(T/N: This chapter is about food, if you hate it, then skip it)
So tired… I feel completely drained...
Renya had just opened his eyes when he felt a deep fatigue throughout his body.
He didn't think much of it, assuming it was just physical exhaustion from being on the battlefield for too long.
After all, he had been stationed there for three months—feeling worn out was only natural.
After washing up, he left the room.
At that moment, Senju Tobirama happened to come out of his room as well.
Renya noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the drowsy look on his face and couldn't help but ask:
"Hey, old man, don't tell me you had insomnia last night?"
Senju Tobirama didn't respond—he just nodded.
It wasn't insomnia. He hadn't slept at all.
As for why… well, that was a matter of personal privacy...
"Kid, hurry up and make breakfast. I'm heading out soon."
Worried Renya would press him further about the insomnia, Senju Tobirama quickly changed the subject.
"What do you want for breakfast, old man?" Renya asked.
"Rice, grilled fish, and soup," Senju Tobirama answered smoothly, like he already had it all planned.
"No problem." Renya headed into the kitchen, tied on an apron, and began preparing breakfast.
"Make sure to add wakame to the soup," Tobirama's voice came from outside. "And don't overcook the fish."
(T/N: Wakame is a type of edible brown seaweed)
"Got it, old man!" Renya replied loudly.
Last night, Senju Tobirama hadn't only bought milk—he had also picked up ingredients for today's breakfast.
Clearly, this old guy had planned it in advance...
This kind of breakfast leaned toward traditional Japanese fare—on the heavier side.
Rice was the centerpiece, often paired with red beans or mixed grains.
Renya took out the ingredients Tobirama had bought and saw it was sea bream.
Once the ingredients were confirmed, he got to work.
The fish had already been cleaned before purchase.
So Renya didn't need to spend time prepping it...
He patted it dry with paper towels and placed it into a hot oiled pan, grilling both sides until golden brown.
Meanwhile, he blanched spinach, chopped it into segments, tossed it with sesame seeds, and plated some pickled yellow radish from a jar.
Pickled vegetables were great for whetting the appetite—especially for breakfast when you might not feel like eating much.
He dissolved miso in warm water, poured it into the pot used for cooking kombu, stirred it evenly, then sprinkled in some chopped scallions.
Finally, he plated the grilled saury alongside the pickled radish and spinach.
He ladled the steaming soup into a bowl and placed everything neatly on a tray.
Just like that, a simple traditional Japanese breakfast was ready.
Renya then made his own breakfast. "I'll just throw something together."
He dumped out the remaining ingredients Tobirama had bought last night—only sweet shrimp and clams were left.
Looking at the two ingredients in front of him, Renya's eyes lit up. "Let's make seafood noodles!"
He poured water into the clay pot and added kombu to start the broth, while soaking the clams in salt water to expel sand.
On the cutting board, he shelled and deveined the sweet shrimp, sliced the nori into thin strips, and soaked the dried scallops in warm water.
Once the water boiled, he removed the kombu and added the noodles. Once they floated to the top, he rinsed them under cold water and drained them.
Chilling the noodles not only lowered them to an edible temperature but also caused the internal fibers to contract sharply.
In simple terms, it made the noodles chewier and more elastic.
He heated another pot with oil and sautéed scallions, ginger, and garlic until fragrant, then added the clams and stir-fried them until they opened. He poured in the noodle-cooking broth along with the scallops and sweet shrimp, brought it all to a boil, and turned off the heat.
He first dissolved miso in a ceramic bowl, ladled in the seafood broth, and added the noodles.
He topped it with shredded nori and chopped scallions, then sliced a soft-boiled egg in half and placed it neatly on the side of the bowl.
Steam rose gently, carrying the umami scent of kombu and seafood.
Just like that, a simple bowl of seafood noodles was done.
Renya was about to bring Tobirama's breakfast out.
He had taken so long—the old guy must be getting impatient by now.
"Old man, your breakfast is ready."
Senju Tobirama took the tray and instinctively asked:
"Why is there only one portion?"
Renya gave him a look. "You only bought one sea bream. How could I make two portions?"
Hearing that, Tobirama finally remembered.
"Ah… right. There was only one left when I bought it yesterday."
He handed the tray back to Renya. "You eat this one instead."
Clearly, he was trying to leave the grilled fish for Renya.
"Forget it, old man." Renya didn't take the tray and explained, "I already made my breakfast."
As he spoke, he turned and walked back into the kitchen.
Watching him leave, Tobirama couldn't help but grow curious—what did Renya make for himself?
When Renya returned carrying a bowl of seafood noodles, Tobirama was stunned.
He looked at his own breakfast, then at Renya's.
His breakfast consisted of grilled sea bream, soup, and pickles.
Renya's breakfast was a bowl of seafood noodles—with clams, sweet shrimp, and a soft-boiled egg.
Steam from the noodles drifted between the two of them.
The savory scent of the seafood wafted into Tobirama's nose, making him involuntarily swallow.
"You made seafood noodles and didn't tell me?"
Renya poked open the soft-boiled egg with his chopsticks, and the golden yolk slid down the noodles into the broth.
"You said you wanted rice and grilled fish, didn't you? I even asked you…" Renya slurped his noodles, speaking with his mouth full. "I only started cooking mine after finishing yours."
"Slurp—slurp—"
Watching Renya eat, Tobirama suddenly found his grilled sea bream far less appealing.
If he had known, he wouldn't have ordered anything.
Now it was too late to ask Renya to make him a bowl too, right?
At that thought, Tobirama looked deeply regretful.
Never again would he pick the menu—whatever the kid made, he'd just eat that!
What was done was done. He could only make do with what he had.
"Slurp—slurp—"
Tobirama picked up the sea bream with his chopsticks, its crispy skin letting out a crackle.
Unfortunately, the sound was completely drowned out by the noodle slurping...
He picked out the fish bones, mixed the flaky meat with soup, and stirred it into his rice.
"Slurp—slurp—"
Veins bulged on Tobirama's forehead. Pretending not to hear, he focused on enjoying his "hearty" breakfast.
He ate fast—before long, he was done.
"Slurp—slurp—"
Renya's slurping continued unabated.
Tobirama's face darkened as he looked at him and said coldly:
"Kid, I want seafood noodles for lunch too!"
"Got it, old man." Renya replied mid-slurp without even pausing.
Hearing Renya's agreement, Tobirama finally left, satisfied.
Hmph! It's just seafood noodles!
He'd have them at lunch!
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