Zaru soba, some simple yakumi, and chicken seasoned with yuzu kosho. It was a modest meal, but it turned out quite well.
Even the containers were authentic soba vessels made by Alice—was it a zaru? Or maybe a seiro? Regardless, they were the real deal. That girl really could make just about anything; her craftsmanship was in a league of its own.
"Well then, let’s dig in."
"Yes. Do I just dip the soba into this sauce to eat it?"
"I only have a bit of trivia on the subject, but I think you start by eating a few noodles plain to enjoy the delicate flavor. Then, you dip about the bottom half of the bundle into the sauce. After that, you add a bit of yakumi—like those green onions over there—on top of the noodles before eating them."
"I see. It’s a dish with formal etiquette, then."
"That’s only if you want to be strictly formal. In reality, not many people in my world actually care that much. I think the best way to eat is however you enjoy it most."
My knowledge was limited to what I’d seen on TV, but I recalled that placing the yakumi directly on the noodles was considered the "correct" way, rather than stirring it into the sauce. Of course, unless you were a real soba connoisseur, it didn't actually matter.
Since Anima had asked, I’d shared what I believed to be the proper etiquette, but since it was just the two of us, simply enjoying the food was enough.
I wondered if Noin-san would be particular about this. Probably not; she was surprisingly easygoing when it came to food. She’d likely just say the best way to eat was the way that tasted best. Blossom-san, on the other hand, had that intense obsession with Japanese culture, so she’d probably insist on formal etiquette... though she’d likely have memorized some bizarre version of it based on a misunderstanding. As for Alice, I remembered her giving me a very pragmatic lecture while sitting next to a stack of about fifty empty zaru: "It depends on the situation. The 'correct' way isn't always the most delicious way, right? Just keep the rules in mind as trivia so you can use them if the occasion demands it."
"...I see. The aroma is wonderful; it really lingers. It isn’t a flashy flavor, but it feels elegant and refined in its simplicity."
"You have a good palate, Anima. Do you go out to eat often?"
"Oh, no. Only when Cara invites me; otherwise, I usually just have something quick at home. I often skip meals to prioritize work, so I don't really have much of a preference for—...Ah."
"...Anima?"
"Hie—! U-Um, well... I-It's only once in a while. R-Really, just very occasionally... When I get too focused and miss the timing for a meal, I think I'll just have it later... and... um..."
That was news to me. In fact, that was probably exactly why Caraway kept taking her out—she knew Anima would forget to eat otherwise.
I’d spoken to her about taking breaks, but I realized I hadn’t mentioned anything about regular meals.
"...It sounds like I'll need to give you a firm talk about this later."
"Au... I-I am terribly sorry."
"Well, giving you a lecture during dinner would be a bit much... Here, Anima. Open up."
"My mouth? Huh? M-Master!? W-What are you doing!?"
This bad habit of hers—letting everything except work fall by the wayside whenever she got too motivated—was truly troublesome. I intended to give her a proper talking-to, but there was no need to spoil the mood right now.
With a wry smile, I used my chopsticks to pick up a piece of chicken and offered it to her. It was the classic "aahn," and Anima was clearly bewildered, her eyes darting around restlessly.
"Come on, aahn."
"A-Ah, n-no, but being fed by my Master would be lèse-majesté... and... um..."
"Aahn."
"A-Aahn... Uugh, I shouldn't... this is unbecoming of an attendant... It's so pathetic of me to be this happy."
Pushing through somewhat forcefully, I watched Anima eat the chicken with an expression that was a mix of embarrassment and joy. She seemed worried about troubling me, her master, but her ears were twitching with delight. It was undeniably cute.
"I thought it would be a nice, 'lover-like' thing to do."
"I-It's embarrassing and I'm sorry... but... I am happy. H-However!? Any more than this... my mind won't be able to take it! N-Next, I shall be the one to serve you, Master!"
Apparently, while she felt a strong sense of hesitation toward being pampered, she had no problem being the one doing the pampering—likely because she perceived it as her serving me.
Smiling as I watched Anima offer me a piece of chicken with an eager look, I gratefully accepted and opened my mouth.
Serious-senpai: "Gufu... I've sort of figured it out... It's not like she's embarrassed by everything romance-related like Alice, but rather she gets flustered in 'situations where Kaito does something for her', and is proactive in 'situations where she does something for Kaito herself'..."