December twenty-fourth.
Tokyo welcomed Christmas Eve afternoon in a heavy snow.
On this particularly significant day, Tokai Shizen's restaurant was completely empty after the afternoon.
Looking at the empty restaurant, Tokai Shizen stood up.
She planned to close. Anyway, given the current situation, it was unlikely anyone else would come, so it was better to close early and rest early.
Thinking this, Tokai Shizen walked to the door, intending to flip the wooden sign at the entrance to the "closed" side, when some sounds reached her.
"Miss Tokai."
"Hmm?"
She turned her head, looking behind her.
Standing behind her was Mejiro Ardan.
Looking at her, Tokai Shizen thought for a moment, then realized what she had come for, "Do you have work?"
"Yes, I hope you can be the head chef at the Mejiro Family tomorrow, is that possible?"
"I see..."
Tokai Shizen pondered for a while before finally nodding.
She had nothing to do tomorrow, so she could go directly to the Mejiro Family to work.
As for here?
Anyway, the foot traffic on the Shopping Street had decreased significantly these two days, so it was indeed possible to close for a day.
However, thinking of Mochizuki, Tokai Shizen paused for a few seconds before looking at Mejiro Ardan: "Okay~"
After giving an affirmative response, Tokai Shizen brought up another matter: "Would you like something to eat?"
Looking at Tokai Shizen inviting her, Mejiro Ardan just raised her head to glance at the sky, then turned back to Tokai Shizen: "Hmm, okay."
After entering the restaurant, Mejiro Ardan casually chose a seat and sat down.
Once settled in the chair, Mejiro Ardan simply turned her head to observe the interior of the shop.
After observing the shop, Mejiro Ardan finally turned her gaze back to Tokai Shizen.
At this moment, Tokai Shizen had placed a glass of water and the menu in front of Mejiro Ardan: "Please help yourself~"
Saying these words, Tokai Shizen walked to the shop door, then, after flipping the "closed" wooden sign that she hadn't managed to turn earlier to the front, she returned to the kitchen.
The open kitchen allowed Mejiro Ardan to clearly see everything Tokai Shizen was doing.
Watching Tokai Shizen's movements, Mejiro Ardan didn't make any comments or remarks. She only extended her hand to pick up the menu Tokai Shizen had placed in front of her after Tokai Shizen returned to her side.
There were only five dishes on the menu, most of which she had already tasted before.
However... "There are a few more dishes..."
"They're mainly snacks, but if you want to eat them, it's not impossible to make, it just takes a while."
"I see..."
Hearing this, Mejiro Ardan simply flipped the menu in her hand over and saw the dishes on the back of the menu.
"Hmm..."
Looking at both sides of the menu, the girl thought for a few seconds before finally making a decision: "Can you make Saury Risotto?"
"Risotto, please wait a moment."
Saying this, Tokai Shizen turned around and began searching through the storage cabinet.
The saury to be used for the risotto was aged, as Tokai Shizen couldn't specifically go to the market to select ingredients, at least not often now. So, in such circumstances, Tokai Shizen could only rely on aging to pursue quality.
Tokai Shizen, who had entered the storage room, did not completely empty her mind. She loudly asked a question: "Is there a gathering tomorrow?"
"Yes, a family Christmas gathering, but you don't need to worry too much. Besides Grandmother, no one else has any dietary restrictions."
Saying this, Mejiro Ardan paused for a second, then added: "Grandmother is quite old, so she prefers something light, and also not too hard in texture."
As Mejiro Ardan spoke, Tokai Shizen emerged from the storage room, carrying saury pickled in rice bran, and began preparing the Saury Risotto.
Tokai Shizen's method for Saury Risotto was not overly complex, as it was originally a dish on a public restaurant's menu; being too complicated would not be good.
However, this also allowed Mejiro Ardan to observe the cooking techniques she hadn't been able to see up close that day.
Watching Tokai Shizen's technique, Mejiro Ardan quickly came to a conclusion:
"Miss Tokai would make a great wife."
Mejiro Ardan's comment made Tokai Shizen's hand pause for a moment before she continued her actions: "Indeed, many people have told me that, but I don't think I have any particular talent."
Masking the momentary stiffness, Tokai Shizen continued: "Will there be children at tomorrow's family gathering?"
"There will be children, but most of them are Uma Musume, so you don't need to pay too much attention."
"I see, then tomorrow's main ingredient will be carrots."
Tokai Shizen's consideration for children further confirmed Mejiro Ardan's earlier judgment.
However, this time Mejiro Ardan did not voice it.
Because Tokai Shizen's momentary stiffness had also been noticed by Mejiro Ardan.
Although Tokai Shizen casually brushed it off afterwards, Mejiro Ardan still didn't mention what she had just said. She merely scanned the interior of the restaurant, then spoke again: "Does Miss Tokai need a helper here?"
"A helper?"
"Yes, after all, running a restaurant by oneself is very tiring, isn't it?"
"Hmm..."
Tokai Shizen's hesitation came from Mochizuki, who was on the second floor at this moment. Although Mochizuki was well‑behaved and quiet, it was almost time for her to learn to speak, so at this point, another person was indeed needed to look after the shop.
But... "The Mejiro Family will pay the part‑timer's wages, Miss Tokai doesn't need to worry about that."
These words, which hit a sore spot, made Tokai Shizen look at Mejiro Ardan.
Mejiro Ardan had no intention of hiding anything. She met Tokai Shizen's gaze directly: "It's a chef hired by the Mejiro Family. After tasting your ramen that day, she has always wanted to come and learn."
"I see,"
Mejiro Ardan's response put Tokai Shizen at ease.
After letting go of her suspicions, Tokai Shizen responded: "This place indeed needs someone's help..."
"That's good, but because the Mejiro Family needs to handle some handover, she will only come next month. Is that okay?"
"Next month..."
Thinking about the remaining time this month, and confirming that these few days would not delay Mochizuki's education, Tokai Shizen nodded: "Then next month it is."
Fifty‑one. The Two Who Missed Each Other.
Arranging her clothes.
Although students should look like students, appearing in public wearing uniforms.
However, given the close ties between the Symbol Family and the Mejiro Family, even Rudolph Symboli had no choice but to change into the clothes prepared by her family.
After placing the last decoration on the table in its proper place, Rudolph Symboli walked out of her room.
She was next to attend the Mejiro Family's family banquet.
And as for the Symbol Family's family banquet?
There were only three members of the main Symbol Family. Speed Symbol was still overseas, so a family banquet was even less likely to happen, thus there was no need to prepare an internal family banquet.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded over 40 chapters of this story on Patreon.
If you're enjoying it and want to read ahead, feel free to check them out here:
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thanks a lot for your support, it really helps me keep going.