Chapter 209: Suddenly, a Cooking Story 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 209: Suddenly, a Cooking Story 2
It's vacation, so I want to sleep in, but today and tomorrow, I have to get up early.
Frowning at the blaring alarm, I forced my heavy eyelids open and threw off the covers.
It's cold. Even with the heat on, there's a chill in the air.
The kind of cold you'd expect for the New Year, I guess? It's not an entirely bad feeling.
I stretched my upper body, giving my muscles a quick pull, then took a shower.
Later, I went over to Miyuki's house at the agreed time. The front door opened as if on cue, probably because they heard my car.
As I approached, Miyuki, Kana, and Midori were there to greet me, all wearing kimonos. I bowed my head.
“Hello, ma'am. Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year to you too, Matsuda-kun.”
They were planning to head to the countryside after breakfast, so the fact that they were all dressed up like this seemed to be for my sake, to let me experience the holiday spirit.
“I should have worn a kimono, too.”
“Not at all. It doesn't matter. If we thought you should, we would have told you through Miyuki.”
Ahh... Behold, a kindness as bountiful as those massive breasts that even a kimono cannot hide.
How could one not be in awe?
“It's cold, isn't it? Hurry and come inside.”
At Midori's words, I bowed once more and stepped into the warmth of Miyuki's home. I greeted Wataru and took a seat at the dining table.
A rectangular, tiered box filled with various dishes caught my eye on the table.
It was filled with everything from simmered dishes to lotus root, black beans, and shrimp. It looked like Midori had made Osechi.
“You must be hungry. Let's save the New Year's pleasantries and eat first.”
With Wataru's words, we all picked up our chopsticks. I ate with Miyuki and her family in a warm, harmonious atmosphere.
Unlike before, Miyuki was sitting right next to Kana.
Seeing the two very similar sisters looking so close made me crave a sister-sandwich.
Miyuki, who seems innocent but is secretly lewd, and Kana, whose sharper eyes give her a sexier look than her sister, yet knows nothing about that sort of thing.
Not only would it lead to some interesting situations, but it would be hot as hell.
After we finished eating, I smiled and insisted it was fine to a protesting Midori, who said I didn't need to help. Then, I helped Wataru load the gifts for their relatives into the trunk.
In the meantime, Miyuki changed her clothes and came down. She pulled me aside, a little away from the house, and spoke.
“I wish you could have come with us, Matsuda-kun.”
“We'll go together next time.”
“Okay. When I get back tonight, I'll come straight to your place.”
“No, just let me know when you're back and get some rest. I have to be out early tomorrow.”
“Where are you going?”
“I'm working a one-day gig at the shop run by Inoo-senpai's uncles.”
“Oh, really? That place from before?”
“Yeah. Her uncles said they really wanted me to come.”
“Were you that good, Matsuda-kun?”
“I don't know about that. I guess they just like me.”
“They must like you because you did a good job.”
Miyuki brushed a bit of dust from my coat collar and continued.
“When does your shift end?”
“Hmm. It depends on when they run out of ingredients, but it shouldn't be too late.”
“Okay, then. Work hard. And call me before you go.”
“Got it.”
I stayed in front of the house until Miyuki and her family left. I watched her lean out from the back seat of Wataru's car and wave, then got into my own car.
The first day is off to a good start. I have a feeling this whole vacation is going to be fun.
* * *
A traditional-style house, exuding an old-fashioned charm.
I parked a short distance away and passed the time watching the dark, blue sky unique to the moments before sunrise.
A little later, Renka came out of the house and knocked on my window, so I unlocked the doors.
Click.
“Hey.”
Renka greeted me as she got in, bringing the scent of blueberries with her.
She was wearing light makeup.
She definitely didn't do it to look good for me, right?
I glanced at her fair skin, smoothed over with foundation, and spoke.
“Hey. You're wearing makeup?”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Big Uncle told me to.”
I see what her uncles are up to.
Since Renka's pretty, they're probably planning to use her as the face of the shop, right?
If their shop were a restaurant or cafe in a bustling downtown area, it would've been very effective. But it's in a tourist spot.
Meaning, the customers are mostly couples, married people, and families. So that strategy won't be very effective.
Still... being pretty doesn't hurt, so I'll just let it go.
“It looks good on you.”
“Whatever.”
“Can't I even give you a compliment?”
“Don't. You were just planning on teasing me anyway, what's with the compliment...! You're all talk...”
As Renka grumbled, my eyes were drawn to the black skinny jeans she was wearing.
Her frame is thin aside from her hips, making her look slender already, but the outfit makes her seem even taller and leaner.
Truly, a body optimized for a bunny girl outfit. I'm definitely going to make her wear the one I bought.
And I'll make her do a little bunny dance for me.
“...W-What is it? Why are you staring at me like that?”
Did she read my perverted thoughts?
Renka pressed herself against the window and furrowed her brow.
“Like what?”
“Like you're thinking something weird...!”
“I'm not thinking anything. Maybe you're the one thinking weird things, Captain?”
“J-Just drive...! Look at the road!”
“Did you eat?”
“I didn't...!”
“Then we can stop at a rest stop on the way...”
“No...! My uncle said he'd feed us before they open, so I don't need to eat...!”
“Why do you keep cutting me off? Anyway, we're leaving.”
I grinned, showing my teeth, then released the parking brake and shifted into drive.
Then, as I slowly took my foot off the brake, I called out to Renka.
“By the way, Captain.”
“No. I don't know. Sorry.”
“I haven't even said what it is yet.”
“Whatever you're going to say, the answer is no.”
“Why?”
“Because I know you're going to say something weird.”
“I'm hurt.”
“You don't look hurt at all. Just drive.”
This is already getting fun.
There's still so much more to enjoy. If it's this fun already, I'll probably be smiling this entire vacation.
* * *
“Ken, you're here!?”
As soon as I parked in the designated spot, the uncles rushed out of the shop, laughing heartily and slapping my back.
They seemed really happy to see me. The two of them seemed to think I was some kind of all-around entertainer.
Sure, sales shot up that day, but all I did was serve tables with a bit of energy...
Their expectations are way too high. If sales don't meet them, they're not going to bury me alive, are they?
Getting hit by their massive hands, even as a welcome, really hurt.
The heavy thud I felt every time their thick bones collided with my spine.
I pulled my shoulders back and tensed my back muscles, frowning as I spoke.
“That hurts. Please stop hitting me.”
“Huh? Did it hurt? Sorry about that.”
It was a sincere apology, but... their faces are so menacing that it sounded like a yakuza mocking a man on his deathbed.
After exchanging greetings, I went inside, tossed my bag in the changing room, and came back out.
Then I looked around the shop.
I've only worked here once, but for some reason, it feels familiar and welcoming.
I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because of the photos plastered by the entrance, filled with a family vibe.
“The ventilation hood moved?”
“We did a full upgrade to a bigger, grander one. Can't have the smell of fried food clinging to the customers' clothes, you know? It might still smell, so we moved it closer to the window, too.”
They've made improvements. Though the bald heads are still the same.
“I see.”
“Anything you want to order us to do? Table arrangement, stuff like that.”
“Huh...? You guys should be telling me what to do, why would I be ordering you around?”
“Because you've got good sense.”
“I'm not a businessman, what good sense do I have? What time is it, anyway?”
“Now? A little after eight.”
“Still a while until you open, then? I saw a ton of flyers in the changing room. Did you put them up on the tourist bulletin boards?”
“Ah, we didn't think of that.”
You didn't even do something that basic?
I take back what I thought about them making improvements.
“Then Inoo-senpai and I will go put up the flyers first.”
“Got it. Be back by nine. We need to eat breakfast before we start.”
“Yes, sir.”
I came out of the changing room with an armful of flyers and walked over to Renka, who was outside looking at the photos by the entrance.
“What are you looking at?”
“The photos.”
“I mean, which ones.”
“Just looking around. How many flyers is that?”
“About 200.”
“Why'd you bring so many? There aren't that many bulletin boards to post on.”
“I figured we could hand them out to locals or early-bird tourists on our way.”
“That's a good idea. Let's go.”
It seems she wants her uncles' shop to do well; I could feel a slight rise in her motivation.
I handed about half the flyers to Renka, and we walked together down the still-quiet street.
“By the way, how did you know?”
Renka asked after posting a flyer on a bulletin board.
I checked to make sure the paper wasn't wrinkled before asking back.
“Know what?”
“About Big Uncle and Small Uncle. How did you tell them apart? Most people get them confused because they look so identical.”
“Last time, I noticed Big Uncle mainly handled the sushi, while Small Uncle was in charge of the fried dishes. I figured that's how you divided the work. The one with more oil scars on his arms is Small Uncle, so it was easy to tell.”
“You've got a sharp eye. But you're only half right.”
“What do you mean, half right?”
“Big Uncle and Small Uncle do everything together. Big Uncle often handles the frying, too. It's just that... he's a bit of a coward, so he always wears long sleeves when he fries things, which is why he doesn't have any scars.”
An image formed in my head of Big Uncle, with his menacing face and huge frame, shrieking like a little girl at the pop! of spattering oil.
Suddenly my mood soured a little. Let's not think about that.
“That's something I didn't know. How do you tell them apart, Captain?”
“I can tell just by their voices.”
“But their voices sound exactly the same.”
“There's a subtle difference. Their speech patterns, too.”
“Even for family, it seems like it'd be hard to tell just from their voices...”
“When you spend a long time with them, you can naturally tell the difference. Should I put this one here?”
“That's too high. Shorter people will have a hard time seeing it, so put it lower.”
“Okay.”
“And post it as meticulously as you did with that newspaper article about me.”
“...Can you not be so annoying this early in the morning?”
“So picky. When you're done, go give a flyer to that man. He looks like a local, so don't ask him if he's enjoying his trip or anything.”
I pointed to a middle-aged man who was jogging toward us from a distance, and Renka flinched.
“Me? I haven't thought about what to say...?”
“Just say what's written on the flyer.”
“I guess so...? Okay.”
Unlike how she is with me, Renka approached the man with timid, short steps and a pretty smile.
“Hello! Sorry to bother you out of the blue. Inoo Family Sushi is having a lunch and dinner special with a 10 percent discount on tuna... Would you please stop by if you have time?”
“Hmm? At Inoo Family Sushi? Their tuna is delicious, I'll have to stop by. But who are you...? A part-timer? You look a little familiar...”
“You must have seen the photos in front of the shop. I'm the owner's niece.”
“W-What...? His niece...?”
The man's eyes went wide as he stared at Renka's face.
He probably couldn't believe that, unlike her terrifying uncles, the niece was so pretty.
I get how he feels. I couldn't believe it at first, either.
I chuckled at the man's bewildered expression as he took the flyer, then walked over to a young woman walking her dog on the other side of the street.
I'll only hand my flyers out to the ladies.