Still under the same faucet.
Hayashi brought two towels and cleaned Pochita, wiping off the blood stains.
Pochita happily twisted its neck and shook its rear.
It shook its head and cooperated with Hayashi during the bath.
While taking a bath, it smelled the fragrance from the kitchen.
"Wow~?" (A big meal?)
"Kind of a big meal," Hayashi said while washing, "A new member arrived at the house, we're having hotpot tonight, a big meal with lots of meat. Do you want to eat?"
"Wow~!" (I want to eat!)
Pochita said it wanted to eat and suggested exchanging its own big meal for this one.
No other big meals were needed.
Hayashi laughed and patted Pochita's head.
"That's separate, today you don't eat, I'll make something for you later. This is your reward."
"Wow~!" (Hayashi is the best!)
Pochita wanted to eat with everyone, but really, it just didn't want to trouble Hayashi.
It felt like it had already enjoyed a good life and didn't want to bring any extra trouble to Hayashi.
Hayashi understood what Pochita was thinking.
So, he didn't allow it.
It is what it is, the merit is the merit, and he would make something for Pochita later.
Then.
Pochita asked who the new member was.
Hayashi said it was a baby dragon.
Just like Tohru, its name was Kanna, and she was very cute.
Pochita replied that it would protect everyone in the store and take good care of Kanna.
Hayashi smiled after hearing that but didn't say anything.
Pochita was pure-hearted.
But Kanna really didn't need that kind of protection.
Kanna's true form was a very beautiful dragon, covered in white feathers.
Her magical talent would eventually become very powerful.
They were both very powerful dragon breeds.
At this moment.
Power came over, holding the cat.
"Uh... Hayashi, do you have any food for the cat? It's been hungry for a long time."
Hayashi turned to look.
Power was holding the cat and pleading.
The cat meowed when it saw Hayashi looking at it and greeted him with a meow.
Hayashi nodded and pointed to the kitchen.
"There's a storage cabinet by the bar, inside are some little snacks for Pochita, the cat can eat those too. Go get some for the cat."
Power's eyes brightened.
"Thank you so much! Kitty, quickly say thank you!"
The cat: "Meow~"
After the thank you.
Power quickly took the cat and rushed to find food.
"Near the bar... the storage... got it!"
While holding the cat, Power found it.
She looked around, not seeing anything packaged.
So, she put the cat down, opened the storage, scooped some food with both hands, and turned to tell the cat.
"Alright, kitty, follow me."
She thought she had enough for the cat.
And when the cat smelled the fragrance.
It immediately followed Power's steps, wrapping itself around her feet.
They reached the door.
Power put the little snacks for Pochita on a clean wooden board.
"Eat."
The cat immediately came over and started eating!
"Nom~ nom~"
It wasn't just a sound effect.
The cat was indeed eating and making those sounds.
The food Hayashi made was like cookies, freeze-dried, crispy, fragrant, and tasty!
The cat crunched and chewed, eating non-stop.
"?"
Power stared, dumbfounded: "Is it really that tasty?"
Watching the cat eat so happily.
Power tilted her head and thought for a moment.
She reached out, grabbed one, tossed it in her mouth, and chewed.
"!"
In an instant, a wave of deliciousness flooded her mouth!
Both the texture and taste surpassed cookies, chips, or any other foods!
What's the most fragrant and sweet food we love?
Hayashi's pet food!
"Delicious!"
Seeing how good it tasted, Power squatted beside the cat and started eating with it.
The cat was willing to share with Power.
So, both of them quickly finished the handful.
When Power came back to her senses, she licked her lips, licked her fingers, and scratched her head.
"Get more?"
So, Power went again.
She scooped another handful and returned to continue eating with the cat.
By the time Hayashi finished washing Pochita and drying it off.
He returned to the dining room, glanced at the storage, and noticed the food was noticeably less!
"?"
Hayashi froze.
"Did we get raided by an excavator? Can cats eat this much?"
Just as he finished speaking.
He saw Power and the cat walk in, both full and satisfied.
The cat staggered to the corner by the door and collapsed on the ground, too full to get up.
Power sat down in a chair, sighing.
Hayashi finally understood.
Dammit, there's a dog here!
"You've practically become a person now, Power, and you're still eating Pochita's dog food?" Hayashi said, speechless.
Hearing Hayashi's words, Power finally reacted.
But after eating too much, she was too full to move, so she thought for a moment, then waved her hand.
"Add one more meat payment."
"?" Hayashi rubbed his forehead, sighed, and said, "Then eat more."
Power nodded but then shook her head.
"I'm too full now. I'll eat next time."
"..." Hayashi really didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He stepped forward, flicked Power's forehead, and said, "That's six times, no more IOUs. You need to pay soon, get ready."
Power didn't care at all, even reaching out to grab Hayashi's hand.
Then she pressed it against her chest and rubbed it.
"Whatever, and this time doesn't count, just consider it meal expenses."
Hayashi was impressed: "You're good, wait for it."
This guy.
Really needs to be taught a lesson.
Too much!
Just wait!
At this moment, the tomato hotpot base was almost ready.
Hayashi turned around, opened the pot lid, and prepared to let it cool.
The moment the lid was opened.
A sweet and sour fragrance immediately wafted out, and for a moment, the entire dining room was filled with deliciousness!
"!?" Power, who was lying on the chair, suddenly shot up like she had come back to life, and ran toward the kitchen.
"What is that smell, Hayashi!?"
Hayashi turned his head, and with a flick of his Line Fruit ability.
With a few swift motions.
He used the silk thread to seal the kitchen door.
Power could only look from afar and smell it, but couldn't get any closer.
Power pressed herself against the invisible blockade.
She peered inside.
At this moment, Hayashi poured the tomato hotpot base into a bucket.
He first took a scoop with a ladle and drank it himself to taste it.
"Hm, sweet and sour, it's fine."
"Gulch~" Outside, Power's eyes widened, and she swallowed her saliva along with him.
Then, Hayashi pressed his hands on either side of the bucket.
"Cool down."
The Ice ability from the Essence of Demon activated.
Frost spread from his hands and gradually climbed up the entire bucket.
The tomato hotpot base quickly cooled down, solidified, and clumped together.
It wasn't ice.
Instead, after Hayashi loosened his hands, it turned into a jelly-like state.
Hayashi poked it, nodded in satisfaction, and put it in the fridge.
"Not bad, just wait until tonight."
On the other side.
Power was staring anxiously.
Hayashi turned around and smiled: "Wasn't your goal just to eat, Power?"
"I regret it..." Power's face showed regret, wishing she hadn't made that choice.
If she had known there was something like this.
Who the heck eats dog food!?
If it wasn't for knowing that if she went to gag now, Hayashi would definitely beat her up.
Power even thought about going to the bathroom to throw up.
Can I just eat again?
The answer was clearly no.
After Hayashi stored the hotpot base, he also retracted the silk threads.
Power then realized.
"What was that just now? It felt scary, but I couldn't see it."
"You couldn't see it because it was made specifically to deal with bad guys. Isn't that scary?" Hayashi smiled.
"Scary!" Power nodded seriously.
It was indeed scary.
If you weren't careful and crashed into it.
With insufficient body strength, you'd probably get sliced up.
"Hayashi-san, we're back~!"
At this moment, Tohru returned with Kanna.
Tohru entered, handing things to Hayashi.
Kanna, on the other hand, was standing at the door, surprised.
"Oh~, dog and kitty~!"
Kanna first went to look at the kitty, crouching down in front of it and carefully observing its sleeping position.
Then she reached out and poked it.
The kitty woke up, rolled over, and ignored Kanna.
So Kanna stood up and went to look at the dog.
Pochita was just lying there, not sleeping.
When Pochita saw Kanna, it realized just how strong the little girl in front of it was!
Although she looked cute, the power within her was terrifying!
She was just not as strong as Tohru.
But she could still sink Tokyo!
Kanna came in front of Pochita, crouched down, and waved.
"Hello, I'm Kanna, what's your name?"
Tohru, helping from the side, answered: "This is Pochita, the store's guard dog here at Hayashi-san's place. You two should get along well."
Kanna nodded and mentally classified Pochita as something not to eat. Eating it would make Tohru and Hayashi angry.
Then, Kanna started playing with Pochita.
In the kitchen.
Hayashi looked at the dipping sauces, confirming that there were no issues.
"It's fine, we'll have hotpot tonight. The base is already done."
Tohru was happy: "Great!"
In the dining room.
Power stood in a spot, watching everyone laughing and talking, people coming and going, each of them doing what they liked.
The kitty was also sleeping.
And what about her?
Although she wasn't standing in the corner.
After Tohru came in with that little girl, she merely glanced at her and nodded.
Power felt like an outsider.
Or rather, she always was one.
Maybe she could say she didn't really like that feeling.
Watching everyone do what they loved.
And what about her?
Not to mention Tohru, or the little girl she just brought back, who was also a dragon.
Pochita was a demon, and it was perfectly happy to be a dog!
She wasn't even as good as a dog!
For a moment.
Power anxiously bit her nails.
She remembered being discovered by Makima.
"Hayakawa Aki reported it, he backstabbed me. I was sure I wouldn't get caught by Makima."
"The food is average, the living conditions are average, and I still have to risk my life every day."
"I... I... I'll take a look..."
Power still didn't have the ability to escape Makima's control.
Did she have to tell Hayashi?
"I don't want to be involved anymore, can you help me? Help me get rid of Makima?"
Get rid of her? Why would anyone help you?
Moreover, Power knew very well that Makima and Hayashi had a good relationship. She had noticed this from the very beginning!
So, what should she do?
Power looked at her cat.
The only thing she didn't feel at ease about was her cat.
If she stayed with Makima, the future would definitely be bleak, and who knows how she would end up dying.
Let's not talk about herself.
But the cat couldn't stay with her forever.
As long as she was safe and could keep an eye on it, that would be enough.
Power looked at Pochita.
She thought for a moment.
Then, while Tohru was upstairs cleaning.
She came to Hayashi and said.
"Hayashi, I have something to ask."
"?" Hayashi looked wary, "What is it? If it's help, I'm not doing it. Too troublesome."
"It's not help, it's just something about the kitty," Power said, holding onto Hayashi's arm tightly.
But with her B-sized chest's movement, trying to wrap her arm around Hayashi's was probably a bit of a pipe dream.
"The kitty?" Hayashi was taken aback. "Tell me what's going on."
Then Power told Hayashi her plan.
She explained that she was in danger, that being with Makima would cause trouble sooner or later, but she couldn't escape.
So, she wanted to leave the cat in Hayashi's store.
She would come over when she had time and spend money.
Otherwise, she couldn't feel at ease with the cat by her side.
If the cat was locked in the house and something happened to her, the cat might starve to death.
"Leave the cat here with me..." Hayashi thought for a moment.
Power saw that Hayashi was thinking.
With a determined bite, Power increased her strength.
She whispered softly in Hayashi's ear.
"I've decided, as long as you take in the cat, I'll pay you back once a week, even shooting videos is fine, but you can't post them!"
Hayashi: "!!!"
He was stunned.
After carefully replaying it in his head, he confirmed that he hadn't misheard.
But the first question he asked was: "Do you still have any shame? Power, aren't you a demon?"
He knew Power well. This guy didn't even wear clothes when she was first born.
She only stole a set of clothes after seeing others wear them.
"What did you say!?" Power was angry after hearing that. "I'm growing, okay? I'll grow up!"
Hayashi glanced at Power's chest.
"Wish that part would grow too."
Power furiously shouted: "Ahhh!"
Seeing Power's fury, Hayashi finally took the time to think about the situation.
Take in the cat, once a week?
Isn't that just theft?
Oh, wait, she's talking about her stealing.
Does this really need to be thought about?
Hayashi looked at Power: "Are you sure? Have you thought this through?"
Power thought for a moment.
But she didn't consider the essence of the issue.
Instead, she looked at Hayashi from head to toe, then glanced at the food.
Finally, she nodded: "I've decided!"
Hayashi could already tell.
She hadn't even thought about whether taking the cat in once a week was worth it, or if it was a loss.
She was just looking at how Hayashi looked.
As long as it feels good!
And it's from a demon, too.
Would a human think like this?
Well, since she agreed.
Hayashi nodded: "You said it, then. The cat will stay here with me, I'll call it Mimi. It'll have food and a roof over its head, no problem. It can even help me catch mice, saving Pochita the trouble."
Although the late-night restaurant has system protection, there are no mice.
But if something like that were to appear, using a demon to catch them would be too much of a waste.
The cat is just perfect for that.
Plus, fostering it doesn't count as employing anyone, so it's no big deal.
"Haha~!" Seeing that Hayashi agreed, Power jumped up with joy and pounced on him, kissing him several times.
Smooch smooch smooch~~~!
Could Hayashi stay passive forever?
He slammed Power down onto the counter and gave her a full French kiss.
At the same time, his hands didn't stop, rubbing her small round body.
After a while.
"Ha..."
Hayashi released Power.
Power's face was flushed, and she was at a loss.
It was her first time feeling like this.
It actually felt... so good!
So exciting!
Power snapped back to reality.
"I... I really liked that, let's do it again next time!"
After saying that, Power wiped her mouth and walked away.
In the kitchen.
Hayashi took a deep, satisfied breath.
"I've been in this world for so long, it's about time to have some fun."
He nodded in satisfaction.
Hayashi looked at the time.
It was a little past 4 PM.
It's time for hotpot.
At that moment.
The sound of a car pulling up could be heard outside.
Immediately after, Tohru's voice called out.
"Hayashi-san, Makima-sama is here~!"
"Makima's here?" Hayashi thought for a moment: "Forget it, let's invite her for hotpot."
He took out everything needed and called out to Tohru.
"Come move the ingredients, we're ready for hotpot, invite Makima to join."
"Coming~!"
Tohru came over and moved the ingredients.
Hayashi went outside to take a look at Makima.
At that moment, Makima glanced at the door and looked at Power, who seemed lost in thought.
Then, she looked at Hayashi and nodded slightly, greeting him.
"Sorry, Hayashi-kun, Power caused some trouble for you. I'm here to take her back."
Hayashi shook his head and reassured her: "It's fine, since you're here, stay and have some hotpot with us."
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