By the time they'd wandered Hanamizaka to midday, Yae Miko suggested an old local restaurant, saying it served the most authentic Inazuma dishes.
Xiangling perked right up. Now that she was already a Culinary Grandmaster, any time she tasted a dish made with ordinary ingredients, she could immediately run a full Simulation of the recipe in her head.
That was the kind of skill every chef dreamed of having.
She couldn't help but think back on the old days, when she'd wasted who knew how many ingredients and how much energy just trying to recreate dishes from other restaurants. Hu Tao had even been traumatized from serving as her taste-tester back then.
"If everyone likes the food, once we're back at the shrine, I'll recreate all these dishes for you!"
"Yay!"
"This one, I think it'd be good with a bit of Slime condensate. And some chopped mint."
At that, a question mark all but popped over Yae Miko's head. "Huh?"
Slime condensate? That stuff could be used in cooking?
"Master, what do you think?" Xiangling asked.
"It's true. A little Slime condensate can thicken the broth, and mint would add some freshness too."
Xiangling's eyes sparkled as she launched into an excited discussion with Xia Zhi.
Her original passion really hadn't changed one bit.
Yae Miko glanced around the table. Everyone else looked completely unfazed by this.
Wait—was she really the only one who thought this was insane? Or… had she fallen behind the times?
Beside her, Xia Zhen nudged her with an elbow. "Basic stuff, don't be clueless."
Yae Miko turned to her, lowering her voice. "Lady Zhen… you've actually eaten it?"
"Mm. Tons of times. Especially in hot pots—the texture's unique."
"Tasty?"
"Delicious. You'll see once you try it yourself. I really like it, at least."
Yae Miko silently nodded.
Across the table, Zhu Zi was busy helping the little tanuki youkai with food.
Since she'd only just taken human form, the girl could barely manage chopsticks, always failing to pick up what she wanted.
As for Xiangling cooking with unusual ingredients, Zhu Zi was long used to it. The first time her boss had taken her to Wanmin Restaurant and served her Slime dishes, she'd been shocked. But after he said it was good for her skin, she'd never hesitated again.
Zhu Zi piled a small mountain of food into the girl's bowl. When the tanuki whispered a timid thank-you, Zhu Zi couldn't help but beam.
It felt just like suddenly having a little sister—taking care of her was strangely fulfilling.
Ying'er chewed on her chopsticks with a teasing smile. "Zhu Zi, she doesn't have a proper name yet, does she?"
Zhu Zi shook her head. "My parents just call her Riko, but that's only a nickname. She doesn't have a real name."
"Then why don't we all help her come up with one?" Ying'er said brightly. "Riko, what do you think?"
The tanuki girl shrank under everyone's gaze, swallowed her bite, and whispered, "Mm."
"Well, since you two look identical, the names should have some connection, right?"
"Right!"
"If I remember correctly, 'Zhu' in Inazuma's language means 'bamboo,' doesn't it?"
"That's right."
"Then how about… Bamboo Shoot?"
"Pfft… that's way too awful!"
"…."
Everyone threw out suggestions, but none stuck.
Riko didn't understand what was wrong with the names. She just quietly ate, leaving the decision to Zhu Zi.
Finally, Zhu Zi turned to Xia Zhi for help. "Boss, why don't you come up with one?"
"I'm not great at naming."
"You're lying! You named me!" Xia Zhen shot back.
"…Fine. Let me think…"
He mulled it over for a moment.
"How about taking a homophone for 'tanuki'? The character for pear—'Rii.' And then add 'i,' meaning clothing. Rii. What do you all think?"
"Rii…" Yae Miko nodded thoughtfully. "That really does sound like an Inazuma name."
Zhu Zi's eyes lit up. "It's beautiful, and the meaning's nice too. Thanks, Boss! Riko, from now on, your name's Rii."
The girl looked up from her bowl, swallowed, and whispered, "Okay…"
After lunch and a short rest, everyone went back out to wander.
Zhu Zi bought Rii so many things that her hands couldn't hold them all. Zhu Zi simply stored them in her own Space Ring.
Yae Miko caught a glimpse of the ring on Zhu Zi's finger and instantly remembered the one Kirara had shown her before. The design was identical.
The dragon king and Venti had already had their fill of wandering, so they headed straight to a tavern. Sake might not be strong, but it had a mellow charm of its own.
Later, the group stocked up on ingredients at the market and returned to Zhu Zi's house.
Her mother was already bustling in the kitchen. When she saw them bringing back so many supplies, she sighed helplessly, smiling. "You're guests! Why would you go out shopping yourselves? I already bought plenty earlier. Zhu Zi, why didn't you stop them?"
Zhu Zi stuck out her tongue. "It's fine, Mom. There's a lot of us, and we eat plenty. It's good to have extra."
Of course, no one was going to let her mother handle such a feast alone.
The girls all rushed into the kitchen—some washing vegetables, some chopping, some tending the fire, some stir-frying.
Her mother was left standing aside, unable to even find a task. Watching them work so cheerfully, her heart swelled. "It's been so long since the house felt this lively."
Zhu Zi told her that the boss had given Riko a new name: Rii.
Her mother repeated it a few times, smiling wider and wider. "Yes, that's a wonderful name."
Not long after, Zhu Zi's father returned from work. Opening the door to a house suddenly packed with strangers, he froze in confusion.
Once everything was explained, he laughed awkwardly, greeted everyone, and apologized that their home was too small to be proper hosts.
Zhu Zi's parents were a lot like Yaoyao's—simple, honest, and kindhearted.
With so many helpers in the kitchen, the food was ready quickly.
Her parents kept saying they'd never eaten such delicious cooking before. No wonder their daughter had gotten plumper.
Zhu Zi puffed out her cheeks. "I have not!"
She got massages from the boss all the time, which kept her figure in check. But explaining "essential oil massage" to her parents? No way. So she just muttered and ate in silence… and ended up finishing a second bowl.
Afterward, everyone pitched in with cleaning and dishes.
Her mother's face glowed with joy. Clearly, her daughter had made wonderful friends.
They drank tea, chatted for a bit longer, then everyone stood to leave.
Zhu Zi stayed behind.
Since she rarely got to visit home, she wanted to spend a few days with her parents—and also bond with Rii.
Watching her friends' backs fade into the distance, Zhu Zi rubbed her full stomach with a troubled sigh.
Ugh. No way she could ask the boss for a massage tonight.
There was a guest room, but since Zhu Zi hadn't been living at home, Rii had been using her bedroom.
Now that Zhu Zi was back, Rii offered to move. But Zhu Zi thought that was too much hassle. She'd only be here a few days anyway. Sharing was easier.
Rii had no objections. "Okay," she whispered.
The house didn't have a bath.
After showering, Zhu Zi returned to her room, sat at her desk with paper and pen, and continued her writing.
Rii watched curiously. "Sister Zhu Zi, are you writing a book?"
"Yeah."
"You're amazing!"
"Not really. Can you read?"
"…No."
"That won't do. I'll teach you, then. Oh, right—I think I've got a Textbook app on my phone."
She pulled out her phone.
"Found it. Here, you can study on your own."
"Okay, Sister Zhu Zi."
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