落とし穴外伝：手作りお弁当は高級料理に勝る (Part2)
"Well, let's set aside such complicated matters. Would you care to join me? I have extra bento boxes, enough for your attendants as well."
"Ho? If it is an invitation from Yuki-dono, I cannot refuse. Besides, a debate over what to eat would surely erupt again today, so this shall be the decisive stroke. Are we in agreement?"
As Eupia turned to confirm with her guards and aides, they nodded in silent, obedient unison.
"Haha, agonizing over a delicious meal is quite the luxury, isn't it? Well, I wouldn't call it 'simple fare,' but please bear with a bento for today."
I handed the boxes to Eupia and her retinue, and they settled onto the grass nearby.
"Mmm, the lawn is quite comfortable. Now then, let us see what lies within."
I opened my own bento box to find four classic, straw-bag-shaped rice balls, a side of salad, octopus-shaped sausages, and fried chicken—a spread that leaned perhaps a bit too heavily on the brown spectrum. Still, it was a lineup of absolute staples; you couldn't go wrong with it.
"Yuki-sama, here."
While I was inspecting my meal, Orelia offered me a cup. It was filled with warm miso soup, kept in a thermos. Hovis was doing the same for the others.
"Oh ho. So this is another way to utilize a thermos. Indeed, being able to easily consume a warm soup while outdoors is a wonderful thing. Though, as for the bento itself, it is quite modest. You could surely afford something more extravagant, even if this does look delicious."
Eupia offered her honest assessment of the meal.
"Perhaps. But beyond the pursuit of luxury, there is the simple joy of being able to eat leisurely here, with you and everyone else, amidst this scenery."
"I see. Indeed, to be able to dine while gazing upon such a view—it is true happiness."
Eupia’s gaze drifted toward the children running in the distance. Her guards and aides followed her eyes, their expressions softening. I had no way of knowing what they had aimed for in their own lives, but it seemed they, too, found this scene to be something precious.
Deciding to press my advantage, I added one more thing.
"And I shall bestow upon you the finest words imaginable for Eupia. With this, I suspect this bento will surpass even the most extravagant of feasts."
"Oh? And what words are those?"
"Today’s bento was prepared by Aslin, Firia, Hiiro, Vilia, and Dressa."
"Wha... what did you say...?"
Eupia was struck speechless, her eyes fixed on the bento in her hands. Today’s lunch was part of a school curriculum designed to teach students the effort involved in cooking and the importance of gratitude; in the process, they had prepared portions for us as well. While Aslin and the others were accustomed to cooking, I imagined the students at the international exchange school were likely struggling through the process.
And for Eupia, who called Aslin and the others her dearest friends, this bento was...
"It is... a treasure. I must... preserve it. To eat it would be..."
The information had hit her too hard; she was malfunctioning. The very idea of keeping the bento as a memento rather than eating it was the height of absurdity.
"They did say they wanted to hear your thoughts on it later, you know."
"In other words... Aslin and the others did this for me?"
"Yes, they made it for you. I believe one of the rice balls is curry-flavored, too."
"Ahhh!! How noble! I—I shall partake!"
With that, Eupia, still in a state of blissful disarray, reached for her bento...
"Delicious... it is delicious! Ugh..."
She began to eat, tears streaming down her face. We shared a wry smile at the sight, settling in to enjoy our lunch together. There is a certain unique charm to a bento, isn't there? Though, in our reality, the changing seasons make it a bit of a struggle these days.