Chapter 77

This is a makeshift meal I made with cup soup. Personally, I thought it was delicious. It’s fine for my own use.

That day, looking at the leftover ingredients in front of him, Yūri decided to take a shortcut. Today’s lunch was for Yūri and Frau alone. Yūri, who usually prepares meals for over a dozen people, loves cooking, so it’s not a hardship for him. However, even so, there are times when he wants to take a shortcut and make something easy. Also, there was a dish he wanted to make with the ingredients in front of him.

...No, rather, that might be the main point. Yūri basically makes what he wants to eat. As a result, dishes he doesn’t like don’t appear. ...Spicy dishes and overly alcoholic dishes are something he wants to avoid. Spicy dishes are one thing, but if the alcohol is too strong, the taste becomes indistinguishable, which is a given for minors. A little alcohol is fine as a hidden flavor in cooking. (However, dishes like wine steamed are excluded.)

In front of Yūri were a hardened baguette, the leftover corn chowder from the morning, and the leftover vegetable salad from the morning. The most challenging of these was the hardened baguette. It was a struggle just to bite into it, so he had to put some effort into it.

So, Yūri began cutting the hardened baguette into bite-sized pieces on the cutting board with a knife. Meanwhile, he warmed the corn chowder on the stove without letting it boil. Yūri, who was cutting the baguette into bite-sized pieces, was using the knife more like a masher. Perhaps it was more like shaving. The hardened baguette was a formidable opponent.

"...From now on, I should eat the baguette first."

Yūri, who had somehow finished the cutting task with a grinding sound, sighed deeply. It seemed like a good strategy. After all, baguettes are originally hard, and they become even harder over time, making it feel like a penance to cut them. He knew it was his fault for not noticing it in time, but he was trying his best to cut it today.

Then, he threw the bite-sized baguettes into the pot of soup. He kept throwing them in. Once they were in, he pushed them down to submerge them. He packed them in tightly, as if burying them, to ensure they were fully soaked in the soup. He then simmered them over low heat to make the baguettes soft and absorb the soup. He wanted them to soften quickly.

While doing this, he took out two deep, heat-resistant plates. Then, he prepared the cheese, which played an important role in this dish. Since he usually buys cheese in large blocks, he needed to cut it into appropriate sizes when using it. This time, he sliced it thinly because it needed to melt. In modern Japan, there are easy-to-melt cheeses like pizza cheese, but unfortunately, this was a different world, so he had to cut the block cheese.

"Is it okay now~?"

Using a pair of chopsticks, he poked the baguette submerged in the soup. When the chopstick tip easily sank in, confirming that it had softened and absorbed the soup, Yūri began laying the baguettes in a gratin dish. He packed them in tightly until the bottom of the dish was no longer visible. Then, he ladled the soup over the baguettes, making sure it covered them like a sauce, but not so much that the bread was submerged in the soup.

He then evenly arranged the sliced cheese on top of the baguettes and corn chowder in the gratin dish. The cheese began to melt slightly from the heat of the bread. After confirming this, he put the dish in the oven. Since the bread was already cooked, all he needed was for the cheese to melt. A little more heat in the oven would complete the dish.

While waiting, he arranged the leftover salad on a plate with raised edges. Fortunately, there were still some tomatoes left, so the color was fine. The dressing for today was a mix of olive oil, salt, pepper, and powdered herbs, with a little lemon and orange juice added as a hidden flavor. It was a light, refreshing dressing.

When the cheese had melted, he took the deep dish out and sprinkled powdered parsley over the melted cheese. The green parsley scattered on the slightly yellowish white cheese looked beautiful. The makeshift bread gratin made from leftovers was now complete.

"Frau, I’m sorry to keep you waiting."

"Ah, thank you. I’m sorry for always relying on you."

"No, no, this is my job."

When Yūri told Frau, who was waiting at the table, she apologized, looking apologetic. However, Yūri answered with a carefree smile. It was the truth. After all, Yūri’s living expenses were guaranteed by doing the cooking and housework at the hideout. To be honest, the apprentices, trainees, and instructors pay a certain amount to the clan, but Yūri doesn’t. ...Well, in exchange, he doesn’t get paid for doing housework.

Regarding this, after discussions with Ali, it was decided that Yūri would not pay living expenses, and in return, Ali (or the clan) would cover the basic living expenses. Yūri, who makes a living through side jobs and recipe fees, was fine with this arrangement. To be honest, he does cleaning, laundry, and cooking as a hobby, so if he were paid for it, it would be confusing. ...He thinks that professional housekeepers are different, but his perception of housework remains the same.

"What’s for lunch today?"

"It’s made from leftovers, so I’m not sure if it will suit your taste."

"I know that if Yūri makes it, it won’t be bad."

"I’m flattered."

What was placed in front of Frau was a makeshift bread gratin and a salad with olive oil dressing. The drink was simply water, which was refreshing, especially as the weather was getting warmer.

The sweet aroma of the corn chowder and the sizzling sound of the melted cheese on the heat-resistant dish were quite appetizing. Frau, who was tilting her head at the unfamiliar object, looked somewhat pleased.

"Is this cheese?"

"Yes. I soaked the leftover baguette in this morning’s soup, topped it with cheese, and baked it in the oven. It’s a makeshift bread gratin."

"Is it a makeshift one?"

"I think so. Making a proper bread gratin takes a bit more effort."

Yūri recognized that a proper bread gratin uses a sauce rather than soup. So, this dish was definitely a makeshift bread gratin. As for why Frau looked pleased, it was because she was secretly a cheese lover. She always chose cheese as a snack with her drinks and even ate a lot of cheese cutlets, which was unusual for her, as she wasn’t particularly a meat lover. For her, the makeshift bread gratin with plenty of cheese was a hit.

When Frau tried to eat it with a fork, Yūri suggested using a spoon. The baguette was cut into bite-sized pieces, so it could be eaten with a spoon without any problem. Moreover, a spoon was better for bringing the melted cheese and soup to her mouth. After hearing this, Frau took the spoon.

She inserted the spoon into the edge of the hot deep dish and scooped up the bread from the bottom. The soup and cheese were also scooped up. She blew on the steaming hot mixture to cool it down before bringing it to her mouth. The bread, which had absorbed the soup and become fluffy, and the melted cheese spread a rich flavor in her mouth. The sweetness of the corn chowder, which remained on the spoon, gently enhanced the taste.

The saltiness of the cheese and the sweetness of the corn chowder, along with the soft texture of the fluffy bread, created a satisfying experience. It wasn’t a heavy meal, but the richness of the cheese made it filling.

"It’s delicious."

"Does it suit your taste?"

"Given the amount of cheese, it’s probably made for me, right?"

"That’s true."

Yūri smiled. Indeed, he wanted to make this easy, makeshift bread gratin, but he also decided to make it because Frau was his lunch companion today. If it were for the perennially hungry children, it wouldn’t be enough, and if it were for Ali or Brook, they might give a lukewarm response. They wouldn’t say it was bad, but they might find it lacking. For Tiphana or Jake, the large amount of cheese might cause indigestion. Everyone had their preferences, even if they didn’t complain. Yūri had a general sense of these preferences, though he hadn’t directly asked about their favorite foods. He knew what they couldn’t eat (including allergies and dietary restrictions) but not necessarily their favorite foods.

...Also, the reason he didn’t know their favorite foods was that everyone always said "delicious!" regardless of what he made. It seemed that his high cooking skills gave a positive bias. It was a bit scary to realize this.

"The hot dish is delicious, but be careful not to burn yourself."

"That’s true. With the cheese, it might lose its flavor if it cools down."

"If Reirei were here, she’d have trouble because she has a sensitive tongue."

"Indeed."

Yūri and Frau smiled at each other. Reirei, whose father was a cat-person, had inherited his physical abilities. Perhaps because of this, she had a sensitive tongue. She loved delicious food but couldn’t eat hot dishes. Therefore, when taking food from a communal dish, she would take extra portions to let them cool down before eating.

...Also, everyone knew Reirei had a sensitive tongue, so if she took extra portions at the beginning, it was overlooked. However, if she took too much, she would be scolded. Meals at the hideout were often a survival of the fittest.

Yūri enjoyed the stretchy cheese while finishing the makeshift bread gratin. He was considering making a proper bread gratin sometime. In that case, he would have to start by making the white sauce used in gratins. If he decided to make it from the beginning, it wouldn’t be a hardship. However, today’s dish was a creative result of looking at the leftovers in front of him.

Using the corn chowder, the sweetness of the corn added a wonderful flavor. Without using any additional seasonings, the dish was complete with just the soup and cheese, which was convenient. Mainly, it helped to avoid excessive salt intake. But, if it was delicious, that was enough.

By the way, after hearing this story, the ten-year-old Arō, who was actually a cheese lover, demanded that Yūri make it as a snack. It was a charming request.

When you don’t have time to make a proper bread gratin or just want something for yourself,

try using cup soup.

It won’t be as authentic, but you can make something similar.

I look forward to your comments and feedback.