第１６２０堀：食べるのが好きなら？ (Part2)
"Haa... honestly, this feels like such a luxury."
"Is it really?"
"It is. I mean, I know you have your standing since you're staying here, but having Ria accompany you on a job hunt? In Weed, that’s the kind of thing that would make everyone’s jaw drop."
"Well, there are... circumstances, you know?"
Given the Suurus incident, I couldn't exactly bring up the old Vinosia matters, so I had no choice but to play it off. If I wasn't careful, there was no telling if people from Suurus or the former Vinosia had migrated to Weed. What Canaria's parents had done was truly atrocious, and given our position, we had a duty to ensure her safety. It wasn't as if Canaria herself was to blame for any of it.
"I suppose that's true. You wouldn't bring someone here if there wasn't a reason."
"Ahaha, you're right. Thanks. I'm relieved to know that life here seems to be working out for her. Though, it doesn't look like she’s found anything she’s particularly interested in yet."
"I see. So the idea is to find something that sparks her interest and turn that into a career?"
"Exactly. Anyway, it’s almost time for Canaria to come down. Let’s keep at it and see what we can find today."
"Interest, huh... Say, Ria, this is just a random thought, but..."
"What is it?"
And so, following my friend's suggestion, I decided to bring it up with Canaria.
"Cooking, you say?"
"Yeah. It just occurred to me—if you love to eat, why not try cooking so you can taste-test to your heart's content?"
To be fair, the person who suggested it admitted it was just a whim, noting that even though they loved eating, they weren't necessarily fond of the actual cooking process. Plus, there was the added benefit of being able to eat as much as she wanted.
"I see. I haven't found anything that feels quite right yet, so let's give it a try."
Canaria accepted my proposal readily, without a second thought. That said, the question remained: where should we cook? Weed does offer cooking classes. They teach everything from Japanese and Earth-style dishes to the local specialties and common meals of various nations. Chefs go there to learn the palates of different people and use that as a reference for their own creations. But it felt a bit too formal for her to jump straight into that. Maybe starting with home cooking would be better?
"Canaria, what did you find delicious? Is there anything you want to try making?"
I decided to just ask her directly about her preferences.
"There are many things. The scrambled eggs and bacon from this morning, the rice, the miso soup... everything was delicious."
She answered instantly.
"Well, if you're that certain, let's try making those. You can eat them, right?"
"Of course."
"Then let's cook at home today. But first, we need to go shopping for ingredients."
I figured we had enough supplies at home, but since this was practice, I knew that the process of shopping and selecting the ingredients was just as important. With that in mind, I headed toward Super Ratz. As always, the store was bustling.
"There are so many people."
"Oh, is this your first time at Super Ratz, Canaria?"
"Yes. I’ve been to the Wee-Mall and other places, but this is my first time in a grocery store. I’ve been living in the hotel, so I’ve never had to cook. Besides, there was a shop inside the hotel for anything I needed."
"Ah, I suppose that makes sense."
Meals were provided at the hotel, and there was a shop for snacks and drinks, so there was little reason for her to come here.
"Well then, let's take a look around while we're at it."
"Yes. Thank you."
The interior was the same as ever, with fresh produce, meat, various ingredients, seasonings, household goods, snacks, and a selection of pre-made side dishes and bento boxes lining the shelves. But for Canaria, who was seeing it for the first time...
"...I've never eaten this before."
"Well, the side dishes are quite unique. Should we buy some to use as a reference?"
"Yes!"
Hmm, it looks like this might turn into a side-dish tasting party before we even get to the actual cooking. Regardless, I made sure we bought the proper ingredients.
As mentioned in the comments, Canaria has decided to give cooking a try. I just hope she doesn't end up creating a chemical weapon.