Chapter 9: Overcoming the Crisis of a Failing Business – Part 2
“Are these the vegetables grown at Geo-kun’s house?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Hmm… these are incredibly fresh.”
Alicia-san examined the vegetables that had just been harvested moments ago and nodded approvingly.
“These would be perfect for use in my kitchen!”
“Oneesan, you’ve been saying ‘vegetables, vegetables, vegetables’ over and over—don’t try to ignore the inconvenient truth,” Anii interjected sharply.
“Ugh…”
Alicia-san’s face twitched at the rebuke, and only then did her gaze shift toward the meat.
“…Hey, this meat… you really harvested it from the garden?”
“Yes, I saw it with my own eyes.”
“A garden… you call it a garden just because it’s a garden, right?”
“I know what you mean, but this so-called ‘garden’ of his completely defies common sense.”
“No, it’s just a home garden.”
“‘Just a home garden’ can’t possibly produce meat!”
Both of them exclaimed in unison.
Even if they said that, my Gift truly was a home garden…
“Anyway, I’ll try making something with these ingredients,” Alicia-san said, gathering the produce and heading into the kitchen.
In no time at all, she presented three beautifully prepared dishes.
As expected of a professional chef. Her skill and efficiency were leagues ahead of mine.
“…I’ll try it,” she declared, taking a bite of the dish she had just prepared.
“—!?”
“How is it, Oneesan?”
“It’s delicious! Absolutely incredible! Even though I make dishes like this all the time, this tastes completely different!”
It seemed her refined chef’s palate had recognized the difference.
“This one too! And this one! Every single dish is leagues better than before! Can ingredients really make such a difference in flavor?!”
Alicia-san’s excitement poured out in a rapid stream of words.
“This works! With this, we can definitely win back our customers! No, more than that—we might even become the best in the city!”
“Hehe… just as I said,” Anii said, puffing her chest out in pride—but, um, I made those ingredients, just so you know.
“But… could you supply these ingredients regularly…?”
“No problem at all,” I reassured her.
Fortunately, growing and harvesting them was incredibly quick. Producing enough for her shop was no trouble at all.
“The price for selling them would be…”
“Oh, there’s no need to charge,” I said.
I didn’t intend to take any money—after all, I hadn’t spent anything to produce them.
“That’s unacceptable! Even if you’re an acquaintance, as a businesswoman, I can’t just let you off so easily!”
“W-well, if you insist… but I don’t even know what the fair price should be…”
“For this taste… I’d pay double the normal market price, yes!”
“Uh, no, that’s really too much… And besides, business is struggling right now, isn’t it?”
“Ugh… well, yes…”
“Let’s go with the market price for now. If business thrives and you get some breathing room, we can reconsider later.”
“Geo-kun… you’re so cool… I might just fall for you,” Alicia-san murmured, eyes glistening.
I hadn’t expected such an emotional reaction. I just felt a little guilty about taking money without any effort… but apparently, that wasn’t what mattered to her.
A week had passed since I started supplying Alicia-san’s shop with my harvests.
“This is amazing—your shop is booming,” I said, coming to see how things were going.
A line of customers had formed in front of the shop. I usually delivered the produce in the morning, so this bustling lunchtime scene was a first for me.
Meanwhile, the rival shop had gone completely quiet, with the women working there chatting idly out of boredom.
Two customers emerged from Alicia-san’s shop, beaming with satisfaction.
“Wow, that was incredible. I’ve never tasted anything that good,” one said.
“And the price is normal too… I’m shocked,” the other added.
They glanced briefly at the rival shop.
“Well, it wasn’t a bad shop… but…”
“The staff girls might have been pretty, but the taste was just… okay,” they said.
It seemed they had been regulars at the rival shop until recently.
Peeking inside Alicia-san’s shop, I saw the newly hired staff bustling about. Alicia-san herself was moving briskly in the kitchen, busy as ever.
I didn’t want to disturb them, so I quietly slipped away.
“Geo-kun, thanks to you, the shop is thriving! We can continue business now!”
That evening, after closing, Alicia-san came to my house. Anii was with her.
“That’s wonderful,” Anii said.
“I really don’t know how to properly thank you,” Alicia-san said earnestly.
“I’ve already received payment,” I replied.
“That’s not the point!”
With a determined tone, she suddenly leapt at me.
“W-what are you doing?!”
“Hey, Oneesan!?”
Alicia-san hugged me tightly.
H-her face… so close! And she smelled amazing!
She had a smaller chest than Anii, but unlike her, Alicia-san was undeniably feminine and beautiful.
“Geo-kun… what do you think about older women?”
“Eh? W-what do you mean?”
“Could older women be… romantic interests?”
“Well… I-I don’t mind at all…”
After all, Shifa-san was only a year older than Alicia-san, so there was no reason older women couldn’t be considered.
“Then… shall we date?”
“Ehhh!?”
“Heyyy!”
Anii forcefully intervened, pulling Alicia-san off me.
“Oneesan, stop teasing Geo! He’s too gullible and believes anything!”
“Oi…”
Harsh words, but I felt relieved. It seemed Alicia-san had been teasing me all along.
Of course—someone as beautiful as Alicia-san probably had no shortage of admirers.
“Well, let’s leave it at that for today,” Alicia-san said with a mischievous smile. She leaned close to Anii’s ear.
“If you’re not careful, I really will make a move, you know?”
“Huh!?”
I couldn’t hear what she said, but Anii looked utterly flustered.
“I-I don’t care! Do whatever you want, Oneesan!”
“Anyway, I have preparations for tomorrow, so I’ll be off. See you later, Geo-kun.”
“Ah, yes.”
Ignoring the flustered Anii, Alicia-san left with a playful wave.