[Part 2/4]
This is the morning scene at the Onitsuki family's orphanage on the outskirts of Fusō-kuni....
The number of kids at the orphanage run by Azuma Hibari is a total of 28, with about 90% of them being half-youkai.
It's not discrimination, nor is it reverse discrimination. Half-yokai are shunned at other orphanages, or they're overflowing with people trying to help them. And since the director themselves are half-yokai, that's why they're gathered here. To others, it might seem like a hassle, but... Azuma Hibari accepted it with an open heart. They seem to think it's reasonable, and in a way, that's correct.
...Wait, can one person really handle this many kids? I thought, but she seemed capable. After all, she's a Tanuki. According to the rumors I've heard, she can create illusions with mass. Illusions with mass? Is she a monster?
Well, the older kids have grown to some extent, so they can't be underestimated in terms of combat power, but at the end of the day, they're still just kids. I can't expect too much from them, and it's written in the manual not to. It's emphasized in bold red letters with underlines to treat them like they're doing their daily chores. Is that overprotection?
"Is that overprotection, I wonder?"
I mutter to myself while standing in the kitchen, wearing a Kappogi apron, and chopping a pumpkin. I chop it up with a knife and cook it with some ginseng. The seeds I scoop out are absolutely not to be thrown away. I'll keep them to plant again, and they can be used as a snack when roasted.
"Uh... I think I need to reduce the salt content so it doesn't cause indigestion."
I confirm while reading the manual I received. Among the half-yokai kids, some have strong inherited traits, so there are restrictions on seasoning and ingredients. It says to avoid using strong salt, oil, spices, onions, garlic, and so on, and to be careful when cooking.
"Is this a typical Tokyo-style flavor, going around in circles?"
The content that pursues a light flavor is, in a way, a typical Tokyo-style flavor. However, in reality, only those above middle class in Tokyo prefer Tokyo-style flavors, while the lower class people who sweat and toil prefer salty flavors. The countryside folks are even more so. I, of course, am one of the latter. It's not satisfying, but I'll be patient and add a little soy sauce, bit by bit, to make it less salty.
"The rice is cooked with a lot of water, making it soft and... well, it's almost like porridge."
It's also a fact that there are many kids, and considering their digestive systems and teeth alignment, it's better to avoid hard food. If I peek into the pot, I'll see a porridge-like dish with added leafy greens and crushed sesame seeds. Mmm, this is quite delicious.
"The soup is... good. This is also light-tasting."
The miso soup is rich, so we're using a clear broth... but it's expensive, so they're being frugal. I'm adding eggs from the chickens in the backyard to make a savory egg drop soup. By the way, the base of the broth is dried shiitake mushrooms. Azuma herself went into the mountains to gather them.
"Uwaaaah!!"
"What's wrong?! What happened?!"
Just as I thought I was almost done, a scream came from behind me. I wonder if I should go to the living room, but then a white-clad figure with a white fox ear appeared from the gap in the shoji paper door.
"Tomobe-san, please don't worry! I'll handle it somehow!"
"What happened? Are you hurt?"
I asked Shiro, who was supposed to be my attendant, but was now dealing with the kids group. I needed to grasp the situation.
"No, it's just... Azuma-san isn't here, and the little one is crying..."
Shiro answered with a bitter smile, and I could sense a hint of sadness hidden beneath.
"Missing their mom, huh? That's tough. It's only the second day, too..."
On the first day, I was too caught up in the novelty of being a substitute parent, but now that I've remembered my role as a parent, I feel like I'm in way over my head.
"I think it'll be better if we eat breakfast, so... Tomobe-san, please prioritize that. I'll go and soothe them with the older kids."
"Alright, got it."
I agreed with Shiro response and resumed cooking to the sound of crying in the background. Still...
"Older kids, hey..."
Shiro, who was partially matured due to being part of the evil fox group, was also dealing with the older kids. While they seemed to be on good terms, they were also keeping a distance, treating the kids like children. It wasn't a bad relationship, but... I wanted to get along with them better.
"Well, that's it."
After confirming that everything was well-cooked, I finished preparing the meal. The dishes were a large nabe pot with chopsticks... which were dangerous, so I prepared spoons instead. There were bowls for everyone, with the older kids using chopsticks and the younger kids using spoons.
"Bring the hot pot! Be careful!"
"Ah, yes...!"
"Food?"
"Hey, be careful, it's hot, so sit down!"
I warn them because the hot Nabe and pot can cause burns if touched carelessly. Those hungry kids often rush in without thinking, so I have the older ones keep an eye on them. After getting a response, I head to the dining area.
We're not fancy, so we're having a simple meal around the table. I serve each person a bowl of rice and soup. For those who want extra toppings, I add them beforehand, and they can eat as much as they want later. However, no one touches the food until everyone has been served. That's what the mom's guidebook says.
"...So, shall we eat?"
I respond to the eager gazes with a cheerful "Itadakimasu!" At the same time, the hungry kids start devouring their food.
"Didn't Azuma――your mom tell you? Eat slowly and savor it!"
I caution the young, beast-eared kids who are wolfing down their food. Well, from my past experiences, I know this kind of warning is usually ineffective. It was the same with my younger sister and the new servant kids back then. Children's rationality isn't strong enough to control their appetite.
"What's wrong? Aren't you eating?"
On the other hand, there's a kid who isn't eating much. Especially this young kid, who I haven't seen before. She has cow-like ears and a cow tail, and her eyes are puffy from crying, so I think she must have cried a lot during cooking.
"..."
"...If you don't eat, your stomach will stay empty?"
"Am I going to be taken away later?"
"No, why?"
I just interrupted his reply. Is he a cow? Or is it because she's a half-cow youkai that she'll be taken away, perhaps?
"I've heard of it. The one who was fed delicious food by the last priest will be sol, right? So I will be sold because I wAs a nuisance, wasn't I?"
"By the way, what am I?"
"...The one who's taking me?"
"Am I demon (Akuma) or something!?"
I answer with a disappointed expression. It's unbelievable.
"But... your face..."
"It's a mask. No, but..."
I touch the mask I'm wearing while eating. It's true that if someone with an Demon (Oni) mask were roaming around the house, it would be scary. But, to be honest, my real face isn't that great either...
"Uuu... Mom...!"
It seems I reminded her of her loneliness while we were talking. The crybaby's eyes welled up with tears, and her voice was already shaking. He let out a sob. By the way, her tail was flailing about, scratching the floor. "Stop it, already..." I said, but she wouldn't listen.
Hmm... maybe I should just be straightforward and get it over with.
"Yeah, maybe you got sold out or something."
"!!"
The kid looked up at me with a mixture of fear and anger, her shoulders trembling. She glared at me like I was some kind of demon.
"Tomobe-san...!"
"Wait, wait... let me finish talking!"
Shiro, who was standing next to me, looked puzzled by my outburst. I continued in a soft voice, trying to calm her down.
"I've been telling you, right? Bad kids get taken away by Tengu or Demon (Oni), and then they get eaten up."
"I'm not a bad kid!!"
The crybaby let out a wail at my terrifying words.
"I'm doing what Mom said I'm a good kid!!"
"Yeah, that's exactly what I'm seeing. If you can follow the rules until your mom gets back, that's great. But unfortunately, no one can do that, and they'll just end up coming back empty-handed."
"I'll be a good kid I'll eat!"
The kid seemed to understand what I was getting at and started eating her rice with enthusiasm. I warned her to chew well, and he started counting her bites, trying to reach 20 chews per mouthful, just like Azuma Hibari taught her.
"Tomobe-san..."
"What's going on?"
I gave a forced laugh, trying to deceive Shiro, who was staring at me with a suspicious gaze. Threats? Education through intimidation? It's all the same, right?...
"By the way, if you're a good kid, I'll prepare a sweet treat for you at 8 o'clock, okay? I was told that if you don't eat properly, you'll get punished instead of rewarded."
"""!!!"""
The kids's eyes went wide, and they suddenly became quiet, then quickly started following the rules. The older kids looked at me with a mixture of surprise and admiration. I was surprised too. It's all about rewards and punishments, and kids can't resist the temptation of sweets.
"Ah, sorry... We caused trouble..."
I saw that face during the Fox Uproar incident... but it seems he has grown up a bit since then, probably around mid-teens now... This young boy came beside me, apologizing. He looked really scared.
"It's okay, don't worry about it. I was just doing a job your mom asked me to do, and I got paid for it too. I'm not gonna do a job without getting paid, you know?"
The payment for this job was probably taken from Omnyouji Bureau's, or rather, the head of Omnyouji Bureau's pocket money. It was both payment and budget at the same time. The necessary expenses to take care of those kids would be covered from here.
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