"What? You have to work overtime tonight and can't come back?"
At Haruko's place, Kai's hand went slack and the crackers he was holding scattered all over the floor. His face was the picture of disappointment.
"I'm so sorry! There have been a lot of monster appearances in Z City lately and things on my end are absolutely swamped. I'll be home early tomorrow — I'll make you fried pork chops then, okay?"
Haruko pressed her palms together apologetically over the phone.
It was her who had invited him to stay at her place, and now she couldn't even make a simple meal. On top of that she had to work overtime — she truly felt bad about it.
"Fried pork chops aren't enough. I also want king prawns, crayfish, Wagyu beef, cola chicken wings…"
Kai counted on his fingers and rattled off a full feast.
"Done — I'll make all of it!"
Haruko said generously.
She lived alone and didn't take a penny from her family, but her salary as a Hero Association clerk was decent enough — a big meal like that was well within her budget.
"Alright then. Remember to drink hot water and wear extra layers tonight. Bye."
Before Haruko could even say anything more, he'd already hung up.
This guy…
Haruko's face — which had just been wearing a satisfied expression — instantly went dark.
What an irredeemable oblivious man!
...
"Didn't get to eat Haruko's fried pork chops. My stomach's been growling."
The TV droned on with its variety show as Kai lay sprawled on the soft sofa, his stomach rumbling in protest.
Back on the Sky Island, he could go a whole month without eating and be fine.
But now, missing just one meal of golden, oily, delicious fried pork chops — and Kai was already losing his mind.
"Once you get used to the good life, going back is brutal."
With a world-weary sigh, Kai decided to go find a restaurant for a late-night meal.
Lightning crackled around him, and in the blink of an eye he was standing in front of a noodle shop.
"ULTRA SPICY jumbo ramen — complete the challenge and win 50,000 yen! Fail and pay a 10,000 yen penalty!"
Kai's eyes lit up instantly.
Before transmigrating, he had been someone with zero tolerance for spice. During his ten years on the Sky Island, everything had been fresh and clean — but the one thing missing had been spice.
Haruko's dinner yesterday hadn't included a single chili either, since most Japanese people aren't big fans of spicy food.
"Boss! Give me one ULTRA SPICY jumbo ramen — if it's not spicy enough I'm not paying!"
"Coming right up!"
The forty-something shop owner moved swiftly, and in no time at all set down a steaming, bubbling bowl of ramen.
Not bad — actually impressive.
The bowl in front of him was half his own height, floating with countless red chili flakes. Kai's appetite surged.
Let's eat!
Slurp slurp slurp——
Under the astonished stares of every other customer, a bowl of ramen meant for ten people began disappearing into Kai's stomach, bit by bit.
In the One Piece world, the reason natives possessed near-superhuman recovery and terrifying physiques was because they could consume enormous quantities of food for energy.
The first thing Kai had learned during his time in the One Piece world was how to eat.
Ten servings of ramen? A giant Sea King would barely last him a week.
"Ahhhh — delicious, boss. Just the right amount of spice!"
After a satisfying, tiger-like devouring session, Kai set down the empty bucket with a loud clang and let out a deeply content belch.
For a moment, the sharp spicy aroma flooded the entire restaurant.
"Truly disgusting. The manners of common people are really something."
Before the owner could speak and before any customer could complain, a voice dripping with disdain cut through the air.
Kai's eyes shifted. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
A-Class Number One — Sweet Mask.
Interesting. An unwelcome guest has arrived.
"My friend, in our humble world, making sounds while eating is a compliment to the chef, and letting out a satisfied belch is a way of praising the owner's skill. Besides, the smell in here is all spicy food — it's that chemical fragrance you're soaked in that truly doesn't belong here."
The sharp spicy smell was quickly washed out by the food's aroma — it hadn't bothered anyone. But that lingering artificial perfume? That was going to linger in the air for a long time.
Even the appetite to keep eating had evaporated.
"You! Common people's tastes are all just as low-class."
Sweet Mask sneered with barely concealed contempt.
"Please ask this gentleman to leave our humble establishment. We cannot serve someone like him."
Hearing Sweet Mask call the strange customer a "commoner" the always-smiling owner — who bowed to everyone — finally couldn't keep his smile up.
We're all just people with two legs. Who do you think you are?!
Sweet Mask's face flooded with rage, veins bulging across it.
But just then, two familiar figures walked in through the front door.
"Genos, I haven't had any money lately — dinner's on this competition prize tonight."
"Whatever Sensei says goes."
Their voices weren't loud, but both Sweet Mask and Kai's eyes were drawn over at the same moment.
So that was "Demon Cyborg" Genos. He looked decent enough — good presence, solid aura.
Sweet Mask noted it internally.
And in Kai's heart, something subtly shifted.
He could sense it — Genos had just come from an intense battle. The lingering aura of a powerful fighter still clung to him.
Just that faint trace alone was enough for Kai to feel a flicker of pressure.
Just how strong was Genos at his peak?