We took our seats at a table in the back.
“Is Shinobu-neechan popular with girls?” (Shuri)
Shuri, who’s sitting in a chair, asked with an innocent look.
“I’m not popular. Auntie just likes to make jokes.” (Shinobu)
“That’s not the case.”
The woman listening to the story denied Shinobu’s words.
“Shinobu-chan is stronger and more dependable than most adventurers out there, so even girls like her. If a man is harassing a girl, Shinobu will help that poor lady out, so many girls look up to her. Many girls even say they wish she were a boy.” (Lady)
I’ve heard that line somewhere before.
“Auntie, stop saying strange things to everyone. We’re here to eat. If you keep talking about strange things, we’ll go somewhere else.” (Shinobu)
Shinobu forcibly broke off the conversation.
Too bad, I thought I would get some material to make fun of her.
“Well then, before you leave, let me ask you what you want to order. What would you like?” (Lady)
Before I can ask, “What do you have?” Shinobu answered.
“We’ll have the usual breakfast set.” (Shinobu)
“OK. Then, please wait a minute.” (Lady)
The woman took Shinobu’s order and went behind the counter.
It shouldn’t be anything strange if it’s called a breakfast set, right?
“Do you always come here, Shinobu?” (Yuna)
“I come here because it’s cheap, fast, and delicious.” (Shinobu)
As Shinobu said, cooking began in the kitchen. There’s a middle-aged man. Was he the husband of the woman who just came in?
And without much of a wait, the couple placed the food on the table. Indeed, it was quick.
Rice, miso soup, nori, natto, and grilled fish.
The fish was salmon, and the miso soup was simple, with wakame seaweed and tofu. It was indeed an ordinary breakfast typical of a Japanese country.
“Well then, itadakussu.” (Shinobu) (いただくっす)
“””””Itadakimasu’””””
I pour soy sauce over natto and stir it.
It becomes nice and sticky. It has been a long time since I ate natto. Yes, it looks delicious. But the reaction of the people around me was different.
“U~u, it’s sticky and gross.” (Shuri)
Shuri, who was stirring it to imitate me, stopped her hand.
“And it stinks.” (Ruimin)
Ruimin put her face close to the natto and made a funny face, the two of them moved the bowl of natto away from them. Fina held the bowl and was in trouble.
“Etto, Shinobu-san. Isn’t this bean rotten? It’s sticky and stinky.” (Ruimin)
Ruimin asked with some difficulty, looking at the natto.
“Yes, it’s rotten.” (Shinobu)
“”“It’s rotten!?”””
The three were startled by Shinobu’s words and turned away from the natto.
“But you can eat it, so it’s okay.” (Shinobu)
Shinobu said so, but the three of them were anxious. Indeed, if she said it’s rotten, then, of course, they would be nervous.
“It’s okay, you three. It’s not exactly rotten. They’re just fermented, so you can eat it.” (Yuna)
I ate natto on rice to prove it.
It’s the first natto I had in a long time. It’s so delicious.
“Yuna-san…” (Ruimin)
“Yuna-oneesan…” (Fina)
“Yuna-oneechan, are you okay?” (Shuri)
The three of them looked at me with concern.
“Oh right, I’ve heard that you don’t eat natto in other countries. Anyway, many people are not good at it.” (Shinobu)
“I wouldn’t say they don’t eat it, or rather, they don’t have it. So people who see it for the first time may be surprised.” (Yuna)
I have never seen it outside of the Land of Harmony.
“I’m sorry. I completely forgot about it. Go ahead and eat it, please.” (Shinobu)
Shinobu apologized.