Tsumugi Tsukioka/Precarious Garde Manger

Topped with Raclette Cheese

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Guy	Tsukioka, do you have any plans for this Friday night?
Tsumugi	Nothing in particular, why do you ask?
Guy	You see, the store will be rented out for the day, but the number of guests might be more than what Mikage and I can carry out on our own.
	I apologize for imposing, but could you perhaps lend us some assistance?
Tsumugi	I can’t say I know much of what I could help out with, but if you’re okay with me then I’d be happy to give a hand.
Guy	Are you certain?
Tsumugi	Of course, it could help with my role-building too.
Guy	Ah, that’s right, you’ll be appearing in the same drama that Sumeragi will be starring in.
Tsumugi	That’s exactly the case. Even though your place is a bar, it’s still a restaurant all the same, so I figure I could study from there.
Guy	That could be true. Once again, I appreciate the helping hand.
Tsumugi	Not a problem. I’ll be in your care then.
Tsumugi	Guy-san, Hisoka-kun. I look forward to working with you.
Hisoka	Same here.
Guy	It seems like it’ll be quite busy today, but thank you again for the help.
	Mikage, the ingredients stock just arrived, so could you put them away in the fridge?
Hisoka	Gotcha.
Tsumugi	Uhm… Say, Guy-san, what’s that large thing there?
Guy	That? It’s called a raclette cheese round.
Hisoka	The patron requested it, so Guy had it prepared.
Tsumugi	I see! It’s quite big, isn’t it?
Hisoka	By the way, we got your uniform in the back, Tsumugi. You should go change, then come with me.
Tsumugi	Alright, thanks.
Hisoka	How’s the size?
Tsumugi	It fits just right.
Hisoka	Then, I’ll let you handle the basic order-taking job… Also, do you think you can carry four plates?
Tsumugi	F-Four plates…?! I don’t think I can…
Hisoka	It’s more efficient in a busy hour like this. Give it a try.
Tsumugi	I… I’ll try…
Hisoka	First off, with three plates.
Tsumugi	Oh, I’m doing it!
	It seems like I can carry this much, but this much shaking can’t be good, can it…
Hisoka	You’ll probably get used to it soon enough. Now, four plates.
	Let’s put one of them here, and add the fourth one there…
Tsumugi	WAH…! It’s gonna fall…!!
	Unless I practice more, perhaps I’m better off, don’t you think…?
Hisoka	Don’t panic. Just keep it up and you’ll properly hold them eventually.
Tsumugi	I suppose… I’ll keep trying as much as I can, then.
Tsumugi	No good… I can’t carry them at all…
Hisoka	…Let’s just go with three plates then.
Tsumugi	Sorry. You went through the trouble of teaching me, too…
Hisoka	It’s alright. It’s better to avoid breaking any plates rather than forcing you to do it when you can’t.
Guy	It’s almost time for open hours. Rest for a while before we do.
Tsumugi	Alright.
Hisoka	Wake me up when it’s time, Tsumugi…… (snore)
Tsumugi	Of course. Rest well.
	(Since Hisoka went to sleep, what should I do in the meantime… Oh, maybe I should search up on how raclette cheese should be prepared.)
Guests	Cheers!!
Guest A	Drink up to your heart’s content, everyone!
Guest B	Hell yeah!
Tsumugi	(When Guy-san said they booked the whole restaurant, I didn't fully expect that it was going to be a full house… Amazing. I should do my best to not make any mistakes!)
Guest B	Excuse me–! Can you take our orders?
Hisoka	What would you like?
Guest C	Can someone take our orders as well?
Tsumugi	Ah, coming!

Guy	And this one is for Table Two.
Tsumugi	Got it.
Tsumugi	(Gotta make sure I don’t drop these. Now, carefully… Maybe three plates is also a bit too much…)
Guest A	Mister, are you alright? You’re wobbling quite a bit!
Tsumugi	S-Sorry to trouble you. I’m fine…
	Thank you for waiting, here are your orders!
	(Oh no. Just placing down one plate almost made me drop the plates on the other arm too…!)
Guest C	Ah, it’s alright if you just deliver them! No need to place it in front of us~
Tsumugi	I apologize. Thank you very much.
Guest D	Are you a new hire? Do your best.
Tsumugi	Th-thank you.
	(I ended up troubling the customer with what's supposed to be my job…)
Guy	Looks like the raclette cheese is all heated up now. Mikage… seems to have his hands full.
Tsumugi	Shall I go instead? I looked up how raclette cheese should be sliced, so I think I’ve got a pretty good idea.
Guy	In that case, shall I leave it up to you, Tsukioka?
Tsumugi	I’ll do my best.
Sumugi	Thank you for waiting.
Guest A	Oh, are you going to put in the cheese yourself, mister?
Tsumugi	Indeed. Now then, I’ll start slicing it down now.
Guest E	It looks so yummy..!!
Guest A	Mister, you’re quite dexterous aren’t you.
Tsumugi	Thank you very much. Now, please enjoy your meal.
Guest E	The amount of cheese is just right! Balances perfectly with the vegetables, too.
Guest B	You’re actually quite good with handling raclette cheese, huh.
Tsumugi	I’m flattered that you think so.
Guest C	Oh, hey, can I get some of that over here as well?
Guest G	I’d like to try some too!
Tsumugi	I’ll be right with you.
Tsumugi	It appears the guests were pretty pleased. I got five more orders for raclette cheese.
Guy	That’s quite a lot. It’s thanks to your help, Tsukioka.
Tsumugi	(It feels like I’ve gotten a hang of another skill for my role. I call that a success.)
Omi	Tsumugi-san, the raclette cheese is all ready and heated up.
Tsumugi	Thank you. Now then, after this, all I have to do is slice the cheese over the meat of the dish. If anyone’s up for it, that is.
Azuma	I heard that Tsumugi’s skill with the raclette cheese was pretty well-received, so I’ve been looking forward to this.
Sakuya	Just hearing it from Guy-san made me want to try the dish as well!
Izumi	Oh I’ve been so excited to see and try it out myself, too!
Tsumugi	You guys… Hearing all that is going to make me blush. I’m glad, though.
	Alright, so about this amount should do… Eat it up while it’s hot.
Sakuya	Thank you for the meal.
Izumi	… It’s so delicious!!
Azuma	It’s the perfect helping of cheese, too.
Tsumugi	Is that so? That’s good, then.
	Ah, this plate is the last one, isn’t it? Let me slice some cheese and—
Tasuku	HEY, THAT’S—!!
Tsumugi	Huh— OH! Sorry, Tasuku! I got so carried away that I almost forgot you hated cheese…
Tasuku	…(sigh). You take the cheese-covered part, then.
Tsumugi	Ah! Then the other half without the cheese is yours then. Again, so sorry, Tasuku.

Dita