Story 80

*sigh* This really isn’t turning out as planned. I’ve still a long way to go before I can replicate that special soup...

Oh, (your name)! Thanks for asking, pumpkin!

I’m talking about my favorite special soup! The sweet- and-sour flavor just can’t be beat!

Oh, (your name)! You’re quite right, pumpkin!

The special soup I’m thinking of is truly an exquisite dish! The sweet-and-sour flavor just can’t be beat!

My buddy used to make it for me back in the day, and I’ve been trying to recreate it... No matter how many times I try, though, the flavor’s not quite right.

Maybe I should use the same kind of kitchen as my buddy? But there’s no way I could find—

You’d really do that for me, dumpling?! Well, I certainly won’t say no!

I think my buddy’s kitchen looked something like this...

The peculiar pattern is the most important part! Using it makes any sort of stewed dish …SO much more delicious!

I’ll be waiting, (your name)!

Would you make me a kitchen like the one my buddy used, please?

Oh, (your name), you made me the kitchen!
I’ll get right down to cooking!

Burble, burble, burble away, simmer all that soup... ♪

Thanks to your help, sweet pea, it’s at least looking a lot closer to the soup I remember! …Now for the taste test...

... ... ... ...Hmmm.

I mean, it’s tasty enough as it is, but it’s just...not quite the flavor I was looking for. There’s something missing!

But what in the world could that missing ingredient be?!

... I wish I could savor it once more... That special soup...

Oh, hello, (your name)!

Thanks for asking, pumpkin! I’m talking about a soup my buddy used to make me. The sweet-and-sour flavor can’t be beat!

You’re very right! My buddy used to make it for me, and let me tell you, if you tasted that sweet-and-sour soup, you’d never forget it!

I think I’m going to give it a go making it myself! Now that you’ve made me such a lovely kitchen, (your name), I think I can recreate that soup!

After all, the kitchen looks JUST like my buddy’s! So I’ll get started cooking right away!

Burble, burble, burble away, simmer all that soup... ♪

Aaand, it’s finished! Now for the taste test...

... ... ... ...Hmmm.

I mean, it’s tasty enough as it is, but it’s just...not quite the flavor I was looking for. There’s something missing!

But what in the world could that missing ingredient be?!

*sigh* So even the perfect kitchen’s not enough... What in the world could be missing?!

Since I’ve got the right tools, it must be the ingredients. Do you think there’s a missing secret ingredient?

... ... ... Ahhh, but I can’t imagine what! I’m a failure as a chef...

Hmmm... Maybe my buddy’s book could help? They were always writing stuff down in it!

What was so special about scribbling down all those little symbols? Humans are so odd...

Still, I suppose it could provide a hint... Now, let’s see... Where did they put it?

(your name)! Would you help me search for my buddy’s book, honey bun?

The book Chef Dente is looking for must be somewhere in this town.
In fact, it may be closer than you think! Find the book and bring it to them!

Could you please help me find the book my buddy was always writing in?

The book Chef Dente is looking for must be somewhere in this town.
In fact, it may be closer than you think! Find the book and bring it to them!

Hm? There’s a photo tucked in the diary. It’s a picture of Chef Dente right after eating a Gengar’s gift. They have a rather strained expression on their face.

Could Gengar’s gifts be the secret ingredient? Go to Chef Dente and find out!

Oh, (your name), dumpling, you found my buddy’s book! Now let’s see...

...Oh, dear. I don’t understand a thing. What about you, (your name)?

Hm? This is a Gengar’s gift. These things are incredibly bitter! There’s no way they’d be in that special sweet-and- sour sou—

No...wait. My buddy taught me that cooking is all about making brave decisions!

So let’s give it a try! And maybe this time...

Burble, burble, burble away, simmer all that soup... ♪

And now...time to eat!

... ... ... This sweet-and-sour taste... This rich flavor...

THIS is it! This tastes JUST like my buddy’s special soup!

I NEVER would have suspected that the secret ingredient was Gengar’s gifts, of all things!
I’m really not a fan of those berries usually, so color me surprised that they were in my favorite food all along!

Come to think of it... My buddy did really seem to want me to eat Gengar’s gifts.

Maybe they were trying to help me learn to be less picky.

Hee hee! At any rate, it’s thanks to you that I was able to recreate the soup, (your name)!
Thank you SO much, dumpling!

I’ll keep cooking up a storm until the day I get to see my buddy again!

Hmmm... I can’t make it here.

Oh, well you see, there’s a certain dish I’d really like to make! But to do that, first I’d like to go back to ….

Do you think you could take me there whenever you’re free, (your name)?

Could you take me back to …?

Thanks for bringing me back! I should be able to make it here...

*sigh* This really isn’t turning out as planned. I’ve still a long way to go before I can replicate that special soup...

Oh, (your name)! Thanks for asking, pumpkin!

I’m talking about my favorite special soup! The sweet- and-sour flavor just can’t be beat!

Oh, (your name)! You’re quite right, pumpkin!

The special soup I’m thinking of is truly an exquisite dish! The sweet-and-sour flavor just can’t be beat!

My buddy used to make it for me back in the day, and I’ve been trying to recreate it... No matter how many times I try, though, the flavor’s not quite right.

Maybe I should use the same kind of kitchen as my buddy? But there’s no way I could find—

You’d really do that for me, dumpling?! Well, I certainly won’t say no!

I think my buddy’s kitchen looked something like this...

The peculiar pattern is the most important part! Using it makes any sort of stewed dish …SO much more delicious!

I’ll be waiting, (your name)!