Chapter 473

Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai today are taking Sakura to the shop they are going to, which is the famous high-end restaurant "Yamada Kappō".

This place is a high-end consumption venue with per capita spending of six to eighty thousand yen, and it adopts an absolute regular customer system, meaning it only accepts reservations from acquaintances and referrals from acquaintances, and every customer must undergo strict identity screening, and only if Chef Yamada Master deems the person worthy of enjoying his cuisine does he accept their visit to dine,

and Yamada Kappō does not accept walk-ins, only accepting phone reservations, online reservations, and written reservations.

This is also one of the most famous high-end restaurants in Tokyo, and Uesugi Muneyuki still doesn't understand why Mai Xuejie insists on bringing Sakura along; he thinks, aren't we supposed to be in our own little world? Why are you forcibly dragging Sakura along, Xuejie?

Mai Xuejie has always been very opinionated, and Uesugi Muneyuki sometimes doesn't understand what this senior of his is thinking.

However, this kind of membership-based high-end restaurant reminded Uesugi Muneyuki of someone.

Japan's so-called "Sushi God" Ono Jirō.

This legendary "Sushi God" is actually not that famous in Japan, but only became famous overseas after Americans filmed a documentary about him, and then the fame spread back to Japan.

A certain country across the sea also went through a frenzy of "god-making and god-destroying" because of this guy; at first everyone rushed to admire him, forcing Ono Jirō to learn quite a bit of Chinese, and then people began to question that this was too expensive, dining etiquette too strict, and you couldn't taste anything special about the sushi, and thus started mocking the Sushi God as worthless, and finally, as Ono Jirō's sushi restaurant lost its Michelin stars, it descended into utter frenzy, declaring the Sushi God dead!

But actually, the truth might shock everyone,

First, Ono Jirō never called himself the "Sushi God"; the documentary Americans filmed was originally titled "Jirō's Sushi Dream" (Jirō no Yume), and from beginning to end, they never mentioned that he was anything like a Sushi God; it was only when it entered the domestic market that domestic parties forcibly changed the title, and you can't attack something that doesn't actually exist.

Second, how good is the so-called Sushi God really? This can be said: fame makes it hard to live up to; a person spending 30,000 yen is just tasting a flavor, don't expect to get full, and the dining time is famously short, just over half an hour, with many rules, so it's normal for many customers to feel uncomfortable.

But, the Michelin three-star restaurants here in Tokyo are also at this price point, and Ono Jirō is even slightly cheaper, so it's not about deliberately gouging people; the ingredients are also the best, and human dining isn't like this—one cent, one cent's worth; ten cents, two cents' worth; one hundred cents, three cents' worth; other things notwithstanding, seehigh's Peace Hotel can sell a can of cola for fifty bucks, one willing to strike, one willing to endure.

Finally, the main reason for the Michelin star removal wasn't that Ono's sushi restaurant was no good, but because there were simply too many walk-in customers, most of whom weren't there to eat properly, like bulls chewing peonies, and then the regulars really couldn't get a reservation, plus the shop only had eight seats total, so Ono decided to completely cease external operations and only accept reservations from regulars, which led to the Michelin three-star being revoked—just that simple.

Tokyo Azabu Jūban, in a quiet alley deep inside, only a dim yellow lantern hangs and a subdued noren with the two characters "Yamada".

Uesugi Muneyuki, wearing a dark suit, leads the two women in with composed demeanor; National Female Star Shirakawa Mai wears an elegant blue-and-white porcelain cheongsam, wears a mask, her eyes calm, clearly accustomed to such occasions, while behind her, the little idol Miyawaki Sakura is like a fawn that wandered into a secret forest, her big eyes flashing with uncontainable excitement and curiosity, her Western dress though cute, slightly clashes with the serene atmosphere of this place.

The interior space is small, extremely profound. Light focuses on the central cypress counter, with only eight seats. The air is filled with a faint blend of camphor wood, charcoal fire, and rich broth, the background is the extremely faint sound of traditional Japanese instruments being played. The shop owner, Yamayoshi Sensei, nearing sixty, has his hair perfectly combed, and is silently wiping a lacquer ware behind the counter; upon seeing customers arrive, he merely nods slightly, his eyes sharp and tranquil.

Only the staff frowned at Miyawaki Sakura's appearance, thinking, when did little idols become worthy to dine at our shop?

"Miyawaki Sakura? That little idol? Did we just let her come in like this? Does the boss know about this?" the staff member whispered to the shop's female proprietor.

"Isn't this lowering our shop's prestige?"

"Then go ask the boss." The female proprietor pursed her lips.

"Ask who?" The staff member blinked, thinking our Yamada Kappō is a century-old shop, he followed the direction the female proprietor pointed and said: "Mai-sama?"

"Yes, ask her, she is our boss." The female proprietor smiled.

The three took their seats at the best spot in front of the counter. Miyawaki Sakura almost held her breath, taking in everything before her: the mirror-smooth counter, the various ancient utensils, and Yamada Sensei's expression, as focused as if performing a ritual.

Omakase began. One exquisite dish after another, like works of art, was personally presented by Yamada Sensei.

Sakura was still experiencing this level of venue for the first time, and today's menu left her dazzled.

Appetizer: firefly squid and tender pea chawanmushi.

Seasonal sashimi: sea bream, ark shell, sweet shrimp sashimi, paired with perilla flower and grilled lime: charcoal-grilled Tajima Wagyu beef steak, accompanied by fresh wasabi and fried garlic slices fried object: lobster meat shinjō age, paired with matcha salt to enhance flavor (main course): Wagyu sukiyaki-style hot pot, accompanied by onsen egg sushi is golden eye snapper, marinated lean tuna, fatty tuna belly, sea urchin gunkan, star eel.

The palate cleanser is clam and bamboo shoot clear soup.

The dessert is strawberry daifuku and matcha.

Since they mainly came to eat, the three didn't chat too much, the whole time was spent enjoying the food, and among the three, only Sakura had never been to such an occasion before, she was almost excited to the extreme.

I came to Tokyo to become an idol, just for this! Just for this!

Longing to stand out, longing to become someone above others!

And precisely because of this, Sakura made a major mistake during the meal—when Yamada Sensei presented the lobster meat shinjō age and accompanied it with a small dish of specially adjusted matcha salt, Miyawaki Sakura stared at that huge lobster claw meat, excitedly forgot the order, and directly picked it up with her hand,

took a big bite, then went to dip it in salt, and let out a crisp chewing sound. This time, Yamada Sensei's brow clearly furrowed, and the knife in his hand also stopped.

Shirakawa Mai lightly touched Miyawaki Sakura's arm, smiled and shook her head, Sakura then realized she might have been rude, her face instantly turned red, flustered, she put down the food and softly said "Sorry".

Ugh!!! I've embarrassed Uesugi-san and Mai-sama!

Uesugi Muneyuki calmly raised his wine cup, bowed to Yamada Sensei: "Yamada Sensei, please don't mind. It is precisely because of the untrained, pure joy for fine food that one can better prove the charm of your cuisine. Please continue to let us appreciate your skill." His words both protected the junior and gave the shop owner an out, while bringing the focus back to appreciation of the cuisine itself.

Yamada Sensei looked at Uesugi Muneyuki's steady gaze, then glanced once more at Sakura, whose face was completely red, eyes filled with pure astonishment rather than malice,

that tightly furrowed brow finally gradually relaxed, turning into a barely visible hint of helpless smile. He nodded slightly, then returned his focus to the knife in his hand,

as if the earlier little incident was just a passing breeze of no consequence.

Not to be repeated.

Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai both smiled faintly, eyes containing coconut output color.

Ugh!!! Sakura felt even more ashamed, she clenched her silver teeth, vowed to definitely learn the etiquette of dining in such a place!

"Sakuya-chan, have you never been to such a place before?" Mai Xuejie asked with smiling eyes.

"Well, I only went once, only went to the Peninsula Hotel to eat buffet." Miyawaki Sakura really wanted to slap herself, Mai-sama brought me to such a place, yet I embarrassed her, I really deserve to die!

"Is that the five-star Tokyo Peninsula Hotel in Chiyoda?" Uesugi Muneyuki raised his eyebrows.

"Well—" last time Akimoto-san brought Paruru senpai, and incidentally brought me along." Sakura said weakly.

"If Sakura-chan likes buffets, I'll give you a Peninsula Hotel buffet annual pass." Mai Xuejie charmingly blinked her eyes: "Our Sakura is no worse than Paruru, don't forget, you still have me behind you!"

"Eh? Annual pass? Isn't this very expensive?" Sakura, hearing that Mai Xuejie wanted to give her an annual pass, felt excited and wanted to immediately accept it, but she still feigned humility and said: "This kind of annual pass costs four to five hundred thousand per year?"

"No need, for me it costs nothing." Mai Xuejie smiled and shook her head: "The Peninsula Hotel gave it, so it's free, no need to pay."

"Eh? Could it be, could it be that the Peninsula Hotel is also Mai-sama's—?" Sakura was stunned.

"Not at all." Mai Xuejie shook her head, her radiant, gorgeous face saying indifferently: "But, the land of the Peninsula Hotel is mine, so they send me many things every year, free luxury suite cards and such, five-star buffet annual passes and such."

"Eh?????" Sakura was stunned, the girl only felt she had stepped into a new world.

More powerful than wealth is, not spending money.

This, is the world of the strong?

She secretly glanced at the also somewhat surprised Uesugi Muneyuki, only feeling her heart increasingly wavering.

Sakura has drifted half her life, yet to meet a true master!

If Mai-sama does not abandon her, Sakura wishes to become her sworn sister!

After finishing the grand meal, Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai sent Miyawaki Sakura back to her current apartment.

Sakura was still reluctant to let go, and when the Mercedes-Benz stopped in the basement parking lot, she hesitated, wondering whether to tell these two people in front of her something about the Public Security Police and the recent internal turmoil in YKC48, wanting to ask for their opinion.

Suddenly, a cry for help came from nearby.

"Help! Help! Ahhhhh!"

"Someone come save me!!!!"

This shadow instantly drew the attention of the three people in the car.

"What sound?" Miyawaki Sakura looked doubtfully toward the source of the sound—one by one, the shadowy area on the upper floors of the apartment.

Uesugi Muneyuki's brow furrowed instantly; his hearing and intuition were far sharper than ordinary people's, and this voice sounded very familiar to him.

"It's a woman's cry for help!" Mai Xuejie reacted much faster than Uesugi Muneyuki and Miyawaki Sakura: "How dare someone do something like this in front of me?!"

"It's Yamaguchi Maho's voice!" Sakura's face turned deathly pale instantly; she was too familiar with her teammate's voice!

"What?!" *2

Only then did Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai realize whose familiar voice this was.

It was Yamaguchi Maho, and she was in danger!