The rain was not particularly heavy, pattering against the windows. Several dishes in the room steamed white, softening all the cold, harsh edges around them.
As they looked at the delicious, fragrant food in their bowls, smiles spread across everyone's faces. They picked up their chopsticks, pressed their palms together, and said:
"Let's eat!"
However, Asano Kiyoshi and Nel did not do the same. He had never been used to the Japanese custom of saying that before meals, so unless it was mandatory, he would not do it.
As for Nel, she did not understand dining etiquette either. Whatever she did, she simply followed Asano Kiyoshi's lead.
As they ate, Asano Kiyoshi smiled at the sight of Urahara and the other two arguing red-faced over a piece of meat. At the same time, his chopsticks never stopped placing food into Nel's bowl, until the food inside was nearly piled into a small mountain.
Nel ate with all her might as well. No matter how much Asano Kiyoshi gave her, she ate it all, stuffing herself until her cheeks bulged like a squirrel's.
After a ravenous meal, they had finished all the dishes.
Seeing everyone at the table rubbing their round bellies and letting out little burps, Asano Kiyoshi felt quite pleased.
After all, what people who cooked hated most was having others pick apart the food they had made.
The Urahara Shopkeeper smiled at Asano Kiyoshi, flashing his gleaming front tooth and giving him a thumbs-up as he said with a grin:
"If you, Xiao Qing Shop Employee, are willing to take over the kitchen work from now on, I'll give you extra pay for both a chef and a chef's assistant. Mm, for the two of you combined, I'll give you 2,000 Kan a month!"
Asano Kiyoshi naturally nodded