Page 38 of A Serving of Hope

“Well, thank you in advance.” Saki dipped her head respectfully toward Nagare and slid open the door.

Once they’d seen her off, Nagare put a hand on Koishi’s shoulder. “How many times do I have to tell you? No matter how a customer acts, our job is to find their food. You can’t go pulling faces at them.”

“But Dad—she’s asking us to recreate a dish she doesn’t even want to eat.”

“That doesn’t matter. I’m sure she has her reasons. She came all this way, didn’t she?”

“Well, yeah, but…”

“What’s the dish?”

“Hiyashi-chuka,” Koishi replied coolly.

“As in, reimen?”

Koishi pouted. “Not according to her.”

“They’re the same dish.”

“That’s what I thought. But she insists they’re different.”

“Well, never mind that. Is it from a restaurant?”

“Her grandmother used to make it for her. Out in the countryside.”

“Sounds like a tough one.”

“Yeah, Dad. This one might test even you.”

“You’d better give me the whole story.”

They sat down opposite each other at one of the tables, and Koishi opened her notebook.

2

Spring was edging into summer. Saki knew it the moment she stepped down from the minivan and felt a warm breeze on her cheeks. She was fuzzy-headed from staying up late the night before to work on a design, and the almost-humid air wasn’t helping.

“I don’t remember seeing you here last time,” she said, bending down to pet the tabby cat that had apparently taken up residence in front of the Kamogawa Diner.

“Hello again,” said Koishi, stepping out to greet her. “Are you a cat person, then?”

“Yes,” Saki replied. “Mainly because they don’t yap away at you like dogs do.”

“I don’t know. Some cats can be pretty vocal,” countered Koishi.

“Yes, but in a friendly sort of way. That’s what I like.” Saki rubbed Drowsy gently on his chin, then got to her feet.

“Come on in,” said Nagare from the doorway.

“Well, how did it go?” asked Saki nonchalantly as soon as she was inside.

“I believe we found what you’re looking for.”

“Oh, good,” Saki replied in the same flat tone.

“That’s another lovely brooch,” said Nagare, gesturing at the accessory pinned to her olive-green jacket.

“Thank you. Again, one of my designs.” Saki raised her head proudly. “This one’s been acquired by an art museum in New York, actually.”