Volume 9 - CH 5

Akechi Hideyori gifts

“Alright, next is food. I usually serve only coffee and frozen stuff when I’m minding the place by myself but I think we can serve some proper food with Yoru-san around. Tatsuyuki-kun, Hideyori-kun, mind giving it a taste?”

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It was just before noon so it was perfect for lunch.

Since Yoru will be the one cooking, she came up to ask for our orders.

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“Sakuya can cook too so I think leaving it to her is fine as well but her communication skills…….well, leaving the kitchen to her while I wait on the customers is an option.”

“I don’t think leaving the customers to Sakuya-chan is a good idea too…..”

“Yeah~”

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Master smiles wryly at Tatsuyuki-san’s words.

Sakuya has made an effort to talk to me and the people I’m close to but aside from that, she still opts to take cover behind me, Emi, or Yurika…….

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“May I take your order, sir? If you say ‘the usual’ again I’m going to click my tongue at you.”

“……….”

“………..”

“Your order, please.”

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With a dark smile on her face, Yoru asked for our orders.

Her strong aura made both me and Tatsuyuki-san silent.

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“I’ll have pork miso soup.”

“Mine’s twice-cooked pork.”

“Does this place look like a set-meal restaurant!? At least order something on the menu! Do you see those dishes on the menu, eh!?”

surprisingly delicious I must say

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I got scolded when I tried ordering some random dish I wanted to eat.

Master is smiling wryly at us.

Pasta dishes like Meat sauce spaghetti, Neapolitan.

Sandwiches and pizza toast.

There are only coffee shop-ish dishes on the menu.

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When I was scanning it while wondering if I should just go with meat sauce spaghetti, Yoru walked to the kitchen.

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“Master, do we have the ingredients?”

“Y, Yeah. The stuff for my personal use is in the fridge.”

“Alright, pork miso soup and twice-cooked pork coming right up.”

“Eh?”

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Taking mine and Tatsuyuki-san’s joke orders seriously, Yoru began preparing the pot and frying pan.

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“Master, do you have enough rice for us?”

“Well, yeah…….”

“Then I will make our portions too.”

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After quickly preparing the ingredients, she started cutting vegetables with a kitchen knife.

Perhaps he didn’t expect Yoru to actually go along with our orders, Master looked stunned at Yoru’s action.

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“It seems you’ve found yourself a good part-timer huh……”

“Yeah…….”

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While serving me and Tatsuyuki-san a cup of espresso and cola float, Master seemed to be impressed as he gazed at Yoru.

I think she’s kind of crude as a woman but she’s a homely heroine whose housework skills are high enough to win over Takeru through his stomach alone.

She’s supposed to be used to cooking for her parents after all.

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It was quite the wait since she took around 30 minutes but rice, pork miso soup, and twice-cooked pork were served at our table.

The meal looked like it belonged in a slightly extravagant set-meal restaurant but they looked delicious.

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“It’s to commemorate my first part-time job.”

“OH!? You put a lot of vegetables into this huh, this looks delicious!”

“Seriously…..why do I have to cook for Akechi……..”

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After I let the miso soup cool down a bit, I give it a taste. The instant I put it in my mouth, the rich flavor of miso and dashi(Japanese stocks) immediately spread.

The pork is also soft and easy to chew.

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“So good! This is super delicious, Yoru!”

“Y, Yeah.”

“Ahh, I love how tender you made the pork.”

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This homely pork miso soup just warms my heart.

It can’t be compared to the instant soup I had the other day at all.

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“Yup, this is good!”

“You hired a great cook, Master.”

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The two men also seem satisfied with the taste.

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“T, Thanks…..well, it’s only natural that my food is delicious.”

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Like she was saying ‘this is nothing’ Yoru crossed her arm and pushed her chest up. She seems to be proud of her work.

Her circumstances, her past, her mission.

I know everything about her.

Knowing the hardships she had to go through, I respect her for the desperate effort she made to learn to cook this well.

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“What’s wrong, Akechi?”

“Ahh, I was just thinking about how much effort you put into this. You’re amazing, Yoru.”

“…..what, this much is normal.”

“No, you really are amazing. You can be more proud and do that *Kera Kera Kera* laugh of yours you know.”

“ *Ke-h, Kera Kera Kera* ”

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Seeing her deliberately trying to replicate her usual laugh made me smile.

Hearing her natural laugh that she usually only let out after she teased Takeru like this just makes me feel things.

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“If you like it that much you can always give me a personal donation you know? Money, or Money, or Money, for example.”

“Hey, Master! This girl, did she misunderstand that she’s working at a cabaret club or something!?”

“I mean, I don’t think Hideyori-kun even pays for anything here though……”

“Ugh, touché……”

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That’s pretty painful given that I’m using the Oba-san privilege to freeload here.

It was when I was searching in my pocket for candy or chewing gum to give to Yoru.

My eyes shifted to the paper bag at the corner of my eyes.

Right, I have this.

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“Then you can have this, Yoru.”

“………”

“………”

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Master and Tatsuyuki-san are looking at me like [Seriously? The nerves of this guy……].

It’s the paper bag containing the souvenir from my aunt, the undesirable tapestry.

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“Oh? What’s this? I can have it?”

“Of course.”

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Yoru happily hummed as she takes out the tapestry from the paper bag.

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“Thanks.”

“Eh? You’re actually fine with this?”

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Hearing her thank me for it, that question unintentionally came out.

I thought there would be a punchline like [Like hell I do!?] come flying at me but….

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“Why? If you’re giving it to me then I’m taking it. My room at the dorm is super bland right now, I’m going to put this up.”

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Yoru happily gazes at the tapestry.

Hmm…….

Is the pattern just something that men find strange but is actually popular among women?

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“What? Why are you staring like that? I won’t give it back alright?”

“I mean, I wouldn’t say I want it back but…….”

“Hehe, this is mine then.”

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Well, it’s fine if Yoru likes it……..

After that, I finished the soup and the twice-cooked pork.

I was so satisfied with the meal that I ended up thinking that I want to eat her home-cooking again.

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Master and Tatsuyuki-san also give her a lot of praise for it.

I thought that she might have a hard time working at a coffee shop at first but it seems that my worry was unfounded.

Later, we ended up chatting for a few hours and the whole day went by just like that…….

TLN: Why is she getting a lot cuter in just a couple chapters……..