Chapter 22
Saturdays at Yuki-Neko
On another Saturday, Erina has decided to do some volunteer work at Yuki-Neko as she stays for another week while her grandfather has some business to attend to. She made her announcement to them on Friday to let them know as Hisako joins as well. It was a huge shock to everyone, especially to Saiba, Yuki and even Hisako herself. With no choice, Saiba decides to teach them a thing or two. Especially about certain types of customers.
He gives them a tour, "Alright. You've already seen the kitchen and the main dining area. But we do have a few special rooms."
He takes them to an area behind the dining room. It is dark with a few electric bulb candles, black drapes and curtains, a fancy table made of some sort of green wood along with a fancy set of chairs.
"This here is where our two vampire customers go. They don't like being in sunlight and are hunted by persecutors. This here is a safe haven for them. They always enjoy beefsteak with onions along with a glass of red wine."
"Let me guess; it has to be in a similar shade to blood." Erina asks.
"That is correct. We have a few bottles in the wine cooler in the storage room."
"What are there names?" Hisako asks.
"Romero and Julietta."
"Huh?" the two girls went.
"Doesn't that sound like characters from Romeo and Juliet?" Hisako asks.
"Romeo and Juliet?" Saiba is a little lost, "Never heard of them. Anyway, off to the storage room."
The three use the elevator to head down to the storage room. Once the elevator pings, the doors open and they head in.
"This is the storage room, or some call it the 'pantry room'. May need some help getting some stuff up to the kitchen. Hisako, can you get the cobbler's tumors in the box over there?"
"Cobbler's tumors? Oh, you mean potatoes."
"Exactly. And Erina, would you please bring up the bottle of whiskey while I handle the other vegetables? We're gonna need those for the dwarves."
"Sure."
The three went back up the elevator to prepare for the arrival of the customers. Once back up to the restaurant, Aletta is already there and changed into her waitress outfit.
"Oh! Hello!" Aletta is surprised.
"These two are volunteering for the day." Saiba says. "They wish to know more about the various species of this world and the type of food they prefer."
'Hello, everyone.' Kuro uses her telepathy.
"Whoa!" Hisako went. Taken by surprise by Kuro's telepathy. "Can that woman speak with her mouth?"
"You're gonna have to get use to it."
The bell to the door starting ringing as the first customer has arrived.
"Welcome!" Aletta greets the guests.
The first guests are the vampires, Romero and Julietta.
"Hello again." says Romero. "We'll have our usual in the dark room."
"Allow me!" Hisako runs over to the kitchen.
"You said regular elves are vegans, right?" Erina asks. "Like what you said back at the club?"
"Correct. Now let's head into the kitchen before the other customers show up. And please, nothing too fancy."
The bell to the door rings as more guests show up to dine in.
"Welcome." Hisako greets Heinrich Seeleman. "Allow me to show you to your seat."
"You're new." Heinrich says to Hisako.
"Only temporary." Hisako shows Heinrich his seat, "I'm one of Saiba's classmates at Totsuki."
Heinrich sits down, "Ah yes. The school of chefs." Hisako gives him his wet towel and water. "I'll have three plates of fried shrimp with tartar sauce with a glass of draft beer."
Hisako writes it down, "Got it."
Another person comes through the door. Correction, two with both of them being red scaled lamias with red hair and golden eyes with black slits. One is wearing an elaborate golden headpiece on her head that represents some sort of authority. Another is a smaller lamia. Hisako is shocked to see them as she has never seen lamias before. The older lamia is Lucia, also known as, Scotch Egg.
"Uh, welcome." she acts nervous.
"Oh my." says the older lamia. "What a pretty new face."
Hisako blushes, "Al-l-llow me to show you two your seats!" Hisako shows them to one of the tables where both can sit for their snake-like bodies.
"Well have two Scotch Egg dishes and twenty more to go."
"Twenty?" Hisako asks.
"Yes, my granddaughters really love them."
"Granddaughters?" Hisako finds it hard to believe for someone who look so young and beautiful to be a grandmother.
"And I'm her granddaughter, too." says the younger lamia.
Hisako is trying to process what they just said.
"HEY!" Lionel shouts, "GIVE ME A PORK CUTLET RICE BOWL!"
Hisako snaps out of it, "R-right! Coming!"
In the kitchen, Tenshu is already working on the pork cutlets for Lionel's pork cutlet rice bowls as well as the fried shrimp. Saiba just finished the beefsteaks with onions and puts them on a tray and puts it out for Aletta, Kuro or Hisako. Erina is already working on the scotch eggs and try to make the sauce a little better based on her standards.
"Erina." Saiba is upset with Erina.
Erina stops what she is doing and nervously freeze.
"Are you doing what I think you're doing?"
Erina gulps, "Um...well..."
Saiba walks over and does the sauce, "Do anything like that again, you're out. Keep in mind that not all species have the same taste buds as humans. Some creatures, like lamias and lion beastmen, have carnivorous appetites which they have fewer than most. Some species, like centaurs for instance, are more like herbivores which their taste buds are a bit more sensitive and can taste every detail of the flavors. I may have to explain that in the next club meeting." Saiba finishes, "And done."
Erina continues to make the scotch eggs and heard the advice he gave. "I'll keep that in mind."
Hisako shows up, "We got an order of two seafood plates, two draft beers and whiskey!"
"On it!" Saiba gets to work on the seafood.
Kuro shows up and uses telepathy, 'An order of three plates of minced meat cutlets and minced meat cutlet sandwiches to go.'
Aletta then shows up, "Got an order of curry rice!"
"Got it!"
Some time has passed and Yuki-Neko is already crowded with people from various locations. Gaganpo is already enjoying his third plate of rice omelettes before given the three to go. Thomas Alfade and his grandson, Sirius, are enjoying a plate of spaghetti with meat sauce. Shareef and Renner are there with their favorite beverages as they discuss somethings with Adelheid as she enjoys her parfait. Terry, Kento and Jack are enjoying their cheeseburgers and fries with Pakke and Pikke enjoying their croquettes with knight sauce. Tatsugoro and Altorius are in their usual spot enjoying their drinks and their favorite dishes. Victoria is there as she enjoys her pudding a la mode as her niece and nephew enjoy their kid's meals. Thomas, a human adventurer, enjoys a blanc mote.
"Another pork cutlet rice bowl!" Lionel shouts, but Kuro already given him one. He looks at her, "How'd you know?"
"Quite a lot of people." Hisako notes.
"Yeah, but it can be a bit hectic when people fight over who's dish is better." Aletta says.
"Huh?"
"Come one now!" says Tatsugoro.
"And there it is." Aletta say as if on cue.
"Why not try teriyaki chicken with sake?" he tries to get Altorius to try out his dish. "I bet it taste just as well with beer."
"If that's so, then why don't you have it with beer instead of sake?"
"Because I'm a traditional man."
"Using that excuse again?"
Heinrich says to the two, "Fried shrimp is better with beer and sake if you ask me."
"You stay out of this!" Tatsugoro and Altorius lash out at Heinrich.
"Minced meat cutlets are better with a mug of beer." Sarah speaks her mind.
"What?!" Heinrich is shocked, "No way. Fried shrimp taste great with beer."
One of the dwarves say, "I think any fried seafood taste great with beer."
"Here, here!" says the other.
Heinrich looks at the two dwarves, "At least someone gets it."
"What do you think, Gard?"
"Well, I think squid and scallops are better than fried shrimp."
"And I have been betrayed." Heinrich feels betrayed by his fellow seafood lovers.
"Although, I would like to try seafood pasta." Alfade says. "I wonder if it is good with beer."
"According to Tenshu, I'm underage." says his grandson.
"Hey now!" Aletta says to the customers, "You all should behave. Or otherwise, Yuki will show up with a bad temper, again."
Everyone clam up and just resume eating their dishes.
"Let's just enjoy our food in peace."
"AGREE." everyone in the restaurant agrees.
Hisako asks Aletta, "Do you always use Mrs. Yukihira as an excuse to keep the customers calm?"
Aletta smiles at Hisako, "That, or never serve them food again."
"I see." Hisako has a large sweat drop on the back of her head.
In the kitchen, Erina is keeping up with Tenshu and Saiba as the restaurant gets more and more crowded with not just the weekly regulars but regular regulars as well.
"To be honest," Erina speaks her mind as she makes some fried shrimp, "I never thought that commoner restaurants would be this busy."
Saiba flips a few burgers, "This is nothing." He smiles, "You should've been here during the winter holidays. Now that was one of the busiest times of the year."
"You said it." Tenshu chuckles as he makes curry. "We had people wait in line in the snow a few times. It wasn't a pretty sight when some didn't get a hot drink."
Aletta shows up, "Another order of curry rice with ice coffee!"
"Got it!" Tenshu says.
"Is Hisako doing alright?" Erina asks Aletta.
"A bit hesitant since we're being swarmed with customers, but Kuro is helping her out!"
"Good!" she then place the fried shrimp with cola on a tray. "Fried shrimp's ready!"
"On it!"
The work continues on as the hour grows late and the sun sets in the horizon. Many of the customers have gone for the day. However, one comes in in such an hour. The bell rings as the door swings open.
"Welcome." Hisako greets probably the last customer. "Hello, um, ma'am." She blushes as she sees Red Queen. 'It's her. The red dragon goddess.'
"Hello again, little lady." Red smiles at Hisako. She takes her seat, "I'll take my usual beef stew, please."
"Understood."
Hisako goes over to the kitchen, "Erina, that dragon goddess is back."
Erina holds a bowl of beef stew, "Got it." Erina personally delivers the stew herself. "Here you go, madam. Beef stew I personally prepared."
"Oh." Red seems slightly amused. "Saiba usually makes them and the way he prepares it is done so splendidly. Yet I always wondered how others prepare it." Yet she gives Erina a serious look, "However, if it isn't up to my standards; you will burn."
Erina's face goes blue with the threat of death over her. Usually, Erina scoffs and mocks a person that delivers such a threat. But this time, she is facing against a dragon goddess. One of the great dragon gods of this world. Angering an actual god would mean instant death. Red taste a slow bite from her spoon and her eyes glisten.
"Oh my." she says. "It is quite delicious. Not as great as Saiba's beef stew, but this is quite elegant."
Erina sighs in relief.
As Red enjoys her prized jewel of a dish, Senzaemon enters.
"Pardon my intrusion." He takes a seat close to the kitchen. "I just need to rest my weary bones." The headmaster pulls out an envelope from his kimono. "And this." He presents it to Red and gives Kuro the same white envelope that has the school's seal on it.
Alphonse is sitting on his chair at his home as a maid comes in with a letter.
"Yes?" he questions the maid, "What is it?"
"Pardon me, Sir Alphonse, but there is a letter for you." She shows the same envelope that Senzaemon gave Kuro and Red.
"Oh? Let me see."
The maid hands him the letter. Alphonse opens and reads the letter.
"Let's see here. Hmm... Mmm-hmm... Mmm? Oh! Being a judge for Totsuki Academy's Fall Selection, eh?" His eyes widen, "And the theme is otherworld curry cuisine!? Haha! I'm in!"
In the mountain cabin inn in the mountains, Guilhem and Gard received the same letter.
"What does it say, Guil?"
Guilhem reads the letter, "It says that we're to partake in Totsuki Academy's Fall Selection. Something about fish in the final round."
"Sound interesting. But isn't Totsuki the place where that Saiba kid enrolled at in the other world?"
"I believe so." Guilhem confirms as he looks away at the letter.
"That should be interesting!" Gard seems excited. "Not only we get to see what new seafood dishes there are, but more about the different crafts they have."
"I know! I've only seen a few pictures at the restaurant, but to fully see them up close and in person."
"HA-hahaha-ha!" Lionel laughs in his room as he holds the letter. "It would be wonderful to try out some new dishes! Hopefully something just as good as my pork cutlet rice bowls!"
"HEY!" says one of the gladiators, "Keep it down, I'm trying to sleep!"
AN: Before you say anything, only the unnamed judges will be replaced. Not the judges that are named.
Back in the restaurant Red reads the letter, "Oh. Now this is interesting."
Kuro reads her letter and smiles a little when discovering that the preliminary round is about curry.
Saiba leans over, "Well all be darn! So the preliminary is about curry! I'm pretty sure Alphonse would love that."
Senzaemon says, "Please don't tell the other students about this. It's suppose to be a surprise."
Saiba salutes, "Got it!"
And so, Saiba and Hisako prepare for the Fall Selection's Preliminary Round which is; Otherwordly Curry Cuisine! Curry dishes that uses ingredients from the Special Region. Just what kind of ingredients will they make and how are the others gonna try to incorporate them? Who will participate? They all have to wait until autumn for the results and everyone reading this will have to wait for the next chapter.
TO BE CONTINUED...