I have always been told that I was an ordinary child.

Because of my quiet nature, I was never able to open up to others, and yet I was not isolated, but followed the atmosphere and blended in just like everyone else.

I was neither good at sports nor good at studying.
My grades were always roughly in the middle or a little above.
Because I had no particular characteristics and was of average appearance, I was often called a plain, unremarkable child.

When I grew up and took over the diner from my parents, that didn't change much.
Rather than dressing up or improving myself, I was busy with cooking training and daily set meals, repeating a simple, ordinary day.

At that time, I became friends with Lily, who visited the diner.
She was the complete opposite of me, a shining hero.

Even to me, she had beautiful hair and good looks even in the eyes of the same s*x.
She was slender but strong enough to hold her own against adults, and she had a strong personality that communicated her intentions straightforwardly.
It was a figure that I admired.

Then one day, she introduced me to a man.
He was a cultivator who cultivated a rare monster in this world.
He was the man who saved our diner that had been struggling and it was difficult to buy demons to use as ingredients.

Thanks to him, I was able to rebuild the diner that I inherited from my parents and by using the demon he cultivated, many customers came to appreciate it and the restaurant became much more crowded than before.
He may not realize it, but I still remember the favor I owed him at that time.
So, I wanted to do something for that person to repay that time, and I wanted to do my best to repay that person someday.

And now, that chance has come at last.

I was humble and ordinary, and unlike Lily, I couldn't fight, and I didn't think I could be of any use to that person's demon cultivation.
But there's something only I can do. Then I'll just do my best for it.
That's the only advantage I can have.






But noodle soup.

Once back at Amanes' castle, the first person to blurt it out was Keji, Kyou's father, when we were about to discuss the next meal.

What's up with you, Dad? That's an unusually difficult look on your face. Was noodle science so difficult?　I feel like I could make ramen noodles, too.

"No, it's not, Miss Keough. Rather, it's the opposite. Noodle dishes are easy to make, and there are many kinds.

Mr. Keogh looked as if he noticed this explanation from Fitis.

Yes, noodle dishes have the widest variety of all the dishes. Starting with the ramen you mentioned, there are noodles, noodles, soba, pasta, and jars of noodles. And within each of them there is an infinite variety of even finer varieties. There's so much variety that it's hard to decide which one to choose first.

And which one you choose at the beginning is also an important choice. "It's also important to decide which one to choose at the beginning, because it will determine the direction of the dish and how you will arrange it.

Ummm ......

Kyou groaned at Fitis and Keiji's explanation.
I'm similarly stumped as to what noodle dish to start with, as I know what they mean.
Since the deadline is only three days, I couldn't make an immediate decision that I should decide on the noodle dish at this stage first, and then use the rest to arrange it.

It was the same for everyone around me, so I thought, "What about udon? No, no, that would be too mundane. It's difficult to arrange ......" and then there was a lot of criticism about it.

Then I'll try everything!　Choose the one that you think is the best for you all!

When I noticed, I couldn't help but say so, and everyone around me, including Kyou-san, looked at me as if they were surprised by my unusual assertiveness, and I involuntarily blushed with embarrassment, but Kyou-san immediately nodded in response.

I know. There's no point in worrying about it. Then, Mina, take care of everything.

To such a casual greeting, as is always the case when asking for something in my dining room, I reflexively replied, "Yes!

Yes!






What do you think?　This time I put seafood broth into shredded noodles and even tried to mix it with wild vegetable demons. A mixture of seafood and mountain vegetables. I also made a Japanese pasta dish with shirataki mushrooms instead of pasta. I tried to be healthier and more creative than the usual pasta.

Yes, it is. I think this seafood soup is quite tasty. However, I think the ramen noodles I made before go better with this, and I think it has a little too much wild vegetables mixed in. I think it would be better to choose one instead of mixing the two.

I think this shellfish pasta is quite interesting. My uncle didn't think of this one either. For novelty, the score is quite high. But it's not as good as the best. Your daughter's pasta would be better than this. If you're looking for a healthier option, it's possible.

Two days later, I still hadn't even decided which noodle dish I wanted to compete with. In the end, I still haven't even decided which noodle dish to compete with, and have been making various noodle dishes with countless twists and arrangements.
I have already made more than a hundred dishes, and I have taken in new and innovative ideas that I have never thought of before and added them to my dishes.

However, none of them were decisive and left me with the impression that something was missing.

What about you, Kyou-san: ......?

"Hmmm.

For the past two days, Dora and Jack, including Mr. Kyou, had a difficult look on their faces and snorted at the food I was serving.
Eventually, maybe he decided to do something, and for the first time in these two days, Kyou-san expressed his opinion.

"It's just not very Mina-like, is it?

"Huh?

This soup, this pasta, I feel like they're trying to be original, but they're not really the same as Mina's usual taste.

It was a line that he wasn't sure whether to say or not, but he just had to, and Kyou-san told him.

I'm not sure what my usual flavor is at ...... then.

I don't know, it's kind of a casual taste, but it's just the usual, you know?



I'm lost because I can't be normal!

I couldn't help but scream.
It was the first time in my life that I screamed out loud to someone, and even Kyou was rolling her eyes in surprise as she was screamed at.
But that didn't stop me.

My usual mediocre taste is no match for ......!　We can't afford to lose the next game!　For Kyou and for everyone else!　And for Lily, who is still fighting!　It's finally time for me to be of service. So you can't lose in that game. To do that, I have to go above them with a little bit of innovative cooking. ......!

When I came to my senses, the thought that I had been keeping in my heart came out like a dam.
That was the word "mediocre" that was said to me by my next opponent at that time.
I kept being told that, and I was able to accept it without worrying about it. No, I thought I accepted it.
But deep down, it always bothered me.
Because it's like a no-brainer.

So, in the next cooking competition, I was trying my best to say goodbye to myself and make a little special dish to stand next to you.
But when Kyou told me that, I couldn't help but cry and clench my fists at my lack of talent.

"No, Mina. Normal doesn't mean bad.

The next thing I knew, Kyou-san was putting her hand on my shoulder and talking to me gently to comfort me.

Your food is delicious. It's not like a novelty or anything, I want to eat it anytime. That's what I want to eat. That's a great thing.

"...... huh?

I mean, think about it. A diner can make a lot of similar dishes every day and still have a certain number of customers come to the restaurant every day, right?　Normally you would get bored easily, but with Mina's food, I can eat every day and never get tired of it, and it makes me want to have it again.

Nodding at Kyou's words, Dora and Jack followed suit.

That's right!　I'd rather eat Mina's food than the usual ones too!

"Yeah, I'm with you guys. Young lady. You don't have to grow up too tall. As I told you one day. It's the mundane flowers on the street that have value.

"Ladies and gentlemen: ......

As I listened to everyone's words, I was reminded of the customers who always visit my teishoku-ya.
Regulars, occasional visitors and first time visitors.
But after they ate their food, they would always say, "That was good.

"It was good. I'll come back for more.

I remembered that those words had kept me going.

And as my grandfather, the gourmet master, said, "It's not just the taste, it's the attention to detail that matters. It's not about the taste, it's about the attention to detail that only you can give to your food.

Then Kyou points to the menu in my store.

"The usual Mina's food. I think that's exactly what the gourmet master was talking about.

When I finished listening to Kyou-san's words, I realized that there were no tears in my eyes, and I was clutching some ingredients.

Thank you, Mr. Keough. Dora, Jack. Everyone.

I took another look at the faces of everyone who had been with me and thanked them.

It looks like you've decided what to make.

And seeing the determined look on my face, Mr. Keough nodded.

Yes,

I've always had a complex about my plainness and mediocrity.
But now I can say with confidence that I am a normal person.

I am an ordinary person and I will do my best to be an ordinary person.
With this decision, I continued my ordinary efforts as usual for the cooking showdown two days later.