Heart and Stomach
I don't want to say much about this Chapter… just read, review and enjoy! Ya-ha! :))
There is an old saying – the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Is that so?
"Mamori, please pass that sauce over here". Mamori's mother is busy preparing the dishes, not for their family, but for their small restaurant.
Mamori's father is working overseas and he visits his family twice or thrice a year. Although their household had a sufficient income from the breadwinner's remittance, Mamori's mother decided to establish a business. Their idea in creating this business was approved by Mamori's father – knowing that his wife has a potential when it comes in kitchen. Luckily, their small restaurant is running for more than a year now.
"Mom, the bottle is already empty". Mamori responded, shaking the bottle of sauce that she found in the kitchen counter.
"Ohh, honey go check the cabinets" her mother made another request.
After couple of minutes in searching –
"Mom, all are used up including the baking powder, the breadcrumbs and garlic". Mamori answered.
"Oh my! My bad. I forgot to shop those stuffs. Just recently, the new dishes that I made became a hit to our customers." Mamori's mother shortly explained.
"Owner, there are three orders to beef cutlet and curry special" the waitress suddenly appeared – telling the orders of their customers. Although the kitchen is complete, Mamori's mother facilitates the area and thus also involved in cooking.
"Okay, Mom" Mamori removed her apron "I will get these things for you". Mamori smiled and giving her mother an assurance.
"Well, I guess there's no helping it. Go ahead and fetch these ingredients okay. If possible, make it faster and be careful". Mamori's mother held out the money and handed to Mamori.
"Alright!" Mamori immediately left knowing that her mother is relying on her.
Even though, the mini-grocery is not that far, she still ran as fast as she could to beat the time. But she's slowing down and breathes hardly. She's not good in running but she has the obligation to render the things her mother needs.
"Mamonee-san?" a young Sena called her attention.
"Um… S-Sena". Mamori was lightly surprised by her childhood friend's appearance.
"What's the hurry, Mamonee-san?" Sena noticed the sweat that forming on Mamori's forehead and her inconsistent breathing.
"Mom needs some ingredients and so I'm running an errand now". Mamori emphasized the running since she is literally doing it.
"Ano, do you want me to help?" Sena offered his aid in a shyly manner.
"Hahaha, don't bother Sena I'm –" Mamori tapped the hair of Sena and then her mother's words struck her mind. If possible, make it faster.
"Well Sena, you do not weigh that much isn't you?" Mamori suddenly asked.
"Huh? Um, I don't know my exact weight but guess I'm not that heavy, why Mamonee-san?" Sena asked.
Upon hearing Sena's answer, Mamori made an analysis and her brain is working faster than how she can run.
"If I run at this rate… I can barely make it on time… Sena on the other hand is small, so he can easily sneak in and his doesn't weigh that much so probably his legs-"
"Mamonee-san, do you want to run an errand for you?" Sena asked though it sounds like he's bullied again in terms of running an errand.
"S-Sena?" Mamori was surprised that her friend read her mind.
"Don't worry Mamonee-san, I'm already used to this". Sena smiled and lend his hand.
"Bu-but Sena, I don't mean to bother you". Mamori tried to change her friend's mind since it's not her attitude to order someone around. But the only answer that she received from Sena is a smile – a smile that is filled with confidence.
If possible, make it faster.
In the end, she handed Sena the list of things that he needs to carry. She just watched him took a leave in a minute and when two strangers passed and covering her view, Sena suddenly disappeared.
"Ohh well, maybe he was tripped". She whispered.
"Ohh yeah there's a new open pastry house not far from here. I heard that their creampuff is really wonderful" A conversation between friends accidentally overheard by Mamori while she waits at Sena in their agreed place. She looked at her watch and computed (through her mind) the probable time when she can meet Sena.
"Hmmm… just two minutes… is the spare time. Maybe it wouldn't hurt much to see this pastry shop" Mamori whispered and she went to that place.
Kariya Pastry House, Now Open…
Mamori read the sign and her cuteness captured the staffs who are giving free samples.
"Hello there," one brave man approached her "we are giving samples. Come on have one and taste our version of creampuff".
Mamori smiled and picked a portion of a sliced creampuff. She chewed it well and her expression suddenly changed. The monster of sweets evolved and the staffs were surprised and scrammed. In the meantime, Mamori is delighted by its taste and started to mutter.
"Eggs, flour, sugar of course…"
"Mamonee-san?" Sena's voice surfaced on Mamori's ear.
"S-Sena? You surprised me. You're quiet fast." Mamori answered back
"Ahehehe… there's not much people, actually. I've been looking for you, good thing that I spotted you easily. So here." Sena handed over the bag of ingredients to Mamori.
"Sena, I am really sorry that I caused problems. " Mamori said.
"It's alright. Anyway, I have to go, mother also asked me for something." Sena said while readied himself to run again.
"Okay! Thank You Sena and take care." Mamori said but suddenly Sena disappeared.
"Oh, maybe he was drowned into the crowd." Mamori thought since they're conversation is in the middle of the street.
Not that long, Mamori took the ingredients right away and her mother was very relieved that dishes are made right on time. While in the kitchen, Mamori is writing on her notebook and her mother opened up a conversation.
"Good thing that Sena came for help, he's fast huh?" Mamori's mother spoke.
"Nah, he said that there's not much people shopping." Mamori is still busy in taking her notes.
"Really? I thought that today is their anniversary and so that they are giving discounts, I'm sure that the housewives are eager to join the commotion when it comes in discounts like this one". Mamori looked at her mother who is reading the receipt of the grocer items. "Oh well, Sena is probably lucky today."
"Yeah!" Mamori agreed to her mother's assumptions.
"What are you taking notes for?" Her mother asked again.
"Umm… there is a newly opened pastry shop and their creampuff is delicious." Mamori started with a happy face.
"So?" her mother did not get her idea.
"So, I guess that our small restaurant should offer deserts like the ones they have." Mamori suggested.
"Honey, I like the idea but you shouldn't compete with that pastry shop. We don't have enough resources to add deserts on our menu." Mamori's mother answered and turning her suggestion down made her sad.
"Don't feel sorry. Our business has its own strong points and so that's pastry shop that you talked about." Mamori's mother consoled her. "Hmm… why won't you create another dish? That surely fits our expertise." With that suggestion, Mamori's mood was lightened up.
After their mother-and-daughter conversation, Mamori ruled the kitchen and she introduced additional three dishes in their menu. Little by little, her creations became one of the leading dishes that the customers sought after.
"Mamori, I need to your help in the service." Mamori's mother requested. Mamori nod and left the potatoes she peeling. She went out and she witnessed that their tables are filled with customers and the three service attendant can't handle it all. She went into the service counter to get some spare pen, menu list, and paper to list their orders. She surveyed the area to see if there are tables that haven't served yet.
"Fucking waitress." One customer called and Mamori turned her attention to the customer. But her happy face suddenly changed when she realized what she heard. So she went to the table to determine if her guess is right.
"H-Hiruma- kun?" Mamori is surprised though she has a hint what to expect.
"Kekekeke, what? Are you going to take my order or stare at me for the whole time?" Hiruma said.
"Hiruma-kun, how many times that I will tell you not to use that word?" Mamori reminded him.
"Errr… I don't know? Maybe you fucking told that to me many times to the point that I forgot where did I stop counting." Hiruma simply answered.
"You're using that word again." Mamori pouted as she handed over the menu list and listed his order. Ooops, not included the term "fucking" since Hiruma is abusing that word in a way that only he can master. After that business transaction, Mamori went to the kitchen to give his orders.
"My, my… Mamori-chan, are you an acquaintance of that blonde guy?" Keiko, a service attendant, asked her.
"Yes, he is my classmate." Mamori plainly answered.
"Oh My! would you introduce us to him?" Sakura, another service attendant, joined the conversation.
"Huh?" Mamori exclaimed for she doesn't understand what's gotten into their attendants.
"Mamori-chan, he is one of our customers. Of course, you don't have any idea because you are hiding in the kitchen." Tsubasa, another service attendant, answered.
"And what is the connection of me being in the kitchen?" Mamori becomes nosy and intrigued.
"That's it! Because you don't know how handsome he is" Its Keiko.
"Handsome?" Mamori repeated.
"Yes, and when he smile… Breathing suddenly became hard for me" Its Sakura.
"Smile. He smiles?" Mamori suddenly puzzeled.
"And when he talked, he is so sweet" Its Tsubasa.
"Sweet? Girls, you've mistaken everything about him. Maybe you saw another person that looks exactly like him. He can't be like that". Mamori snorted, giving the girls a piece of advice.
"Mamori-chan's order!" a kitchen crew called.
(A/N: It's not that Mamori ordered, but it's for her customer)
"Okay!" She answered back on the call "Girls, you better not let yourself filled your mind about him. Right now, it is more appropriate to do our duty first, right?" Mamori smilingly said and left the girls. She doesn't want to go far ruining their fantasies. It is enough to tell them her thoughts about Hiruma.
She delivered his order and left him after her service. She went back to the kitchen and did not go back to the service area since one of the crew's shifts is over. She became a reliever then.
"Mamori-chan!" Tsubasa ran while entering the kitchen area.
"Tsubasa-san, you shouldn't run even if you're in a hurry. You might trip yourself and get hurt" Mamori lectured.
"Ah, enough with that motherly scolding" Tsubasa said without knowing that Mamori's mother overheard it. "Ooops, gomen" Tsubasa whispered in a cute voice.
"What is it?" Mamori asked.
"Our dear customer left this, that tall and blonde guy". Tsubasa said.
"Ahh… Hiruma-kun." Mamori remembered.
"Whoah, so that is his name. I'll make sure I'll remember his name." Tsubasa said. "He left this in his seat." Tsubasa handed over the file case to Mamori but Mamori refused.
"Why won't you wait for him, he might come back and collect it" Mamori reasoned.
"He won't come back after 6:15 pm. He will enter the restaurant at approximately 5:00 pm and sit on the east side and then at 6:15 he will leave." Tsubasa said.
"Wow, you're a quite observant". Mamori complimented and Tsuabasa grinned. "Okay, just leave it on my cabinet. I can't touch it now, my hands are dirty". Mamori instructed.
That night, Mamori prepared her stuff for the school tomorrow including the file case of Hiruma.
"So he really didn't show up." Mamori mumbled. "Oh anyway, I'm sleepy". She placed that file case on the study table near her school bag but it suddenly fell and the papers that were inside the file case scattered on the floor. After a sigh, Mamori picked them up. She noticed some lines, drawings, and schemes that are finely drew and very detailed. But no matter how much she looks at those papers, they don't mean a thing to her for she can't understand their purpose.
"A strategy?" Mamori exclaimed, "But a strategy for what? Oh boy, better arrange it than mind that guy's business". Mamori made her resolved and by tomorrow at school, she will hand it over.