Chapter 3

(Fufufun… ♪)

(Cleaning~ Cleaning~ ♪ Ahh, I’m so happy all the customers are just gobbling everything up lately!)

(Being a chef really makes me feel lucky. At first, I thought that all these idol guys had like, an artist’s spirit or something, so I figured most of them would have really unbalanced diets.)

(But they really aren’t all that picky. Well of course, these guys’re all ordering the food they already like to eat, so I guess I should’ve expected this.)

(But it’s also not uncommon for people to leave half their plate untouched at any other restaurant…)

(Well, whenever that happens, I just sneak the leftovers into my mouth so they don’t go to waste.)

(It really feels bad when the food you poured your heart and soul into comes back untouched.)

(I always feel so bad for farmers when people don’t eat their veggies~ It’s harming the earth ‘cause you didn’t complete the food chain! Yup yup!)

……

(Hm? Wait, it’s time to close up shop, but… looks like someone’s still here?)

(That’s one constipated look he’s got there. Maybe his belly hurts and he can’t move?)

Ummm~? Hey sir, is something wrong?

I’ve gotta start cleaning up the canteen, so I’m gonna need you to step outside! Sorry ‘bout tha~t ☆

But hey, are you feeling sick or something? Should I call an ambulance? Or maybe that’s going too far—You want me to carry you somewhere you can rest up…?

…Whoa?! S–sorry, I wasn’t listening!

Ryuseitai has a big live coming up, so I was putting all my concentration into meditating—

Meditating? Ohh, so that’s why you were sitting criss-cross applesauce on your chair!

But yeah, that’s pretty bad manners though. If you don’t eat with good posture you might get something stuck in your throat—that’d be a real pickle to get yourself in!

O–ossu! Man, that’s so embarrassing! Thanks for your valuable opinion!

Wait, huh? Are you by any chance… Shiina-aniki?

Hwa? Uhhh~ I mean, yeah my name’s Shiina but I’m pretty sure I’m not your brother? You sure you’re not confusing me for someone else?

Wait no um, crap—Now I’m embarrassed all over again!

You’re Shiina Niki-sensei from “Nourish Your Soul! Cooking with the Shiinas” right?! I was a huge fan of yours when I was a kid!

‘Cause you kinda talked like me, and you seemed really easy to get along with, so I’d started thinking of you like you were my own brother!

But uhh, you’re right though, this is the first time we’ve met! So sorry!

Nahaha, no need to apologize or anything~? Huh~ Makes me feel kinda happy~ I always figured that nobody watched that old show ‘cause the ratings were super low ♪

But y’know, I really had no reason to worry about that… It was broadcast on cable TV, so it’s no wonder someone watched it and remembered us.

Yeah! I used to like watching it every week while I ate a bento I got at the convenience store!

Even the blandest food ever would taste super good when I was watching Aniki… I–I mean Shiina-sensei cooking!

You helped me out so much!

Back then my mom and dad were going through a rough patch at work… Well, never mind. No point in digging that back up!

Anyway, it is such an honor to meet you! Uwaaah, this is amazing! Would it be okay if I shook your hand?!

Huh? You won’t get anything outta shaking hands with the likes of me though~ Well, it’s not gonna hurt either, so sure! Put ‘er there! Shake shake~ ♪

Shake shake~! Omigosh, these really are the hands of the chef I admire so much! I’m never washing my hands ever again!

Owowow, don’tcha think you’re squeezing a little too hard there?! I give, I give!

But it’d be pretty scary if you got food poisoning or something, so you should probably wash your hands before eating, y’know~?

“Be good and promise Shiina-sensei ♪”

You said it! You said the line! Uwaah, I can’t believe I got to hear it in person…!

Ahaha, looks like you really are a fan. Thanks for that.

I guess I have a few regrets about that show~ ‘Cause at the same time, some gaudy idol showdown cooking show started up and totally overshadowed us.

It was a pretty simple concept: explain how to cook in a nice, gentle way so even a kid could do it…

But nowadays you can find that kinda stuff for free online if you just search it up.

……

Hm? What’s up? Your face got all gloomy for some reason~?

My bad, I put a damper on things, didn’t I! Nahaha ♪

Oh man, I ended up wasting my time talking… I can’t clean up with you here, so I’m real sorry but I’m gonna have to ask you to leave!

But I look forward to seeing you again ☆

…Aniki! Uh no I mean, Shiina-sensei!

Wah?! You scared me!

If you really gotta call me something like that, Aniki is fine. It doesn’t creep me out as much as Sensei, y’know?

Got it! Sorry, I’m just kinda hard-headed…? So once I’ve learned something I just never forget it, or I guess I’m not like, flexible enough to change or something!

Nahaha. You don’t have to apologize~

I’m definitely more go-with-the-flow or like, noncommittal I guess, so I think I could probably stand to toughen up a bit~ ♪

Aniki… You’re too kind… Thank you for trying to console me! Ossu!

Gweh? I’m super not used to people looking at me like they’re envious or something, so can you cut it out? You really are hard-headed, aren’t you?

Ossu! I’m working on turning this part of my personality into one of my strengths!

At any rate, this might seem out of the blue but… Do you not like idols, Aniki?

Ah—I mean, it’s fine if you don’t! It makes sense you’d have a grudge!

I just remembered, but didn’t your cooking show get canceled ‘cause of an idol show?

Huh? Oh yeah, but that was back when I was a kid, so~?

I really don’t think about it one way or another. Honestly I’d forgotten all about it until you brought it up~?

Yeah but, it still kinda looks like you’ve got some unresolved feelings about it! So sorry for being so pushy about it, but I’m saying this right here and now!

As a member of Ryuseitai, I’m gonna do my best to make you like idols, Aniki!

I swear I’ll save the crying child inside your heart…!

Uh, no um, I really don’t care though? So even if you go making vows like that or whatever it’s kinda…?

Man, you seriously are as hot-blooded as you look, huh~?

But well, I’m not gonna be all weird about it either. I can’t say I get it, but I’ll be rooting for you so… Do your best, I guess ♪

Ossu! I appreciate you supporting me in this!

…Oh crap! I’ve been holding you up, I better go! I don’t wanna be late for the live, either! Anyway, sorry for bothering you so much, Aniki!

Sure, bye-by~e…? Lookin’ forward to seeing you here again~?

(Wh–what in the world was all that? He didn’t even tell me his name or anything, so I have no idea who he was…?)

(He just said what he wanted to say and booked it outta here~?)

(Nahaha, the idol industry really is nothing but a buncha weirdos. Just doing whatever they feel like…)

(Yeah, the way they all do that is just a little obnoxious ♪)