While the simmered daikon and eggs warmed over the fire, I cut the pheasant meat into bite-sized pieces.

On a whim, I headed to the grove by the well to gather some garlic chives. Pheasant and eggs alone would have worked, but I wanted something more.

This time, I decided to add chives.

I would have preferred onions, but I had no idea whether they even existed in this era.

Maybe I should visit the market sometime.

I wanted to learn what vegetables were available here. Later, I'd ask Yoshi-san if taking a trip was possible.

This should be enough...

I washed the freshly picked chives. After cutting them into short lengths, I filled a pot with water, salt, and the pheasant meat and let it simmer gently.

While it cooked, I cracked several eggs into a bowl and whisked them smooth.

Ideally, I'd add dashi here, but there was none to be found in this age, so I reluctantly gave up on the idea.

The chives went into the pot next.

Once everything had cooked through, I slowly poured the beaten eggs over the meat, covering it like a blanket.

When the eggs were only half set, I scooped brown rice into bowls and ladled the mixture over the top.

Done. The silky softness of the eggs was irresistible.

It was my first time cooking pheasant, but somehow it had turned into a proper dish. Then I remembered something.

" Ah— I forgot the mitsuba. "

I placed the mitsuba I'd gathered that morning on top. And with that, the salted oyakodon was complete.

The simmered daikon and eggs alone could have shown everyone how delicious eggs were. But I wanted a dish that would completely change the way people thought about eggs— A dish that would reveal just how extraordinary they could be.

I'd agonized over the choice until the very last moment.

Thanks to Tokitsugu-san's suggestion, my thoughts had finally come together, and I'd managed to create this salted oyakodon.

For now, I carried out the freshly made bowls.

Perhaps because the evening was warm, everyone was sitting outside on the benches.

No one spoke. All of them simply gazed up at the night sky.

Drawn in by the silence, I looked up as well.

" Wow… "

The heavens glittered with countless stars. I'd seen this sky several times already, yet every time its beauty left me breathless.

I could have stared forever. But it would be a shame to let the oyakodon grow cold.

" Thank you for waiting. Salted oyakodon. Please enjoy it while it's still warm. "

" So that's an egg dish, huh? " Yasu-san said, peering into the bowl.

" Doesn't look like eggs at all. "

He looked thoroughly entertained.

Yoshi-san praised it as beautiful.

Even Tokitsugu-san examined it with interest.

At least their first impressions weren't bad.

After handing everyone a bowl, I looked for a place to sit.

The bench was already occupied by Yasu-san, Tokitsugu-san, and Yoshi-san. Full.

Recently we'd begun receiving more visitors, so another bench had been placed outside.

I sat there instead. It was a little farther away from everyone else, but that was fine.

Or so I thought.

When I glanced back toward them, my eyes met Tokitsugu-san's.

Perhaps I looked lonely.

Without a word, he stood and came to sit beside me.

The loneliness I'd felt vanished instantly.

Instead, embarrassment took its place.

I calmed myself and offered a quiet thanks.

" ...Thank you for your concern. "

" I simply wanted to talk with you. " He smiled.

Please don't smile like that.

My carefully practiced customer-service smile was in danger of collapsing completely.

Then I caught sight of Yasu-san grinning from across the way. The fluttering warmth in my chest disappeared at once.

In its place came a faint irritation.

Good. The next time I needed to calm my heart, I'd just look at Yasu-san's face.

After a while, I noticed something strange. No one had touched their food.

I couldn't really blame them. Eggs were still something frightening to them. A food that might invite divine punishment wasn't exactly easy to eat.

This dish had been my selfish idea from the beginning.

Just as I was about to fetch the brown-rice amazake I'd prepared for dessert, Tokitsugu-san picked up his chopsticks.

I didn't want anyone forcing themselves to eat. I wanted them to do so only if they truly wished to. And Tokitsugu-san was kind enough to claim something tasted good even if it didn't.

That possibility worried me.

" Tokitsugu-san, please eat only when you genuinely feel like it. " I gently took the chopsticks from his hand.

If I showed even a hint of anxiety or sadness, not only him but Yoshi-san and Yasu-san might feel obligated to eat.

So I smiled as softly as I could.

" The oyakodon smells wonderful. " he said.

" May I... have my chopsticks back? "

His hands lightly covered mine. For some reason, fear tightened my chest. I found myself gripping the chopsticks harder.

Without moving his hands away, he spoke quietly.

" I want to eat your cooking. "

Those words stole every response from me. I felt all strength leave my body.

Gently, he took the chopsticks from my fingers.

His eyes widened slightly when he discovered the brown rice hidden beneath the eggs.

Then he took a bite.

I watched nervously.

No reaction.

Oh no... maybe I failed.

He took another bite.

And another.

And another.

The pace quickened.

Before long, he was eating with the same enthusiasm he showed when drinking rice porridge, lifting the bowl directly to his lips.

I couldn't tell whether he was eating quickly because it was delicious— or because it was terrible and he wanted to finish it fast.

At last he set down the empty bowl. Noticing my stare, he smiled sheepishly.

" My apologies. It was so delicious that I nearly forgot about you entirely. "

If it was delicious, then forgetting me was perfectly acceptable. Seeing someone lose themselves in a meal was far more gratifying.

" R-Really...? You're not forcing yourself? " I asked cautiously.

" To me, pheasant has always been something eaten in hot pots. This was fascinating. But more than that… "

His gaze fell to the empty bowl.

" I never imagined eggs could taste this good. "

" The chives and pheasant both suit them perfectly. The egg melts across the tongue, carrying the flavor of the chives and the tenderness of the meat. Then there's that richness... that depth. Everything intertwines together. "

He searched for words.

" It's impossible to describe properly. I never thought a meal could move me like this. "

Tokitsugu-san was talking more than I'd ever heard him talk before.

As he spoke, I heard someone swallow.

The next instant Yasu-san shoveled a huge mouthful into his mouth.

Yoshi-san began eating as well, more carefully but no less earnestly.

I watched the two of them in silence.

Then Yasu-san finished first and shouted:

" Another bowl! Extra broth! "

The sudden outburst startled me. But asking for seconds had to mean it tasted good, right?

Soon Yoshi-san requested another helping as well.

I brought fresh bowls to both of them and returned to my seat. Only to discover that my own oyakodon had vanished.

Before I could process what had happened, Tokitsugu-san spoke with visible embarrassment.

" My apologies… "

" I intended to ask for another serving as well, but they beat me to it. " He looked away.

" And... I couldn't resist. " So that was it.

My bowl had been sitting there for quite some time. It must have gone cold.

Then I realized. He had eaten it on purpose. Because he knew mine would no longer be warm. There was no way Tokitsugu-san would casually steal someone else's meal simply because he lacked self-control.

It had been an act of kindness.

" Wasn't it cold? " I asked.

He smiled gently. " Even cold, it was delicious. "

What a truly kind person.

I prepared another bowl for myself and sat beside him.

The eggs melted across my tongue. The pheasant blended beautifully with their softness. Even the chives I'd added on a whim contributed perfectly.

For a first attempt, it turned out quite well.

Though one issue remained. The meat was still a little tough. After everything else had dissolved away, the pheasant lingered in the mouth.

It needed more work.

As I silently held my own post-meal review, I suddenly noticed everyone staring at me.

Tokitsugu-san looked concerned.

" Is something wrong? "

" No, I was just thinking the meat was a bit tough. " I raised a fist.

" I'll improve it next time! "

His brow furrowed.

" This is the most tender pheasant I've ever eaten. "

" It can probably become even softer? "

" I think so. Though I won't know until I try. " He laughed softly.

" Then I'll have to catch more for you. "

Not long after, Yasu-san attempted to order a fourth helping and was promptly stopped by both Yoshi-san and me.

For the record:

Yasu-san had three refills.

Yoshi-san had two.

Tokitsugu-san had four.

Yasu-san's appetite was impressive. But somehow, Tokitsugu-san surprised me even more.

Now then. Next came the dish everyone had been waiting for: the simmered daikon and eggs. And I still needed to fetch the brown-rice amazake from the well.

Rising from my seat, I began preparing for the next course.

Author's Note:

This chapter ended up a little longer than usual.

I'm truly happy to read everyone's comments.

Thank you so much.

This series has advanced chapters, you can check out my Kofi!