Chapter 629: The Loneliness of a Master and the Absent Billionaire
After the ethereal delicacy of the bluefin tuna sashimi, the soft and tender Chateaubriand steak might have seemed like a step down in sheer rarity, but it remained an absolute masterpiece on the palate.
If the brilliance of the sashimi relied entirely on the pristine, untouched quality of the ocean's finest catch, the Chateaubriand was a different beast altogether. It was a canvas that displayed the sheer depth of Ren's culinary mastery. High-end ingredients notoriously demanded the simplest of preparations, yet that very simplicity required an execution completely devoid of error.
Yuuki Kyouko understood this better than anyone. She sliced into the thick cut of beef, her knife gliding through the seared crust with zero resistance. The center revealed a perfect, blushing ruby red. With every gentle press of her blade, rich, savory meat juices slowly welled up, cascading over the rosy center to pool beautifully against the stark white porcelain of the plate. It was a visual feast before it even reached her lips.
The texture was as soft as a delicate cake, yet the moment she chewed, the distinct, satisfying resistance unique to premium beef made itself known. It was the pure art of meat and fire.
After savoring a few bites in comfortable silence, Asuna tilted her head, her fork hovering over a different plate. "Mom, this dish is..."
"Hmm? That is the salt-grilled pork chop."
Asuna chewed slowly, her brow furrowing in mild confusion. "What kind of salt is this? It tastes entirely different from normal seasoning."
Kyouko paused, her curiosity piqued. She reached over, forking a small piece of the pork and bringing it to her mouth. The moment the crystalline flakes dissolved against her tongue, her eyes widened in disbelief. "Fleur de sel... This... why on earth is fleur de sel being used for a simple grilled pork chop?"
Asuna shook her head, equally astonished. Fleur de sel was the absolute pinnacle of sea salt, a priceless and painstakingly harvested ingredient often reserved for the highest echelons of fine dining. To see it casually sprinkled over a rustic pork dish was staggering.
What finally grounded the mother and daughter was the tomato spaghetti. It was made with ordinary pasta, ordinary tomatoes, and ordinary ground beef. Yet, through sheer technique, it still managed to eclipse any gourmet pasta they had ever tasted in their lives.
Across the diner, a much louder reaction was taking place.
"Shopkeeper Ren! This is truly magnificent! I never imagined sparerib shrimp could possess such an overwhelming flavor profile!"
Seeing the intense, almost mechanical dedication burning in Genos's eyes, Ren merely offered a faint smile while wiping down the counter. "Just make it with care. Do you need a beer refill?"
Saitama shook his bald head, waving a hand dismissively. "No need. Drinking too much just leads to trouble, so this is fine. Ah... Is it nine already? It is time to go back."
Genos abruptly stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. He stared at the chef with burning intensity. "Shopkeeper Ren! Please name a price that does justice to the sheer magnitude of this dish, so I can truly comprehend the value of what I just consumed!"
Ichihara Yuko, Lucifer, and the rest of the women at the nearby tables blinked in unison. The atmosphere had shifted from a relaxing late-night supper to a high-stakes standoff in the blink of an eye. Was it not just a plate of shrimp? Was this not just paying a standard restaurant bill? The cyborg was projecting an oppressive amount of pressure over a casual meal.
Under Genos's heavy, expectant gaze, Ren casually tilted his head. "One thousand yen."
"One... One thousand?!"
The exclamation left both Genos and Saitama's mouths simultaneously.
Genos stared in absolute shock. He glanced at his mentor, assuming Saitama was equally appalled by how insultingly low the price was for such a divine creation. Just as the cyborg opened his mouth to protest the meager sum, Saitama patted his shoulder.
"Genos. One thousand yen. You are paying this time."
Genos froze, his advanced processors kicking into overdrive. Saitama was an entity of unfathomable power, yet he always lived as an ordinary man, maintaining strict frugality. It suddenly made perfect sense. The people who surrounded his master were either individuals completely detached from the concept of worldly wealth, or those who recognized Saitama's true greatness and offered him immense respect.
"Teacher! As expected of you!" Genos bowed sharply before turning his reverent gaze back to the counter. "Shopkeeper Ren! Thank you so much! You are truly a strong person!"
Ren and Saitama exchanged a blank, entirely confused look. What was wrong with this kid now? It was just a thousand yen. Neither of them knew if the cyborg thought it was too much or too little, but his dramatic flair was completely out of place.
After reverently placing a crisp thousand-yen bill on the counter, Genos marched toward the door, his face radiating deep emotional enlightenment.
Saitama scratched his cheek, sighing softly. "Ren, to be honest, I have no idea what he is talking about half the time. But it is not anything bad, so just assume he is very happy. Well then, we will be leaving now. Your cooking is still the best."
Ren nodded, collecting the bill. "He is quite passionate. It would be great if you could find a way to be that passionate too."
Saitama paused at the doorway. He looked down at his gloved hand, slowly clenching it into a fist. "If someone could actually fight me to a standstill... maybe I would get passionate again after all this time." He let his hand drop. "Anyway, I am leaving now."
He stepped out into the night. Genos, lingering just outside the door, naturally processed every syllable of that exchange. In an instant, an image formed in his mind: two unmatched grandmasters crossing paths, both burdened by the isolating chill of absolute supremacy. Another wave of deep epiphany washed over the cyborg.
A few paces down the street, Saitama let out a long, contented sigh. Having a full stomach was the greatest comfort in the world. Meat, shrimp, rice, and a cold beer. He was completely satisfied.
Behind him, Genos's mechanical pupils contracted. A voice echoed in his mind, analyzing the situation with absolute certainty: 'Teacher is currently experiencing the deep loneliness of a master because he has just parted ways with a fellow powerhouse.'
"Thank you for your continued guidance, Teacher!" Genos declared to the empty street.
Saitama glanced over his shoulder, his face entirely deadpan. "Hmm? Genos, you... never mind. Let us just go home and watch TV."
Back inside the warm glow of the diner, Courage and the others finally let out the laughter they had been holding back.
Kobayashi Rindou leaned over the table, wiping a tear from her eye. "Saitama's disciple is way too interesting!"
Lucifer swirled the dark liquid in her glass, a wicked smirk playing on her lips. "He is certainly comparable to Tony. No... this level of dramatic overthinking is actually much better than Tony's usual nonsense."
Rindou tilted her head, her feline eyes blinking in curiosity. "Who is Tony?"
"A regular customer here," Lucifer explained lazily. "He runs a massive company and spends all his time doing technological research, so he rarely has time to show up himself these days. Sometimes he just sends his secretary, who is also his girlfriend, to pick up late-night snacks for him."
Rindou rested her chin on her hands. "So he does not come to the shop to discuss business?"
Nakiri Mana took a delicate sip of her tea before answering. "It is true that the atmosphere here is incredibly relaxing. It is quiet, the food is unmatched, and the ingredients are flawless. But how could anyone possibly come here to discuss corporate matters? It just feels deeply inappropriate to bring the stress of the outside world into this space."
Sitting a few seats away, Yuuki Kyouko silently agreed. It really did feel wrong to treat this sanctuary as a boardroom. This diner was a place meant for friends, family, and quiet decompression after a long day of exhausting work. If corporate negotiations started happening over these tables, the shop would eventually lose its magic and become just like any other high-end restaurant in Tokyo. She had already banished any thought of bringing her own business associates here.
"Speaking of which," Lucifer continued, her smirk widening into a full grin, "last night Potts came by and bought a green papaya salad. It seems Tony has gotten fat and is too embarrassed to show his face."
Rindou giggled, while Mana shook her head in amusement.
"Whose fault is that?" Lucifer laughed, resting her cheek against her palm. "The man eats an entire dinner's worth of food as a late-night snack. Especially since his body is now exceptionally healthy and absorbs nutrients far better than a normal human. If he does not get fat eating like that, who will?"
"We should wait for him to finally show up," Rindou suggested mischievously. "Or better yet, we could ambush him at his own place."
"Excellent idea," Lucifer agreed, her red eyes gleaming with chaotic intent. "Potts mentioned she does not have much to do recently. Going shopping with her and crashing his lab sounds like a perfect afternoon."
"Sounds good to me."
"Are you coming along, Mana?"
"Naturally. We must go mock him properly. Yuko, you are coming too, right?"
From her corner, Ichihara Yuko took a slow drag from her kiseru pipe, exhaling a thin plume of smoke with a mysterious, elegant smile. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
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