Sai had already suspected that the mountains would not offer the same bounty every day.

Even in her own time, daily specials were commonplace. If ingredients changed from one day to the next, then all she needed to do was embrace it.

A daily yuzuke. That would solve everything.

Whether bamboo shoots became mushrooms, or mushrooms became wild greens, it hardly mattered. The menu could change with the mountains themselves.

When she explained the idea to Yoshi, he nodded thoughtfully before accepting it with surprising ease.

And so it was decided. Beginning tomorrow, the shop would serve a different yuzuke each day.

The following morning, they were fortunate enough to gather more butterbur and bamboo shoots.

While Yoshi prepared the bamboo shoots, Sai set about processing the butterbur for the day's customers.

Breakfast was simple. Brown rice topped with the spicy butterbur miso she had made the day before. Simple though it was, both of them found themselves reaching for second helpings.

Perhaps hard work really was the best seasoning.

Before opening the shop, Sai carefully checked everything once more.

The bamboo shoot rice. The butterbur miso.

Fresh water. Hot water.

Nothing forgotten. Nothing missing.

Perfect.

Satisfied, she gave a small nod.

Outside, Yoshi hung the noren across the entrance.

The shop was open.

Not long after, two customers appeared. One of them was Yasu-san. The other was someone she had never seen before.

Yasusan cheerfully introduced him as a coworker. His name, apparently, was Tokitsugu.

He had only recently moved to the area. Since he was Yasu-san's acquaintance, Sai greeted him politely.

" My name is Sai Momoyama. I'm helping out here at the shop. It's a pleasure to meet you. "

She offered her brightest customer-service smile. And received absolutely nothing in return.

Nothing. At all.

The silence stretched.

Her smile began to feel stranded upon her face. What exactly was she supposed to do with it now? Was her cheek twitching?

Just as panic began to set in, Yasu-san suddenly burst into laughter.

" Oy, Tokitsugu! Just because the girl's pretty doesn't mean you can stare at her like that! " Laughing heartily, he slapped Tokitsugu's back several times.

Yoshi sighed. " You've got some nerve saying that. My daughter isn't some sideshow attraction. "

The words were clearly meant in jest. Yet hearing them warmed something deep inside Sai's chest.

My daughter.

Even as a joke, she liked the sound of it.

" My apologies. " Tokitsugu finally bowed.

" I am Tokitsugu. "

The greeting was unexpectedly formal. Unexpectedly gentle, too.

Sai blinked. His face was streaked with dirt from work, making him difficult to see clearly at first.

Yet beneath the dust...

Ah. He was handsome.

Very handsome.

Well, she was only human. A handsome face was bound to catch her attention. Surely she could be forgiven for that much.

With introductions complete, the two men settled onto the long bench outside. They ordered two servings of yuzuke.

While Yoshi prepared the rice, Sai carried out hand towels and cups of water. The moment Yasu-san saw them, his face lit up.

" Ahh, now this is what I've been waiting for. Tokitsugu, you've got to try the water here. "

Sai resisted the urge to laugh. It's just well water.

Tokitsugu's expression seemed to say much the same thing.

Water? Really?

" Please drink as much as you'd like," Sai said. "There's no charge for water. "

" Thank you. " His voice was quiet. Polite.

He bowed his head slightly before lifting the cup. Following Yasu-san's lead, he took a drink.

Then another.

And another.

Neither man seemed inclined to lower his cup. Sai blinked. Were they seriously chugging well water?

A moment later, both men exhaled in satisfaction.

" Ahhh! Nothing beats the water here! "

Sai stared at Yasu-san. This was only his second visit. Why was he talking like a lifelong regular? Trying not to laugh, she glanced toward Tokitsugu.

" ...Delicious. " The words were spoken so softly she almost missed them.

Yet they brought a smile to her face. At least he liked it.

" Would you like another cup? "

" Yes, please. " He offered her a faint smile.

" It's wonderfully cool. "

As she refilled his cup, Sai shook her head.

" It's only ordinary well water. "

Then she paused. Or perhaps not. Perhaps there was another reason.

" I think it tastes good because both of you work so hard out in the sun. "

The cup filled slowly beneath her hands. To Sai, that seemed the obvious answer. Water after honest labor always tasted sweeter.

Both men fell silent. Then they looked at her. Not at the water. At her.

She glanced at their cups. Still full.

So what were they staring at?

It was Yasu-san who finally spoke.

" Sai-chan… " His expression softened.

" You're a good woman. "

Sai immediately regretted being within speaking distance. That sort of compliment was impossible to answer. Quickly, she changed the subject.

" Please try the hand towels too. "

" Oh! Right! "

As though only just remembering them, Yasu-san grabbed his towel and wiped his hands and face.

Tokitsugu followed suit. The moment the cloth touched his skin, his eyes widened.

" This is… " He looked genuinely surprised.

Then he began wiping his face as well. Sai watched with mild amusement. The face wasn't really necessary.

But oh well.

As the dirt disappeared, his features became fully visible.

And— Oh.

Wow.

He really was handsome. Perhaps even more than she'd first thought. There was something appealing about the calmness of his expression.

The quietness. Without realizing it, she found herself staring. Then his gaze met hers.

"Is there something on my face?" Ah. He caught me.

She probably looked ridiculous. Still, honesty was usually easier.

" I'm sorry. I was just thinking you're very handsome. "

The words left her mouth before she could stop them. A little too direct, perhaps.

Maybe she sounded like somebody's overly enthusiastic aunt.

Well. Too late now.

Tokitsugu-san immediately looked away. Sai's stomach dropped.

Ah. That had probably been the wrong thing to say. She would have to be more careful in the future.

Fortunately, Yoshi-san appeared carrying the food. The timing could not have been better.

Yoshi set the bowls before them with practiced ease.

Freshly cooked bamboo shoot rice. Butterbur miso prepared that morning. Steam drifted upward in pale ribbons, carrying with it the fragrance of earth and spring.

The scent alone seemed enough to soften the air between them.

Yoshi's eyes moved from Sai to Tokitsugu.

Then a knowing smile touched her lips. " So, Sai… "

She said lightly. " Have you taken a liking to Tokitsugu? "

Sai blinked. For a moment, she wondered if she had misheard.

" Take a liking to him? "

The very idea seemed so far removed from her thoughts that she could only repeat the words.

" I merely said he was handsome. "

Yoshi chuckled. Across from her, Yasu-san let out a bark of laughter. To Sai's bewilderment, both of them appeared thoroughly amused.

" To a man. " Yasu-san said, still grinning.

" Being told he's handsome by a young woman is no small thing. " The corners of his eyes crinkled.

" Especially when the young woman saying it is pretty herself. "

The remark caused Sai's shoulders to stiffen. She had never quite grown accustomed to such comments.

Beside Yasu-san, Tokitsugu-san remained silent. His gaze rested upon the steaming rice before him.

Whether he was embarrassed, indifferent, or simply choosing not to involve himself, she could not tell.

His expression revealed little. The quiet stretched for a moment.

Then Sai spoke. " I've never really thought much about marriage. "

The words escaped naturally. As simple and ordinary as stating the weather. Yet the effect they produced was immediate. Yasu-san's brows rose. Yoshi paused in the act of arranging dishes. Even Tokitsugu-san lifted his gaze.

In this age, such a declaration was perhaps unusual. A woman of marriageable age was expected to think of such things. To prepare for them. To accept them.

But Sai had lived a different life. One shaped by another era. Another world.

She lowered her eyes briefly. The grain of the wooden table caught the afternoon light.

" Perhaps. " she said after a moment.

“ If I were to meet someone I truly cared for, I might think differently. "

A gentle breeze wandered through the open front of the shop. The noren stirred. Beyond the doorway, sunlight filtered through fresh leaves.

" But until then… " She smiled faintly.

" I'd rather focus on the things in front of me. "

The shop. The food.

The people who came here. For now, that was enough.

To her surprise, Yoshi and Yasu-san seemed relieved. As though she had eased some worry they had not voiced aloud.

The reaction puzzled her. But before she could ask, Yasu-san picked up his chopsticks.

" Well then. " he declared,

" Let's see what today's meal has to say for itself. "

At last. Sai nearly sighed with relief. The conversation had wandered so far from where she wanted it to go. What she truly wished to know was simple.

Did they enjoy the food?

Nothing mattered more than that.

Thank you for reading! Your comments, likes, and support mean a lot to me and help keep this series going.