The Coffee Shop in a Different World Station

Theo came to work on time the next day. As soon as I get back to work, I will work with the “station manager” on the start inspection.

But the look was scarce in his usual good health, and a bear dwelt under his eyes if he was sleepless.

"I'm not feeling very well today. Didn't you get much sleep last night?

“Station Manager" speaks to Theo, who looks unusual and unwell.

"Yeah, I slept a little shallow yesterday... But it's okay. I'll do my job right."

Theo replied so, punching both cheeks with pampers and shaking his head twice.

I couldn't get out of my mind that Takumi pointed me out last night, and I couldn't sleep very well. In this case, it's a long way from being alone and going back to HQ.

We need to get our track record up and back to HQ again so that we can be entrusted with a big job...... Theo took another deep breath and proceeded to continue the inspection work.

Theo was then working harder than usual.

With the departure time of the starting flight approaching, the ticket work will proceed as quickly as usual. Let's apprentice Takumi today and give our customers a word through the ticket slot...... Until I got to work, that's what I thought Theo was, but when I stood at the ticket slot, that “one voice” didn't quite come out of my throat. Wouldn't it piss the customer off saying something weird about what to say......, for a moment or so clogs Theo's throat?

Can't I be satisfied with just this either..., Theo's feelings were getting more and more depressing once he felt that way.

Still, Theo moves on with his work as he manages to regain his temper. In the meantime, a small “incident (happening)" occurred when the first arrival train came in on time today.

Theo, who was on the platform for safety checks when entering the line, was starting to guide passengers off near the lead car when he confirmed that the train had stopped and that the doors at the landing and landing ports had been opened.

Continuing the induction to the bidding slot with his head down to the descending passenger, he caught sight of an old woman walking with Yotayota around the deepest vehicle - the third class car, carrying several large cages with her back.

I was curious about that appearance. When Theo was concerned about how it was going at the holding, he lost his balance on the luggage on his back, and the old woman curled up and butted him. The cage I was carrying on that clap also rolls over the platform.

Theo rushed over to the old woman and spoke as she picked up the rolling cage.

"Sir, were you okay? Were you hurt?

"Thank you. You're all right... Oh, isn't that Theo, how are you?

Suddenly called upon to name by an old woman, Theo looks seriously at her opponent's face in surprise. The face belonged to someone who Theo knew well and knew Theo well.

"Yeah!? Grandma, why are you even here?

"Why, I heard you moved to this station. I came because I wanted to see your face. Look, I brought you a souvenir too. Eh, there's this cage..."

So my grandmother stood up and picked up a large crate that had collapsed and tried to open the lid.

That said, this is a platform, and I'm at work. I have trouble expanding the store here, and I can't accept it while I'm at work. Theo hastily picked up the cage and started carrying it to a nearby bench.

"Bye, Grandma, I'm at work right now! I'll carry the luggage with me later, just stay on the bench there for a little while!

Theo says so, and goes back to the shithole and holding area for the drop-off and safety check of the train heading to the vehicle station, which is his original job.

Returning to the holding area, the conductor, who was watching a series of things, threw words of good granny, take care of it, light condition.

Theo's face is dyed bright red with strange murmur and embarrassment.

The leading steam locomotive whistles paw and the train slowly leaves the home. Although it was Theo who was concerned about his grandmother's gaze, his gaze was concentrated on the moving train.

As the train leaves the platform and finishes the safety check by pointing and calling, Theo approaches his grandmother's waiting bench again.

"I'm sorry about earlier. It's my job. Uh, we're done with the bidding for now, okay? I'll help you carry your stuff."

"Thanks, but you've gotten splendid..."

My grandmother was moisturizing her eyes the first time her grandson worked.

All right, Grandma...... Theo snapped so low, grabbed his luggage and headed to the bidding slot one foot ahead.

―――――

"So it's a souvenir from my grandmother. It's not a big deal, but I'd love to share it with you."

Theo, who came to the kitchen of the "swordfish" between one paragraph of station business, arranges the cages he had just received from his grandmother on the table and opens them one after the other. Among them were round objects with dark green or bright orange skins or on beautiful red ovals.

Nyarch cheers as he peers first into the box.

"Holy shit! It's full of delicious things!!

"To Calabassa (pumpkin), are you a duck (sweet potato), that's just the taste of autumn. It looks delicious."

Takumi, who takes it quickly and checks for good quality, also gave a fun look.

Roland, on the other hand, shrugged as he stared at the shivers and cage and lifted one of them in his arms.

"But even though I came by train, does this just weigh a lot? Besides, Teo's grandmother looks amazing, like she wants to watch her grandson's face on a train trip!

"This has been happening for a long time, hasn't it? Powerful or swine rush...... Even today, when I thought I was in the station building for a little while, I said," I've come so far, I'm finally going to the hot springs, "right?

Ha, Takumi speaks gently to Theo as he sighs.

"It's a good thing you're well. I have to keep filial piety."

"Well, yes... Yes, please share this with Takumi and the others."

"Huh? Is that okay? My old lady at the corner brought it for Theo."

"That's okay. It's an amount I can't use up anyway if I'm living alone, and I rarely cook in this house where I live alone in the first place. And when I was at my parents' house, they fed me calabassa and ducklings like every day, and honestly, you don't want to see if I don't need any more..."

Theo explains with a bitter face.

I was really happy that my grandmother came all the way here to carry heavy baggage and bring me a souvenir.

But when I look at its contents, calabassa and ducklings, I really think of the old 'dishes that come in rotation once every three days'. Once you think that, you come back with the unpleasant feeling of a clogged throat.

"Really...... but doesn't not mouth at all make my grandmother miss me too?

"Hmm, I think so, but with that look I really..."

"Then I just need to lose my look! You're making it! The sweet, hocky one!

Nyarch interrupted the two of us in a good mood.

I know it's an alle, and the moment Theo raised his face with his eyes round, he gazes at Roland, who was in the front. Apparently he hasn't come with a pin either.

Takumi was the only one nodding to Nyachi's words, sideways with the two people clawing each other's necks.

"Right, I'm sure Mr. Theo can eat it, too, if that's what you're saying. Care for the cause, don't waste it. Uh, have you heard what time your grandmother is coming back?

Answer Takumi's question as Theo remembers his conversation with his grandmother.

"Uh, sure... yes, he said he'd be back around 3: 30 at lunch. He said he wanted to take a dose before boarding the train."

"I see. That's going to be just about the right time. If that's the time, then Mr. Theo will be able to take a break, too, so come with me to the 'swordfish' when your grandmother gets back. Let me use Calabassa or a duck to treat you both. Is that good?

"Yes, I understand."

The tone is soft, but Theo unwittingly replies with a twofold reply to Takumi, who is approaching in a rare and slightly stronger condition. The moment the words came out, there, I held my mouth, but I couldn't correct them before Takumi smiling quietly.

Theo was supposed to take his grandmother to the "swordfish" in the afternoon.

―――――

When lunch sales settled, Takumi, along with Roland, was working on making treats for Theo and his grandmother. The ingredients I made Roland prepare are very simple with ducks, butter, milk, sugar, salt and eggs in the calabassa I just got from Theo.

"Now, Roland asks you to crack the calabassa and peel it. Be careful because the skin is stiff. In the meantime, we're going to take care of the ducks."

"Roger that!

The two began their work in earnest, signaling Roland's reply, which, as usual, was returned petty.

When Roland takes Calabassa in his hand, he washes it all the way down and breaks it in half from the middle. And when I took the seeds and wattage with a spoon so that it was creased, I cut it into appropriate sizes. Carefully peel each dark green hard skin from its slices. Calabassa, where only the orange fruit part was left, was placed in the bowl in turn.

Across the kitchen table, the ducks had been skinned by Takumi's hand. This one is also cut into appropriate sizes after the skin is peeled and into a bowl. At the end of the cutting process, Takumi poured water into a bowl with ducks and washed away the starch on the surface all the way.

"Next, then, we'll boil the calabassa and put it through the fire. Pour water over high heat until it hits."

"You're on fire! Roger that!"

Roland will do the following as instructed.

When the calabasas are transferred to the pan, add the water until it is hitahita - as much as the head of the calabasas is just a little out on top of the water. Takumi similarly even put the water in a pot filled with ducks to the point of becoming hitachi.

Subsequently, Roland re-fired the rocket stove, which had left the fire behind since lunch was open. Then the fire left on the new firewood burns away and immediately increases the firepower. When I placed the earlier pan where the fire had gotten somewhat stronger, I waited still for the water to boil.

"How long should I boil it?

"Right, boil this skewer well enough to stab you without resistance. Perhaps you should put a lid on it."

Takumi answers Roland's question while handing him a thin tree skewer.

Some dishes may leave a stiffness, but today it seems like we should totally put it through the fire. Having made sure that the bukbuk and the hot water in the pan had gushed enough, Roland dropped the tree lid and pulled a little firewood to adjust the fireworks to avoid blowing up.

Even in the rocket stove next door, the takumi boiled the ducks in almost the same steps.

If it had been before, it would have been either Takumi watching from behind how Roland was doing his work, or Roland apprenticing from behind how Takumi was doing his work. But Roland, with his arms up in the last few months, had been able to work “side by side” with Takumi.

Of course, I still put the task in Takumi's hands that would require subtle sensations and timing, and even if I were entrusted with flavoring, I would eventually need to confirm Takumi. Still, Roland's motivation was supported by the hassle that one thing more could be left to him.

"Sounds like it's time. Now, once it's boiled, please open it on the monkey and back it up while crushing it. Be careful, it's hot."

"Rajazu!

Using Takumi's voice as a signal, Roland cuts hot water while receiving boiled calabassa with a monkey. Hot air rose on one side around.

A dusty boiled orange calabassa appears in the monkey. A sneak taste of the small pieces spread a snug, unique sweetness into Roland's mouth.

Roland covers the bowl with a fine mesh monkey on the back as directed by Takumi, plus an earlier calabassa on top of it.

As he backs up as he crushes the calabasas with a wooden slab, a finely grained calabasas builds up in the bowl.

When Roland looked up where he crushed all the calabasas, Takumi was staring at this one. Apparently Takumi also finished backing the duck and was already ready for the next task.

"Okay, I'll combine the other ingredients now. Mix the whole thing well."

Takumi put butter in a bowl with Calabassa on hand by Roland, then went on to put butter in a duckling bowl placed in his hand as well.

The butter put in is twitched and melted by calabasas and ducks that still remain warm. After the two mix together the contents of the bowl to soak the butter in the dough, more sugar, salt to the extent of concealment, is added. And by adding melted yolks and milk one by one while checking for added or subtracted overall softness, and mixing them even more carefully, the two types of dough could be made.

"The rest is baking. Is the oven stove warm?

"It's just that. What should we do with the fires?

"Right, I want to add heat carefully, so please be slightly weaker than medium heat"

Roger that.

While Roland was adjusting the firepower of the oven stove, Takumi began molding the fabric.

After applying butter to an oven tray made of metal, spoon the earlier fabric onto it and arrange it. The melted yolks are then brushed while making sure to evenen the irregularities made on the surface of the fabric arranged in an elliptical shape.

The fabric, thus smoothly finished, was put into the oven stove vault where Roland was at the turn of fire.

"Then thank you for cleaning up after me before I bake it up. I'll see what happens to the hall and the station building."

That's what Takumi says, he takes a cafe apron and goes from the kitchen to the hall. Roland, who was left alone, was to proceed with the cleanup while at the turn of fire.

Roland, who took the bowl of those prepared by Takumi, licked the remaining duckling dough with his fingers. Salty, slightly in sweetness, apparently this is the key. The slight saltiness added sweetness as well as tightening the overall taste.

I see, this flavor addition or subtraction…, I remember well the slight flavor of dough left in the bowl for voluntary practice.

―――――

"Well, this is a great treat coming out"

In the afternoon down time, Theo's grandmother, who returned to the coffee shop 'Swallow' after a petite sightseeing in Harpertown, looked out for baked confectionery on a plate placed in the center of the table. Theo, who is present, is also blinded by its delicious looking confectionery.

"It's an arrangement of baked sweets called sweet potatoes in my hometown. Today I used the calabassa and ducklings that Theo recommended to me, so is it something like whispering sweet calabassa and sweet ducklings? I hope it fits your mouth."

Takumi thanked them so much and offered them Cinnamon Coffee. From the white, edge-thick coffee cup, the hot air rises slightly.

After Takumi left her seat with a bowl of grace, Theo's grandmother snuffed and compared two kinds of baked sweets, orange and golden

"I've never been born with such a delicious looking baked treat. Thankfully...... Thank you, Theo."

"Grandma, come on. I didn't make it in the first place..."

"No, no, because Theo is encouraging you to do your job properly, this is how you make it better. Theo tied me to the edge and gave me something to be thankful for. Well, let's get it over with while it's warm."

Theo's grandmother quickly grabs an orange baked treat - a sweet calabassa in her hand and keeps her cheeks in her mouth. Then, his face broke and a full smile emerged that Theo had never seen before.

"Ha..., how delicious... Thanks so much for making it so delicious..."

"Oh, isn't it so good?

Ask his grandmother, who puffs and squeaks after including Cinnamon Coffee in her mouth, as Theo embarks on himself.

Grandmother smiles and answers the question. And, well, have a try, I gently offered Theo a golden baked treat - a sweet duckling.

(But isn't a duck a duck after all...)

I haven't had a duck in years. Its baked confectionery color reminds Theo of his “tired taste” of the past, and even gets the feeling of a clogged throat.

Still, in front of my grandmother, and I can't keep her from eating what she offered me out of hand. Theo, finally determined, meditated his eyes and, no, just pushed about half a chunk into his mouth all the time.

"... that?... Hey, man?

Theo turned his eyes round. The first taste that spread in the mouth is certainly a duckling characteristic flavor with sweetness. The fragrance is similar to the aroma of a roasted duckling from the area with the color of the grill.

But it's completely different when it comes to the grilled ducklings themselves. The sweetness I feel stronger than the duck itself, and the mellow richness is closer to that of the butter as well.

And most surprisingly, its “smoothness." A duck that has normally just been baked or steamed sounds good when it comes to hawks, but has a crispy texture somewhere and even something that gets stuck in your throat as you eat on it. It's the texture of a duck that caused Theo to be bad.

But what about this sweet duck? It is the fragrant, baked surface that is firm, but its interior is moist, soft and really smooth. Although it feels like some of the moisture in your mouth will be taken, this is a fine level if eaten with coffee or drinks.

Then another thing that bothers me is the taste of sweet camabassa. Having quickly finished eating the sweet ducklings, Theo also reaches for an orange baked treat after mouthing the coffee once.

The gentle flavor of camabassa with a different sweetness than that of a duck adds a firm sweetness and a mellow richness similar to that of a sweet duck, delighting the mouth.

This one doesn't have the texture to clog your throat as a poke that Theo doesn't like either. Its texture was smoother than that of a sweet duck, something that went all the way through the throat.

Both Kamabassa and Kamote were such delicious objects... Theo gets obsessed and cheeky. And if you notice, Theo had almost singled out the baked sweets placed in the center of the table.

Theo, who realized the fact after finishing his meal until he was satisfied, rushes to bow his head to his grandmother.

"Ah!! Grandma, I'm sorry, I almost ate by myself..."

"It's okay, it's okay. More than that, I'm glad to see you're eating camabassa and ducklings."

"Huh? Grandma, did you know I'm not good at camabassa or ducks?

Theo opened his eyes unexpectedly when he was informed of a secret he thought he'd been hiding all along, that it had been completely discovered.

"Oh, I knew. You've made me put up with you a lot when I'm home. I'm sorry..."

Grandmother takes Theo's hand and bows her head again and again with a look of sorry. Theo panicked at his grandmother's attitude, which he had never thought of.

"He said I have to apologize, but it's this way! Even today, I tried to push all the camabassas and ducks my grandmother brought to me against Mr. Takumi and the people in this station building! I almost got my grandmother's thoughts down!!

"Still, I was able to get such a delicious treat because of it, and most importantly, Theo is going to eat camabassa and ducklings again. Grandma's happy with that."

My grandmother speaks gently and beckons Theo's head. Though Theo tries to apologize for being so full of sorry, the words don't come out well. Grandma, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I was so full of that.

―――――

"Now let me take a look at your ticket"

The departure time of the last train today is approaching. Standing at the ticket gate, Theo checks the date and destination of the ticket he receives and enters as usual. Then he spoke while returning the ticket to the passenger (grandmother).

"Grandma, I'll show you my face when I get another day off, so stay well until then."

"Thanks. You have to work hard. Now, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your time with Theo.

Theo's grandmother said so, re-carrying her perfectly lightened back, giving her a bowl of grace before heading to the train. As soon as my grandmother boards the train, a signal whistle is sounded from the “station manager” standing on the platform, closing the door of the gate.

And when the whistle sounded, the train moved away from the home, where the sun tilted and the shadows stretched long, guttangotton.

"Don't forget how you feel when you drop that off today.

Takumi talks to Theo, who stared at the condition from the ticket slot, with him pointing in the same direction. A long stretch of shadow edge from Theo nodded cocklessly.

"Other customers go through this ticket with a lot of feelings,"

"Right."

Interaction in short words by Theo and Takumi. That was something Theo's growth could certainly feel.

After dropping off the train, Theo, who started clearing the ticket, speaks to Takumi as he tries to return to the 'sword'.

"Speaking of which, can I have that kamabassa and kamote, kept in 'the swordfish'? It's an unsolicited request..."

"Oh? I don't mind that...... what's up?

Theo continues his words to Takumi, who stopped his leg and asked him again.

"No, I really want to bring it back and cook, but it's just too much for me to live alone, and I'm not good at cooking in the first place... But if I could, I'd have wanted camabassa, ducklings, and some that my grandmother brought me, too. So, it's a really unsolicited favor, but you can use it at the store or we can all split it it up, so let me put it here and I was wondering if I could feed it with some kind of dish sometimes..."

At the end of the day, Takumi smiled gently at Theo for doing him a favor as he shrugged his ass.

"Yeah, sure. Camabassa and Camote have a lot of dishes, so we'll make a lot more of them again. If you get a chance, I'll teach you an easy and delicious dish, so why don't you even make it for your grandmother when you get home?

"I'm happy for that! Honestly, my family, we all don't like to cook, so thank you so much. Again, thank you for your continued guidance!

Unlike in the morning, I was getting my energy back on Theo's face. Takumi, who saw him, had to work harder and harder.