The figure stood in the doorway, draped in a long black coat, his silver hair falling around his sharp features like a veil of mist. Miki couldn't breathe. The room seemed to grow colder with every passing second, and the faint glow of his eyes intensified, as if drawing her into his gaze. His presence felt... unnatural, yet oddly compelling.
"Who are you?" Miki's voice came out softer than she intended, barely a whisper, but it seemed to cut through the air with an unsettling finality.
The man—no, the phantom—didn't respond immediately. He merely stepped forward, his shoes making no sound on the wooden floor, like a wisp of smoke crossing the room. There was something otherworldly about him, something that made Miki's skin prickle with both fear and curiosity.
"I am Kael," the man said at last, his voice low and distant. "A chef who has long since forgotten his name in this world."
Miki swallowed hard, unsure whether to feel relieved or terrified. A chef? But the recipe she had just found... could it really be him? The one the journal spoke of?
"Why are you here?" Miki asked, her voice regaining some steadiness. "What do you want with me?"
Kael's lips curled into the faintest of smiles, a sad and almost wistful expression. "I've come for a meal, but not the kind you might think. There is a dish that must be cooked, and I require your help."
Miki's mind raced. A meal? What kind of dish could this man, this phantom, be talking about? And why her? She glanced around the shop, half-expecting someone to jump out and reveal this as some sort of elaborate prank. But the place was empty. There were no hidden cameras, no signs of life except for herself and this mysterious figure.
Kael seemed to read her thoughts, his expression softening just a fraction. "I know you've been searching for answers, Miki. Answers about your parents. About the truth. And I—"
"How do you know my name?" Miki interrupted, standing up from behind the counter, her voice a mix of confusion and alarm. How could he possibly know about her?
He inclined his head slightly. "The curse that binds me is not so easily broken. But you, you hold the key. The dish you must cook will unlock more than just a meal. It will unlock the past. Your past."
Miki took a step back, her heart racing. Could it be true? Could this phantom chef actually know something about her parents? Could he be the key to finding out what happened to them?
Kael's eyes softened for the briefest moment, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "But be warned," he continued, his tone serious now. "The dish is dangerous. It will test you in ways you cannot imagine."
Miki's breath hitched. "What... What is this dish?"
Kael's smile was ghostly, fleeting. "The Phantom's Dish. And once you begin, there's no turning back."