"Rice noodle roll is just a name, it has absolutely nothing to do with animal intestines. Don't take words too literally."
Sora was drinking water and nearly choked when he heard Anna's question.
"The wrapper is actually made from rice batter, filled with egg and minced meat. Because the texture is smooth and tender, it got its name."
"Just like the 'mouth mushroom' (button mushroom) we ate last time, it doesn't mean it's exactly the size of a mouthful."
"And American Bullfrog with Fish Head doesn't mean the frog is beautiful, it means the frog comes from America!"
"Eh?"
Anna's eyes quickly lit up.
"American Bullfrog with Fish Head?"
"That's a dish I've completely never heard of."
"I want to eat it!"
"Has Sora eaten it before?"
Anna always possessed immense enthusiasm for foods she had never tasted.
Take the century egg, known as one of the top ten dark cuisines, which ordinary people avoid like the plague. The first time Anna saw it, she bravely tried it to see how salty or plain it was.
"It has a lot of chili peppers, the flavor is very spicy." Sora shook his head, not recommending it.
"Anna probably won't be able to handle the spice."
"You only have the right to speak after you've tried it." Anna's eyes were expectant, completely unbothered.
"After the Sports Festival ends, let's go eat American Bullfrog with Fish Head together, okay?"
Yamada Elf crossed her arms over her chest. Hearing this, her delicate eyebrows furrowed:
"Frogs are actually edible?"
"Wild frogs are a no-go, but farmed frogs are fine." Anna rested her chin on her hands, a look of reminiscence appearing on her pretty face.
"I remember when I was a kid, spending summer vacation at my grandma's house in the countryside. One evening just after it rained, my grandma caught a huge frog and cooked it for me... I can't remember the taste of the frog now, I only remember the frog back then seemed to be gray..."
You've got to be kidding!
A gray one definitely isn't a frog, what you're talking about must be a toad!
"Eh, a gray frog?"
Yamada Elf blinked, quickly thinking of a possibility. She hurriedly raised her hands to cover her chest:
"Anna, is there a possibility..."
Before she could finish, Sora swiftly reached out his right hand and firmly covered Elf's mouth.
"Mmph?"
Yamada Elf tilted her head up in confusion.
"Don't ruin Anna's beautiful childhood memories."
Sora leaned close to Elf's ear and whispered.
"I-Idiot Servant!"
With his warm breath falling on her ear, the temperature of Yamada Elf's small face rapidly rose. In her shyness, she bit down on Sora's hand:
"Too close! You're not allowed to speak by this lady's ear without permission!"
"..."
"I'll taste it first to see how it is."
Sora wiped the saliva off his hand, picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of rice noodle roll, and popped it into his mouth. He found the taste to be quite authentic.
Stare—
Anna, who had been immersed in her memories, quickly snapped back to reality. The ahoge on her head twitched slightly like an activated food radar, and her eyes looked over full of anticipation.
Anna didn't speak. Instead, she laid on the table, her eyes wide open, staring unblinkingly with the moist eyes of a puppy begging its master for food.
Faced with 'Inmate Eight's' expectant gaze, Sora truly couldn't resist. He silently pushed the plate over:
"Want a bite?"
"Thank you, Sora!"
Anna was clearly just waiting for this sentence. She couldn't wait to sit up straight, quickly grabbed a pair of chopsticks, her smile bright and radiant:
"Just one bite."
"I'll just take one bite."
"It's just as Sora said, the texture is smooth and tender. It felt like it slid right into my stomach without me even trying..."
Picking up a piece of rice noodle roll, Anna carefully put it into her mouth. Her round eyes quickly widened, her cheeks puffing in and out, looking exceptionally cute like a little hamster.
It had to be said, eating out with Anna, one never had to worry about lacking an appetite.
Just watching Anna's facial expressions, one could even eat an extra half bowl of rice.
"Mmm~ Delicious!"
Swallowing the rice noodle roll, Anna quickly gave a thumbs up, transforming into a food critic:
"The texture is smooth and tender, melting in the mouth, and you can also taste the bouncy minced meat. The small side dishes inside are fresh and crisp. Paired with the soy sauce and dipping sauce, it has rich layers... Out of ten points, I can give it at least an eight!"
"Is it really that delicious?" Yamada Elf grew interested.
"Sora, I want some too."
"If you want some, grab your own chopsticks."
Yamada Elf picked up a piece of rice noodle roll and curiously put it into her mouth. Her eyes quickly lit up:
"The taste is indeed very good."
"I wasn't wrong, was I?"
As Anna spoke, she reached her chopsticks over again and unceremoniously snatched another piece of rice noodle roll.
"I ate it too fast just now and didn't really taste it. Let me have one more bite..."
Stop making excuses, you clearly just can't stop eating!
A moment later.
The plate of rice noodle rolls was eaten clean.
Aside from Sora taking the first bite, the rest of the rice noodle rolls were completely divided up between Anna and Elf.
"I'm incredibly sorry for actually finishing it all..."
Anna playfully stuck out her delicate pink tongue and brought her hands together in apology:
"I'll compensate Sora later."
As they spoke, the other dishes were brought out one after another.
The dish Anna ordered was a claypot rice with a poached egg and pork floss, along with a small portion of crispy roast duck. As the dishes were served, 'Inmate Eight' didn't hesitate to pick up her chopsticks, grabbing a piece of roast duck for Sora:
"Sora, for you~"
"Me too."
Not wanting to be outdone, Yamada Elf's gaze shifted. She quickly grabbed a pan-fried dumpling and offered it to Sora's lips:
"Idiot Sora, open up."
Sora looked over speechlessly: "Put it down, I'll eat it myself."
I have hands and feet, I don't need you to feed me!
"Hurry up and open your mouth." Yamada Elf's small face flushed slightly, averting her gaze.
"I accidentally ate all the rice noodle rolls just now, this is compensation... It's totally not because I'm curious what it's like to feed a boy."
"Hurry up, hurry up, other people are looking, it's so embarrassing."
If you find it embarrassing, then don't feed someone else!
Faced with Elf's constant urging, Sora helplessly opened his mouth.
The next second.
A pan-fried dumpling was stuffed in.
Sora instinctively bit down. Good heavens, it's actually cilantro-filled.
Seeing this, Anna's cheeks involuntarily puffed up.
Ahhhhh!
A mere Elf, actually stealing my base right in front of me?
I won't let you get away with it!
"Sora, open up."
Anna quickly grabbed a piece of crispy roast duck and offered it to Sora.
Sora swallowed the pan-fried dumpling: "Can I not eat it?"
The tip of his foot under the table felt a slight pain.
Anna looked over with a smile:
"No, you cannot. Hurry up and open your mouth."
"..."
For the rest of the time, Anna and Elf seemed to be competing. The two of them fed Sora from time to time. The other diners in the shop cast envious glances, and only Sora himself knew the hardship involved.
The meal was quickly finished.
After paying their respective bills, the three left the restaurant together.
"Eating and drinking one's fill really is the happiest thing in the world."
Anna clutched her stomach, her pretty face filled with happiness.
The sun was setting in the west.
The evening glow was amber.
Blowing in the refreshing, cool evening breeze, walking beside her beloved childhood friend, her large stomach filled with various delicious foods, Anna felt that happiness had clearly materialized.
But as she walked, Anna suddenly realized she had forgotten something.
Wait.
What about the wish for closeness I made?
Why hasn't it come true yet?
We're going to head home soon, did the diary malfunction?