A Very Popular Idol Classmate Has Taken a Liking to Me, A Person Who Doesn't Want to Work for My Whole Life
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.Daininki Idol na Classmate ni Natsukareta, Isshou Hatarakitakunai Ore
Src: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2496gr/123/
Act 4 - The Past of The Shidou Family
33-3
"Oh......! It’s delicious." (Rintaro)
The moment I take my first sip of the soup, those words slip out of my mouth without thinking.
A golden consommé, rich with the umami of vegetables.
It isn’t heavy or thick, and yet the flavor carries an incredibly deep and layered richness.
It has a full-bodied taste that clearly comes from long hours of simmering—something you just can’t get from store-bought consommé cubes.
This must’ve taken a lot of time and care.
I can tell, probably because I’ve tried making it myself before.
"I’m so glad you like it! Try the hamburg steak too! I’m really proud of it!" (Lilia)
"Yes…!" (Rintaro)
Following her suggestion, I try the simmered hamburg steak I have been eyeing.
I slice into it with a knife and bring a piece to my mouth with my fork.
Juices burst out from the patty, and the demi-glace sauce clinging to it blends with the savory flavor of the meat, creating a rich harmony.
The meat itself is well-seasoned with spices, so even though the thick patty can have diluted the demi-glace flavor, its flavor still packs a punch.
That’s actually a surprisingly important detail, because, if the meat itself isn’t seasoned, no matter how much demi-glace or ketchup you pour over it, it’ll still feel a bit bland.
Seasoning also helps eliminate any unpleasant smell from the meat, so for those just starting out with cooking, I highly recommend looking into the detailed method.
(But… that’s not all.)
As I eat, I realize that Lilia-san’s simmered hamburg steak has something in it that is very different from mine.
The richness and aroma are clearly on another level.
I especially notice the strong notes of spice, but it doesn’t feel like she’d just thrown in a bunch of seasoning either.
Something was elevating the whole dish.
I can tell that much, but I have no idea what that special element was.
"Rintaro-kun? Did it… maybe not suit your taste?" (Lilia)
"Ah, no! That’s not it at all......" (Rintaro)
Crap. I get so deep in thought that I give her the wrong impression.
Oh well. I don’t want to seem overeager, but at this point, I might as well ask her directly.
Not knowing will just keep bugging me.
"Umm, this demi-glace sauce… it’s so much richer and more flavorful than anything I’ve ever made. Are you using any special ingredients?" (Rintaro)
"Huh?" (Lilia)
Lilia-san blinks at me in surprise.
But when she sees the seriousness on my face, something seems to click. She lets out a small "aah", then gets up from her chair.
"Hold on a second. There’s something I want to show you." (Lilia)
With that, she heads to the kitchen.
When she comes back, she's holding a bottle.
"I think the difference you’re noticing, Rintaro-kun, might be because of this wine." (Lilia)
"Wine?" (Rintaro)
"Yes. You know how wine is essential for making demi-glace sauce, right? So I always make sure to choose one myself that really suits my palate." (Lilia)
"Ah…!" (Rintaro)
I see, that has completely slipped my mind.
I’m underage, so there’s no way I could ever taste wine.
Which means I have zero understanding of the differences between them.
Choosing the right wine to pair with a demi-glace? That’s way out of my league.
Not to mention, I can’t even legally buy most wines, so I barely have any options to begin with.
This isn’t something I can fix with just hard work.
"When you’re making a rich demi-glace, it helps to use wine that isn’t too acidic, like this one. The spices in it also go really well with nutmeg-seasoned hamburg steak." (Lilia)
"I-I see......!" (Rintaro)
I'm honestly moved.
Alcohol is something you can only start to understand as you get older.
But once I learn how to use it properly, it’ll open up a whole new world of flavors and cooking techniques.
Sure, there are only so many types of alcohol used in cooking, but its role doesn’t stop there.
What if I could learn to pair drinks with dishes, too?
I’ll definitely be drinking at some point in the future, so I might as well learn to enjoy it in a way that enriches my life.
There’s still so much room for me to grow――――
And that realization fills me with indescribable joy.
"Fufufu, you make such a cute face in moments like this, Rintaro-kun." (Lilia)
"Ah… I'm sorry, I got a bit overly excited." (Rintaro)
"No, it's fine. You know, back in the day, I used to be really into cooking. I’d always make all sorts of dishes for my husband. But as life got busier, I hardly had any time to make elaborate dishes... So it's been a really joy to talk about cooking again after so long." (Lilia)
Lilia-san smiles, though there's a trace of loneliness in her expression.
I remember how Rei once said that eating at home felt lonely.
Both her parents were always busy and never had time to spend together.
That felt oddly familiar to me, like we came from similar situations, so I’d felt a kind of connection with her.
However, the essence of the situation is completely different.
In this house, there're genuine love and warmth.
I can't help but feel envious――――
I'm surprised by that feeling welling up inside me.
It isn’t something I've ever felt before, and yet now, it's undeniably there.
Maybe it’s because I’d seen my father again after a long time?
That thought makes it feel like I'm being influenced by him, which is a little complicated… but still, I can’t lie about this feeling.
"When you become an adult, how about having a glass of wine here in this house? My husband and I both enjoy collecting wines. The world of wines is so deep and complex, you might only be able to appreciate the surface at first, but even that’s enjoyable enough." (Lilia)
"I’d love that. Please, when the time comes." (Rintaro)
"Fufufu, I hope you'll grow to like wine too, Rintaro-kun. …Oh! But for now, how about enjoying the food right here? Especially the lasagna there—it's absolutely to die for." (Lilia)
Lilia-san points to the lasagna sitting in the center of the table.
I have been drawn in by the aroma of the demi-glace sauce, but this looks just as incredibly appetizing.
I take a serving onto my plate and bring a bite to my mouth with a fork.
"This is seriously amazing…!" (Rintaro)
The rich cheese and meat sauce intertwine with the thin pasta sheets known as lasagna, creating an elegant, refined flavor.
It isn’t so much the kind of taste that appeals to kids, but more on the mature side.
Wine is used in meat sauce too, so maybe that’s what makes the difference?
Of course, that alone won’t bring out such complexity, but it’s likely the harmony with the other ingredients and seasonings that ties everything together.
"Fufu, I’m so glad you liked it. Right, Rei?" (Lilia)
"Huh?" (Rintaro)
I can’t help but look over at Rei.
At some point, she has started watching me with a nervous expression.
A sudden thought hits me, and I look back and forth between her and the lasagna in front of me.
"Wait… did you make this, Rei?" (Rintaro)
"Yes… I mean, my mom helped too, but I made about half of it myself." (Rei)
"Seriously…!"
"I wanted to thank you for everything, Rintaro, so I talked it over with Mom, and this is what we came up with." (Rei)
I know it may sound patronizing, but honestly, I'm touched.
Rei, who could barely handle any housework, actually made this dish?
That’s undeniable growth.
And the fact that she grew for my sake made it all the more meaningful.
"…Times like this really make men who can’t cook feel left out, huh."
Hearing our lively conversation, Otosaki-san lets out a wry smile.
Oops. We have kind of left him out of the loop the whole time.
"Fufu, sorry, dear. I got carried away since Rintaro-kun is so into cooking." (Lilia)
"No worries, tonight’s all about making Shidou-kun feel welcome. If he’s having a good time, then that’s what matters most."
What a kind thing to say.
Honestly, I still have so much I want to ask Lilia-san.
I want to know more about Rei’s cooking, too, so there's no shortage of things to talk about.
So I decided to take Otosaki-san up on his generosity and enjoy myself just a little longer.
The "main topic" I came here for… could wait a bit more――――.
~"(This is a Translation Content of pemudatunawisata[dot]my[dot]id. so, read only on there, kay~)"~
[End of Chapter]
Cya~!
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