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Sequel 7 - Omurice

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“Just as its reputation said, it's a tear-jerking movie. I was moved. It made me cry so much. I'm still crying...”

After the 100-minute screening of [The Angel who Leapt Through the Sky] ends, the inside of the theater brightens up.

My tear glands have been stimulated ever since the heartbreaking ending.

At first, I was holding back my tears because Hiori was next to me. However, in the scene where the protagonist’s boyfriend died and she cried loudly, my tear glands broke down. I cried loudly along with the protagonist. Of course, I didn’t cry as loudly as the protagonist.

“I've read the original manga several times, but... I felt my heart squeeze and I cried. I was truly moved. I feel my creative urge wells up more and more.”

There are tears in Hiori's eyes as she says that, and the corners of her eyes turn slightly red. This is the best proof that Hiori's words just now are genuine.

Also, Hiori publishes novels on a novel submission site under the pen name [Aokawa Koori]. Some of them are romance novels. As someone who writes novels, she must have been inspired in many ways.

When our eyes meet, “Fufu” Hiori laughs elegantly.

“Akito-san, you’ve been crying a lot. The corners of both of your eyes are red.”

“...Because, after overcoming a lot of things, they finally started dating. Just as they were starting to have fun together, her lover... died of illness. It’s also because the voice acting was so good that I couldn't stop crying. It might also be because I watched it without reading the original work. I'm kind of embarrassed that I cried so much in front of Hiori...”

My face is getting hot, especially my cheeks.

Hiori doesn't erase her smile as she gently pats my head.

“They're tears that come out because Akito-san is moved, those tears are beautiful. Besides, the crying Akito-san is also wonderful.”

“Hiori...”

“I'm happy to be able to cry with Akito-san. That’s why, I'm really glad I was able to watch this movie with Akito-san.”

“I'm also glad I got to watch it with Hiori. Later, in the bookstore where Hazuki-san works part-time, I’ll buy the whole set of the original manga.”

“You really liked it, I see. I'm happy. I'm glad I invited Akito-san. Well then, shall we leave now?”

“Right.”

I wipe the tears from both my eyes with the damp handkerchief I hold in my left hand. I ended up crying loudly, but I'm glad that Hiori said she was happy to cry with me. What a kind child Hiori is. ...When I think that, I feel like I’m going to cry again.

I bring my belongings and empty cups of popcorn and drinks with me, and leave the screening room with Hiori.

I hand the empty cups to the male staff member standing outside the screening room, and return to the front desk. Partly because it’s past 12, there are more people here than before we watched the movie. There are still long lines at the ticket counter.

I go to the bathroom, then to the concession stand and purchase the pamphlet for that movie. I'm glad it wasn't sold out.

The movie itself was very good, but watching it with Hiori made for a great movie date. From now on too, I want to regularly go to the movies with Hiori.

“Now then, it's already lunch time, huh. Are you hungry, Hiori? We already ate popcorn while watching the movie though.”

“It feels nice and empty. How about you, Akito-san?”

“Mine is starting to get empty too. Then, let's go eat lunch. Hiori, do you have any place you want to go to eat?”

“There are a lot of delicious and popular restaurants in Kinjuku after all. I don't have any specific place yet.”

“I see. Actually, after we decided to go to this movie theater to see the movie, I looked up some restaurants near the station and here. Of course, for restaurants that look like they serve things Hiori likes.“

“I see! Can you show me what kind of restaurants there are?”

“Yeah.”

I take out my smartphone and show Hiori the websites of some of the restaurants I had looked up in advance. Pages for shops that Hiori seems to like, such as coffee shops, soba or udon shops, pancake shops, and omurice shops.

Hiori looks at each shop's homepage with great interest. Among them, the one Hiori is particularly interested in is:

“This omurice shop seems good! It has been open since earlier this year. Their reputation also seems quite good. I like omurice, so I’m curious about this.”

“I see. Then, let's try this restaurant. I like omurice too.”

“Yes!”

Hiori replies very cheerfully. I can see that she likes omurice quite a lot.

I open a map app and look up the route from this movie theater to our target omurice shop. According to the app, it's a 5 minute walk from here.

I grab Hiori's hand with my right hand, and hold my smartphone with a map displayed in my left hand, and set out for the omurice shop.

Following the route displayed on the app, we walk through the streets of Kinjuku.

“Even in the city center like Kinjuku, once we get off the main streets, the scenery becomes quite calm, I see.” (Akito)

“That’s true. The atmosphere is similar to Kasagaya or Hagikubo. It's Saturday afternoon, and there are various restaurants and retail stores, so there are more people here though.”

“That’s right. I think the view of a city with lots of high-rise buildings and large facilities is amazing, but I think I like calmer places like this more. It might be because I walk with Hiori to and from school.”

“I feel the same way.”

As she says that, a gentle smile appears on Hiori's face, and she blushes slightly.

Thanks in part to the map app, we were able to arrive at our destination omurice shop without getting lost.

As might be expected from a popular restaurant, when we walk in, we see many people enjoying their meals. Luckily, there is a table for two available, so we are able to sit down right away.

The inside of the shop is very clean as it only opened this year. But, it also has a calm atmosphere. It's a nice shop. Omurice is a very popular dish, so the customers are of all ages and genders. A scent that stimulates my appetite comes, making me even hungrier.

I order omurice with demi-glace sauce. And Hiori orders the classic ketchup omurice. Also, at Hiori's request, we’ll exchange bites of each other's omurice later.

While waiting for the omurice we ordered to arrive, we talk about our impressions of the movie while looking at the pamphlet. It's fun to spend time like this when you go to the movies with someone.

Also, the pamphlet includes some moving scenes, so... my eyes are getting hotter and hotter. Seeing me like that, Hiori lets out a giggle.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting. Here is the omurice and the demi-glace sauce omurice.”

After about 15 minutes, a waitress comes bringing us the menu we ordered. She places the demi-glace sauce omurice and the consommé soup that comes with the set in front of me. The moment Hiori’s omurice is placed on the table, Hiori, with enthusiasm and a bright smile, “It looks delicious,” says that.

The demi-glace sauce omurice really looks delicious. This restaurant's omurice puts a soft-boiled egg on top, huh? Also, the faint smell of consommé from the soup is nice. As I think that, I take a picture of the menu I ordered with my smartphone.

“Then, shall we eat?”

“That’s true. Well then, itadakimasu!”

“Itadakimasu.”

With a spoon, I take a mouthful of the omurice, put some demi-glace sauce on it, and put it in my mouth.

“...It’s really delicious.”

The butter rice inside is very well seasoned. The flavor of the rich demi-glace sauce intertwines well with the butter rice and soft-boiled egg.

“Mm~m, it's delicious!”

When I hear that high-pitched voice from Hiori, I look at her and see her smiling very happily as she eats omurice with her left hand on her cheek. I've always thought about it but, Hiori is so cute when she eats her meals and sweets so deliciously.

“It’s reputation is well deserved, this is so delicious.”

“I see. That’s good. The demi-glace sauce omurice is also delicious.”

“I see! ...Akito-san, shall we exchange a bite as promised?”

“Yes, let’s.”

“Then, as the one who suggested it, let me feed you first.”

Saying that, Hiori takes a mouthful of omurice with a spoon and blows on it. There’s no doubt that that action makes the omurice on the spoon even more delicious.

Hiori brings the spoon to my mouth.

“Akito-san, aa─n.”

“Aa─n.”

I eat the omurice Hiori feeds me.

Thanks to Hiori's blow, the omurice is at just the right temperature and tastes exquisite. Not only the ketchup-flavored chicken rice, but the soft-boiled egg mixed with ketchup is also irresistible. The classic flavor gives me a sense of security.

“It's really delicious, this omurice.”

“It's delicious, isn't it? It makes you think ‘this is the omurice’.”

“I get you. I ate the demi-glace one first, so somehow this taste felt reassuring.”

“Fufu. I understand how you feel.”

“I'm happy you said that. Then, I'll give you a bite of my demi-glace omurice.”

I scoop up a mouthful of it with a spoon and blow on it like Hiori did earlier. Then I bring it to Hiori’s mouth, who seems to be having fun.

“Hiori, aa─n.”

“Aa─n.”

Hiori eats the demi-glace sauce omurice I feed her. Hiori as she takes the spoon with omurice in her mouth looks so cute.

As Hiori chews, a soft smile appears on her face. Apparently, the demi-glace one also suits Hiori's taste.

“The demi-glace sauce omurice is also very delicious! It uses butter rice, so it has a different deliciousness from my omurice.”

“It's different from Hiori's omurice, but this is also really delicious, isn't it?”

“That's right. Thank you very much for the exchange.”

“Me too.”

I feel like I gained something thanks to Hiori. Next time I come to this shop, let’s order the classic omurice that Hiori is eating.

After that, I continue to eat my demi-glace sauce omurice while talking mainly about [The Angel who Leapt Through the Sky].

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(T/N: I choose ‘omurice’ instead of ‘omelet rice’ because English Wikipedia uses ‘omurice’. Also, I don’t watch anime, so I don’t know if that movie is a parody of that movie (if it is, that’s one huge spoiler). That’s why I’m not sure my translation of the title is correct.)

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