The "Closed" sign had been flipped for exactly ten minutes, but the tension inside the restaurant was thicker than Yuri’s special tonkotsu broth.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5uB9abR4Q
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8smYTZjC9B
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCoNsBaUfe
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXeAeiTMTZ
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0SiAsmBOy
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Yuri winced. "Dad—"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEvGYsSgjy
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI1gETrGSq
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk35dzKOQa
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdiuhQrzwn
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69ept7Jq6A
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHM92CHAeJ
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHN0jULXg80
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB2qI8HpdK
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9GmbEAzRB
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5IIwUV3QP
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2p0domNf6C
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When the night ended and Yuri walked Selina to the bus stop, the air was crisp and clear.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeTYLzOyWz
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2CahrZRUS
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckUyAMLzLq
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"Of course he does," she teased, looking up at him with a mischievous grin. "I’m his best customer."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkeSyOTW1z
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xfIFJ2PHQ
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"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeJgswOE9C
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsb3pJwTmi
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfeRZ3GJqh
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THE END111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9Bfvoi0zH
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