Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

"A souvenir?"

Kiryu Yaya put down his bowl, looked back, and noticed that there was no label on the paper bag, and the dark brown bag was sealed with a thin hemp rope.

A small wooden tag hangs from the end of a hemp rope.

The character "祝" (blessing) was written on it.

Her handwriting is neat and beautiful.

It's obviously written by a girl.

"Open it and take a look."

Keiko Miyazawa spoke in a lighthearted tone:

"Perfect as a gift for tonight."

"What exactly is it?"

Kiryu Yaya's interest was piqued. He smiled, wiped the water droplets off his hands, and carefully opened the paper bag.

Inside were two dark brown glass bottles with handwritten labels, though the ink had faded, indicating they were quite old. "They look like wine."

Kiryu Yaya is somewhat uncertain.

"Yes, Junmai Daiginjo."

Keiko Miyazawa's smile deepened:

"Produced by an old brewery in Fushimi, Kyoto."

Kiryu Yaya was quite surprised and examined the bottle even more carefully.

The bottle isn't the kind of mass-produced, readily available product; it has a warm, lustrous sheen that comes from the passage of time.

Kiryu Yaya's eyes brightened slightly:

"Huizi, you have a good eye for buying wine. This bottle looks nice."

"No, it was saved by my father before."

Keiko Miyazawa looked at Kiryu's profile:

"When he was still alive, he would order new sake from the old brewery every autumn and store it until winter to drink." "A few days ago, when I went back to the old Ashiya house, I found these few bottles in the cellar. They are the only ones left."

"What a precious gift."

Kiryu Yaya carefully placed the sake away:

"I always feel that it's only appropriate to open a glass and have a drink on a special occasion."

Keiko Miyazawa's smile deepened, her tone softening to a level she herself didn't realize:

"Alcohol is meant to be drunk. Tonight you're cooking, and everyone's coming over—it's the perfect occasion."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Kiryu said with a smile:

"Thank you for the gift."

Keiko Miyazawa looked at him for a while before looking away, walking into the kitchen, and naturally rolling up her sleeves:

"There are still more than two hours left, I can come and help."

She glanced at the ingredients prepared on the counter, her gaze lingering on the washed vegetables. "I'll prepare the komatsuna. What were you originally planning to cook?"

"A simple, home-style method will do."

Kiryu Yaya put on gloves and coated the marinated chicken leg with starch:

"Slice the garlic, heat sesame oil in a pan, then sauté the garlic until fragrant. Next, stir-fry the komatsuna for about 30 seconds, and drizzle with a little soy sauce before serving."

It is indeed a common home-style cooking method.

Keiko Miyazawa does the same thing at home.

She chose a kitchen knife and deftly began chopping the komatsuna.

Kiryu Yaya noticed that she held the knife skillfully. Although she didn't cut very fast, she could cut each piece of vegetable into a uniform size, and her knife skills were quite good.

"Did you cook often before?"

He asked.

I cook occasionally.

Keiko Miyazawa kept moving, putting the chopped vegetables into an empty bowl and then starting to process the green onions: "When my father was still alive, I would cook New Year's Eve dinner for him every year."

Her tone was calm, but Kiryu could sense a faint sense of nostalgia emanating from between the lines of her words.

"Back then, I would always complain to him not to drink alcohol before meals, otherwise he wouldn't be able to eat anything."

"But he wouldn't listen at all."

"I'll prepare some light snacks to go with the drinks in advance so that his stomach will feel more comfortable."

Kiryu Yaya didn't say anything, he just listened quietly.

He prepared the chicken legs, heated oil in a pan, and put them into the pan one by one.

Zi la la.

The aroma of chicken, accompanied by the sizzling sound of frying, spread throughout the kitchen. The taste of the food softened the memories of the past, pulling Miyazawa Keiko out of her melancholy.

She saw Kiryu Yaya skillfully flipping the fried chicken drumsticks, clearly having done it many times before.

"You're quite skilled; the chicken looks delicious."

"Practice makes perfect." Go to Bing and search for "Germany Flags" to see the latest chapter!

Kiryu Yaya said with a smile:

"However, this is a dish I'm quite good at, and it's really delicious. I'd give it two Michelin stars."

Keiko Miyazawa was amused.

She watched Kiryu Yaya for a while, then suddenly noticed the sky outside gradually darkening:

"Are Mina and the others almost here?"

"not yet."

Kiryu Yaya said:

"Mizuna will arrive around 6:30, and I think Chihaya will arrive around the same time."

There's still plenty of time.

Keiko Miyazawa silently said it to herself.

She opened the refrigerator and looked inside, finding it neatly arranged and spotlessly clean, just like the rest of the room: "You have a complete set of seasonings."

"I just bought some this afternoon and will be here soon."

"Would you mind if I made another dipping sauce?"

Keiko Miyazawa said:

"My mother's secret recipe, perfect for summer."

"Of course I don't mind, on the contrary, I'm looking forward to it."

Kiryu saw Keiko Miyazawa take out several bottles of seasoning from the refrigerator.

She poured soy sauce, mirin, and yuzu vinegar into a bowl in a certain ratio, then added some chopped ginger, stirred it briefly, smelled it, and tasted it before nodding in satisfaction.

"It's very similar to what I remember."

"Give it a try."

She handed the plate to Kiryu Yaya with a hint of anticipation.

Kiryu Yaya obligingly took a taste, a glimmer of surprise in his eyes. He gave a thumbs-up and said sincerely, "Very good!"

"The savory and salty flavors are perfectly balanced, with a refreshing touch of sourness."

"It's definitely a dipping sauce that's perfect for summer."

Keiko Miyazawa smiled as if a flower had bloomed:

"As long as you like it."

This incident created a tacit understanding between the two.

They stood together in the kitchen.

Although everyone was busy with their own things, their hands never stopped working, and they would occasionally exchange a few words, it all seemed surprisingly harmonious.

Twenty minutes later, the steaming hot dishes were served one after another.

Kiryu Yaya's signature teriyaki chicken leg looks quite impressive. The chicken leg is cut into neat, thick slices, arranged in a shallow dish, and topped with a caramel-colored sauce, making it a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

Stir-fried shiitake mushrooms and maitake mushrooms offer a different flavor profile, emitting an enticing aroma. The bright green scallion segments on the surface are the icing on the cake, and vegetarians will definitely love this dish.

Keiko Miyazawa was also in charge of preparing stir-fried komatsuna, which was tossed with sesame oil and piled on a white porcelain plate like a verdant mountain of vegetables—it looked quite delicious. Just as the doorbell rang, Yaya Kiryu had finished preparing the last of the soup dishes.

He put down the soup pot, wiped his hands clean, and then went to open the door.

Chihaya Yuri was standing at the entrance.

Kiryu Yaya was taken aback when he saw her.

Chihaya, the section chief, seems different today.

Chihaya Yuri stood at the doorway, the gentle sunlight streaming in from the stairwell window, falling directly on her and softening her features.

The light apricot-colored dress she wore gave her a femininity and gentleness that she didn't usually have. The dress was fitted, outlining Chihaya Yuri's slender waist.

Beneath the hem of her skirt were her fair and slender legs, the amount of skin exposed was just right, neither appearing frivolous nor lacking in feminine charm.

"Kiryu-kun."

Chihaya Yuri spoke first:

"I'm not late, am I?"

"No, please come in, Chihaya-senpai." Kiryu Yaya was extremely surprised to see her dressed like this for the first time.

Is this still the same Chihaya Section Chief who is efficient, meticulous, and whose dark gray suit seems to never change, just like her skin?

Kiryu Yaya still remembers the meticulous, sharp feeling she gave him during the financing review class.

The difference is just too big.

After inviting Chihaya Yuri into the house, Kiryu Yaya found the prepared guest slippers and handed them over.

"Thanks."

When changing her shoes, Chihaya Yuri saw a pair of high heels in the shoe cabinet.

These exquisite apricot-colored women's shoes feature a delicate metal buckle on the upper and look like a newly released magazine hot item, making them hard to find.

After changing her shoes, she saw the person in the kitchen.

Keiko Miyazawa stood by the kitchen counter, holding a plate of dipping sauce in her hand, her posture relaxed and natural, as if she were not a guest, but the owner of this house.

Their eyes met in the air.

Both noticed each other's clothing. A shirt and a dress, both apricot-colored.

This made their already intense eye contact even more confrontational.

Keiko Miyazawa smiled slightly and took the initiative to greet them, her tone so natural that it seemed as if the two were old friends.

"Good evening, Section Chief Chihaya. It's nice to have you here."

"President Miyazawa, hello, it's been a long time."

Chihaya Yuri put on a professional smile, neither impolite nor overly enthusiastic.

Upon entering the living room, Chihaya Yuri's gaze was immediately drawn to the dishes on the dining table.

"Welcome, welcome! The food has just been prepared."

Kiryu Yaya came out carrying a pot of soup, which contained a sweet clam soup.

"Looks like I've arrived just in time."

Chihaya Yuri stood up to help, placing the bag she was carrying on the corner of the table.

"Is this a souvenir?" Kiryu Yaya noticed her actions.

"It's nothing valuable."

Chihaya Yuri smiled faintly and said:

"A sleep-inducing aromatherapy diffuser, lavender scented. I've been under a lot of stress lately, I bet you'll find it useful."

"Your senior has really amazing observation skills."

Kiryu also laughed:

"Thank you, I'll try it before bed tonight."

Chihaya Yuri didn't speak, but a faint smile flashed in her eyes.

She opened the paper bag, inside was a ceramic jar containing incense. The jar was a simple off-white color without any patterns, and a decorative copper wire was inlaid around the lid.

This is consistent with Chihaya Yuri's taste.

Concise and efficient.

Keiko Miyazawa came out of the kitchen, carrying a cold dish that Yaya Kiryu had prepared earlier. After placing the cold spinach and chilled tofu on the table, she glanced at the scented candle and said casually:

"Scented candles can indeed help you sleep."

"I tried various scents recently. Lavender was nice, but in the end I found that grapefruit was more refreshing and suited me better."

"Grapefruit flavor is perfect for summer."

Chihaya Yuri looked at Miyazawa Keiko's beautiful face, her tone revealing nothing unusual:

"It's a good choice."

"Yes."

Keiko Miyazawa sat down, facing Yuri Chihaya directly.

"But upon closer examination, there is scientific evidence that lavender can help you fall asleep."

The two looked at each other and chatted about aromatherapy, seemingly in a very ordinary conversation.

But there was something subtle in the air.

An invisible ruler seemed to have appeared between the two of them, measuring the distance between each other and others. "You two are very knowledgeable; it sounds quite good."

Kiryu Yaya picked up a piece of teriyaki chicken leg, put it on his plate, and said with a smile:

"The dishes tonight are quite plentiful. Please try my cooking."

The two women then stopped.

Chihaya Yuri was the first to pick up her chopsticks. She picked up a chicken leg, put it in her mouth, savored it, her eyebrows twitched slightly, and then she put down her chopsticks.

"This sauce is very special, did you make it?"

"Huizi prepared a copy for me."

Kiryu Yaya said:

"I did most of it."

Chihaya Yuri couldn't help but look at Miyazawa Keiko again, seemingly surprised that the young lady of the Miyazawa Group actually had such skills.

At that moment, Keiko Miyazawa was enjoying a cold spinach salad. It was just an ordinary gathering and meal, but her posture was elegant and her demeanor was impeccable, as if she were dining in a high-end restaurant.

"I added something special to the dipping sauce: minced ginger and yuzu vinegar," Keiko Miyazawa said after swallowing her food and putting down her chopsticks.

"That's really great."

Chihaya Yuri took a sip of water, looked at Kiryu Yaya, and said:

"Did you ever have such delicious food when you were in Tokyo?"

Kiryu Yaya smiled at her:

"It's definitely not as good as what I make at home. But thinking about it, the food in the head office cafeteria isn't that bad."

"I see."

Keiko Miyazawa suddenly spoke, interrupting their conversation:

"Is there anything special about the diners in Tokyo? You've eaten there many times, haven't you?"

"Yes, what's special about it is probably the wide variety of dishes."

Kiryu Yaya then looked at Miyazawa Keiko.

Keiko Miyazawa's eyes sparkled: "Next time I visit you in Tokyo, I'll bring some homemade food."

Kiryu Yaya smiled and nodded.

Chihaya Yuri watched them, her grip on her glass tightening slightly, then suddenly changed the subject:

"Kiryu, how's the investigation team doing?"

Kiryu Yaya immediately got into work mode and said seriously:

"The itinerary is finalized. I'll be returning to Tokyo tomorrow morning, and I've also arranged a time with Kanto International Development this afternoon."

Chihaya Yuri nodded:

"That's good. Why hasn't Mizuna arrived yet?"

"It should be soon. Mizuna told me she would arrive around 6:30."

"She has to go to work, and 6:30 is already very early."

As the two were chatting, Keiko Miyazawa suddenly interrupted their conversation with a smile. She leaned forward slightly and looked at Yuri Chihaya.

"I just noticed that Section Chief Chihaya is dressed quite differently today, it seems different from her usual style." "It's rare that I don't have to work overtime, I wanted to change my mood."

Chihaya Yuri spoke calmly, but then began to scrutinize Miyazawa Keiko's attire.

Keiko Miyairo was known for her exceptional taste.

Coincidentally, she was also wearing an apricot-colored shirt today. The high-quality silk had a subtle sheen, and as she moved, the open collar of her shirt occasionally revealed more of her radiant skin.

"President Miyazawa's shirt is of really good quality."

Chihaya Yuri said:

"It must be a high-end brand that's very hard to buy."

"Not a big name."

Keiko Miyazawa said with a smile:

"I can't dress too casually since I'm visiting a friend's house today."

Kiryu Yaya, sitting nearby, overheard the two women's conversation.

Ever since they started talking about aromatherapy, he'd had a vague feeling that there was a faint smell of gunpowder in the air. Now they were complimenting each other's clothes.

All I heard were compliments.

But the smell of gunpowder only intensified.

Kiryu Yaya wisely kept quiet.

He didn't want to become the target of their combined attacks.

Two tigers cannot share one mountain.

If the girl were like Miyoi Mina, the two women might be able to accept it, but both Miyazawa Keiko and Chihaya Yuri have a strong side and would never be willing to be subordinate to anyone.

This applies to careers, and even more so to relationships.

When they meet, they are bound to have a showdown.

This invisible competition continues.

"Is Section Chief Chihaya getting used to living in Tokyo? After all, she has to live in a dormitory."

"I'm getting used to the place," said Chihaya Yuri.

"The headquarters dormitory is quite nice, better than I expected. Besides, I'm going there to work, not for a vacation."

"I see."

Keiko Miyazawa spoke in a lighthearted tone:

"I'm starting to look forward to my weekend trip to Tokyo. I've heard there are some restaurants there worth visiting."

"Is President Miyazawa going to Tokyo this weekend?"

"Yes."

Keiko Miyazawa smiled faintly:

"I'm going to visit Kiryu-kun with Mizuna. I plan to bring him some homemade dishes, since he prefers home-cooked food."

Chihaya Yuri remained silent for a few seconds, took a sip of hot tea, and then spoke again:

"President Miyazawa takes good care of Kiryu-kun."

"Of course, we're old classmates." Miyazawa Keiko also picked up her teacup, but she didn't drink from it; she just held it in her hands.

"It's really worrying to have him all alone in Tokyo."

"Don't worry."

Chihaya Yuri's smile was faint and restrained:

"The investigation team has a lot to do, I'll help keep an eye on him."

Upon hearing this, neither woman's expression or smile changed.

But Kiryu Yaya felt as if the air had been suddenly sucked away, and he inexplicably felt suffocated.

"Very good."

Keiko Miyazawa spoke again, her smile bright:

"With my senior taking care of me, I can rest assured a lot. Section Chief Chihaya is really good to her juniors."

"..."

Kiryu Yaya felt that if he didn't speak up soon, the situation might escalate immediately. He checked the time and came up with an excuse: "Mizuna seems to be arriving soon. She said she's bringing some cold dishes."

Upon hearing him mention Mizuna's name, Keiko Miyazawa suddenly lowered her head and took a sip of tea.

Chihaya Yuri didn't say anything more, staring at the door, lost in thought.

Kiryu Yaya secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The sudden silence was somewhat awkward, but the increasingly heated verbal exchange was even more difficult for him to handle.

Fortunately, the silence did not last long.

Two minutes later, the doorbell rang.

Kiryu Yaya couldn't wait to get up and open the door.

"Good evening, senior."

Yayoi Mizuna spoke softly, her eyes sparkling as she gazed tenderly at Kiryu Yaya.

"Good evening."

Kiryu Yaya also smiled. He saw that Yayoi Mizuna was wearing a light blue dress. The style and material were not as eye-catching as the clothes worn by Miyazawa Keiko and Chihaya Yuri, but it suited her very well and gave her a youthful and vibrant look.

Her hair was tied back with a dark blue ribbon, and the bag in her hand wasn't a designer brand, just a simple cloth bag, which was bulging inside.

"Sorry, there was some traffic on the way, I'm late."

Her face was slightly flushed, and her voice was a little breathless, indicating that she had run all the way here.

"Don't rush, you've arrived just in time."

Kiryu Yaya took the bag from her and found out the slippers.

Mizuna Yayoi politely greeted the two women in the living room before sitting down in the empty chair.

The table had all four seats, which were just enough to fill the seats.

Kiryu Yaya sat down at the head of the table, with the three girls surrounding him from three different directions. He ladled out a bowl of steaming clam soup and placed it in front of Yayoi Mizuna.

"Have some soup first. You must be exhausted after running all this way."

"Thank you, senior."

Yayoi Mizuna held the soup bowl in both hands as if it were a precious treasure. The clam soup was clear but very flavorful, with a few shiso leaves adding to its taste. She blew on the steam, took a small sip, her eyes widened immediately, and then she took a big gulp.

The warm broth is sweet and delicious, and the seafood flavor spreads in your mouth, warming you all the way to your stomach. The busyness and tension of the whole day seem to be dispelled and soothed by this bowl of hot soup.

"It's so delicious."

Mizuna Yayoi's eyes sparkled, and her gaze towards Yaya Kiryu was filled with undisguised admiration.

"Is your senior actually a hidden master chef?"

Kiryu Yaya smiled and opened the cloth bag she had brought; inside was indeed a plate of sealed cold dishes.

He took out the cold dishes and placed them on the table:

"Everyone, please try the cold dishes that Mina brought."

"Ah, thank you for your trouble, senior."

Mizuna Yayoi was surprised that Yaya Kiryu would help her take out the vegetables, so she immediately went to help.

After removing the plastic wrap, a bowl of fresh, vibrant green spinach dressed with sesame sauce was revealed, while pickled mustard greens were placed in the adjacent compartment.

Only then did Yayoi Mizuna notice the cold spinach salad that Kiryu Yaya had made on the table, and quickly said, "Sorry, sorry, I think I made too much salad..."

Kiryu Yaya said with a smile:

"It's okay, it's just a different flavor."

"It looks very good."

Keiko Miyazawa was the first to pick up her chopsticks, taking a bite of the cold spinach salad and placing it on her plate. She then exclaimed with surprise:

"Mina, did you make the sesame paste yourself?"

"Yes."

Yayoi Mizuna blushed slightly under her gaze, lowered her head shyly, and whispered:

"I dissolved the sesame paste in warm water, then added a little soy sauce and mirin, and finally a spoonful of yuzu vinegar."

"You did a good job."

Keiko Miyazawa took another bite:

"It's refreshing and not greasy, it's great to eat in the summer." Chihaya Yuri glanced at her, but didn't touch the spinach. Instead, she picked up the pickled mustard greens next to her.

The mizuna is soaked in a light amber-colored broth, with a few strands of ginger floating on top, emitting a sour aroma that is enough to make your mouth water.

The taste was unexpectedly delicious.

The sour and very faint sweet flavors melt on the tip of the tongue at the same time, followed by a perfectly balanced spiciness.

Chihaya Yuri nodded:

"Mizuna, this dish is excellent. The mizuna is still crisp, and the cooking time is just right."

Mizuna Yayoi smiled with relief:

"That's great, I hope it suits everyone's taste."

"I'm worried that people won't like it."

Her arrival was like a gentle breeze, dispelling the heavy and strange atmosphere from before. Yayoi Mizuna sat there without saying anything, but she would respond very politely when others spoke to her.

She looked like a cute but easily startled herbivorous little animal.

The predators disdain to lay a hand on her. They might even offer her some protection.

Kiryu Yaya sensed the subtle atmosphere and got up to go to the kitchen:

"I'll go and bring the rest of the dishes over."

Teriyaki chicken drumsticks, stir-fried maitake mushrooms, komatsuna (Japanese mustard greens), and grilled eel that looks incredibly delicious.

The dishes were laid out one after another on the table, and with the addition of Yayoi Mina and Kiryu Yaya's cold dishes, the whole table was soon full.

Keiko Miyazawa was closest to the teriyaki chicken leg. Looking at the caramelized sauce on it, she nodded and said:

"This dish is good; the cooking time is clearly perfect."

Chihaya Yuri then tried the stir-fried maitake mushrooms, and said with considerable surprise:

"Is there sake in it?"

She usually eats maitake mushrooms in the bank cafeteria either in soup or as tempura, and this was the first time she had tried stir-frying them with clear oil.

"You could taste it?"

Kiryu Yaya sat down opposite her: "I added a little sake before taking it out of the pot, which can remove the earthy taste and enhance the flavor, making the mushrooms taste even more delicious."

Mizuna Yayoi was savoring a piece of teriyaki chicken leg. She was very focused on eating, enjoying the slightly charred and crispy skin and the tender, juicy meat. With each bite, the sweet and salty flavor spread throughout her mouth, leaving her no time to talk.

After finishing a piece of chicken leg, she couldn't help but say:

"This is so delicious! I feel like your cooking skills are even better than mine."

Mizuna Yayoi smiled faintly as she thought back to the days when she made bento boxes for Kiryu-kun every day.

Kiryu Yaya quickly said:

"No, Mina, you're too modest."

"senior."

Mizuna Yayoi put down her chopsticks and turned her head to the side:

"Are you going back to Tokyo tomorrow?"

"Yes, the Shinkansen this morning."

"Then..." She paused, as if considering something, and then asked softly:

"Will you be back after your training program is over?"

Kiryu Yaya was pouring himself tea when he heard this and paused slightly.

"Probably. Unless the investigation team needs to come to Osaka again, they probably won't be back anytime soon."

Mizuna Yayoi nodded and did not ask any further questions.

She simply lowered her head and picked up another small piece of teriyaki chicken leg, as if she wanted to swallow the words she hadn't yet spoken along with the chicken.

Keiko Miyazawa chuckled softly at her expression, then naturally picked up the conversation:

"Mina, aren't you coming to Tokyo with me next week? Then you'll get to see him!"

Mizuna Yayoi paused slightly, then looked up, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.

"...Yes, next week."

Chihaya Yuri sat to the side, without saying a word.

Kiryu Yaya seemed to sense something and turned to look at her. "Senpai, Keiko and Mizuna are coming to Tokyo next week. Shall we go out for a meal together?"

Chihaya Yuri nodded:

"Of course, it's rare to meet in Tokyo, so we should get together."