Ch.37My Mom Was Awesome (2)

“D-Do-young’s mom. Si-young is doing well, right?”

“Of course, I’m taking care of her. She’s very healthy. Her condition is good, and she’s getting good results in competitions.”

“I-I see. Where did they say the next international competition would be?”

“They say it’ll be in Milan, Italy. She’s been so excited about seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Though the Leaning Tower isn’t in Milan. Hehe.”

“A-As expected, our youngest is so cute…! Why did you leave such a cute daughter behind? It would be nice for her to come home and rest for a while. At this rate, Do-young will forget Si-young’s face.”

I really did forget.

No, since I had no memory of meeting her except in family photos, I couldn’t even say I forgot.

“I suggested it, but she refused. She said she wanted to be alone this time.”

“Huh…? Why, did something happen?”

“Come on, she’s in eighth grade, at an age when she wants to break free from her mother. She finally has time to play freely without her mother’s nagging or lectures—why would she refuse that? She’s probably out with her friends in Shinjuku right now.”

Mom and Dad seemed to be talking about my younger sister who was studying abroad for kendo.

Her name was Si-young. With that naming pattern, I guessed my brother who went to the military might be named Re-young.

“Kekek, Do-Re-Si. What a mess, kekek.”

“…Why are you suddenly laughing?”

“Nothing, it’s nothing.”

Well, at least it wasn’t Do-Re-Mi.

If our surname was Ban and her name was Mi-young,

In these times, that would have been quite a threatening name.

“I don’t want to be that pushy aunt who only tells her to focus on practice and competitions. When she needs rest, I should definitely give her freedom.”

“If you understand how important freedom is, then why am I…”

“What did you just say, honey?”

“Nothing.”

“The steering wheel seems to keep turning toward a different destination than intended?”

“I’m sorry, please just let me go to work on Monday.”

Even though I only heard the voice through the receiver, Dad immediately lowered his tail.

With that voice drilling directly into his ears without any barriers, Mr. Ban Doche, the master of Ban’s Kendo School and certified 5th-dan instructor, had somehow transformed into Do Hamin MK.2.

“Hmm, so that’s how you tame them.”

“W-What…?”

I felt like I had discovered the most excellent teaching material in this world.

…

After about a 10-minute car ride,

We arrived at the restaurant Mom had mentioned.

“Wow, is a single-story building with tile roofing allowed to be this spacious?”

“I-Isn’t this an extremely expensive restaurant…?”

“It’s a long-time favorite of ours. It’s been about 10 years, I think.”

From the location of the store, the classic atmosphere inside, and the prices that made your eyes widen at first glance.

At a glance, it didn’t look like a restaurant for just grabbing a quick meal.

Hamin was already gaping at the ceiling that was far above his head,

despite it being a single-story building.

Well, I too rarely visited this kind of high-end restaurant except maybe once a year,

for the boss’s birthday company dinner.

It’s not the kind of restaurant you can casually visit with a salary from a shitty company.

“Welcome to Unagimochi, our eel specialty restaurant. Ah, Teacher Joonsook.”

“It’s been a while.”

“Indeed it has. Have you been well?”

“Hoho, thanks to you. Today I brought my daughter and her friend.”

“Ah, so this is your daughter. Indeed, your daughter takes after you and is very beautiful.”

It seemed this restaurant was a long-time favorite of our family,

or more precisely, of Mom and Dad.

“I made a reservation for three this morning, but would it be possible to change it to four?”

“Ah, yes. Of course. Since it’s your request, Teacher Joonsook. Please come in, I’ll guide you to your prepared seats.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

So she had already made a reservation this morning.

Considering that Dad had been at the airport since morning to pick up Mom,

he must have made the lunch reservation right after she returned to Korea.

In other words, Dad never had a choice to begin with.

“I’ll prepare a setting for four, so please sit and wait for a moment.”

“H-Hamin! Is it okay if the master sits next to you…?”

“Ah, yes. I don’t mind.”

“Thank you, really. You sit by the window. I’ll be here on the outside.”

“Ah, I understand.”

“…”

“Do you have a problem, Mom?”

I asked out of courtesy, but I already knew.

What could be the problem now?

“No. It’s better to sit across from Hamin than an old man, right?”

“Well, Dad’s face is a bit better though.”

“It’s fine, go inside. Mom, the old lady, will sit across from Dad.”

Watching Dad subtly avoiding Mom’s gaze,

Mom and I sat on the left chairs, while Hamin and Dad sat side by side on the right.

“I’ll bring you some tea.”

The waiter soon set up Hamin’s seat,

then brought teacups and a teapot to our table.

“Well then.”

“Ah, Mom. I’ll do it.”

“Hmm…? Alright.”

“Wait, I’ll help too.”

“Then I’ll pour the water, and you, good student, set out the spoons and wet towels.”

“Ah, okay.”

I immediately picked up the teapot the waiter had brought,

poured tea into each cup, and placed them in front of each person.

It was a working adult’s reflexive habit to distribute water, cups, and wet towels

when the waiter brought them to the table.

“Here, good student. Your tea. Be careful, it’s a bit hot.”

“Th-Thanks.”

Hamin took the teacup from me and sipped it as if his throat was parched.

Sitting at the same table with the main heroine’s parents, and in such an elegant restaurant, he naturally felt nervous and thirsty.

“Don’t mix it up with mine this time, okay?”

“Pffft…! *cough* *cough* Suddenly bringing that up… *cough*!”

“H-Hamin. Are you okay?”

“*cough* I’m… I’m fine. Just went down the wrong pipe.”

However, watching him blow on the hot tea and sip it,

I couldn’t help but feel mischievous.

“Kekek, next time I’ll float some leaves in it for you.”

“…Do-young, you.”

A dignified voice resonated heavily.

My mother, sitting next to me, shot me a sharp glare.

“If the tea had been any hotter, it could have been serious.”

“Ahaha, the good student’s reaction was so funny, I couldn’t help it… I’ll only do it when he’s drinking cold water next time.”

If she had yelled like Dad would have, I would have just been startled and that would be it,

but her cold voice that froze people and her piercing gaze made even the great Ban Do-young lower her tail.

“Well, you should cherish your friend. As long as you understand.”

“C-Couldn’t you just teach me not to do it at all if it’s about cherishing…?”

“A relationship with appropriate stimulation helps maintain friendship. Right, Do-young’s dad?”

“…Yes.”

Dad quietly nodded.

I suddenly wondered what the situation under the table might be like and thought about dropping a spoon to check, but

decided against it since this was an all-ages webtoon.

“By the way. Just now, Do-young. You poured the teapot with your right hand.”

“…Huh? Why. Is it bad luck to pour tea with the right hand? I didn’t know there was such dining etiquette.”

“…No. That’s right. It doesn’t matter which hand you use. I was just asking.”

“What’s with that lukewarm response?”

Mom’s answer felt somewhat tepid.

I wanted to ask more about why she asked such a thing, but,

“Here’s your special Hitsumabushi. Shall I place it starting from the inside?”

“Ah, thank you. Please give the most substantial portions to the children’s father and my daughter’s friend.”

“Of course.”

“Why ‘of course’?”

My attention was immediately drawn to the feast placed before our table.

“Hamin. You said you’ve only had eel once before, right?”

“Yes… B-But it wasn’t this big back then…”

Deliciously arranged side dishes and fluffy, glossy rice,

topped with grilled eel covered in a rich brown sauce that sizzled and emitted a deep aroma.

The Maillard reaction fragrance wafting from the charred sauce.

The tiny fireworks of fatty juices and moisture from the eel colliding and sputtering with a crackling sound right on top of my rice bowl.

“Wow, this could make even a lost pepper stand at attention.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing, it’s nothing.”

Though there’s no virility to be revived right now, my appetite naturally surged.

It wasn’t food I could easily eat even in my original world.

“Here you go. Do-young’s dad.”

At that moment, Mom picked up the eel from her own bowl and placed it on Dad’s rice.

Somehow, all the eel that had been on Mom’s plate, who had suggested coming to this restaurant, was now in front of Dad.

“What? Why isn’t Mom eating eel?”

“Mom doesn’t like seafood.”

“…Eh?”

“Well then, shall we eat?”

Mom, after giving all her eel to Dad,

began eating her rice with only sauce remaining.

“Ah, so that’s how it’s done. I’ve learned a lesson, master.”

“Hmm…?”

“Here, good student, you take some too.”

I took half of the eel from my plate and placed it on Hamin’s.

“Why are you doing this…”

“It’s an investment for the future.”