Scenario:Cassius - Beach House Ramen: Query
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Beach House Ramen: Query
Cassius tours Auguste's beach house, sampling their ramen, but he's unable to find the unique flavor he's heard so much about. When he encounters a boy spending his vacation alone because of a fight with his parents, Cassius requests his cooperation for a survey. Their purpose? To find out why beach house ramen is so delicious.
Cassius: Thank you for the meal.
Cassius sits alone in an Auguste beach house, hands clasped before an empty bowl in gratitude.
Cassius: I shall leave the payment here.
The taciturn chef checks the amount with a glance before retreating back into the kitchen.
Cassius: Quite the memorable bowl of beach house ramen. I was able to taste the meticulous skill with which it was made. Yet, I still found it within the bounds of my expectations.
Cassius: Perhaps I should have asked Ippatsu and Lilele for more details.
Several days ago, when I informed them that I would be spending my summer leave in Auguste this year...
They were very insistent that I experience the taste of beach house ramen. Apparently, it has a unique flavor that I would be remiss to pass up.
Cassius: I wonder if they were referring to a certain beach house in particular.
Cassius: Well, there are many more that I've yet to visit. I must find this unique ramen and taste it for myself.
Determined to fulfill his objective, Cassius sets off toward the next beach house.
Beach House Server: Welcome! Table for one?
Cassius arrives to find that, unlike the previous beach house, this one is packed with customers.
Cassius: Yes, for one. But from what I can observe, there don't appear to be any vacancies.
Beach House Server: Ah... Yeah, you're right. Oh, but if you don't mind sharing a table, I could have a spot cleaned up for you in a jiffy.
Cassius: I do not mind. It is only efficient for a place of business to maximize its capacity for customers.
Beach House Server: Man, that's a real relief! Thanks! It's that seat over there by the window, where that kid's sitting!
Cassius: Understood. May I order now? I'd like a bowl of ramen, in the style your establishment recommends.
Beach House Server: You got it! Quick and efficient—you're a model customer, sir! Boss, one bowl of the house ramen!
The voice of the cheerful server rings out through the crowded beach house as Cassius makes his way to his seat.
When he arrives, he notices that the boy at the table is also eating ramen. However...
Vacationing Boy: ...
Cassius: (From his expression, it seems to not be to his taste. Hmm...)
Cassius: (No, it's still too early for me to judge. Perhaps it is simply too complex a flavor for children to yet enjoy.)
When Cassius looks around the beach house, he notices that most of the tables are occupied by groups. The boy is one of the rare patrons who seem to be alone.
Although not everyone is eating ramen, the mood is upbeat, with lively chatter accompanying the sounds of people enjoying their meals.
Cassius: (At the very least, this does not seem to be a restaurant that serves unpalatable food. There would not be so many patrons if it did.)
Beach House Server: Here's your ramen, sir!
Cassius: Thank you. Do you mind if I pay now?
Beach House Server: That'd actually be awesome—we're so busy that I don't have time to step over to the register! You're like my new god, man!
Cassius: God? That's an amusing turn of phrase. I simply thought that this would be most efficient.
Cassius: Now then, the moment of truth.
Cassius: Slurp...
Cassius: (Hmm. I believe I understand why the boy seemed to dislike it.)
Cassius: (Perhaps the kitchen is overburdened at the moment, given the full house. The noodles are slightly overdone, and the knifework on the ingredients is sloppy.)
Cassius: (None of it is severe enough to ruin the taste, but neither can I call this a superlative bowl of ramen. Yet, it is the strangest thing...)
Cassius: Delicious...
Vacationing Boy: Huh?
Cassius's chopsticks refuse to stop. Noodle by noodle, the ramen steadily disappears into his stomach.
Cassius: (Logically, none of this ramen's ingredients should be able to produce this level of deliciousness.)
Cassius: (The thick-cut pork belly is ready-made. It matches poorly with the salt-based broth and stands out.)
Cassius: (The thick noodles are overdone and haven't absorbed the broth well. The bamboo shoots are too hard, contributing to a mishmash of textures. And the spring onions are bitter—clearly past their prime.)
Cassius: (Even if every ingredient were perfectly prepared, this would still be nothing more than an unremarkable, common bowl of ramen.)
Cassius: (Which is to say, it must contain some special factor that elevates it beyond ordinary standards! Something that gives it this deliciousness!)
Cassius: (How exceedingly peculiar. Could this be the unique flavor that Ippatsu and Lilele were referring to?)
Cassius single-mindedly slurps the ramen down, finishing it before the boy sitting across from him does.
Cassius: Phew. That was excellent.
When Cassius glances at the beach house's entrance, he notices that there's a line of people outside, waiting to enter.
The other tables abound with conversation. There's no sign that their occupants are leaving any time soon.
Cassius: I suppose I've no need to overstay.
Cassius exits the beach house, head held high. His pace is brisk and confident, his long hair fluttering in his wake.
Vacationing Boy: Weirdo...
Back inside, the boy wears a puzzled frown as he watches Cassius leave.
Later that night, Cassius is walking laps of the beach to work off all the ramen he ate earlier.
Cassius: There—that should more than compensate for the amount of calories I consumed. Mission complete.
Cassius: And a crucial mission it is indeed, charged to me by not only Zeta and Beatrix, but (Captain), so...
Suddenly, Cassius stops walking, noticing a small figure at the far end of the beach.
Cassius: Isn't that the boy from the beach house?
Cassius: What are you doing out alone at this hour?
Vacationing Boy: Huh?
Vacationing Boy: Oh, you're the weirdo from this afternoon!
Cassius: Weirdo? Could you be referring to me? Well, I suppose it's as accurate a description as any.
Vacationing Boy: You're really earning it... What do you want, anyway?
Cassius: It is far past the acceptable hour for a child such as you to be out alone.
Cassius: If you've been separated from your parental figures, I would be amenable to helping you find them.
Vacationing Boy: I know where my parents are. I'm here because I wanna be.
Cassius: I see. May I ask why?
Vacationing Boy: ...
We had a fight.
We had a fight.
Vacationing Boy: This is my first time in Auguste. Dad won us a family trip in a local shopping district raffle.
Vacationing Boy: I was super excited, 'cause I heard all kinds of crazy things happen here. And that there are tons of weird animals, too.
Vacationing Boy: But this place sucks! It's so boring!
Vacationing Boy: There's nothing to do but splash around in the water and go shopping at oversized stores!
Vacationing Boy: If I wanted to splash around, I could've gone to my island's river, and if I wanted to buy stuff, we've got a shopping district at home!
Vacationing Boy: Even the food sucks here. The ramen back where I'm from is a hundred times better than the stuff I had this afternoon.
Cassius: (It seems I was correct about his opinion of the ramen.)
Cassius: (He isn't wrong. One could find tastier bowls on almost any other island.)
Cassius: (Yet I still thought it was delicious. How positively mysterious...)
Vacationing Boy: So yeah, I brought up to my parents how Auguste was a lot more boring than I thought it was.
Vacationing Boy: And then they got super mad all of a sudden. They said that if I really thought it was that boring, I could go off and do whatever I want.
Vacationing Boy: They leave me a bunch of money in the morning, then go off to have fun on their own.
Cassius: I believe I understand. Your parents are enjoying their time in Auguste...
Cassius: But your attitude, as they say, rained on their parade, and so they gave you the proverbial cold shoulder.
Vacationing Boy: You know, you talk really funny. And I can't believe you liked that ramen from earlier. You're like the least boring thing I've run into on Auguste so far.
Cassius: Then allow this weirdo a question. How much longer will you be in Auguste?
Vacationing Boy: Um... Seven more days, I think.
Cassius: And is this how you plan to spend those remaining seven days?
Vacationing Boy: I mean, I guess. Mom and Dad give me a lot of money for lunch. I'm using some of it as pocket money, hehe.
Cassius: A suggestion then, if I may. For those remaining seven days, would you join this weirdo for a survey?
Vacationing Boy: A survey of what?
Cassius: You were accurate about this afternoon's ramen—it was quite ordinary. No, speaking frankly, it was worse than ordinary.
Cassius: Yet, it tasted delicious to me. And I do not know why.
Vacationing Boy: What, seriously? Maybe your taste buds are tired or something. Or was that the first ramen you've ever eaten?
Cassius: I can confidently say I am in no sense fatigued. As for my experience with eating ramen, I believe I have more than most.
Cassius: But I still cannot explain that ramen's palatability. It is... quite vexing.
Cassius: I wish to find the answer. And I would like your assistance.
Vacationing Boy: Why me?
Cassius: Two reasons. The first is that my compatriots who also enjoy ramen have not joined me on this trip.
Cassius: However, it is vital for the purposes of my survey that those conducting it enjoy ramen.
Cassius: As such, you are qualified to accompany me.
Vacationing Boy: I mean, sure, I like ramen. What's the other reason?
Cassius: The other reason...
Cassius: Is because it is an act of kindness.
Vacationing Boy: An act of what now?
Cassius: I suspect that none of my companions would leave you alone with your tedium, and so I shall not either.
Vacationing Boy: Yeah? You really are a weirdo, huh?
Cassius: Heh. So, what is your answer?
Vacationing Boy: All right, I'll join you. If you're paying, that is. That way, I can keep more of my pocket money.
Vacationing Boy: Also, you have to stop calling yourself a weirdo.
Vacationing Boy: It just... feels awkward. I don't wanna hang around a guy calling himself that in third person.
Cassius: Those conditions are agreeable to me. As the one who made the proposal, it is only natural I make concessions. Well then, let us reconvene here tomorrow afternoon.
Vacationing Boy: Works for me. See ya.
Cassius: No, I will walk you to your lodgings. There are less possible points of failure if I know where your base of operations is located.
True to his word, Cassius walks the boy to the front door of his hotel, where they part ways for the day.