The Restaurant of Many Orders (2) (1)

by Kenji Miyazawa

"Please apply the cream from the jar thoroughly on your face, hands, and feet."

Upon hearing this, they realized that what was in the jar was indeed milk cream.

"What could it possibly mean to apply cream?"

"This is because it's very cold outside. If the room is too warm, your skin might crack, so this is a preventative measure. It seems there's quite a distinguished person in the back. We might unexpectedly get close to nobility in a place like this."

The two applied the cream from the jar to their faces and hands. Then they took off their socks and applied it to their feet. There was still some cream left, so the two secretly pretended to apply it to their faces while gradually eating it.

After that, they quickly opened the door, and on the back side, it was written:

"Did you apply the cream well? Did you apply it well to your ears too?"

A small jar of cream was placed there.

"That's right, I didn't apply it to my ears. My ears almost cracked. The owner here is really thorough."

"You're right, they pay attention to even the smallest details. By the way, I want to eat something soon, but there's no point in staying in the hallway like this."

Then, right in front of them was the next door.

"The meal will be ready soon. You won't have to wait fifteen minutes. You can eat right away. Quickly sprinkle the perfume from the bottle well on your head."

A golden perfume bottle was placed in front of the door.

The two splashed the perfume on their heads. However, the perfume smelled somewhat like vinegar.

"This perfume smells strangely like vinegar. What happened?"

"She made a mistake. The maid must have caught a cold and put in the wrong thing."

The two opened the door and went inside.

On the back of the door, it was written in large letters:

"I'm sure I was demanding and annoying with all my requests. I feel sorry for you. This is all there is left. Please rub the salt from the pot thoroughly all over your body."

A splendid blue Seto salt pot was placed there, but this time, both of them involuntarily exchanged glances. With faces covered in a lot of cream.

"Something feels strange."

"I think it's strange too."

"All those demands, they're making demands of us."

"So, a Western restaurant, in my opinion, isn't a place that serves Western food to its customers, but rather a house that turns its customers into Western food and eats them. In other words, w-w-we are..." He started trembling and couldn't speak anymore.

"That, w-we are... Uwaah." Trembling, he couldn't say anything else.

"Run..." Trembling, one gentleman tried to push the back door, but for some reason, the door didn't budge an inch.

Further inside, there was another door, with two large keyholes, and the shapes of a silver fork and knife cut out.

"No, thank you for your trouble. It's very well done. Now, now, please enter our stomachs."

it was written. On top of that, a pair of darting eyes peeked out from the keyholes.