Late at night, I walked alone on the street, scrolling through my phone. It was exactly midnight. At this hour, there were basically no rides left to get me home.
—Gurgle~ gurgle~~...
Just then, my stomach growled loudly. I suddenly remembered I hadn’t eaten dinner yet.
Starving, I scanned the area for a place to eat when an enticing aroma drifted to my nose from some dark corner.
“Huh? ... Smells amazing! There must be a restaurant still open nearby!”
I took several deep sniffs of the air. Following the scent, I stepped into a back alley off the main street. In one corner, a small shop glowed with light.
On its door curtain, crooked characters read “Meshiya.”
“Meshiya? So run-down... What decent food could it even have? ...”
I frowned slightly at the shabby storefront. But my rumbling stomach reminded me I was utterly famished.
“Whatever... Just need to fill up!”
Muttering to myself, I pushed open the wooden door, lifted the curtain, and stepped inside.
“So barebones...”
Inside, simple square wooden tables surrounded the kitchen. A bald middle-aged man stood with his back turned, busy cooking. He wore a dark, thick yukata and wooden geta sandals.
...At least it’s not a female staff member...
A menu pinned to the wall listed only Pork Miso Soup Set Meal, plus Beer (large), Sake (two gō), and Shōchū (one cup). A note added: “Three-drink limit per customer.”
“Huh? ... Only Pork Miso Soup Set Meal?! ... What a weird Meshiya...”
“Oh? A customer so early! Welcome~” The shop owner turned around, smiling, after hearing my mutter.
“So early? What do you mean?” I asked, confused.
I studied the man before me. A knife-like scar slashed across his left eye. A cigarette dangled from his lips, making him look like a thug. My confidence in this place’s food vanished completely.
“Ah! A first-timer!” He wiped my table with a cloth and poured a cup of tea. “Sit down! We’re open nightly from midnight to seven AM.”
“I see! ...” I nodded. “Such a strange little shop... Is Pork Miso Soup Set Meal really the only option?”
“Heh heh heh...” He seemed to recognize I was a high school student. He removed the cigarette and stubbed it out. “Besides the menu, you can order anything.”
“Really?” I eyed the shabby interior skeptically. “Got canned herring?”
“... No...” He shook his head, speechless.
“How about Stargazy pie?”
“I can’t make it, and we don’t stock it.” He kept shaking his head. “I’ll cook anything I have ingredients for.”
—Gurgle~ gurgle~~...
Just as I planned to test him further, my stomach’s roar cut me off. I looked away awkwardly.
“... Just bring me fried rice. Large portion. Thanks.”
“Fried rice... Got it. Wait here.” He turned back to the stove.
As I sipped tea, a brown-haired young man in a suit and tie pushed aside the curtain and entered. He loosened his necktie and sat casually beside me.
“The usual: ochazuke and a cup of sake, boss!”
“Ah, Reigen! How’s business at the office?” The owner flipped his wok while glancing back. “But your ochazuke waits—this kid’s fried rice comes first.”
“So-so!” Reigen wiped his nose nonchalantly, then turned to me with keen interest. “A kid?! What’s a little guy like you doing out this late? Coming to this diner—bad guys lurk everywhere outside, you know!~”
“The bad guys... You mean yourself?” I glanced at him and lost interest instantly.
“I’m no bad guy! I’m a Soul Ability User!~” He pulled a business card from his inner pocket, placed it on the table, and slid it to me. “Got Evil Spirit~ curse~ problems? Visit my office! Student discount—20% off!~”
...
I set down my teacup and picked up the card. Crooked letters screamed “Reigen’s Office,” with an address and phone number below.
... Soul Ability User? Evil Spirits? Curses? Just a con artist... Yet so sharply dressed...
To his face, I wouldn’t humiliate him. For a slick scammer like this, I didn’t want him clinging to me. I nodded silently and stuffed the card into my backpack.
“Sorry for the wait. Your curry fried rice—large portion. Enjoy.”
He placed a steaming plate before me. I inhaled deeply—the curry aroma ignited my hunger. My empty stomach growled fiercely.
“I’ll dig in!”
I grabbed the spoon and shoveled big mouthfuls. To a starving person, even trash food tastes divine.
“Whoa! Kid, you look starved for days...” Reigen watched me wolf it down, surprised. He turned to the owner. “Boss, my ochazuke?”
“Coming, coming.”
The owner worked swiftly. Ochazuke was simple—he served it moments later.
“Ochazuke’s ready.”
...
I devoured the entire plate of curry fried rice. After draining my teacup, I patted my full belly, paid up, and left the late-night diner.
“Boss, know that kid?” Reigen asked between bites.
“No. Why?”
“Nothing. Just curious...” Reigen kept eating his ochazuke.
