When I Helped Out At My Classy Classmate's Family Home, They Started Going All Out To Close In On Me From Every Angle. - Chapter 1: The Story of How I Ended Up Working Part-Time at Japan's Top-Notch Traditional Japanese Restaurant――1

The Story of How I Ended Up Working Part-Time at Japan’s Top-Notch Traditional Japanese Restaurant――1

After coordinating with Takamine-san, it was decided that we would have dinner on the last Saturday of April.

On the evening of the day, I arrived at the restaurant, guided by Takamine-san. As I looked at the establishment, I was left speechless.

“W-Will we be eating here?”

“Yes. Since you are my benefactor, Kanda-kun, I wanted to offer you the best hospitality possible.”

The reason for my astonishment was that I had been brought to her family’s high-end restaurant, “HanaMori.”

The structure of “HanaMori” was a wooden Japanese house, and it had been in business since the Taisho era. The darkened exterior walls gave off an impression of deep history.

Before arriving here, I had expected that she would take me to a fast-food restaurant or a family diner. So, I couldn’t hide my surprise. The gap between my expectations and reality left me at a loss for words.

I never imagined I would be treated to a meal at one of Japan’s finest restaurants… Truly, as expected from an “Ojou-sama”—the scale is just immense.

“Come this way.”

“Ah, okay.”

Takamine-san led me through the entrance gate, and I followed, still dazed.

Beyond the gate, within the enclosed grounds, was a Japanese garden. As we walked across the stepping stones, I felt like a child from the countryside visiting the city for the first time—my gaze darting around restlessly, unable to settle.

The space was so elegantly beautiful. The meals served here would surely be of the highest quality.

However, the emotions filling my chest were more of “unease” than “expectation.”

As an ordinary high school student, was it really alright for me to be in such an extravagant place? Was I out of place here?

Although a beautiful garden spread before my eyes, I couldn’t enjoy it in the least. I could feel the sweat on my palms, and an eerie sensation that the chill was creeping into my very bones.

In the midst of my discomfort, Takamine-san and I reached the sliding door at the entrance.

Takamine-san opened the door.

“Please, go ahead.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Encouraged by Takamine-san, I hesitantly stepped over the threshold.

Shortly after, a woman came from the back.

“Welcome. We are so pleased to have you.”

The woman, kneeling and placing her hands in the traditional gesture, looked remarkably like Takamine-san. To be precise, she seemed like a vision of Takamine-san ten years into the future.

“Uh… are you Takamine-san’s sister?”

“Oh my? What a kind thing to say.”

She chuckled softly and introduced herself.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Takamine Yuri, the young proprietress of this establishment. Thank you so much for helping my daughter.”

“Daughter? Wait!? Your mother!?”

“Yes, she’s my mother.”

My reaction must have been quite funny because even Takamine-san couldn’t help but smile.

Still standing there in a daze, Yuri-san gestured toward a chair placed in the entrance area.

“Please, make yourself comfortable. It would be best to sit there and remove your shoes.”

“Y-Yes. Excuse me.”

Snapping out of my confusion, I followed Yuri-san’s direction and made my way toward the chair.

During that time…

“Woah!?”

“Kanda-kun!”

In my nervousness, my footing faltered, and I almost stumbled. In an instant, Takamine-san caught me and looked at me with a worried expression.

“Are you alright?”

“Sorry. I’m just a bit nervous…”

“Nervous?”

To Takamine-san’s bewildered look, I gave a wry smile.

“I’m just a regular high school student, and now I’m eating at such a high-class restaurant, so I couldn’t help but wonder if I’m really allowed to be here.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Takamine-san smiled softly at my self-deprecation.

“Kanda-kun, you’re my benefactor, so there’s no need to belittle yourself. Rather, you can stand proud. There’s no need to be modest.”

“Yes. None of us at ‘HanaMori,’ including myself, intend to treat you poorly. We will offer you the best hospitality.”

Yuri-san, agreeing with Takamine-san, narrowed her eyes into a gentle smile.

I let out a sigh of relief.

“I’m really glad to hear that.”

It felt as though the tension in my body was slowly being eased by their kindness.

I was led to a private room and seated on a cushion.

Next, Takamine-san sat across from me, at the table.

“So, Takamine-san, you’re going to have dinner with me, too?”

“Yes. Is that alright?”

“Of course. It would feel awkward to eat alone in such a fancy place, so I’d even ask you to join me.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Takamine-san smiled, her cheeks softening.

I was momentarily entranced by her delicate smile—then, it hit me.

Isn’t it just as awkward to have dinner alone with a beauty like Takamine-san?

Takamine-san was known for her breathtaking beauty, to the point that she was often referred to as “Sakurazawa Ichika.” Like most people, I too found her to be a wonderful person.

And now, I was about to spend time alone with her. Just thinking about it made my heart race.

Moreover, I barely had any interactions with Takamine-san, so I wasn’t sure if I could hold a good conversation or if I could keep the atmosphere comfortable.

W-will I be okay? There’s a chance this could feel like a funeral with the atmosphere being so tense…

A cold sweat dripped down my forehead. The tension that I thought had melted away was creeping back.

At that moment, the shoji door quietly slid open.

Yuri-san appeared and bowed deeply.

“Excuse me. I’ve brought the appetizers.”

“Ah, thank you.”

After I expressed my gratitude, Yuri-san presented the appetizers in front of me and Takamine-san.

The beautifully presented hors d’oeuvres were arranged on what looked like a high-end Japanese plate, so exquisite that they could easily be mistaken for jewels.

“Today’s appetizer is ‘Itoyori Tai with Jelly.’ The seasonal Itoyori Tai and rapeseed flowers have been wrapped in a jelly made from ponzu and dashi broth.”

After explaining the dish, Yuri-san gave a polite bow and left.

I stared at the appetizer in awe, and let out a small exclamation of amazement.

The red and white of the Itoyori Tai, the vibrant green of the rapeseed flowers, and the amber jelly. Not only was this dish a delight for the taste buds, but it was a feast for the eyes as well—truly top-tier in that regard.

“It’s such a beautiful dish. I almost feel like it’s too good to eat.”

“Thank you. I’m sure the chefs will be very pleased to hear that.”

Takamine-san smiled as though my praise was her own.

I still wanted to admire the dish more, but it seemed better to eat it while it was fresh—surely the chef would be happier that way.

Suppressing the feeling of it being too good to eat, I put my hands together.

“Thank you for the meal.”

“Yes. Please enjoy.”

As Takamine-san smiled at me, I scooped up a portion of the Itoyori Tai, rapeseed flowers, and jelly with a spoon, and took a bite, savoring it thoroughly.

“How is it?”

“It’s delicious… It’s surprisingly good!”

“Fufu~, thank you.”

The appetizer was so delicious it made me sigh in amazement. As expected from Japan’s top-tier restaurant—it was on a whole different level.

I was so moved I couldn’t help but express it.

“The steaming process really locks in the umami of the Itoyori Tai, and the flesh is so tender. The crispness of the rapeseed flowers and the wobble of the jelly complement each other, so it’s not just the taste, but the texture that makes it a delight. The seasoning of the jelly is subtle, not overpowering the main ingredient, the Itoyori Tai. Instead, it enhances it. The balance is perfect. I also find it interesting that there’s a touch of white wine vinegar as a secret ingredient.”

I said all that in one breath—then suddenly stopped.

Takamine-san looked at me in surprise, probably shocked by my sudden burst of speech.

“Sorry! I just got carried away!”

“N-no! There’s no need to apologize!”

I hurriedly apologized, and Takamine-san shook her head quickly.

“It’s just that I was surprised. Your analysis is so spot-on, and no one has ever noticed the secret ingredient before.”

“Ahaha, well… it’s just a habit of mine.”

“A habit?”

I nodded in response to Takamine-san, who tilted her head slightly, and scratched my cheek awkwardly.

“The person who taught me how to cook told me, ‘Learn to understand food with your taste buds,’ and they trained me that way.”

“Your teacher sounds like an amazing person…!”

Takamine-san’s eyes widened in surprise, and then, as if she understood, she clapped her hands together.

“So that means you’re good at cooking, Kanda-kun. The pancakes from the recent cooking class looked like they were made by a professional.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Yes. I also have some knowledge of cooking, but I can’t compare to you.”

“But your pancakes, Takamine-san, turned out really great too. I think they could easily be sold at a shop.”

“Really!? Thank you so much!”

Takamine-san and I shared a laugh.

Thanks to our conversation about the cooking class, our chat became much more lively.

I had completely forgotten about the initial nervousness of being alone together.