Zarusoba, simple condiments, and chicken meat seasoned with yuzu kosho. It was a very simple line-up of dishes, but I think it turned out to be a pretty good meal.
The container was also a colander? a wickerwork tray? Anyhow, this container Alice made was just like the real deal. She really can make almost anything…… Her dexterity is too extraordinary.
(T/N: Zarusoba)
[Now then, shall we have our meal then?]
[Yes. Am I just to dip these soba noodles in this sauce and eat it?][This is just from what I’ve heard, but you can apparently start by eating a small amount of soba noodles without anything added to it to savor the delicate flavor, then you lightly brush the lower part of the noodles into the sauce and eat them, before finally adding a small amount of condiments…… Ahh, I’m talking about the negi onion over there. I think you can just put a little bit of those on the soba and eat it?]
[I see, it’s a dish that has some etiquette to it huh.]
[Well, that’s actually just formality, and in fact, not many people back in my world pay that much attention to it when eating soba. That’s why, I think it’s best to eat it the way you like it.]
I only have a vague knowledge about this from a TV program I watched before, but I think the proper way is to put condiments lightly on the noodles without adding them to the dipping sauce, right? Well, putting aside the thoughts of the soba connoisseurs, I’ve never cared about that kind of thing at all.
Since Anima asked about it, I told her the proper…… I told her what I think was the proper way of eating it, before telling her that since it’s only the two of us here, I think we can just enjoy eating it normally in a way we find delicious.
I wonder if Neun-san is particular about formalities like those? No, Neun-san is surprisingly quite open-minded when it comes to food, so she might say “The most important thing is to eat it in a way that you find delicious”, not being concerned about it. On the other hand, I think it would be people who have a strong interest in Japanese culture such as Blossom-san who would likely be fixated about such formalities…… In her case though, I have a feeling she may have learned some strange manners through a strange misunderstanding……
Incidentally, I remembered that Alice, who I ate soba with before, said something along the lines of “It depends on the situation, isn’t it? There technically isn’t a proper way of eating or the most delicious way of eating something, right? Just keep that knowledge in mind, use it appropriately when needed, and that should be good enough.”. She expressed such sensible thoughts to me while piling up about 50 empty soba bowls near her side.[……I see, the aroma wafting from it does smell good. It doesn’t have a flashy taste, but it’s simple, yet fine and elegant.]
[You seemed to be quite a gourmet, but have you eaten all sorts of food, Anima?]
[Ahh, no, Cara sometimes invites me to go eat outside, but otherwise, I often keep my meals simple and eat at home. Besides, I often skip meals to prioritize work, so I’m not really that particu……………… Ah.]
[……Anima?]
[Hyiiihh! U- Umm, errr…… I- It’s just sometimes. R- Really, it really is just sometimes…… Like when I concentrated too much and the meal time slipped away, or when I thought of postponing it later…… umm……]
Wait, this is the first time I heard she often skips meals. Heck, isn’t the reason Caraway frequently invites her to eat outside because she often skips meals while concentrating on work?
Come to think of it, she said a lot about having breaks, but not a thing has been mentioned about her meals.
[……You’ll definitely get a harsh scolding about this later.]
[Ohh….. M- My apologies.]
[Well, that said, I’m not going to give you a sermon while we’re eating…… Come, Anima, open your mouth.]
[My mouth? Huh? M- Master!? W- What are you—-!?]
It’s really troublesome when this excessive motivation of hers leads to a bad habit of neglecting things other than work, so I’ll make sure she gets a thorough scolding…… There’s no need to spoil the mood during our meal.
Wryly smiling at such a thought, I held a piece of chicken with my chopsticks and held it out to Anima. It’s that classic “ahhn”, but seeing my actions, Anima seemed clearly bewildered, her gaze shifting nervously.
[Here, ahhhn.]
[Ah, n- no, but it would be disrespectful to have Master feed me…… umm……]
[Ahhhhhhn.]
[A- Ahhn…… Uuu, even though it shouldn’t be allowed, unbecoming of a servant…… I’m ashamed of this happiness I’m feeling.]
When I pressed on her somewhat coercively, Anima ate the chicken with a mixed expression of embarrassment and joy. It seems like she’s concerned about troubling me, her master, but her ears have been twitching since earlier, conveying her delight. Quite adorable, it is.
[I thought it would be nice if we could do something lover-like.]
[M- My apologies, but I feel embarrassed…… but umm…… this does make me happy. H- However! Any more than this and umm, my mind can’t handle it any longer! I- I’ll be the one feeding Master now!]
It seems that she has a strong reservation about the act of being fed, but when she’s the one feeding me, she seems to find no issue with it, recognizing it as simply serving me.
Letting out a smile seeing Anima, looking eager as she held out a piece of chicken like I did to her earlier, I gratefully opened my mouth and ate.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [Gufuuu…… I- I’m starting to get her…… She isn’t like Alice who’s embarrassed with just about anything romance-related, she’s just flustered in situations where “Kaito is doing something for her”, as she’s quite aggressive when “she’s the one doing something for Kaito”.]
