Azuma Yukishiro/Pouring Love into the Snow Globe

Drinking Contest for Recipe

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Guy	Yukishiro, Azuma. Can I have a word? I need to consult to you guys about the store...
Azuma	Yeah, of course.
Izumi	What is it?
Guy	Actually, I'm thinking of putting mulled wine as a winter-exclusive menu.
Izumi	Mulled wine sounds like a great idea!
Azuma	I think it's perfect for winter menus since it can warm you up.
Guy	However, I thought it would be better to have some original elements to it rather than just a mulled wine.
Izumi	Indeed... I feel that mulled wine are quite common in winter.
Azuma	The more special it is, the more customers you're going to get.
Guy	I thought so. But what kind of things should I put in...
Izumi	It's usually cinnamons or lemons.
Azuma	If you want to make it original, you would want to avoid those two.
Guy	You have a point. Yesterday, I made some for trial, but none of them were good enough to be served at the store.
	It would be nice if there was a store somewhere that could be helpful...
Azuma	Then why not go to the Christmas market in the neighboring town?
Izumi	A Christmas market?
Azuma	I know someone who has a mulled wine store there, and it has a bit of an unusual taste I've never had before.
	No matter how many times I drink it, I still don't know what's in it.
Izumi	I'm really curious to know how it tastes like.
Guy	Indeed. Just drinking it could probably give me a clue.
Azuma	I think just drinking it is fine, but he's a generous guy, so you can also ask for the recipe.
Guy	Is that okay?
Azuma	I'm sure he'll tell you.
Guy	In that case, I would love to hear it from him.
Azuma	Then let's go tomorrow. I'll let him know through the phone beforehand.
Guy	Yes, sorry to trouble you. I'm counting on you.
Izumi	Um, can I go too? I'm a bit curious about that mulled wine.
Azuma	Yeah, of course. Then the three of us will go tomorrow.
Izumi	Yes, I'm looking forward to it!
Azuma	Ah, but my acquaintance is a bit--
Izumi	What's wrong?
Azuma	...Nothing. He likes to play around, but you don't have to worry about it.
Guy	Likes to play around...?
	It's pretty crowded.
Izumi	There are a lot of stores, too.
Azuma	The store I know is a little further away.
Guy	There are a lot of people drinking mulled wine.
Izumi	It sure is popular. --Ah!
	Wow, there's a big and white Christmas tree...! It's beautiful!
Azuma	This is...
Izumi	Is something wrong?
Azuma	There used to be a tree in my parents' house that looked just like this.
Guy	Is that so?
Azuma	Yeah. I remember thinking that it was really beautiful, so white and so big when I saw it.
Izumi	It's amazing that you had such a fancy tree in your house!
Azuma	Is that the case?
Izumi	Sure is! Green trees are more common, after all.
Guy	This store has a different varities of trees. There seems to be a gold tree over there.
Izumi	Gold seems to stand out too much...
Azuma	Fufu, it's interesting that there are so many unusual trees here.
Izumi	There seems to be a lot of other things, so why don't we stop by on our way home?
Azuma	Sure thing. I want to see it too, so let's do that.
	--Ah, that's the store I told you about.
Guy	It says mulled wine here.
Izumi	You're right, there's a signboard.
Azuma	Shall we go?

Azuma	Good evening.
Shopkeeper	Welcome! Ah, if it isn't Yukishiro.
Shop Assistant	It's been a while, Yukishiro-san.
Azuma	Indeed. You guys look well.
Izumi	Good evening, sorry to bother you.
Guy	I have to thank Yukishiro for introducing us.
Shopkeeper	Do you want to know my secret recipe?
Azuma	Yeah, that's right.
Guy	I'm sorry, but I need a reference for the mulled wine I'm going to serve at my store. I swear I would never serve it as it is.
Azuma	...And so he says, can you tell us about it?
Shopkeeper	I see... I don't mind teaching you.
Guy	Really?
Shopkeeper	But I'm not gonna do it for free.
Guy	What do I have to do?
Shopkeeper	Yukishiro and I will have a mulled wine drinking contest, and I'll tell you if he wins.
Shop Assistant	Geez, agaaain? They always have a drinking contest everytime Yukishiro-san comes to the store.
Guy	I see, so this is what Yukishiro meant by playing around...
Azuma	I'm okay with it, but aren't you still at work?
Shopkeeper	Naah, the sales were pretty good today. So I'll just close the store!
Shop Assistant	Whaaat?!
Azuma	Fufu, if you say so. Let's play, then.
Shopkeeper	That's the way it should be. Whoever goes down first loses, right?
Izumi	Are you okay with this, Azuma-san?
Azuma	It's fine, you don't have to worry.
Shopkeeper	Oi. As soon as the cup is empty, pour it again immediately.
Shop Assistant	Yeah, you don't have to tell me that.
Izumi	Umm, can we have the mulled wine too?
Shopkeeper	Aah, of course. I'm sorry I didn't notice. I'll give you two a shot.
	Here you go. It's hot so be careful.
Guy	Thank you.
Izumi	Itadakimasu!
	Hm?! It's as Azuma-san said, it tastes like nothing I've ever tasted before.
Azuma	Right?
Guy	It seems that various ingredients are included in the secret ingredient, but this is delicious.
Azuma	There are lot of things in there but the tastes don't clash with each other, and they fit together perfectly.
CHOICE 1: I'm curious about the recipe. [+] Izumi I'm also curious about the recipe. I want to know what's in it. Azuma If you say so, then I guess I'll have to try harder to get the recipe. Izumi Th-that's not what I meant! Please don't overdo it. Azuma Fufu, I know that. I was joking, so don't worry. Izumi You were joking?! Azuma I'm sorry. I couldn't help but notice that your face was so cute when you said you wanted to know. Izumi (I can't tell if he's joking or not...)
CHOICE 2: Just like our theater company. [+] Izumi Isn't it just like our theater company? Everyone has their own reasons for joining, but they're also strangely harmonious. I feel like the two are somewhat similar. Azuma Fufu, that's right. If we're the secret ingredents, then I guess you're the wine. Izumi Me?! Azuma Without the wine, the ingredients might not have come together. We might have not joined the troupe if it weren't for you, right? That's why you're the wine. Izumi So that's what you meant. I personally don't think that's the case, but I'm happy to hear that.
Shopkeeper	Should we start?
Azuma	Sure.
Shop Assistant	Let the drinking contest begin!
Azuma	...Yeah, this is the stuff. The mulled wine here really is delicious.
Shopkeeper	Yukishiro, I can still go.
Azuma	I can still drink as well.
Guy	It's been an hour, but it doesn't seem to be ending at all.
Izumi	Right. Ah, refill please.
Shop Assistant	Yes. ...It's the third cup already, will you be fine?
Izumi	I'm fine! This mulled wine is really delicious.
Guy	......
Shopkeeper	Ugh... I can still...
Azuma	Hm, are you wasted already?
Shopkeeper	Uuu...
Shop Assistant	Oh, he is. Master, you've never beaten Yukishiro-san even though you always try so hard to win~
Shopkeeper	Shut uppp! --Here, it's the recipe.
Azuma	Thanks; for the drink, too.
	Sorry for the wait, Director, Guy. Shall we go to the tree store after--
Izumi	Therefore, theater is a total art form that can only be established when the actors, the script, and the direction are aligned... You understand right, Guy-san?!
Guy	Y-yes...
Azuma	Ah, Director is completely drunk. Fufu, I guess we'll have to visit the tree store some other time.

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