Chapter 5 – Sea Bream Rice (Part 1)
The place Aoi took me to was a high-class sushi restaurant. The middle-aged chef behind the counter had a stern expression, but when he saw Aoi, he softened and smiled.
“Chef, we’ll have tai meshi.” * Tai Meshi or Taimeshi (鯛飯) is seasoned rice cooked with sea bream.
“Got it.”
Aoi slowly removed his wristwatch.
I remember my father used to say that in high-end sushi restaurants like this, they use single pieces of wood for the counter, and the restaurant dislikes customers scratching it, so it’s considered good manners to take off your wristwatch. Aoi is such a well-mannered and smart person.
“What would you like to drink?”
“For Japanese cuisine, it has to be sake, right?”
“Sounds good! Chef, we’ll have your recommendations.”
Aoi seems to be a regular customer here. It seemed like Aoi had complete trust in the chef.
“Here you go. Sake and a small appetizer, namero.”
The chef placed the namero and a bottle of sake in front of us. It’s probably a 720ml bottle, I think?
Aoi poured some sake into our cups from the bottle and then raised his cup for a toast.
“Cheers.”
“Cheers. We appreciate your hard work.”
For some reason, Aoi gave me a sly smile.
What’s with that?
“I like it when you say things like ‘We appreciate your hard work.’ or something like that”
“I see.”
Aoi quickly downed his sake in one go
I took a sip of the sake and then ate the namero.
“Mmm, this is heavenly!”
I unintentionally murmured.
Aoi, sitting next to me, asked, “Which one?” and reached for the namero on my plate with his chopsticks. I quickly defended my namero with my hand.
“Please eat yours.”
“It looks so delicious when Mikoto eats it.”
“Since I’m already eating it, I’ll finish it, so please give me yours.”
“No way!”
“Then just finish yours!”
When I said that, Aoi burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
” It’s fun interacting with Mikoto. Don’t worry about it. Ask me for anything you want. Everything here is delicious.”
“I have to consider my wallet. Otherwise, it’s tough before payday.”
Aoi stopped laughing and gave me a puzzled look when I mentioned considering my wallet.
“Don’t you want me to treat you?”
“If you’re treating, I won’t hold back!”
” Well, I’ll treat you… But, don’t women expect men to treat them? Isn’t that the norm? I’ve only dated annoying women.”
“So, that’s why you break up with them?”
Ah, I see, no wonder he doesn’t have much trust in women.
As I was thinking that, the chef served us a plate of sushi.
“Beautiful! I’ll devour it in no time! …Delicious and heavenly!”
I quickly finished the sushi set, and the head chef smiled at me.
“You really enjoy your food,” he commented.
“Hey, chef, don’t try to win over Mikoto by feeding her! I’m trying to win her over by feeding her and making her fond of me.”
“Win me over? That won’t happen.”
“She won’t?… How about these tamagoyaki (rolled omelette) here? They’re delicious too.”
“I want to try them! Chef, could you please?”
“Don’t try to win me over, Chef!”
The chef chuckled and started making the tamagoyaki.
“Your skills are shameful,” Aoi said to chef
“Thank you for today.”
“Huh?”
“At work, two guys approached me, my senior and junior. It was helpful.”
Aoi grinned and emptied his cup.
“Were they pestering you?”
“They said they would date me once I improve my cooking skills. They acted high and mighty, saying I should attend cooking classes because I’m not good at it. It’s annoying! There’s this idea that women should naturally be good at cooking.”
I also emptied my cup at once.
“No need to worry about that. I’ll handle the cooking, and you just enjoy the delicious meal.”
His words were touching enough to bring tears to my eyes. I couldn’t help but well up.
“Huh? Mikoto?”
“Sorry, I got emotional.”
“Are you actually crying?”
“Yeah. Aoi, you’re the first non-extinct type of guy who doesn’t belittle my cooking skills.”
“I’m curious if there wasn’t a better way to express that.”
He seemed to have caught on to me treating him like a rare species.
“Well, forget it. If Mikoto likes me, that’s enough.”
“You say that to various women, don’t you?”
“I don’t even need to flirt; women just come to me.”
“I’ll come to you too, but then I’ll run away.”
Silence fell between us.
“I won’t run away.” I said again to assure him
“Who knows? I’m looking forward to it.”
“Oh, you’re expecting something? Good boy, good boy.”
Aoi happily sipped his drink.
It’s a bit embarrassing, I feel ticklish.