Kitahara Makoto twitched his mouth slightly, unable to resist reminding her:
"Chihaya Anon, you should try other dishes."
"Eh, why?"
Chihaya Anon looked over, confused.
Why?
Because this restaurant serves extremely spicy hot pot, which is completely different from the bland hot pot you've had before.
One bite is spicy, two bites are numbing, and three bites bring tears and snot!
Kitahara Makoto spoke frankly:
"This kind of hot pot is both numbing and spicy. Chihaya Anon probably can't handle it."
"That's not necessarily true." Chihaya Anon puffed out her pink cheeks slightly, clearly a bit unconvinced, "Kitahara-kun is looking down on me. I often used to eat hot pot with friends; I'm not that weak. Besides, humans should always have the courage to challenge the unknown. Maybe if I try, I can discover a new world."
You probably won't discover a new world; more likely, you'll try and then perish!
"Tomori-chan, do you want to try it?" Chihaya Anon tried to find an ally.
Takamatsu Tomori nodded calmly: "I want to eat."
Tsk, another fool asking for trouble. You really don't know how to write the word 'regret,' do you?
"Since you want to eat, then we'll try it later." Kitahara Makoto reluctantly agreed, "But let's take care of the main business first."
The two girls were just curious, but he genuinely wanted to eat hot pot. After he got sick and was hospitalized in his previous life, he never ate heavily oiled and spicy food again, and the taste of hot pot had faded from his memory.
He had originally planned to come back by himself for a meal after finishing today's club activities, but now that he had company, he naturally wouldn't refuse.
"I remember the location of that shop is inside…" Kitahara Makoto looked at Takamatsu Tomori, "Tomori-chan, shall we go?"
"Mm."
Takamatsu Tomori nodded calmly and stepped forward to follow.
Before long, the three arrived at the entrance of a shop that ordinary people would avoid.
"Eh eh eh?!"
Seeing the various insects at the entrance, Chihaya Anon immediately felt unwell. She hugged her arms across her chest, her eyes wide with disbelief:
"You, you guys are actually going to eat insects?!"
Takamatsu Tomori calmly explained:
"Ever since I saw the video Kitahara-kun posted late that night, I've been very curious about what insects taste like. I really want to try them."
Chihaya Anon stepped back half a pace, unable to resist complaining:
"Insects look so scary, their taste must be even scarier!"
Kitahara Makoto looked at the pink-haired girl, teasingly:
"Only those who have truly eaten them have the right to speak; otherwise, it's just hearsay. Chihaya Anon, do you want to try some?"
"No! I don't want to!" Chihaya Anon covered her chest with both hands, shaking her head quickly, "I'm usually super scared of all kinds of insects, I definitely don't want to put them in my mouth! I'll end up in the hospital, right?!"
"That's not necessarily true." Kitahara Makoto started repeating himself, "Humans should always have the courage to challenge the unknown. Maybe if you try, you can discover a new world."
Chihaya Anon: "…"
"I just asked, you can either buy one kind individually, or have a little bit of each insect." Kitahara Makoto looked at Takamatsu Tomori, and said softly, "What do you say, Tomori-chan?"
Takamatsu Tomori quickly made her choice: "I want to try a bit of each."
It must be said that as an eccentric girl, Takamatsu Tomori was indeed very different from ordinary young girls. Most girls truly wouldn't have the courage to try all of them.
"No problem."
Kitahara Makoto helped relay Tomori-chan's request, and also bought a portion for himself.
Having lived two lives, of course he wanted to experience things he hadn't in his previous life. Moreover, Kitahara Makoto had no prejudice against insect dishes; he just hadn't had the opportunity to try them.
"Alright, we'll wait two minutes." Kitahara Makoto explained softly, "These insects are currently semi-finished, about five-tenths cooked. They need to be reheated with seasonings, and then they'll be ready to eat."
In just a few words, the shop owner quickly packed the processed insects into a paper box and handed it over. Perhaps seeing that Kitahara Makoto was with three people, he also gave an extra pair of bamboo chopsticks.
"It smells pretty good."
Kitahara Makoto took the insects and sniffed them. Regardless of the texture, at least they smelled fragrant.
"Here, chopsticks." Kitahara Makoto casually broke apart a pair of disposable bamboo chopsticks and handed them to Takamatsu Tomori.
"Thank you, Kitahara-kun."
Takamatsu Tomori thanked him politely, took the chopsticks, picked up a silkworm pupa, observed it carefully for a moment, and then put it into her mouth.
"How does it taste?" Chihaya Anon watched nervously from the side, her face full of resistance. "Is it not scary? It won't burst, will it?"
Takamatsu Tomori's cheeks puffed out, giving her a strangely adorable hamster-like appearance. She evaluated while eating:
"Crispy and fragrant."
"Really?" Chihaya Anon's face was full of doubt.
"I'm not lying, it's delicious." Takamatsu Tomori's tone was serious. "Anon, you should try some too."
"I... I think I'll pass..."
Chihaya Anon's voice was hesitant.
Kitahara Makoto handed over the bamboo chopsticks: "Only by trying it yourself can you understand what it tastes like. Chihaya Anon, you wouldn't want to miss out on a new world, would you?"
Chihaya Anon's expression was full of struggle, wanting to refuse, but seeing Takamatsu Tomori eating quite happily, her curiosity involuntarily surged up. After hesitating for a while, she finally mustered up the courage and took the bamboo chopsticks:
"Then I'll try it... I won't get a stomach ache, will I?"
"Rest assured," Kitahara Makoto said while eating, "Although these insects are said to be wild, they are actually artificially farmed insects, much cleaner than you might imagine. And under high-temperature deep-frying, true equality among all beings... However, I suggest Chihaya Anon try the silkworm pupae first. Don't force yourself with the other things for now. If you're interested, you can eat them later."
"Then... then alright..."
Chihaya Anon took a deep breath for a moment, finally mustering the courage to try and push open the door to a new world.
"I'm sorry, I just finished the silkworm pupae." Takamatsu Tomori said apologetically.
Kitahara Makoto handed over the box: "There's one untouched. Eat mine."
"How can I..."
Chihaya Anon quickly shook her head.
Boys and girls should keep their distance! They weren't in a very close relationship, so of course she couldn't eat something from a boy!
"Hmm..."
Takamatsu Tomori tilted her head and thought for a moment, then extended her chopsticks, picked up a silkworm pupa from Kitahara Makoto's paper box, and brought it to Chihaya Anon's mouth: "Now you can eat it."
Chihaya Anon: "..."
Under Takamatsu Tomori's expectant gaze, Chihaya Anon ultimately couldn't refuse. Her pretty face slightly flushed, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with one hand and cautiously ate the silkworm pupa.
"Eh, it tastes surprisingly good..."
"Anon, do you want more?"
"...Just one more."
At the same time.
Kitahara Makoto ate the remaining insects one by one, quickly finishing them.
Honestly, this stuff is just for the novelty. It's neither bad nor particularly good, and the price is ridiculously expensive.
"System."
Kitahara Makoto silently recited in his mind.
The pixel-style interface of the Life System unfolded before his eyes. Today's four daily tasks were all completed.
"Lottery."
He couldn't save up for a ten-pull at all. If he had a lottery chance, he had to use it that day, otherwise, he couldn't sleep.
However, Kitahara Makoto didn't have much hope. He had gotten good drops for the past two days. With his luck, today would most likely be an ability fragment...
But the next second.
A ball of light, an ability, dropped in front of Kitahara Makoto.
Ability: [Healer's Optimization]