Rumoi, Takao Province, Akashi
Commotion filled the okonomiyaki restaurant on a warm, sunny afternooon. The sizzles from the grills became a prevalent sound alongside the daily conversations of the customers seated on either the stools or at the tables. A busy day it was, and with good reason.
Vi's table has different kinds of the dish. With the varying, appeitizing arrangements of savory ingredients presented from each plate, it seemed like the tabletop was a remarkable abstract painting to be studied. Vi ordered the Hiroshima style, her husband Bắc had the Osaka style, all common versions. Her three children ordered more interesting versions. Cảnh, the elder son, had the Modan-yaki style; Lệ, the younger sister, had the fuchuyaki; and Hòa, the youngest son, had the kaki-oko. Grabbing bites, they could either nod or hum with delight as they savor every iota. This was relief for their long tour around the city.
"I really wanna have another plate of this," Cảnh interjected, "This is hella good."
"Don't get too spoiled, now," chuckled Bắc, "How are you liking yours, mình?1"
"I love it," Vi answered, shaking her head with a wide smile, "Now I know another food I can cook."
"I wonder if you can make it with lemongrass," Hòa wondered.
"You and your lemongrass," Lệ replied incredulously.
"What? It's not like I keep pouring five spice on my food every ten seconds," Hòa hit back.
"More like five," Cảnh chimed in.
"Says the hog," Lệ responded back with her head lowered as she glanced.
"Hey, hey. Keep eating," Vi interrupted.
Bắc sighs as the children continued to eat.
"They really seem to get used to doing this to each other. This is the third time already," Bắc pointed out.
"That's how siblings are at times. I can remember when my older brother called me out for being annoying when I was young, and all I did was whine."
"Yeah, you do act childish at times. Especially, when you want to go somewhere where we can't go right now."
Vi chuckled.
"Yeah, right, party pooper."
Bắc smiled tightly as he shakes his head and turns to his plate. The family continued eating, unmindful of the commotion or the time.
- mình = Pronoun used in intimate relationships