Dimensional Storekeeper - Chapter 170

Chapter 170: The Great Tuna Mayo Wrapper Wars
Hao stepped away from the box he had been opening and walked over to Mo Xixi, who was still staring into the carton.

“Yes, this is the one, Little Xixi.”

He reached in and picked one up.

There was a soft crinkle as the wrapper shifted under his fingers, a faint rustle like dried leaves brushing together. The onigiri was cool and firm to the touch, the seaweed gently hugging the rice in a neat triangle.

“It’s called Tuna Mayo Onigiri.”

Mo Xixi blinked. Little Sneak tilted his head, nose twitching.

“You see.” Hao began, holding the onigiri up.

“Oni’ doesn’t mean demon, don’t worry, and ‘giri’ isn’t a sword technique.”

“It’s just a name that means squished-together rice that you can hold with one hand. Easy to carry. Good for travel. Or late-night hunger attacks.”

Yoru nodded as if he completely understood it.

He pointed at the center. “And inside? That’s tuna. A fish. Big one.”

“Lives in the sea. Tastes amazing when mashed up soft like this.”

Yoru gave a confused meow.

Tsuki looked scandalized at the idea of a sea beast turned into a snack.

“Oh, and mayo is this smooth, creamy stuff made from eggs. And oil. And vinegar. Don’t ask how that works, it just does.”

Mo Xixi made a complicated face, somewhere between suspicion and fascination.

Little Sneak wrinkled his nose. ‘Egg and oil?’

Even Kurome’s ears flattened slightly. ‘Vinegar?’

“Yeah.” Hao said, nodding. “When you mix the three just right, it turns into mayo.”

“It tastes better than it sounds.”

“Way better.”

“Just trust your boss.” Hao said proudly. “This one’s a classic.”

He gently placed the onigiri back into the carton box.

Five pairs of eyes immediately stared at him.

Utter disbelief.

Mo Xixi’s mouth opened a little, as if to protest. Little Sneak’s fur fluffed up with betrayal.

Yoru tilted his head, tail stiff. Tsuki even let out a confused “mrrr?” as if to say, That’s it? You’re not gonna eat it?

Hao nearly laughed aloud.

He kept the smile inside, calm as a spring breeze on the outside.

He knew exactly what they were thinking.

Then, with a gentle swoop, he lifted Yoru and Tsuki off his shoulders and lowered them to the ground.

Both kittens looked up at him, tails wiggling in anticipation.

He stood up and clapped his hands.

“Don’t be like that, everyone.”

“Let’s head to the store first – then we’ll eat.”

In an instant, all five faces lit up. Even Little Sneak gave an enthusiastic little hop.

Hao bent down and picked up the entire carton box with ease, lifting it like it was full of feathers.

He turned and started toward the storefront.

Behind him, Mo Xixi’s voice rang out. “Boss, do you need help?”

Hao glanced over his shoulder.

“I’m good, Little Xixi. Thanks for the offer though.”

It surprised him, actually.

She had changed. Now she was speaking up more, helping out, even offering to carry things.

Still cautious, of course.

Although, most of it was still buried under her tsun-tsun outer shell.

One day she might even say thank you without scowling, Hao thought with a chuckle.

And he had changed too.

Back when he first got here, lifting a box like this might’ve pulled something.

Now?

Nothing.

All that daily cultivation and sparring with Tian Lu was paying off.

“Training.” “Body.” “Always.”

“Good.” “Useful.” “Employer.”

Hao gave him a thumbs-up.

They soon found themselves seated around thetable inside the store.

Six neatly wrapped rice triangles rested on the surface.

Little Sneak had already paid for his and even covered the cost for Yoru and Tsuki.

Hao raised an eyebrow. This rat was unexpectedly generous.

Suspiciously generous.

He briefly wondered just how much wealth this guy actually had. Did Little Sneak take over an underground sect in the past and walk off with its entire treasury?

Everyone was watching.

Hao blinked, then looked around.

They were still watching.

‘Wait… are they all waiting for me to eat first?’

He sighed internally, then nodded.

“Mhm, okay.”

He reached for one of the rice triangles, holding it up with both hands.

“Right, look at the wrapper. You’ll usually see three numbered steps.”

He pointed at the clear plastic.

“One is up here, in the center.”

He tapped the top.

“Two and three are down here in the corners.”

Hao went on as if unveiling forbidden knowledge from the Hidden Rice Village.

“First, pull down tab one. From top to bottom. Like this.”

He gently tugged it down the center. A soft crinkle followed, crisp and satisfying.

“This part cuts between the seaweed and the rice. It keeps the outside from getting soggy.”

The group leaned in closer.

“Next, grab tab two. Left corner. Pull it out to the side. Nice and smooth.”

He peeled it off.

“Then the right side. That’s number three. Same thing.”

Another soft rip as the plastic wrapper slid away.

Now, only a perfect little triangle sat in his hand.

“The wrapper’s gone. You can eat it.”

He paused.

“Here goes nothing.”

Hao held the onigiri in both hands and took a bite from the top.

A “shuup” came from the seaweed as it split beneath his teeth, followed by the gentle squish of rice and creamy filling.

His eyes softened. His shoulders relaxed.

A quiet, satisfied exhale slipped through his nose as he slowly chewed, his face full of calm bliss.

His jaw made that subtle, crispy-sticky sound that only the best seaweed could make when it clung to perfect rice.

“Yeah. That hits the spot.”

“Alright, you guys try it.”

The moment the words left Hao’s mouth, the table exploded into motion.

Mo Xixi hunched over hers with intense concentration, brows furrowed like she was cracking a cursed scroll. Her fingers hovered near the plastic. She hesitated.

Then, without warning –

Rip.

She tugged tab one clean off the triangle.

Too fast.

“Wait, Little Xixi! You have to pull it down – !” Hao started, but it was too late.

The wrapper stuck stubbornly to the seaweed. Mo Xixi made a frustrated squeak, her face now frozen in horror.

“Why won’t it come off!?”

Meanwhile, Little Sneak had placed his onigiri on the table and was circling it like a trap he didn’t trust.