One morning.
"Hit me! Turn me into noodles, you jerk!"
The light of the staff ignited, and the rolling pin fell from the sky like a sea-binding needle in Sun Wukong's hand, landing with a strong gust of wind.
His ponytail fluttered in the strong wind, but the young man showed no fear, and there was even a smirk on his lips.
"Ah."
Silver light flashed, and he pulled out a ladle from his bag. He stood firm and blocked the upward movement, accurately blocking the punch that could shatter the earth.
*Pong!*
The heavy collision swept through the cool morning air. However, neither of them was stunned by this; instead, they clashed with sharp gazes, and sparks and lightning intertwined in their eyes.
"Brat... you've got quite a few skills!"
As he gritted his teeth, the middle-aged man poured power into the rolling pin in his hand and pressed down, trying to bring down the black-haired boy in front of him and slam his head into the dough.
The young man's eyebrow raised slightly, and the silver ladle in his hand remained unmoved.
"I'm still not as good as you... I might need to practice for another month and a half before I can tie you up and send you to the nursing home."
"You arrogant brat! You've got some nerve!"
The middle-aged man suddenly kicked downwards.
As expected, the young man leaped lightly and deflected the blow straight at him. He took a step forward, blocking the opponent's unwithdrawn leg, grabbed the opponent's wrist with his left hand, and used his right hand to grab the ladle instead of the knife placed at the middle-aged man's neck.
"You lose."
Shinichi tossed his casual smile aside and stared coldly at the middle-aged man.
"Go, leave this country, and go to a place where we can't see you."
"You..."
The middle-aged man seemed to want to say something else, but when he met Shinichi's indifferent eyes, his breath caught, and thousands of words got stuck in his throat.
After a long time, he sighed deeply, as if he had aged several years in that moment, bowed his head limp, and relaxed his overly tense body.
"...This era truly belongs to the young."
He glanced at the dough flattener in his hand with nostalgia, and as Shinichi slowly set down the ladle and stepped back, he took off his chef's hat, holding both in his hands and surrendering them with a sigh.
"Your progress is remarkably fast, and your movements no longer have the awkward imitation they once did. You must have worked hard."
Shinichi neither acknowledged nor denied.
The middle-aged man continued, "If I deny it, the pride of a craftsman will be lost... So, I admit it, you are now stronger!"
"..."
Shinichi nodded, without a hint of pride on his face. He simply took the hat and held it in his hands respectfully.
It was like a ritual to convey ideas from a different era. Seeing his empty hands, the middle-aged man couldn't help but smile at the changes in his life.
A little bitter, but also a little relieved.
"But!"
His expression suddenly changed, he tightened his face, and his frightening face suddenly approached Shinichi.
His voice sounded regretful.
"I will come back... I will definitely come back... My cutest and most precious Rizu-chan in my family will never give up on you so easily. If you want me to stay in the nursing home and create a world for the two of you, it's a hundred and eighty years too early!"
Shinichi stepped back and distanced himself from the middle-aged man's foul breath. As he was about to say something, a petite figure walked towards them both and grabbed the middle-aged man's ear.
"Dad, we might not live to a hundred and eighty years from now. Please don't say meaningless things like that."
"Oh~" Father Ogata immediately softened his expression and spoke softly, "That kid could die suddenly anytime, but Rizu-chan will surely live to be 200-300 years old~"
"Don't curse Shinichi-san." Rizu said flatly, pulling her father's ear and walking towards the taxi parked outside.
"Mom is waiting in the car. Have you finished what you wanted to say? Let's go quickly. With me and Shinichi-san at the store, everything will be fine."
Father Ogata initially wanted to lament a few words, but remembering something, he hastily shouted.
"W-Wait a minute, there's still something I want to say to that brat!"
Rizu diverted her gaze to Shinichi, silently asking for his opinion.
Shinichi nodded. "You go back to the store first. I'll send uncle off."
"...Alright then." Rizu let go of her father's hand and looked at him seriously before leaving.
"Dad, if you say something unreasonable to Shinichi-san again... I won't talk to you for three days after you come back."
"I understand~" Father Ogata watched his daughter turn around and walk into the store, sighing weakly.
"It's hard to deal with daughters..."
"Wouldn't it be better to bless us honestly?" Shinichi said sarcastically with an indifferent expression.
"Rizu would be happy too. Why not do something that makes everyone happy?"
"You've never raised a daughter. You don't understand my feelings!" Father Ogata glared at him and swung his fist.
"My cabbage got eaten by pigs, and that pig will only be used as soup base! There's no need to talk about the rest!"
"Too bad I'm human and Rizu is not a cabbage."
Shinichi didn't continue to argue with him but looked straight at the other party.
"So, what haven't you told me?"
"If it's just boring provocation, I'll ask Rizu to come out and say goodbye to you now."
"Tsk!" He clicked his tongue without hiding it. Father Ogata folded his arms, squinted half his eyes, and his expression became serious.
"I'm temporarily closing the store to go on a trip, but I'm handing over the store to you and Rizu-chan to manage. With your brains, you should understand what I mean."
Shinichi nodded. This man was just a tsundere old man. He always said he wanted to cut him to death and turn him into dough and soup base, but he secretly supported their relationship.
Including this time, if it weren't for the support from the depths of his heart, the other party wouldn't entrust the store and his daughter to a stranger.
Although it had nothing to do with his tireless efforts over the past year, it also showed that Father Ogata deeply cared for his daughter and believed that she would not make mistakes and would make choices she wouldn't regret. So he traveled abroad confidently for their honeymoon.
"But before I leave, there are a few questions I want to ask you. I'm only asking this once in my lifetime. I hope you can answer honestly for a father who loves his daughter."
Instead of the usual revenge confrontation, Father Ogata looked at him with each word and sentence filled with solemnity.
This was an old father who had given all his love and attention to his daughter for more than ten years.
Feeling the heavy pressure emanating from him, Shinichi simply nodded, calmly gazing at the other party as if he had let go of all his defenses.
Seeing this, Father Ogata felt relieved.
"First of all, are you and Rizu just having a normal relationship?
"Form a healthy relationship, then wait until you feel nothing anymore, then someone will break up with you, and end the relationship just like that?"
"Sorry, I can't answer things about the future. Then you have to ask about my future or her future."
Although trivial, Shinichi's attitude in speaking was still very serious.
"But you also know Rizu's character. Whether she doesn't give in, or she keeps heading towards the dark side. Whether it's psychology or love, as long as she chooses to continue, she won't consider giving up."
"Whether it's now or in the future, I will never let go of that determined and innocent girl – I have this confidence."
"Is that so?" Father Ogata nodded and continued without commenting.
"I heard that your grades in school are very good. Foreign universities have sent you invitations for recommendation. Your future achievements are limitless..."
"Are you really willing to leave your bright future and go to the nearest public university to study psychology with Rizu-chan, and waste your time at the small udon shop?"
Father Ogata asked word by word:
"Can you promise that someday you won't regret having made such a choice?"
"..."
Shinichi remained silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
"To be honest, I can't guarantee that."
He looked at Father Ogata, without any concealment or pretense.
"Right now I want to be by Rizu's side every minute. When I grow up, I might want to make more money and be respected by more people..."
"Yes, this world is very big. If I have the ability, why not go and see it? Wouldn't that be a waste of my talent?"
Father Ogata looked at him and said nothing.
"But."
Shinichi suddenly laughed, as if the girl was right in front of him. Then he said without hesitation:
"My world would be more beautiful if I'm with Rizu – that's my reason."
"..."
Father Ogata opened his mouth in emptiness, letting Shinichi's confident voice pass through his eardrums and reach the depths of his heart.
"I am greedy. No matter how ambitious I am, I will never let go of the hand I hold – only children make choices. If I have the ability, why wouldn't I want everything?"
"If I'm not satisfied with just one small udon shop, I will turn this shop into a chain and open it nationwide or even worldwide."
"Just as I know nothing about udon but for a while can take over this shop for you, I can learn. As long as you give me enough time, I can learn anything and study anything."
"It doesn't matter where you are. If you don't want to, let yourself grow into greatness. This world is very big, so I have many ways to satisfy my desires."
He thought for a moment and suddenly changed his mind.
"No, maybe it's related."
Seeing Father Ogata's surprised expression, Shinichi chuckled softly.
"It makes sense for me to do these things when I'm by Rizu's side. If the time comes, first I will hand over the shop to someone who manages it, and then send the 'father-in-law and mother-in-law' back to the countryside to rest. Rizu and I will take this opportunity to travel around the world, and when Rizu is pregnant, we will work as recreation teachers in a small town... Well, days like these are truly extraordinary!
"I've decided, consider this idea as my ambition for now."
Shinichi raised his eyebrows at the middle-aged man in front of him and said casually:
"That's it, what's your next question?"
"..."
Father Ogata glared at him angrily, his fists clenched tightly, as if he could slap him at any moment.
But not long after, like a deflated balloon, the middle-aged man released his palm and burst into laughter:
"As expected from someone my daughter likes. Moreover, you're very capable of making empty promises."
"Don't sound like Rizu is deceived by my sweet words."
"If not?" He suddenly looked up at the sky and sighed, "Besides, I've also been deceived by your sweet words..."
Shinichi's mouth moved slightly, unable to smile: "I'm not interested in you..."
"Okay, as long as you don't do anything to pity Rizu-chan, you can do whatever you want!"
Father Ogata stepped forward and patted his shoulder. For the first time, he showed a sincere and gentle smile to Shinichi.
"She will be entrusted to you."
"Entrust her to me."
Shinichi nodded and added gently: "So, should I start calling you father-in-law from now on? Or should I wait until you come back?"
Damn it!
Father Ogata's expression changed, and blood vessels appeared on his forehead. He raised his fist and punched his chest:
"You will push me further, you bastard!"
Hearing the rumbling sound, Rizu immediately ran out of the shop, just as Shinichi took three steps back, furrowing his brows in pain, and suddenly spat out a mouthful of red liquid.
"S-Shinichi-san?!"
Before she finished worrying, Shinichi raised his trembling hand, letting her see what was in his hand.
"Don't worry... It's tomato juice..."
Rizu: "😐"
(If you don't want me to worry, don't act like this...)
Rizu glanced at the figure moving quietly beside her.
"D-Dad–"
"Hyaaa!" The muscular middle-aged man screamed like a frightened animal.
Rizu spoke in a calm tone, word by word: "I asked you not to talk nonsense with Shinichi-san, then you just hit him like that... You really are that kind of person, I'm really disappointed!"
"No, no, there's a reason..." Father Ogata waved his hand in panic. Seeing Rizu's face, he took a step forward and immediately jumped towards the taxi, fleeing in despair.
"In that case, we're leaving! Rizu-chan, you must take care of yourself and wait at home until we come back!"
"Dad!"
Rizu screamed in anger, but Father Ogata seemed not to hear her and promptly closed the door. After the sound of the tire friction, the taxi sped away in front of the Ogata Udon shop.
Watching the slowly disappearing exhaust smoke from the car, Rizu raised her glasses and sighed.
"...Really, you still can't be relied on at your age."
"The more cheerful someone is, the longer they live, so that's something." After gulping down the tomato juice in one go, Shinichi smiled and touched his head.
Rizu was stunned for a moment, raising her head and blinking her innocent eyes: "I remember this statement seems to have a scientific basis... Does it also have to do with psychology?"
"Of course, let's discuss it while we open the shop."
Shinichi took her hand and walked to the Ogata Udon shop with Rizu.
"By the way, Shinichi-san."
"What?"
"Father, did he really hit you earlier?"
"How could he? That's just a way for men to greet each other. Uncle isn't good with words, so he uses this way to express his hopes to me."
"Is that so? That's good. It seems I misunderstood father. I'll apologize when he comes back."
"Um, it's actually okay if you don't need to apologize."
"Why?"
"The story is long. Let's talk about it slowly tonight..."
"?"
△
"Three portions of udon with tofu skin, two portions of soy sauce udon, and two portions of tempura udon!"
"Coming right up!"
In the afternoon, an unusual sight appeared on the shopping street.
The Ogata Udon shop, which usually only sold fine goods, had a long line today. Almost the entire sidewalk was filled with people waiting to enter the shop to eat in front of the door, people were mesmerized by the strong aroma emanating from the shop, and unconsciously I joined the queue.
After Fumino rubbed her eyes in surprise outside the door, she entered with a surprised and uncertain feeling, saying, "Sorry, I'm here to look for someone."
Sure enough, the shop was crowded with people. The small shop could only accommodate a dozen people at most, but it now seemed like hundreds of people were mourning there.
"Shinichi-kun, two beans, three noodles in soup, four vegetables, five beef, and six pork will be sent to seventy or eighty-nine tables and ten plates of side dishes!"
"Right away!"
Seeing her friend shout without looking back, and the familiar voice echoing in the hall, Fumino instinctively turned her gaze and looked at the open kitchen behind her position.
There, a young man in a white cap was waving a ladle. He picked up a large bowl next to him with one hand, and with the other hand, he moved a bowl of soup so quickly that it was almost invisible, but without spilling a drop of soup.
Then he spun the ladle and firmly gripped it between his back fingers. He quickly picked up ingredients with his three front fingers – tempura, beef, pork, chopped scallions, etc., and placed them on the surface of the soup as accurately as possible. Plates and even side dishes were all placed in an unknown time, and the dining table was filled from empty to full in less than twenty seconds.
"Tofu skin tempura, vegetables, beef, pork, and udon, plus ten plates of side dishes are ready! Please serve them!"
Rizu didn't have the energy to reply. After taking orders from the guests, she hurriedly started running to deliver the food. Her reddened face was covered in sweat, and her eyes were very focused.
Udon was served to the guest tables. Fumino watched the closest guest eat noodles. Only noodles, then her whole body suddenly started trembling, as if her whole body was being electrified at that moment. She looked up at the sky with a flushed face, showing a posture as extraordinary as if she had become immortal.
"Ah~"
Satisfied groans echoed one by one in the shop, as if every bowl of noodles was filled with a strange elixir.
If the entire shop wasn't surrounded by strong fragrances, some might think people were gathering here to do something bad.
Fumino stared at the shop door in shock for a few seconds. After coming back to her senses, she walked to the kitchen, put down her bag, and carefully spoke to Shinichi, who had become an eight-armed arhat.
"Um, Asada-san?"
As Shinichi was cooking a bowl of udon, he turned to Fumino.
"Oh, you're here. Right on time, I'll treat you to lunch and help Rizu... I really didn't expect so many people to come."
"Ahahaha, I guess so..." Fumino smiled bitterly, without hesitation, put on an apron, and started helping to serve the guests.
Being so busy that she was dizzy, it took Rizu a moment to realize Fumino's figure, and she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Fumino, that's really helpful."
"No problem, Ricchan, do you want to rest first? I can come here!"
Rizu shook her head and glanced at Shinichi, who was still busy in the kitchen.
"I can't rest until Shinichi-san rests."
Fumino couldn't help but laugh, nodding vigorously and saying, "Okay, let's keep working hard!"
The three of them were busy until 2 p.m. They finally made it through lunchtime and had three hours to rest. However, there might be more guests during dinner time after 5 p.m., and they needed time to prepare all the ingredients first.
"Huh~ It's a big event that has never happened before..."
After serving the last customer and wiping the sweat from her forehead, Fumino closed the door and walked to the table for four people closest to the kitchen.
There, a petite girl with short hair collapsed in the chair like mud, her face almost flattened into a spectacle-wearing slime, and she uttered weakly:
"Originally, it wasn't like this, but I don't know why, the number of guests kept increasing, and in the end, there seemed to be no end in sight..."
Fumino sighed slightly tiredly, "A good reputation will spread by word of mouth. The aroma of the soup is so appetizing, and the queue will attract more people to line up."
At the moment, a tray was placed on the table, with three beautifully decorated bowls of udon noodles on it, still glistening.
Fumino firmly believed – it was just the oily light reflected by the incandescent lamp, not some strange special effect!
"Thank you both for your hard work." Shinichi smiled at Fumino, and she waved her hand in response:
"It's nothing. Asada-san might be the most tired. You made hundreds of bowls of udon today. It's very heavy for you."
"It's nothing. It was much harder than this when I went to Totsuki Academy for special cooking training."
Seeing his complicated expression and reluctance to remember, Fumino couldn't help but laugh.
"It happened back then..."
She still remembered when Shinichi took a two-person trip to Kyoto with Rizu to defeat her father in cooking, Shinichi went to Totsuki Academy to visit a friend and studied there for a month.
After he returned, his whole appearance seemed to have changed, and he looked much thinner. It took some time before he finally returned to his original appearance, and he managed to travel to Kyoto with Rizu.
Fumino truly didn't know what Shinichi encountered there. When she asked him about the "underground cooking world," "dark chefs," and "legendary kitchen equipment," he didn't explain in detail.
"Enough, let's eat noodles! I'm almost fainting from hunger~"
Ignoring this topic, Fumino swallowed saliva, took a bowl of noodles from the three identical bowls that were copied and pasted, and took it away with chopsticks in her hand impatiently.
Shinichi glanced at the exhausted Rizu, carried her on his waist, sat on the chair warmed by him, and placed the girl in his lap.
"Hm??"
Fumino's face froze, and a slight vein appeared on her forehead.
Rizu was used to such close contact, she had no strength to resist now. She just unconsciously moved her hips to adjust her body posture.
Moving around, she suddenly frowned:
"Why do I feel something hard underneath?"
"Hm????"
Fumino's hand holding the chopsticks trembled so violently that the veins on the back of her hand and forehead began to throb.
Her face turned red, and she stared at Shinichi with a murderous intent.
Shinichi rested his chin on Rizu's shoulder and smiled perfectly:
"Don't worry, it's just a phone."
Then he moved Rizu aside, took out his phone from his pocket, and placed it on the table.
Fumino's expression softened, and she snorted coldly.
"That's good. I'm still single now. If you dare to show affection to Ricchan in front of me, believe it or not, I will kidnap Ricchan and call everyone in the Thorn Club to come for dinner and tire yourself out!"
"Yeah yeah yeah..." Shinichi said casually. As the best confidant, without that layer of ambiguity, it could be said that they were almost free from words and actions.
Rizu sat on the same side as him, glanced at her thigh, combed her hair beside her ear, bowed her head, and said nothing, but quietly took the chopsticks and said softly as if hiding her tremor.
"Ittadakimasu..."
The other two echoed, "Ittadakimasu~"
While holding the hair beside her ear with one hand, Fumino bowed her head and blew on her chopsticks twice, then bit a piece of noodles and sipped the broth with a spoon.
One second, two seconds...
Her eyes suddenly widened, and they no longer contained a murderous intent and dissatisfaction, but a feeling of disbelief and surprise as if she had seen the most beautiful thing in the world.
Her slightly oily lips closed tightly and began to tremble slightly, and her face reddened at an unusual speed. She seemed to want to hold it back, but there was always a hot stream flowing from her stomach and piercing her throat.
"Ah~"
Long before Fumino screamed, Rizu covered Shinichi's ears, stared at him for a few seconds, then pressed his head against her chest, closing off his hearing and sight.
"Shinichi-san, please don't make the food so delicious next time!" Rizu's voice of dissatisfaction full of jealousy could be heard in his ears.
As she didn't cover it tightly, he could hear Fumino's groans.
Shinichi closed his ears to this, even curling up with a smile.
He took the initiative to wrap his arms around the girl's waist, inhaling her scent and enjoying the softness on his face. The tiredness in his whole body was gradually healed by the warm caress.
"...Oh no, what sound have I made!"
Fumino recovered from her shock and immediately covered her mouth in embarrassment, intending to apologize to the two people in front of her.
But she saw a pair of dogs... Ahem, an inseparable couple seemed to have forgotten that there was a poor single girl across their table.
Moreover, the man was actually lying on the ample bosom of a petite girl who looked like a 14-year-old, burying his face in it joyfully.
No shame!
Without realizing it, Fumino broke the wooden chopsticks.
"You two, eat quickly! If not, I will stay at your house before uncle and aunt return, so you won't have a chance to be alone!"
After being scolded by her, all the happiness that had lasted for several years vanished. The two of them had no choice but to part ways and pick up the chopsticks again.
Rizu puffed up her cheeks slightly and murmured a few words:
"Is this what they call a light bulb..."
Shinichi agreed from the side:
"This is what they call a light bulb. But we must understand it. She must be in more pain than us – in front of couple, a woman without a boyfriend like this."
Rizu nodded.
"Huft..."
Her flat chest continued to rise and fall.
Fumino tried to calm the anger in her heart.
"I just don't want to date. There are still many people chasing after me."
Shinichi immediately replied.
"But you still don't have a boyfriend."
"...If I want to, I can go out on the street and hold a bride-finding competition."
"But you still don't have a boyfriend."
"...Besides, I still have to study hard, find a job, and other things. I'm not in a hurry to find a boyfriend. I can only find one after I leave society."
"But you still don't have a boyfriend."
"Do you have a girlfriend?!"
Fumino was so angry that she couldn't help but use international swear words.
"But you don't even have a boyfriend."
Shinichi touched Rizu's head and looked at Fumino sympathetically.
"Having high gender standards, isn't Lily good enough?"
Rizu asked in confusion, "Shinichi-kun, what's Lily?"
Shinichi patted her head and said softly, "That's something someone with a boyfriend doesn't need to know."
Fumino: "😐"
At that moment, she understood very well what it felt like to be so angry that she almost exploded.
(Don't push me! Otherwise, I'll snatch Ricchan away and let you experience NTR!)
Filled with anger, Fumino devoured the three bowls of udon on the table as if to vent her frustration. Shinichi didn't stop her but went to the kitchen to make two more bowls of udon for himself and Rizu.
Seeing Fumino slumped in chair, with a slightly bulging stomach, looking utterly useless, Shinichi could only sigh.
"No wonder you still can't get a boyfriend until now. You should go to a dating agency while you're still young to sell yourself."
(╬☉д⊙)
The control line was completely burned, and Fumino couldn't take it anymore. She leaped like a mad dog, rushed to the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen knife, and chased him, disregarding her classic beauty image.
Rizu not only didn't stop her but still smiled happily at the storefront. All the fatigue she had accumulated seemed to have disappeared from her body, leaving only warmth and satisfaction after a full meal.
Not because she was proud of Shinichi's misfortune and forgot her friend after getting a boyfriend.
But after going through a lot and facing many difficulties, the three of them could still get along in such a harmonious relationship, without worrying about each other, and without hiding their grievances.
She was glad to finally hold the hands of friendship and love and no longer have to be troubled by choices.
Fortunately for her, they never left her side. No matter what difficulties they faced, their relationship never deteriorated.
People often say that the world is not beautiful and happy.
But with these two people, for Rizu, this is the most beautiful and happiest world.
It seemed like a long time ago, she once said:
[If we study together, whatever our hearts, we can understand.]
Now...
"I did it, Shinichi-san."
Looking at Shinichi running to save his life, Rizu's eyes narrowed into a pair of crescent moons, with a wide smile on her small face.
Rizu understood her own heart.
A heart that wanted to stay with this happiness forever.
"As expected... we can study together."
Not only that, there are still many things we cannot understand, and often we cannot understand them.
Rizu wanted to let go of everything, she only liked foolish people who got into trouble.
So, whatever happens.
From now on...
"Shinichi-san, Fumino!"
The petite figure left the place and ran towards the two of them.
"Ricchan, restrain that man. The kitchen knife in my hand is very dangerous."
"Then you should put down the knife immediately!"
"I have hatred in my heart, even if I put down the kitchen knife, I still won't become Buddha! So I won't let it go!"
"Fumino, our kitchen knife can only be used for cooking."
"Um, I'm sorry, Ricchan..."
"I'll tie up Shinichi-san in a moment. You can retaliate in any way you want... I think Shinichi-san went too far too."
"Rizu?! I'm your boyfriend, how could you..."
"Hehehe~ Friendship status is higher than boyfriend. Do you understand now? You're just a smelly man!"
"On the contrary, if Fumino goes too far, I'll tie her up and ask Shinichi-san to retaliate."
"You're really fair!"
After the complaints, the noisy conversation fell silent for a moment.
Soon, the silent laughter of the three people was heard at the same time, adding a colorful and beautiful touch to the bright evening sky.
Later that evening, after Fumino left.
"Shinichi-san, I'm going to take a bath first."
Shinichi in the room replied, and Rizu entered the bathroom with her clothes.
Not long after.
There was a knock on the bathroom door, and Shinichi shouted outside the door:
"Rizu, to save on the water bill, let's bathe together!"
"..."
The sound of water in the bathroom sounded quiet, and there was no response for more than ten seconds.
Suddenly, the door lock clicked, the door handle was pressed slowly, and the door panel opened a crack inward.
Steam billowed out...
Click.
The bathroom door closed, and there was no one outside the bathroom.
According to calculations, the Ogata family's water bill is currently five times higher than usual.
A few years later.
"We can bathe together."
Asada Rizu raised her glasses and looked at the short-haired girl in front of her with a serious expression.
Although she was a girl, she looked more like a handsome boy with soft facial features. Her young blue synthetic eyes stared at the woman who was not taller than her through the layers of frames.
"Yes. This is my debut work. What do you think?"
There was no respect or honor, and her tone was emotionless like a robot. However, the gentle face of the girl tensed, as if she was quite nervous.
Rizu looked back at the script paper with difficulty.
"Risa, why do you want to write a novel?"
"It's my dream." Asada Risa said in a flat voice, but very seriously, "Although my literary talent is as poor as my mother's, I still want to write stories that can touch everyone. From now on, my future will definitely be successful."
"Mhm..."
Although her daughter's words were heartwarming, for some reason, Rizu felt a little hurt and her cheeks puffed up slightly.
No matter how poor her literary talent was, she still became a professor in the psychology department of a university and successfully overcame her talent constraints!
She had no reason to be hated by her own daughter!
Wait a minute, thinking like this, wasn't Risa very similar to her?
Dreams conflicting with talents, just do what you want to do, no matter what others think.
As this idea flashed through her mind, Rizu couldn't help but laugh.
"...Isn't that good enough?"
She returned the script paper to Risa's hand, a trace of nostalgia appearing in her eyes, and said gently:
"Although the writing is bad, the story is boring, and the narration is illogical, it's more enticing than reading a psychology paper."
"But as long as you're willing to keep learning, someday you'll find your own happiness!"
Rizu opened her arms and directed her ample bosom towards her daughter, with a maternal smile on her face.
"Before you pursue your dream, let your mother give you the strength to move forward!"
"..."
Risa looked at her mother and her bosom in silence.
"Stupid mom, I'll go look for Aunt Fumino."
"Eh?!"
After saying that, the little girl turned around and ran, leaving the petite woman with wide-open eyes and her hands stretched out stiffly in place, looking quite shocked.
Then, she turned back with tears streaming down:
"Did I do something wrong? Risa seems to hate me..."
Shinichi shrugged and pulled out a bowl of udon from somewhere.
"Take this to comfort her. Nothing can't be fixed by a bowl of udon."
Rizu held the bowl and tilted her head sweetly: "If so?"
"Simple."
Shinichi smiled affectionately and touched her head.
"In that case, read more and learn more."