Haru held himself and asked, "How do you feel?"
"It's terrible. It was my first time working in this kind of mass food shop..."
Erina was naturally very arrogant and proud, but at this moment the grandma walked tremblingly and said that she would hand over all of the income of the business tonight to Haru. After all, for her, her reputation on this night had increased and the business would be even better in the future.
In contrast, the operating income for one night was nothing.
Haru, of course, didn't accept it. He told the grandma that he only wanted to help and created a memory with his fiancee so he didn't need money. He also didn't lack money after all.
The grandma then compromised, but then she asked Haru to wait outside. After ten minutes, she walked out with two freshly baked pepper buns.
"I want my grandson to know that even if this snack isn't elegant, its taste isn't inferior to any food which is made by a star hotel.... so during this time, I've been trying to modify the recipe. I was planning to give it to my grandson first, but now that I met you, I will give it to you... maybe it is not as delicious as your pepper bun, but please try it."
"This is the best gift, thank you."
Taking the pepper buns from the grandma, Haru finished eating one pepper bun in two bites, then handed the remaining one to Erina. "Would you like to eat it?"
"No... um!"
When Erina's mouth was opened, Haru put the pepper bun directly into her mouth. Erina's small mouth was forced to open, and tears were about to flow out, but when she bit the pepper bun, her tongue met the rich gravy juice inside, which stunned her whole body.
"How does it taste?"
"....Exquisite." After a moment of silence, Erina said that word.
It was obviously just a rough-looking pepper bun, but through this pepper bun, she seemed able to see the figure of the grandma who worked hard to create this pepper bun for her grandson.
Although the taste was still lacking, every cooking step was perfected, and she knew that it took countless attempts to create this 'exquisite pepper bun'!
"I know that you're pursuing artistic and exquisite cuisine. This isn't wrong. Every chef should have their own pursuits. However, the standard for judging whether a dish is good or not shouldn't only be based on its appearance alone, no matter how low grade it is. Food, as long as we polish it with a sincere heart, then it is an exquisite dish, isn't it?" Haru said with a smile.
"Are you trying to educate me?" Erina embraced herself, and she showed her queen's aura. "Don't you think that the dish which I've made is exquisite enough?"
"How to say... you're pursuing perfection so much that you've forgotten to enjoy the cooking process itself," Haru said.
"Enjoy the cooking process itself..?!" Erina was stunned.
"See this plant." Haru pointed at the plant on the side of the alley and asked, "What do you think?"
"It's ugly," Erina said without hesitation.
"Then what about this?" Haru cut down some ugly branches and made it more exquisite. "See? Even an ugly plant can become beautiful. Then even a mass of food should be able to become exquisite food, right?"
"......."
Erina thought about Eishi Tsukasa, the rank one of Elite Ten of Tootsuki Academy, the man who was known as the 'The White Knight of The Table'. It was said that he dedicated his heart to cooking itself.
So what about her?
Erina also loved to cook at the beginning, but she didn't know when that cooking had become a tool to realize her ambition. The so-called pursuit of perfection was just guised to hide her denial of everything since she felt uncomfortable with all of the expectations which were placed on herself.
Because of her unique tongue and the dark cooking training in her childhood time, she had lost her love for cooking.
The tongue of God was her greatest weapon, but at the same time, it was also her greatest restraint.
Erina started to doubt her dream.
Although she hated her father in her heart, she had to admit that she inherited her father's dream.
Her dream was to erase the mass food in this world and everyone only needed to follow the 'perfect recipes' provided by her and make an 'exquisite dish' in process.
In fact, that dream had been shaken after she met Haru, but she didn't dare to face it until now.
Erina had been wondering whether it was necessary to achieve that perfection and was she able to throw the pepper bun on her hand to the ground, then step on it with her shoes?
No.
Erina realized that her dream was wrong.
"So... what should I do?"
"Don't worry, you still have me."
The large hand which protected her made her feel secure and warm, resting on her shoulder.
"But, I don't have any reasons to cook anymore."
"Let me be your reason. As my wife-to-be, don't you think that it is necessary to make a dish that can satisfy her husband, right?"
"However, I've lost the goal that I pursued!"
"Then let me make your goal." Haru showed a bright smile and said, "I'm the number one chef in this world, right now. Your goal is to defeat me!"
Erina was about to say something, but...
"You bastard!" An old man with a grumpy face suddenly rushed toward Haru. "How dare you destroy the green plant here?! You need to pay the plant back!!!"
"......"
"What?"
Haru's expression instantly changed from a handsome face to a dumbfounded face. He wanted to ask this uncle to pretend to not see anything since he was in the process of saving his wife-to-be, can you not spoil the atmosphere?
"Huh? Do you think that I'm afraid of you because you're big?! In my youth, I've also had my share of fights!" The old man said with a firm expression. "Destroying the plant on this alley, you need to pay a two thousand yen fine!"
"Haha...."
Erina laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" Haru twitched his lips and complained. "The plant is being cut down because of you! You also need to pay the fine!"
"Huh? I didn't do it! I won't pay for it!"
"You have to pay!"
"No!"
"......."
In the end, Haru paid the fine, and the sturdy old man left with satisfaction. Just as he sighed while holding his wallet, small soft lips were printed on his lips.
Erina's lips parted as soon as she touched them, and only a soft "thank you" was still echoing in Haru's ears.
Holding his lips for a moment, Haru smiled and asked, "Can you give me more?"
"Hmph! Don't ask too much! But I'll give you another kiss if you treat me to the food in this place tonight," Erina said with a smile.
"Alright, alright, what do you want to eat? Let's eat as much as you want."
Haru pretended to be a poor man that didn't have money which made Erina want to beat him up somehow.
Holding each other's hands, both of them enjoyed their trip in this street food location.
Seeing the young couple leaving noisily and yelling, the grandma smiled on her wrinkled face and prayed. "Such a loving couple should be together forever."
---
On this night, Haru took Erina to drink from a vending machine, cooked oden in cans, ate takoyaki, crepes, and even stinky tofu.
Haru remembered Erina's appearance chasing after him on the street with tears in her eyes when he put stinky tofu in her mouth when she didn't pay attention.
After getting tired, the two of them casually found a drink bar on the side and ordered two large drinks for two.
Erina felt that it was unhygienic so one of them inserted with a straw then she drank it.
The light yellow light imprinted on Erina's blushing cheeks made her very cute.
After that, Haru took Erina for a stroll around the game hall. The two of them fished for a goldfish and tried various games, just like an ordinary couple, playing around.
As long as Erina hadn't eaten, seen, or cooked anything, Haru would take her to experience it one by one.
Erina also let go of her pride and reservedness, like a bird that was out of cage, flying together with Haru, showing a smile and happiness on her face. She was like a little lover, accepting various delicacies and small gifts from her boyfriend to please.
When it was almost midnight, Haru said, "Let's go back."
"Carry me!" Erina opened both of her arms.
Haru laughed and carried her in his arms directly, walking back to her car.
Erina hugged him tightly while laughing like a child, thinking that she really loved him.
"Haru."
"Hmm...?"
"Kiss me."
Haru looked at Erina who was staring at him.
"Deep one or the light one?"
Erina blushed and said, "L, light one."
"Oh." Haru felt a bit disappointed, but he kissed her gently.
Erina was very happy and hugged his neck tightly. She wanted to be with him forever, it was what she had thought tonight, no matter what.