Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

Of course, the price tag is staggering. Ruomai has spent a fortune to please Xiaoxiang.

Ruoye Mu didn't feel much about the romantic atmosphere around her. Her attention was quickly attracted by a huge glass water tank at the entrance of the restaurant.

The lights in the tank were bright, and several huge king crabs were lying on the artificial reef, waving their huge claws.

The girl was obviously more interested in these big guys with bared fangs and claws.

She had walked to the side of the tank without knowing when, her little face almost touching the glass, staring intently at the largest king crab inside.

Perhaps sensing the focused gaze from outside the glass, the king crab in the tank suddenly moved alertly.

It raised its two huge claws and waved them in the direction of Mu, looking fierce and threatening.

Seeing the king crab's reaction, Ruo Yemu blinked his eyes. Instead of being afraid, he tilted his head, then stretched out his two hands, bent his index fingers and stood upright on both sides of his head, imitating the king crab's domineering posture.

The little head shook slightly, and the expression remained unchanged, but the imitation movement was clumsy and cute.

Kujo Renji walked slowly to Wakaba Mutsu and looked at the girl who was still imitating the king crab. Her face was serious but her movements revealed a natural cuteness. He couldn't help but feel a little funny.

From this point of view, it seems that Mutou likes small animals and plants very much?

At least, that's what she showed from the effort she put into the cucumbers on the balcony.

He waters and checks the plants every day without fail, and even whispers something to the leaves. His seriousness and cherishment are obvious.

Thinking of this, Kujo Renji's gaze fell back on the king crab in the tank that was still showing off its might.

For Mu, this allows the freshness of the ingredients to be fully displayed, before turning them into a dish and serving them on the table...

Is this direct conversion from "life" to "food" a bit too cruel for her?

He suddenly became a little worried that Mu might feel uncomfortable or find it difficult to accept this.

However, while Kujo Renji was still engaging in this somewhat redundant "empathy".

The next second, he saw Wakaba Mu beside him put down his fingers that were imitating crab claws, turned his head, and looked at him with his clear golden eyes.

Then she extended her slender finger, pointed firmly at the largest and most ferocious king crab in the tank, and said concisely in her voice, which was not full of ups and downs but very clear:

"I want to eat this."

"..."

The little bit of worry that Kujo Renji had prepared for disappeared in an instant.

Well, it seems that Mu’s “liking” and “empathy” are limited to her cucumbers.

.

The group finally sat down under the guidance of the waiter.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows is the dazzling night view of Tokyo. The flickering candlelight and exquisite tableware on the table all create a romantic and high-end atmosphere.

Logically speaking, the normal procedure for visiting such a top French restaurant is to enjoy a candlelight dinner accompanied by beautiful scenery and a few glasses of just the right red wine.

When the atmosphere is right and everyone is a little tipsy and relaxed, it is natural to start the next romantic date that is tacitly agreed upon by adults.

Although the "purpose" for Ms. Yutenji Wakamushi to choose this place is surprisingly similar to the core appeal of the above process, both of which are to create an emotional and romantic environment that can bring her closer to Xiaoxiang, it is a pity that most of the people present are minors and drinking is absolutely not allowed.

Without alcohol as a key catalyst, the subsequent romantic scenes that she might have secretly fantasized about in her mind and that could have heated up the relationship were obviously impossible to carry out because the prerequisites were not unlocked.

However, even if she couldn't drink, being able to have dinner with Xiaoxiang in such a dreamy environment was already a huge success for Ruomai!

She suppressed the excitement in her heart and tried hard to show her most elegant, decent and "worthy" side to Xiaoxiang during the rest of the meal.

However, ideals are full of hope, but reality is often so bleak that it catches people off guard.

Although Miss Yutenji Wakamu carefully selected this high-end French restaurant that looked very classy for this "date", and secretly did some "homework" online in advance, such as memorizing some difficult-to-pronounce dish names and the approximate order of dining.

But unfortunately, she had never truly experienced such formal and exquisite French cuisine before.

The girl was originally from Kumamoto Prefecture.

Kumamoto is located in Kyushu. Compared to the prosperous international metropolis of Tokyo, many Tokyo locals and even Wakamaki himself subconsciously think of it as a "countryside" place.

Although she is always at the forefront of fashion, works hard to dress herself up beautifully, is also a little famous in the field of beauty and makeup, and seems to be well-informed about all kinds of trends, but deep down in her heart, she has always been hiding a trace of unspeakable inferiority.

She rarely reveals this inferiority complex and always tries to cover it up with outward "fashion" and "knowledge".

She was keen on pursuing anything "stylish" and "tasteful," and was happy to discuss and share it with others, as if this would prove that she had fully integrated into this big city and shed the shadow of that "country girl." These were the little thoughts hidden deep in her heart that she didn't want to be touched.

But unfortunately, on this occasion tonight, which she had high hopes for, in front of "Xiaoxiang" who wanted to perform perfectly, the complicated French dining etiquette that she was unfamiliar with was like a series of small traps, causing her to inadvertently expose her "weakness".

When the waiter brought the bread before the meal, Ruomai looked at the row of knives and forks in front of her, all of different sizes and uses, and was momentarily confused. She seemed to remember that they were to be used from the outside in?

But which one corresponds to which?

She secretly glanced at Xiaoxiang next to her and found that his movements were natural and smooth, and he seemed not to have thought about this problem at all.

She hesitated for a moment, picked up a knife by instinct, and clumsily tried to spread butter directly on the bread. However, the sharp-eyed waiter next to her stopped her with a look, and indicated that she should put the bread on a special bread plate, break it with her hands and eat it, and take the butter to her own plate first.

Ruomai's face turned red in an instant.

Next, the first cold dish came, which was an exquisite foie gras pie with fig jam.

She looked at the delicate and smooth foie gras, then glanced at the row of forks in front of her, and once again found herself in a dilemma. She tentatively picked up the small fork on the outermost edge and carefully picked up a small piece of foie gras. Just as she was about to put it in her mouth, she felt that the size seemed a little off.

Should I use the slightly larger one?

After finally getting through the appetizer, the main course was pan-fried flounder. This time, she had learned her lesson and knew to use the proper fish knife and fork.

But when she tried to cut the fish with the strange-looking fish knife, she lost her way and almost pushed the whole fish off the plate.

She saw Xiaoxiang simply pressing the fish body lightly with the harpoon and skillfully pushing it with the side of the fish knife, and the fish meat was separated cleanly and neatly.

After the meal, Ruomai had no appetite and felt very uncomfortable.

Every small mistake, every contrast with the graceful movements of others, was like a fine needle pricking her sensitive nerves. The inferiority complex about her background, which she had tried so hard to suppress, surged up.

She felt her cheeks burning and her palms sweating. She didn't even dare to look up at the expressions of the other people at the table, especially Xiaoxiang.

Will Xiaoxiang think I am embarrassing?

Will you look down on me because of this?

Do you think I'm not worthy enough to sit at the same table with her?

The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Her nose felt sore and her eyes became hot.

He clearly wanted to give Xiaoxiang a surprise and let her see his "excellent" side, but he messed it up and instead exposed the side of himself that he least wanted others to know.

However, just when Ruomai was immersed in self-denial and grievance and could hardly raise her head, a warm hand gently covered the back of her hand which was placed on the edge of the table and slightly clenched due to nervousness.

Ruomai raised his head and met a pair of calm and gentle amber eyes.

There was not the slightest contempt, ridicule or impatience in Kujo Renji's eyes as she had expected.

He seemed to see through all her embarrassment and panic at the moment, as well as the inferiority complex that had been hidden beneath her appearance for many years.

"this..."

Kujo Renji's voice was soft, yet soothing. He picked up the misused dessert fork in front of Ruomai, then the correct main course fork next to it, and placed them side by side in front of her.

"For the main course, use this slightly larger one."

Then, his hand gently covered Ruomai's hand holding the knife and fork, and adjusted her stiff posture.

"When holding the knife, you can place your index finger lightly here, which makes it easier to exert force and more stable."

His breath was very close, and his voice was low and clear:

"When cutting, don't use too much force, just follow the grain of the food..."

He leaned very close to her, almost half hugging her, and patiently taught her the correct use of cutlery and cutting techniques, step by step and hand by hand.

Being treated so closely and gently, Ruomai felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest.

My cheeks felt so hot that they seemed to be burning.

Xiaoxiang didn't laugh at her, didn't despise her, instead... he taught her so gently and patiently...

But at the same time, a deeper sense of inferiority also quietly grew.

Watching Xiaoxiang's elegant and natural movements, listening to her leisurely explanation, and feeling her innate nobility and upbringing... Ruomai felt that the distance between him and her seemed even greater than he had imagined.

Xiaoxiang is always so brilliant, so perfect, so gentle and considerate, and so capable...but what about me?

Clumsy, unable to grasp even the most basic table manners, and always hampered by that pitiful inferiority complex...

Can I really keep up with her? Am I really qualified to stand by her side?

Just as Ruomai was feeling emotionally charged and anxious about gains and losses, a voice that only she could hear rang in her ears:

"It's okay, everyone has a first time."

At this moment, all the grievances, embarrassment, and inferiority seemed to be gently smoothed out by this simple sentence.

Instead, there is an indescribable sense of being understood, accepted, and treated tenderly... a sense of redemption?

Her cheeks were so red that they looked like they were about to bleed, and her heart was beating so fast that it seemed like it was about to burst through her chest.

This scene was clearly reflected in the eyes of the onlookers, especially Sanjiao Chuhua, as if it were a slow motion.

She watched as Jiujo Renji leaned forward slightly, almost covering Ruomai in his shadow, watched as he stretched out his hand and gently covered the back of Ruomai's hand, watched as he leaned in close to whisper in Ruomai's ear...

A burning flame of jealousy instantly ignited from the bottom of Chuhua's heart, almost burning her sanity.

Her nails dug into her palms unconsciously, and the smile she had been trying to maintain was almost gone.

--how so?!

—Is it necessary to get so close to me when I'm just teaching table manners?! Is it necessary to teach me step by step?!

Hakimi, you're pretending not to understand to gain Xiaoxiang's sympathy and concern?!

I didn't expect you to have this trick! Using Xiaoxiang's gentleness to get close to her... Damn it!

This time... you win, Yutenji Wakamugi.

Chu Hua gritted his teeth secretly, his heart filled with resentment.

While Hachiman Kailing, who was sitting on the other side, was not as emotional as Chuhua, she was also keenly aware of the suddenly sticky and subtle atmosphere at the table.

She looked at the side of Kujo Renji's face as he patiently instructed her, looked at Yutenji Wakami's complex expression that was both about to cry and deeply moved, and glanced at Sankaku Hatsuka who was forcing a smile beside her...

Hai Ling silently put down the knife and fork in her hand, picked up the water glass and took a sip.

I always feel like...the atmosphere in the band seems to be getting more and more wrong.

This inexplicable sense of competition and tension surrounding "Xiangzi" seemed to be quietly spreading and fermenting in a way that she could not understand.

Everyone looked at Xiangzi with something inexplicable in their eyes.

Is it her imagination?

Or is this band really heading in some weird direction?

......

After the almost intimate guidance ended, Kujo Renji sat back in his seat as if nothing had happened, but Yutenji Wakamu felt as if his cheeks were burning, and even his ears were hot.

She lowered her head, her heart still pounding. She didn't dare look at Xiaoxiang anymore and could only pretend to concentrate on the food in front of her, which tasted like chewing wax.

The atmosphere at the dinner table fell into a subtle stagnation because of the incident just now.

The smile on Sanjiao Chuhua's face was a little stiff, and his eyes drifted towards Ruomai from time to time, with a bit of inquiry and undisguised sourness.

Hachiman Kailing continued to devour the food on her plate efficiently and expressionlessly, as if nothing had happened. Only occasionally, when she raised her eyes, her gaze would linger briefly between the few people, as if she was thinking about something.

In order to break the awkwardness, Kujo Renji took the initiative to lead the topic to the main dish that had just been served - it was the king crab that Wakaba Mu had specifically requested to eat before. It had now been carefully cooked by the chef, and the crab legs were plump and bright red, exuding an enticing aroma.

"Mu, try the crab you ordered."

Kujo Renji pushed a plate of shredded crab meat in front of Mu.

Mu's attention immediately shifted from the night view outside the window to the food.

She picked up the small fork, picked up a large piece of crab meat, and began to eat it in small bites, her eyes slightly narrowed. Although there was still no expression on her face, the subtle movement still revealed a sense of satisfaction.

With the king crab as the "icebreaker", the atmosphere finally became a little more lively.

Everyone started talking about the taste of the food, the night view outside the window, and some light topics about the band and music.

Chuhua quickly adjusted her mentality, put on a sweet smile again, and actively participated in the discussion, trying to regain the "home court".

After the initial panic and shyness, Ruomai gradually returned to normal. However, when her eyes occasionally met Kujo Renji's, she would quickly look away with a blush on her cheeks.

The dinner progressed slowly in such a somewhat complicated and eventful atmosphere.