Chapter 06
Raeger came earlier than he used to be for this year's Cooking Exhibition. He was so curious about how would Minori's cooking be for today and he couldn't stop thinking about it since last night. "I just hope she'll be okay. Well, it's her first entry since her first coming to Oak Tree Town, right?" He thought it by himself while looking around before he finally could see Minori's figure from behind, among those people who came, without any efforts. It surely surprised him too but he still didn't want to think about it that much so he just stood still and waited for the beginning of the festival.
Raeger didn't have to wait that long when Veronica came up to the stage and gave some opening speech and introduce Saffron as the judge. It took some time before finally Saffron began to taste those food displayed.
"It's always nice just to see and smell good foods, isn't it?" Lillie who stood near Raeger asked him, tried to start a conversation. "I love good foods."
Raeger smiled a bit and nodded his head. "Yes. It's nice to see people's efforts to show their cooking skills."
"I hope Minori is doing fine for this year competition. This is her first time to compete, right?" Lillie showed a little worry toward the farmer girl.
"What's wrong with first time competing? Everyone on the stage has their own first time too in competing. You need not to worry. Besides, she's Minori, the one who takes care of the abandon farm and makes it quite fruity for now. She'll be fine." Raeger forgot that he also thought the same as Lillie before.
"Huh?" Lillie quite surprised that Raeger could easily compliment someone, especially for the opposite gender. "I never knew you could compliment someone like that, Raeger. How rare..."
Raeger surprised by being told like that. He then quickly defended himself. "No, I just thought of how we should cheer her up since we're from the same town and none of our people here competing except her."
"Well... that's true... This year, people seem not interested, especially ones who used to get into the competition like Fritz. Oh, by the way, I haven't seen Fritz today. I should go and find him."
"Why?"
"I want to buy his flowers to make a bouquet for my deceased mother."
"I see..." Raeger nodded a while before looked around to find Fritz. "Ah, I could see him. Let's go there."
"You too?" asked Lillie, rather surprised.
"I have a business to attend to with Fritz," answered him, smiling.
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"And the winner is Minori from Tanpopo's Farm!" Veronica made an announcement of the winner from main dish theme. Every Oak Tree Town people shouted in happy tone to congratulate Minori. The farmer girl also got her presents as the winner of this year's Cooking Exhibition. She went here and there to talk with people she knew until she reached Raeger.
"Congratulations. Now that I know who won this competition, I should prepare myself for better recipes so I won't lose my face," said Raeger half joking and half serious. "But hey, how about quitting the farm business and run the restaurant with me? I'd be glad to have a cook like you in my restaurant."
"Thank you. It's not like I'll take the restaurant business from you." Minori seemed more cheerful after winning the competition. "They told me that my cooking will be prized good enough if I were to sell it to vendors. Isn't it wonderful? I'm glad I won."
Raeger just smiled and nodded.
"Oh yes, this is for you," said Minori while giving a medium sized lunch box to the chef. "My promise from yesterday, a portion of Sea Urchin Rice Lunch Box, not bowl."
Raeger chuckled a bit and accepted the lunch box. "Thanks. I believe it should be delicious since you won today's competition."
"Well, if it is compared with your cooking, I don't have enough confidence to say it's delicious..."
Raeger shook his head a bit. "No, thank you. I'll make sure to enjoy this food when eating."
Minori just smiled before saying, "Well, I have to go back to work. There are things that I haven't finished since I was in a hurry for the exhibition. See you later, Raeger."
"See you later, Minori."
Raeger just kept his smile while watching the farmer girl went away, leaving the festival ground. For a moment, Raeger looked at the lunch box he's holding and he smiled once more. "Sea Urchin Rice Lunch Box, huh? What a long name..."
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