Nagai Koto Chapter 004

The Long Journey Until I Reunite With You

A Piece of Home

We went to quickly deal with the task so we could return.

「Leaving the mission aside, well, that was definitely strange. Ah, here it is......urk!?」 (Velt)

「Velt, what is it, ew! W-what is this, this disgusting smell?」 (Forna)

We found the restaurant. The exterior didn’t look any different from a restaurant or bar. The problem was the smell. More than that, hot air was coming out of the building.

「Wait a moment, is this place really a restaurant? Even though there isn’t a pleasant smell coming from it...」 (Forna)

I’m sure it’s disgusting for her, but I couldn’t feel the same way. It was a really appetizing smell. No, it wasn’t just that, it was something that I remembered I dearly missed.

「Let’s try going in.」 (Velt)

「*Uuu,* I guess nothing can be done. However, what’s this? As expected of a place that has just opened, I am curious about the fact that there are customers here.」 (Forna)

The inside of the restaurant was completely occupied. The apron-wearing employee was hurriedly running around.

「Hey, welcome!」 (????)

A lively voice spoke out to us. It had come from the lone man deep behind the counter. He was dressed in oil-stained but otherwise completely white clothing with a towel wrapped around his forehead. He vigorously waved something in his hands up and down into water.

「Alright! How many for table six?」 (Man)

「Yes, two orders of Tonkotu Ramen for table six.」(Employee)

「You idiot! I told you before didn’t I!? Your pronunciation is wrong!」 (Man)

「*Hiii-* but manager, it’s difficult to pronounce. Even the customers said so.」 (Employee)

The man was this establishment’s owner. He had a small figure, but surprised the guests seated in his store with his scary face and strong voice.

「Manager, umm, there’s another customer requesting for a fork.」 (Employee)

「Manager, here as well. This 『chopstick』 seems to be impossible to eat with.」 (Employee

This is the first time I have been shocked since I was reborn as Velt Jeeha. Having another country brought to ruin by the demons was a small matter for me. My entire body was swaying and trembling.

「You kids, for two? By the way, you’re from Jeeha-san’s place right? And with the princess! Are you by any chance here from an errand by your mother? Or rather, intimate as usual aren’t you two?」 (Employee)

It was one of the shop employees, a young woman, an acquaintance we had passed by many times on the streets.

「Yes, obasama said that there was a request for wheat flour. Are you helping out this place?」 (Forna)

「Yes. My father was the carpenter who helped build this place, and with that relationship I’ve come to work here since I am paid.」 (Employee)

「It seems difficult, doesn’t it?」 (Forna)

「It is, I didn’t think it would be this difficult～ More than that, the manager is scary.」 (Employee)

「It certainly seems that he is a rather loud cook. Is he from another country?」 (Forna)

「That’s what it looks like. I’m sure he was taught somewhere in the east.」 (Employee)

As for me, I could only hear half of what the two were saying. But even then, I was agitated.

「Milfa, how long are you going to talk!? The customers are waiting! What are you going to do if the soup gets cold!?」 (Man → Manager)

「*Hiiiii* I-I’m sorry, manager. But, look, it’s the Jeeha’s boy!」 (Employee → Milfa)

「What? Ooh, you kids brought that here right? You’re helping your mom with an errand? That’s great!」 (Manager)

The manager covered in oil heartily rubbed my heads and hair, making me disheveled. As you would expect, Forna didn’t like it, and hid behind my back.

「That was delicious.」 (Customer)

「Thank you very much, we will wait for you to come again!」 (Manager)

The manager spoke as he bowed his head to the customer, and promptly cleaned up the empty bowl. Afterwards, he looked over his shoulder and gave us a smile.

「Oi, kid, little girl, you have my gratitude. It’ll be this man’s treat, go ahead and eat.」 (Manager)

Since two seats opened up right then, the manager wanted to give his thanks by having us eat.

「Gratitude you say, what will you do? Hey, Velt? Velt?? Are you listening??」 (Forna)

「...............」 (Velt)

Forna was honestly puzzled, but she would elegantly take into consideration the kindness of others, even though she was a child. She diligently bowed and took a seat. However, I didn’t say anything, I couldn’t do anything, I simply took a seat.

「Excuse me, what are these small sticks?」 (Forna)

「Ah, those are called 『chopsticks』, they’re eating utensils. Actually, they’re exciting to use but the most difficult to use to eat.」 (Manager)

「Chopsticks? I have never heard of it before, *uuu,* I am not, skilled enough. Do you eat with this?」 (Forna)

「Hahaha, I’ll bring out a fork. Whenever you get used to it, it’ll be good to try eating with them. Here.」 (Manager)

He presented two bowls for Forna and I. Within the soup-filled bowl, long, narrow strings-like things were submerged underneath and clumped together, while above the soup were pieces of meat used as a topping.

「I certainly have not seen something like this before. Velt, you will also need a fork.」 (Forna)

I didn’t take a fork. I took two of the so called chopsticks from the large quantity within the round cylindrical container on top of the table, and ate the Tonkotu Ramen. I thought it would be vulgar, but I ate it with a slurping noise.

「Velt, how come you are using a chopst...... Hey, your manners are bad! You’re eating it while making a slurping noise!」 (Forna)

I didn’t mind. I couldn’t stop my hands from bringing the food to my mouth.

「*Uu, uuuuuuu*」 (Velt)

「Huh, Velt? W-wa-, you’re, why are you crying?」 (Forna)

My tears wouldn’t stop. I remembered. As a kid, Asakura Ryuuma had eaten this. When I returned to school, when I went along with my bad friends. At the athletic festival, the school festival, with my classmates when we were having a party I think?

「K, kid......」 (Manager)

When I realized it, the manager also stood in front of me with a shocked expression.

「It’s good, amazing, it’s really delicious, old man.」 (Velt)

It was delicious, and above all I was happy. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to eat this again. I thought that nobody would know the things I was familiar with. But I was mistaken. Therefore, I was going to make sure by saying something he knows the meaning of.

「Hey, old man.」 (Velt)

Since nobody knew, I started to think that my memories as Asakura Ryuuma were a wild delusion. But that was wrong. I didn’t know whether it was real or not before, and endlessly worried about it until I found a piece of home in this place.  My memories weren’t some fantasy, and seeing this proved it. Asakura Ryuuma, his world, and Kamino Mina, I was now sure that they existed.　

「W-what?」 (Manager)

While I held back my tears and snot with everything I had, I let out the words that the inhabitants of this world wouldn't know.

「Old man, can I get a kaedama?」 (Velt)

「Hm!?」 (Manager)

(TN: Kaedama can mean double, but in this case, he specifically means to add a second serving of noodles.)

Today, with this, the shop had no choice and closed down. It was because the store was simply not in a situation where it could continue as it was. The manager fell onto his knees and let out his tears, and before I knew it we tightly held onto each other.

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