Braised Daikon and Eggs, with Brown Rice Amazake

I set out two large plates and arranged the braised daikon and eggs I'd just reheated.

The daikon and eggs had taken on a rich brown color.

Perfect.

Standing alone in the kitchen, I nodded in satisfaction. There was something strangely comforting about seeing that color.

Every time, it made me happy.

First, I carried the braised daikon and eggs out to everyone. Then I hurried back to the well to fetch the brown rice amazake.

It would have been nice if I had small sake cups to serve it in, but in this era common folk rarely drank alcohol.

No one owned proper drinking vessels. Well, there was no helping what I didn't have. I poured the amazake into tea cups instead and carried them out.

" Sorry to keep you waiting! Braised daikon and eggs, along with brown rice amazake. "

Yasu's eyes widened. He peered into the cup and cautiously sniffed it.

" Sake?! Where'd you get this? D-don't tell me you actually made it yourself… " Correct answer.

I made it. Before I could proudly announce that fact, Yoshi spoke first.

" This child's been making it since morning. I helped a little, but only a little. Honestly, she's something else. "

Wait.

Was that admiration? Or exasperation?

Maybe I shouldn't have made it after all...

But alcohol was such a rarity in this age that it only made me crave it more.

Yasu tilted his head.

" Fine, but where'd you get the ingredients? "

" Well... Yoshi found them near the well this morning. Since they'd spoil if left there, we decided to use them. "

I personally had a pretty good guess.

While Yoshi and Yasu wondered aloud who could have left them there, Tokitsugu finally spoke, looking slightly troubled.

" Um... perhaps they came from a friend of mine. " His expression grew apologetic.

" He recently tasted the food here and became quite fond of it. He mentioned wanting to offer some sort of thanks. I imagine he left them himself. My apologies for his presumption. "

Tokitsugu bowed deeply toward me.

" Please, raise your head! " His sudden formality startled me.

" I was surprised, sure, but I was happy too. If anything, I should be thanking him. "

Without thinking, I bowed deeply in return. The sight of us practically competing to apologize made Yasu and Yoshi burst out laughing.

" What are you two doing? " Yoshi chuckled.

" At least now you know who left it. " Yasu grinned mischievously.

" You're quite the dangerous woman, Naa-chan. Anyone who can casually gift ingredients for sake must come from a pretty respectable family. "

I glared at him. He only laughed harder.

" Even when you're glaring, you're still a beauty! Wahaha! "

There was no winning against him. I gave up.

More importantly, if we didn't drink soon, the chilled amazake would lose its coolness.

" Come on, try it already. It'll warm up otherwise. " I urged everyone to drink.

" Oh, right. Can't have that. " Yasu immediately grabbed his cup.

For today's amazake, I'd strained out the grains.

The reason was simple: I preferred smooth amazake when it was served cold. When it's chilled, I want to drink it quickly, and the grains can get in the way.

Warm amazake, on the other hand?

Definitely with grains.

People had strong opinions on that debate, but today they'd simply have to indulge my preference.

Everyone lifted their cups.

I watched nervously as they tasted it.

Yasu… Yasu was chugging it.

Meanwhile, Tokitsugu and Yoshi each took a single sip and froze.

Could somebody please say something? I was actually quite proud of this batch. As I waited for their reactions, I took a sip myself.

A gentle sweetness spread across my tongue. Made from rice koji, it wasn't alcohol at all.

But it was wonderful nonetheless.

The first to speak was Tokitsugu.

" ...Is this... reisyu? " Cold sake.

The same word existed in my own era, but I wasn't entirely sure it meant the same thing here. So instead, I simply explained the ingredients.

" I see. " Nodding thoughtfully, he resumed drinking, savoring each mouthful.

Meanwhile, Yasu had already requested a refill. Yoshi poured him another cup while slowly enjoying her own. Before long, everyone was completely absorbed in the amazake.

Myself included.

After finishing his first cup, Tokitsugu turned toward me.

" Um... would it be possible for me to take some of this with me? " He hesitated.

" My friend is extremely fond of drink. I'd very much like him to try again Then he bowed deeply once again.

I didn't mind giving him some, but...

" It's fine, but as I said earlier, this isn't actually alcohol. It's made from rice koji and brown rice. If your friend likes sake, are you sure he'll enjoy it? "

I couldn't help worrying. Tokitsugu immediately straightened.

" Precisely because he loves alcohol, I'd like him to try this! " His eyes shone with conviction.

" If it isn't alcohol, that's even better. What you've made is truly delicious. I'm certain my friend will love it as well. "

Well. Anyone could see how much he cared about this mysterious friend. And after receiving such heartfelt praise, how could I refuse?

I promised to send him home with some amazake later.

Everyone remained enchanted by the amazake, but eventually I decided it was time to direct their attention to the actual meal.

At this rate, the drink would disappear before the braised daikon and eggs.

" Everyone, try eating these together. The amazake tastes even better that way. "

The phrase even better immediately captured their attention.

Perhaps they still remembered the eggs from earlier, because all three reached for the eggs first without hesitation.

Watching them made me smile. Looks like my oyakodon strategy worked.

Without Tokitsugu's help, it might have failed completely.

I silently thanked him.

As for me, I reached for the daikon. I'd been eyeing it this entire time. Splitting off a bite-sized piece with my chopsticks, I popped it into my mouth.

Ahhh. Just as I'd hoped.

Completely soaked through. The miso had penetrated every fiber. I followed it with a mouthful of amazake.

" ...Ahhh… " A sigh escaped me.

" I'm so happy… "

Only then did I realize everyone was staring at me.

Yasu clicked his tongue dramatically.

" The egg is clearly superior! It's soaked up more flavor! Why are you taking the daikon's side? "

What sort of argument was that?

What did it even mean to take the daikon's side?

Still grumbling, Yasu stuffed a chunk of daikon into his mouth.

" ...! "

He froze. Then lowered his head and quietly chewed.

"...Daikon..."

His voice trembled. Looks like he'd fallen for it too. Yoshi seemed equally captivated, steadily eating piece after piece.

" Yoshi, do you like the daikon that much? "

At this rate she'd finish it all. She paused, looking slightly embarrassed.

" I like the eggs too, but if I had to choose... the daikon. " She smiled softly.

" The miso has soaked in beautifully. I keep reaching for it without realizing. "

Thankfully, I'd made extra daikon. The eggs were limited, but the daikon wasn't. And Yoshi always helped me so much. I wanted her to eat her fill.

" There's still plenty left in the pot. Eat as much as you'd like. "

Then I added with a grin: " It'll taste even better tomorrow. "

"Oh my… " Yoshi's expression suddenly turned grave.

" Then we must save some for tomorrow. "

I wasn't entirely convinced there would be any left.

Probably.

Maybe.

Then I remembered Tokitsugu.

He'd become so quiet I'd nearly forgotten he was there.

Looking over, I found him gazing up at the stars. He would take a bite of daikon or egg, sip amazake, then exhale softly into the night.

The scene looked so picturesque that I found myself staring. Perhaps sensing my gaze, he lowered his eyes from the heavens and looked at me.

Our eyes met. Flustered, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

" Um... so, what do you think of the braised daikon and eggs? "

Tokitsugu smiled.

His eyes narrowed gently.

For some reason, there was an unusual allure about him tonight.

Wait. This wasn't actually alcohol, was it?

Suddenly suspicious of my own amazake, I hurriedly took another sip.

Nope. Definitely not alcohol.

Then why did he seem so different?

As I puzzled over it, he finally answered.

" Ordinarily, when one drinks sake, it is accompanied by miso or salt. "

His gaze drifted to the dish.

" But somehow, this feels like a better pairing. "

He lifted his cup. " Perhaps it's because of the miso flavor. The sweetness of this drink and the richness of the dish complement each other beautifully. "

...Tokitsugu might actually be quite the drinker. Ever since I'd served the amazake, he'd looked happier than usual.

Maybe I was imagining it, but he carried himself like someone thoroughly accustomed to fine alcohol.

Before long, the gathering came to an end. As promised, I packed some amazake for Tokitsugu.

I also handed him two sets of tri-colored rice balls. There had been enough ingredients left over for another batch, and while I'd originally planned to keep them for myself, he'd helped me so much today.

This felt like a better use for them.

" The ingredients stretched farther than expected, so I made an extra set. Please eat one yourself. " I smiled.

" And thank you for today. You really helped me. "

Then I hesitated. " Also... Yasu and Yoshi figured out there was a friend involved. Is that alright? "

Both he and that mysterious friend had wanted to keep things quiet.

But the conversation had simply gone that way.

" Oh, that? " Tokitsugu laughed softly.

" If the secret was revealed, then that is entirely my friend's responsibility. Please don't worry. "

He accepted the rice balls carefully.

" I, too, had a wonderful experience today. "

Then, after a brief pause:

"Try not to push yourself too hard."

A warm hand settled atop my head.

Gently.

Affectionately.

I froze.

Twenty-four years old… and being patted on the head.

How embarrassing.

Soon after, Tokitsugu and Yasu departed for their respective homes.

I wonder if Tokitsugu has delivered the amazake by now.

As I cleaned up after everyone left, my thoughts drifted to him and his mysterious friend.

What kind of conversation were they having?

For some reason… I couldn't stop wondering.

—- —- —

Author's Note

This chapter ended up a little longer than expected.

Next time, we'll finally see Tokitsugu and his mysterious friend!

I hope you're looking forward to it.

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