"A Dagashiya?"

It was time for them to go back to the dorms, so as a final stop-by for souvenirs, they found themselves at the old Japanese Sweets store two doors down from the cafe.

Apparently, Grandma Kiyo has taken after this shop because the owner, decades older than herself, passed away recently. Since Eda hadn't been there to open the cafe, she took in a new endeavour here. She's moved in here, too, just to make things easier. So while Eda and Shinomiya stayed the week in the cafe, Granny had been living here and blissfully away from the chaotic chefs.

"Huh? Did no one tell you?"

Shinomiya had been surprised when he realized the storekeeper's name was Eda Kiyo.

"This is Granny Kiyo. She's my mother."

"Wha— what??" Shinomiya was baffled. "Why do you call your mother baa-chan? And she's still young, does she really qualify as a Grandma?" he said with all seriousness and Granny rewarded him with a flattered laugh.

"It's complicated," Eda said.

"...huh?"

"Anyways," Eda reached for the shelves, "Granny, I'm taking these! And, we left some stuff in the fridge, so eat it before it goes bad. I asked Rase-cchi to take away the leftover cake for her daycare, so open the door for her if she comes for the key, okay?"

"Yes, yes," Granny Kiyo sighed, "sometimes I feel you're the parent between us, Fumi dear. You're much too independent."

Eda huffed. "You raised me like this!"

Shinomiya watched with fascination. Even someone as meek and wimpy as Eda could be bold and snarky in an environment he was familiar with— it didn't make sense to him that Eda could roll through E grades in school when he was naturally so upright and expressive.

Well, he supposed the wonders of humanity preceded his expectations.

-

"Oh! Jou-san, you're cooking today?"

"I usually do," Jouichirou said from the other side of the counter. "I was just on break for my work trip and well, a kid took over my grill, so I let him have it."

Shinomiya was flustered. "I- I am so sorry??"

"Don't fall for it, he's messing with you," Uncle Yukihira sighed. "Everyone in town loved having you around, Kojirou boy. Come back anytime, alright? We'll kick Jouichirou out anytime if you want us to."

Now Shinomiya's very flustered.

"N- no??? Please don't! I mean, I'm honoured, but—!!"

They laughed at him and he couldn't help but sigh. They're just messing with him. But it was fun to spend the week cooking for a store with minimal help from Tamako and Uncle Yukihira. He'd never done something so labour-intensive in his life, and he's never had to learn so many recipes last minute before. They were fun to follow though, since they were simpler than what he was used to.

It felt like he was cooking at home for his Ma again, and that's always nice.

Now though, Jouchirou had some soup simmering on the stove, and the thickly-sliced noodles went into the boil.

Looks like it's udon for lunch.

He's actually never tasted any of Jouichirou's cooking this week. Joucihirou had tasted plenty of his cooking, though, and his pointers for multitasking the many grills and the trick to expel the nerves when you're overwhelmed was immensely helpful in the horrible weekend rush yesterday.

They didn't focus much on taste or innovation, though. They'd been too busy keeping up with the number of orders to have time to think of how to improve any menu items at all. He was just focused on how to be as consistent as possible. He burned so many eggs because the heat was too high, he may have flashbacks the next time he messes up.

"Wha— hey!" Shinomiya barked at Eda, realizing the rude ass had opened his packet of popping candy and was promptly throwing back half of the entire dose of sour powder right into his mouth at once like it was a shot glass. What an absolute heathen. "We're literally about to have lunch!"

He only replies with a noncommittal hum, clearly enjoying the absolute maddening ruckus that must be happening into his mouth.

"...isn't that sour?" Shinomiya asked, incredulously. And he feels dumb asking a moment after because he remembered the guy couldn't taste a thing. He corrected himself, "doesn't it hurt?"

It only hurts as much as a rapid assault of light prickles, times a couple thousand because people usually down half a packet at a time not the entire damn thing if you choke on it you will regret your life, and sometimes they catch on your tongue and really bite, too—

"It's fun," Eda said, his mouth still full. "Want some?"

"We're about to have lunch, stop eating candy!"

Jouichirou laughed heartily at that.

"Alright, order's up," he called. Knocking the sieve twice against the side of the cooker, he gently guides it into the crystal clear soup. And then, he tops it off with a perfect egg in its centre.

Shinomiya's mouth waters.

The smell of the herbs filled the entire room the instant that pot opened up, the harmonious blend of vegetables in the rich dashi— the light smokiness of the dried mushrooms and generously grated daikon used as toppings, it had him swallowing before it got to him.

"Two Yukihira Special: Tsukimi Udon. Happy to serve."

But when it was set down before him— there was something else on it. Right by the egg, transparent pearls shrouded the yolk as if they were clouds.

"What's this, tobiko?" Shinomiya eyed it warily.

"Thanks for the food," Eda didn't question it at all, breaking the egg and going for a hearty mouthful of noodles weaved in with the milky whites. He spooned some soup with the yolk and the pearls— and downed it eagerly.

Shinomiya stared.

Eda's eyes suddenly filled with surprise. But he chewed on, and, after swallowing, he looked up, completely enamoured, at Jouichirou.

"I knew they'd pop, but are they sour?"

What.

Jouichirou grinned.

"I spherified some yuzu to top it off, was it good?" he asked.

"I don't know, but it was a surprise. The udon's perfect too, they go down really well, and the egg makes it just heavy enough to be filling even though it's so light... I'm not sure if the sourness will overpower the udon, though," Eda said, and eagerly went for a second bite. "Wait, did you add the spheres in because I was eating candy, or was that always part of the plan?"

"Because you were eating, but I've wanted to put yuzu on, anyways. You just inspired the method. It felt to me like you were preemptively dissing my food for being boring, so what about now, you brat?"

"It's cool!" Eda didn't even deny the statement. "And I think the flavours would work, too! Kinda like squeezing a lime over beef pho."

"Right?" Jouichirou beamed.

"Sour and spice are the only flavours worth tasting anymore."

"I suppose so!"

Honestly? Shinomiya had to stare. What else could he do? Eda was very evasive of food in Polar Star, and he ate everything calmly, never quite having explosive or helpful reactions. Sure, he knew the reason now— but look at that.

A single meal from Jouichirou, and that's the most Shinomiya had ever heard the guy speak positively of food. Sure, the food smelled like stuff of the gods and probably tasted like it too— but the difference was clear between this and anything else made by the seniors in Polar Star.

Jouichirou had made this dish with Eda's disabilities in mind, and Eda appreciated it so sincerely. It's a dish made with soul. And most impressively, even someone without a sense of taste or smell could enjoy it wholeheartedly.

He did it so easily, too.

"You guys are so weird," Shinomiya groaned.

"If you don't wanna eat I'm—"

"I'm eating!" Shinomiya shielded his udon before Eda's chopsticks could get close enough. WIth a huff, he broke apart the egg and savoured the satisfaction of that creamy egg clouding into the clear soup, dousing it a misty white.

He dipped his spoon in, taking in some soup, egg, and yuzu pearl at once.

And the second it entered his mouth, it burst open, and the rich flavour of the yuzu and deeply condensed stock of seaweed and mushrooms overwhelmed his senses. And Eda didn't have to worry at all— the slight bitter tinge of yuzu countered its own sourness in conjunction with the saltiness of the soup. Rather than blowing away the light, delicate flavours of the broth, it added a deep, satisfying richness to it that was mesmerizing against his throat.

He downed the spoonful quickly, and, the acidity making him crave an equalizer, he went straight for the noodles.

And god, was it legal to cook these noodles so perfectly? They slid right down his throat and warmed him to his stomach, and the satisfied breath he heaved right after felt like a chug of freezing cold soda on a hot summer day.

He reached for the condiments next, and who allowed this dried mushroom— the exact same damn mushroom Shinomiya's been using all week, even— taste so explosively packed with umami? What magic is this? It only cost some hundred yen down the street and he's never tasted a better mushroom in his life.

And most of all, Jouichirou didn't even add any meat in this. It's a fully vegetable stock, and yet, it's just as enriching and satisfying as a protein-stacked Tonkotsu ramen. Even the residents of Sumiredoori wouldn't complain about this, it's perfect.

(Shinomiya had to add bacon to his dish that day because it was just lacking without any meat. He loved vegetarian dishes because of his roots and meat always felt like a luxury, so he didn't like to use it. Even if it meant less flavour, he just wanted the vegetables to shine.)

(And yet here it was, the possibility achieved and presented before him.)

(He's never felt so crushed and yet immensely motivated in his life.)

Shinomiya's never been a fan of sour things, but the light kick of sourness from the yuzu is addictive. Kind of like sour plums in rice, it's just a sweet kick that makes your appetite ride, it keeps you craving once it starts leaving your tongue.

He's trapped in this bowl of udon and he honestly can't even pretend to escape.

"This is illegal," Shinomiya declared. But he's just eaten food from a well-renowned Tootsuki almost-alumni. This is probably par for the course. He is very blessed. He bows deeply against the table. "I thank you for this opportunity."

Jouichirou cackled.

"I'm glad you like it!"

-

Tamako drove them to the station.

Honestly, Shinomiya had no idea how to feel about Eda's big sister, Yukihira Tamako. They worked closely while he was manning Yukihira Diner, and she was a very capable, very socialite woman who no one could hate. She was pretty, too, in a most-badass-big-sister-who-will-fuck-you-up kind of way, and as someone who tried to fit in that stereotype to make it in the city Shinomiya couldn't help but admire it a little. She's cool as hell, what's he supposed to do about that except say 'yes ma'am'?

"Come back anytime, Kojirou!"

And that was yet another jarring thing. After being called 'Shinomiya' so often in school, it felt homely to be called by his first name again. And everyone in Sumiredoori called him that.

"Yes. I thank you all very much for the hospitality this week, Tamako-san," Shinomiya managed to offer a very, very sincere word of gratitude. He really did appreciate them. This week was wonderful, and if he hadn't impulsively decided to join, he'd have been moping about not being able to go home in the dorms instead.

"Awh, you brat, just call me Nee-chan already!" Tamako insisted.

"Uh— then, Tamako-neesan," he relented.

"Good!" she grinned. "Now I've got two idiot brothers to coddle. Can't make a big sis happier than this."

Well. Being unintentionally adopted wasn't the most unexpected thing that could've possibly happened. He'll just enjoy it, then.

She dropped them off in front of the station, ruffling their hair roughly as they shouldered all their luggage and souvenirs, unable to protest.

"Take care of yourselves," she said. "And whenever you need me, I'm one call away. Run home even, I'll protect you two from anything, just tell me and I'll even beat up bullies for you. Alright?"

She was doting. So, so doting.

How do you not adore her entire existence? SHe was a treasure to this world and even Shinomiya could see the value she held in Eda's eyes. He wondered if it was slowly seeping into his, too.

"Go kill it out there, boys!"

Somehow, having her see you off to a new semester in school felt so motivating, it felt like he could take over the world.

-

They fell asleep on the train and missed their exchange.

Luckily it didn't take too much effort to get back on the right track, but it was late into the evening when they finally made it, and there was a long trek ahead to Polar Star's dormitories.

-

"Well! How was your impromptu Stagiaire, my two youngest?"

"What's a Stagiaire?" is Eda's question.

"When did we become your kids?" is Shinomiya's.

Fumio answers exactly neither of those questions to quickly usher them in. "Dinner's ready, boys, and I hope you don't mind, it's nothing fancy. It's just the three of us tonight, after all."

Apparently, the seniors would only be back starting tomorrow. It was still just Fumio in the dorms right now, and she welcomed them back.

She said it was nothing fancy, and she really didn't understand what that meant.

After a week of eating miscellaneous diner leftovers between hours, seeing big plates of food dished out with a hot pot of rice felt like going to an authentic Chinese Restaurant for a good meal.

Steamed eggs with minced meat and mushrooms, topped with chives. A whole steamed sea bass. Fresh vegetables and potatoes, stewed with nuts and herbs. She even had furikake for the rice, warm tea in a pot, and ABC soup on the stove. Shinomiya knows that smell anywhere.

"Fumio-san..." Shinomiya's eyes watered. "I love you..."

"It looks so good I'm going to cry..." Eda said. "I'm so jealous I'm going to die, Shinomiya..."

"After eating this meal, I can probably die happy anyways," is his sincere response.

They trekked like hell on an empty stomach to get up here, okay? And they got exhaustedly lost after a tiring week working. Don't blame them for being overemotional, but the matron of Polar Star is the matron of Polar Star for a reason.

"What did Jouichirou do, starve you guys?" Fumio accused. "And why are you jealous, Eda? You can eat, too."

"I know," he said, sagely. "Exactly."

She'd found overly grateful tenants many times. It's kind of her job to feed them like this, but seriously, why are they like this? Was the first year in Tootsuki too tough for them after all?

"Alright, enough," she rested her hand on their shoulders. "Let's eat before it gets cold, alright? There's plenty of food, so you guys can have seconds, too."

-

Dessert consisted mostly of souvenirs and leftovers from Eda's bakery.

"I made a lot of macarons!" he says, holding up cutely-packaged portions from the pile, labelled with their seniors' names. "I know the macarons will be gone in an instant, but we also have leftover stale croissants and baguettes. I'm thinking of making French toast tomorrow morning."

"That's a weird bread to use for it."

"Then we'll eat weird French toast for breakfast," Eda mulled, "we can use whatever's left over for bread pudding, or..."

"Garlic bread," Shinomiya suggested. "The rest we'll toast and crush into breadcrumbs and deep fry something for lunch?"

"With croissants and baguettes??"

"Hey. Bread is bread," Shinomiya says. "If it tastes weird, then I guess we're eating a weird lunch. We're not going to waste some perfectly good food just because the breading is strangely sweet, right? Are we wealthy enough to do that?"

"Oh no, Jouichirou-san taught you some really weird habits," Eda mourned. And well, to be fair, he'd eat it too, it's not like he could complain about the taste anyways.

Fumio raised a brow at them, trying to enjoy her macarons in peace. "You two sure have gotten into the Tootsuki mindset real fast there."

-

"I come home and the smell of baked bread awaits. This is heaven. I am in heaven. I question why I ever left this heaven."

"I smell tomato soup!"

"Garlic bread and wild mushroom soup!"

"There's a real damn good french onion soup somewhere in there! Where is it?!"

The seniors came back in hordes, a lot earlier than expected, and right into Eda and Shinomiya's impromptu bread bowl lunch party (featuring Fumio, reaping the rewards just from spectating,) because 'too many damn baguettes, why did we bake so many damn baguettes'.

"What the— I thought you guys were coming home in the evening?" Fumio balked at the sight of them.

"There was less traffic jam than expected!"

"Well, there was an emergency, so I got dropped off earlier?"

"I was planning on dropping by a few more places before coming back but since the weather's looking bad I decided against it."

"And that was the right choice! What is this??"

"Oh my god did you put curry in that bread bowl?"

"There's beef stew in this one! And cream stew in this one!"

"What the hell— dibs on the cheese gratin! I saw it first!"

"The pumpkin is so good?? Is this our pumpkin??"

Let's just say Shinomiya brought back small amounts of a lot of Yukihira leftovers so he could sample them over time. And since this bread bowl party happened, they decided to fit as many of them as they could into bread bowls and warm it up in the ovens for the occasion.

Then Fumio found the first pumpkin harvest of the farm (it was just barely autumn yet,) and they made pumpkin soup, too. They made way too much food, but they figured they'd skip dinner and just make food for the seniors.

Now it looks like they won't have to, because the seniors have gone rabid.

"This is the best welcome home present ever?!? I love my juniors!"

"We have the best fucking juniors ever oh my god—"

-

Dinner ended up being a team effort, and then, dessert was full of overwhelming praises again. Somehow they managed to use up the breadcrumbs today, and honestly, Eda is a bit worried about the overwhelming amount of carbohydrates everyone gorged themselves on the entire day. Someone was definitely going to get a nutrient imbalance.

But, well, that's what school restarting is there for. Stress will burn it all out in an instant, for sure.

Being back at home in Sumiredoori was very, very fun, of course, but truthfully, the cacophony of Polar Star's just as homey as the shopping district.

It's just the kind of place you leave your heart in forever.

And though they still didn't know the secret that weighed down in his chest— his shoulders were just a little lighter now than before.