The loading screen…
And we are back… but where?
“Ah, we have in-dubiously returned to the dock… Must we partake in the challenge again?” [Professor]
“No table meow…” [SnaggleMeow]
And indeed, we three were facing the underground lake again, looking out onto the dock. But there was no table at this dock so does that mean…?
I turned around and there was the jungle we had just been dissolved from.
Maybe.
“Let’s try something… these canteens sure are getting a work out.” [Me]
I rolled a canteen into the jungle to about where the Professor had been gobbled up.
And the hungry flower descended again.
“Oh, it can’t quite reach the ground by… hmmm… perhaps a bit more then my own girth. Unquestionably, I should have slithered serpentine to survive severe mastication by this carnivorous blossom.” [Professor]
“You mean you think we can crawl underneath?” [Me]
“Worth a try meow.” [SnaggleMeow]
With that SnaggleMeow dropped flat at the entrance of the jungle and started to crawl forward.
“You should roll my canteen a bit ahead - just in case one of those bitety flowers is sneaky and could reach the ground!” [Me]
“Un. Good plan...” [SnaggleMeow]
My gut feeling ended up being correct, and a few times the flowers did indeed reach all the way down.
I sacrificed four canteens that way.
And each one of us got eaten at least once - meaning we all were transferred back to the dock campsite each time.
But…
“Meow we finally made it…” [SnaggleMeow]
“Ah, that was… corporeally punishing, at least for my liberally endowed in the midriff sectioned self…” [Professor]
“Hey do that a few more times, and you’ll start looking as fit as SnaggleMeow there!” [Me]
“Un, good training.” [SnaggleMeow]
“While I appreciate your unadulterated encouragement, I suspect I will not lose a single speck of weight, no matter how much training I put this body through… Ara? No campsite here?” [Professor]
We were standing on the edge of the “Jungle of Professor Eating Plants” we had just escaped from.
What greeted us was another chasm with blocks hovering across it as a sort of bridge.
“No stairs this time… and no fluffy-fluffy sage bushes at the bottom… looks actually like spiked rocks, so if we fall here… well you know where we’ll end up…” [Me]
The two nodded.
“Perchance there is a some other solution to this conundrum, other than physically attempting vaulting ourselves uncontrolled from unstable rock to unreliable stone?” [Professor]
“We look around meow for secrets…” [SnaggleMeow]
To the left there was the un-breachable jungle reaching right up to the lip of the chasm.
Blocked.
To the right there was a narrow path between the chasm and jungle, just enough for one person to safely walk along.
“Go right, meow?” [SnaggleMeow]
“Unpertubiteribly1Not a real word.! Let us combobulate2A real word, but used incorrectly here. The Professor probably wanted to use "perambulate" ie "to walk or travel". forwards steadfastly!” [Professor]
So we trundled off in a single file, SnaggleMeow, the Professor, and myself, in that order.
After a few minutes...
“Hey Professor, you were making up words back there again, weren’t you?” [Me]
“As is my duty as a Professor, I must needs expand the vocabulary of our language - otherwise it will suffer degradation over time and become nothing more than static symbolism!” [Professor]
“You walked into that one meow…” [SnaggleMeow]
“Yes… I supposed I did.” [Me]
We eventually came out at a large clearing, with the deadly chasm still on one side, and the jungle on the other, and a looming cliff wall in front of us.
“Oh… a… temple?” [Me]
The structure in front of us was carved out of the cliff.
“Ah, a temple indeed - see, on each side of the doorway are carved giant statues of animal headed humans, variably holding various implements of agriculture and weapons. Obviously local deities, jolly good show!” [Professor]
We walked closer, and just in front of the entrance...
“Ah, finally after so much struggle to endure, a campsite! I believe now would be a good time to part ways, hip hip, stiff upper lip, and all that?” [Professor]
“Campsite before temple… means danger inside, meawthinks3"Me thinks.".” [SnaggleMeow]
It was now past midnight in real life.
“Yes… looks like this is another restore point. Probably has huge rolling stones in there and even crushing ceilings… I think we had enough exercise for today, so…” [Me]
We agreed the day had already been… interesting - ie we had all “died” enough times today.
And after setting our next meeting time, we all logged out.
Before dropping into bed, I partook in a post-midnight bowl of store bought cereal with milk - just because, why not?
Isn’t that part of being a NEET, eating an unhealthy "breakfast" at night?
----
The next morning I was wondering what I’d eat for real breakfast…
Hm… Is 10:30 AM still morning?
It is for a NEET!
I looked through my phone’s map at the yellow pins - the food related places that I had not yet visited.
There were about a hundred yellow pins - I still had a lot of “work” to do, muahauha!
Oh… “The NyaNya Waffle Haus! And yes, we do Crepes, too!”
That… that was the actual store name.
A gimmick of a name, but the drool slowly dripping from the corner of my mouth could not be denied as I looked at the review photos of the many types of waffles and crepes that recent customers had snapped.
---
The Waffle house was only twenty minutes walk from my apartment, so I was there way before noon.
They were open all day, so it was not an issue, luckily!
Hmmm…. 24/7 Waffles? Nah, there was such a thing as too much of a good thing.
The store took up a corner at the ground floor of a business building, with floor to ceiling glass walls on the outside, so anyone passing by could see the mouthwatering fluffy-fluffy waffles being served to content customers.
Who needs to spend much money on ads, if one has that kind of a real-time display?
The inside was simple and spotless, with wooden tables and semi-modern metal chairs.
A sign just inside the door said “Find a free spot and we’ll get your order asap!” so I tool a seat at a two person table near at the window on the south side.
The sun was shining with no clouds in the way today, and I wanted to enjoy some of that warmth.
A heartbeat later a tall waiter appeared and handed me a glossy menu.
“Welcome to the NyaNya Waffle Haus!" [Waiter]
"Giggle... sorry..." [Me]
"And... sigh... yes, yes we have a silly name but our daughter chose it, that is my excuse and I'm sticking with it." [Waiter]
"Well, the name made me want to come here, so... success?" [Me]
"Well then that is all that counts... Would you like a coffee or tea while you decide on your order? It’s a service4"On the house, free, gratis.".” [Waiter]
“Coffee, black - and what do you recommend?” [Me]
“Well, we have the house special set - which is two waffles, a large crepe, plus two scoops of ice cream, either separate or on the waffles - all toppings of your choice. In the end the price is such that the second waffle is free, which makes it a good deal if you are hungry. And as mentioned coffee or tea is on the house, but we also have an assortment of fruit juices, pressed fresh as you wait.” [Waiter]
“Ooo… I’ll think I’ll go with that…” [Me]
“I will let you make your choices while I get your coffee.” [Waiter]
And there was so much to choose from… choices choices choices!
“Here is your coffee, and have you decided?” [Waiter]
“Ah, I’ll have the rhubarb and strawberry crepe, the “apple pie” waffles, with vanilla ice cream on the waffles. Oh, and a glass of fresh orange juice. And I noticed all the waffles have a set price, and the crepes, too?” [Me]
“Yes, we decided that makes it easier for the customers - in the end the margins are still fine, and the value received by the customer is fair. On the lower priced ingredients, we just give more, so there is no actual mis-balance. It is a business model we saw somewhere and copied… My wife is the head cook, and I am the manager and head waiter.” [Waiter]
“Ah, well, it does make it easier to order - I don’t have to worry about my budget as much. Oh… the Okonomiyaki place has a similar model, actually...” [Me]
“Yes, that is where we got the idea from - the Auntie from Osaka is in a sense our most treasured senpai5In this case their mentor in the restaurant business., after all. Well, I will go set up your order…” [Waiter]
The cooks making the waffles and crepes could be seen working from where I sat - the kitchen was one of those modern open concept ones.
Heavy cast iron waffle irons were suspended over open gas flames in such a way that the cook could smoothly flip the iron over to ensure even cooking on both sides.
The crepes were made on large flat metal discs, about the width of two dinner plates, and the cook skilfully used an “L” shaped wooden instrument to spread the batter around perfectly even.
The three chefs moved quickly and accurately, almost as if in time with music.
Watching them work made me forget the passing of time and then…
“Bon appetit, your order. And here some extra maple syrup for the waffles, just in case…” [Waiter]
The waffles were fluffy on the inside but with just the right slight caramelized crunch on the surface. The crepe was soft and not at all rubbery - which is how you get them at some places.
The vanilla ice cream - house made as I read in the menu - was perfectly smooth and even had vanilla pod seeds in it - the way they should!
Ahhh…. Food heaven!
Well, after such a gloriously calorie bomb of a meal, I decided to exercise by doing a bit of shopping for necessities.
And window shop, too, while I’m at it, hehe…
---
After shopping I decided I’d go to “Kathy’s Cafe” for a light dinner. I was still almost full from over doing lunch - but now I needed something a bit healthier and down to earth.
The owner, Morina, was alone this late afternoon - no bored looking university student serving today, it seemed.
There was only one other table occupied - two older women who were busy eating and gossipping.
Not very busy - but then, it was still way before five, so I was very early today.
I ordered a classic item this time - curry rice! He used to make it to die for - sometimes with apple pieces or other variations, so maybe my expectations were too high?
Nope!
No worries at all!
When my ordered arrived, I immediately re-instated my initial perception - Morina was indeed a great cook!
My curry rice - although lacking in the apple department - was perfectly cooked and fluffy - the heady scent of deep rich curry wafted up into my nose the moment the plate was placed in front of me.
The order also came with a refreshing bowl of miso soup - and as a bonus, a side plate of salt and pepper tofu with a twist - grilled red and green pepper slices was placed on top of the tofu.
“What a great and yummy idea!” [Me]
Opps… I had shouted that out loud.
Morina came over to me and grinned, but her eyes looked sad.
“Oh, I’m glad you like my cooking… but… it looks like we’ll be closing in a month…” [Morina]
"Ehhhhhhh?????" [Me]
