1.5

A familiar taste

The food preparation went smoothly. Haruka popped in to see how things were going. Hiro decided to hand out a few pieces as samples for the little girl and his fellow cooks.

The first reception was Doraemon who simply said: “I hate sushi”

“This is sashimi” Hiro replied.

“I don’t care”

Hotaru didn’t comment much, the sashimi she could order back home was of higher quality. And yet, there was a strange feeling inside of her. ‘Come to think of it, when was the last time I had sashimi’ Hotaru thought to herself. Was it before she came to this world, now that would be a long long time ago.

Mara, however, was more enthusiastic about this treat.

“I can see myself liking this” The old lady commented.

“I’m sure you will” Murmured Eikichi, a smile on his face, having realised something.

The last person to receive a sample was Haruka, who merrily went out awaiting the meal. Hiro looked at the group, this was rather… disappointing. He really tried his very best.

Hiro: {Had my skill deteriorate that much}

Momo-chan: [Maybe a bit… You did well]

The two sighed and Hiro cleaned the knife. It was him who prepared that, what did he expected. He took a peak at Eikichi’s piece, lying neatly on the tray.

It was time to bring out the food.

The door slid open to reveal Eikichi with a huge tray on his hand. On top of it was a tower of sashimi, laid exquisitely with great care by Suiren. It was followed up by other dishes such as tempura and takoyaki and tonkatsu. Then the staple white rice and miso soup.

Johann and Alva came laid down the food. Jim and Willow also wanted to help but there wasn’t enough space. The two just stood there failing to be useful.

Haruka brought a bowl of rice to the back table where Fleur worked on. The girl was in for a surprise. “Arghh, what is that” She said, pointing at the table. Behind her, Mara caught the rice bowl. Her prosthetic leg caught in a seat, she nearly fell down but Doraemon was there with an arm wrapped around the old lady.

On the table was a figure in neon red. A man with a hunch and a huge sack, his face was of utmost evil, filled with blisters.

“It’s El Moruno, a sick man who drinks children blood. His favourite target are bad kids, for example…” Fleur popped from behind the seat, facing Haruka “…Those who eat too much”

The little girl only recoiled a bit from surprise, she didn’t seem particularly scared though. Fleur looked on in disappointment. She held up the pen “Still, I can make such a thin line with this. So futuristic!”

Doraemon grabbed the item, mildly surprise that the beautician was quite an artist. The girl turned the pen turned on a laser line. With a few sweeps, el Moruno was gone without a trace. Fleur pouted, that took her quite some time. Nevertheless, the table needed to be clean for the food that was to come. And the beautician was waiting in anticipation for this meal. Sashimi sounded like a great treat, that wouldn’t be too fat.

Hiro went by Malcolm and Conrad’s table, the two had been doing nothing but making paper lantern all morning. It took the young man exactly three yells to inform Conrad’s that it was meal time. The vagabond was surprised and accidentally crushed the lantern in his hand. His face unchanging yet there was a deep pain in his weary eyes.

Hiro felt like he just kicked a puppy or something. The young man sat down with Suiren, who of course didn’t need to eat.

There was some time to pray for those who needed it, including the von Brandt. Hiro always found it strange, that Willow would pray to her own father. Stranger still, in her story, there was a God mentioned, the one who gave the Divines their powers. And yet, God himself was never mentioned by anyone, only the Divines were revered.

“Let’s dig in!” Said Haruka, who couldn’t wait anymore.

Hiro held up a piece of sashimi, the cut was slightly off. The young man couldn’t but be disappointed in himself. There wasn’t much he could do but he took great pride in what he had. Luckily, the atmosphere of the room cheered him up somewhat.

Everyone was enjoying their food, seeing it warmed the amateur chef heart.

Momo-chan: [I am feeling strangely happy]

Hiro: {Well, most of it wasn’t made by us though}

Momo-chan: [Get out of here with that negativity of your!]

In his table, Conrad was eating silently, the vagabond held every piece with both hands. His eating was rather awkward.

“Are you alright” Hiro said “Is the food not to your liking”

“No, I like it” Ever since their first meeting, the CTTR (Conrad time to reply) had decreased quite significantly.

“Then why are you eating like that…”

The vagabond paused for an answer then replied “You took great care in making this, I don’t want to break them” He looked at the delicate piece of sashimi.

Maybe he should cook more, Hiro thought to himself. He was feeling rather guilty about all of this positive feeling. For two years he had broken his back in the office to provide for his sister. And yet, he had never felt any satisfaction in providing for her. Her never made her sashimi either.

‘It’s not like I don’t want to, it’s too expensive… And it’s not like we eat together…’

Those words rang hollow. What was this guilt, he didn’t do anything wrong? He provided for that girl, he made sure that she wouldn’t have to work, that she could focus on her own life! And yet, there was a sinking feeling within Hiro.

“Aren’t you going to eat” Asked Malcolm who already moved on to the meatier offering.

“I’m just looking around” Hiro replied “How are you finding the food so far?”

“The food? It’s been great” The youth answered, holding the chopsticks quite proficiently. Apparently, Malcolm learnt this from the Chinese at the ports of London.

“Was that supposed sarcasm” Hiro asked, Malcolm always sounded sarcastic.

“You asked and I answered, I don’t like lying”

“Now that’s a surprise” The young man employed some sarcasm himself.

Malcolm looked at him straight at his face “Woah, you doing it sounded insufferable” Even Hiro could tell that, he looked down in shame. The youth continued “From my experience, a lie will always come back one way or another. It would sneak and stab you at the back the moment you lest expect it. No, between lying and not saying anything at all, I prefer the later”

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t lie” Malcolm smirked, flicking the pinkie finger up. A curious gesture that caught the eyes of Hiro.

“That flick was rather feminine of you” The young man commented.

“Really? I didn’t notice. Do I do it a lot?”

“No, not at all, this is the first time I saw that. Although I don’t really look at you much”

“Huh” Malcolm smiled “I should watch out for that then”

Looking around, everyone was enjoying themselves, this scenery warmed Hiro heart, who dug in as well. When he returned, maybe he would make something for Yuuko. The young man wondered what kind of face she would make… his mind was blank.

On another table, Mara was having the time of her life. She had always avoided sushi or sashimi, the thought of eating raw food was heresy. But now, this was to become one of her favourite “What kind of fish is this?” The woman wondered.

“Fugu, pufferfish” Eikichi replied, popping up from a nearby table.

“Wait, wait” Mara remembered an arm dealer in her past, dying from a piece of pufferfish that might not had been supplied by her “Aren’t they poisonous!”

“Don’t worry, I made sure to remove the poison. I even let the doctor to check” Eikichi answered proudly, he took great pride in this accomplishment.

His moment of pride didn’t last long, however, as Hiro chimed in “The pufferfish here aren’t poisonous, they were raised to be food”

Eikichi continued to stand there, unmoving. A sound of deflating balloon could be heard. Jim poked his head out to look at Fleur, who was simulating that sound with her mouth “What are you doing?”

The beautician stopped and returned to her food “Sorry, I just find that… to be an… appropriate time for… that… sorry”

After several seconds, Eikichi sat back down, acting as if nothing happened.

The meal soon came to a close, Hiro sat back, dreading the cleaning that would come next. He glanced at the table where the von Brandt were sitting with Hotaru. They had all finished their meals and were clearing up the table already. The woman seemed more comfortable but still awkward. She kept trying to put her hand up, perhaps he would ask Victor to give her something to partially hide her face. A scarf or maybe a cap?

The young man took a sip of miso, the taste was simply serviceable, something that he made. Hiro glanced at Suiren next to him.

Momo-chan: [I wonder what miso soup made by her would taste like]

They truly were one, Hiro thought. He could just ask her to make it for him for the young man didn’t want to. Not yet, perhaps one day, when she was willing herself. Hiro wondered whether that day would ever come.

Gathering his plates, the young man stood up but to his surprise, Suiren remained seated.

Momo-chan: [What’s going on? Why is she not moving… Does she WANT to sit!]

That would be a hopeful thought. Hiro touched her shoulder and Suiren fell down. The young man caught her and was horrified to find out the masked woman was cold. Her naginata slowly dissolved, turning into dust then blew away by the wind.

“SUIREN!”