Chapter 287: Commissioning Artwork
Although it wasn't just stir-fried green peppers, but rather green peppers stuffed with meat, Eriri hadn't expected the difference in flavor to be so significant.
"Mmm~~~ Once the sauce is properly seasoned, the taste of the green peppers is completely masked!"
Seeing Eriri quickly eat a stuffed green pepper, Kaede finally breathed a small sigh of relief and said with a smile, "You, you already know how to cook yourself, haven't you thought of this?"
"It's subconscious!" Eriri retorted. "Subconsciously, I just think green peppers aren't good. Besides, this is Chinese cuisine; who makes it like this in Japanese food? Kaede-kun, did you study Aunt Reiko's recipes?"
"I flipped through them a bit, but I didn't see this dish. I found it online. The main point is that the seasoning for the sauce needs to be heavy to cover up the taste of green peppers, which some people dislike."
"Hehe, now I know. They really can be made delicious."
She picked up another stuffed green pepper, and just as she was about to eat it, she realized she should take out her phone and snap a picture of the bento box.
"I haven't posted a tweet in three days. I'll post one now while it's lunchtime."
Then Kaede watched Eriri's small hands quickly tap on the phone screen, and she soon composed a tweet, posting it along with the photo she had just taken.
Kashiwagi Eri: [Today's lunch. Even green peppers, which I've always disliked, were made delicious. As a reward, tonight's dinner will be made by me!]
She even included a heart emoji at the end of the tweet.
Kaede was right beside her, and seeing it, he laughed and said, "Isn't that just openly provoking jealousy?"
"Hmph, hmph, I like it. Anyway, everyone who follows my Twitter already knows about our relationship. I'll post it; it's fine, hardly anyone knows what we look like anyway."
After speaking, Eriri picked up a stuffed green pepper and took a bite, savoring the flavor.
"Oh, right, Kaede-kun, do you know how to make carrots taste good?"
"Carrots?"
Kaede thought for a moment and shook his head. "Actually, I'm not sure either. Sometimes when I eat carrots, I also find the taste unpleasant. Maybe it has to do with the variety we buy? But if we ignore the variety and just want the carrots to be delicious, I think the best way is to pickle them."
"Pickles? Like spicy kimchi?"
"Yes, but I don't know how to make them. Although there are tutorials online, it seems like a lot of trouble," Kaede said. "I'll ask Mom later. She should know how."
"It feels like Aunt Reiko knows how to do everything! Oh, right, didn't Aunt Reiko say she was going to become a video creator? Why hasn't there been any activity yet?"
"She actually already recorded three videos. She's just currently studying video editing, subtitles, and that kind of stuff." Speaking of his mother's new venture, Kaede also smiled. "Mom is someone who likes to do things perfectly, otherwise she wouldn't have compiled a thick recipe book over the years just because she loves food. Given Mom's learning pace, I think we should be able to see the first video on her channel before the end of the year. Don't forget to help her promote it then!"
"Don't worry, I definitely won't forget!"
... In the afternoon, classes ended.
Eriri, who had finished packing her bag and was preparing to go to the Art Club, received a message from Utaha.
After seeing the message, Eriri said to Usami next to her, "Mizuki, you go to the club first. Utaha is looking for me; I need to go see her about work."
"Okay, I'll head over first then."
Leaving the classroom, Eriri went directly to the second-year area upstairs and found Utaha waiting right outside a classroom door.
"What is it? Should we talk outside?"
"No need." Utaha shook her head. "It's just something I need your help with. I'll just tag along to your Art Club today and mooch some heat. We can talk on the way."
"Alright."
The two headed towards the Art Club, and along the way, Utaha explained what she wanted to ask Eriri to do.
"It's almost the end of the year, isn't it? Editor Machida and I have decided to hold a signing event during the last few days of the New Year holiday. So, I wanted to ask you to draw a New Year's illustration for me, plus a promotional poster for the signing event."
"Hmm~~~ So that's what it is."
Eriri nodded after listening. It was indeed a very standard request, so she took out her phone and checked the calendar.
"Let me see... Excluding the days we'll be in Hokkaido, during which I absolutely won't draw anything... Hmm, there's definitely enough time. I can handle the composition and everything, right? Don't give me any strange ideas halfway through, modifying things is a hassle!"
"Don't worry, I'll leave everything completely to you this time." Since Eriri agreed so readily, Utaha's mood brightened. "Right, how should we handle the payment? I'll just give you the standard rate, okay?"
"That works. That's not a big issue; it's not like this is our first or second time collaborating."
Eriri nodded, completely unconcerned about the payment. After all, she knew Utaha well; she was definitely not the type to renege on payment.
After briefly discussing the requirements for the illustration with Utaha, Eriri wrote them down in her notebook, planning to start working as soon as she got to the Art Club. The sooner it was done, the better.
When they arrived at the clubroom, everyone was surprised that Utaha had come along too.
Utaha, after entering, said with a smile, "Do you mind if I hang out here for a bit? Going to a café to write every day is quite expensive."
Since they were all acquaintances, having her visit was naturally fine.
There were spare tables and chairs in the clubroom, so they moved a set and placed it between Eriri and Usami.
Watching Utaha take out her laptop, Usami asked curiously, "Senpai, when does the new volume go on sale?"
"The new volume?"
While waiting for her computer to boot up, Utaha tapped her chin and said with a touch of anticipation, "It goes on sale on Christmas Day."
"Eh! Christmas Day? Will many people buy it then?"
"Whether there are many buyers or not is irrelevant. At least it's a good date. Those who are going to buy it definitely will, regardless of whether it's a holiday or not," Utaha said. "Besides, the plot in my new volume happens to be set during this season, featuring Christmas Day content, and the cover character is wearing winter clothes. It all fits perfectly."
Eriri also chimed in, "Yeah, this girl came to commission artwork from me before, and I guessed she was planning to release a volume at the end of the year. Sure enough. However, the end of the year is prime time for light novel releases. Aren't you afraid of clashing with those popular novels?"
"The genres are different, so clashing is fine." Utaha wasn't worried at all. She opened the document for the new novel volume and said, "Anyway, among the light novels of the same type that have come out recently, I bought and read them all, and none of them are any good. What is there to worry about?"
Having said that, under the gaze of Usami and Eriri, she gave the document a title.
[Final Volume]
Is she finishing it?