Chapter 9: Five-Color Deluxe Beef Congee!
The next morning.
Yurine felt quite awkward when she saw Ryohei, especially after what Jashin-chan had pulled the previous night. Even with her strong mental fortitude and her usual indifference to what others thought, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
However, when she saw that Ryohei had no intention of mentioning it and his attitude toward her was unchanged, she breathed a sigh of relief and gradually returned to her usual self.
"By the way, where's Jashin-chan? Is she not up yet?"
Ryohei, who had taken it upon himself to make breakfast, asked from the kitchen where he was simmering a pot of congee. He hadn't seen a trace of the scumbag snake this morning.
"Oh, her…"
At the mention of Jashin-chan, Yurine's expression darkened. "She's still recovering."
"..." Ryohei's face took on a strange expression. He had no idea what Jashin-chan went through last night, but he wasn't particularly eager to find out. He wisely changed the subject.
"The congee is almost ready. I used some ingredients I found in the fridge to make a five-color deluxe beef congee."
"Five colors?"
Yurine tilted her head, her attention successfully diverted. "Does it really have five colors?" she asked curiously. In truth, she was more curious about whether this dish would glow, too.
"Yep. I added diced carrots, broccoli, shiitake mushrooms, and beef. With the white of the congee itself, that makes five," Ryohei explained with a newfound confidence. When it came to food now, he was bursting with self-assurance and excitement. He couldn't wait to find out how delicious this congee would be.
Yurine was also looking forward to it. She nodded, remarking that it already smelled wonderful, then asked casually, "Is it common to eat congee for breakfast where you're from?"
"It's one of many options," Ryohei said with a smile. "A proper breakfast is a big deal in my old world. You can find anything from a full grilled fish set with miso soup and tamagoyaki to hearty bowls of udon, or even just fresh-baked pastries from a local bakery. The variety is amazing. I used to eat something different every day of the week and never repeat myself." Of course, some days he woke up late and just had brunch.
"That sounds wonderful!" Yurine couldn't help but feel a little envious. "Here, it feels like breakfast is usually something quick from the convenience store, like an onigiri or a sandwich. You're lucky to have had so many choices." She was genuinely jealous. A world with so many delicious breakfast options sounded like heaven.
"Hahaha," Ryohei just laughed.
"..."
As they chatted, the congee finished cooking. Ryohei turned off the heat. "Let's let it sit for a moment," he told Yurine. "It makes the texture richer and helps the 'rice cream' to form."
"Rice cream?" Yurine blinked, confused by the unfamiliar term.
"It's the thick liquid that floats on top of congee when you cook it," Ryohei explained. "When it cools, it becomes this fine, viscous paste. It's considered the most nutritious part of the congee. It's packed with vitamins and is really easy to digest. It's often given to people who are recovering from an illness, or to young children and the elderly, because it's so good for building up strength without being too heavy. That's some of the nutritionist knowledge I picked up."
"I see! I've never heard that before. You learn something new every day!" Yurine felt like her horizons had been broadened. She made a mental note to have an extra helping later.
Ten minutes passed quickly.
Ryohei wrapped his hand in a cloth and lifted the lid of the clay pot.
Instantly, a cloud of white steam billowed upwards like a miniature mushroom cloud, and a soft, gentle light began to bloom from within the pot.
A rich, nutty aroma of rice mixed with the savory scent of shiitake and beef, the fresh notes of broccoli and carrot, a hint of spicy ginger, and the fragrance of black pepper all wafted out, instantly whetting the appetite of anyone who smelled it.
It's glowing!
Yurine, standing to the side, watched the glowing dish with bright eyes. Seeing it a second time was still just as incredible, filling her with a strange sense of excitement. As she inhaled the captivating aroma and gazed at the snow-white rice dotted with colorful ingredients, her mouth began to water uncontrollably.
I want some, I want some!
With a smooth, practiced motion, Ryohei sprinkled a handful of chopped green onions into the pot, added a few drops of sesame oil, and stirred it all together with a ladle. He filled a bowl and presented it to Yurine with a spoon.
"Here you go. Five-Color Deluxe Beef Congee. Please enjoy!"
"Arigatou!" Yurine accepted the bowl with both hands, her face beaming with the joy of a little girl receiving a present. Her fingertips brushed against Ryohei's, a brief, warm touch. Seeing her so happy made Ryohei's own mood brighten.
He ladled a bowl for himself and was about to start eating when he felt a tug on his pant leg.
He looked down and jumped in surprise.
Jashin-chan was lying on the floor, clinging to his pants. Her hair was dry and messy, her eyes were framed by thick, dark circles, her cheeks were sunken, and her lips were cracked. She looked like she hadn't eaten in days, or like she was still extremely weak after a major illness. She looked up at him with desperate, pleading eyes.
"Congee… I want congee!"
"Alright, alright… here, take it! Just let go of my pants!" Ryohei said, holding his trousers up as he sighed. He squatted down and placed the bowl—glowing gently, looking beautiful, and smelling divine—in front of Jashin-chan.
He couldn't even imagine what she must have gone through last night to end up looking like this.
"..."
Yurine, who had already sat down at the table in the living room, glanced over at the two of them. Her personal code was to enact retribution on the spot and never let a grudge carry over to the next day. Jashin-chan had already received her punishment last night, so she didn't say anything more.
"Mmmm~, it smells so good~!"
Inhaling the fragrance up close and looking at the vibrantly colored congee, Jashin-chan gulped. She picked up the spoon and, ignoring the scalding heat of the fresh-off-the-stove dish, shoveled a large spoonful into her mouth.
That single spoonful contained shiitake, beef, carrot, broccoli, and green onion—it was the concentrated essence of the entire dish.
The moment it entered her mouth, Jashin-chan's expression visibly softened, and the color began to rapidly return to her face. Then, she began to devour it, wolfing it down with ravenous speed.
"...It's so unbelievably good!"
The rice was delicate and fragrant, melting in her mouth. The beef was tender and juicy, the vegetables perfectly crisp. The textures of all the ingredients complemented each other, creating distinct layers of flavor. Every mouthful was a feast for the taste buds!
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH—!"
When she came back to her senses, Jashin-chan found herself standing on a snow-covered mountain peak. She was holding ski poles, wearing goggles, and had a snowboard strapped to her tail. With a whoop of joy, she launched herself off the summit and sped down the mountain!