The "Closed" sign had been flipped for exactly ten minutes, but the tension inside the restaurant was thicker than Yuri’s special tonkotsu broth.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7UGspAEEu
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Yuri stood by the kitchen swinging door, his hands gripped behind his back so hard his knuckles were white. He was wearing a clean button-down shirt—a rare sight—and his hair was actually brushed. Across from him, sitting at the center table, was his father, Mr. Sakaki.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwble3d3Hj0
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Mr. Sakaki was a man of few words, with skin like cured leather and a gaze just as sharp as Yuri’s. He looked at the girl sitting next to his son as if he were inspecting a new shipment of expensive wagyu.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2gpWgCJUn
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Selina sat perfectly upright, her hands folded neatly on her lap. She wasn't wearing her school uniform tonight; she wore a simple, light-blue sundress that made her look like a piece of the sky had fallen into the dimly lit diner.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ozY2PnnrF
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"So," Mr. Sakaki finally spoke, his voice like grinding gravel. "You’re the one who’s been eating my profits in large rice portions."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hxzmfssLj
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Yuri winced. "Dad—"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXeV7Vxx1s
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But Selina didn't blink. She bowed her head deeply. "It’s an honor to finally meet you, Mr. Sakaki. And for the record, your ginger pork is life-changing. I’d pay double for it."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPC03tSuNZ
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The old man’s eyes narrowed. For a long, terrifying moment, the restaurant was silent. Then, his shoulders slumped, and a low, rumbling sound came from his chest. He was laughing.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIOQNhDJzj
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"She’s got a spine, Yuri," the old man chuckled, pointing a wooden spoon at his son. "And a palate. Most kids her age can’t tell the difference between fresh ginger and the powdered junk. Sit down, sit down. I’m not going to bite."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLkazg5jfR
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Yuri let out a breath he felt like he’d been holding since Chapter 1. He sat down next to Selina, and beneath the table, she immediately found his hand, squeezing it tightly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oGEPiAnnh
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"Yuri tells me you go to that academy on the hill," Mr. Sakaki said, setting three cups of roasted hojicha tea on the table. "I suppose your parents aren't too thrilled about you hanging around a place that smells like fryer oil. Or a boy who looks like he’s about to start a riot."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qdFU2h0kr
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Selina took a sip of the tea, her expression becoming serious. "My parents see the world in numbers and reputations, Mr. Sakaki. But Yuri… he sees the world in ingredients. He cares about how things are made, and who they’re made for. I think he’s going to be an even better chef than you someday."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJh2ftmqnXN
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"Hey!" the old man barked, though there was a twinkle in his eye. "Don't get ahead of yourself, kid. He’s still got ten years of onion-peeling before he’s on my level."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapjHueu9wj
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As the night went on, the "judgment" Yuri had feared never came. Instead, they talked about the future. Mr. Sakaki spoke about wanting to renovate the dining area, and Selina immediately started bubbling over with ideas about "warm lighting" and "open-concept kitchens" so people could see Yuri work.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjhDxMVhW3
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"People should see him," she said softly, looking at Yuri. "They should see how much heart goes into the food. If they see him cooking, they won't be afraid of him anymore. They’ll be in awe."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzOPxaiDy1
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Yuri looked at her, then at his father. For the first time, he didn't feel like a delinquent hiding in a kitchen. He felt like a successor. He felt like he had a place where he truly belonged.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTx9TuznpK
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When the night ended and Yuri walked Selina to the bus stop, the air was crisp and clear.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZqUBnFZMc
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"Your dad is great," Selina said, leaning her head on Yuri’s shoulder as they waited. "He has your eyes. The 'scary' ones that are actually just really, really kind."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjU0Ftx6hJl
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Yuri wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close into the warmth of his jacket. "I think he likes you more than he likes me now."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEYZngWcC7
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"Of course he does," she teased, looking up at him with a mischievous grin. "I’m his best customer."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjA7UyF5QEL
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As the bus pulled up, Yuri didn't just let her go. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, a lingering, silent promise.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5cxDKypIh
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"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqlyxpXfRB
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"Tomorrow," she promised. "And the day after. And maybe for the next fifty years. I’m going to need a lot of ginger pork to power through my exams, you know."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfyDj278I3
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Yuri watched the bus pull away, standing under the streetlamp. He wasn't a shadow anymore. He was a man with a girl who loved him, a father who trusted him, and a future that tasted better than anything he’d ever cooked.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wJcwDgJPz
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THE END109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DCQer5WHA
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1234 copyright protection105ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EbDuyuQLP 尼109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6doDwbO8F