Including Ryu Harin—Mayuri, Ari, Lisa. Four in total. They were dining like this.
Ryu Harin had said bring the staff. She'd cover everyone. Nao and Miyeong weren't official employees yet, and had no prior contact with Ryu Harin. But Ryu Harin had seen Ari and Lisa at the hospital last time. So inevitably, Ari and Lisa came along, with Ryu Harin footing the entire bill.
"......Expensive, right?"
Mayuri asked offhandedly.
Ryu Harin thought a moment, then said, "Not really."
"Feels like it is..."
"Cheap compared to the value of my life."
"Can't argue when you put it like that... but really, no need to feel burdened. I don't mind at all."
"Can't not mind."
A benefactor. Twice over. Prideful Ryu Harin hated owing debts. But owing her life? She had to repay somehow.
"If you ever need my help, just say. I'll do anything."
"Too heavy... this meal's more than enough..."
Mayuri said that, but Ryu Harin unwittingly shut her mouth. Was this enough? Maybe cash would've been better. She'd thought solving everything with money lacked sincerity. Should've gotten gift certificates. She didn't have many places to spend anyway. No friends, no dating, no hobbies.
What a personality...
Watching Ryu Harin like that, Mayuri could only nod ambiguously. What to call that temperament? Stoic? Ascetic? Self-deprecating? Didn't know exactly, but she seemed like a hassle of a woman. Admirable intent to repay the favor, but honestly—would Mayuri ever need help from her? Our superstar anchovy girl. Felt more like she'd stand to worry about Ryu Harin accidentally raising death flags while offering help.
The four continued their leisurely meal. To Ryu Harin, Mayuri seemed to be enjoying the fine dining decently too.
In the midst of it, a sound reached Ryu Harin's ear.
Boooo—...... Boooo—......
"......?"
What was that? Wind? Not wind. Like the groan of a living cave. Utterly alien.
Boooo, booo—...... The sound kept coming.
Ryu Harin, unable to focus on her meal, had to ask Mayuri.
"Hear any weird sounds?"
"Weird sounds?"
Mayuri tilted her head. Then booo again from somewhere.
"Nothing...?"
"Huh?"
Nothing? Ryu Harin glanced around instinctively. Where was it coming from? Not inside the restaurant, at least. So she looked out the window—and a shadowy figure flitted by. Black hair fluttering... or something.
"Didn't someone just pass by over there?"
"Huh...?"
Mayuri, truly clueless, looked at Ari and Lisa. They showed no sign of recognition either.
...What. Am I tired?
"......Gonna hit the bathroom."
Thinking she needed to splash water on her face, Ryu Harin stood. Even walking, she couldn't shake the doubt. She'd slept soundly yesterday and the day before. Not fatigue.
Still thinking that, she washed her hands lightly, splashed her face. But the sound in her ear wouldn't fade.
Booooo—......
"......"
She listened closely without thinking. At first, like wind rushing into a cave. But listening... it sounded like a human voice. Ryu Harin mimicked it unconsciously.
"Boo.... Bo? ...Not 'bo'."
Hearing it, she'd thought 'bo', but saying it aloud, it wasn't. Stronger pronunciation. Closer to 'po' than 'bo'?
Pooo—......, poo—..., poooo—......
"...Ah."
Then Ryu Harin realized. Outside the bathroom window, a person stood. Incredibly tall. So tall her face wasn't even visible through the window.