Over the course of three days, I adjusted the spice blend bit by bit.
After several trial runs and taste tests, I was finally satisfied.
To be honest, the thing I was most cautious about was the smell. The rich aroma of curry has a way of spreading through the house like wildfire, almost like an influencer’s viral post. It would spoil the surprise if the family caught wind of it too early. So, I worked in secret during the dead of night while everyone was asleep or when they were out during the day, with Karen as my accomplice.
And finally, on the last day—grandma’s last night before she would return to Sidera—we were ready.
※※※
「Whoahh, smell! What! That, what?」
「Spices? But there’s a bit of sweetness in the air too.」
「It’s such a rich, inviting aroma.」
Mint was the first to react, followed quickly by Grandma and Mother.
The scent of the curry filled the living room, drawing everyone’s attention.
「Sorry, you two will have to stick with your usual tonight.」
「Bark!」
「Kyuru!」
We had opened the sliding window to let Pochi join us, so it really was a dinner with the whole family. Unfortunately, because the curry was filled with spices, I couldn’t let Pochi or Chocola have any. But they didn’t seem to mind much, their attention focused instead on their own bowls of dog food and salad.
The curry itself was chicken-based—chunks of thigh meat from a trihand bird. As for the vegetables, I kept it simple: carrots, onions, and round yam. Considering none of them were familiar with curry, I toned down the spiciness as much as possible.
The secret to its mildness? Apples and honey.
Grated apple and honey blended in, transforming the curry into something sweet and mild, making it easier for Mint to enjoy—and for another reason close to my heart.
「Grandma’s leaving for Sidera tomorrow, so I wanted to make a dish she’d remember. This is called curry, a Japanese dish.」
Technically, it originated in India, but the sweet, mild version that you eat over short-grain rice—that’s something uniquely Japanese at this point.
「It’s like a stew packed with spices, poured over rice?」
「That’s right. There are many ways to eat it, but this is the most familiar to Japanese households.」
「Grandma, I helped a lot too!」
「How wonderful, Karen.」
「Uuuu, look delicious…..Sui, eat already!」
While grandma and Karen were still fussing and mother looking silently on her plate, Mint couldn’t wait any longer. And with her insistence, we began eating.
「Itadakimasu.」
I scooped a spoonful of rice and curry together, bringing it to my mouth. As I tasted it, I closed my eyes for a moment.
「…Yeah.」
The aroma and flavors spread through my mouth, warming me from the inside. Sure, the ingredients were different, and I didn’t have any store-bought curry roux to fall back on, but it was close enough to evoke memories.
Grandma took her first bite and her eyes widened.
「It’s my first time tasting something like this. It’s spicy, yet so gentle. Absolutely wonderful.」
「Muu…hmm hmm hmm hmm」
Mint, meanwhile, was too busy shoveling spoonfuls into her mouth to speak, her feet kicking in delight under the table.
「This is way better than when I helped taste-test! Is that because I helped?」
Karen said with a satisfied smile, her spoon flying from plate to mouth.
「Sui-kun…」
Then, there was Mother.
「It’s really delicious. I bet there are many ways to eat this, aren’t there?」
「Yeah, you can pair it with flatbread instead of rice, and you can adjust the spices too. I could’ve made it spicier, but…」
「Did you tone down the spiciness on purpose?」
「Yeah. I added apple and honey as secret ingredients, so it’s much milder than a typical curry.
Hearing this, Mother gave me a nostalgic smile—one that was playful yet warm at the same time.
And then, she said it.
Smiling softly, with such tenderness in her voice—
「Your father loved this, didn’t he?」
「W-what… How do you know that?」
Had fater mentioned curry in this world? Before I could even finish the thought, Mother shook her head as if to dismiss the notion, still gazing at the curry, then she looked up at me.
「I just know, Sui. We were husband and wife, after all. I’d recognize a flavor he’d love. And besides, I’m your mother—I know what you were thinking when you made this.」
「Mother…」
「You made this for Mint, too, right? With the apples and honey, it’s got such a gentle sweetness.」
What I’d been aiming for was the taste of Vermont Curry—the kind with apples and honey, mild and comforting.
Yeah, Mother, you’re right.
Father loved this curry.
I used to tease him for having the taste buds of a child, but he’d always say, ‘This is the best’. I never asked, but maybe it reminded him of the meals his mother used to make for him when he was a kid.
Mother took another bite of curry, savoring it quietly, and let out a soft, contented breath.
「It’s delicious. It feels like a true family meal—more than ever before. Maybe it’s because we’re all eating the same thing, or maybe it’s because this scent fills the whole house.」
「…Thank you, Sui.」
Just then, Grandma, who had been silent, spoke softly beside her.
「When you reach my age—past seventy—there are many regrets in life. So many ‘what-ifs’ and ‘if onlys’ cross your mind. I’m sure you both know what I mean, given all you’ve been through at such a young age.」
You both, she said.
But the hardships Grandma had faced were far greater than ours.
She had lost a child early, was widowed later, and even lost the rest of her family, except for Mother. There was a time when she was estranged from her too. Her path had been much more difficult than ours could ever compare to.
Yet, Grandma smiled.
She took another bite of curry, savoring it with a soft laugh before speaking again.
「Even so, being here like this—eating this meal—I feel so fortunate. To sit around this table with you, enjoying a dish Kazuteru loved, made with flavors from another world… I think this happiness is something only I, having lived through it all, can truly appreciate.」
「Grandma? Crying?」
「No, no, dear. I’m not crying. I’m just happy.」
She patted Mint on the head as she nodded with a gentle smile.
「Thank you, Sui, Karen, for making such a wonderful meal on my last night here. I’ve truly enjoyed the month I’ve spent with you all.」
「Grandma, goodbye but come back, okay? You must, visit, play again, must you, okay?」
「Of course, Mint. Besides, the work I have to do in Sidera is to help you and your family, after all. Even if we live far apart, I’ll always be thinking of you. And most of all…」
Grandma’s hand, holding her spoon, moved with the grace of someone much younger than her years. She ate with the appetite of a young girl, full of life and energy.
「Oh, this is so delicious. I may not be as young as you all, but remember, I’m still a ‘witch’. I plan to live another fifty years at least, so I’ll be visiting you many more times. And when I do, promise me you’ll make curry again.」
Karen and I exchanged wide-eyed glances. Then we looked at Mint, snuggled close to Grandma, followed by Mother, who was looking on with a slight sigh, though satisfied. Even Chocola let out a cheerful bark, and Pochi grazed peacefully outside the window.
After sharing a look with everyone, I turned back to Grandma.
「Of course, Grandma. Just look forward to it. And it won’t just be curry—we’ll make miso soup, pickles, tofu… The Hatano household has a lot to offer.」
Several plates were already empty.
Anyone want seconds? We made plenty, so don’t hesitate to ask!
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