Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 12 Chapter 2 (section)

==15==

In that empty classroom, Toujou Basara had lusted for Nonaka Yuki wholeheartedly, as he had sex with her.
As a result of the continued climax that she got from him and Maria, Yuki’s consciousness completely melted away—just like this morning with Mio and Kurumi, as well as Zest during lunch, Yuki needed time to recuperate.
—That being said, they would trouble Rikka and the others if they didn’t come back soon.
As such, he left Yuki in Maria’s hands, and returned to the student council room to work on the cultural festival until it was time to leave school.
After finishing today’s work, they walked together to the school gate, and Basara parted with Mio and the other girls going home and headed towards the train station with Rikka, Kanou and Touko who use the train to go to and from school.
They parted near the gate, with Basara heading alone to the second platform that’ll go towards the center of the city.
Taking the bullet train in order to make good time, he arrived at Shinjuku Station which holds the Guinness world record for busiest passenger station.
Making his way through the crowd at the western exit, he took the escalator to the street level, and then headed north.
Continuing north, he reached a pedestrian crosswalk and a busy intersection.
At that moment, he saw a building at the corner of the intersection,
“—Ah, there it is”
He’s confirmed, seeing the name of the address he was looking for on a board before going up the elevator.
Getting off on the six floor, he met the eyes of the staff.
Thus Basara went up to the staff member, who confirmed that he is indeed a customer.
“Welcome. Are you here alone?”
The staff said with a steady tone and a smile.
“No… I’m supposed to meet someone. I’m Toujou, who made a reservation at 8. I’m a little bit early but do you think I can wait inside?
As Basara was saying that, the host instantly checked his watch and the reservation list.
“Toujou-sama for two at eight PM… Thank you for making a reservation with us”
With that said, the staff bowed down to him.
“Let me show you to your seat… Your company’s arrived earlier”
Saying that, she walked ahead of Basara.
The place she showed Basara to wasn’t just a regular table, but one of the private booths.
Stepping up the small platform to the booth, taking off his shoes, he went past the curtains and as the staff said, his companion was indeed waiting for him there.
In the calm and luxurious booth, he sat, acknowledging Basara’s presence and smiled.
“—Hey, Basacchi”
He called out to Basara quietly.
Basara gave a slight smile and sat across from Takigawa Yahiro.
Glancing at the table—he saw the water and wet towel on the table for Takigawa.
“Did you just get here as well? Well, it’s ahead of schedule but”
“Nah, I got here a while before”
“Really? Then you should’ve ordered a drink at least”
“Well… You said you’re treating me today”
“This place isn’t quite like you. Even if we usually go for yakiniku, a place as expensive like this is pretty weird”
“It’s my first time somewhere like this too. But you said you wanted a place with a buffet?”
“Yeah. But even after me asking you about this, if you didn’t show up, this place is at a level that would completely destroy my wallet”
“I see… So you waited until I got here”
And then, just as Basara whispered that, the female waitress came by to bring the wet towel and water for Basara.
After handing it to him, she bowed sincerely to him.
“Thank you for coming today, since you’re both here, shall we start?”
“Yes please”
Basara said.
“Then we’ll prepare the food. Would you like to order some drinks first?”
“Well… I’ll have oolong tea, how about you Takigawa?”
“I’ll have the same”
“Understood. So two oolong tea”
She said. As she left the booth, she drew the curtain behind both of them.
“When you think about it, the all-you-can-eat here has several different ranks. Which did you get Basacchi?”
“Of course, the most expensive one”
As Basara said that, Takigawa’s eyes widened.
“…Hey, hey seriously?”
“Yeah, really”
“No but, it says here it’s all-you-can-eat Matsuzaka beef”
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it”
“Including the drinks that brings it to over 30,000 yen… Ten times more than all the places you’ve treated me to before”
“It’s really fine. You’ve helped me more than that”
Basara said with a wry smile.
—Thanks to Takigawa Basara’s life was saved, and more than just once or twice.
This much isn’t enough to repay his debt to Takigawa.
That being said, this wasn’t to repay his debt to Takigawa.
“As of now, I’ll still be in your care”
Today’s Yakiniku was promised when they went their separate ways in the Village before the final battle with Shiba.
It’s been a month and a half since then, but finally they could make good on that promise.
The reason as to why it’s taken so much time—was a secret agreement that Basara and Takigawa made on the roof during the entrance ceremony day.
Both the moderate faction and current demon lord factions had extended their protection to Basara so he could escape the political schemes of the hero clan. However, after the battle with Shiba, Basara had planned with Takigawa to go in the completely opposite direction. Which was, for Basara’s group to make their own alliances with both the demons and heroes.
Establishing a new ceasefire between the heroes and demons—to achieve that, Basara’s group will act as mediators. At a glance, this idea of Basara seems absolutely prosperous, but if it’s done well, it could bring about a new balance, stopping the conflicts on both sides, and as an extension it’ll bring peace to both the human world and the demon realm.
And then Takigawa, promising to help with Basara’s grand plan, had been active in working with both the current demon lord faction and the moderate faction of the demon realm.
…Therefore.
As in the past and even right now, Toujou Basara remains truly grateful to Takigawa Yahiro.
Takigawa had helped him numerous times. If he ever needed Basara’s help with something, Basara planned to extend his hand in aid no matter what.
With the alliance with the demon side Basara is pushing forward, there’s the chance that it might endanger Takigawa, even if there’s some excessive requirement, Basara will help. That being said, the alliance with the demon side is already helped plenty by Takigawa.
Therefore, even though in living with Mio and the other girls as family, Basara avoided excessive financial luxuries as much as possible, Takigawa remained an exception. Basara didn’t mind spending money on him.
—Of course, he’s not planning to pay Takigawa back simply with money.
However there are moments like this where it’s appropriate.
Of course, it’s not as if super expensive food serves to change Takigawa’s mind. But Basara decided that when it’s something he could do, he would give his all into doing it.
So if something was to happen, he would be spared the feeling that he could have done more.
—When something is lost, it can’t be returned to how it was.
That’s something—that Toujou Basara is painfully aware of.
But Basara now has so many precious things he wants to protect.
…Losing them, isn’t something he’ll ever allow to happen.
Even if he has to fight god, he’ll never give in.
—To Basara, Takigawa’s life is special.
For someone to be an important lifeline to him, on the other hand it would also mean that he’s a threat to his life as well.
There’s no one more reassuring to have as an ally than Takigawa, but as an enemy, no one is potentially more dangerous.
But at the same time, Takigawa is essential for Basara to protect all those he doesn’t want to lose.
So while showing his loyalty to Takigawa, Basara always told himself this.
There is something reliable in the life that is Takigawa Yahiro—and something fearsome, as well.
“…”
“—But why’s this booth private?”
Takigawa said, as while looking around the room.
Thus, Basara answered with an “ah”
“We’re just two high school boys and I picked the most expensive buffet course as well, certainly we’ll stand out in a bad way. Furthermore, with this, we can talk without worrying who might overhear”
“I get that but… This booth is too big for just the two of us. Isn’t there one that’s smaller and more compact?”
“Well… It’s not that there’s none”
As Takigawa said, the booth they’re currently using could fit eight people.
This restaurant has booths for four, as well as tables for two that would avoid others’ eyes.
—However, Basara had talked with the restaurant staff and pushed for the eight person room.
The reason for that—soon became clear. While saying “please excuse me”, a waiter pulled open the curtain and began bringing in the food.
“Eh—?”
Takigawa’s surprised voice surely came from how there wasn’t just one member of the waiting staff who came in at this time.
First came the waiter who brought the drinks, and then the waiter who brought the meat for yakiniku.
—But just that much wouldn’t be surprising.
But then there were two who carried the stove, and then the different kinds of soup.
In the end, there were different members of the waiting staff with different kinds of meats and soups.
“Hey, hey Basacchi what’s with all this?”
Takigawa asked, perplexed as he received his tea.
“It’s a special buffet. Didn’t I promise yakiniku with shabu-shabu? Hence I have the buffet with that, of course all of it is Matsuzaka beef.”
While basara continued his explanation, the waiter served more meat and soup.
This restaurant doesn’t have just yakiniku, but also shabu shabu and it’s an all you can eat course including that. Like the yakiniku, the shabu shabu has different levels of quality as well, and Basara had chosen the most expensive Matsuzaka beef option for both, so they could enjoy Matsuzaka beef for both the yakiniku and shabu shabu.
And then—for around the same price they could have the two types.
But—this time, Basara asked for something more, for an order that wasn’t on the menu.
Therefore they have three types, all Matsuzaka beef: yakiniku, shabu shabu and sukiyaki.
That’s why the four-person booth wasn’t enough and they needed the eight person booth.
And then—as all of it was displayed in front of them.
What’s on their table is an extensive show of super-high quality beef.
All the different kinds of cuts, and even the thin slices of shabu shabu, and those thin slices for yakiniku too.
It was, without saying, a magnificent view.
As the other members of the waiting staff left, the one that remained last was just the main female waitress.
“Since this is good meat, please enjoy it without overcooking it”
Upon receiving advice on how to cook the meat, Basara and Takigawa were speechless.
—Has anyone heard of “beautiful meat”?
Not delicious beef, or delicious looking beef—but beautiful meat.
The red and the white fat—the beautiful combination of it could only be called edible art.
It’s the meat romance of men. The ultimate Matsuzaka beef experience.
And seeing that, one could only feel an overwhelming awe for it.
It’s no surprise then that Basara and Takigawa were speechless at the sight.
“—“
“—“
Even the two of them, having matched up against the god-like Shiba and Kouryuu, could only gulp down at the sight before them.
—However, that wasn’t the end of what enthralled Basara and Takigawa.
Next is what’s carried by seven waiters
On top of the plate was what could only be called the king of seafood—the shape of a crab sat upon it.
“W-what’s this… We didn’t order that”
To Takigawa’s surprise, the staff gave an extremely pleasant smile.
“No, this crab is included in the all you can eat menu. The right is grilled and ready to eat, while the left will be used for Shabu-Shabu”
They said, placing a large amount of crab on the table.
The “all star” Matsuzaka was enough to get them, but with this, it’s just overkill.
“…Hey, Basacchi”
“What’s up, Takigawa?”
“…This really is too much”
“…Sorry, I also didn’t expect it to go this far”
“…”
“…So, shall we take a picture?”
“Y, yeah, we should…”
At the words Takigawa just managed to say, Basara nodded, and the two of them took out their phones to do a little photoshoot.
Basara and Takigawa don’t use social media, but at this very moment they could understand the feelings of people who are addicted to it.
With that, perhaps sensing that they’re being a little strange,
“If you would like, I can take a photo of the both of you with the food”
“Ah… Then, yes please”
Handling their phones to the staff, the two of them got their picture taken with smiles on their faces. After getting their phones back, they see their own faces with awkward smiles on them,
“…Thanks”
Even if they retook it, it’ll probably end up the same, or at least that’s how they figured it, so Basara put the phone back into the pocket of his uniform.
With that,
“Well then, please enjoy yourselves. If you would like anything else, feel free to press the button on your table to call us”
With that statement, the waitress left their booth.
Therefore, Basara and Takigawa pumped themselves up.
“Let’s do this Takigawa… Should we start with this cut?”
“Y,yeah…!”
Putting their all into it, they began grilling their meat.
The waitress that had brought their food in earlier was now in front of their booth.
When it came to the menu, she had received orders for the most expensive course. Two orders wasn’t new for her, but this was the first for three.
And then on top of it having just two people in an 8-person private booth, that was almost unthinkable.
—However, the restaurant had accepted the reservation with an added payment.
She had thought that the guests would be someone related to a politician, or perhaps it was a celebrity.
However, the two that arrived were a pair of high school boys cladded in uniform. There had been celebrity children who could be difficult when reserving before but,
“…Well, those two seem different”
The waitress softly laughed.
Their reactions when they brought the food was sweet, and there’s something likeable about it all.
That being said, this was a limited-time all you can eat special. If they continue marveling over the food, it’ll be their loss. Since they came all the way here, they should make the best of it.
It’d be good if they make good memories from it, she wants that for them.
Therefore,
“I wonder if they started cooking it?”
It’s during that time she was wondering if she should peek in, thinking about the possibility that they might keep marveling over the food and not start.
She peeked inside the booth,
“——!”
She heard a monstrous cry from them both.
For someone working here, that’s the best reaction she could expect from a guest.
“…That’s good, it seems like they’re okay”
The waitress smiled, then returned to serve others.