Chapter 130: I Don't Mean Anything By It, I Just Feel Like...
The sun slowly dipped toward the west, spreading a magnificent sunset across the horizon. Hues of orange-red, pinkish-purple, and gold wove together like an overturned paint palette, rendering the entire sky dreamlike and surreal. The sunset's glow scattered across the sparkling sea, making the water glitter with flecks of gold, perfectly reflecting the sky.
The waves lapped gently against the beach, creating a soothing shh, shh sound that mixed with the crisp calls of distant seagulls.
...
On the private beach in Okinawa—
Ryohei Tanaka had already set up the grill and, with Lucoa's help, lit the charcoal.
He first placed the grill grate over the hot coals to preheat it for a few minutes, then brushed it with a layer of oil to prevent food from sticking.
"Alright, it's ready. Grab whatever you want to eat and put it on. I'll take care of the heat and the seasoning," Ryohei announced, placing the oil brush back in its bowl.
"Oooh—!"
The angels and demons gathered around the grill cheered, then swarmed the massive 1.2 x 2.4-meter table to grab their favorite ingredients.
Minos, true to her nature, led the charge. She snatched up a plate of sliced A5 Wagyu beef, grabbed a pair of tongs, and returned to the grill, skillfully placing the meat on the grate. She showed zero hesitation, while the others were still trying to decide what to eat first.
They had prepared an enormous amount of food today, not just in quantity but also in variety. All sorts of meats, seafood, and vegetables, plus staples like rice cakes and glass noodles, added up to over fifty different items.
Soon, the others also returned to the grill with their chosen ingredients.
Ryohei saw Yurine carrying a plate of simply cut white meat. While brushing BBQ sauce on the grill, he took a moment to give her a thumbs-up. "Yurine, you truly have an explorer's spirit! A pioneer of deliciousness!"
Yurine just smiled faintly. She had actually figured Ryohei would be the most interested in this, which is why she grabbed a plate of the Kraken meat first.
"Me too," Lucoa said, having changed back into her black bikini. She brought over a tinfoil packet filled with pre-arranged ingredients and placed it on the grill, puffing out her chest as her world-class figure swayed gently.
"Mhm." Ryohei didn't dare look for long. He glanced at it, acknowledged her, and immediately pretended to be extremely busy managing the grill.
'Can you really eat that thing? Will it even taste good?' Pekola thought, suspicious, as she placed several marinated shrimp on the grate, glancing sideways at the ingredients Yurine and Lucoa had brought.
At the same time—
Minos picked up a palm-sized slice of grilled A5 Wagyu. Ignoring the sizzling heat, she eagerly stuffed the entire piece into her mouth.
"Mmmph—!"
"This is too delicious! So good it's making my whole body tremble!"
Minos couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh, her pale chin tilted upward, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed vigorously. The lines of her face visibly softened, her expression one of pure bliss. As she spoke, her body even gave a little shiver, and her tail trembled, as if it really was that good.
"Delicious—!" Poporon shamelessly snatched a piece for herself, took a delicate bite, and her cute, idol-like face immediately lit up with a satisfied smile.
"Kori-kun," Yusa said, picking up a slice of beef. She didn't eat it herself, instead turning and placing it on Koji-kun's plate.
Yurine also picked up a slice, placed it on her own plate, cut it in half with her chopsticks, rolled one half up, and held it out to Ryohei's mouth.
"Ah~."
Ryohei naturally accepted his girlfriend's offering with a big smile.
The grilled A5 Wagyu radiated a rich, fatty aroma, accompanied by a sweet, buttery scent that made one's appetite surge just from smelling it. The moment the beef entered his mouth, the delicate marbling seemed to melt on his tongue. The richness of the fat and the tenderness of the meat intertwined, creating an ultimate silky-smooth feeling. It required almost no chewing; with just a gentle press, the beef dissolved into savory juices.
The smoky aroma from the charcoal added a complex and captivating flavor, which, woven together with the rich fat, the deep meat juices, and the faint sweetness, created a multi-layered taste experience—the ultimate indulgence!
"This stuff may be expensive, but when you grill it, the taste and texture are undeniable," Ryohei praised, while busily managing the rest of the grill.
...
"Jashin-chan..."
Medusa, holding a plate piled with grilled A5 Wagyu and other ingredients, walked with light steps over to Jashin-chan, who was slumped in a beach chair, wrapped in bandages, looking as if all life had left her.
However arrogant Jashin-chan had been before, that's how pathetic she looked now. "Pathetic" wasn't even a strong enough word; she was completely catatonic. She had thought she could win, but it turned out to be just a delusion. She had been single-handedly crushed by Yurine, and her spirit was broken.
'I can't beat her... I can never beat her!'
'I can't win...'
"Jashin-chan..." Medusa's heart ached seeing her friend looking so broken and listless. She quickly picked up a slice of A5 Wagyu and held it to Jashin-chan's lips. "Here, eat something. You need to get your strength back!"
She hoped the delicious food could soothe Jashin-chan's wounded soul.
Although Jashin-chan was in a depressive slump, she mechanically opened her mouth. Medusa seized the chance and placed the beef inside. Jashin-chan chewed lightly, and as the flavor spread through her mouth, her expression softened just a little. She swallowed the beef and looked at Medusa.
"More," she muttered.
"Mhm," Medusa let out a sigh of relief, a sweet smile on her face as she continued to carefully feed her.
...
Yurine tossed a glance at Jashin-chan, then calmly looked away, turning her attention to the Kraken meat on the grill. She picked up a slice that was slightly curled at the edges, sizzling and golden brown, and emitting a faint golden glow.
Yurine brought the slice to her lips, blew on it lightly, and took a bite. Her reddish-brown eyes instantly lit up.
"Delicious—!"
It was so much better than she had imagined!
The thinly sliced Kraken meat was slightly crisp on the very outside but had a tender, springy texture within. The moment she bit down, she could almost feel the texture of the meat as it had seared on the grill. The Kraken meat had its own natural, high-class salty and savory flavor, which blended perfectly with Ryohei's special sweet BBQ sauce, creating a complex profile that was savory, sweet, and smoky all at once.
Yurine found it incredibly tasty, and... apparently, non-toxic.
She was just about to offer Ryohei a taste when she saw Lucoa hold a piece of Kraken meat up to his mouth.
"Aah~."
Stare—!
Yurine immediately narrowed her eyes at Lucoa. 'What do you think you're doing?'
"I just feel like Tanaka-kun worked so hard. I wanted to thank him," Lucoa explained with a cheerful smile, as if she had sensed Yurine's thoughts.
Before Yurine could say anything, Lucoa insisted, "Please, you must let me thank him!"