I realised it when I arrived at the Evening Rain. I didn’t have my work clothes today.

When I was at university, I kept them in my locker to change into if it rained. But today, I had come straight over from my other job, so I was in plain clothes.

But, I’m wearing a long blouse skirt, so I guess it’s okay?

I put on an apron as I thought about that.

I looked at the full length mirror, but I couldn’t see myself as a shop assistant in a cafe.

I did ask the Owner, but he said it was fine.

I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that I looked just like a housewife, but I decided it was okay in the end.

After deciding on today’s menu, the Evening Rain Cafe opened.

The rain was getting stronger.

Not long after opening, a customer came in.

 

「Welcome…ah, good evening.」

「Hello, it’s been a while.」

「The rain is quite heavy isn’t it?」

「Yes, really. It was hazy today as well.」

 

The customer was a regular, Iida-san, the bank salesman.

He only had a folding umbrella and his shoulders were wet, so I lent him a towel from the shop.

 

As I guided him to his seat, I heard the shop door open again.

After introducing the menu to Iida-san, I hurried over to meet the new customer.

 

「Welcome~, oh, Ryoko-chan.」

「……I’ve had a terrible time.」

「Oh no.」

 

The second customer was Ryoko-chan, who had finished her job. She seemed to have been caught by the rain on the way back to the university to collect some things she had left behind.

She had a folding umbrella, but the rain was so strong that it wasn’t of much help.

Ryoko-chan took off her soaked long sleeve hoodie, revealing a T-shirt.

 

「I’m glad it’s not wet underneath.」

「It feels like a small bit of happiness in misfortune.」

 

I handed a towel to Ryoko-chan and guided her to her seat.

 

「Mm~, today’s menu is, 『Kanzarashi and Matcha』? What is that?」

 

Today’s menu seems to be something that even Ryoko-chan, who is from Nagasaki, doesn’t know about.

The Owner told me that Kanzarashi is a famous confectionery from Shimabara city in the south eastern part of Nagasaki prefecture.

 

「It’s not Kanzarashi Soba is it?」

「No. It’s sweet.」

「Oh~, I’m quite curious.」

 

Of course, Iida-san, who is from Tokyo, doesn’t know either.

Kanzarashi Soba is a dish where buckwheat is taken out on a freezing winter night and left to dry, followed by drying it under the sun. It takes about two months to complete, using a natural freeze-dried process. It has a very rich aroma and the soba made from it is eaten on special days.

It’s a local dish to the Nagano prefecture and hearing about it made me want to eat it. I am determined to find out if I can order it later.

 

「That aside, Hidaka-san has a different feel today~」

「Sorry about that, the sudden rain caused me to look like this……」

「No, no. You look like a young wife.」

「Thank you very much.」

 

I’ve been called an auntie a lot recently, so being called a young wife made me happy!

However, Ryoko-chan was angry and said that he shouldn’t call a teenage student girl a young wife.

As usual, she’s unforgiving towards adult men. It’s a relief that Iida-san doesn’t mind it.

 

I didn’t have the time to watch their exchange.

I returned to the kitchen because I had to make the Matcha.

The Owner prepared Kanzarashi for two people.

That is, he took out some small white dango made with spring water from Shimabara, known as the City of Water, and placed them into cold water. It’s a traditional confectionery that was introduced from China more than 100 years ago and is made with honey and a coarse sugar called kizara.

On a very cold day, the glutinous rice used to make it is exposed to water which is how it came to be known as “Kanzarashi”.

Nowadays, it is known as a “Frozen Summer Dessert” and there are many restaurants that only serve it in summer.

 

The Owner seemed to have taken water from Shimabara to make the white dango. The special honey and bean jam toppings were also made by hand.

 

Yes, yes. I have no time to be distracted. I have to prepare the Matcha.

At the same time the thin Matcha was prepared, the Kanzarashi was also finished.

The appearance of the white dango floating on the clear honey was very cool. The bean paste at the center was also beautiful.

Putting the matcha, Kanzarashi and a wooden spoon onto a lacquer tray, I placed them on a hand cart to bring over.

Iida-san and Ryoko-chan looked at the Kanzarashi I brought over with surprise.

 

「I thought it would have been something dry!」

「Me too.」

 

It wasn’t dry, but cold!

I haven’t eaten it before, so I’m interested in what it’s like.

I decided to watch the two of them eat it.

 

「Ah, delicious!」

「It tastes very elegant, doesn’t it?」

 

The cool honey, white dango and carefully cooked bean jam seems to be an excellent combination.

The sweetness is moderate and the smooth feel of the dango going down your throat is wonderful.

 

The two of them ate it up in no time.

 

「Oh wow, this was very delicious today.」

「Thank you very much. I’ll tell the Owner.」

 

Iida-san said he would definitely eat it if he ever went to Shimabara.

It seems he goes around to various regions to do his sales business.

 

「Speaking of which, Iida-san, your skin looks a bit red.」

「That’s true. I want to say it’s because of my work – but it’s become like this because I’ve been going fishing.」

 

He seems to have rented a car to go fishing on his days off.

 

「The sea of Nagasaki is good isn’t it~. The current season is black sea bream and Japanese horse mackerel. There also seems to be places where you can catch swordfish.」

「That’s nice~, fresh fish.」

「Yes. Sashimi or grilled with salt, they’re all delicious. I’m going to Oshima tomorrow.」

「–Oshima!?」

 

Ryoko-chan gave a cry when Oshima was mentioned.

It seems there is a famous beach there.

 

「The sea, I want to go!」

「Then, would you like to go with me?」

「Not with just the two of us!」

「Hahaha. Then, why don’t we go with Hidaka-san and the Owner?」

「I have time off from my part time job and I’d love to go there, but I don’t know about the Owner.」

 

The sea and the Owner. I feel they don’t fit at all. Suddenly invited to go out tomorrow, the Owner feels like an indoor person, so I felt like he wouldn’t come along even if invited.

 

「No, I think the Owner will come if we tell him that Oto-chan is going.」

「You think so?」

 

For now, I asked the Owner what he thought about it.

 

The Owner, who was called out, looked at the lively Iida-san and Ryoko-chan with narrow eyes. It seems he wasn’t wearing contacts today either.

When I asked if he would like to go to Oshima to swim at the sea, I heard a shocking reply.

 

「After the Bon Festival, jellyfish will come out from the sea.」

「Eh, no way!」

 

Ryoko-chan was shocked. She didn’t seem to know about the jellyfish. She hadn’t been to the beach for about 10 years.

That’s why the Owner said swimming wasn’t recommended.

I was enjoying the mood, so I was also a little disappointed.

However, Iida-san gave us more information.

 

「Then what about barbecue at one of the camp sites, or making curry? There are also other attractions, it seems you can see a splendid cliff that appears in a suspense drama from the observation deck.」

「A cliff from a suspense drama?」

 

The Owner suddenly interjected at the mention of a cliff.

Since it wasn’t about barbecue or curry, Ryoko-chan didn’t add anything more.

 

「When are we going?」

「Tomorrow is the plan.」

 

Despite being on such short notice, the Owner took his notebook out of his pocket and checked his schedule.

After a brief silent, he said in a haughty manner 「Well, I can go」.

 

「Then it’s decided!」

 

Oshima is an island near the Nishisonogi Peninsula at the center of Nagasaki prefecture and it seems it can be reached by car because of the bridge.

The Owner will take his car out tomorrow.

I’m excited to go out.

Looking forward to tomorrow, I decided to do my best at work.

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