Life in Japan

"What did you do in your previous world, Leon? Were you working?"

"No, I was still a student. In my previous world, many people studied until they were twenty-two."

When I said that, Martine looked utterly astonished. People here studied only until fifteen at most, and fifteen was adulthood, too. Anyone would be surprised to hear that people remained students until twenty-two.

"You studied until you were twenty-two...? How incredible. But if you were able to study until that age, were you a noble, Leon?"

"No, there were no nobles in my previous world. There wasn't a clear class system."

"That... is difficult for me to imagine... It really was a completely different world. I wonder if the food was different, too?"

"Yes, I think it was more developed than this world. But this world seems to be developing rapidly lately, so perhaps it'll catch up eventually."

When it came to food culture, Japan was incredibly advanced... There had been so many delicious foods. I loved ramen, curry, and sushi. I loved sweets, too—cakes, cookies, and ice cream...

Feeling nostalgic, my thoughts drifted to Japan, and Martine-sama looked a little sad.

"Did I make you remember something sad...?"

"No! I just felt nostalgic. Thinking about it made me want to eat those foods."

"What kind of food is it? If you tell me how to make it, I'll have the royal palace chefs prepare it!"

Martine's expression changed completely, and she asked with great excitement.

Hmm. Were there any dishes I had a general idea how to make that might be possible here?

Stew or pasta, maybe. Did this world have them?

"For example, do you have stew? It's a heavier dish, something like milk soup. Ah... We couldn't bring milk this far at this time of year, could we?"

"I've never heard of something called stew. I love the milk soup we drink in winter! I'd love to try it. We can use the ice-making machine Leon made, so that shouldn't be a problem."

True, that would solve it. Had it already been put into practical use? Well, as a princess, she could use it as much as she wanted... That's royalty for you.

"Then stew is settled. What about pasta? Do you have that in this world?"

"Pasta...? I've never heard of it. The words you've used since earlier have such strange pronunciations."

Since stew and pasta didn't exist in this world, they were being translated using their original Japanese pronunciations.

"So this world doesn't have it yet. Pasta doesn't require hard-to-find ingredients, so I think we can make it."

"Really!? Then let's have the chef make those two dishes next time. Our next tea party can be a tasting party!"

Martine smiled broadly and looked incredibly happy. So we were going to have another tea party... Well, if it made her happy, I supposed it was fine.

I smiled too.

"That sounds like fun."

"Then, Leon, could you write down the recipes? It would be best not to make public that you came up with them, so I'll give only the recipes to the chef without revealing who invented them."

"Won't people ask who came up with them?"

"That will be fine. I am the First Princess, after all."

Martine puffed out her chest a little proudly as she said that.

She kept being so cute about everything! Phew... Calm down, me.

I was the more mature one, mentally. Even if my mind was being influenced by my body, I was an adult, after all.

"Then I'll write the recipes."

I accepted the paper and pen that Martine had asked the guard from earlier to bring, and began writing.

I think stew should be possible if I add flour to this world's milk soup. Sprinkle flour over sautéed vegetables and fry them a little longer, then add milk and water as usual and season it. That should work.

As for pasta, I need to make the noodles first. I just need to add oil, an egg, and salt to flour, right? I made it once with my mother, but I don't remember the quantities...

Hmm... For the flour, I'll use about four handfuls' worth. The oil should be fairly minimal, so perhaps a little less than half a spoonful. One egg and a pinch of salt. Will this really work with measurements that vague?

I'll just write, “Please determine the quantities through trial and error.”

First, mix all of it together and knead it until it comes together. Once it has formed a single mass, dust it with flour and let it rest for about ten minutes. Then roll it out with a round wooden rod until it's about two millimeters thick. Dust it with flour again, fold it into thirds, and cut it into thin strips. Maybe about two millimeters wide?

Then all that's left is to boil it! As for the cooking time... I have no idea. Five minutes, maybe? I'll write that it should be boiled for around five minutes, since the optimal cooking time varies depending on the noodles.

All right! Now for the sauce. What kind of pasta should I make? These should turn out to be slightly thick, chewy fresh noodles. In that case, tomato sauce might suit them better than a simple salt-based flavor. Cream sauce could work, too.

Hmm... Tomato it is! That's entirely based on my personal preference. Besides, tomatoes should be available at this time of year.

Should I include instructions for making tomato sauce, too? But they have pizza, so they must already have tomato sauce, right?

In that case, I'll write that I want a sauce made by adding bacon or chicken to tomato sauce. Then toss the sauce with the pasta, and it'll be done.

I'm finished! A lot of the details are vague, but a professional chef should be able to make it.

"Martine, I'm done."

"Thank you, Leon! Next time can be a tea party and tasting session! I'm looking forward to it."

"I'm looking forward to it, too."

Martine looked so happy that I gave her a wry smile as I said that.

"Then shall we wrap up for today?"

"Yes, see you at the next lesson."

"Yes. I'll tell you the date of the tea party at our next lesson."

And so that day's tea party came to an end.

Nearly two weeks later, our second tea party alone together was being held.

I had just taken my seat in the same gazebo as last time. The dishes were already laid out in front of me. They were still steaming a little, as though they had just been prepared, and looked incredibly delicious.

"Martine-sama, everything looks delicious."

"Leon, we're alone right now, so no formal speech!"

Right... We hadn't been alone together since then, so I'd completely forgotten.

"Sorry... I forgot."

"Honestly! How could you forget? That's so mean!"

Martine puffed out her cheeks and turned away with a little pout. She was angry, but she was cute.

"I'm really sorry. More importantly, everything looks delicious."

"Doesn't it!?"

Once I turned my attention to the food, her earlier anger seemed to disappear. Thank goodness.

"The chef had been very enthusiastic about the new recipes. Apparently, they had turned out wonderfully. This is my first time eating them, too!"

"This is your first time eating them too, Martine?"

"Yes. I told them not to serve them until this tea party. Since this was a special occasion, I wanted to share the surprise with you..."

Martine seemed to grow embarrassed as she said that. Her face turned red, and her voice became quieter.

Cute... My vocabulary had completely failed me, but she was simply cute! That was all I could say.

Though I was writhing internally, I somehow kept it from showing, put on a pleasant smile, and spoke to Martine.

"That makes me happy. Thank you."

"I-it's fine! It's not like I did it for you or anything... It was for me!"

Martine was doing her best to cover it up, but it was obvious. Still, I wasn't going to point it out. I was an adult, after all.

"Yes, that's true. More importantly, they'll get cold, so let's eat."

"Yes! The wonderful smell has been making me hungry."

"Let's eat."

"Let's eat."

I started with the tomato pasta. Mmm! Delicious! It tasted a little different from Japanese food, but it was still delicious. The chef was amazing. I was so happy...

I glanced at Martine. She looked incredibly surprised at first, then her expression relaxed, so it must have tasted good. I was glad she liked it.

"Leon, this is delicious!"

"I'm glad. The chefs are really skilled. It tastes similar to the food I remember."

"Really? Then I'm eating food from the world you lived in before. That makes me happy!"

Martine really was such a sweet girl. How did someone raise a child like this? Perhaps the royal education was simply incredible...

Well, for now, I should focus on eating.

All right, I'll try the stew, too. I scooped up a spoonful and put it in my mouth.

Oh! It tastes like stew. It's such a comforting flavor. I tore off a piece of the bread that came with it and dipped it into the stew.

Mmm, I'm so happy!

As I savored the stew, Martine began eating hers as well.

"This is... It looked so thick that I wondered whether it could really be good, but it's even more delicious than I expected. It goes so well with bread!"

I was glad she liked it.

After that, we ate enthusiastically for a while, chatting a little between bites, and finished a thoroughly satisfying meal.

"Leon, your recipes are wonderful! Do you have any others?"

"Hmm, there are lots more, but there probably aren't many I can make right away in this world from recipes I remember."

"Is that so? Leon, remember the recipes!"

That's asking too much. It would be difficult without soy sauce, miso, or noodle soup base.

Wait, I'd never asked any of the nobles whether soy sauce or miso existed here. Could a miracle happen, and they might have them despite their high cost!?

I asked Martine with growing excitement.

"Martine, do soy sauce and miso exist in this world? They're seasonings!"

"Y-you're very enthusiastic... But I've never heard of them. I'll ask the chefs and Father, just in case. Miso and shoyu?"

Martine said this while remarking, “They're difficult to pronounce.”

"Yes, I think they're made from a type of bean called soybeans."

"I'll ask about them."

"Thank you!"

I was so excited that I didn't even notice Martine seemed a little taken aback by my enthusiasm. If soy sauce and miso existed, there were so many things I wanted to eat!

"Then I'll tell you the result at the next lesson."

"Yes! Please do."

And so that day's tea party ended.

I waited excitedly for the next lesson, and when it finally came, I heard at the Royal Palace, “Apparently, no one knows of seasonings called soy sauce or miso.”

I was incredibly disappointed. I had hoped that they might exist, so the disappointment was even worse.

I don't know how to make soy sauce or miso!! What am I supposed to do!?