The quiet of the night pressed in around Chiaki as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts churning like storm-tossed waves. The announcement that Chef Yamada was retiring had hit like a sudden squall, unsettling the calm waters of her mind.
Her gaze drifted to the window, where darkness pressed against the glass like a suffocating blanket. Absentmindedly, her fingers tapped against the edge of the mattress. Doubts circled her mind—Rina was good in the kitchen, no doubt about that, but could she really hold the line on her own with so little time to prepare? And what about herself? Could she work alongside Rina, keep the place running without losing balance?
A knock at the door, soft but crisp, broke the silence.
Chiaki sat up, the sound sharp in the hush of midnight. She crossed to the door, pulled it open—
And froze.
Rina stood in the doorway, wearing nothing but a black T-shirt and a pair of silky red panties trimmed with delicate lace. The glossy fabric clung to her hips, the tiny triangle of cloth stretched tight over a soft, prominent mound that left little to the imagination.Below the lace hem, her long legs extended with effortless grace, smooth and toned, catching the low light like polished marble.
The thin shirt clung to her as her full breasts jutted high beneath the fabric, straining the material with their exaggerated curve—no bra, just skin and fabric, with the faint peaks of her nipples visible beneath the sheer fabric.
Chiaki felt heat rising to her ears. Her heartbeat quickened. She forced herself to lift her gaze to Rina's face.
She pressed her lips together, fighting to calm herself and steady the turmoil inside.
"Did you… need something?" she asked, her voice tight, just a shade too high.
Rina let out a soft laugh, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Why so tense? Afraid I'll bite?"
Chiaki pressed her lips together, trying to hide the flicker of panic in her eyes. "I'm not nervous," she said quickly, though the shaky edge to her voice told a different story.
Rina arched a brow, a slow, meaningful smile playing on her lips. Her voice was low, laced with quiet allure.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?"
Chiaki nodded and gently opened the door, motioning for Rina to come in. Rina stepped into the room, her eyes lazily scanning the space before making her way directly to the bed. She sat down without a word, her legs casually crossed — those long, pale thighs, enough to make the blood race.
Chiaki closed the door quietly and stood for a moment, unsure. Then she walked over and sat beside her, the mattress dipping under their combined weight. The air between them hummed with something unspoken, electric.
Chiaki glanced at Rina, her voice cautious. "Is something wrong?"
Rina smiled faintly, stretching lazily. Her gaze was relaxed, but there was a touch of playful mischief in her voice. "Nothing much. I just couldn't sleep, thought I'd come chat with you."
Chiaki furrowed her brow slightly, trying to steady the subtle stir of emotion rising within her. She maintained her composure. "What do you want to talk about?"
Rina noticed the caution in Chiaki's eyes and couldn't help a faint, amused smile. But her tone, when she spoke, was sincere. "I was just curious about the restaurant. The food is amazing, but why isn't the business doing better?"
Chiaki paused for a moment, her gaze drifting to the window as if tracing memories.Her expression grew somewhat melancholic, her brow furrowing slightly. She took a deep breath, her voice quiet as she answered, "There've been more and more restaurants opening nearby in recent years. Business has dropped a bit, but we've been getting by…"
She hesitated, her head dropping slightly. Her eyes grew dim, as if lost in memory. "Until last year, when my father passed away…" Her voice grew heavy, and a hint of grief seeped through.
Rina, seeing this, frowned slightly. She reached out, as if to offer comfort, but stopped when Chiaki spoke again. Chiaki pressed her lips together, a flicker of helplessness crossing her eyes. "With just Yamada-san left in the kitchen, he couldn't handle it all. We had to hire kitchen apprentices to help, but... he's so harsh—he drove off eight. The longest one lasted only two weeks."
Rina's eyes widened in surprise. "I wouldn't have guessed. He's been so polite with me."
Chiaki let out a soft laugh. "Polite? He really admires you—keeps praising you all the time.
Rina smirked confidently. "Guess my cooking won him over."
Chiaki's lips curled into a small smile, "Maybe."
She fell silent for a moment, then continued, "I don't know if it's his bad reputation spreading, but we've had trouble hiring anyone since. The kitchen's been left to him alone." Her voice dropped, her eyes drifting to the table as though reliving the difficult times.
Chiaki sighed, her tone tinged with frustration. "He's getting older. His pace has slowed down, and when there are a lot of customers, the meals get delayed. People start to complain. Slowly, the customers drifted away, and business got worse."
Rina's voice softened with sympathy. "It must be tough for you."
She leaned closer to Chiaki, her voice warm but full of confidence. "But don't worry. I'll make sure the restaurant's business picks up."
As Rina leaned in, Chiaki felt her soft, generous boobs pressing against her, the sensation strikingly clear. Her body stiffened, and her heartbeat quickened. She paused for a moment, uncomfortable, then subtly moved away, putting some distance between them.
Rina tilted her head. "What's wrong?"
Chiaki couldn't resist raising an eyebrow. "You don't wear a bra when you sleep?"
Rina laughed lightly, her voice carefree. "It's more comfortable this way. Don't tell me you wear one?"
Chiaki responded quickly, "Of course I do."
Rina gave her a knowing, half-smile, narrowing her eyes. "Let me see."
Before Chiaki could react, Rina reached over and tugged at her nightshirt. Caught off guard, Chiaki's shirt lifted easily, revealing a cartoon rabbit sports bra underneath. The cute bunny design, combined with the soft pink hue, made Chiaki look unexpectedly adorable.
"That's so cute!" Rina couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes lighting up in a smile that made her eyes curve into crescents.
Chiaki's face instantly flushed red. She quickly realized what had happened and pushed Rina away, standing up swiftly to adjust her nightshirt. "If you keep doing that, I'll kick you out!"
Rina watched Chiaki, who was now flushed with anger, and couldn't help but chuckle softly. She bit her lip but didn't say anything.
Seeing that Rina showed no sign of remorse, Chiaki nearly leapt up, glaring at her. "Is this how you act?"
Rina raised her hand in a mock helpless gesture, grinning. "Alright, alright, forgive me." She clasped her hands together in a playful begging motion. "I just thought the bunny was so adorable, didn't realize you were so cute in it."
Chiaki stood there, her head down, not saying a word. Her fingers gripped the hem of her nightshirt, as if still trying to calm herself.
Rina gave her a sideways glance, then tentatively said, "Are you still mad? Don't be. I'll go back to bed now and won't bother you anymore."
She hopped off the bed, walking toward the door. Just as she was about to leave, she paused and turned back to look at Chiaki.
"By the way," Rina tilted her head, curiosity in her voice. "Did you do anything special on the day Yamada-san retired?"
Chiaki looked up slowly, the tension in her face beginning to ease.
"I just held a simple farewell party," she said, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"And gave him a small gift, to thank him for everything he'd done over the years."
Rina nodded thoughtfully, blinking. "What should I give him?"
Chiaki looked up slightly, thinking for a moment. "Why not cook something special for him? A meal made with heart might mean more than any gift you could buy."
"Special?" Rina's eyes flickered with intrigue. "Like... Western cuisine?"
Chiaki shook her head. "Not exactly. I was actually thinking of molecular gastronomy. I remember overhearing him talking with my father years ago—he was really fascinated by it, but never got the chance to try any."
"Molecular gastronomy…" Rina echoed, her eyes lighting up. "That's a great idea!"
Chiaki nodded, though her expression quickly shifted to one of concern. "It is. But molecular cooking needs fancy equipment and… well…" Her gaze swept over Rina teasingly. "Do you even know how to make it?"
Rina arched an eyebrow, a slow, confident smile tugging at her lips. "Not all molecular dishes need high-tech gadgets." She puffed out her chest a little, subtly showing off her curves. "Besides, I once won first place in a molecular gastronomy competition."
Chiaki's gaze instinctively dropped to Rina's deliberately pushed-out chest, snapping back a second later. She raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. "Seriously?"
"I'm not lying!" Rina said with mock offense. "You'll see." She spun on her heel and headed toward the door. "I'm going to my room to brainstorm. I'll write up a list of ingredients tonight—make sure you help me get them when the time comes!"
The door clicked shut behind her, and silence returned to the room. Chiaki stood still, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. "A chef at a five-star hotel in Osaka… and a molecular gastronomy champion…"
Her curiosity about Rina's past and background only grew deeper.