第１６２３堀：人がいればアイディアが出てくる (Part2)
"Yes. And to return to the first dish I made... I realized something after having you eat it. To truly improve, the best way is to cook for others."
"I see."
That sparked an idea.
"I know it’s difficult to ask for more of your time, Yuki-sama, given your work. So, I was thinking—perhaps I could work at one of the food facilities that will likely be built in the harbor town."
"I follow your logic."
It’s true; if she only practices her cooking for Seraria and Ria to taste, it’s honestly nothing more than a hobby. That said, it’s a different matter entirely whether Yuki-sensei and the others can constantly keep an eye on them, so I suppose this is a logical choice...
"Hmm. I’m sure you realize this, but a hobby is not a job. You’ll be expected to be efficient, and you won’t be in a position to decide the contents of the lunch boxes yourself."
"Well... I suppose that’s true."
"Is it?"
Ria seemed to understand, but Seraria tilted her head, looking as if this was all news to her. Honestly, if we sent someone like Seraria—who has no real grasp of what it means to work or the resolve required—to a professional kitchen, it’s obvious she’d just be a nuisance. Even I would be troubled by it. At a glance, she seems driven by mere curiosity rather than genuine passion. Furthermore, because Yuki-sensei would be the one making the request, they wouldn't be able to refuse, no matter how inconvenient it might be.
Just as I was thinking that, the door suddenly swung open.
"In that case, why not just make and sell the lunch boxes yourself as an individual?"
The one who entered with that suggestion was Hairen-sama.
"Hey, what’s with the sudden entrance?"
"It’s not sudden. The government office for the harbor is finished, right? So, Lilishe-sama told me to come and talk to you about building a church there too. Here, the paperwork."
Hairen-sama handed over the documents while answering Yuki-sensei. Yuki-sensei scanned them immediately and let out a sigh.
"This is indeed official documentation. Well, there’s no reason for the Litea Church to refuse. Come to speak of it, is everything alright on your end, Hairen?"
"Hmm? My end? Oh, you mean the Haire Church? That’s not under my jurisdiction. Micos, have you heard anything from Enora?"
Whoa, the conversation suddenly veered toward me.
"N-no. I haven’t heard a thing. It is the Rogari Continent, after all; I imagine there are all sorts of complications there, aren't there?"
That was all I could say. After all, I’ve been busy lately with my work as a magazine editor-in-chief and poking around schools. Anything related to that side of things is Kagura’s specialty. As I was stammering, flustered...
"Well, we can talk about that later. Hairen, what was that about selling lunch boxes individually?"
Nice save, Yuki-sensei. He steered the conversation away.
"Eh? Just what I said. Ria and Seraria want to improve their cooking skills, but they don't have an environment where many people can eat their food. But if they just go to a random bento shop or restaurant, that creates problems. So, they have no choice but to operate as individuals. You haven’t banned individual sales, have you?"
"I certainly haven't banned them. There are people who buy from the cafeteria, people who go to Super Ratz, and others who go to various shops."
"Then, couldn't Seraria-chan just make and sell them herself? She can make as many as she can handle, and she’ll learn the difficulties of business that way."
Listening to this, I thought it made a lot of sense. Micos—that’s me—eats at various places and buys lunch boxes throughout the day, partly due to Yuki-sensei’s influence. I think it’s a great method. As I was thinking this, Sisua and Sona spoke up.
"Currently, we are selling meals, lunch boxes, and bread at the cafeteria, but individual sales might be a viable option as well."
"That’s true. There aren't any merchants there right now, so if someone starts doing it, it might bring a bit of life to the place. Plus, there was the issue of who to invite, but if Ria-sama is the one out front and Seraria-sama is the one cooking, I don't see a problem."
That sounds incredibly interesting. The moment I thought that, I leaned forward.
"Yuki-sensei, that’s a great idea. In a way, it could become a local specialty. 'The Harbor Town Bento Shop.'"
"Ah, well, I suppose. Something using seafood or the like."
"That’s good too, but the fact that it’s Yuki-sensei’s wife doing it is the real draw. It’ll be the talk of the town."
"Is that so? Still, whether it’s actually delicious, and how long they’ll keep it up..."
"You can just hire employees for that, and eventually have someone take over the business, right?"
And so, the conversation progressed toward accepting Seraria and Ria’s request. It’s true that you come up with more ideas when you think as a group rather than alone. Whether those ideas are good or bad is another story entirely, but it is a fact that in these situations, having more options is always better.