Chapter 29 Chapter VII

Two days of Friday passed after that.The time came to the moment when it was about to enter noon. There were empty seats everywhere in the sweet tea room of Kurimaru-do, but there was lively and lively conversation. "Wow...the store is still the same...it's empty...it's like this in broad daylight, does it matter?" "Actually, it doesn't matter. Although the growth rate is not large, the number of customers is gradually increasing. It just happens that there are no customers today, and today is a weekday." "So that's how it is." "Isn't this just right? Because there will be a good show coming soon."

"Hehe... Nakanojo, you seem to be very interested too." "No, I'm a staff member here." Yuka, Kurita's childhood friend who worked as a magazine writer, said in a blunt tone.Chatting with her was a young wagashi chef in a white chef's uniform and a Japanese chef's hat - Nakanojo. While the two were chatting, Shiho, who was in charge of greeting customers and sales, walked into the waiter.While wiping the table, Zhibao said in a hearty tone in line with her usual style: "By the way, Yuka, why did you appear? Did someone call you?" "...No, no one called me."

Yuka pouted awkwardly and continued, "It's precisely because no one asked me to come, so I thought I'd take a look. Nakanojo told me before that something would happen during today's lunch break." Shiho narrowed his eyes and looked at Nakanojo. "Don't, don't look at me like that. It's not something you can't say, is it?" "I didn't say that this matter can't be said, I just thought 'this man is so loose-spoken'." "If you can add it up with Ali and divide it by two, it's just right." After saying that, Yuka and Shiho looked at each other and laughed.Nakanojo tilted his head and looked at the clock hanging on the wall of the tea room.

For the guests who are coming at noon, Kurita and Aoi are busy preparing some kind of wagashi.Afraid of disturbing them, Nakanojo deliberately left the kitchen and came to the waiter. I hope everything will go smoothly - Nakanojo secretly prayed. Nakanojo has pure respect for Kurita, the fourth generation owner of Kurimaru Hall. Although it is difficult to praise Kurita as a perfect person in a polite way, I believe that there is no wagashi master who will not be attracted by Kurita's excellent craftsmanship. Nakanojo believes that Kurita's superb craftsmanship comes from the multiplication effect of two factors.One element is that he received the guidance of his parents since he was a child, and the other is self-study.

The time when Kurita stayed away from Wagashi was not just about keeping a distance.That should be because Kurita, as the heir of the wagashi shop, needs a period of time for himself to think seriously.During that time, maybe Kurita faced himself seriously, and secretly observed and learned a lot about wagashi. The reason why Kurita can reach a high level at such a young age is presumably because he faces the matter of making wagashi with a sincere attitude. Of course, Kurita's natural talent is also partly to blame.However, most of the reason is that Kurita sometimes took a long way to go, and made unremitting efforts to hone himself.It is precisely because Nakanojo thinks Kurita is such a person that he respects his craftsmanship.

However, regarding the girl named "Aoi", Nakanojo was at a loss. Nakanojo asked Kurita, but Kurita's answer was also confusing, which meant that Kurita didn't know what kind of character Aoi was.Simply observing Nakanojo from the sidelines, one can only know that Aoi is a person with extraordinary knowledge. Is Aoi an expert? However, if she is an expert, why does she only give Kurita advice from the sidelines, but never pick up the equipment and do it herself?Although she seemed capable of making quite a high level of wagashi——Nakanojo pondered these questions. At this time, someone pushed open the door of Kurimaru Hall, and one of the main guests walked in.

"Excuse me……" A woman with impressive jet-black hair—Koharu—entered. "Welcome! Why are you so slow?" Shiho responded with a bold voice that was different from that of a wagashi shop. "Sorry, it's delayed because I went to a friend to help take care of my son." "How old is your son?" "Two years old." Xiaochun replied. "Two years old is the time to be cute. That being said, I haven't given birth to a child yet, so I don't know if it's true. Let's not talk about it, you can sit there first. That guy Ari is in the kitchen I'm going to do the finishing touches here. I'll bring you some tea, just wait a moment."

"thanks." When Shiho was busy in the back, Nakanojo replaced Shiho and led Xiaoharu to the seat in the tea room. When Nakanojo was about to take Yuka, who came to join in the fun, to a seat farther away from Xiaoharu, Xiaoharu asked hesitantly, "Where is... my dad?" "He hasn't come yet." "Yes……" "He should still be busy, he will come later." "I think so." Xiaochun lowered his head in anxiety. At this time, Yuka suddenly pulled the corner of Nakanojo's white clothes.Nakanojo doesn't know what Yuka wants to do, but Yuka's attitude is quite strong.Urged by Yuka, Nakanojo and Yuka sat down next to Koharu.

"Miss Xiaochun, it's okay!" Yuga said, clenched her fists in front of her chest. "Yuka...?" Just like Yuka and Kurita are old friends, Yuka and Koharu also know each other. "Think positively! Although it's groundless, don't be too pessimistic at a time like this!" Yuka said this to Xiaochun, trying to ease Xiaochun's tense emotions.While sipping the hojicha that Shiho brought, she spoke mild words of encouragement. "...Yuka, you are still the same, you haven't changed at all." Xiaochun seemed to relax a little.She said with a chuckle, and Yuka smiled back.Seeing Koharu's mood calmed down, Nakanojo was also happy.

but…… Nakanojo didn't know what was going to happen here today. He only knew that Kurita and Aoi made a special arrangement today to reconcile Xiaochun and her father. Xiaochun said that although she didn't think things would go smoothly, everyone's kindness made her very happy, so she accepted Kurita and Aoi's arrangement on the spot. As for Xiaochun's father, since Kira was going to pull a rickshaw today, he deliberately made an appointment at noon so that Kira could take a lunch break by the way. All this is Aoi's ingenious plan. Aoi made an appointment with the rickshaw company that Kira worked for after the lunch break, and specified that Kira's rickshaw should be taken, and at the same time, it was designated to depart from the gate of Kurimaru Hall.

Kira once promised to take Aoi to visit Asakusa by pulling a rickshaw. "I know that once the Edo people say it, they won't go back on their word..." Although the cause of this incident was Kira's stubborn personality, Aoi said so in a relaxed tone, allowing the stubborn Kira to come to Kurimaru Hall without losing face. Nakanojo sincerely thinks that Aoi is a smart girl, and at the same time cares more and more about her background. Not long after, a black rickshaw stopped at the gate of Kurimaru Hall, and a second guest opened the door and walked in. This person is Kira. Kira, who appeared on time at twelve o'clock at noon, was still dressed in work clothes of "short kimono, rubber-soled split-toe shoes, and a scarf".He walked into the waiter with his shoulders shrugged and his expression proud. Xiaochun immediately half-lifted her body from the seat. "……dad!" "Don't get me wrong." Kira's tone was serious, and Haru sat back on the chair stiffly. "I didn't come to see you, I just came to pick up that lady named Aoi. She said she wanted me to eat something, of course I was embarrassed to refuse." "……Well!" Xiaochun couldn't help wrinkling his nose when he saw his father disregarding the relationship in a domineering manner. Kira approached Xiaochun's table quickly and unceremoniously, and sat down. Although Kira and Koharu were sitting facing each other, their eyes did not meet, and they both turned their faces in opposite directions from each other. Less than a few seconds later, Kira yelled to the kitchen: "Hey! Edo people are very impatient! If you want me to eat something, bring it quickly!" At this time, the door curtain was lifted quietly. Kurita and Aoi came out from behind the curtain as if they had been waiting for a long time. "Don't get excited." "We'll treat you with something delicious..." Kurita and Aoi were carrying a tray with dried fruits in the shape of white flowers.