Chapter 1: The Restaurant Anomaly, Shameimaru Aya, and Kobayashi Rindo!
This is Gensokyo, the boundary between the illusory and the real, a plane where humans and youkai coexist.
And midway between the renowned 'Kourindou' and the bustling 'Human Village', there exists a restaurant.
According to Shameimaru Aya's records, after the event she described as the 'Restaurant Anomaly' occurred, the shrine maiden of Hakurei Shrine went to investigate.
Shameimaru Aya, who had thought there would be big news, staked out by the restaurant entrance, until after five hours had passed, only then did she spot the Hakurei shrine maiden, Hakurei Reimu, walking out from the restaurant.
"Shocking! Five Hours After the 'Restaurant Anomaly', the Hakurei Shrine Maiden with an Enlarged Belly Declares All Problems Solved!"
Afterwards, Hakurei Reimu demanded the news article be rectified, and the sole original copy was left in the hands of the restaurant owner.
"It's already been three months, huh."
Inside the restaurant, the young man who was the owner, Luke, glanced at the newspaper in his hand, then tossed it into the drawer before him.
Having taken care of that, Luke walked through the quiet main hall and entered the changing room on the west side.
Although the restaurant currently only had him, the owner, the place was fully equipped.
Changing into the clothes he took from the locker, Luke headed towards the kitchen.
Preparations for the restaurant usually began around seven in the morning.
Luke, being an early riser, usually got up at six, leaving him plenty of time.
Thinking this, he rolled up his sleeves while looking around the restaurant before him.
Luke wasn't a native of 'Gensokyo', but rather a run-of-the-mill transmigrator.
However, his arrival here probably counted as his second transmigration.
Not dwelling on memories of the past, Luke meticulously cleaned the kitchen he had worked in for days.
"Before, I managed to resolve Reimu's concerns with delicious food, but now... the 'anomaly' is still ongoing, huh."
Unlike ordinary buildings, the restaurant Luke owned was quite special.
Gas, electricity, water – there was no need to worry about any of these resources running out.
Thanks to this, the air conditioning, refrigerator, deep fryer, and stoves inside could all run normally, ensuring every customer received a supreme experience.
Not only that, but the dishes prepared in the restaurant, aside from being simply delicious, also came with certain special properties.
With this premise, Luke had healed a certain ice fairy, who proclaimed herself exceedingly clever, using a milkshake.
According to the little one's description, it seemed she had accidentally wandered into a certain sunflower field, panicked after getting lost, and finally fell, scraping her leg.
Luke thought about this as he took the stools down from the tables and placed water glasses on the counter separating the kitchen and the main hall.
"I need to prepare properly for the once-a-week 'Special Meal Session'."
Luke's restaurant had another 'anomaly': under his promotion, a 'Special Cuisine Event' would be held on the last day of every week.
On this day, Luke would personally select one customer and prepare any dish they desired for them.
The effects of said dish would also be filled with 'countless possibilities'.
As for the candidate...
Firstly, Luke would only choose female customers.
In fact, up until now, the only male customer who had visited the store was 'Kourindou's' owner, Morichika Rinnosuke.
Just then, the sound of flapping wings suddenly reached his ears.
Luke looked up towards the hallway leading to the second-floor residence above the restaurant, and a parrot flew out from there.
It quickly landed on a steel shelf near the kitchen, opened its beak, and squawked loudly:
"Booze! Bring me booze!"
"You really like imitating Suika, huh."
Luke chuckled softly, then walked over to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
The ingredients stored inside weren't products of the 'anomaly'; they were all personally sourced by Luke.
Most came from the 'Human Village', with a smaller portion coming from gifts given by customers.
And among the customers, there were youkai from Gensokyo as well as customers from other worlds.
That's right, Luke's restaurant also had a nickname: the 'All Worlds Diner'.
As he thought of this, a commotion could be heard from outside the still-closed restaurant.
Feeling curious, Luke walked towards the entrance, intending to see what was happening.
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Outside Luke's restaurant, about three hundred meters away on a small path, there was a young girl.
She had pointed ears and black wings, wore a hexagonal hat on her equally black short hair, and the six white balls hanging down swayed constantly with her movements.
Lightly adjusting her shirt and short skirt, ensuring her appearance was alright, the young girl, Shameimaru Aya, took a deep breath.
She... as Gensokyo's most upright, diligent, and truthful reporter, was going to interview the restaurant owner, Luke, again today.
"Last time, I couldn't get anything out of the interview! This time, I absolutely have to find out what's going on with those otherworldly visitors!"
After all, Hakurei Reimu had already been 'bought over' by Luke's delicious food, making a proper investigation impossible.
Naturally, Aya had to get to the bottom of it herself.
"Anyway, the restaurant isn't open yet, so Mr. Luke should have some time."
Thinking this, Shameimaru Aya couldn't help but quicken her pace.
As a result, just as she reached the entrance, she discovered someone lying prone there.
"Ibuki Suika?"
Impossible...
She'd just seen her get hauled off for confinement by Hakurei Reimu yesterday.
The reason? She got drunk in Luke's restaurant and nearly stripped naked...
Finishing her thought, Aya walked closer.
Before speaking, she took out her phone's camera and first snapped a picture for her records.
Having done that, Aya crouched down and asked,
"Miss... are you alright?"
Hearing the voice, she turned around.
Shameimaru Aya now got a look at the person's appearance.
It was a young woman, possessing long blood-red hair, her left eye hidden by bangs, making her specific features unclear.
"Ngh... Where is this...?"
"Here? This is the entrance to Mr. Luke's restaurant! Your clothes are quite unusual. Could you also be an 'otherworldly customer'?"
"What's that...? Ugh... My stomach..."
"Your stomach? What's wrong?!"
Shameimaru Aya helped the person up and sat her down against the corner of the restaurant's outer wall.
Before she could ask properly, she heard a loud rumbling sound coming from the red-haired girl's stomach.
"So hungry... My stomach... So hungry!"
"Eh? Did she pass out from hunger?"
Shameimaru Aya looked completely surprised.
Just then, the restaurant door opened, and the clear chime of a bell rang out.
Shameimaru Aya looked towards the door, and the familiar owner appeared in her line of sight.
"Ah! Mr. Luke!"
"Aren't you Sha.... something Aya?"
"It's Shameimaru Aya! Forget about that, this girl collapsed right at the entrance, and..."
Rumble!
The red-haired girl's stomach rumbled again.
Luke opened the door fully, then walked over to the two of them and asked the red-haired girl.
"Miss, your name is...?"
"Kobayashi... Kobayashi Rindo... Is this... a place that sells food?"
"Of course. This is my restaurant. Come on in."
Hearing the name, Luke's expression changed slightly, but he calmly picked up the starving Kobayashi Rindo and carried her inside.
Because of this unexpected incident, Luke decided to open for business earlier than usual today...