The "Closed" sign had been flipped for exactly ten minutes, but the tension inside the restaurant was thicker than Yuri’s special tonkotsu broth.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnnKXUvrWV
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCuXqcB0Fo
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2PGsQQvFk
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAy6BsDC7A
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjpKMM678v
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Yuri winced. "Dad—"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFFcL8Mte7
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIX1h7vY0c
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXl1rP3gZG
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9qer6GBjn
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZc3g06Iist
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBYFUh8843
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRGBi7ynTQ
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslyS2P3hEw
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8FN2R2zZ1
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSC1hwymru
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByXLH8mQAb
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When the night ended and Yuri walked Selina to the bus stop, the air was crisp and clear.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPBRnEV4kt
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL8W8m6F7f
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFikNodcTc
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"Of course he does," she teased, looking up at him with a mischievous grin. "I’m his best customer."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkrlJGd2D0
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3FXAEqmZX
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"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznAJfH0ISP
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYWQYFg4uI
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jhzQLYHBa
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THE END85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmlkGYXkNb
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