Forty minutes later, lunch was ready.
Mint, Mother, and Chocola returned from playing around the pasture.
「Smell, good!」
「The fish are beautifully grilled.」
「Bark!」
The menu featured salt-grilled yamame trout and karaage.
We laid the dishes out on a tree-stump table alongside some pre-made side dishes, instant rice, and condiments, then dug in.
「The skin is crispy, but the inside is tender and fluffy. It’s absolutely delicious. Are these river fish in season right now?」
「Viole-sama, I caught them, and Sui grilled them. In other words, perfection.」
「Fish, so yummy!」
As I watched the lively group enjoying the meal, I noticed that both Mother and Karen were skillfully eating the grilled fish with chopsticks. Now that I thought about it, that was pretty impressive.
「Yours took extra effort to prepare, so make sure you savor it.」
「Bark! Chomp!」
Chocola’s portion was special—grilled without any salt, deboned, flaked, and simmered in broth. Honestly, with how this world seemed to have strengthened our bodies, he’d probably be fine crunching through the bones and all. But letting go of the dietary habits I’d learned back in Japan was still a challenge for me.
「Mint, can you remove the bones yourself?」
「Um…」
「Hold the tail, lift it up… there you go. Well done.」
With Mother’s guidance, Mint tackled the fish’s spine. Although she used her hands, she managed to cleanly separate the flesh from the bones and looked delighted with herself.
「The karaage was fried twice, so you can eat it bones and all.」
「Even the bones?」
「Yep, you can crunch right through from the head down.」
The fresh yamame trout had no fishy odor and a light, clean flavor despite its rich fat content.
The salt-grilled fish brought out the simple, natural taste of the trout. Adding a touch of soy sauce elevated the umami, making it even more satisfying. Whether it was the charred skin or the delicate white meat, the fish had the refined elegance unique to river fish.
The karaage, on the other hand, delivered a delightful crunch when bitten into, spreading a toasty aroma in every bite. A squeeze of citrus juice added a refreshing tang that cut through the oil, leaving a perfect aftertaste.
「By the way, Sui, I’ve heard that some ocean fish have edible innards. Do river fish have those too?」
「They do. For example, ayu is one, but I haven’t seen them in this river. Then again, just because they existed in Japan doesn’t mean they’re here in this world.」
During the meal, Karen struck up a casual conversation.
「What makes the innards edible?」
「It’s different for ocean fish and river fish. For ocean fish like saury, they don’t have a stomach or intestines, so food doesn’t stay inside them long enough to spoil. That’s why their innards are clean.」
「What about river fish?」
「Ayu, the kind I know, only eats moss from rocks. Maybe that’s why their innards taste good, and the fish itself smells a bit like watermelon.」
「Watermelon… that’s red melon, right? On Earth, it’s considered a fruit, isn’t it?」
「Yeah. Here, it’s more like a vegetable, probably because it hasn’t been bred to be super sweet. But the scent is similar.」
In this world, the only melon-type fruit considered a “fruit” is called sweet melon. It resembles a cantaloupe but has slightly different shape and color, and it’s probably most similar to Japan’s makuwauri. While it’s not as sweet as a muskmelon, it is decently sweet and cherished as a summer treat.
Hearing about a fish that smells like watermelon seemed to ignite Karen’s curiosity.
「Ayu… I wonder if they exist here. I’d love to try one.」
「Well, even on Earth, they were mainly found in Asia… Maybe Tomoe’s fisherman brother would know. I’ll ask him next time.」
The river near our house might have a different ecosystem further upstream.
「Now that I think of it, in Japan, there’s a dish where ayu innards are salted and fermented as a side dish for drinks.」
「Oh, that’s intriguing.」
When I mentioned uruka, Mother’s eyes lit up with interest.
「You salt fish innards? I’d rather not imagine that…」
「It’s a fermented food, so the flavor is pretty strong. It’s definitely an acquired taste.」
I remembered Father once bought some from a specialty fair. I’d tried a bit back then. If ayu exist here, I wouldn’t mind trying to make it.
「But if you think about it, fish sauce is also fermented fish, isn’t it? And some regions even use the innards to make it.」
「I’m not a fan of fish sauce either… I prefer Sui’s soy sauce.」
「Mint likes both! Eat either!」
「Well, Mint, that’s admirable. You’re not picky at all.」
「Hehe.」
Mint’s palate seemed to develop rapidly. It wasn’t so much about personal preference but whether her body could handle it. Once she could digest something, she immediately declared it “delicious.” Even with something as pungent as fish sauce.
「How about we explore the river upstream sometime?」
「That sounds exciting. If we find the fish we’re looking for, you’ll make uruka, won’t you? I wonder if it pairs well with wine.」
「There you go again, Viole-sama, bringing up wine—oh.」
Mother brought up alcohol, and Karen, as usual, started to chide her—until she suddenly fell silent. Karen glanced at Mother with a meaningful look, and they exchanged a quick, knowing glance.
「Sui, when are we exploring the river? I think sooner is better.」
「What? Why the sudden rush?」
「I just changed my mind. Spring is such a pleasant season, and it’s a good chance to survey the forest.」
「Well, you’re not wrong, but that switch felt a little unnatural.」
I raised an eyebrow, but Karen only tilted her head, feigning innocence—or maybe genuinely confused? It was hard to tell.
「Explore? Mint wants go!」
「Bark! Bark-bark!」
As I frowned in suspicion, Mint excitedly latched onto the idea, her energy contagious. Chocola joined in, wagging his tail enthusiastically, and the mystery of Karen’s sudden shift in attitude remained unresolved.
「How about tomorrow, if the weather’s nice?」
「Sounds good to me. Sui, is that okay?」
「…Fine, I guess. Let’s go then.」
It’s still a bit early for ayu season, but if we confirm they’re there, we can wait for them to grow before catching any.
And so, we decided to head upstream tomorrow for a river exploration.
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