Chapter 9

*page0
　December is the month for finishing up business at the end of the year.
// it's a pun about monks visiting houses to say prayers at the end of the year. 
// has to discard this joke here about, master running around 
　It's also the month the master monks run about the most.
　Perhaps because a lot of worked was piled up, the month seemed to pass by in an instant.

*page1
　On a certain day of December, Aoko, Alice, and Soujuurou were all busy with something, but it's not clear with what.

*page2
"What is... this?"
　A very threatening voice with suppressed murderous intent echoed throughout the room. 
 
*page3
　The sun-room overlooks the courtyard, so it is sometimes used as a dining room when the weather is nice. 
　It's decorated with top-quality furniture, fitting for a traditional mansion.

*page4
　The Chinese Chippendale style, which incorporates beautiful Chinese elements with traditional Georgian style, is so elegant that it makes an ordinary person like Aoko swear, 'I should refrain from acting non-aristocratically.' 
　To be honest, she is stupefied that someone would waste so much money on it, but it's not coming out of her own wallet, so she doesn't mind it as much.  

*page5
　In a room filled with a high-class atmosphere, there is a table enshrined with three unfamiliar objects that she couldn't believe were truly there. 
　As she stared at them, she thought they looked like some sort of strange food from outer space. 

*page6
"Soujuurou, is this... some sort of a new joke?"
　Shaking one of her fists, Aoko questioned the person in charge of meal duty for the day.
　The time is now 9:00 PM. 
　The chef that prepared the dinner obediently nodded yes. 

*page7
"This is a product of our company. 
　'It looks fake, and the content is indeed fake.' Konomi said. But I think it's better than the real deal. 
　More importantly, they're very cheap—less than 40 yen—since it's sold within the company.
 It's amazing. Even getting it with an egg is less than 60 yen!"
　'It's amazing.' the shoddy chef boasted. 
　'Well, anyone would be impressed.' Aoko grumbled to herself. 

*page8
"I see, good for you. 
　Anyway, where is our dinner for tonight? 
　The chef ponders over it for a few seconds then puts his hands together in revelation.[l][r]
"Aozaki, if you eat too much, you'll get fat"

*page9
"You mean,
 are you telling me THIS is what we're eating for dinner?!" 
"Whether you like it or not, this is all I've prepared."

*page10
　The two glare at each other. 
　Aoko indicates her will to go on all-out resistance, implying she will never eat such a thing, 
　and Soujuurou continues to believe in his presupposition that she is going to eat it and is even thinking of lecturing her saying, 'you shouldn't be a picky eater.'
　As always, the thoughts of these two don't go well together.  

*page11
"There's no way I'm eating this!"
"Quit acting like a spoiled little princess. Tonight's dinner for all three of use less than 200 yen."
　'It's economical.' Soujuurou states with much pride.  

*page12
　Alice alternates watching over their argument and the food placed before her... It seems like this is her first time seeing such food as well. All she is now is a spectator. 

*page13
"I-I can't believe it... A meal for sixty yen per person? When were you born?![l]In today's world, a restaurant would even put more money into the ingredients for a beef bowl, you idiot!"[l][r]
"...... Aozaki. If we were to keep eating the way we were with only thirty thousand yen a month, I think we all would starve to death before I get killed by you two"


*page14
"Alice's meat dish yesterday sure was wonderful. 
　I was impressed that the meat changes quality starting from those above 700 yen per gram. 
　I had to seriously rethink that even the 100% fruit juice from the co-op should not be taken lightly. 
　But what would happen to this house if that were to last for three days?"


*page15
　Soujuurou unusually speaks of something commonsensical.
　Alice silently looks at them with a protesting stare, but fortunately, neither Aoko nor Soujuurou notice it. 

*page16
"Think about it when the time comes.
　Besides, the one like yesterday is quite rare, even though it seems your dishes provoked Alice to put some effort into hers for once! [l][r]
　After hearing Aoko's words, Alice silently closes her eyes. 
　... Perhaps it's a way for her to suppress her anger. 

*page17
"... I can't believe it. What kind of life were you two living up until now?"
"We've somehow been managing on our own. Being a step away from starvation was good mental training anyway."
"------"[l][r]
　Her response she gave clearly and proudfully left him speechless.

*page18
　... Also, although this is a story to be told at another time, a certain vice-president would be prodded by a certain president to treat her out to lunch—allthough he would deny that such things happened.

　Anyway...

*page19
"What happened in the past isn't important. It's all about what's happening now! 
　What happened to the cooking skills you had the other day, Soujuurou?! I trusted you with today's dinner because of that!" 

　... No matter what she said, it seemed like Aoko was regretting this the most. 
　The grilled udon noodle was quite well-received that the displeasure of Aoko, who just woke up, went away with the first bite she took.

*page20
　However, Soujuurou hadn't told them that's one of the only few repertoires he has.
　Guy-cooking is basically a [ruby text=recipe char=3]one for only [ruby text=single guy char=2]one kind of abnormal skill.
　It's like the what you would call a 'special ability' that seems to go viral around fifteen years in the future.


*page21
　Because of the misunderstanding earlier, Alice and Aoko were overestimating Soujuurou's cooking skill. 
　'So that's why...' Soujuurou now understood.

*page22
"... I understand. I will pay for all of us, so let's just pick something up. We don't have any ingredients, so I couldn't make anything, even if I wanted to.
　I'll get whatever you guys what." 
　'Well said.' Aoko celebrates her victory. 

*page23
　However, after seeing Soujuurou's face, who was walking out to bring the menu for food delivery, Aoko couldn't help but notice her misunderstanding.
　The reason Aoko got mad was largely because of him not putting effort into dinner. 
　But to Soujuurou, this dinner was not due to lack of effort, but something he seriously wanted to eat. 

*page24
　'Someone growing up in mountain can be happy, even with things like this.' Aoko is profoundly impressed.
　... Then, 

*page25
"...? Alice, what are you doing?"

　Aoko finally noticed that Alice got close to the table and was tightly holding a bowl. 

*page26

"You can let go of it now. 
　Let's return that to Soujuurou and have a proper meal."

*page27
　Despite Aoko saying so, Alice's hands did not let go of the bowl.
　Rather, she picked it up and clutched it in her arms. 

 "This one is mine"

　and the quiet voice of Alice echoed throughout sun-room. 

*page28
 It seems the menu for today had been decided by the majority rule.
　'No way, this can't be happening.' Aoko dropped her shoulders in disappointment, recalling, 'Oh yeah, Alice has that abnormal obsession with 'her possession.'