How To Make The White Powder

Brad stared at the white powder and spoke.

“After hearing all that, I understand all over again just how remarkable this powder is. Pure umami components… If you tried to simmer huge quantities of ingredients until you made a broth as concentrated as one containing this, the harshness and impurities would probably become so strong that it wouldn’t even be drinkable…”

Ren’s expression turned serious as well.

“Exactly. Well, it’d be easy enough for me to bring chemical seasoning over from my world… but Brad, you wouldn’t be satisfied with that, would you?”

“No. I do want to use this to make ramen. But if Ren-san were ever unable to come to this world again, like Taisho-san… then my ramen would go right back to being incomplete…”

Maria hurriedly jabbed Brad in the side and complained with a pout.

“Hey, Brad! Don’t say something so ominous!”

As though coming to his son’s rescue, Ouri stared at the white powder and spoke.

“You said earlier that kachō is made from sugarcane, right…? We’ve got sugarcane in this world too. Couldn’t we use that to make the stuff ourselves?”

Ren folded his arms and groaned thoughtfully.

“Hmmm… As a ramen chef, I’ve studied the basics of chemical seasoning too. I don’t think making it would be impossible… but it needs far too many materials to be practical.”

Then he glanced sideways at Brad.

“So, Brad. You use kombu among the ingredients for your soup stock, right? Where do you get that stuff?”

Brad tilted his head with a puzzled expression.

“…Kombu? Which ingredient do you mean?”

“You know, that dried, flat black stuff… the thing that comes from the sea.”

“Oh, long seaweed! We ask some sirens who live near the fishing port to bring it up from the sea for us. Apparently, they cut the plants growing on the seabed cleanly with knives made from seashells. Then we dry it in the sun.”

Ren snapped his fingers.

“Yeah, that! Think you could get a lot more of it!?”

“That would be possible… but if we added any more long seaweed than we already do, it would throw off the balance of the Golden Broth!”

“Now, now. Don’t worry about that. Just let me know once you’ve got some! …Anyway, that’s it for tonight. Next time, I’ll feed you something even more interesting!”

My eyes gleamed at those words.

“Oh? Something more interesting than today’s ramen…? Then shall we meet again in three days?”

“Yeah. Three nights from now, right here.”

Ren then cleared his throat and muttered while repeatedly glancing toward Maria.

“Uh… well… Maria, I’d really like you to come eat too.”

Maria smiled brightly.

“I’d love to! Just thinking about getting to try a new ramen already has me excited! I love your ramen, Ren-san. That veggie-potage-style ramen you first made for us was really delicious too.”

At those words, Ren’s face lit up with delight.

“R-Really? You thought my veggie-potage ramen was good!?”

Maria took Ren’s hand and spoke gently.

“Yes, very much. That rich, creamy broth was wonderful.”

“Heh heh heh. R-Really, huh…? Wonderful, huh? Heh heh…”

“I’d love to eat that ramen again.”

When Maria said it wistfully, Ren gave a vigorous nod.

“…All right. Hey, Maria! I can’t serve you the new ramen until three days from now, but starting tomorrow, I’ll serve veggie-potage ramen here every night. Come by whenever you feel like eating it. I’ll be waiting!”

“Wow, really!? …Ren-san, you’re not pushing yourself just for me, are you?”

Ren shook his head at her worried expression.

“Not at all. Actually, I was already planning to start doing business back in my world, pulling this cart around just like my old man did, so I can earn the money to open my own shop. It’ll be good training too, so this is perfect timing… Starting tomorrow, I’m gonna find out whether my ramen can win over real customers! And while I’m at it, I’ll set aside enough soup and ingredients for a few servings before coming to this world, so don’t hold back.”

Maria clapped her hands excitedly.

“Yay! I’ll get to eat that delicious ramen again!? I’ll definitely come! I’ll be waiting, so you absolutely have to come too, okay? Well then, Ren-san… see you!”

“Then we’ll be going, Ren-san.”

Brad and Maria rose from their seats and headed home together.

“Yeah, see you!”

After watching them leave, Ren began tidying up the Yatai while humming to himself.

…W-What was with him?

Ren had suddenly become incredibly cheerful.

Ouri nudged me in the side with his elbow and whispered.

“Hey. What’s gotten into Ren? Why’s he suddenly look so damn happy?”

“Hmmm, I have no idea. Until just recently, he had such a troubled look on his face… Perhaps whatever was bothering him has already been resolved?”

I placed a hand lightly on Ren’s shoulder.

“Well then, Ren. I think we’ll be heading home too.”

“Yeah, see you! Rinsir-san, Ouri-san! Three days from now, I’ll have an unbelievable ramen ready that’ll knock your socks off! Oh, and of course, you’re welcome to come by for veggie-potage ramen too!”

“Y-Yes… I’m looking forward to it. I’ll come for the veggie-potage style as well.”

“O-Okay. I’ll be waiting.”

“To make that ramen, I’ll need to prepare this and that… I want to give the soup two full days. I’ve gotta get ready to open the cart, and I need to make the veggie-potage broth too. Ahh, I’m busy, busy! I’m so busy I don’t know what to do with myself! Ah-ha-ha!”

In high spirits, Ren pulled the Yatai away and disappeared into the alley.

After seeing him off, we tilted our heads in confusion, then turned away and began walking home.