To Catch a Whale with a Minnow

The customers in the restaurant had all left, and Haoze and Tendou Souji had just walked back in.

The two pulled out chairs and sat opposite each other.

Although she had just helped resolve the situation, while the middle-aged proprietress had a smile on her face, the girl in the red shirt and bright red apron still maintained a cold expression.

Handing over the menu, Tendou Souji accepted it without opening it, passed it to Haoze, and looked at the girl.

“Mackerel Miso Soup.”

“Eh?”

The girl was stunned for a moment.

“I said, Mackerel Miso Soup.”

“We don't have that.”

Without a second thought, the girl directly stated they didn't have the dish, her tone extremely cold.

“Don't think you can fool my sense of smell. You have the scent of mackerel on you; it might be the chef's meal for you guys.”

Tendou Souji asserted with absolute certainty.

The girl lowered her head, seemingly at a loss, and frowned.

“Hiyori, make it for them.”

At this time, the middle-aged proprietress standing behind the bar counter smiled and agreed.

The girl turned her head to glance at the proprietress who had always looked after her, then lowered her head and walked into the kitchen behind.

Seeing this, the corner of Tendou Souji's mouth curled up slightly, a look of joy on his face.

Throughout the entire process, Haoze didn't move or say a word.

Tendou Souji was someone with top-tier culinary skills; for him to ask to eat something, it surely wouldn't be bad. Haoze also went along with it, since the proprietress had said “them” instead of “him,” proving he also had a portion.

Not long after, two bowls of Mackerel Miso Soup were served and placed in front of Tendou Souji and Haoze.

Before they even ate, the aroma penetrated straight to their hearts.

Tendou Souji lowered his head to sniff it, speaking with expertise, “It's a blend of red miso, white miso, and Shinshu miso.”

Then, Tendou Souji and Haoze couldn't wait to try a bite. The fish meat was tender and absolutely fresh in their mouths; their taste buds virtually cheered.

“Excellent skills, young lady.”

Even someone as picky as Haoze had to praise her from the bottom of his heart.

“Young lady?”

The girl glanced at Haoze.

In Japan, very few people would use such a feminine form of address; most were people interested in Chinese culture who would use this term.

However, it was just a form of address. With only a glance, the girl turned back to continue her work, showing indifference to everything.

Swallowing the fish meat in his mouth, Tendou Souji's face showed a look of satisfaction.

“To make me say this after eating, after Grandmother, you are the first. It's truly delicious.”

“It's also my first time making Mackerel Miso Soup for someone else.”

The girl, who was clearing the dining table, rarely replied for some reason.

“What a waste. You make Mackerel Miso Soup even better than I do; you should have confidence.”

The girl turned to look at Tendou Souji, her emotions seemingly showing a very slight fluctuation.

“You are truly an odd person.”

“Your name is Hiyori, right? You shouldn't address customers as 'you' like that.”

“Then how should I say it?”

Under the watchful eyes of several people, Tendou Souji suddenly raised his head and pointed a finger to the sky.

“Grandmother once said, walking the path of heaven...”

Just then, the restaurant door was suddenly pushed open, and Kagami Arata rushed in, carrying his backpack and holding his helmet.

“Kagami, didn't you say you were coming tonight?”

The proprietress clearly recognized Kagami Arata.

“Even if it's just once, I want to taste the Mackerel Miso Soup Hiyori made.”

Kagami Arata was an honest person, directly stating his purpose.

Having his words interrupted, Tendou Souji continued to eat his mackerel, greeting him with some annoyance.

“Hey.”

“Eh? Tendou...”

Kagami Arata's gaze shifted. After glancing at Tendou Souji and Haoze, he suddenly discovered something. His eyes widened, and he suddenly rushed to the table, looking at the Mackerel Miso Soup in front of Tendou Souji and Haoze, his expression filled with utter shock.

“Isn't this...”

“Mm, the Miso Mackerel Hiyori made.”

Perhaps with some playfulness in his heart, Tendou Souji swallowed the fish meat in his mouth and, without raising his head, put extra emphasis on the words “made by Hiyori.”

Kagami Arata opened his mouth wide, speechless.

Haoze's facial muscles twitched slightly as he held back his laughter.

He hadn't expected Tendou Souji to have this kind of mischievous streak.

However, Tendou Souji immediately got down to business.

“It just so happens I was looking for you too. Regarding the information on the ZECT organization...”

Before he could finish, Kagami Arata, as if bitten by a snake, suddenly stood up and let out a strange cry to drown out Tendou Souji's voice.

Then he turned and whispered to Tendou Souji, “Hiyori and the others don't know I'm with ZECT. Don't talk nonsense.”

Then Kagami Arata glanced at Haoze, who was staring at him.

Who was this guy?

Why was he looking at me with that gaze?

He was also eating the Miso Mackerel Hiyori made. He was suffering in silence.

Was he Tendou's friend?

Haoze withdrew his gaze and continued eating. Just for the fact that Kagami Arata could disregard his own safety and charge straight in front of a Worm, Haoze highly admired his character.

He was just a bit foolish, similar to Hikawa Makoto.

Tendou Souji swallowed the last piece of fish, wiped his mouth, took the initiative to pay the bill, and looked at Kagami Arata.

Kagami Arata understood and headed out of the restaurant.

“Sister Yumiko, I'm going out for a bit. I'll be right back.”

Sister Yumiko was the restaurant owner, Takemiya Yumiko; she was thirty-six years old.

In Japan, even women approaching fifty didn't like being called housewives, which carried the meaning of “aunt.”

Kagami Arata always acted briskly; as soon as he finished speaking, he was already out the door. Tendou Souji slowly stood up and walked out, and Haoze naturally followed.

Tendou Souji naturally noticed Haoze's movements but said nothing.

He was somewhat interested in this mysterious man.

Stopping in the parking lot, Kagami Arata looked at Haoze and asked in confusion, “You are?”

“A traveler looking for the way home, Haoze.”

Kagami Arata's eyelids drooped slightly. Why did this sound... like the feeling of meeting Tendou Souji for the first time and hearing his self-introduction?

“Ah, hello, I'm Kagami Arata.”

“Tendou, is this your friend?”

Tendou Souji looked at Haoze, didn't answer, crossed his arms, and said, “Now we can talk about the ZECT organization's affairs.”

Mentioning this, Kagami Arata seemed a bit nervous.

“The organization's affairs are confidential. Even I can't tell outsiders. But you can completely trust us. Against the Worms, we will fight with our lives...”

He spoke a long stream of words, almost all of which were nonsense.

Tendou Souji saw through Kagami Arata with a single glance—he himself didn't know what was going on with ZECT.

“Those monsters are called Worms?”

The sudden interruption made both of them look over.

“You've met them?”

Tendou Souji lowered his arms, examining Haoze.

“Mm, green-skinned monsters, like insect cocoons. After leaving your house, I met one.”

“Ah! Did you see what it looked like clearly?”

Since Haoze didn't look injured, Kagami Arata assumed he had run away. As long as they had appearance information, and the Worm hadn't changed its identity, they could directly lock onto the target.

“I don't remember its appearance, but I've already dealt with that Worm.”

Since Tendou Souji was asking about ZECT, it seemed he wasn't part of this organization.

And Kagami Arata was a bit foolish; pretending to use basic information to start was just right.