4-69: The Best Reward (1/3)

4-69: The Best Reward (1/3)

Im so sorry. You went out of your way to save my son, yet this is all I could prepare

In the black of the night, in the kitchen that was seemingly void of people, was the proprietress bowing her head in apology.

It was well past supper time, and Shinichi and Tomoe have yet to eat.

So the proprietress had prepared a meal for them when they returned. Of course, that was also partly because just waiting was too painful.

Unfortunately, it was too difficult to keep enough food for two people when the students of the academy ate much more than the average person.

Moreover, this trip came on short notice, and while the inn did have the capacity to accommodate the school, in doing so they have exhausted their reserves.

There was still food for tomorrow, but they understandably couldnt touch that.

Thats why the only thing that could be seen on the kitchen table was a common household-sized rice cooker, a mountain of rice balls, and hot soup.

N-Not at all, we decided to do this on our own volition anyway

Tomoe told her not to worry about it, but that only made her more apologetic.

This was a first-class Japanese inn with history, so it would be a lie to say that she wasnt expecting the food to be good, but surely no matter how good the food was, it couldnt compare to the life of a child.

She also found it outrageous how someone could threaten a mother with the life of her child.

Of course, her concern was initially for Shinichi, only later turning into righteous indignation.

Thats why she didnt blame the proprietress, and if anything, thought even better of her for preparing food for them this late into the night.

Besides

Ooh!

The boy next to her was really engrossed with the rice balls.

The aura about him suggested that he was just barely keeping himself from jumping into that pile.

He looked at those rice balls with a feverish gaze that no one would ever expect from him.

At the apex of those triangular rice balls could be seen a portion of the ingredients that filled them.

Next to the rice balls were a bowl of soup from which steam rose; an appetizing aroma wafted from it.

Tomoe was grateful for the proprietress attentive care, but at this rate, the boy beside her wont last.

Shinichi looks like he really wants to eat, so would it be alright if we started? Tomoe asked.

*Gulp! Shinichi said.

Y-Yes, please, go ahead, the proprietress said.

The two of them sat down and said grace.

Though they had prepared themselves to skip supper, there was no denying that they were starving.

An ecstatic look surfaced on them as soon as they held a rice ball up.

Please dont mind us. Go ahead and enjoy the food with your son, Tomoe said.

Before anyone knew it, Tomoe had divided the mountain of rice balls and placed some on a small plate for the proprietress.

The proprietress accepted the plate and bowed her head again.

Thank you so much for your continued generosity.

Shinichi nodded back and wryly smiled as he saw mother and child off.

Though the proprietress and her son didnt move to another room, this was a big traditional inn, so the kitchen was also big.

Just moving from one end to another would make it hard enough for another person to hear what they were talking about, so she placed her small plate on top of a small table and sat facing her son.

The two talked about something, and like that gradually made time for themselves as mother and child.

Of course, Shinichi and Tomoe could have eavesdropped if they wanted to, but they were not the kind of people to do something so tactless during such an intimate conversation.

Shinichi watched over them a bit longer than Tomoe, but before long, he averted his gaze.

I guess this is also counts as me compensating for what I cant have

As Shinichi muttered that, he wryly smiled and went back to his seat.

When Tomoe saw that, she said with dismay.

Youre unusually good at influencing people, huh. Though I guess its just like you, the way you make it so that the other party has nowhere to run.

In Koutas case, he appealed to his pride as a man by bringing up his promise.

In the proprietress case, he used the fact that it was a situation her benefactor prepared for her.

But of course, there was also the trust that even with just that they wouldnt run away.

Besides, it was a situation they both wanted in the first place.

Thats why Tomoe smiled at him warmly despite the dismay in her voice.

Shinichi felt a tinge of embarrassment because of that though and scratched his cheeks.

Beat it I know I cant do anything other than annoy people.

Dont pout Youve helped people because of that. Here, your reward rice balls. Have as many as you like! Hehe, this part of you is so childish, Tomoe chuckled as she handed him the rice balls.

Its not like you made these, was written all over Shinichis face, but he still happily accepted her offer and meticulously tasted them.

For some reason, the expression that surfaced on him was gentle. Perhaps it was because of the happiness he felt from the rice balls, or perhaps because the atmosphere emanating from a corner of the kitchen was warm.

Its good, really good, Shinichi said with satisfaction.

Yes, very Shes not my mother, but its a mothers taste, isnt it? Tomoe nodded.

[1] Okaka a simple mixture of shaved bonito flakes tossed with soy sauce.

[2] Tenmusu onigiri tempura shrimp rice ball

[3] Umeboshi Japanese plums. Really sour and salty.