Chapter 95 Shirogane Aqua, Kukuri-sama’s Queen’s Restaurant
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
There are many streets inside Shirogane Kingdom, but my favorite is 721 Street — a narrow back alley just off 473 Road, the one girls call “Maiden’s Shumi Road.”
Why? Because this alley is filled with places that make a guy’s heart race — sketchy shops, dodgy bars, card stores, and those greasy restaurants that smell like heaven.
As usual, I was wandering there with nothing special in mind when I noticed a restaurant I’d never seen before and stopped in my tracks.
”Whoa! A new place opened up!”
From the look of it, maybe a Chinese diner or a ramen shop? My eyes went to the sign above the door.
Kukuri-chan-sama’s Queen’s Restaurant.
…Interesting. I rested my hand on my chin and nodded to myself.
A true man has no choice but to check this out.
Straight-faced and ready, I stepped inside.
”A–Aqua-senpai!?”
Kukuri-chan looked like she’d just seen a ghost.
Oh crap — maybe they weren’t even open yet?
She quickly turned away from me, mumbling to herself under her breath.
”He really came… She said he would if I did this, but I thought Emily-oneechan was just talking nonsense…”
Hey, Kukuri-chan!
If you’re still setting up, should I come back later?
I started to walk closer, and she suddenly put both hands on her hips, puffing out her still-growing chest like she owned the place.
”What are you spacing out for? I even came out of the back room for you, and you’re just standing there like an idiot? How long are you going to keep me waiting?”
Her cold stare hit me like a dart as she brushed her hair aside with a casual flip, her small chest puffed out.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
My hand almost reached for my wallet on instinct.
The world’s weakest man when it comes to women — that’s me, Mr. Easily-Fooled Aqua.
”Oh? Do you not even know how to sit on a chair? Honestly… Fine. I’ll teach you myself, step by step.”
Without thinking, I dropped to my hands and knees right in front of Kukuri-chan.
So you mean… like this, right?
I looked up at her hopefully, but her reaction was not what I expected.
”What exactly are you doing? Don’t tell me you actually thought I’d sit on you?”
Kukuri-chan’s icy eyes stabbed right through me.
Victoria-sama would’ve just gone along with it, but Kukuri-chan — she wouldn’t even take the seat.
Still, honestly… this pattern wasn’t bad either.
Yeah, she’s got a real talent for this kind of thing.
She sighed, clearly done with me.
”Come on, already.”
Then Kukuri-chan grabbed my hand and started pulling me inside.
No way… Hand-holding on the first move? Unreal.
Fast decisions are my thing, so right then and there I decided — even if this place robbed me blind, I wouldn’t complain.
Still holding my hand, she guided me to the counter and pulled out a chair.
”I even pulled out the chair for you, so stop standing there and sit down already. You’re so hopelessly slow.”
Kukuri-chan’s puffed-cheek scowl was so cute it hurt.
After I sat, she brought a tray with a chilled glass of water and a wet towel.
”Normally it’s self-serve, but you’re so slow that I, the magnificent me, decided to bring it to you myself.”
Such service from Kukuri-chan… I hadn’t even eaten yet and already felt full.
Like a true gentleman, I took out my Velcro wallet and ripped it open with style.
”What’s that? Why are you pulling out money when you haven’t even ordered?”
Wait — hold up.
All that just now was free service!?
Before I could recover, she used the towel to wipe my face and hands herself.
”Honestly. You can’t even use a wet towel properly? You’re such a handful. There. All done.”
Holy hell — this part was free too!?
At this point, I was already ready to come back here every day for the rest of my life.
”So? Are you going to order sometime today? Or don’t you even know how to read the menu? Haah… fine, I’ll read it for you.”
She opened the menu, leaning close enough that her small, soft chest pressed lightly against my shoulder.
Kukuri-chan’s face came so close I could feel her warm breath at my ear.
God, thank you. Thank you so much.
”Listen closely, because I’ll only read it once. Open those ears and pay attention, got it?”
Kukuri-chan’s sweet voice brushed my ear as she read the menu aloud, but honestly, I heard none of it.
All I could focus on was her faint, sugar-soft scent that made my head go light.
”So, which one do you want? Come on, ten… nine… eight…”
Wait— wait— hold on!
Panicking, I snapped my eyes to the menu, but her eyes had already turned flat and tired.
”Even counting for you is a pain. Fine — three, two, one, done.”
Too fast! And you totally skipped numbers!
I shot her a look of protest, but she glared back like a queen about to declare judgment.
That expression alone — absolutely priceless.
”Ugh… You can’t even decide that much? Hopeless. Whatever. I’ll bring you my recommendation. No, you don’t get a say in it. Understood?”
She rolled her eyes and headed behind the counter.
By then, I already felt spiritually fed and took a long gulp of the ice-cold water.
Too cold, actually — my stomach was starting to regret it.
Kukuri-chan hummed a little tune as she swung the pan.
Seeing her cooking — when once she didn’t even know how to crack an egg — hit me right in the chest.
She’d grown so much since living on her own.
If only Kohina-senpai, who still couldn’t crack an egg to save her life, could learn from her. But yeah, that’s a lost cause.
”Okay, done. Presenting Her Majesty Kukuri-sama’s Full Course Meal!”
A faint blush tinted Kukuri-chan’s cheeks as she placed the dishes before me.
Fried rice and ramen — my favorites.
For a ‘Queen’s Course,’ it was surprisingly humble, but somehow that made it perfect.
I looked up at her, half-asking with my eyes.
”Emily-oneechan taught me this. She said it was her specialty.”
Kukuri-chan looked like she was trying hard not to smile, but the corners of her mouth kept curling up.
Right — Emily used to work part-time at Ramen Takeko, so no wonder she passed on those skills.
While I was still moved by the sight of the meal, Kukuri-chan came around the counter and sat beside me.
”You haven’t even taken a bite yet. Don’t tell me you can’t eat by yourself either? Good grief. Fine, open that stupid mouth of yours already.”
Kukuri-chan tucked a strand of her shiny black hair behind her ear, scooped up some ramen with her chopsticks, and blew on it softly.
Oh God. Sweet Queen Play Mode activated. My brain just broke.
”Okay, say ahh.”
”Ah— ahh…”
Slurp slurp slurp.
The noodles slid into my mouth, and yeah — this broth and those noodles had Emily written all over them.
Light and clean, just like Takeko’s classic style.
”It’s good, right? Say it’s good.”
”Yeah… it’s really good.”
The noodles were cooked perfectly — firm, smooth, just like Takeko’s signature ramen.
Emily must’ve trained Kukuri-chan with an iron heart. She’d never let even her own sister get away with half-hearted work. And now, seeing how perfectly Kukuri-chan had done it, I couldn’t stop the heat rising in my chest.
”Kukuri-chan, you must’ve practiced a lot. I’m proud of you.”
”—!”
Kukuri-chan’s entire face went red, all the way up to her ears.
Oh hell, that look alone was enough to fill me up.
”Stop talking nonsense and open your mouth already! Y-you’re so damn slow!”
Kukuri-chan turned away, scooped up some fried rice with her spoon, and pushed it insistently toward my lips.
Wait—wait—! I haven’t even opened my mouth yet!
”Ugh, fine! Just for today, I’ll feed you everything myself! You’d better be grateful!”
Kukuri-chan tried to hide her fluster, but that faint blush and her little pout were impossible to ignore.
I couldn’t help grinning — who could blame me? This sweet, bossy queen mode was too much.
”What’s with that face? Don’t get the wrong idea. This is just… free service.”
Kukuri-chan’s cheeks were still pink as she glared up at me, trying and failing to look intimidating.
God damn. If there were a ramen shop like this in the real world, you wouldn’t be able to get a reservation for three years straight.
”Mmph!”
That puffed cheek and tiny pout finally broke me. I gave up and took a bite of the rice.
Crisp, golden, every grain separate — textbook perfect. The egg, seasoning, texture — it all screamed Ramen Takeko.
”W-well? How is it?”
She looked up, eyes wide, holding her breath. That switch — from queenly to shy in an instant — it hit deep, every single time.
”It’s… delicious.”
”Yes!”
She clenched her fists in triumph, glowing with satisfaction.
Yeah, fried rice is tough — she must’ve worked like hell on this.
When I reached out to pat her head, she suddenly remembered her “queen” persona and snapped, glaring again.
”What do you think you’re doing? You weren’t about to pat my head, were you? Hmph! Know your place!”
She crossed her arms and turned away sharply.
Right… sorry. My bad.
As I started to lower my hand, she peeked back at me, puffing her cheeks again.
”Why’re you pulling your hand back?”
”Uh… because you said it was rude?”
Kukuri-chan blushed, eyes darting away.
”I said it was rude, not that you couldn’t do it. So… I’ll allow it. Just this once. Be grateful.”
Holy— She’d switched from “spoiling queen” to “wants to be spoiled queen,” and the cuteness almost knocked me out cold.
Kukuri-chan tried to act like she didn’t care, turning away again and glancing at me from the corner of her eye — the kind of glance that said, well, hurry up already.
Alright then. No hesitation.
I gently patted Kukuri-chan’s head — soft, silky, just like always.
”Mm… see? You can do it. But don’t get the wrong idea. It’s just this once!”
”Got it.”
After that, she kept feeding me, bite after bite.
Sure, it wasn’t quite the “dominant queen’s feast” I’d imagined, but honestly… this version was even better.
If anyone wanted something more intense, they could always go next door — to Fran-chan’s Brat Café, where they probably served spit instead of water.
”You finished it all. Good job, good job.”
Then Kukuri-chan reached over and patted my head.
Just… wow. Getting praised just for eating? Heaven. Pure heaven.
”I’ll wash the dishes. Relax for a bit.”
Kukuri-chan took the plates to the counter and started washing up.
While I sipped my water, I glanced toward the back room — and there was Emily, giving me a silent thumbs-up.
I grinned and returned it.
Of course. Emily nailed both the cooking and the service plan.
”Alright then…”
Couldn’t overstay my welcome.
I stood to pay and leave, but just as I did, Kukuri-chan came out from behind the counter, glaring at me like I’d just insulted her ancestors.
”What? Are you saying my restaurant’s uncomfortable or something?”
”Huh?”
Kukuri-chan’s puffed cheeks said otherwise — she looked mad, but not really mad.
Wait.
Was she… sulking because I was leaving?
”Y-you came all the way here, so… you could stay a bit longer, you know.”
The pink on Kukuri-chan’s cheeks deepened, and my heart melted right there. I sat back down without a word.
Yeah, that’s on me, Kukuri-chan. Leaving was a mistake.
”That’s better. I’ll bring dessert.”
Wait—there’s dessert too!?
Kukuri-chan brought out vanilla ice cream and even gave me a shoulder massage while I ate. Heaven again.
”Now then, time for the bill.”
Alright… let’s see, one hundred million yen should cover it, right?
I reached for my checkbook, but she blinked and said,
”The ramen set’s… about 500 yen, I think?”
”What!? That’s so cheap!”
There’s no way that’s right.
I glanced at the back — Emily held up a handwritten sign.
[We’re just a small-town Chinese diner.]
No, no, no — even for a local shop, that’s criminally cheap!
Just chatting with a girl like Kukuri-chan would cost thousands at a themed café!
”What? Don’t tell me you don’t even have 500 yen? I guess I could lend you the money, if you beg nicely.”
No way — I couldn’t possibly let a younger girl pay for me!
I opened the coin pocket of my trusty Velcro wallet and handed her a 500-yen coin.
Kukuri-chan took it but pouted slightly.
”Tch. I was going to let you work here if you couldn’t pay.”
Damn it! I should’ve pretended I didn’t have money!
While I was mentally kicking myself, she tugged at my sleeve.
”Hey… you’re coming again, right? Say you’ll come again.”
Kukuri-chan’s upturned gaze hit straight through my chest.
”…Yeah. I’ll come again.”
”Yay!”
There was never any other answer.
For a second, she looked genuinely happy — then quickly turned away, muttering, “W-what are you staring at?”
That shy switch-up nearly melted my brain.
I waved goodbye to Kukuri-chan and stepped outside.
”Thank you very much!!”
Emily’s cheerful voice echoed after me as I disappeared into the neon crowd of 721 Street.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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