'Let's prep the vegetables. And while you're at it, prep the donations for tomorrow.
I muttered to myself on the empty floor, but there was no reply.
I'm used to it.
I'm used to it.
I'm used to it. ...... I'm used to it, Grandfather.
'......No.'
His mouth twitches.
A crooked smile like this might make the customers uncomfortable.
You have to smile properly.
'Okay!Let's cook.
You enter the kitchen and face the pile of vegetables.
These are not cheap trash vegetables, but ordinary vegetables at a fair price.
But they are damaged in some parts and will become bad vegetables.
However, if you remove the damaged parts, you can still enjoy eating it.
'Even though it's ......, it's a lot of food.
It's hard to use up such a large amount.
But if we don't use it, all these vegetables will go bad.
'Tomorrow's donation will be a soup with lots of vegetables.
Will the children be happy?
They will say, 'Wow, there are so many vegetables! and 'I'm so happy to eat so many vegetables! Will they say, "It's beautiful! Will they say, 'Wow!
'...... I can't wait to see everyone's faces.
Every time the wind blows, the poorly built door creaks and creaks.
The wooden frames of the windows rattle.
Even though I'm all alone, it's quite noisy at night in the Sunlit Pavilion.
'Is there anyone who can help me with ......?
I like cooking, but I don't think I'm cut out for running a business.
In fact, there are many things I would like to do.
I want to remodel the tables and chairs to make the customers feel more at home, I want to add more menu items, and I want to hire waiters so that everyone can have fun and work together. ......
But the way I do it, the money just keeps dwindling. ......
'Your grandfather's savings have gone down a lot.
In order not to give me a hard time, my grandfather cut back and left me a lot of savings even though he was not wealthy.
Now, I am using those savings to continue running the Sunken Pavilion.
We have no income.
We're always in the red, and my grandfather's savings are being depleted every month.
I stop chopping carrots and turn my attention to the cupboard on the wall where the account book and other important documents are stored.
He removes two drawers and finds a small hidden door with a cloth bag inside.
My grandfather had always told me, 'Use this when you get married.
I'm sure you'll be happy to know that your grandfather has been saving up for you.
...... I'm Alvistan. Marriage. ......
'If it comes to it, may I use this?Grandfather.'
When I close my eyelids, I can clearly see my grandfather smiling at me.
The smile that was always kind and embraced me is still looking at me now.
'I'll never get married, I'll always stay at the Sun Goddess Pavilion. So, ......, right?Isn't that right, Grandfather?
Clutching the cloth bag with a few silver coins in it, I thanked my grandfather and begged him with apologies.
The sunny pavilion is all I have.
Please let me be selfish for a little longer.
I don't know how much I can do by myself. ......
I don't have the money to hire anyone. ......
Please leave this place to me for a little while longer, Grandfather.
As I grasped the cloth bag, tears spontaneously fell.
...... What?
You can't do that.
Even though the restaurant is closed, you still need to be a professional while you are in the kitchen.
I wiped away my tears, slapped my cheeks, and steeled myself.
I carefully put away the cloth bag in the hidden door, put the drawers back in order, and returned to preparing the vegetables.
While cutting the vegetables, I practiced my smile.
I wanted to be able to smile well when the customers came.
So that the pain would not show on my face.
I want people to think, 'Wow, that's cute.
...... ugh.
I've never had anyone say that to me.
The only people who have said that to me are my grandfather, the sisters, and the matron. They're all very soft on their relatives, you know.
At that moment, I felt the door creak.
I wondered if I closed the store properly.
Well, you don't have to worry about it, just make sure the door is locked before you go to bed.
It's already this late.
Now that you've done the preparation with a little bit of pain, let's do it with a happy heart.
You don't want your dish to taste sad.
Oh, by the way, that horse mackerel looks delicious.
Shall I eat it all by myself?
'That's Ginette. What if the waiter is more picky than the customer? ...... ugh. I'm sorry, Grandfather. ...... ugh.'
That was when I was playing by myself.
'Is anyone there?
I heard a man's voice from the floor.
It was a customer!
I rushed out to the floor and met the man.
The man of my dreams, the one who would change me and the Sunken Pavilion forever.
The man who gave me the confidence I was losing right after we met.