Chapter 866: So big that I want you to see it
Waiting for their order, Haru and Yuri talked to each other about her school. He learned from her that she needed to go back for a few days to prepare for her graduation and at the same time, she would keep living in his cafe.
Haru didn't really mind since it also felt weird when Yuri suddenly decided to go back to her parents' house. It wasn't that he prohibited her from going home since he had never forced anyone, but he would be quite sad about their separation; however, luckily such a thing wouldn't happen.
They didn't need to wait too long and smelled a delicious aroma permeated in the air.
"Here you go," Jouichiro said and placed two bowls of ramen in front of Haru and Yuri.
"Special Yukiriha Vegetarian Ramen, please enjoy it."
Looking at Joichiro's confident smile, Haru nodded and took his chopsticks. He looked at Yuri who had given him a nod.
Both of them started to eat the ramen together and suddenly they felt very refreshed.
"This is...?!"
Yuri was surprised by the taste of the ramen. She could see the soup was quite dense, but the taste was surprisingly light.
Haru tasted a yuzu juice from the ramen and thought that the acid from this fruit was used to increase the appetite of the people who ate the ramen. But what surprised him was the soup of this ramen, even though it had a very deep flavor...
"Uncle, you're not even using meat and only vegetables in this ramen, right?" Haru said.
"Hahaha, you've noticed it? That's right, I've only used a vegetable on this ramen...."
Joichiro started to explain how he had made his stock from soy milk, parched miso soup, shrimp taro root, ginger, garlic, chili oil, etc.
"What is this?!"
Suddenly Yuri's voice could be heard when Joichiro explained the soup from his ramen. He smiled and said, "Oh, that's tempeh."
"Tempeh?"
Tempeh or tempe is a traditional Indonesian soy product, that is made from fermented soybeans. It is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that binds soybeans into a cake form. It is usually used to substitute meat for a vegetarian.
Yuri nodded and thought that this tempeh was quite good.
After explaining, Joichiro looked at Haru and said, "But it is surprising that Mr. billionaire is coming to my small eatery."
Raising his eyebrow, Haru kept eating before saying, "Well, your food is better than the chef at the Royal Hotel in Manhattan."
"Oh, I'll work on that hotel after this," Joichiro said.
"You are?" Haru raised his eyebrow
"Yes, I'm sure that you've heard from Yuri that I'm going to close the Yukihira Eatery," Joichiro said.
"While keeping it a secret from Souma?" Haru asked.
"I'm going to tell him after this, but there is one thing that I want to ask you," Joichiro said.
"I can't promise anything, but let me hear what your request is, Uncle," Haru said.
Yuri didn't say anything and listened to their conversation quietly.
Joichiro nodded, but that was good enough for him. "I won't bring Souma with me, and I want him to enter Tootsuki."
"Tootsuki?" Yuri was surprised.
Haru smiled and said, "I can't help him to enter Tootsuki through the backdoor." Even though he was engaged to Erina, it didn't mean that he could help someone to enter Tootsuki Academy through a backdoor.
"It's alright. Just accompany him during the test." Joichiro sighed and said, "You know Souma's personality and I'm a bit worried about him." He looked at Haru and said, "He doesn't even know that you're billionaire even though your face kept appearing from time to time a few months ago." He felt that his son was dumb or that guy didn't care about anything besides cooking.
Though, at the same time, Joichiro also realized the change in Haru. Even though Haru's appearance didn't change, his aura was a bit overwhelming. It was different from each time he had met him.
Haru only laughed and said, "Well, I'll accompany him on his entrance exam."
His relationship with Souma was quite good and it was rare for him to have a male friend. As long as he wasn't busy, he didn't really mind helping Souma.
"When is the entrance exam?" Haru asked.
"Should it be in late March?" Joichiro said.
"It's so late!" Yuri was surprised.
"The entrance exam for normal high school and Tootsuki is a bit different," Joichiro said.
Yuri nodded since she didn't know much about Tootsuki. She might have known that it was a famous culinary school, but that was all.
Haru thought for a while and didn't seem that he had something to do on that date. He nodded and said, "It's alright. I can help him later."
"Thank you," Joichiro said while sighing in relief.
"Right, Uncle, do you want to work for me?" Haru said.
"What?!" Yuri was startled.
Joichiro chuckled and asked, "Oh, do you want me to become your private chef?" It wasn't uncommon for someone to invite him to become their private chef.
Haru shook his head and said, "No."
"Then?"
"I have a plan to build a high-end resort and I thought I'd make you head chef there," Haru said.
Joichiro seemed interested and asked, "Where is it?"
"Lanai Island, have you heard of it?" Haru asked.
Joichiro pondered and seemed to recall that island somewhere. "I've heard somewhere... is it in Hawaii?"
"Well, you can check it later on the internet. It won't be built very soon since it might take a year or so to be built," Haru said. It was also the reason why he didn't mind helping Souma since he wanted Joichiro to work for him since he knew very well the skill of this uncle.
Joichiro nodded and said, "Alright. I'll think about it."
"......."
Yuri wasn't that surprised by their conversation. She knew that Haru's ambition was very big and sometimes she talked with Ritsu to learn about his business. She was surprised when she knew that the guy who had forced her to meet the soul of her siblings would turn into a mogul. She wanted to follow him, stand by his side, and to do that she needed to be prepared.
When they were talking to each other; the door opened and Souma entered the door and said, "Dad, I've bought the ingredients." He looked at Haru and said, "Haru! Let's have a match now!"
"......."
The only thing which troubled Haru was Souma's personality which was a bit loud for his liking.
Sitting on his shrine, Haru sipped tea slowly in the evening. After his trip from Yukihira Eatery, he sent Yuri back to the cafe and went to the shrine to check its condition. He was wearing "samue" while looking at Nozomi who swept the garden of the shrine.
(Samue is the work clothing of Japanese monks).
Haru noticed something strange about Nozomi.
"Nozomi, what's wrong?"
"......"
Nozomi didn't answer him but kept sweeping the garden.
Haru felt weird and realized that Eli hadn't contacted him for a while. But he thought that it was because he thought that girl was preparing for graduation from her school since she was part of the student council, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
Had he done something wrong?
Haru thought, but it might be because he hid his identity. But his thought was broken when he heard Nozomi's voice.
"Haru, are you playing with us?" Nozomi asked.
"Playing with you? I've never thought of that," Haru said and felt that he was being wronged.
"Then, why you've never told us about your true identity!" Nozomi asked. Her eyes were red as if Haru had bullied her.
But his action was calm and patted the space beside him. "Sit down first, let's talk for a while."
"......."
Nozomi looked at Haru for a while and nodded. Walking toward him, she sat down next to him closely. Her eyes stared at him and said, "So you've got something that you want to explain?"
Haru looked at Nozomi and wondered why she needed to raise her b.r.e.a.s.ts that high. He calmed himself and nodded since Nozomi's b.r.e.a.s.ts were amazing.