Yayoi Natural didn't miss the sound of Tokai Roman returning. She turned her head toward her. "Thanks, Roman-nee."
As she spoke, Yayoi Natural quickly jogged over and took the ingredients from Tokai Roman's hands, then returned to the open kitchen.
Watching Yayoi Natural act this way, Tokai Roman fell silent for a moment before shifting her gaze to Mejiro Ramonu.
Sitting at the bar, Mejiro Ramonu noticed her look and simply raised a hand in greeting.
Seeing Mejiro Ramonu's reaction, Tokai Roman glanced at Yayoi Natural again.
When Yayoi Natural remained silent, Tokai Roman quietly moved to the back kitchen to resume waiting for tasks. After all, kitchens worked like this: when there were no customers, there wasn't much to do. She could only wait for the next order.
But…
Standing in the back kitchen, Tokai Roman watched Yayoi Natural working busily in the kitchen.
It was at this moment that Mejiro Ramonu finally saw how Yayoi Natural looked when fully absorbed in making a dessert.
"Your skills really are impressive," Mejiro Ramonu murmured, glancing back down at the menu in her hands.
The menu Yayoi Natural had prepared mostly featured simple dishes. Judging by the few pictures, most were clearly designed to be straightforward and easy to prepare, requiring minimal specialized technique.
Realizing this, Mejiro Ramonu quietly set down the menu again.
Now that she understood the situation Yayoi Natural was facing, she clearly knew why Yayoi Natural was doing this. After all, compared to preparing high-end dishes, running a casual restaurant was far more profitable.
Not that Mejiro Ramonu thought Yayoi Natural couldn't transcend the limitations of simpler ingredients through her skill—but…
Her health issues still remained a serious concern.
Thinking of that, Mejiro Ramonu paused briefly before speaking again. "Yayoi-san?"
"Hm?"
"How skilled are those junior chefs who trained under you?"
Mejiro Ramonu could roughly guess the skill level of Yayoi Natural's apprentices, but rather than speculate, it was better to ask directly.
After hearing the question, Yayoi Natural considered it for a few seconds before replying, "In terms of skill, two of them could probably handle running Michelin three-star restaurants. The rest would probably be around two-star at most. It feels like they're still a bit lacking."
Mejiro Ramonu was briefly stunned.
Even the Mejiro Family's private chefs could only reliably secure two stars if they ran their own places.
Yet to Yayoi Natural, that was just "still a bit lacking."
Mejiro Ramonu was speechless for a moment before looking aside. "From the sound of it, they seem worth investing in."
"But don't expect them to turn much profit," Yayoi Natural casually cautioned, returning her focus to the dessert in front of her.
Hearing that, Mejiro Ramonu fell silent again.
"Not profitable?"
"They were trained in France, so unless their mindset changes, they'll probably always aim for the highest-grade ingredients."
At that, Mejiro Ramonu understood immediately.
"So that's why you're running this place…"
"Restaurants near schools are the most profitable, especially around Tracen." Saying this, Yayoi Natural carefully focused on the dessert she was preparing.
Hearing Yayoi Natural's words, Mejiro Ramonu stayed silent for a few seconds, then glanced briefly toward Tokai Roman.
After observing Roman quietly, she turned her gaze back.
She merely waited for Yayoi Natural's dessert, making casual conversation to pass the time.
And for now…
"Well, since you're going through the trouble, maybe I'll invest a bit too. Not a bad idea for me anyway."
As she finished speaking, Mejiro Ramonu stood up slightly and looked at the dessert Yayoi Natural was preparing.
Judging from the presentation alone, the dessert looked exquisitely crafted.
Seeing such skill, Mejiro Ramonu thought briefly before asking a new question. "With your skill, wouldn't running a dessert shop be profitable too?"
"It could be. This place would suit it pretty well, but there probably won't be such a high demand with Umamusume, especially not during racing season."
"True." Mejiro Ramonu nodded thoughtfully. "But…"
Watching Yayoi Natural's precise hand movements, she suddenly asked, "Do you think that person would enjoy desserts?"
Mejiro Ramonu avoided saying the name outright, causing Tokai Roman to glance over. For those aware of the situation, it was perfectly clear who Mejiro Ramonu meant by "that person."
But Mejiro Ramonu's question only earned a puzzled look from Yayoi Natural.
Seeing her expression, Mejiro Ramonu clarified after a brief hesitation, "She doesn't particularly like sweets, but she doesn't dislike them either. As something to bring up in conversation, desserts are a pretty safe choice."
Yayoi Natural studied Mejiro Ramonu carefully. She didn't really think doing something like that would help—after all, she wasn't trying to apologize.
Thinking about it for a moment, Yayoi Natural finally nodded. "I understand."
"No, what I meant is—"
Mejiro Ramonu abruptly stood up, leaning across the counter slightly.
Seeing her movements, Yayoi Natural quickly caught her meaning and leaned forward as well.
They quietly exchanged a few whispered words.
When Mejiro Ramonu sat back down, she glanced at Yayoi Natural again. "Well? Can you do it?"
"Sure, that's no problem, but is that enough?"
"It's hard to say. But doing something is always better than doing nothing." Mejiro Ramonu looked back at her seriously. "I'll leave it to you then."
Faced with Mejiro Ramonu's request, Yayoi Natural merely placed the finished dessert in front of her. "When the time comes, as long as there's a venue, it'll be fine."
"Thanks~" Mejiro Ramonu smiled, looking at the dessert before her. "What's this called?"
"It's a semifreddo cake, but just an experimental version."
"Experimental?"
"I suddenly had the idea to make it."
Listening to their conversation, Tokai Roman silently withdrew her gaze. From the looks of it, the thing she'd been worried about probably wouldn't happen after all.
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T/N: fatty mcqueen and desserts ehehehe +30 energy and slow metabolism