A child sat in his place.

Everyone approached the little one uncertainly. Someone took the fork out of his hand.

— [Reader]-san, what did you put in there? — Abel asked with fear.

— Lime leaves. I wanted it to be... rejuvenating? — she said uncertainly.

In front of her sat a mini version of the boss. He had the exact same short pink hair and amber eyes. He looked quite happy as he played with the rest of the food on his plate.

His expression was definitely not his usual one.

— I like it. He's less grumpy. — Lucie lifted the little one into her arms. — Who's the cutest little thing? Who? — She lifted him up, tickling him with her nose. — I wonder when he'll turn back.

— Maybe we should call an ambulance — Gao suggested.

She was sensible and responsible. After all, that was what was expected of a restaurant manager. [Reader] rarely disagreed with her but this time she couldn't agree with her.

The sanitary inspector would certainly raid the place and closing Shino's would cause huge losses. In her mind's eye, she could already see Shinomiya suing her. And there would be no way to pay off the debts...

— Now we have to get ready to open because the guests will be disappointed. Let's wait until he digests what he ate. I'll take care of him and if it doesn't go away, I'll take him to the ER.

She wanted to strongly believe that the visit would not be necessary.

— We'll manage without you. Take him for a walk so he won't be a nuisance. We'll keep in touch — Lucie said, seeing the rest of the crew wanting to protest.

The woman then took the child from her, took her purse and left the restaurant.

She headed towards the housing estate with a playground.

It seemed to her that all the old ladies in the area had gathered to check her out. They were expressing their admiration for Kojirō-chan. They were congratulating her on her adorable son. [Reader] didn't feel like correcting them. Especially after he had publicly called her "mom". So she nodded with a goofy smile, trying to say a polite goodbye and leave.

The boy kept pulling her hair. Once, he even managed to dig up her lipstick and started using it eagerly. When she tried to wipe his face, she was surprised to find that he was standing without her help. He had also grown heavier. That boded well.

Before she knew it, little boss was running around the sandbox bringing her dishes made of leaves and sand. She tipped them out behind her when he wasn't looking.

It wasn't the time to think about it but she figured Shinomiya must have been a really cute kid once. She felt sad that his adult self wasn't anything like his current self.

Suddenly she heard a soft sob and then a preschooler appeared before her with tears in his eyes. She wanted to say that children grow up too fast but at the last moment she stopped herself.

— He ruined my restaurant. — The boy’s lower lip trembled. —And I was just about to cook you Flan Aux Champignon.

It was enough to glance at a peer playing in a newly acquired sandbox to understand what he was talking about. The fight was paid for with a grazed knee.

— Kojirō-chan, you'll cook me something better next time. — She hugged the little one. — Let's go to the store, I'll buy you some colourful slices and something sweet. — She winked.

Like most school children, he was taken in by the promise of a reward. A taped knee, a juice box and a candy bar effectively did the trick. The woman also sent a text message to her co-workers, assuring them that hospitals would not be needed.

Unfortunately, the problem began when the boss hit his teenage years. He suddenly wanted to taste rebellion. Before she knew it, he ran away at a pedestrian crossing.

She was seriously nervous because Tokyo's neighbourhoods were easy to get lost in. Not to mention the shady characters who sometimes lurked in the alleys after dark.

She often returned home late at night, so she knew the consequences.

She asked passersby and wandered around the area but to no avail.

When she returned to the street where Shino's was located, however, a surprise awaited her. To her immense relief, a grown man was sitting on a bench in front of the restaurant.

— Shinomiya-san, what a luck! — She threw her arms around his neck.

She was glad he was back to normal and in one piece.

The man gently but firmly pushed her away from him.

This was nothing new. Even when he was hugged on his birthday while being congratulated, he felt uneasy. He kept physical contact to a minimum.

— What was in that dish? — he drawled.

[Reader] could feel the cold gaze of amber eyes on her. The tone of his voice was cold and unpleasant. She was starting to miss Kojirō-chan, who would probably jump for joy at the sight of her.

Her legs and head ached from running around the neighbourhoods looking for her boss. Fatigue was making itself known, bringing tears to the corners of her eyes. She blinked as hard as she could but her vision was getting a little blurry.

— The ingredients don’t matter if it wasn’t good! — she sobbed, searching her purse for tissues.

The man noticed the sudden change and his facial expression softened slightly.

— Did I say I didn't like it?

— But...

—Why did you care so much about my opinion? You never cared about it before unless the dishes were for Shino's.

The woman wiped her eyes, trying to calm her breathing.

— This was supposed to be a test of my skills. I want to open my own restaurant in [Country Name]. I feel like I'm suffocating in Tokyo.

— Because who would want to put up with me as their boss? — he snarled.

— Shinomiya-san, you know it's not like that. I just... have to try something new. Go somewhere. Do something more. Remember how after the shokugeki you said you didn't want to stand still...?

— I know what you're talking about.

He knew this feeling all too well.

Ever since he faced Yukihira in a duel, it had been with him all along. Since then, he had wanted more from life. He had set high standards and distant goals for himself and he had stubbornly pursued them. He had been working on his cooking style, hoping that one day he would achieve more than he already had.

But now that the woman wanted what he wanted, he had a problem.

The idea of ​​a restaurant without her stupid jokes, without her dishes and without her seemed downright treacherous to him.

As if she wanted to run away from him and didn't need him anymore.

— You want my opinion? — He pinched the bridge of his nose. — Change that lime note and everyone will be eating out of your hand. If they don't turn into a child first... Just invite me to the opening. — He looked directly at her.

The woman had the impression that there was some hope lurking within him.

— Of course, yes. Besides... I'll visit you. We're not parting forever. There are phones and the Internet. Although after these few years I have to admit that I'll miss you.

Maybe it was time to set new goals, unrelated to cooking.

Kojirō gently brushed a few strands of hair away from the woman's face and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. She hadn't expected that at all, so he wanted to laugh at the sight of her flushed face before him.

— If you don't invite me, I'll just get on the first plane I see. And when I find you, you'll be in big trouble. Let's go — he added, seeing her froze in place.

The woman reluctantly moved toward the restaurant, catching up with Shinomiya.

— You know you offered me a sand cake to eat? — She smiled, looking out at the setting sun.

— I hope it was as good as all my dishes.

— Imagine that I didn't eat it...

She reached out her hand timidly, lacing her fingers with his. The man smiled to himself.

— Don't worry, you haven't lost anything because I'll cook you something better.