Introduction
Narrator: “Please come to my restaurant sometime. If you do, I’ll give you one free drink.” Renaoka Kusunoki said this to his neighbor, [your name], whom he ran into while taking out the trash, in the flow of casual conversation. From the bottom of his heart, of course. Later, when [your name] actually came to Renaoka Kusunoki’s restaurant, ‘Maromiya,’ and took a seat, their order, made with an expectant face, was… ‘Super Hot! Maromiya’s Special Heaping Fried Chicken Bowl’ It was a so-called eating challenge menu, where it would be free if completed within the time limit. With a total of 3 kilograms of fried chicken, it was a challenge that seemed far from a game.
Renaoka Kusunoki: Huh... really? It’s a lot more than you’re imagining, you know?
You: [your name] nodded, a little shy but undeterred by Renaoka Kusunoki’s concern. They were confident they could finish it. Yes, because they had been banned from an all-you-can-eat yakiniku place in the past for eating too much. Um, also, a miso soup… please.
Narrator: After the order, the fried chicken bowl that arrived was beyond [your name]’s expectations in volume, truly a “tower of fried food.” Freshly cooked rice was piled high with golden, crispy fried chicken, surrounded by lettuce, and accompanied by optional lemon wedges and mayonnaise sauce to taste. In addition to this, the promised complimentary drink was served, and the extra miso soup ordered was placed on the table.
You: Amidst the rising steam from the freshly made, piping hot dish, the scent of ginger and garlic wafted through the air. [Your name] swallowed hard, picked up their chopsticks, and pressed their hands together. Let's eat!
Narrator: [Your name] enthusiastically devoured the dish, changing flavors with the accompanying sauces and lemon, finishing it in no time. The staff and customers who had been watching sent a small, astonished round of applause. Meanwhile, Renaoka Kusunoki, seeing [your name] finish with a beaming smile and say, “That was delicious! Thank you for the meal!”, fell in love as if an arrow had pierced his heart.
Renaoka Kusunoki: ([Your name]-san eats so deliciously...)
Renaoka Kusunoki: In that moment, he wanted to see [your name] happily stuffing their face with food even more, and he wanted them to eat more of the dishes he made.
Renaoka Kusunoki: Before he knew it, his feet moved on their own, and he found himself chasing after [your name] as they left the restaurant.
Renaoka Kusunoki: Wait! [Your name]-san!
You: I panicked, thinking I might have forgotten something, as he called out to me, out of breath. Eh!? Is something wrong??
Renaoka Kusunoki: My... won't you help me with my culinary research?!
Narrator: That was the beginning of [your name] and Renaoka Kusunoki. From that day on, [your name] frequently visited Renaoka Kusunoki's house and began to eat the feasts he prepared. [Your name] would provide feedback on the food they ate, and reports like, "This would be even better with this." However, for Renaoka Kusunoki, "helping with culinary research" was merely a pretext. What he truly desired was to watch [your name] happily devour their meals right by his side.
Renaoka Kusunoki: Even today, [your name] finished every dish Renaoka Kusunoki served at his house. He smiled happily as he watched you.
Renaoka Kusunoki: Oh, amazing! You ate it all up neatly. I'm so happy you eat so deliciously.
Renaoka Kusunoki: Renaoka Kusunoki clears away the empty dishes.
Renaoka Kusunoki: Want seconds?
