Chapter 494

Bear-san, Goes To Eat Breakfast

We took Sakura home.

Well then, everyone, please enjoy yourself. (Sakura)

I wish Sakura-chan could have come with us. (Ruimin)

Sakura looked apologetic at Ruimins words.

But I can stay with you this afternoon. Ill come to Yuna-samas mansion later. s.h.i.+n.o.bu, please take good care of everyone. (Sakura)

I understand. I will take care of them properly. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

/ Please Keep reading 0n MYB0XNOVEL.C0M

After parting with Sakura, we headed for breakfast.

By the way, Ive been getting a lot of stares from residents since I entered the town. Its still ongoing.

Sakura-neechans house was big. (Shuri)

Thats not just Sakuras house. Its a place where all the

Miko

gather. (Yuna)

Miko

? (Shuri)

(

)

Shuri tilted her head at the word

miko

. She doesnt seem to understand the phrase

miko

. Even here, cultural differences are apparent.

Its difficult to explain the culture of each country. Even I dont know some things that were common knowledge in other countries. Something difficult to explain will also be difficult to understand.

Etto

Sakuras house is also her workplace, I think? They live there besides Sakura. (Yuna)

So I briefly explained that its also a place of work and that they live there along with Sakura.

With such an explanation, Shuri seemed to understand somewhat and nodded her head.

So where are we going to eat? (Yuna)

Im thinking of going to my favorite restaurant for a light meal. Then we walk around the city, and then eat and drink as we go. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

First of all, I dont want to eat weird food. (Yuna)

Its rude to call it something strange. Sakura-sama eats it too, so its not weird. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Just because Sakura eats it, I refuse to eat insects. (Yuna)

They eat locusts and such, but Id rather not. While I have never eaten locusts, I reject them because theyre insects. Its not a question of whether it tastes good or not, Its still the fact that its an insect.

You like insects? (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Are you listening to people? If you take us to a store like that, they will go berserk. The store will be destroyed. And s.h.i.+n.o.bu will die. (Yuna)

Oi, dont kill me! Its okay because they dont serve insects. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Looking at the expression on s.h.i.+n.o.bus face just now, Its still suspicious, so I cant drop my guard.

You guys, theres nothing you dont like, right? (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

I dont want to eat insects. (Ruimin)

Yes, me too. (Fina)

Me too~ (Shuri)

Not only me, but also Shuri, Fina, and Ruimin disagreed. I am glad I have good friends.

Since we all agreed on the same thing, s.h.i.+n.o.bu would not take us to a strange restaurant.

We arrived at a restaurant that looked like a

teishoku-ya

. We entered the restaurant with s.h.i.+n.o.bu in the lead. The inside of the restaurant was much larger than I expected. There were about 10 tables and counter seats.

(

)

However, there were no customers. Its not possible to judge whether its a little-known, unpopular spot or a completely popular joint.

Good timing. Its empty. (s.h.i.+nbu)

Ara

, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-chan. Welcome. (Lady)

As I was worrying, a middle-aged woman wearing an ap.r.o.n and a triangular cap came out from behind the counter. The fact that she called out s.h.i.+n.o.bus name suggests that this was indeed her favorite restaurant.

By the way, the reason there are no customers is that everyone has gone to work. (Lady)

Oh, you heard that? (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Im all ears when a customer comes in. So, youve brought some pretty girls with you today. I wonder if they are s.h.i.+n.o.bu-chans girlfriends? s.h.i.+n.o.bu-chan is popular with girls, after all. (Lady)

Its not like that. They are my friends. We just came to have breakfast together. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Is that so? Even so, these children are wearing unusual clothes. (Lady)

A woman looks at us and her gaze stops at me.

And a bear? Ive never seen a child dressed like that before. (Lady)

If youve seen it before, that will be a problem.

Please dont pursue her about her outfit. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Is there a reason? (Lady)

There is a reason. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Then Ill leave it at that. Sit down and relax. (Lady)

We took our seats at a table in the back.

Is s.h.i.+n.o.bu-neechan popular with girls? (Shuri)

Shuri, whos sitting in a chair, asked with an innocent look.

Im not popular. Auntie just likes to make jokes. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Thats not the case.

The woman listening to the story denied s.h.i.+n.o.bus words.

s.h.i.+n.o.bu-chan is stronger and more dependable than most adventurers out there, so even girls like her. If a man is hara.s.sing a girl, s.h.i.+n.o.bu will help that poor lady out, so many girls look up to her. Many girls even say they wish she were a boy. (Lady)

Ive heard that line somewhere before.

Auntie, stop saying strange things to everyone. Were here to eat. If you keep talking about strange things, well go somewhere else. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu forcibly broke off the conversation.

Too bad, I thought I would get some material to make fun of her.

Well then, before you leave, let me ask you what you want to order. What would you like? (Lady)

Before I can ask, What do you have? s.h.i.+n.o.bu answered.

Well have the usual breakfast set. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

OK. Then, please wait a minute. (Lady)

The woman took s.h.i.+n.o.bus order and went behind the counter.

It shouldnt be anything strange if its called a breakfast set, right?

Do you always come here, s.h.i.+n.o.bu? (Yuna)

I come here because its cheap, fast, and delicious. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

As s.h.i.+n.o.bu said, cooking began in the kitchen. Theres a middle-aged man. Was he the husband of the woman who just came in?

And without much of a wait, the couple placed the food on the table. Indeed, it was quick.

Rice, miso soup, nori, natto, and grilled fish.

The fish was salmon, and the miso soup was simple, with wakame seaweed and tofu. It was indeed an ordinary breakfast typical of a j.a.panese country.

Well then,

itadakussu

. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

(

)

Itadakimasu

I pour soy sauce over natto and stir it.

It becomes nice and sticky. It has been a long time since I ate natto. Yes, it looks delicious. But the reaction of the people around me was different.

U~u

, its sticky and gross. (Shuri)

Shuri, who was stirring it to imitate me, stopped her hand.

And it stinks. (Ruimin)

Ruimin put her face close to the natto and made a funny face, the two of them moved the bowl of natto away from them. Fina held the bowl and was in trouble.

Etto

, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san. Isnt this bean rotten? Its sticky and stinky. (Ruimin)

Ruimin asked with some difficulty, looking at the natto.

Yes, its rotten. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Its rotten!?

The three were startled by s.h.i.+n.o.bus words and turned away from the natto.

But you can eat it, so its okay. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu said so, but the three of them were anxious. Indeed, if she said its rotten, then, of course, they would be nervous.

Its okay, you three. Its not exactly rotten. Theyre just fermented, so you can eat it. (Yuna)

I ate natto on rice to prove it.

Its the first natto I had in a long time. Its so delicious.

Yuna-san (Ruimin)

Yuna-oneesan (Fina)

Yuna-oneechan, are you okay? (Shuri)

The three of them looked at me with concern.

Oh right, Ive heard that you dont eat natto in other countries. Anyway, many people are not good at it. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

I wouldnt say they dont eat it, or rather, they dont have it. So people who see it for the first time may be surprised. (Yuna)

I have never seen it outside of the Land of Harmony.

Im sorry. I completely forgot about it. Go ahead and eat it, please. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu apologized.

Well, she might not think that they would hate what she usually eats.

Then Ill take one, too, because its one too many. (Yuna)

That helps, but Yuna, are you okay with it? (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Yeah. Im okay. I used to have it in my hometown, too. Its been a long time since Ive had it, so Im thrilled. (Yuna)

Im glad that you said that. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu looked happy. I felt sorry for her if I didnt eat at least another one.

I received a bowl of natto from Shuri.

Yuna-oneechan, is it really that good? (Shuri)

I dont know. Some people like it, some dont. But you dont have to force yourself to eat it. (Yuna)

I have heard that people in Kansai dont like it. If the food culture was different, anyone would be afraid to eat them. I, too, would like to refrain from eating insects.

We grew up in different environments. It is what it is.

Ill take Ruimins share, then. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Im sorry, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san. (Ruimin)

Ruimin offered a bowl of natto to s.h.i.+n.o.bu.

What about you, Fina? (Yuna)

Ill try it. (Fina)

You dont have to force it. (Yuna)

No, because you cant take the food for granted. (Fina)

Ill eat it, so it wont go to waste. (Yuna)

But (Fina)

Fina was looking at the natto. She looked a little disgusted. I guess she can smell it after all?

Well then, just take a bite, and if you dont like it, give it to me. (Yuna)

In my words, Fina put a bite-sized piece of natto on top of the rice, held her breath and put it in her mouth. Then, she moved her mouth with a mawkish movement. Finally, she swallows it with a gulp.

So? (Yuna)

Oneechan? (Shuri)

Fina-chan? (Ruimin)

Me, Shuri, and Ruimin looked on anxiously.

The beans were soft and mixed with the soy sauce, it tasted magical. (Fina)

Hows the taste? (Ruimin)

It wasnt that bad. (Fina)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu was relieved to hear that. Of course, so was I.

Then Ill take the rest. (Yuna)

No, Ill eat it. (Fina)

Dont force yourself. (Yuna)

Its not that bad. (Fina)

With that said, Fina began to eat the rest of the natto on top of the rice. Shuri watched her.

I will try it too. (Shuri)

I put the bowl of natto that was left on my side back to her. Then she stirred the natto and poured it over the rice. She imitated Fina and put it in her mouth.

Delicious, (Shuri)

Yes, its not bad. (Ruimin)

The impressions of Shuri and Ruimin were not bad.

But it stinks. (Shuri)

Well, that cant be helped. I have never eaten

kusaya

, but I hear it tastes good even though it smells bad. Its the same thing. I wonder if there were

kusaya

in the Land of Harmony?

(

)

Well, I dont think I would eat it myself.

In the end, we ended up eating natto, all of us, and we could finish the meal without incident.

The fish was delicious, too. (Ruimin)

Im glad you said that. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Do they sell natto anywhere?

I think Ill buy some for myself next time whenever I have a craving for natto now and then.

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Authors Note:

I used one chapter just to talk about natto

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