Source
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0573je/30/
Three hours have passed since I started selling cookies, and it is now around 5:00 p.m.
The shopping district came alive with people coming in after school and work.
My store was no exception, and the number of customers visiting my store exploded.
As a result—
“I-Inami san ! You’re the real Inami san, aren’t you !?”
“Ah. Y-yes, I am.”
“Kyaaaaaaaah ! !”
……Why are you shouting?
“Wow ! Living Inami san ! Oh my God, you’re huge !”
“Ah, yes. Thanks……”
“Kyaaaaaa ! !”
So, why are you yelling?
“Inami san ! Ah, ah, Inami san ! Inami san ! !”
“…..H-haha.”
“Kyaaaaaaaah ! !”
For God’s sake, speak in Japanese.
……And well, there were many female customers over high school age, and for some reason, they all screamed at me in unison when they saw me.
I understood from the numbers that the number of young people had increased dramatically as a result of my channel being treated as a couples channel, but it was a difficult feeling to actually see it in reality. I’m glad that they’re supporting me, but I don’t like the way they are treating me like an idol.
“…Ahem.”
“W-what is it? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing? I’m glad you’re popular with the girls.”
Haku san is full of a grumpy aura.
It’s no wonder she says that. The others are making a fuss without permission.
“I’m only getting attention because Inami Kitchen is popular. It’s no exaggeration to say that my popularity is due to Haku san’s popularity, since my channel has grown thanks to you.:
Recently, the number of subscribers to Inami Kitchen surpassed 300,000.
This is an abnormal growth even though there has been no noticeable activity recently.
This is not only because clippings and other materials have continued to spread, but it’s also because Haku san has been active as a model for Nekomiya san’s apparel and has been creating a buzz on social media. From there, they found their way to my channel and subscribed to it.
“I don’t care about my popularity or anything else ! I’m bothered by the fact that Inami is being surrounded !”
“Why?”
“Why…..f-figure it out yourself.”
She let out a huff and went somewhere, saying, [I’m gonna take a break! !].
Women are difficult. I don’t understand what she meant.
Well, it doesn’t matter.
The cookies I had prepared had all been sold.
The store is now closed. There’s still time until the meet-and-greet with the viewers, so I’ll take it easy.
“Whew……”
I sat back in my chair, took a breath, and looked up at the ceiling.
–Sold out.
My food. All of it. Everything.
I feel so good.
I’m refreshed, I’m comfortable.
“…..Um”
At the sound of a deep male voice, I pulled back my dazed consciousness and immediately stood up.
There he was, an old man with a hat pulled back over his head.
He was wearing a suit that looked expensive even to the untrained eye, and the cane in his hand was somewhat fashionable as well.
“Um…I came because of the stream, but I wonder if the cookies are still available…..?”
I thought he was asking for directions, but I was wrong.
Stream, how old is this guy?
Sixty….no, he looks past seventy. I’m not sure if people that age even watch my channel. I’m sure he’s watching because of Haku san.
“I’m sorry. We sold out a while ago.”
“….I see.”
I couldn’t see his face clearly because of his hat.
However, his voice did not even try to hide his regret, creating a somber atmosphere.
…It feels strange.
This atmosphere gives me a sense of déjà vu.
For some reason, he has the same smell as Haku san.
“Oh, uh, wait a minute, please.”
I ran to the kitchen, leaving the old man behind.
The cookies that had broken while I was decorating them with icing and were never displayed. I took them back to the old man.
“If you don’t mind if they’re a failure, please take one. No charge.”
“…..Are you sure?”
“Yes. But please don’t tell anyone else. I don’t have enough to give away to everyone who wants one.”
Besides, Haku san said this would be her own snack later.
If I gave it all away, she would definitely be disappointed
“Thank you. ….Then, I’ll take one.”
The old man happily took the cookie in his hand.
He took it in his mouth and tasted it as if it was the last meal of his life. Then, with a sigh of relief, he said, [This is delicious.]
“I wonder if this was made by her……?”
“Is it Haku san? She did the mold cutting and the icing for the finishing touches. She’s very dexterous and does a great job.”
“……I see. I’m glad.”
Glad?
The strange reply froze my thoughts for a moment, but the next time I blinked, the old man was gone.
Suddenly, like the wind.
Judging by the fact that he was holding a cane, he must have had bad legs and couldn’t walk well, but he wasn’t looking to the right or to the left.
……Ghosts, I don’t think so.
Please stop. I’m not good at occult stuff.
“……Hmm?”
I noticed something and raised my eyebrows as the bag of cookies I had left as a sample came into view.
The contents of the bag were the cookies I had made this morning for the stream.
Inside the transparent bag, mixed in with my face, was an old man. He is Haku san’s mentor.
Doesn’t this man look just like the old man from earlie……?
N-no. No way.
“Uuuh…..Inami……”
“W-what’s wrong !?”
Haku san, who was supposed to have gone for a break, came back.
For some reason, with tearful eyes and a tearful voice.
“…I went to a butcher shop and tried to buy Inami’s karaage. Then I was told that it was sold out…u-uuh…I wanted to eat it too…”
“Ah,……that’s what you mean.”
The owner of that butcher shop was really enthusiastic about stocking up on chicken meat so that everyone who came could buy it. I didn’t think it would all be sold at this hour. As the creator of the recipe, I’m happy for him, but I feel a little sad that not a few more people will not be able to buy it.
“There are plenty of other delicious foods out there, so let’s take a look around together, shall we? Also, let me buy Haku san a Christmas present.”
“A present !”
“Please tell me anything you like.”
Haku san’s sadness at not being able to eat karaage turned into a smile filled with joy.
◆
It was past ten o’clock in the afternoon.
The Christmas event was over, and the social event went off without a hitch.
Haku san and I returned home with paper bags full of goodies in both hands.
“Ugh, it’s freezing cold. Let’s get into the kotatsu quickly.”
“I’ll make you a hot drink, so please go ahead and take a rest. What would you like?”
“Cocoa ! In the mug we bought today !”
“Yes, yes.”
The white cat mug I bought as a Christmas present.
From today onwards, it will be kept at home for Haku san’s use only.
Come to think of it, she comes to my house every day, but she never keeps any of her personal belongings. Maybe I should go buy her some chopsticks or a bowl next time.
“Here’s your cocoa.”
“Thank you !”
The two of us got into the kotatsu side by side and drank hot cocoa.
Haa……delicious.
I put a little brandy in mine, so it makes my body feel even warmer.
The fatigue of the day melts away.
“I heard all the viewers say Inami’s cookies are delicious.”
“I see. I’m a little concerned that some of the viewers cried because they couldn’t buy them……”
“When you do it again, just make more of them. So many that there will be too many !”
“……Yup.”
“Of course I’ll help ! And Haku san will eat all the leftovers !”
Haku san said happily while warming her fingertips in a mug.
The side of her face was dazzling, so I narrowed my eyes.
Suddenly, my eyes meet hers.
Embarrassed, I avert my gaze, but she tilts her head and asks,[What’s wrong?]
“Ah, no…I just feel grateful. If I were alone, I wouldn’t have participated in today’s event. I don’t even think Nekomiya san would invited me in the first place.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.Thanks to Haku san, our numbers have increased and we have a lot of viewers. It’s all thanks to Haku san. Thank you very much.”
She took a sip of cocoa and breathed hotly. Then she looked at me sideways, peeked her innocent white teeth, leaned closer, and put her head on my shoulder.
“I’m glad you praised me, but I didn’t do anything. Inami did the hard work. Don’t forget that.”
“I don’t care about that……”
“It’s Inami who has always worked hard at cooking, and even when his own restaurant failed, he didn’t give up on cooking. I just eat because I think it’s delicious.”
Gently, she took my hand.
She stroked my fingertips, touched them between her fingers, and gently connected them.
It was sweaty, hot, and comfortable.
“That’s why Inami is amazing. For me…it was always hard, but now I’m enjoying every day. It’s all thanks to Inami. Thank you.”
The cool, sweet voice that rings right in my ear.
Her warmth and weight.
Her reassuring smell.
All of these things make my heart relax.
Everything leading up to today.
And the days with her run through my mind.
“…………..”
“Hmm? Inami, are you crying?”
“Wha…..no, I’m not crying…….”
“No, you are crying ! Where does it hurt? Did you get a stomach ache from the cold !?”
“I’m not crying ! I’m fine ! I’m really fine !”
While blocking her attempts to look into my face with all my might, she managed to pull back and wiped my face with the sleeve of her clothes. ….I’m ashamed of myself. I look pretty tired. Was it because I did something I wasn’t used to?
“Ah, that’s right ! I’ll give Inami something nice !”
“Something nice?”
She quietly slipped out of the kotatsu and picked up a paper bag in the corner of the room.
That was the one she had brought this morning, as I recall.
“Ta-da ! Here’s your Christmas present !”
What she pulled out was a piece of black cloth.
……What’s this? Hmm? …..Ah !
“An apron ! Eh, this is handmade !? Did Haku san make this !?”
“Yeah, I made it. Nekomiya taught me how to make it. How is it? Isn’t it pretty good?”
“Yes, very good. …..Wow. And there’s an embroidery here that says [Inami Kitchen] !”
“Did you notice? Haku san has a good sense of style, so she shows her originality in such places ! Try it on ! Come on, hurry up !”
I put on the apron as I was being rushed.
I’m very happy. To be frank, I’m quite excited.
Could it be that she;s been modeling at Nekomiya- an’s place a lot recently as payment for teaching her how to make aprons? If it’s her, it’s possible.
…However, I did something a bit wrong.
She has a handmade apron, but I gave her a store-bought mug.
It’s not balanced.
Next year, I’ll think of something more.
“Oh, it’s nice ! It looks good on you, Inami ! Yeah, it’s great !”
“Y-you think so? Hehe……thank you.”
The apron is a very ordinary apron except for the embroidery.
But it gives me such unfounded confidence that no matter what I cook, it’s going to be delicious. I feel as if Haku san is always supporting me.
“Use that from the next stream ! Brag to everyone that Haku san made it !”
“……”
“What’s wrong, Inami?”
“……,No, I won’t use this one.”
“Why !?”
I smiled and took off my apron as Haku san widened her eyes.
“I’ll save it until I finish paying off my debt and start a new shop. That way, I’ll feel more motivated to work hard. By then, Haku san, please make some for yourself too. Let’s wear the matching apron and stand at the store.”
“Huh ! Y-yeah ! Let’s do that ! That’s definitely fun !”
Laughing like a blooming flower, Haku san snorted.
We can start matching now, but I just bought a new apron for Haku san. It would be painful for her to leave it behind and wear something new.
“Since it’s so beautifully embroidered, shall we name the restaurant [Inami Kitchen] as it is?”
“That means a lot of viewers will come and the place will be prosperous !”
“We must continue to do our best so that they will become our customers. Haku san, will you help me?”
“Of course !”
And then.
–Grrrrrrr.
Haku san’s stomach told her that she was hungry, even though she must have eaten a mountain of various foods at the shopping district.
She rubbed her stomach and smiled shyly.
“Then, let’s make karaage now, shall we?”
“Karaage !?”
“I’ve prepared the ingredients for such an event. I also bought a cake, so let’s have a Christmas party.”
“Yay ! Let’s do it !”
I moved to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
Cut up the chicken and put it in the marinade.
Leave it for a while, sprinkle it with flour and potato starch, and drop it into the oil.
Sizzle.
Sizzling sound.
A pleasant sound shakes my eardrums.
Haku san was also shaking her silver hair with a face that said she couldn’t wait to eat it.
–
–
If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate, Thank you in advance !