In the evening, Mejiro Ardan visited again.
However, contrary to expectations, Ardan wasn't alone.
Beside her stood an Uma Musume around the same age as Teio and Natural.
Looking at the unfamiliar girl, Yayoi Natural raised her head questioningly at Mejiro Ardan.
"This is Mejiro McQueen. Due to her exceptional talent, she was transferred from a branch family into the main household. She probably tagged along because she heard we were coming for a taste-test," Ardan explained clearly.
Glancing at McQueen, who clung shyly to Ardan's skirt, Yayoi Natural smiled warmly. "Well, this is just a trial anyway. Having one more opinion on the flavors is always helpful."
McQueen's shy demeanor almost made Yayoi Natural laugh aloud, but she managed to hold it back. "First, try these dishes I made based on recipes. Afterward, I'll adjust according to your feedback."
Saying this, Yayoi Natural placed several pre-prepared dishes onto the table before Mejiro Ardan and Mejiro McQueen.
"I have a few more dishes, but those need to be freshly cooked. Please wait a moment."
Afterward, Yayoi Natural returned to the kitchen.
Watching Natural's retreating figure, Ardan's expression subtly shifted.
The restaurant hadn't changed much over the years. Likewise, Yayoi Natural herself didn't seem to have changed much either.
This realization gave Mejiro Ardan an odd, bittersweet feeling.
After all, several years had already passed.
Shaking off the feeling, Ardan turned her attention back to the dishes in front of her.
Instead of the braised pork trotters Natural had made for Tokai Roman that afternoon, these were different dishes.
The trotters were a distinctly Chinese specialty, not something Japanese people typically ate.
Instead, the dishes before them were cold appetizers.
Cold dishes suited Uma Musume rather well, as many vegetables tended to lose their texture or taste after prolonged heating, becoming somewhat strange to an Uma Musume's palate.
Since China also had plenty of cold appetizers, starting off with these dishes made sense.
But Ardan couldn't help wondering: Would this style really suit the meeting between the two sides?
As she pondered this, McQueen had already picked up a piece with her chopsticks and eagerly taken a bite.
"Delicious!"
Then, without hesitation, McQueen voiced her praise.
Seeing McQueen's blissful expression, Ardan visibly relaxed.
It was only the first day of testing anyway—there was no need to overthink things yet.
One by one, Chinese dishes were placed before them.
Then…
McQueen finished them all.
Looking at the empty plates, Yayoi Natural felt a bit strange.
Theoretically, the portions she'd prepared shouldn't have been so easily finished. But...
Glancing down at McQueen's noticeably swollen stomach, Yayoi Natural sighed helplessly. After all, this was McQueen—infamous for her appetite—so perhaps such a quantity wasn't unusual at all.
Thinking this, Yayoi Natural turned to Ardan: "Well? How was it?"
"Hmm… how should I put this? The seasoning itself has no problems, but…" Ardan paused briefly, using a disposable napkin to gently wipe McQueen's mouth before continuing, "Maybe we should include some Japanese-style dishes as well?"
"True enough. Japanese dishes probably don't require too many adjustments though, right?"
Hearing Ardan's suggestion, Natural casually responded, but quickly reconsidered. "Ah, you're right—we'll still need to adapt them to suit the tastes over there."
Realizing this, Yayoi Natural looked up at Mejiro Ardan again. "When are you scheduled to meet the Chinese side?"
"That won't happen immediately."
Ardan thought briefly before giving an uncertain timeline: "Probably in about a week."
"A week, huh…"
"Yes. It seems the Chinese side intends to contact a few Uma Musume families first, so it might take longer. But when it comes to Japan's Uma Musume families…" Ardan trailed off, shaking her head with a helpless expression.
Natural easily understood the meaning behind Ardan's frustration—it was simply Japan's habitual xenophobia.
Understanding this clearly, Yayoi Natural didn't comment further. Instead, she continued based on the one-week timeframe: "One week should be enough to make basic adjustments. Will we need entirely new dishes?"
Natural turned her head, looking questioningly at Mejiro Ardan.
"New dishes…"
Ardan briefly glanced around the restaurant.
Though the place currently had very few customers…
"Can you handle the extra workload?"
She asked this politely and considerately.
"Please, don't mock me." Yayoi Natural gave a wry smile, looking off into the distance as she spoke. "After reopening, the popularity we built before has dropped off considerably."
Natural's voice was filled with helplessness.
Seeing Natural's situation, Mejiro Ardan considered silently for a few seconds before speaking again: "Regarding the development costs for new dishes, the Mejiro Family will cover them. As for the recipes afterward…"
"That's not really an issue. You're free to take them; my small restaurant probably won't ever use dishes suitable for banquets."
Yayoi Natural's generous response made Mejiro Ardan smile gently but helplessly. "We're very grateful for the recipes. We'll offer additional payment for them, of course."
"No need, really—I wasn't planning to run a high-end restaurant anyway."
Hearing Natural's words, Ardan's expression softened, gratitude clearly visible on her face.
Afterward, Ardan stood up. "I'll come again tomorrow."
"Me too."
Ardan's response was expected.
But McQueen's sudden enthusiasm…
Looking at McQueen standing seriously beside Ardan, staring earnestly at her, Yayoi Natural smiled warmly. "Alright then, McQueen, come back tomorrow too."
After saying this, Yayoi Natural turned back to Ardan. "I won't see you out, then."
"No need to."
With these words, Mejiro Ardan left the restaurant, taking McQueen with her.
After their departure, silence returned to the restaurant once again.
Looking around at the nearly empty establishment, Yayoi Natural sighed softly.
"When will I finally start turning a profit…?"
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