Volume 8 Chapter 4 Interlude ④ – Yawashi Jirō and Takada Honoka
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Yawashi was, without question, the one who kept our stomachs alive. He had the Cooking skill, and with it, turned this world’s strange ingredients into something that almost tasted like home. He’d already recreated miso with surprising ease, and when it came to soy sauce, he was tinkering endlessly with fish sauce–like substitutes.
Chinatsu often joined me late at night for his meals, sighing blissfully over “udon lookalikes and onigiri lookalikes… ahh, true happiness,” while nibbling alongside me. That night was no different.
”Chinatsu, once you eat, you should sleep,” I said.
”Mm. I don’t want to get in the way of your work,” she replied.
When Chinatsu came to my room, it wasn’t usually about sex. Well, sometimes she slipped in a little extra, but she carefully kept her own wants under control. Mostly, she came because she worried about me. For all her jokes and strange tastes, she noticed everything. Ever since our teleportation, she’d carried the weight of failing to stop Sakasaki-san’s suicide, a trauma she never really shook.
”Hey, Takumi.” Her voice was soft, eyes on her empty dish.
”What is it, Chinatsu?” I asked.
”I’m a masochist pervert, right? I ask you to tie me up and mess with me all the time. Does that… bother you?”
Ah. Someone had said something to her. Hikari or Rira, I assumed. Later I’d find out it was Mori-Mori—never would’ve guessed.
”Not at all. If it makes you happy, I’m happy too… though maybe keep the pain moderate,” I said.
”Really? Then I’ll ask you for more humiliation stuff next time,” she grinned.
Left silent, Chinatsu looked every bit the elegant black-haired beauty. But once she opened her mouth… well, disappointment followed. I caught myself remembering how I’d soaked Rira’s black hair the other night and thinking, with straight hair that long, one could even… No, too much. Even I was disgusted with myself. But if Chinatsu wanted humiliation, maybe it worked out for both of us.
”Next time,” I whispered, “I’ll give you something special. I’ll stain you thoroughly.”
”Mm, I can’t wait. Finally, my proud black hair gets to serve as your… toilet paper,” she said, eyes shining.
Of course she knew. Our little perversion-network spread too easily. We cleared the dishes and carried them downstairs.
”Hmm? There are lights on. Voices too… one’s Honoka,” Chinatsu murmured, ears twitching.
”And the other… Clarice,” she added.
Honoka had always been the quiet MVP of our food supply, her skill for identifying edible wild plants saving us countless times, though taste was never guaranteed. That skill had brought her close to Jirō, and when life settled, they became a couple early on.
And Clarice—our weakest witch, zero attack power, absurd defense, and bottomless appetite. She had literally become my woman just for Jirō’s sweets. The way she nibbled made the girls start calling her “Little Squirrel,” though Clarice herself never understood why.
”We’re coming in,” I said as we entered.
Jirō stood at the counter, busy at work. Clarice sat eating, and Honoka watched with a smile.
”Takumi, Asakura. Leave the dishes over there,” Jirō said.
”Thanks. Dinner was great as always. What are you working on?” I asked.
”Little Squirrel is taste-testing Jirō’s new menu,” Honoka explained.
”Yes, this is a sacred duty,” Clarice replied solemnly, slurping the last of a bowl dry.
The aroma hit me.
”Wait… is that—?”
”Miso ramen lookalike,” Jirō said.
”And now he’s making soy-sauce ramen lookalike,” Honoka added.
”Ramen?” Chinatsu and I echoed, faces turning to each other in disbelief. Ramen—the soul food of Japan, reborn here?
”It was excellent,” Clarice said earnestly. “This ‘miso’ has a unique scent, balanced by its saltiness, with crisp vegetables and springy noodles. Truly a fine meal. Now, God, please hurry. I am ready for the next dish.”
”Clarice, you’re full,” Jirō sighed. “I’ll taste this one.”
”Hey, not fair, I want some too!” Chinatsu whined.
”Relax. I made two bowls—one for you two,” he said.
”I’m on a diet anyway,” Honoka smiled.
We sat, hearts racing, waiting for the bowls.
”So you’re moving near base?” I asked.
”Yeah. We’re getting married. We want to start living on our own terms,” Jirō said.
They’d announced their marriage recently—the third couple among us, after Ginga and Kano. But with Ginga busy in labyrinths, Jirō and Honoka would be the first in truth.
”Congrats, Honoka,” Chinatsu said warmly.
”Thanks, Chinatsu. Takumi, you should marry soon too… though that’ll be chaotic,” she laughed.
I smiled faintly. In truth, I’d already decided to marry Nyx for political reasons, explaining to each girl one by one and asking for their consent. But deep down, I wanted to give them proper closure someday. The trouble was, once a woman became my wife, she was freed from slavery—making my Enslavement Magic unusable. Losing access to rare skills like Chinatsu’s Enemy Detection was a risk I couldn’t yet take.
”It’s fine, Takumi. We’re connected by the heart,” Chinatsu whispered, sensing my hesitation, her hand brushing mine.
”McGaref slave girls are bound in heart and body… heehee, banquet of flesh, meat… meat rods…” Her thoughts, as always, wandered downhill.
Takada and I exchanged weary smiles.
”Still, it’s good to be alive,” I said. “To laugh like this.”
”Yeah,” Honoka agreed. “Back when we first ate wild plants, we cried, missing home cooking.”
”But we worked hard. For those who didn’t make it, we’ll find happiness here,” Jirō said, setting steaming bowls before us.
The scent was overwhelming. True ramen. Just the smell alone brought tears to my eyes. He’d even arranged the toppings to resemble the real thing.
”Tomorrow morning, I’ll visit the graves,” I murmured.
”Haruka used to go every day, but she’s off in Lesta now. I’m sure they’ll all be glad,” Chinatsu replied.
Yes. That was just like her.
That night, we devoured soy-sauce ramen with tears and laughter, and before long, ramen lookalikes spread like wildfire among our classmates.
(Chronologically, this scene takes place near the end of Volume 4. The interludes will wrap with Suenaga’s story and Hikari’s, maybe with a small extra for Scaya if there’s room.)
Notes:
• Chinatsu – Hikari’s party. Frustrated, jokes about prostitution.
• Hikari – 4th Division leader. Stressed, relies on Takumi.
• Clarice – The ‘Witch of Abundance’ from Lesta Kingdom.
• Nyx – The First Princess of Celon Dukedom, who escapes to McGaref; next in line to the throne after the Queen’s expected death.
• McGaref – Fortress city, adventurer hub.
• Haruka – 3rd Division leader. Aspires to be Takumi’s GF.
• Suenaga – Classmate, Kahoru’s customer.
• Scaya – The ‘Flame Witch,’ employed by the Dark Elves; captured after the battle where the Celon Dukedom army was defeated.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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