NOVEL NEXT Chapter 28 - Episode 028: Headhunter, Cooling off with everyone
Episode 028: Headhunter, Cooling off with everyone
The next day.
When stepping outside, the high humidity and lukewarm breeze brushed against Ack’s cheeks.
Ack raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun that had just risen.
“It looks like it’s going to be hot again today.”
Ack headed to the town to buy something specific.
“It’s expensive…”
“It’s handmade, you know.”
“I see.”
Despite being surprised at the higher-than-expected price, Ack bought the item and returned home.
“Nnn…”
Upon returning home, Tina was still sleeping.
Her innocent sleeping face was truly angelic. Ack couldn’t help but soften his expression naturally.
With narrowed eyes, Ack gently stroked Tina’s head.
“Nnn…”
Tina squirmed as if ticklish, turning over in her sleep.
Filled with happiness and feeling soothed since the morning.
After admiring her sleeping face for a while, Ack began preparing for the café.
“Good morning…”
“Morning.”
By the time the preparations were done and breakfast was ready, Tina and Snow came into the living room looking half-asleep.
“Munch, munch.”
After finishing their meals while Tina was looked after, washing their faces, Tina finally woke up and helped prepare to open the café.
However, as usual, today was also a day of relaxation until customers arrived.
As noon approached, the temperature rose steadily, and the inside of the café became humid.
Seeing Tina starting to sweat on her forehead and Snow looking exhausted, Ack opened the windows and fetched drinks from the refrigerator.
As Tina and Snow were offered their drinks, they started drinking vigorously.
“Slurp, slurp.”
“Splash, splash.”
At this rate, they seemed to gulp it down quickly. It’s about time to bring out something good.
Ack placed a bowl on the table and took out something he had bought earlier in the morning.
“Ice?”
“That’s right.”
The identity of the item was ice. Moreover, it wasn’t small but a large lump bigger than Tina’s face.
“What are you going to do?”
“Watch. Hngh! Hah!”
With a curious expression, Tina watched as Ack tossed the ice into the air and swiftly wielded a small knife.
*Squeak*
Along with the high-pitched sound from the ice, fine ice fell into the bowl, forming a pile.
Then, Ack arranged fruits that had been frozen or soaked in sweet syrup, which he had made by boiling fruit, on top.
The result was an ice mountain that looked like a cute, deformed monster.
“What’s this?”
“It’s shaved ice. You eat the syrup and the ice together.”
Ack placed the shaved ice in front of Tina and handed her a spoon.
Tina scooped up a spoonful and boldly put it into her mouth.
The sweetness of the syrup and the cool sensation of the ice spread throughout her mouth. It was a new texture and flavor for Tina.
The moment she tasted it, her usually sleepy eyes widened.
“!!”
“How is it?”
“It’s cold and delicious.”
“I see. That’s good to hear.”
Tina responded with a small smile to Ack’s question.
Seeing Tina looking pleased, Ack felt happy too.
“Kyuu kyuu!!”
“Kuu!!”
“Kurururu!!”
Seeing Tina enjoying her shaved ice, Snow and the others seemed to want some too, clamoring for Ack.
“You guys want some too? Wait a moment.”
Ack found their behavior adorable and, just like before, shaved some ice for each of them.
“Alright? Eat shaved ice slowly. Understand?”
“Kyuu!!”
“Kukukuu!!”
“Kuruu!!”
“I got it, I got it.”
Despite being warned to eat slowly beforehand, Ack was urged by Snow and the others’ eager voices, so he placed the shaved ice in front of them.
*Shuffle*
Snow took a bite of the shaved ice.
“!!”
Like Tina, Snow and the others also liked the coldness and sweetness and began to devour it eagerly from the next moment.
However, after a few bites, Tina, who couldn’t stop at first, held her head, followed by everyone else holding their heads with their front paws.
“Ugh…”
“Kyuuu…”
“Kuu~…”
“Kyuu…”
The headache caused by eating the shaved ice too quickly struck everyone.
Their appearance was very adorable.
“I told you, didn’t I? If you eat shaved ice too quickly, this happens.”
Ack looked at Tina and the others with a gaze as if he was looking at something adorable.
“I wish you had told us properly.”
“It’s the joy of eating shaved ice for the first time.”
“Muu…”
With a dissatisfied pout, Tina’s head was gently stroked to comfort her.
Though Tina pouted, she didn’t say anything more, considering she had been warned earlier.
Getting a headache is part of the experience. After all, experiencing this much makes it truly shaved ice.
*Ding-a-ling!*
“Welcome.”
“H-Hello. Shaved ice, is it? That’s rare.”
Maria arrived and, seeing Snow and Tina gathered together, approached a little hesitantly.
“How about you, Maria?”
“Is it okay for me to have some?”
“Yeah.”
“In that case, I’ll gladly accept your offer.”
Ack made shaved ice for Maria too.
“Haaaah!?”
Unlike Tina and the others, Maria was astonished by the way it was made.
And with good reason. It was unimaginable to shave ice for shaved ice with a small knife like cutting bread.
Maria couldn’t imitate that either.
“Oh, it’s delicious.”
“Is it?”
The shaved ice was also well received by Maria, as well as by the serious-looking young man who came later and the craftsman.
“Uuuh!!”
Of course, all three of them seemed to have eaten it for the first time in a while, and they all tapped their heads with their hands, suffering from headaches.
“I think it will be popular with women.”
“It might prosper, don’t you think?”
“It’ll sell well.”
“Is that so?”
Encouraged by the approval of the three, Ack began to consider commercializing shaved ice.