A/N: oO things are getting pretty cold around here haha... anyway, here is the next chapter uploaded! it's a silly chap though -- but nevertheless, enjoy!!! Bon apetite
CHAPTER 13
"Ei? Where's Isumi and Kurata-san?" Hikaru asks when they are out of the hotel.
"Isu... Isumi is not feeling well. Kurata-san says he have things to do..." Waya answered in a fearful voice. This is the first time he sees Hikaru in such an angry condition...
Silence.
"... What do you guys want to have for breakfast?" Yashiro tries to sound cheerful. He holds himself responsibility for what happened although it has got nothing to do with him.
"Chinese Dim Sum." Ochi said. Although he is not much of a food-expert but he certainly made the right choice. He still remembers his grandfather's reminder of the most common and delicious breakfast for the Chinese people.
"I thought only Hong Kong is famous with that." Waya answered as if reading Ochi's mind.
"Whatever..." Hikaru would opt for ramen if given a choice but he's not in a condition to argue. Moreover, he just shouted at Ochi. Agreeing to his choice of food is like giving in and equivalent of compensation to him.
"Where's the restaurant for Chinese Dim Sum? There are mostly noodles shops around here... Ducks... steamboat..." Waya points at each shop but none appears to sell Dim Sum. They are getting more confused.
"Hey, I thought Chinese are famous for Dim Sum? Where's the dim sum shop? I'm starving! Why don't we just have something in one of these restaurants?" Yashiro can no longer withhold his hunger.
"Some places focus the same type of restaurant in one area." Ochi explains.
"What? I don't get it." Hunger makes Honda's brain slower.
"Just like there might be an area or street that is full with Dim Sum Restaurants." Ochi says impatiently.
"Then how are we going to look for the street? Why don't we just ask someone for direction?" At this point, everyone looks at Hikaru (who said that) and then looks at each other in a circle. They have come to a conclusion that NONE of them speaks nor understands Chinese!
"Oh god..." Yashiro covers his face with his hand. It's a mistake to follow this group of impulsive people.
"Then, where are we?" Ah, what a simple sentence said by Honda but it makes everyone panics.
"Yea! Where are we?" Hikaru looks at this unfamiliar surrounding. They have been walking and walking without knowing where they are heading!
"Map! Where's the map?" Yashiro asks Waya but Waya only gave him a blank look.
"Don't tell me you didn't... Oh no! What were you thinking!? Coming out without a map!?" Yashiro can't expect anyone to be more careless.
"I left it in my room!!! And I never expect you guys to forget too!" Waya pouts silently. He was near tears. Perhaps it's better to just stay in the hotel like Isumi and Touya.
"Alright... let's go back to where we came from..." Hikaru said and then gasp in horror when none of them could remember the route. Soon enough, everyone is accusing each other as the root of the problem.
"Ochi shouldn't have said anything about Chinese Dim Sum! Can't we have a simple breakfast at a nearby stall!?" Yashiro shouts.
"What!? Chinese Dim Sum is supposed to be common! How do I know it's so difficult to look for!?" Ochi shouted back.
"Waya should have brought a map." Honda commented.
"What!? Why must I bring a map? Why can't you bring a map on your own!? Why do you rely on me!?" Waya could not retain his anger.
"You should have look twice before going out next time!" Honda answers back.
"I wouldn't have asked you to join us if Hikaru did not say so!"
"Oh great, now we are lost. I am so thankful." Honda replies sarcastically.
"Fine! There won't be a next time!!!"
"It's Hikaru's fault! If he didn't argue with Touya, he could have come and we will have an interpreter!" Ochi shouts loud enough to overcome the other two's voice.
Hikaru who didn't plan to take part in the argument looks sadly at Ochi. Yea, in one way he's right.
"I'm sorry..." Hikaru replies gloomily. That's the only thing he can do.
"Hey Ochi, you shouldn't say that! It's not Hikaru's fault!!!" Waya defends his love interest.
"No... he's right... if only I did not act so childish, he won't be mad and he might be here with us..."
"Forget it... whatever happens, happens. Now we should figure out a way to identify our location." Yashiro pats on Hikaru's shoulder to show support for his friend.
"Yea... now is not the time to put the blame on anyone." Honda too, comes back to his senses.
"But where should we start? There's a main road and few small paths..." Waya looks around, confused.
"Follow the main road is safer." Hikaru leads the way.
And so our group of tired kishi walks along the main road without knowing where they are heading. Everyone's stomach is growling but Ochi refuses to stop unless they are able to find a Dim Sum shop. He didn't want to give in and puts all the blame on Hikaru who remain silence and did not defend himself. Finally... after half an hour of walking groggily, they found it...! Restaurants that serves Dim Sum!!! There are so many of them along the street full with people!!! I'll say a haven for Dim Sum lovers! Our heroes felt as though they had crossed the Sahara desert to find an oasis.
"We are finally here! We made it alive!!!" Waya's happy tears flow down his cheek.
"Hurry up! Let's grab a seat." Yashiro speed off to the first restaurant.
"Wait." Ochi stops him.
"What are you waiting for?" Honda asks.
"According to the analysis of human psychology, the safest bet on a chain of unfamiliar restaurants is to eat at the busiest restaurant. Or eat at the restaurant with most customers."
"It doesn't matter. All of them look the same." Yashiro finds himself getting more irritated at Ochi.
"Of course it matters. If you want to eat, it has got to be the best" and walks ahead of them, browsing through every restaurant to identify one which looks the busiest or full with customers. The others tagged along with embarrassment as the Chinese people look on curiously.
"Ah, this one!" Ochi points at one of the restaurant and called the others in. However, this restaurant is so particularly full that there are no seats available.
"You have got to be kidding me." Yashiro gave the Ochi an angry look. They have to wait for seats. The worst part is, most of the customers seem to be enjoying tea and chatting with their friends/ families. There's no sign of anyone leaving!
"Are they going to sit here forever?" Waya is tired of walking and now standing while waiting for SOMEONE to leave the table. They are not the only people waiting for a table... there are a few families already waiting from the beginning.
After 20 minutes of wait and they still can't get a table,
"Alright. That's it." Yashiro walks out of the restaurant.
"Where are you going?" Hikaru pulls him.
"To the next restaurant. I believe they should have a table available. I don't want to stand here and wait like a dummy when I don't even know whether we will be able to get a table after an hour. I have endured the hunger to come this far but from now on, I will not tolerate with that mushroom head." Like the saying goes: a hungry man is an angry man.
"I'll go with you." Honda and Waya follow him.
"Ochi, let's go over there. Yashiro is right. Even if the restaurant is full it doesn't mean their food tastes better."
"He just can't endure hunger. Let them go. I'll wait here myself. You go with them too!" he turned his head away from Hikaru.
Hikaru walks to the next restaurant that's got fewer customers. They found an empty table at the back and settle down. A waitress came to take their order.
"Er... how do you say niku-man in Chinese?" Waya asks the others holding the menu.
"Is it in the menu? If it is, just point it to her which one you want." Hikaru suggests. This is the best way when verbal communication doesn't work. Since Japanese also uses kanji, they don't have much problem reading Chinese words because they are similar.
"That's a good one!" Honda praises and starts pointing at the menu to place his order.
"What about Ochi?" Hikaru asks in a concern manner after the waiter left.
"I'll talk to him. He's just testing our patience." Waya walks out.
Waya manage to talk Ochi into joining them since the other restaurant was so busy they did not heed him. Worst of all, they don't understand what he says when he argues that the table given to another customer should be his because he's there first.
"Come on, the food is already here..." Waya made him sit next to Hikaru. Ochi is still sulking. Yashiro, Hikaru and Honda are already feasting on the variety of dumplings they ordered.
"What is this? It's good!' Yashiro did not bother when Honda comments that he's finishing all the food on the table.
"I think I heard the girl said 'siew mai' ... something like that..."
"Get another plate of that" Yashiro is waiving to the waiter.
"The dumplings here are good!" Honda said while munching his food. Then continues,"Ochi, this place is much better than the restaurant next door."
"Hn." Ochi ate his food quietly. He hates to lose and he hates to give in but this time, they are right.
Chinese Dim Sum—a traditional Chinese food! I'm sure most of you know about it. For those who are not sure, they are actually variety of dumplings which comes in small plates and small portions. Each plate usually contains three to four dumplings of the same type. Apart from that, they also have 'pau' (a bread-like food with fillings in it, just like niku-man) with different fillings, fish balls, 'siew mai' (a dumpling made of meat and prawns mashed up together. it's wrapped with a skin except for the top part... some siew mai is made solely of meat), gyoza and many others.
Usually in a Chinese restaurant that serves mainly Dim Sum, they will have waiters walking around with plates of dumplings and pau in a trolley. This is to make work more efficient and easier. So if you ever go to a Dim Sum Restaurant, you'll see the whole table spread with plates of dumplings all over it! Make sure you do the same to enjoy your meal!!!