"Because Satou hasn't been back recently, Tor-daren has been very irritable lately."
Kanna said, then lowered her head sadly and continued, "Kanna also hasn't eaten Satou's fried rice for a long time."
As soon as she mentioned food, Elma couldn't help but swallow, a little ungracefully. She also missed the delicious dishes Satou made.
"Sigh, I wonder when he'll be back?"
A rare trace of sorrow appeared on the food-loving dragon's face.
Tor-daren, who had just flown out not far, lost the happiness on her face, replaced by a faint melancholy. She looked up at the boundless sky, revealing a small canine tooth, and muttered to herself, "I wonder if Satou has received my thoughts?"
...
"There have been multiple consecutive incidents of islands sinking recently. Experts believe it is related to underwater volcanic eruptions. Considering the sudden increase in natural disasters this year, many people in the public believe that the end of the world is approaching..."
Yusa Emi, who had a rare day off today, was watching TV in the living room.
"What should I eat for lunch today? Instant noodles are out, I've eaten them for three days straight. How about a bento? But bento boxes are five hundred yen more expensive."
Considering the recent price increases due to natural disasters, as well as the upcoming rent payment, Yusa Emi remained silent for a while, then finally picked up a cup of tonkotsu-flavored instant noodles.
"Damn it! Where did that annoying guy go? He hasn't even opened his shop lately! Has he started to degenerate after making money?"
Thinking of Satou's restaurant, which had been closed for more than ten days, Yusa Emi shouted in anger.
When Satou used to open his shop, she could brazenly ignore Tor-daren's disdainful gaze and go over to freeload dinner under the guise of supervision, improving her meals.
But now, she couldn't even freeload meals!
...
On the other side, Satou was helping Tadokoro Megumi make dishes at Shoueien.
"This is truly amazing, this dish is simply too delicious!"
"Yeah, it feels even better than what I've had at high-end restaurants!"
"I just came from a hotel not far away yesterday, but the head chef of that big hotel doesn't seem to make dishes this delicious!"
Satou's current skill level was naturally beyond words; the dishes he made were praised loudly by all the guests who came to eat.
"Madam, today's dishes are so much better than before. Did you hire a master chef?"
A regular customer who often came here couldn't help but ask Tadokoro Masako.
Tadokoro Masako, who was wearing a kimono at the moment, smiled slightly upon hearing this and said, "We are just a small inn, how could we afford a master chef? It's Megumi's classmate who is helping out."
"Oh? Has Megumi returned? Haha, did she bring her boyfriend?"
Many regular customers laughed heartily.
"I suppose so. But they are still young, so they should prioritize their studies."
Tadokoro Masako smiled slightly, feeling even more satisfied with Satou in her heart. She had already considered him half a son-in-law.
"Satou, the guests really love the dishes you made."
Everyone in the kitchen also praised him.
"Yes, and the cooperation with Megumi is truly tacit. The two of them are worth four or five people. It would be even better if they could stay."
Listening to everyone's teasing, Tadokoro Megumi's cheeks flushed, and she secretly glanced at Satou, her heart filled with sweetness.
If she could manage Shoueien with Satou in the future and live with her mother, it would be truly blissful.
At this moment, Tadokoro Masako walked over and asked, "Are the ingredients in the kitchen gone?"
"Uh, they're almost used up, but we've already called someone to deliver from the seafood market."
An uncle said.
Normally, Tadokoro Masako would drive the truck with 'Shoueien' written on it to purchase ingredients herself, but business today was better than usual, and the ingredients ran out early.
Not long after, someone delivered the ingredients.
The driver was an uncle with a rope tied around his head and two small mustaches. Seeing Tadokoro Megumi, he immediately greeted her, "Megumi, you're back?"
"Mm!"
Tadokoro Megumi smiled slightly. The town was small, and combined with her family's restaurant inn business, Tadokoro Megumi had known these seafood market employees since she was little; they had watched her grow up.
"You've worked hard."
Tadokoro Masako walked over to pay.
However, when she heard the amount, she frowned and sighed, saying, "Did the seafood prices go up again today?"
The uncle also looked embarrassed and said, "Megumi's mother, we can't help it. We've already tried our best to give you a discount."
"Eh? Have the prices gone up so much this year?"
Tadokoro Megumi couldn't help but ask.
Her family had always imported seafood from that market, and in her memory, the prices had never changed much since she was little.
"Mm. Because a large resort hotel opened nearby, they directly bought out all the seafood from the fishermen, causing prices to skyrocket this year."
Tadokoro Masako said worriedly, "Even the number of tourists has decreased a lot."
"But, although the seafood catch in a small town isn't much, it should be more than enough to supply one hotel, right?"
Satou couldn't help but frown and ask.
The town where Tadokoro Megumi lived didn't have a large population, but because of its beautiful scenery and proximity to the sea, many tourists came every year, and Shoueien was an inn that specialized in seafood dishes.
"The surplus is being sold by them, and at a much higher price."
The uncle with the rope tied around his head said.
"In that case, the inn won't have any profit."
Tadokoro Masako also said with some difficulty, "If we drive to the next town to buy, it's too far."
"That's going too far."
Yuki Yoshino couldn't help but say.
"Yes. The restaurants in town are having some difficulty operating now; even we can't afford to eat out much anymore."
The others also echoed their agreement.
"Who opened that hotel?"
Satou couldn't help but ask.
"It's said to be a very famous gourmet organization, but us country folk don't know much about it."
Tadokoro Megumi's mother said.
"In the afternoon, why don't we go and take a look? Ask them if they can sell seafood to everyone at a fair price."
Satou said.
"Eh? Satou, are you going to go see?"
Tadokoro Megumi couldn't help but ask.
-------------------------------
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