Chapter 34: Home Cooking
After a week of spending time together in Apotos, Mina and Sonic are back home in Station Square for she gets a call from her mother. "Hello momma, we just got back from Eurish. It was so beautiful and we spent time around the Emerald Sea islands," Mina said.
"That's good sweetheart but I need you to do me a favor. I need you to watch over the tofu shop for me just for today, I need to see some family for something important," Isabella said.
"Of course, I and Sonic will come in and help run the shop," Mina said.
"Good, Melody will aid you in helping with the consumers. This will be helpful when I retire and you take over the family business," Isabella said.
"Of course, we will come as soon as possible. Love you, momma," Mina said.
"Love you too sweetie," Isabella said.
"Momma wants us to tend to our family shop. We need to get there ASAP," Mina said.
"Cool, Okina City is looking pretty good right now," Sonic said as they grabbed their bags to head for the Tornado in the Station Square airport within the private section. They both get into the plane to head over the ocean for Okina City.
Within the hour, Sonic and Mina made a touchdown in Okina City's airport taking their bags and swiftly running to Mina's family house to see the shop had not opened yet. Isabella is waiting for them at the door.
"Good, you are here. It's almost 9:00 AM, you need to set up the shop and get the pots cooking. I wish you all luck," Isabella said as she hugged Mina and Sonic.
"Okay Momma, see you later," Mina said waving to her mother for them to go inside. Melody is in a simple yellow dress with an apron over it and a hairnet to hold her long hair.
"I got the place going, let's get to work you two," Melody said as Mina went to the closet to grab an apron to go over her yellow t-shirt and blue jeans. She taps the wooden floor with her blue sneakers while putting a hairnet on.
"Yep, let's do this. Sonic, you can help pass out the orders when they come along. There is going to be a lot of people coming in,"
"Hey big sis, hey Sonic. I am already set up the foods and other items we need to get the orders out," Melody said.
"Thank you, Melody. Let's do this thing," Mina said as she and Melody were cooking the dishes with the people coming into the dining area to take their seats. Mobians, Humans, and Demi-Humans alike enjoy their time inside the tofu shop with Sonic swiftly serving the customers.
Mina is cooking up the curry with Melody slicing up a tomato to make a sauce. Mina makes a curry filled with tofu to mix it into a bowl for a customer as Sonic comes in to bring it to an elder Mole female Mobian.
"Hey, you go, madam," Sonic said as the female mole looked delighted to see the meal coming to her nice and warm.
"Thank you, young man," the mole said as Sonic grabbed a dish filled with a Sesame Garlic Tofu meal. He speeds towards the young male human who ordered it.
"Enjoy kid," Sonic said as he looked down to lick his lips at the delicious dish.
"Thanks, Sonic. Your girl knows how to cook," he said.
"I am one lucky guy," Sonic said looking back at his beautiful girlfriend as Mina gave him a playful look.
"Yes, he is," Mina said as she placed a dish of Tofu Stir Fry on the counter. "Nice and hot, right off the oven," Mina said as Sonic placed the order on the table.
"Here you go, sir," Sonic said as the middle-aged wolf Demi human female.
"Thanks, you are pretty cute Hedgehog," the Demi-Human female is hitting on Sonic.
"Sorry, I am taken," Sonic said.
"Oh, what a shame," the woman said as Melody made another dish which is Fried Agedashi Tofu.
"Sonic, I got another one," Melody said to place it on the counter with Sonic taking it to another cum
"Here you go Sonic. I got some Fried Tofu dumplings here," Mina said as Sonic set them down at a table with some familiar faces.
'Hello there Sonic," Espio said as he was there with his good Liza.
"Hey Sonic, I haven't seen you since the festival," Liza said as the pink chameleon greeted him with a friendly smile.
"Espio, you come here?" Sonic asked.
"Yes, I am a regular here. The dishes here are quite delicious," Espio said.
"Yeah, Isabella and her girls make great dishes here. This Tofu shop is a local treasure here in Okina City," Liza said.
"Oh yes, Espio and Liza come here often and give momma amazing tips for her service," Melody said.
"Good to see you two here," Mina said looking over her shoulder to see the chameleons chilling in the booth.
"Good to see you Ms. Songoose. You are looking rather good in that apron," Liza said as Mina placed plates of food on the counter to let Sonic get them to their tables. "So, seems like the old bird is training you to take over huh?" Liza asked.
"Yep, when I am done with my singing career. I will be taking over," Mina said.
"When will that happen?" Liza asked.
"I have been a pop singer since I was 16 years old. I am lucky I am still relevant now. Singers have an expiration date of sorts when it comes to popularity and I am reaching that point in a few years. This is the perfect time to get more comfortable with working in the family business and owning it like my mother before me," Mina said.
"I will be there to support you, Mina," Sonic said. After Mina's singing career ends in the future, both Sonic and Mina will run the family business together.
"Thank you, baby. You can be my delivery guy to serve everyone's orders," Mina said.
"Yep, the fastest service one can have," Sonic said as Mina placed boxed lunches inside a bag.
"Speaking of which, I got some orders from Chun-Nan town to the north in the mountains. I need you to deliver them to a woman named Ms. Tang. She is looking forward to it," Mina said as Sonic grabbed the bag of food to place it on his back.
"I am on it," Sonic speeds out of the door to head for the mountains to the north. "The future of us, owning and working at the Tofu shop together," Sonic thought as he saw Mina looking bright and happy. "Yeah, now time to go to Chun-Nan," he rushes through the Great Bamboo Forest to see it's a maze-like area with the bamboo trees getting so big that they block the light of the sun making the forest floor look very dark and moody.
"Gee, hope there are no weird animals here," Sonic runs through the forest trying to find his way out of the twisting forest. He spots a giant hole in front of him as he leaps over it. He grabs a vine to swing over it and lands on the tree branch to leap onto the floor.
Sonic is going through halfway through the forest when he sees a flash of light at the end of the exit. He speeds out to be back in the sunshine as he sees a large mountain to scale up the trails to head for the village.
"I haven't been here for a while now since that whole Dark Gaia incident," Sonic said as he arrived at the mountain town of Chun-Nan which is a humble small town surrounded by nature and traditional buildings of the region. Sonic walks into the town to find the house in which Ms. Tang is living.
"He knocks on the door to see a middle-aged human woman showing up at the door to tower over Sonic. "Oh, is that my order?" she asked.
"Yes madam, here you go," Sonic said.
"Thank you, this was quite fast," Ms. Tang said.
"Of course, we deliver things fast and hot," Sonic said like it was a sales pitch.
"Well, I will give you the credits and a tip for how speedy the delivery was," Tang gives his extra money for his hard work.
"Thanks," Sonic speeds back to Mina's home to go back inside to see the orders have slowed down and Liza and Espio go out of the shop.
"Thanks, baby, I have a bunch of more orders you can send out," Mina slips some boxes into his bag for him to go off.
"Hey there Mina," a soft voice said as she looked over to see Whisper and Tangle coming into the Tofu shop.
"What's up," Tangle said waving with her hands and tail.
"Oh hello, you two. You want to take a seat here," Mina said.
"Oh yes, I heard about this Tofu before. I wanted to try this out," Whisper said.
"Yeah, it sounds awesome. I want one of your best dishes please," Tangle said as they went into a booth with Melody taking orders. Whisper wants a Tofu Stir Fry dish while Tangle orders a Sesame Garlic Tofu.
"Already, I will set it up for you," Melody said as she had Mina cook those food items with her using her speed to set it all up.
"Here you go," Mina places them on the table with Tangle already ripping into her meal.
"Thank you, Mina. Seems like you have a lot of customers here today," Whisper said as she was enjoying her spicy meal.
"Yes, thankfully Sonic managed to take care of the guests by handing out their orders. I and my sister were taught pretty well by our mama since we are going to take over one day," Mina said.
'Oh really, I thought you were a singer?" Tangle asked as she bit into her food. She makes a big silly grin on her face with stars in her eyes. "Gee, this is so damn good," Tangle said.
"Yes, I am but I am going to retire soon and I will take over the Tofu shop here. Melody has other plans and it's up to me to continue the family business," Mina said.
"Oh, that is pretty sweet. You would make your mother proud," Whisper said giving her some encouragement.
"Yeah, do your thing girl. Keep making good stuff like this and then you will be speaking my language," Tangle said.
"Thanks, you two, and enjoy yourselves," Mina said as she headed back into the kitchen to see the ship had calmed down. "Oh, that was rough," she said as Melody nodded her head.
"yep, all the people here are pretty happy about their food. You will be a great owner of this place one day," Melody said as Mina placed her hand on her shoulder.
"Thanks, Melody. I know I would momma proud of me," Mina is blushing in the face. "Then after me and Sonic, our children will run this place after my time has placed as well," Mina imagines herself and Sonic having a big family within her family house making it bigger and better than before. "Oh, it will be so sweet and cute," Mina is cooing at the lovely thought of her future family running the shop out of her old family house.
"I would be the auntie to drop by and give you a hand from time to time," Melody joked.
"Yeah, you do," Mina said as the day came with the shop getting fewer people with the sun coming down near the horizon. A warm orange glow casts rays of light onto the city with Sonic helping fix up the shop.
"Hey Sonic, I wonder about something?" Melody asked as Sonic looked at the young teenage mongoose.
"Shoot," he said.
"Do you remember where you lived?" Melody asked as Sonic felt strange that question came out of nowhere.
"Oh, I used to live on South Island and used to be in an orphanage run by a very nice owl," Sonic said.
"So what happened to your parents?" Melody asked as Sonic was confused by this.
"I don't remember much since living at the orphanage was my childhood. I have a very blurred image of a woman but that is all," Sonic said as Melody was deeply saddened by this.
"Oh, that must be sad not knowing your parents," Melody said.
"It would be nice but that was so long ago. They will be dead by now but I wish I could know who my mother was," Sonic is deeply curious about his mother's identity.
"Very interesting, maybe you can Nicole to help you out with that. She is very smart," Melody said as Sonic put some thought into it.
"Oh; what the hell. Might as well give it a try," Sonic said as Mina overhears this as she comes into the kitchen.
"Talking about your past dearly?" Mina asked.
"Yes, Melody wanted to know about where I lived and my parents," Sonic said.
"Why did you ask him that?" Mina asked.
"Well, Sonic always seems lonely. I mean he has all sorts of friends but no one to go home to, you know. You said you lived alone before dating my sister. So, with all of us working together in the kitchen. It's like we are all one big family, you know." Melody said as she got attached to Sonic as a big brother figure which she didn't have before.
"Yeah, it's pretty nice to have people to look forward to seeing at home," Sonic said to smile at Mina for she glowed in the face.
"Of course, I will always be by your side. You know Sonic, this place can be your home too. Once I am finished with my career, I will put the extra money I made from my music to remake this place into something worthwhile for the both of us," Mina said as she grabbed her hands to look deeply into his green eyes.
"Mina," he said.
"I wanted to make you happy. Sadly, you didn't have a real home in the past but now with me, Melody, and Momma. You will have a real family with us," Mina said.
"Thanks, Mina. I love that a lot," Sonic said as Mina went up to him to kiss him on the lips.
"And, in time we will have our kids here to raise in my family home," Mina teases him as he flushes from this.
"Okay Mina, one step at a time," Sonic said as it was a very nice thought of him making a family of his own with Mina in this comfy place.
"Gee, get a room you two," Melody said.
"Gladly but now it's all about the present as of late. For you, you can have us keeping you company," Mina said.
"Thanks," Sonic said as they heard a doorbell to see the sisters' mother at the door.
"Oh momma, you are home," Mina said as the older mongoose came into the front door.
"Yes, I managed to help my uncle with something. I see you all did a great job. I am proud of all of you," Isabella said.
"Glad to be of use, Miss Mongoose," Sonic said.
"Yes Sonic, I am grateful for you helping my girls," Isabella said.
"They are the best girls out here," Sonic said as Mina felt special and Melody felt embarrassed by his sweet comment.
"Oh, I know dearest," Mina said as she kissed him on the cheek.
"Oh, so spicy here. Don't rush in giving my grandchildren," Isabella teases them as Sonic and Mina blush from embarrassment.
"Momma, don't say that," Mina protested as Isabella giggled at this.
"Oh, come on. You have been together for a long time. I had you when I was young, Mina," Isabella said as Mina sighed.
"I know," Mina said as Isabella takes a deep breath.
"You and Sonic are like me and Arthur a long time ago. Seeking adventures and protecting the region from evildoers and monsters. Then we settled down within this house which was a part of my family for generations. Soon enough, you and Sonic will live here to continue that legacy. Passing it onto your children as well," Isabella said.
"That is very sweet momma," Mina said as Isabella set down her bag to begin closing up shop. Mina and Sonic head outside to sit on a bench to look at the night overcoming the night sky. "It's very beautiful tonight," she said as Sonic held onto her hand to look at her beautiful furry face.
"Your eyes shine brighter than stars in those skies," Sonic said as Mina felt her face warming up and showing a blush.
"Oh, such a sweet talker," Mina said as she lay her head on his shoulder.
"I used to write my songs back in the day. I got an artistic spark like you," Sonic said as Mina nodded her head.
"Yes, you do know how to play a mean guitar, baby," Mina said.
"It would be a shame for you to drop your music career, I love your singing voice, it's like an angel singing to the heavens," Sonic said as Mina's heart fluttered fast from his sweetness.
"I know you love my voice. Even if I quit my pop idol career. I will still sing for you and only for you," Mina said.
"Hey, can I rest my head on your lap?" he asked.
'Oh okay, here is your favorite spot," Mina said as he lay on his back to place his head on her lap pillow.
"Third favorite spot. My second favorite is the booty," Sonic pokes her ass making her jump as he pokes her large bust. "My best favorite is your knockers," he said sticking his finger into her left boob to see it jiggle under her t-shirt.
"You are so bad," Mina said playfully tapping his nose.
"I can't help it, you are the real deal," Sonic said as Mina placed her fingers on his head to stroke his quills and cheek.
"Why can't you help it, baby," Mina said as she kissed his forehead.
"That voice, that voice led me to you and the rest was history. Your voice is the most beautiful thing I ever heard," Sonic said.
"Aww, I can sing for you now to hear the voice you love so much," Mina said.
"Sure," Sonic said as he relaxed on Mina's curvy thighs covered by her blue jeans with Mina starting to sing a small tune. This was a short verse that was crisp and clear getting into Sonic's ear. It was so soothing and calm that it started to make his eyes feel heavy.
Mina is holding the soft tune until she sees her boyfriend sleeping on her thighs. Mina stops her singing to see her big blue baby resting there. "Oh; so cute. I love you so much. I will give you all the love your mother didn't give you for so many years," Mina said as she lovely rubbed his forehead with her looking at the sky to have stars shining down on them.