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A few days flew by after that. But to my surprise, nothing of interest happened, even though I’d braced myself for the worst.
Considering how those chaps had started pestering me under broad daylight along the path, I was convinced that they’d definitely do something before long. However, our life remained peaceful and uneventful. Even when I went out to shop after that day, I never bumped into them. According to Techi, they hadn’t called her or done anything to her family either. Techi’s uncle and his two companions had practically disappeared from our world—it was almost uncanny.
It was indeed a rather strange occurrence, but this was real life, not fiction. Such anticlimactic conclusions were certainly possible. After a discussion, we agreed that the incident with Techi’s uncle had already settled thanks to the sharp warning from the community association president back then.
Since those three were no longer troubling us, the elderly beastfolk watching over our house and orchard had fulfilled their mission. It probably wasn’t necessary for them to keep patrolling the area, so they’d gone back to their lives with smiles on their faces.
The smile they’d shared back then oddly stuck with me. It had been remarkably delighted and somewhat…kind? As if they were looking at something heartwarming? Either way, there had been a hidden undertone I hadn’t been able to decipher, but they’d voluntarily watched over us every single day until today, so it would be rude of me to be suspicious of them.
In fact, I owed them a large debt of gratitude, and one way to pay it back was by preparing a large box of confectionery or snacks, which Mr. Karashina had suggested before.
And so, after lunch on Sunday, I began planning.
I was lounging in front of the low table like I always did after lunch, enjoying freshly brewed tea in Techi’s company, when I started the discussion of what we should deliver to Mr. Karashina.
Folding my arms, I took the initiative to voice my suggestions. “The first thing that comes to mind is senbei crackers… Oh, but some of them were rather over the hill, so maybe something soft and easy on their teeth is better? I guess the next best thing would be traditional Japanese confectionery that goes well with tea. Japanese confectionery made with smooth sweet bean paste or delicate wasanbon sugar would melt in your mouth, and it wouldn’t get stuck in their throat. It’s not what I imagine when I think of snack gift boxes, but I think it has its merits. I feel like they’d like it.”
Techi sat at her dedicated seat, her back straightened with dignity. Her tail swished lazily back and forth. With a solemn expression, she said, “That’s not a bad idea or anything, but nothing beats meat.”
I looked at her blankly. “Huh? M-Meat? You mean…you’re suggesting we gift raw pieces of meat? Or are you talking about meat dishes?”
“Technically, either is fine. But in your case, the entire neighborhood should know your skill in the kitchen by now, so meat dishes might be better.”
“They do? Wait, when did that happen?” I shook my head. “N-No, more importantly, Techi…are you sure meat is the right choice? Even if they are beastfolk, I don’t think the elderly have an appreciation for meat in general.”
She blinked at me with confusion. “Hm? Whoever said that? Meat is the classic and best gift for the elderly, isn’t it? It’s because of their age and declining stamina that we want them to eat meat, build up more energy and strength, and live a long, healthy life. I’m sure that the people receiving the gifts would a hundred percent hope for meat too.”
“Whaaat?” I muttered weakly. “I mean, I get the wish of wanting them to be healthy and have a long life, but sending meat for that sake…doesn’t really seem like the right combination in my mind? It sounds like the culture is different for beastfolk, though… Maybe it’s better considering your constitutions. W-Well, the most important thing for gifts is choosing something that they’ll like, so…I guess that means meat dishes is the best choice, yeah.”
Techi nodded. “Mmhmm. Totally. Recently, you’ve only been making standard meat dishes. Even with your preserve hobby, you’ve been occupied with plum work. I haven’t gotten to eat the special and delightful meat dishes that are your specialty, so I think it’s about time you put a new item on your menu.”
She stared directly at me, and her eyes were shining with anticipation. I narrowed my eyes with suspicion and stared back. “Are you saying that you chose meat dishes because you want to eat them, Techi, not because the elderly like them?”
She wasn’t fazed by my scrutiny at all. Her eyes still lit up eagerly, she replied in an animated voice, “I won’t deny that it’s part of the reason. I love your meat recipes, and I’d love to eat the kind of food you made at the wedding. In fact, if possible, I’d love to feast like that every single day. But hey, I won’t let my selfish wish get the better of me and make a proposal that would cause trouble to people who helped us out of goodwill. Elderly beastfolk love meat—that’s a fact. If you give them meat, they’ll be happy, so for us beastfolk, meat is the default option when it comes to gifts for the senior citizens.”
“Well…” I considered her words. “Human metabolism is completely different from beastfolk, so even if you’re past your prime, you guys probably need more calories than I do… It’s likely natural to crave meat, which is packed with calories, I guess? Hmm, but surely they still prefer softer food that’s easier to digest, right? I assume that teeth and digestive systems weaken with age for beastfolk as well.”
“Yeah, that’s true.” She shrugged. “When you grow old, your body declines.”
“I see… Okay then, let’s go with meat as our gift.” I frowned. “But what kind of meat should it be? Hamburger steaks, maybe? Or tender meat stewed for a long time? Ah, poultry is comparatively soft even if you don’t do any processing, so…poultry marinated with koji salt? That reminds me, I think a friend of mine mentioned that spareribs with honey is delicious and tender…”
As I continued contemplating my options, the glint in Techi’s eyes only grew stronger and brighter. On top of all that, she even started panting erratically with excitement. It appeared that she was truly starved for novel meat dishes.
In my defense, I’ve made quite a lot of different meat dishes for her though… Like pork steak paired with a tangy sauce and pork shogayaki. Since bitter gourds have started showing up in the supermarket, I’ve even made bitter gourds stir-fried with pork and other vegetables. But sadly, it looks like those were but a drop in the ocean—it wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy the rumbling stomach of my dearest carnivorous chipmunk wife.
I kept going, listing more and more dishes and observing Techi’s reaction attentively. For a long while after that, I was stumped about what I should give to my friendly elderly neighbors.