Chapter 5: The Long-Awaited Dinner

In front of a restaurant in one corner of the hotel, Yuka came to a stop.
Calm-toned walls, a solid, heavy door, and beside it, the restaurant’s name written in restrained gold lettering.

—Tonight, Yuka had toned down her usual flashy side just a little, wearing a simple one-piece dress and a small bag.
Her hair was in its usual ponytail, but it looked somehow neatly arranged, giving her an air that felt just a bit more grown-up.

Meanwhile, Misaki kept her accessories to a minimum.
Her black hair, long enough to brush her shoulders, was worn loose; it was neatly kept, but without any ornamentation.
There was a sense of cleanliness and calm about her appearance.

“Do you think it’s okay—am I not standing out too much?”

“With that outfit, you’ll be fine. …It really suits you.”

“Really? That’s a relief… then I’m going in.”

When Yuka opened the door, the atmosphere inside the restaurant enveloped the two of them.
Tables draped in white cloths, subdued lighting, the gleam of cutlery—
it was a restrained yet elegant space, with no trace of bustle.

“…Wow, it’s like something out of a movie,”
Yuka murmured in a low voice.

Misaki, too, slowly swept her gaze around the dining room, lifting the corners of her mouth in the faintest smile.
After giving their reservation name at the reception, a host appeared right away and guided the two with a warm smile.

“Thank you for your reservation. Please follow me to your seats.”

They were shown to a table for two by the window.
It was a time of day when just a hint of the western sun still lingered, and soft light filtered in through the curtains.
At the center of the table sat a small single-flower vase and a glossy menu card.

“This is amazing… I’m starting to get a little nervous,”
Yuka said, letting out a quiet breath as she took her seat.

“You should just enjoy it,”
Misaki said, gently placing her napkin on her lap before lowering her gaze to the card on the table.

They looked over the menu, which bore only the words “Today’s Course.”

“Whoa… this looks fancy. What language is it?”
Yuka whispered as she stared at the menu.

“This is… French, I think. I can only sort of guess what it means.”

As they were talking, a waiter came over to take their drink orders.
Misaki, without hesitation, ordered the sake she had her eye on — Isojiman Junmai Daiginjo — Blue Bottle.
Yuka hesitated for a moment, then—
“Mmh… I don’t really get this kind of stuff. Misaki-san, could you choose for me?”
She asked for help with a troubled look on her face.

“Well, it can’t be helped.”
She glanced over the menu—
“Please choose something that pairs well with today’s dishes.”
After taking the order, the waiter bowed and left.

“Oh, so that’s how you do it,”
Yuka said, her voice rising in admiration.

A short while later, their drinks were brought over.
For Misaki, sake poured from a blue bottle into a faintly blue-tinted glass.
For Yuka, a clear, blue sparkling wine was served in a flute glass.
“Misaki-san, look! It’s sooo pretty!”
Yuka said, her eyes shining. Misaki returned the look with a small smile—
“Yuka, cheers.”
She lifted her glass lightly.

“Cheeers—”
Yuka clinked her flute glass with a soft click.

“This is sooo good!”
Yuka broke into a smile.
“I’m glad to hear that. This one’s excellent too,”
Misaki said with a smile.

As they were sharing their impressions, the amuse-bouche was brought out.

The first dish to arrive was a bite-sized cake salé.
At the center of a small ceramic plate sat a pale blue piece of batter, perched neatly in place.
Finely chopped herbs and sakura shrimp were scattered across the surface, with patches of toasty browning giving off a savory aroma.

“It’s tiny and cute,”
Yuka said, her voice lifting happily.

Meanwhile, Misaki showed a hint of surprise.
“Blue is unusual.”

“Alright, here goes—”
Yuka popped it into her mouth and smiled brightly.
“Oh, it’s a little salty. The herbs really come through.”

Misaki, too, ate it in a single, quiet bite.
A crisp texture on the surface, and a soft, airy tenderness inside.
The flavor was unexpectedly well balanced—so ordinary and tasty that it was almost anticlimactic.

Next to be brought out was the carpaccio, the appetizer.
On a white plate, thinly sliced white fish, octopus, and scallops were arranged beautifully.
The sauce draped over them was tinted a pale blue-violet, like petals whose color shifts with the light.

A shimmer of oil caught the surface of the seafood, and here and there, blue herbal powder and tiny flower petals were delicately set in place.

“Wait, what is this… it’s so beautiful,”
Yuka let the words slip out.

Misaki scooped up some of the sauce and studied it intently.
“…Is this a kind of marinade?”

When she took a bite, a brighter acidity than expected spread across her palate, followed by the natural sweetness of the seafood.
Yuka’s eyes widened in surprise as well.
“…It’s sooo good!”

Misaki silently set down her knife and fork, then reached for her glass.
“…It’s delicious…”

The main fish dish was brought out.
The plate looked as though it had captured the surface of water.

Placed at the center was a fillet of sea bass, its skin seared to a fragrant crisp.
Across the flesh, a single line of glossy sauce flowed downward.

Along the rim of the plate, plump, transparent pearls were arranged like droplets of water, their light shimmering as the angle of view shifted.
The accompanying herbs and flower petals formed a quiet, composed scene.

Yuka froze with her spoon still in hand, gazing at it in silence.
“…That’s amaaazing. It almost feels like a waste to eat it.”

Misaki took a quiet bite.
…It’s delicious. But… it’s blue again.

With the main meat dish before them, Misaki finished the sake remaining in her glass and called out to the waiter.

“Could I have a red wine, please?”
“I’ll bring one that pairs well with the herb sauce.”

“Huh? You’re switching drinks?”
Yuka leaned in to peek.
“Yes. I just wanted to drink that one first. …Red wine goes better with meat,”
Misaki said, offering a smile so her inner unease wouldn’t show.

Next, the moment the meat dish was brought out, Yuka involuntarily caught her breath.

At the center of the plate lay a beef fillet, its cross-section showing a rosy hue.
Over it, a sauce of deep, ultramarine color flowed thickly, quietly reflecting the light.

“…It’s like space…”
Yuka murmured.

“It must be delicious. It looks good, too,”
Misaki said.
…But why is everything so blue…?
Contrary to her expression, the question refused to leave Misaki’s mind.

After the main dish was cleared away, a small basket was brought over.

“Bread—! It smells amazing,”
Yuka said happily as she picked one up. The moment she tore it apart, she tilted her head slightly.

“…Huh? The inside is kind of blue…?”

At the sight of the faint marbled pattern running through the crumb, Misaki silently tore her bread as well.
“…They’re thorough,”
she said aloud, despite the resignation she felt, careful not to let Yuka notice.

The final plate held a clear jelly, faintly tinged with blue, and a white mousse.
Fruit peeking out from beneath looked like gemstones.

“Whoa… it’s all sparkly…”

The moment she scooped it up with her spoon, a floral fragrance softly spread.

“…Both the appearance and the taste are wonderful…”
Misaki gave up and decided to enjoy it purely.

Misaki called out to the waiter.
“Another Blue Bottle, please.”

“You’re drinking again.”
Yuka laughed.

“That sake was the whole point of today,”
Misaki said with a smile, lifting the glass to her lips.
She took a sip and closed her eyes.

“—It was worth coming.”

After finishing dinner, the two returned to their room.
“It was delicious, and it was so pretty— it was amazing,”
Yuka said, her whole body radiating happiness, but then she tilted her head slightly at Misaki’s reaction.

Keeping her eyes lowered to the glass in her hand, Misaki spoke quietly.
“It was delicious, and it was beautiful. But… why was everything blue…?”

“Is blue… bad?”
There was a hint of unease in Yuka’s voice.

“You know, blue is said to be an appetite-suppressing color. There aren’t many blue foods, and it’s kind of a warning color.
A little is fine, but when everything’s blue… it just starts to feel strange.”

Yuka opened her mouth slightly, as if about to say something, then quietly closed it again.

Misaki gently wrapped an arm around Yuka’s shoulders.
“But today—”
She searched for the right words for a moment, then smiled softly.

“It became a very good memory.”

As Yuka looked up in surprise, Misaki continued, gently patting her head.
“Thank you so much for inviting me.”

After a brief pause, a bright smile bloomed across Yuka’s face.
“Hehe… I’m so glad… you’re welcome!”