"The software you mean I have no problem. But… you bought the building on Kinshi-Jinzaburo street, right? Isn't that close to a high school, Ichikawa-san?"
Kinshi-Jinzaburo is actually adjacent to the Ikeda-minamimachi road. Even though they are said to be "next to each other" they are at least 2 km apart. But if from my apartment, about 2.5 km, the increase is not significant.
“Ara ara~ I actually got the idea for this bar from you, Takeichi-san~! Fufufu,”
(WHEN IS THAT HAPPEN, HUHHH?! I would never suggest that, let alone open a bar near a school?)
"Don't involve me, please!"
Ventine-san who was looking around, turned to look at me and Ichikawa-san. She seemed confused by what we were talking about.
“Ara~ that's true, really! I don't think it's negative. On the contrary…”
Ichikawa-san said that when she first met me, she remembered the mojito mocktail I bought her very well. As well as my ridiculous reasons that should not be discussed.
“Then… the man said proudly 'Well, the majority are, but I'm probably the only guy who won't touch alcohol!' fufufu~ at that time I laughed at him. I call him a 'nerdy man'"
“He-hey! Stop it!"
(I can't believe this glamorous woman is a person who brings people's disgrace! A-after all, how can a man so clearly avoids drinking be called 'nerdy’'? Whoever that is, please tell me, which part of the earth do I live on?!)
"Umm... Chiba... nerdy."
“Hey, Ventine-san! I don't want those words to come out of your mouth?
“Okay….” Ventine-san with a straight face raised two thumbs up.
Ichikawa-san said that the Mocktail idea at that time was an alternative solution for consumers who could not or were not allowed to consume alcohol.
"That way, I'm not bound by age rules. And also the products that I sell can later be enjoyed by anyone! Everything is according to plan! Fufufufu!”
"But you know that the word "bar" means in general understanding that it is a place that sells artsy and alcoholic drinks?"
"Don't worry. I just need to add the word "Cocktail & Mocktail". Also… maybe I'll make a rule regarding the age limit of people who are allowed to buy alcohol?”
(I see…. Ichikawa-san has thought this through carefully. The rest is left to the authorize legal organization to take care of.)
Ventine-san suddenly stood up and walked away from us. I wonder, maybe she was bored?
But….
I didn't expect her to open my fridge?
(What do you want to take, Ventine-san?)
Three cans of ginger ale. She brought it to give to me and Ichikawa-san.
“Ara~ you are so kind, Ventine!”
“Ventine… wants to be a good cat! umu!” her face looked determined. Ichikawa-san sure is a bit too much.
Actually I do not want to get involved any further. But now that I have agreed to Ichikawa-san's offer, it can't be helped. I can't be half hearted. Ichikawa-san's proposal does look smooth, I admit it's a brilliant idea.
(Hm… most bars make more money because of everyone's favorite “alcohol”, but also with a kind of “hostess”. But… since Ichikawa-san aims to reach all ages, I'm assuming this “hostess” isn't possible. I wonder what else is Ichikawa-san planning?)
I opened the ginger ale that Ventine-san just brought me. I took a sip while noticing the taste and freshness. That's what I do when I think of something. More precisely… I'm sure Ichikawa-san has a definite answer.
"You already have an idea of what drinks to make, Ichikawa-san?"
Ichikawa-san looked optimistic. Well, good confidence.
“Fufufu! Anything can be mixed, as long as it's not alcoholic, right?"
#Bffffrrrrrr!
Spontaneously I spit ginger ale.
“Ara~ how dirty~”
“Chiba… it is forbidden to drink while talking….”
(Ventine-san, sorry.)
"You're not stupid, right, Ichikawa-san?"
Ichikawa-san was surprised.
“EHHHHH~? You can't do that, can you?"
"If it's that easy, people will also open it, right?"
An instantly Ichikawa-san took out the myriad of excuses she had from her mouth. Well, that reason is just proof that she is careless and has no preparation for the future. I praised her too soon. It was obvious I didn't take her words too seriously.
But on the other hand….
(I rarely think 'that's not such a bad idea'. As a former software engineer I often receive such criticism that it stops me from thinking that the end product I'm working on is really good. Well, good is good. But good isn't enough, because there's always more, which is better.)
While Ichikawa-san grumbled over her own mistake for having bought a building which led to her idea having a misunderstanding hole, while I was responding soberly while thinking. Ventine-san, for some reason is pacing back and forth to the kitchen. To the fridge again? Ah, that's not important.
“Ichikawa-san, how about you change the concept? I feel that there are still things that have the potential to cause you trouble in the future?”
“Uwuwu~ is there really no way out, Takeichi-san? I can't think of any other business besides a bar! Even though I already bought suitable furniture!” Ichikawa-san begged me while bending down and holding my clothes. This is honestly very annoying. Just like Ichikawa-san was desperate when we first met.
Besides, I don't really trust her. Remember when she whined yesterday? She's playing a character!
(Tch! Why the hell is she cuddling?! Besides.. what's 'Uwuwu~'? What a weird sad expression….)
I heard Ventine-san was putting something in the kitchen. Well, at least I hear the sound of glasses?
"I didn't say you have to change the business theme. I just want to say you better make a “Dry Bar”. Anyway I realize your idea just now is a bit unconvincing. Writing on the sign “Cocktail & Mocktail” is the same as opening a bar. Precisely the word "Mocktail" will actually impress all ages to be able to order Cocktails or Mocktails! I explained to her.
“Dry bars? Arara~ I just heard that….”
(I don't know why I'm always bothered by that 'Arara~' erotic tone. After all, how can a former hostess not know Dry bar and lack Mocktail knowledge?)
I explained to her that Dry Bar is a bar that only sells non-alcoholic drinks. The only drinks to sells are mocktails and that's it. The concept is still the same, artsy and elegant-looking drinks, only without alcohol.
“S-so… I'm only going to sell Mocktails?”
"No compromise because you plan to open a bar in the wrong place!"
While we were having an exciting discussion, I heard the sound of someone shaking water. Of course, the sound made us curious. We approached to Ventine-san.
“Ventine-san… what are you doing?”
I quickly noticed that there was a quart of lemon lime juice, a bottle of maple syrup, and an open tin of ginger ale. Ventine-san is also shaking something in a plastic bottle that I usually carry with me to work.
“Ohh… Chiba….” She then turned to Ichikawa-san. "Aunt pervert…."
“Ara ara~ you have bit courage to calling me that?” Ichikawa-san lowering her shirt arm. She… on the fire to punch someone. Obviously I blocked her before take act that further.
"I'm bored. Chiba… Fusae…. I'm trying to play around….. Is that okay?” Ventine-san looks at me like a begging child. I know someone with begging kitten eyes must melt me.
“No… problem. But what are you playing?"
Ichikawa-san and I watched what she was doing. She immediately poured something. I thought Ventine-san… had mixed up the three items placed nearby?
"This…." Ventine-san handed me a simple 350 ml glass tube filled with an yellow pale colored liquid.
“I… thought it would taste good… if you mixed it up like that?” Ventine-san who was looking down while fiddling with her finger, lightly snapped her right and left forefingers together. She seems a little embarrassed.
I took the glass and took a closer look at it. There are small bubbles, and if you bring your ear closer you can hear the sound of soda.
“May I try, Ventine-san?”
The sparks of Ventine-san's two eyes immediately became circle black pearls. “Uhm! Uhm!” Ventine san nodded.
Slowly the liquid shakes my tongue, then it's not easy to let me enter my throat. I swirled the liquid all over the tip of my tongue, the way I usually do when I drink a Mocktail.
(Woah~! Sweet and sour balance and complex!)
I passed the glass to Ichikawa-san. Ichikawa-san probably noticed the look on my surprised face.
“Ara~ This is Mimosa,”
"You know?"
"Yes, of course! I used to work at the hostess too!”
(Hah… you use “hostess” when you guess! Not when you're confused about Mocktail, right?)
Both of us started looking at Ventine-san seriously. I think… Ventine-san isn't just a flat, slow, absent-minded, and somewhat odd woman. I was wrong to judge that only the face of the half blood and the ballistic missiles are good.
“Don't look at me like that…. Umm… did I do something wrong?”
“Hmmm… yosh! You can work with me, Ventine~! Fufufufu!”
“Ehhh~ really?!”
(Hey, hey, and you called her a cat earlier, Ichikawa-san?)
With that, my days are busy again. I gave Ichikawa-san the idea to experiment with recipes, trial and error, before realizing the Dry Bar later
.
The three of us started shopping for some of the supplies needed for the “Trial n Error” Mocktail recipe. Of course, before deciding on any material, we researched the internet and bought books on making Mocktail variations.
.
.
That way... my days are busy again,
Well, this time I don't mind. Moreover…
Maybe later I ask Ichikawa-san to add Tisane products?
Tisane… with white chrysanthemums.
TO BE CONTINUED
ns 15.158.61.23da2
