novellhall 17. Asahi Family Meals
17. Asahi Family Meals
When I got back to the apartment, it was almost nine o'clock.
Before the painting studio left, Odakuraji extended an invitation to Aoyama Genji, saying that he and the company's senior executives would organize a welcome party for him at an izakaya (Japanese pub).
Genji Aoyama refused.
hum-
[Yuko: Are you home yet?]
The sound of the door closing must have reached the next door. Genji Aoyama smiled, his thoughts drifting back to the afternoon he walked home from school with Yuko Asahi earlier that day.
Yuko Asahi was in a good mood at the time, and on her way back, she told Genji Aoyama about the story she had read in the company magazine.
The story begins with a girl named Hanami who owes the male protagonist money for various reasons, and later repays the money by making bento boxes.
Inspired by this, Yuko Asahi also shared her thoughts with Genji Aoyama.
Yuko Asahi decides to become a little chef and plans to cover Genji Aoyama's lunch and dinner, but it won't be free.
Just like with Hanami, after eating, you have to ask Aoyama Genji to calculate the bill.
For the past few days, Aoyama Genji has been having lunch at the school cafeteria. The cafeteria at Hakutsuru High School is outsourced, so safety and nutrition are not an issue, and while the taste is acceptable, it's definitely not good.
Dinner was a fast food bento box, which tasted so-so. After reheating it in the microwave, the taste was surprisingly bad.
Furthermore, just like takeout in my previous life, bento boxes always give people the feeling that "eating too much of them is unhealthy".
For these reasons, Genji Aoyama gladly accepted Yuko Asahi's proposal.
Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Genji Aoyama began replying to her messages.
[Aoyama: Yeah, I'll be there in a bit.]
After sticking notes filled with his recent plans on his desk, he left the room, walked to the door of Yuko Asahi's room next door, and knocked on the old iron door.
A few seconds later, Asahi Yuko opened the door.
Good evening, Aoyama-kun.
Yuko Asahi had changed into a long dress for home and was wearing an apron over it.
Her jet-black hair was styled in a bun at the back of her head, with a few wisps of hair falling beside her delicate ears, making her look exceptionally graceful.
Yes, she has both the innocence of a young girl and a touch of wifely charm.
Decided.
Regardless of how good or bad the food Asahi Yuko made tonight is, it's worth at least one copy of Natsume Soseki!
"Good evening." He walked into the room.
Entering a girl's room for the first time in his life, Genji Aoyama's gaze was quite bold as he began to scrutinize Yuko Asahi's room.
Because they were in the same apartment building, and even next door, the layout of his room was almost identical.
Upon entering, you'll find the entryway, where the sink, stove, and washroom are located. Beyond the entryway lies the combined dining room, living room, and bedroom area.
There was a narrow balcony with undried clothes hanging on a simple clothes rack.
He couldn't help but glance at the underwear, including simple, pure white lingerie and stockings.
I took a deep breath; the room was filled with the aroma of laundry detergent and food.
"The food is here... but I feel like your gaze is a bit lewd."
"That's not true."
Genji Aoyama glanced at it again, then went to the desk, which was now being used as a dining table.
In this respect, the two are exactly the same.
Asahi's family's dinner was simple but a good mix of meat and vegetables: pan-fried salmon slices, boiled broccoli, and tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet), all served on one plate.
The main dish is a small bowl of rice, in addition to a bowl of soup.
It looks alright, but it looks a bit plain. Aoyama Genji isn't picky about food; he can accept anything as long as it's not raw.
"I apologize for the poor hospitality, Mr. Aoyama, please have a taste." Asahi Yuko's eyes were full of anticipation.
Genji Aoyama picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of salmon.
The outer skin was fried to a perfect crisp, while the fish inside was tender and juicy, and tasted delicious.
The young female cook has good cooking skills.
The aroma of salmon oil burst on his tongue, and Genji Aoyama quickly shoveled down a mouthful of rice and took a sip of seaweed soup.
"How do you think they're worth?" Asahi Yuko asked with a smile.
"Asahi, you're being a bit despicable."
Genji Aoyama glanced at her, his expression serious.
Is "despicable" a word used to describe whether food tastes good or bad?
Yuko Asahi's expression seemed to say, "You're being very rude!"
"It feels like you're trying to tie me down through my stomach and then take away my fortune." Genji Aoyama took another bite of broccoli; it was crisp, sweet, and quite delicious.
"Why does it escalate to dividing up the family property just because we're having a meal?" Asahi Yuko tilted her head.
"You cook for me every day, and I'll fall in love with you because you cook so well, and eventually we'll marry each other."
It's probably this delicious.
"...What nonsense are you talking about?"
Just kidding.
Genji Aoyama smiled, picked up another piece of tamagoyaki and put it in his mouth, then put down his chopsticks and gave Yuko Asahi a thumbs up: "Five ants."
"How much...?" Asahi Yuko tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
I'll tell you after I finish eating.
While eating his meal, Genji Aoyama chatted casually with Yuko Asahi.
"Have you studied cooking before? Was it taught at home?"
Yuko Asahi shook her head, a thoughtful expression on her face, before finally speaking softly after a while.
"I started learning to cook for myself when I was about six years old. During junior high school, I helped out at a relative's izakaya for a while."
The originally melodious voice now carried a hint of sorrow, as if recalling the past.
"I see..." Genji Aoyama picked up another piece of tamagoyaki, put it in his mouth and chewed. "Asahi is really amazing."
After saying that, he began to focus on the food in front of him.
There's no way to ask any further.
Even a slight probing caused Asahi Yuko's mood to plummet.
Or rather, her mind was even more sensitive than Aoyama Genji thought.
Even with the groundwork laid, the desired effect was not achieved.
After finishing his meal, Aoyama Genji conscientiously put his bowl and chopsticks into the sink to wash them.
"One thousand yen." He said with a smile.
It's not that he's unwilling to give more.
Instead, giving more to such a sensitive person would only be harmful.
"So much? I thought you'd only give me 600 yen."
Yuko Asahi seemed to have adjusted herself, and her tone returned to normal, her voice pleasant and melodious.
Of course, there's an even worse possibility, which is the state when things aren't normal.
"It's about 600 yen, but Asahi-kun is so beautiful, it's worth the price!"
Genji Aoyama smiled and put the bowls and chopsticks back in their proper places, his movements as practiced as if they had lived together for a while.
He recalled a sentence the system had said when it was first activated.
"I feel like Aoyama-kun, what you're saying today is a bit... disgusting?" Asahi Yuko's eyes showed a bit of disgust, but she didn't protest against Aoyama Genji paying more.
"dislike?"
Aoyama Genji looked distressed. "Let me put it another way. In a maid cafe, the omelet rice that has been enchanted by the maids can sell for 2000 yen, which is much more expensive than the omelet rice outside, but people still like it."
I really enjoyed the food made by the beautiful girl herself, and I was willing to pay the premium.
"Does Aoyama-kun seem quite knowledgeable?" Asahi Yuko glanced at him.
"I've never been to a place like that. I only told you to make you happy." Genji Aoyama smiled, took out a thousand yen from his wallet, and handed it to Yuko Asahi.
Looking at Natsume Soseki's portrait on the coin, a thought inexplicably flashed through his mind.
"If you impose some objective purpose on a person from the very beginning, it is tantamount to taking away their freedom from birth."
Because of him, he has inevitably become associated with Yuko Asahi.
Therefore, regardless of the consequences, whether Aoyama Genji likes it or not, he will take it seriously.