Hello.

Genuinely surprised by how much this dominated the poll.

I have a message for all readers, regular and patrons, in the bottom AN.

I do not own the Isekai Shokudou or High School DXD.

I have named the chef Takeshi Kaga, but others will still refer to him as Master as appropriate.

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Telepathic Communication

[Ddraig talking]

[Ddraig communicating telepathically to Issei or others]

Chapter 4: Red Meeting

As another customer left, the open door revealing a dark night sky, leaving the dining area empty, Issei capitalized on this moment to take a seat and catch his breath. With this being his first real job, he found himself getting exhausted faster than he would like. It didn't help that there could be times where the place was full of customers all excitedly eating and calling out their orders then suddenly just one or two filling the silence with the scraping of silverware against plate. The moments of calm did give him room to breathe, but it also made the jump to rush-hour more exhausting.

However, he did pick up on a few things from observing and interacting with the customers. Most of the regulars always ordered the same thing. And it wasn't just that they ordered the same item multiple times today, it's what they always got whenever they visited. The most variety came from ordering different fillings/toppings/flavors of the same dish such as spaghetti and its different sauces.

It was actually a point of conversation, or rather debate, between some of the regulars where they would poke fun at each other. Then they would start arguing about how their dish was the absolute best dish of Nekoya. In fact, the regulars were nicknamed after their favorite dishes. It was definitely going to take time for him to get used to that. Not that he would ever address them like that, but just hearing it every week would get him confused.

He also learned that Nekoya offered take out. While not surprising, Issei did not expect residents from another world to take food back home. Though it did make sense that some of them would like to take back food to share if the lizard man taking three orders of Omelet Rice to go was any indication.

As he rested, Issei realized that there was still cooking in the kitchen. Another look at the clock told him there was still time until the restaurant actually closed. This made him stand up with a groan, stretching his arms and back. Walking into the kitchen, he saw his Uncle Kaga cooking at one of the huge soup pots. Walking forward, he saw it was a full pot of Beef Stew, and fresh one at that.

"Do you actually plan to serve all that before closing?" Issei asked incredulously, getting his uncles attention.

"Yep." The chef chuckled. "It's all going to be gone by the time we close."

"How many customers are we expecting?!" He asked incredulously. "And is this what they order every week?" Issei knew that it was the most expensive item on the regular menu which meant the same for the special Saturday menu considering the relative prices of the other items.

"Just wait and see." Kaga replied humorously, stirring the pot and adding more to it.

With a shrug, Issei got started on wiping down the tables and countertop, making them ready for the final party of the day. The immature part of him was whining at having to deal with more customers at the last minute. However, his curiosity and imagination dominated his thoughts, coming up with different theories about who was coming. Maybe it was a family of vampires considering how late it was, or maybe even werewolves. Or maybe it was vampires and werewolves, putting aside their differences once a week for a delicious meal.

As his imagination started to run wild, the ringing of the door pulled him away from his thoughts and prompted him to stand up straight.

"Hello and welcome." He parroted with a bow then stood up. "Can I take your…" his lost his words as he finally took a look at the customer.

She was the most breathtaking woman he had ever seen. She was tall with deep red flowing long hair that contrasted her lightly tanned skin but perfectly matched the red dress that hugged and propped up her glorious breasts and showed off her curvaceous figure and legs perfectly. The horns that crowned her head added to her perfections.

But there was more. Her physical appearance was not the only reason he was dumbstruck by her. It was as if she exuded some sort of presence or aura that she didn't bother containing. It captivated him, not just in amazement, but in desire. A strange desire he could not quite define…

"Welcome back." Kaga spoke, breaking Issei's thoughts, making him realize that his uncle was now standing next to him.

"I have returned." The woman in red replied, sending pleasurable chills up Issei's spine.

"What will your order?" Kaga asked with a slight bow.

"You already know the answer." A slight scoff in her voice. "Beef Stew."

As she said this, she placed on the floor a soup pot, one that was exactly the same as the one on the stove right now, making Issei realize she had brought it in with her.

"Understood." Kaga replied. Then he nudged Issei with his elbow, stirring him out of his thoughts, and jerked his head a bit towards the pot. Getting the message, he moved towards it quickly, blush creeping into his cheeks in embarrassment. He did not realize the woman's eyes were following him as he picked up the pot, grunting a bit at its weight, and started making his way to the kitchen. His uncle, however, seemed to notice.

"This is my nephew Issei." He said, patting the boys head as he passed, prompting him to turn around and bow again. "He'll be helping out here for a while."

"I see." The woman replied, her eyes narrowing a bit at Issei, making him notice that they were slitted, almost reptile like. And it just made her even better.

With another small bow, Issei turned back around and started scurrying back to the kitchen. It wasn't until he had put the empty pot next to the wash station did he take a deep breath to calm his nerves. He had to actually grab the countertop to steady himself. A small laugh got his attention and the turned to see Kaga back in the kitchen.

"She's quite the woman isn't she?" He teased, getting back to the soup pot. Instead of dignifying that with a response, Issei huffed and took care of things in the kitchen, trying to put off going back to the dining area as long as possible.

While keeping himself busy, Issei's thoughts remained on the woman now waiting for her meal. There was something about her that made her stick in his mind, and not just her body. Her posture, her voice, everything about her drew him in

And this feeling he had, it was a desire much different from the lust he normally felt. But what was it?

"Order up." Kaga said, getting Issei's attention. He watched as plated the Beef Stew, hot steam billowing from the deep liquid as it left the ladle and pooled in the bowl. His uncle turned to Issei and grinned. "Go on." He said, clearly teasing Issei a bit more. With a huff, Issei cleaned his hands, composed himself with a few deep breaths, put the bowl on his serving tray, and walked out.

He entered the dining area to see the woman in red sitting at a table with her eyes closed. The mere sight nearly made him freeze again. The way she sat with such poise was captivating. She seemed to be calmly waiting, but Issei could somehow tell that it was merely the posture of a hunter, waiting for their prey. Nothing would distract her and anything that tried to get in her way would be dealt with extreme prejudice. It should have scared Issei, but it somehow made him more excited and captivated with her.

"Thank you for waiting." He speaks up, getting her attention as he approached. "Here's your Beef Stew." He placed the bowl in front of her before stepping back and standing in his corner of the dining area. He could have just gone back to the kitchen and clean up more. Instead he chose to stand and watch. As if this was something he had to see.

She took her time take the spoon to the soup. Gently she brought the utensil to her lips, slowly sipping up the broth, an expression of peace upon her face. Even the way she swallowed (yes, he could actually hear her swallow) seemed to carry weight. Each spoonful of stew was drunk with grace and pleasure. Even when she brought the vegetables to her mouth it was like art in motion.

But that was nothing compared to when the ate the beef that was the namesake of the stew. If there was background music, this would be the moment where it went from calm and gentle to intense and focused. She picked each piece of meat with her spoon with precision that would make neurosurgeon's jealous. And when she brought it to her lips, Issei swore he could see some tongue flicking out, as if to sample the meat before it entered or even bring it in more quickly. As she put it in her mouth and started to chew, her aura seemed to blaze, like when a guitarist in a concert would shoot off pyrotechnics except this was even more passionate.

Issei watched, captivated by the experience itself. The sounds of silverware scraping against bowl barely brought him back to the present, just in time to realize the woman in red was standing up.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Issei spoke up, to which the woman merely gave him a look then nodded.

"Master," she called out. "I'm ready to pay." As she finished speaking, she reached into her cleavage, making Issei's eyes pop out of their sockets. He never thought he would see the legendary boob pocket in real life! By the time Kaga stepped into the dining room, she had already pulled out 2 large coins.

"Thank you very much." He bowed lightly, accepting the coins. Issei realized they were both gold coins and was confused. Just one bowl could not be worth that much. Then Kaga moved to the side and said, "It's ready." and allowed the woman to walk past them towards the kitchen. The men followed with Issei lagging a bit. They arrived to see her approach the huge pot of Beef Stew. She stepped forward, grasped it on both sides, ignoring the handles completely, and lifted the entire pot off the stove without jostling it at all. Issei was stunned to see her unaffected by the weight and the temperature. Just who was she?!

"I'll be going now." She stated, turning to leave. Kaga moved to the side while Issei rushed towards the door. He stood and waited, opening it for her as she approached. As the bell rang, he gave a half bow of deference. She continued forward, firmly carrying the pot of stew while keeping it steady with unnatural ease. However, before she crossed the threshold back into the other world, she stopped. Hearing the stop in her footsteps, Issei looked up in worry.

"Red." She said all of a sudden, confusing Issei. Without even looking back, she continued. "You may address me as Red." With that she returned to her world, and Issei found himself letting the door close on its own.

The sound someone clearing their throat brought him out of his trance. Turning he saw Kaga leaning against the entrance to the dining area, the grin back on his face.

"What did you think of your first day?" He teased making Issei pout a bit.

"It was crazy." Issei mumbled. "But fun." A small smile crept on his face.

"Good to hear." Kaga chuckled. "Now lets clean up. Tomorrow's your first lesson and we'll need to make sure you have enough time to get back home." With that he went back to the kitchen. Issei did not follow.

Instead he stood there, staring at the door. The strange door that gave entrance to residents from another world. From wizards to warriors, from beastmen to tiny people no bigger than his fingers.

And a woman in red who just blew him away.

They came for years, decades, just to eat the food of this restaurant. The food of his great grandfather and his uncle.

Issei clenched his fists, not realizing that the hairs on his left arm had been standing up ever since the woman entered. But that did not matter at all. The only that Issei cared about was a new goal. Not one to replace his dream of having a harem, but something he would put in just as much effort into.

One day, not matter how long it takes, he would be a better chef than his uncle and grandfather before him. He would take over the restaurant. And he would serve food to the residents of the other world, they would enjoy his cooking.

Especially Red. He finally had a hold on his feelings from before. What he desired so strongly was recognition. He wanted to acknowledge him. To respect him. He wanted her to want his food even more than his uncles.

And Issei was going to make that happen.

Okay.

So I did throw in a bit of a Food Wars reference there. Honestly, the one crossover between that series and Isekai Shokudou I came across was disappointing. I mean, it just reused food from the series. I can understand not being able to really create those crazy foods, but its out of character to serve those stuff in a restaurant for no reason.

As for Issei's decision at the end there, I knew ahead of time that he would make cooking for Red his goal. But as I was writing it ended up being taking over the restaurant itself. I'm surprised that I actually ended up writing that, but kind of glad that I did.

Now, for those of you who don't know, since this story won the update poll twice in a row, it won't be on the next one for sure.

Also, I consider this to be the end of an Arc. You might be confused by where I'm going with this but hear me out.

Those of you who only recently started following me might not be aware but my big start in fanfic is my DxD x Kamen Rider story, "High School Wizard DxD". I started it a few years ago, and it currently has the most chapters. However, once I started getting other ideas that I wanted to bring to life and share, things got difficult. Which is why my got started.

There have been changes in how I do things here over the years, but I think I've got a set up that will work for quite a while. But that's not what I want to talk about.

Wizard DxD has not been updated for a while, and its getting close to the end of the Riser Arc, effectively the first season of the fanfic, when you look at the DxD anime.

In fact, the other currently running fanfics on my account are close to the end of their first "Arcs", needing only 1 to 3 chapters to wrap them up. Heck, with this chapter Dragon in the Kitchen will have completed its own first "Arc".

So here is what I will do.

For a while, I'll skip the "New or Old" Poll and go straight to deciding what to Update. Furthermore, I'll take Wizard DXD off the polls. This will let me focus on the smaller stories and cut down on the choices for patrons. Once a story has its first "Arc" completed, it won't be on the next poll. Once all of them have completed that "Arc", I focus only on Wizard DxD and work on typing up as many chapters until I start the Excalibur Arc.

I have a couple of reasons for taking that story so far. Mainly to cover some original plot points that I have had back when I first started writing this story.

That's it for now. Please Favorite, Follow, and Review. But most of all, thank you for reading!