Chapter 05

It was another rainy day for Oak Tree Town and it made Raeger as gloomy as the gray sky he saw that day. "It's going to be a very long day today..." He murmured to himself while looked out of the window of his restaurant. "My sweet shortcake! She really has nothing to do other than foraging?"

He stood still on his feet while watching the farmer girl he knew for a quite some time now. There were thunders outside with a heavy rain, but Minori ran around town to do everything she needed to do. He saw her in front of his restaurant for some time before going somewhere else.

Raeger really never could understand that young lady, especially when he heard knocks on his door. Curious who it was, Raeger came down to the first floor and was really surprised that it was Minori who stood in front of his door, soaking wet.

"Minori?!" Raeger panicked himself while allowing that farmer got into his restaurant. "What were you thinking? It's 7 pm and it's still raining hard outside with that many—-many thunders! Just how stubborn will you be?!"

"Relax, Raeger. I got used to it now," she said while giving her warm smile although she felt cold. "Now, I need some help from you."

"Help?" Raeger's voice still raised that time and he realized that. He then cleared his throat to make sure he could control his tone.

"Let me buy some rice from you. I believe you have some stocks for restaurant."

Raeger could not understand anything about her. He gave out a sigh. It seemed like he couldn't get angry to his neighbor for a long time and he didn't understand why. "It's not like I mind, but... what is it for?"

"Tomorrow is The Cooking Exhibition, right?" asked her excitedly. "I'm planning to enter my dish too and decided to cook something related with rice."

"...Oh..." Raeger sounded as if he didn't interested in but it was because he didn't know what to say. "...O..kay..."

"And since I'm so busy with my farm work, I forgot to buy rice for myself and missed Sakura Country that time and forgot that today, none will come because of the rain. So I was wondering if you perhaps could share me some. I'll pay for it too, as much as you paid to Sakura Country."

"Tell me what you're going to cook first and I'll consider it," he said.

"Eeehhh..." Minori hesitated so much. "But, won't you come out to enter your dish too? It means I'm digging in my own grave."

"No, Minori. I'm a professional chef so I am not allowed to enter the competition as you do." Raeger shook his head a little. "Besides, it's raining today so it means there will be no way I will go around and telling people about what you are going to cook for the festival."

Minori stopped herself for a while, thinking before finally nodded. "Okay. It's Sea Urchin Rice Bowl."

When Raeger heard that idea, he startled for a moment. How could he not be? Sea Urchin Rice Bowl was his most favorite food of all.

"I found some sea urchin these days on river so I'm planning to make a good use of them." Minori added herself, still thinking. "Do you think it's too plain?"

"Why would I think it is? As a chef, I am not allowed to think poorly of any food. All foods are my inspirations to stay alive."

"So? Will you let me buy some of your rice?" Minori asked once again.

"Stay here, you'll ruin my restaurant because you're soaking wet. I'll give you some portions for free but you have to save me a bowl for tomorrow," said Raeger while he went into his kitchen.

"Sure! Cooking for two is not that much a problem since it's as easy as cooking for one!"

Raeger just smiled and put some rice into a nice and strong plastic for Minori. When he finished, he returned to her and gave her his share. "I hope you didn't fail at cooking it or I'll be sad for the poor ingredients."

"I won't. I'm a quite good cook for myself. I guess... Well... Yeah... I believe so..." Minori seemed hesitated a bit before she was back with her smile. "Okay, I had my need fulfilled. I shouldn't bother you any longer. Thank you for the treat, Raeger. I promise to save you a bowl tomorrow."

"Be careful on your way home, will you?" Raeger shouted as Minori left him in a hurry because of the heavy rain.

"I will!" Minori shouted back from her distance.

Strange enough, Raeger still could see her smile toward him in the heavy rain that day.

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