Infinite Cashback System

Chapter 242: 242 | The Onsen Manager and The Lovable Chef

Her voice was honey and silk, warm enough to melt steel yet carrying an undertone of something Jordan couldn’t quite identify. Amusement, maybe. Or anticipation.

"I... what?"

Smooth, Jordan. Real smooth.

The woman’s smile widened slightly. "We have been expecting your arrival, Master. I am Ayaka Tachibana, the General Manager of Hada no Yu. It is my pleasure to serve you."

She bowed, and the motion caused her kimono to shift in ways that Jordan desperately tried not to notice.

He noticed anyway.

"Right. Yeah. Of course." Jordan cleared his throat and tried to remember how sentences worked. "I’m Jordan McKnight. The, uh. The owner."

"Indeed you are, Master." Ayaka straightened, her dark eyes meeting his with an intensity that made his skin prickle. "We received notification of your impending visit this afternoon. The staff has been preparing to welcome you properly."

"Notification?"

"The registry updated approximately thirty minutes ago." Ayaka gestured toward a door behind the reception desk. "If you would follow me, I will provide a tour of the facilities and introduce you to the rest of our team."

Jordan followed, mostly because he couldn’t think of anything else to do.

The hallway beyond the reception area was lined with more traditional artwork and subtle lighting. Their footsteps made almost no sound on the polished floor. Ayaka walked ahead of him with perfect posture, the fabric of her kimono swishing softly with each step.

"Hada no Yu has been serving the Newport Beach community for fifteen years," Ayaka explained, her voice carrying that same honey-smooth quality. "Our clientele includes business executives, celebrities, and discerning individuals who appreciate traditional Japanese hospitality."

"Fifteen years." Jordan processed this. "The System really committed to the backstory."

Ayaka glanced back at him over her shoulder, one elegant eyebrow raised. "I beg your pardon, Master?"

"Nothing. Just talking to myself."

"Of course." Her smile suggested she knew exactly what he meant but had chosen not to comment. "We offer a variety of services including traditional onsen bathing, massage therapy, aromatherapy treatments, and private dining experiences. Our mineral springs are fed by a natural aquifer with unique properties that benefit skin health and overall wellness."

They emerged into a larger space, and Jordan stopped walking.

The main bathing area was gorgeous. Natural stone surrounded a pool of steaming water that glowed faintly blue-green from underwater lighting. Steam rose in gentle wisps, curling toward a ceiling constructed from exposed wooden beams. Large windows offered a view of a carefully maintained garden, complete with koi pond and stone bridges.

"This is the communal bath," Ayaka said. "We also have private bathing rooms for those who prefer solitude."

Jordan thought about the System’s description. Mineral springs that passively increase attraction with any registered beauty who utilizes the facilities.

Bring Chloe here. Bring Kumiko here.

The possibilities stretched out before him like a buffet at an all-you-can-eat restaurant.

"The kitchen is through here." Ayaka led him down another corridor. "Where Kaori-san manages our refreshment services."

They entered a space that combined traditional aesthetics with modern kitchen equipment. Stainless steel appliances sat beside wooden counters. A woman stood at the center island, arranging what appeared to be traditional Japanese sweets on a ceramic plate.

She looked up as they entered, and Jordan experienced another moment of system-induced paralysis.

Kaori Suzuki was soft in all the places Ayaka was sharp. Her face was round and warm, with gentle features and eyes that crinkled at the corners when she smiled. Her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, dark brown with hints of auburn in the kitchen lighting. She wore a modified chef’s uniform that somehow managed to be both professional and devastatingly flattering, the fabric stretched across breasts that threatened to overflow their containment.

H-cup. The System really had not held back.

"Master Jordan! Welcome!" Kaori’s voice was rich and welcoming, like being wrapped in a warm blanket. "I have prepared refreshments for your visit. Please, you must be hungry after your journey."

"I’m fine, really, I just came from the gym and I probably smell like—"

"Nonsense!" Kaori was already pressing a plate into his hands. The sweets looked like tiny works of art, each one shaped and colored with obvious care. "A growing young man needs proper nourishment. Sit, sit! I will bring tea."

Jordan found himself seated at a small table before he could protest further. Kaori moved around the kitchen with practiced ease, heating water and preparing a tea set that probably cost more than his monthly rent.

"Kaori-san has been with us since the establishment’s founding," Ayaka said, still standing with that perfect posture. "Her culinary skills are exceptional."

"You flatter me, Ayaka-san." Kaori set a cup of tea before Jordan, leaning close enough that he could smell her perfume. Something floral and sweet. "I simply cook with love."

Her breasts were approximately six inches from Jordan’s face.

He stared at his tea like it contained the secrets of the universe.

"Rina-san should be completing the monthly financial review shortly," Ayaka continued, apparently oblivious to Jordan’s distress. "I will introduce you once she is available."

"Financial review. Right. Because this place has finances. And employees. And a fifteen-year operating history that materialized out of thin air."

Kaori and Ayaka exchanged a glance that Jordan couldn’t interpret.

"The Master seems weary from his travels," Kaori said. "Perhaps a bath would be beneficial?"

"An excellent suggestion." Ayaka’s smile returned, that same knowing curve of her lips. "I can prepare a private room if Master would prefer."

"I really shouldn’t." Jordan gestured at himself. "Gym clothes. Sweat. Not exactly onsen appropriate."

"We provide all necessary amenities." Ayaka’s eyes swept over him in a way that made Jordan feel simultaneously examined and appreciated. "Including fresh clothing for after your bath. Your comfort is our highest priority, Master."

"You keep calling me Master."

"That is your title, is it not? You are the owner of this establishment. Our Master."

The way she said it shouldn’t have been legal.

"Just Jordan is fine."

"As you wish, Master Jordan."

Jordan decided that was probably as good as he was going to get.

He ate the sweets Kaori had prepared, each one melting on his tongue with flavors he couldn’t name. The tea was perfect, hot without being scalding, with a delicate floral taste that complemented the food. His body, exhausted from the sparring session with Maya, began to relax despite his racing thoughts.

A business. The System had given him an actual business with actual employees and actual revenue streams and actual tax implications.

His phone buzzed. He checked it discreetly.

System Note: Your assigned Bookkeeper will handle all filings, but you remain solely responsible for the tax liability. The System does not provide loopholes for the IRS.

Of course. Even supernatural phone applications had limits.

"Master Jordan?"