/
8. Kitchenmaid’s conditions
Arranged on the crowded table were 100 yen 1 tableware and chopsticks（I also bought these……）
Steam billowed up from the individually distributed rice and tonjiru.
Beside the small bowl of natto was negi 2, karashi 3 , eggs and kimchi 4 . I arranged it so they could each mix what they personally liked into it.
Well personally, rather than starting off with natto, I want to enjoy the flavor of fresh rice.
By the way, I was also sitting down at a corner.
Cuz I’m hungry!
What’s wrong with eating something I made!
「Alright, please dig in.」
「Ooohhh～!!!!」
With sparkling eyes the yakuza picked up their chopsticks.
I thought I’d watch over them until they took something, but…… Their chopsticks were seriously wavering.
But, as if resolving himself, Skinhead-san reached out for the tonjiru. Seeing that, Host-san, Thug-san and Intelli-san（all named according to my first impression）similarily reached their hands out for the tonjiru. 5
They timidly brought it to their lips and sipped a mouthful……
「This is it, this……」
Eeehhh!? They’re moved to tears! Seriously!?
Afterwards was amazing.
The onii-sans continued to eat voraciously without a word.
「Who wants seconds～」
When I called to them whose rice bowls were emptied within no time, the 4 turned this way simultaneously.
「「「「Give it here!」」」」
Oh no…… Their words and expressions were scary, but I began seeing the yakuza as cute.
I must be too tired from working so much……
In the end, I left my meal for later and devoted myself to waiting on the four of them.
Well, they were eating the food I made deliciously, so I didn’t regret it.
「Make it again」
When the rice cooker and pot made for 10 became empty, the yakuza intimidated me.
Though I was happy they ate it deliciously.
「No, that might be difficult. I have work, and the food cost is nothing to scoff at either.」
「Aan?」
「Please don’t threaten me. People have things they can and can’t do after all……」
I wonder why, I was frightened by the “Ya” people before, but after seeing their figures eating my food wholeheartedly, I wasn’t as fearful of them as before.
It goes to say, people who think simple cooking is delicious have straightforward hearts, or at least I think so.
That’s why I figured it’d be ok to speak with them frankly.
「Do something」
「No, it won’t help anything. This time too, I was suddenly called to go to a business trip to Oita as well.」
「Do something about that!」
「Think of it as helping us!」
「PLEASE!!!!」
They all prostrated.
Even though they had such scary faces and rough appearances…… No good, I can only see them as hungry kids now.
Uーn, I’m being moved.
After thinking for a while, I nodded “un” and raised my face.
「Then, along with some conditions」
「Alright!!!」
I lightly chuckled at the men who were striking gut poses.
「No, you should decide after hearing the conditions」
「Tell us. Who you wanna kill?」
「There a guy you wanna sink in Tokyo Bay?」
「There’s someone you wanna torture to death?」
「Nononono!!! I wouldn’t dare!!」
Why did it turn into such talk!
「I won’t ask for such disturbing things!」
「Money, then?」
「Men?」
「Drugs?」
「Nononono!!! I wouldn’t dare!」
I think my neck is gonna tear soon. Definitely.
「I said it’s not anything as crude as that!!」
I took a deep breath and composed myself.
「Firstly, the time I make food will only be when I have free time from work. My company is pretty black, so I feel like it’ll be fairly tough. That, and please give me the food expenses.」
After I said that with an earnest face, they looked at each other once and nodded once with a mystified expression.
It seems they thought I would bring out a more severe condition.
「There’s no problem with that」
「That, and……」
I didn’t know if they would accept or not, but if I was going to eat alongside them from now on, I wanted to respect it.
「At meal times, please say『itadakimasu』and『gochisousama』.」6
To my words, the onii-sans showed vacant faces.
「Itadakimasu? I’ve never said it……」
「When Aniki 7 treats us, we just end it off with『gochinarimasu!』」
Somehow unable to calm themselves, I asked them.
「Want to stop?」
「No…… We’ll do it.」
While showing pondering faces for a moment, the onii-sans nodded.
Seeing that…… Those yakuza onii-sans probably do a lot of questionable things……
But I felt like somehow, I couldn’t hate them.
「Then, that’s that…… Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.」8
I dipped my head in a bow, and the onii-sans said「Ou」and laughed cheerfully.
And so, I, Shindo Nanao, became the yakuza onii-san’s kitchenmaid.