Volume 3 Chapter 3 Request For Processing Apples
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Yuki, there are so many, right? Is there really someone who will make jam for such a low cost?”
”Don’t worry! I taught them exactly how to do it, so I think they’ll do it for just the cost of the ingredients. I also helped a bit, so I plan to ask for it as a thank you.”
I could hear the lively conversation between the two girls. It seems Risa-san is also being made to help carry a lot of apples. I’ve never heard of someone being forced to give thanks. But it sounds just like Yuki-san.
”Huh!? Someone is going to process the apples into jam…”
”Yeah, this person. They seem to be able to cook, so I asked them. They really want to show their gratitude.”
Risa-san, wearing a white coat over her scrubs, looks back and forth between the bulging plastic bag of apples she brought and me. Meanwhile, Yuki-san is exaggerating the story.
”Um, I didn’t say that…”
”Right? When you talked about having too many apples.”
(No, I definitely didn’t say that, did I?)
But then──
”Risa-sensei, you like apple jam, right? Exciting, isn’t it?”
Yuki-san is putting me in a tough spot, making it hard to refuse. When she looks to Risa-san for agreement, Risa-san nods. It seems she really does like it. Yuki-san is quite the strategist.
”But, is it really okay? It’s heavy, you know?”
Risa-san presses me again. She seems to be considerate of me, but her expression is happy. She looks full of anticipation.
”…Okay.”
I gave in. It wasn’t part of my plan, but there’s no helping it.
”Then, just for the cost of the ingredients! Here, this is the processing fee. Please? Make 5 jars of jam and pack them in containers, and then just hand them to Risa-sensei along with a bag of crackers.”
Her instructions are detailed and specific. Yuki-san places the apples she brought on the lounge table and hands me 1500 yen, which I accept.
(I need to hurry and get started.)
Even though it’s still the beginning of the week, it feels like a weekend shopping trip. I ended up carrying 2 plastic bags full of apples in both hands as I left Risa-san’s workplace.
It’s strange that I have more to carry on the way back than I did on the way there. It’s all Yuki-san’s fault. Whenever I meet her, I end up being worked hard. I’ve secretly labeled her a “dangerous person.”
I left the apples with the concierge in the lobby and went to buy the missing ingredients. The crackers were cheap, but the frozen pie crusts were… ridiculously expensive.
Not wanting to mess up with the expensive ingredients, I used my smartphone to look up recipes online. It turned out that the method Yuki-san taught me was really time-consuming and complicated.
I can’t deal with cooking it until it turns into jelly. I searched for an easier recipe that would keep the chopped apples recognizable. I found something called “confiture.”
That seemed like it would be quicker and less likely to fail.
However──another problem came up. Just using sugar wouldn’t give it that apple pie flavor.
My expenses were turning out to be more than I expected, but I bought lemon, a mix of spices for apples, anise seeds, and a small bottle of brandy.
I bought jars for packing at the usual 100 yen shop.
(I went over the money I was given.)
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to just buy it from a bakery? I thought that as I got home and started processing the apples. Peeling and chopping them took a lot of time.
I put sugar, lemon juice, brandy, and 2 types of spices into a pot, heating it on the stove while mixing it continuously.
(How long is this going to take?)
Tonight, I decided to just make “jam-like stuff” and save making the apple pie for when Risa-san is around.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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