Home
[-] Since coming back from the beach, I've been feeling feverish and weak...
I must have caught a cold... Guess I'll have to turn down the mahjong club's invitation.
My eyes feel so heavy... I need more sleep.
...
(Knock, knock)
Huh? Was I expecting a delivery today?
When I open the door, I find a familiar face – Yui, carrying two enormous shopping bags, one in each hand.
[player] Yui...? What brings you here?
[Yui Yagi] I saw your message in the group chat.
[Yui Yagi] How are you feeling now? Are you okay?
[player] I'm alright, my fever's gone down. Thanks for coming to check on me.
[Yui Yagi] Your face... still looks a bit pale.
[player] Really? Well, I've only just recovered, so...
[player] What's in all those bags anyway?
[Yui Yagi] Ingredients.
[player] Hmm?
[Yui Yagi] I thought I'd cook some nourishing food for you.
[Yui Yagi] That way, you'll get better soon.
[player] Ah, that's... really kind of you...
I never imagined Yui would come to cook for me. This girl who rarely shows emotions actually has such a thoughtful, caring side...
I invite her in, take the shopping bags, and peek inside to see what she's brought.
[player] Let's see... what are you planning to cook?
Just one glance at these overstuffed shopping bags gives me a bad feeling...
One is packed with green onions, chives, and both white and red onions.
The other is filled with leeks, garlic, and...
[player] Uh... what's this long, thin vegetable?
[Yui Yagi] Victory onion.
That's an awful lot of onions...!
[Yui Yagi] I read that they are good for a cold, so I bought a whole variety of them.
[Yui Yagi] Eating all these should help cure your cold, right?
[player] Ah, well... Technically... I guess.
Oh no, this is bad! I nearly forgot – I can't let her cook! The memory of what happened last time we went to the supermarket is still all too fresh in my mind.
But seriously, what kind of dish would use all these ingredients?
[player] Actually, I just finished lunch, so I'm quite full at the moment.
[player] But thanks for bringing all these ingredients. I'll keep them for later.
[Yui Yagi] ...
[player] I'm sorry... I know you went out of your way for me, but I really can't eat anything more right now.
After putting all the ingredients in the refrigerator, I return to the front door.
Yui's face doesn't show much, but observing carefully, I can tell she's slightly disappointed.
[player] Well... How about...
[player] How about we go for a walk instead? I've been stuck in bed for days and my muscles are all stiff.
[Yui Yagi] Okay.
It's subtle, but her eyes seem to light up a bit.
[player] Where would you like to go?
[Yui Yagi] Éternité.
[Yui Yagi] They have excellent coffees. You've probably heard of it.
[player] Oh, I know that place. I go there a lot.
At least they won't serve any bizarre culinary creations there...
Éternité
[-] Stepping into the familiar coffee shop, I casually greet the young manager, Reina Nanami.
Unlike my usual order, today we both get regular iced coffee at Yui's insistence.
[player] Do you visit here often?
[Yui Yagi] Yes, every week.
[player] You're definitely a regular then... are you a big coffee fan?
[Yui Yagi] I believe that... coffee is a science.
[player] Oh? A science?
[Yui Yagi] For starters, just the measurement of coffee beans is critical.
[Yui Yagi] The slightest difference can drastically alter the taste. That's why when making coffee, you need to measure the beans precisely to the gram.
[Yui Yagi] And the grinding process demands even more care.
[Yui Yagi] You can't grind coffee beans too fast or too slow. You need to maintain the perfect speed to prevent excess heat from affecting the beans' flavor profile.
[Yui Yagi] Plus, depending on the grind size, you'll need to use different brewing methods.
[Yui Yagi] Beyond that, water temperature and pouring technique also influence the final result.
[player] So, it seems like once you get into the details, there's always more to discover with coffee, huh?
[player] It's exactly like a scientific experiment... where every reagent must be precisely measured.
[Yui Yagi] Yes, but this shop does everything perfectly.
[Yui Yagi] That's why their iced coffee is so good.
[player] I see!
Although I still have my doubts about Yui's taste in food, after that detailed explanation, I'm actually eager to try the coffee she's recommended.
[Reina Nanami] Your iced coffees, please enjoy.
I thank Reina and pick up the cup.
Just one sip and I immediately understand why Yui recommended it so highly.
[player] It's really good.
A cool touch on the tongue, then a bloom of rich coffee aroma, leaving no sharp acidity or bitterness in its wake...
I never imagined it would be this good. Though I'm no coffee expert, I can tell it's exceptional from the very first taste.
[Yui Yagi] Yes, it's excellent.
[Yui Yagi] Senpai? Why are you looking like that?
[player] Nothing, I'm just a bit emotional.
Yui has surprisingly good taste in coffee. Or more accurately, she's extremely knowledgeable about it.
And, her knowledge is extensive. Given the chance, she could probably talk about coffee until nightfall.
I thought Yui and I had become quite close, but I'm still discovering new aspects of her...
[player] When did you start to love coffee?
[Yui Yagi] Probably since I was young.
[Yui Yagi] Before my parents passed away, they often taught me about coffee.
[Yui Yagi] Everything from brewing methods to rare bean varieties and even cultivation techniques.
[Yui Yagi] Did you know?
[Yui Yagi] In some regions, people crack a whole raw egg – shell and all – into the ground coffee before brewing.
[Yui Yagi] Those living near deserts make their coffee by brewing it on hot sand.
[Yui Yagi] And in some other places, people drink a mix of coffee and black tea.
[Yui Yagi] All of these... are things my parents taught me.
[player] That's fascinating...
For someone usually so quiet, Yui is being remarkably talkative today.
While her face shows little emotion, her genuine enthusiasm for sharing is clear.
