Chapter 20

Uyuu Restaurant had a classic Inazuman-style decor.

To the right of the entrance was an irregularly shaped bar, giving off a casual vibe, yet the natural layering of materials created a sense of calm and simplicity.

After a long journey, stopping here for some snacks or light meals during leisure time was a great choice.

To the left were the common tatami mats, a staple of Inazuman style, frequently seen in both private rooms and the main dining area of restaurants.

Especially the ukiyo-e-style feature wall. Though exaggerated in its depiction, the visual impact provided a unique experience that could whet one's appetite.

"Welcome to Uyuu Restaurant. If you'd like to order... Oh, it's Lady Kujou!"

The proprietress, Erika Okazaki, instinctively greeted them as the door opened.

Looking up, she realized it was someone familiar.

"Thank you for your hard work. My... friend and I are just here for a simple meal."

The reason Uyuu Restaurant was so popular was entirely due to her culinary skills.

Her cooking was among the best in Inazuma City.

"Please, take a seat."

Erika Okazaki seemed to know Kujou Sara well, but her gaze lingered on Bai Luo.

In her experience, Kujou Sara usually came here either to consult her husband or to dine with high-ranking members of her clan.

It was rare to see her bring a man here alone.

So, she instinctively tried to lead them to a private room upstairs.

Couples who came here usually preferred the secluded rooms on the second floor.

That way, they could do things they didn't want others to know about without being disturbed.

"No need to go upstairs. We'll just have a quick meal here."

Kujou Sara didn't pick up on Erika's implication. She simply didn't want to take up too much of the restaurant's resources.

She pointed to the bar area and led Bai Luo over.

"Hmm? Isn't this Lady Kujou?"

Inside the bar, an elderly man with graying hair was enjoying a drink. Noticing Kujou Sara's arrival, he greeted her warmly.

From his slightly drunken gaze, it was clear he had already had quite a bit to drink.

"Senior Okazaki, it's best to go easy on the alcohol."

The fact that Kujou Sara addressed him as "senior" confirmed Bai Luo's earlier guess.

This man was either a former Shogunate soldier or a seasoned veteran of the Tenryou Commission.

And judging by Kujou Sara's respectful demeanor, his status was likely quite high.

"With sake in hand and good food by my side, how could I not indulge in a cup to honor this busy life?"

The old man, Rikuto Okazaki, laughed heartily and raised his cup for another drink.

It was only Inazuman sake, after all. If it were Snezhnayan Fire-Water... would he dare drink like this?

"And this is...?"

Soon, Rikuto's gaze shifted to Bai Luo.

As mentioned earlier, this was the first time he had seen Kujou Sara bring an unfamiliar man to the izakaya.

"Hello, boss. I'm Sara's friend. My name is Bai Luo."

Before Kujou Sara could speak, Bai Luo warmly introduced himself.

"A friend?"

Rikuto was momentarily stunned, and his expression toward the two became somewhat peculiar.

Not many people dared to call Kujou Sara by her first name.

So far, only the Guuji and Kujou Takayuki, who had adopted Kujou Sara, had addressed her so familiarly.

Judging by Kujou Sara's reaction... she seemed to tacitly accept this young man calling her "Sara."

Rikuto instinctively glanced at Erika, who was pretending to clean a table to eavesdrop on the gossip.

[What do you think?]

As Rikuto's wife, Erika shared a deep understanding with her husband.

So, she perfectly received his signal.

[I think there's potential.]

She blinked, conveying this message.

"So, what would you two like to eat? Mapo tofu? Even though it's a Liyue dish, Erika is quite skilled at it."

From Bai Luo's name, Rikuto could tell he was likely from Liyue.

He didn't feel like drinking anymore.

Compared to the excitement of watching this unfold, the low-alcohol sake had lost its appeal.

Indeed, no matter the world, humans' love for drama never changes.

"Let's have some tri-colored dango."

Glancing at Rikuto, Kujou Sara said somewhat awkwardly.

She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but something felt off about Senior Okazaki.

But if asked to pinpoint what exactly was wrong, she couldn't say.

Was it just her imagination?

"Tri-colored dango, coming right up."

Tri-colored dango was one of Inazuma's signature snacks. Back before the Shogun enacted the Sakoku Decree, this treat had been very popular among foreigners.

Its preparation was simple: glutinous rice was mixed with water, shaped into balls, and then steamed.

Adorned with colors from goldfish grass and cherry blossoms, these plain rice balls gained a lively charm.

For snacks like these, izakayas usually prepared them in advance.

When ordered, they just needed to be steamed and served.

So, it didn't take long before a plate of steaming tri-colored dango was placed in front of Bai Luo.

Bai Luo picked up a skewer and took a bite.

Hmm... soft and chewy without sticking to the teeth, with a delightful bounce.

Sweet but not cloying, with a hint of cherry blossom fragrance.

As it melted in his mouth, the smooth texture reminded him of goldfish grass.

It felt as if the round dango might transform into a goldfish and swim away at any moment.

Bai Luo wasn't particularly fond of sweets. His desire to try them had been just an excuse.

But after tasting them, he found himself genuinely liking them.

"Want to try some?"

Looking at the remaining two dango on the skewer, Bai Luo offered.

"Sorry, sweets can relax the mind and body. Once I start eating them, it's easy to..."

"Shed feathers?"

Bai Luo instinctively finished her sentence.

Come to think of it, there was a saying that animals could shed fur if they ate too many sweets. Did tengu also lose feathers because of this?

The response he received was a murderous glare from Kujou Sara.

Meanwhile, Rikuto, who had been eavesdropping, looked utterly disappointed.

Who flirts like that?

"I take good care of my feathers. You don't need to worry about that. Just know that I don't like sweets."

Glancing again at the tri-colored dango in Bai Luo's hand, Kujou Sara's face was filled with refusal.

But was Bai Luo the type to give up easily?

Of course not.

So...

"Ah, what a shame."

"If you don't like to eat, then you don't like to eat. Just like how I don't like wearing brightly colored clothes, there's nothing to regret."

Kujou Sara thought Bai Luo's "shame" referred to her not eating the dango.

"No, that's not what I meant."

Taking another bite of the dango, Bai Luo said with a hint of regret, "You know, even the Shogun loves this snack. It's a real shame you're not trying it, Sara."