Volume 25 Chapter 2 Part4 (1/2)
”I know Sachiko always takes her ti her uru-san I should have expected that, since you're cousins You're both equally fastidious”
Hearing Sachiko's mother's comment, they both looked at each other and smiled
”Now, let's eat”
Being urged to hurry, Sachiko sat down on the sofa
”I suppose You went to the effort of o cold”
Although it washot, but it would still taste worse cold It was fundareen tea
”Ah, hold on”
Sachiko's mother stopped her just as she was about to take a sip from the teacup
”What is it?”
”You should start by eating the ht?”
The last, ”Right?” was directed at Suguru-san The gift giver simply smiled and said, ”Well, we could try it your way”
”We're sitting on a sofa, eating manjuu that's a souvenir fro me there's a proper etiquette to it?”
It wasn't like it was the full-blown tea cere about theon the table for over five minutes
”Never mind that Come on, peel off the cellophane Then on the count of three, take a bite”
” … ?”
Even though she thought it was a strange procedure, Sachiko followed her mother's instructions She cut the manjuu bun in two and placed one half in her mouth At that point she was innocent She hadn't been told anything in advance, so she held no preconceptions
”What do you think?”
Suguru-san asked the He was a coward - he'd unwrapped his manjuu bun but hadn't taken a bite
”Give me your honest opinion”
Sachiko lightly glared at Suguru-san when he asked a second time
”If you want my honest opinion”
”Please Don't hold back”
In that case - Sachiko made up her mind
”This confectionery, well, it's - ”
Sachiko started to speak, but then her !”
”Um, mother, shouldn't you consider your words a little more … such as, ”It's not overly tasty” Or, ”It's not to my taste””
Having said that, nowas still disgusting
The outside was dry and cruly sweet It would have been better if that was all, but it also had a spicy aroh to make her lose her appetite
”It's alright, Sacchan I saht theone as a souvenir”
”Why would you do such a thing?”
Was he really such an idiot?
”Because all the people around ift that they all found truly delicious?”
”It wouldn't have to be truly delicious”
That was the nature of a travel souvenir It was brought back as evidence of where you'd been
”Ahh, that's boring”
”I know one thing It's become the talk of the family”
That Suguru-san the gourht back some truly awful sweets from his ski trip Of course it would become a rumor Even Sachiko's mother had apparently heard the ruuru-san's visit
Even though she'd just said it was disgusting, she was still taking bites out of the re it doith matcha tea
”You too Sachiko-san, have another bite”
”No”
She was not currently overco that she kneful She didn't want to join her ue sense of camaraderie
”You think I' to trick you Have it with the tea”
”… Huh?”
Now that she'd reen tea She'd been forbidden fro the manjuu bun, but it looks like that ban had now been lifted Not having a choice, but still thinking she was being tricked, Sachiko took a sip of tea and then a bite of the manjuu bun
And then
”Oh my”
”Right?”
It definitely felt as though the flavor had changed The overbloeetness was ht was a spicy aroma was somehow lessened and now had a subtle hint of flowers Even though the aroma had previously seemed synthetic, now it seemed like the sweet had traces of caraway and dill in it Was it really the sa as before?
”Was this your idea, Suguru-san? Did you put that ht into it?”
”No I just bought so truly awful”
Suguru-san sipped his tea, looking unconcerned
”Then … ”
”It was Mrs Matsudaira's breakthrough”
”Matsudaira … ah, Touko-chan's mother?”
Sachiko reo Mrs Matsudaira was an adorable woentle, and still with the air of a sheltered lady despite being married
”When I visited the Matsudaira's, aunty was reen tea We decided to eat theood time I knew they were awful so I held back, but Mrs Matsudaira toldit”