Chapter 81

This is a light and easy, quick and simple snack.

In the activity report, I have also disclosed character designs, so please take a look if you like. ♪

"Um, is this good enough for today?"

Yuri, who had been rummaging through the refrigerator, took out three ingredients that caught her eye and muttered to herself. It was already dusk. The time when dinner and its cleanup were over. Yet, the reason Yuri was working in the kitchen was that she wanted to make some snacks for the adults who were drinking in the evening.

By the way, the evening drinkers already had salted cucumbers, salted cabbage, and crackers with grilled cheese provided to them. These were light and easy snacks, more than enough. However, since everyone seemed to have been busy and looked tired today, Yuri thought she should make one more dish for them.

...Her thought process is completely that of a housewife, but since this is her original personality, there's no problem. Even when she lived at home, Yuri used to provide snacks for her parents who enjoyed drinking in the evening. She didn't think there was anything strange about it and was used to working in the kitchen.

"First, I'll open the tofu skin."

Usually, tofu skin is used as a flavoring ingredient in miso soup or as a base for cooking vegetables, but it has many other uses. With a little ingenuity, it can become a dish. She cut the rectangular tofu skin in half and carefully opened it, being careful not to tear it. It's important not to tear it, as it would be troublesome if it did.

Then, she lined the side of the opened tofu skin with thinly sliced bacon, which she stuffed in. She cut the bacon thinly to make it easier to cook. Ham, cut thinly, would also work, but since it was to be a drinking snack, she thought bacon, which is saltier, would be better. So, she used bacon today.

After stuffing the bacon at both ends, she added thinly sliced cheese to the middle part. Since there was no pizza cheese, Yuri cut the cheese to an appropriate size by hand. However, cheese is cheese; it melts when cooked, so there's no problem.

This dish isn't about the appearance, as you don't see the inside when you eat it. As long as the bacon and cheese are properly stuffed and easy to cook, it's fine.

"How many should I make?"

The evening drinkers today were Alie, Frau, and, unusually, Brook. Brook usually drinks alone in his room, but today he was joining Alie and Frau. Tifanna was also with them at first, but she had already retired to her room. Jake didn't participate from the beginning, and Rihito, who doesn't drink, was out of the question. The other adults were trainees and didn't enjoy drinking with their instructors, so there were three of them.

...By the way, Reirei, who had borrowed a bottle of alcohol, had grabbed Cule's collar and run towards the living room. Yuri pretended not to see. She had already sent Yack with a platter of cherry tomatoes and salted cucumbers, so they were probably drinking with that. ...Mainly, Reirei, who is a heavy drinker, was enjoying herself while Cule was just accompanying her.

Well, let's leave that aside. The young people just enjoying their drinks are fine. The adults, who seemed to be tired and were having a bit of a grumble session while drinking, were the ones Yuri wanted to bring snacks to.

For three people, since they had already eaten dinner, she thought they wouldn't need too many, so she made about three each. She added one more for herself to taste. The trainees were either making noise in the living room, back in their rooms, or in the bath, so she didn't need extra. ...If more were needed, she would make them then.

After making the right number, all that was left was to cook them. She warmed up a frying pan and arranged the tofu skins stuffed with bacon and cheese. She cooked them over low heat without oil. When the surface of the tofu skin was slightly charred, she flipped them and cooked them the same way. That was it.

The bacon and cheese were cut thinly to ensure they cooked even over low heat. The opening of the tofu skin wasn't closed, but since it wasn't stuffed to the brim, there was no problem. The melted cheese acted as a binder, so she didn't need to secure it with toothpicks. The sound of the tofu skin sizzling and the fragrant smell filled the kitchen.

When she tasted one on a small plate, the crispy texture of the cooked tofu skin and the melted cheese mixed in her mouth. The bacon added a rich flavor. The combination of cheese and bacon is excellent, making it undeniably delicious. The tofu skin, which doesn't assert its own flavor, served as a good wrapper.

The crispy exterior and the soft, gooey interior created a unique texture. Eating the hot, freshly cooked dish with the melted cheese dancing in her mouth was a delightful experience.

"Yeah, it's fine. The saltiness of the bacon and cheese is enough, which makes it easy and good."

Yuri thinks that not needing to use any seasonings makes it easy. Surprisingly, this could also serve as a main dish. While it might not be enough for children who skip meals, it could be a sufficient main dish for women with smaller appetites. She thought it might be good for breakfast, even if it wasn't suitable for dinner.

After arranging the cooked tofu skins on a large plate, Yuri headed to the dining room. The three adults were leaning back, sipping their drinks and chatting. The snacks she had provided earlier were already half gone, and the pace seemed faster than usual.

"Everyone, I brought some more snacks."

"Huh? More snacks?"

"Since everyone seems tired today."

"..."

Yuri smiled and announced it, and the three of them subtly averted their eyes. They had all been guiding the trainees and apprentices today, and their reactions suggested something had happened. Yuri didn't ask about it, as she wouldn't understand even if she did.

"Here you go," she placed the large plate in the center of the three. They looked at it with a "What's this?" expression. It was just a plate of square, baked tofu skins, which didn't look like much of a snack.

Yuri calmly handed each of them a small plate and chopsticks. She thought chopsticks would be easier to use than forks. These three could use both chopsticks and silverware, which was convenient. Some people might find chopsticks or silverware difficult, but Yuri didn't know how to use the silverware properly either. Table manners were too complicated for a high school boy.

"The tofu skin is stuffed with bacon and cheese and baked. Please enjoy it as is."

"Thank you."

Yuri's concise explanation made the three of them try it. They picked up a square of tofu skin with their chopsticks and brought it to their mouths. The crispy texture of the baked tofu skin and the rich flavors of the cheese and bacon that spread in their mouths made them relax. They understood that the saltiness of the bacon and the richness of the cheese made it a good drinking snack, even though the tofu skin alone wouldn't be enough.

The three were drinking different types of alcohol, but they weren't the type to complain about the snacks. As long as it was delicious, it was fine. Alie was drinking a cloudy, home-brewed sake, Frau was drinking a dry wine, and Brook was drinking his usual fruit wine. One of them, however, had a drink that didn't match their appearance, but it was best not to comment. Everyone has different preferences.

"Did you make this with leftovers? Does it taste good?"

"Yeah, it's delicious."

"It's fine, Yuri."

"Thank you."

The three responses were all positive, which relieved Yuri. She wasn't worried, as these three usually didn't express likes or dislikes. Seeing the tofu skins quickly disappearing, she smiled, feeling that the gloomy atmosphere from earlier had lifted a bit.

Leaving the three drinking, Yuri returned to the kitchen to clean up. She needed to wash the utensils she had just used. She didn't know what kind of people adventurers were or what kind of struggles the instructors carried, but she thought she couldn't truly understand them. After all, their positions and daily lives were too different.

However, she thought there were ways to support them. At least, when they returned to the hideout, she wanted them to relax. As a househusband, she wanted them to eat delicious food and smile. ...As the hideout's housekeeper, he was working hard every day, albeit in the wrong direction for a high school boy.

"...Hey, what's that over there?"

"Whoa!? Reirei?"

"It looks super delicious."

"...Sorry, Yuri. I couldn't stop her... Besides, water, water, please..."

"Are you okay, Cule? Reirei, Cule isn't as strong as you, so don't force her to drink."

"I'm not forcing her."

"...I got careless because it tasted good."

Cule, who was drinking the water offered, complained. Reirei, who didn't look like she was drinking at all, and Cule, who was giving off a slight hangover aura. Cule, who often accompanied Reirei, knew her limits. Reirei, who enjoyed drinking, didn't push others to drink.

As for why this happened today, it was because the alcohol Reirei brought out had a very smooth taste. It was smooth and easy to drink, but it had a decent alcohol content. Cule, who wasn't very strong with alcohol, ended up getting drunk. So, Reirei probably wasn't to blame.

"Ah, damn, I really got careless."

"Want some lemon in your water?"

"Please."

"Honey?"

"A little."

"Got it."

Responding to Cule's request, Yuri prepared a glass of water with lemon and honey. Cule groaned while drinking the refreshing, sweet water. Her mouth probably felt strange. She seemed to want to clear her head with the lemon water.

Meanwhile, Reirei, who had been silently watching the two, grabbed Yuri's hand as he was about to return to the dishes and smiled. It was a smile like a child asking for a treat. Probably not wrong.

"So, what are the three of them eating over there?"

"...A snack?"

"I want to eat it too!"

"...Can't be helped. What about Cule?"

"No way. If I eat anything now, I'll really throw up."

"You're such a lightweight, Cule."

"Your drinking habit is the problem, idiot."

Reirei poked Cule's forehead and laughed, and Cule groaned and retorted. Watching the two, Yuri sighed and headed to the refrigerator. He thought about making one for Reirei and, just in case, one for Cule.

By the way, the trainees who missed out on the snacks and begged to try them ended up having them as a side dish for lunch the next day, but Yuri didn't think about that.

When the adults seemed to be deep in thought, the last part about Reirei and Cule popped up.

Well, writing this trio, including Yuri, is fun, so it's all good.

I look forward to your comments and feedback.