I am practicing in Tokyo

Chapter 101 A Past Event

"As long as you build a reputation and make high-quality food, you won't lose money."

Fujii's understanding was different from hers, so he poured Erliang Mirin (the island's cooking wine) into the soup stock, stirred it evenly with a long spoon, and after smelling the tangy aroma, he nodded with satisfaction.

You’re done! The aroma-improvement effect of old wine is even better than expected!

He looked at the ten-year brew of Kiku Masamune in Noto Kiko's arms. Unexpectedly, this female alcoholic smelled the alcohol, found a cup, filled it for herself, and started drinking it boldly.

"This is Granny Noto's sake, just one drink is enough."

Fujii Shu reminded that when Noto's mother-in-law comes back from the countryside, she will probably cause trouble for this woman who calls herself Noto Miko, right?

Simmer the stock over low heat, add the konjac to remove the foam, the fried food to remove the oil, a few hard-boiled eggs to the bottom, and then the long bamboo wheels and knotted kelp. The more ingredients there are in the oden, the better the consistency.

The better it is, the more delicious the finished product will be.

After finishing all this, it was from around five o'clock in the afternoon to eight or nine o'clock in the evening. Before closing the lid of the soup pot, I added an extra liter of water. Fujii Shu did not turn off the fire, but planned to let it simmer until dawn. It will be official tomorrow morning.

When he opened, he made four oden soup pots with the same ingredients, enough to sell for a day.

"Miss Jiu Mengzi, wake up."

He patted the head of Noto Kiko who was sleeping soundly on the table. Sure enough, a three-liter bottle of Kiku Masamune sake had bottomed out. After shaking it, there were still two liang of wine left. He only borrowed four liang to enhance the taste.

, the rest were poured into this woman’s belly.

It’s so drinkable! All day long, even though he has a face that is rarely seen among big stars, he doesn’t go looking for a licking dog to spend money in style.

Fujii had a bad impression of her. He raised his head and poured the remaining Kiku Masamune into his mouth. The clear wine slid into his throat, and a surge of heat rose up. His fair face turned slightly red. He put down the empty wine bottle, closed the door and returned.

Gone home.

And Noto Kiko, who was drunk and unconscious, dreamed of her high school days. It was the mid-1960s and she was eighteen years old.

——

"Kiko-kun, would you please date me? Please, this is my lifelong request."

In the bicycle shed after school, all human-driven bicycles were used in the 1960s. Noto Kiko, wearing a blue and white sailor skirt, faced distressedly another male classmate who confessed to her. It was Kazuya Sugahara (Grandpa Tatsuya Sugahara) from the baseball club.

Kazuya Suhara, who shaved off his hair and decided to sprint into Koshien in his final year, was nervous and his legs were shaking. Noto Kiko, who lives alone, is recognized by the whole school as a beauty. If there is such a thing as a school beauty, there will be no suspense.

For the winner, even girls will take the initiative to vote.

"Suhara-san, I told you that I don't want to fall in love in high school, and I have very high standards. You can't do it now."

Noto Kiko rolled her eyes at Kazuya Suhara, a hot-blooded young fool who had difficulty standing still. After explaining and persuading her kindly, she turned around and pushed out the bicycle, rode on and left.

"Then after I win the Koshien championship, can I date you?"

Suhara Kazuya chased after him without giving up. Everyone is a fan of looks, and such a beautiful Miss Kiko would not let him give up with such a blow.

"I will consider it, provided you can get it."

For the baseball club of the High School Affiliated to the University of Technology, it would be great if they could enter Koshien. But wouldn’t it be impossible to win the championship?

After Noto Kiko finished speaking, she accelerated and rode away, with a determined expression on Suhara Kazuya's face.

There’s a chance! I must train hard and win the Koshien Grand Prize!

With a simple mind and well-developed limbs, he didn't hear the perfunctory tone in Noto Kiko's words. Originally, he joined the baseball club just to show off and pick up girls.

A few months later in the summer, the bored Noto Kiko was watching TV at home. Unintentionally, she never cared about sports and turned to the live broadcast of Koshien. The final was between Fukuoka Academy and the High School Affiliated to Tokyo University of Technology.

Ah?! Isn’t this my school?

The sparkling fruit wine in her hand spilled out, and she stuck out her tongue to lick the wine off the back of her hand, not intending to waste it at all.

"The ace pitcher Kazuya Suhara of the High School Affiliated to the University of Technology is standing in the batter's position. If he can hit a home run, there is still hope that the game will enter overtime."

The TV commentator carefully analyzed that on the small-screen color TV set in the 1960s, Kazuya Suhara wearing a baseball cap had a blurry face, but his nervousness and uneasiness could still be seen in his behavior.

For the championship, for Miss Kiko, this little challenge is nothing!

Kazuya Suhara has led the team to this point, and his shoulders have been overloaded, but his eyes have regained their determination and are as tenacious as they were after being rejected.

The opponent's pitcher stretched his body and threw a straight ball. He saw it clearly, the corners of his mouth cracked, and he swung the bat hard.

The straight ball, with a speed of nearly 150 kilometers per hour, suddenly dropped and slowed down in the middle. Kazuya Suhara watched in astonishment as the white dot was thrown into the catcher's glove, and his baseball bat almost missed it.

"We won! Shizuoka Gakuen won the championship of this year's Koshien. Unfortunately, Kazuya Suhara, who led the weak Kodai Affiliated High School all the way to the finals, ended heroically and failed!"

Noto Kiko, who was still sucking the remaining wine from her fingers, was stunned for a few seconds, took out her wet fingers from her mouth, and pulled out a transparent line of saliva.

Damn it, damn it! How can it be repaired?

Kazuya Suhara threw away his baseball bat, smashed his hat into the sand at his feet, squatted down and began to pack dirt. This was a reserved show for losers. Every year, Koshien had to add several thousand kilograms of soil to satisfy their desire for commemoration.

We have made it to the finals! We are only one step away! Miss Kiko is almost smiling at me!

The crystal clear tears wet the ground under his feet, mixed with unwillingness and sadness. He and Noto Kiko were both in their last year of high school. If they missed this opportunity, they would have no reason to get close to her anymore.

After he and she graduate, Miss Kiko, who has excellent academic performance, will definitely be able to go to one of the top universities in the country. As for him, a poor student, the best choice is to rely on the reputation gained in Koshien to join a baseball club and play professional games.

It's like train tracks, running parallel but not intersecting. If they extend infinitely, the distance between them will become farther and farther.

Second semester of senior high school, early September.

Kazuya Suhara, who had already committed to a professional baseball club (this was a traditional dropout), said his final farewell to his classmates, packed up his personal belongings, and came to the bicycle shed. There had just been a class and there was no one here.

Putting the schoolbag into the basket on the front of the car, a greeting came from behind.

"Hey! Sports idiot."

Kazuya Suhara, who looked worried, turned around. It was Noto Kiko, who had always been excellent in both character and academics. She skipped class?

"Kiko-san, are you here to comfort me?"

Kazuya Suhara has a rare clear mind. After this failure, he has become much more mature. Maybe even if he wins the championship, Noto Kiko will not like him. He is so mediocre, but she shines so brightly. Even if she is always alone, her classmate

They also completely admire her, and some of the girls also express their feelings directly.

"Of course not. You are a loser. I am here to add insult to injury."

Noto Kiko was duplicitous. She walked up to Suhara and saw that his expression was even more lonely. She couldn't help but chuckle. In Suhara Kazuya's eyes, he was still so beautiful and moving.

"Thanks."

Kazuya Suhara lowered his head and whispered, then turned to push the cart. He heard the sound of footsteps behind him, and his soft body exuded a fragrance, hugging him from behind.

This, this, this! I’m going to reach the pinnacle of my life?

In an instant, Suhara Kazuya's brain quickly played the slideshow. They met, fell in love, fell in love, and got married. The child's name will be Suhara Kamigo, and his grandson's name will be Suhara Tatsuya. Hahaha! I am a winner in life!

"This is a consolation for your continuous efforts! If you can win the best professional player award, I will consider it again."

Noto Kiko opened her arms, stepped back, waved, and disappeared around the corner.

"Thanks!"

Kazuya Suhara didn't look back, wiped his face, got on his bicycle, and moved forward firmly towards his life path.

——

In the cafe facing the street, two men were mid-conversation when Yuuki Herang, who was treating the guests, threw out a stack of 10,000 yen bills.

"You are so willing! Fortunately, you have fulfilled your mission. The information is all here. Please don't leak it out."

The bank elite sitting across from him was the section chief of the deposit department. He counted the number and took out a letter.

Yuki Herang opened the envelope on the spot and frowned.

Noto Kiko, sixty-three years old?

How could she be that kind of old woman? She must be a relative, right?

Yuki Herang, who was getting deeper and deeper, explained himself. Fortunately, there was a detailed address on it, a small oden restaurant.

(End of chapter)