Chapter 158: [Magnitude]


    A thick, long eggnt and a sweat-dropping emoji.


    Is this, like, super dirty stuff!?


    <<Seriously.>>


    I could already guess, but there''s no need to stir the pot even further.


    Angu Ogu also decided to change the topic.


    <<But more importantly… Oh right, food! I just remembered. Actually, yesterday, I was invited by Anego, and we went out to eat together.>>


    <<Huh? You should have invited me too.>>


    <<It was lunchtime, you know. Iroha was at school.>>


    <<Ah, I see.>>


    >Oh, Iroha-chan''s jealousy is rare (U.S.)


    >The wife went out for a meal with another woman, so naturally (U.S.)


    >I thought she might get a bit upset or something, so Iroha-chan seems a little sulky (U.S.)


    <<Where was there any element of that in the recent conversation!?>>


    <<Well, anyway. We had a variety of dishes at the restaurant. It got me thinking, though, that the way we eat ispletely different in America and Japan.>>


    <<"Itadakimasu" and all that, right?>>


    <<No, it''s not that. In Japan, it''smon for everyone to order different items and "share" them, right? In America, everyone orders what they individually want and doesn''t really share like that.>>


    >Huh, isn''t it weird to exchange food like that? (U.S.)


    >In Japan, sharing the same food and sharing your thoughts on it is a way to strengthen bonds (U.S.)


    >Being able to enjoy a variety of dishes in small portions is quite a deal (U.S.)


    <<Now that you mention it, in Japan, we often eat from the same te or pot. What did you have, Aug?>>


    <<Well, the thing is, there were no photos at the restaurant we went to. Just names, so I went with my sister''s rmendation. Like, um, that thing.>>


    <<That thing?>>


    <<I''m pretty sure it was called "Shirako"! It was my first time trying it, but it was surprisingly good!>>


    Ah, Shirako.


    You''ve tried some pretty sophisticated stuff.


    <<It had a soft and unusual texture. But there was one thing I didn''t understand.>>


    <<If you don''t mind, shall I answer?>>


    <<Sure. So here''s my question: What exactly is Shirako?>>


    <<Ugh! Cough, cough!?>>


    I choked involuntarily at the question, which was too difficult to answer. In the chats, phrases like "Ah", and "Was that earlier emoji a foreshadowing?" were flowing.


    Ango Ogu seemed puzzled by my reaction.


    It seemed like she genuinely didn''t know.


    Why were we discussing such awkward topics today? I had no choice but to carefully choose my words and exin.


    <<Ogu, listen carefully. So, Shirako is, um, rted to… fish eggs…>>


    A tense silence followed. It was as if the tension could be felt through the screen, and the flow ofments stopped.


    <<It''s, it''s a rtive of… fish eggs!>>


    Angu Ogu looked at me with a curious expression.


    Was my answer ufortable?


    Sweat trickled down my forehead…


    Suddenly, her expression brightened.


    <<I see! The words "Shirako" and "Tamago" do look quite simr!>>


    <<Exactly.>>


    >Sa———-fe!


    Nice save, Iroha-chan! (U.S.)


    That was a clevereback! (U.S.)


    The chats that had been stopped suddenly started pouring in.


    Phew, that was tiring.


    I managed toe up with something.


    <<By the way, I also tried sea urchin! And while we''re at it, can you tell us what this is too?>>


    <<You''re doing this on purpose, aren''t you, youuu!>>


    <<!?!?!? Did I say something weird?!?>>


    I let out a rough sigh, "Geez, huff.".


    I couldn''t take it anymore!


    What kind of question was that?


    <<Sorry, I didn''t know. But Anego told me to ask Iroha.>>


    <<Was it her doing, ahhh!>>


    I thought the conversation was getting oddly specific, and now I get it!


    I''m totally convinced now!


    I''ll have to question Ah-nee properly next time.


    For now, the topic of food is not good.


    <<Ogu, was there anything else?>>


    <<Anything else? Oh yeah, something mildly interesting happened on the way to dinner. Originally, there was a sign that said "WELCOME", I think. But some of the letters had fallen off, and the remaining letters on the sign… spelled "WOE"! By the way, it means "disaster"!>>


    <<Was that some dig at meeee!?>>


    <<Whaaat?!>>


    >This one''s on Ogu LOL (U.S.)


    >The choice of topic and timing is just too much (U.S.)


    >By the way, is Iroha staying at Ogu''s house again today? (U.S.)


    <<Of course, right, Iroha?>>


    <<Well, I am going home though?>>


    <<W-Why?>>


    <<Any idea why?>>


    <<W-Well, we already have the futon set up.>>


    Just as I was about to say, "You do have an idea, don''t you?" something unexpected happened.


    <<An earthquake!>>


    The ground started shaking.


    It gradually intensified.


    Small objects in the room rattled.


    <<W-We''re shaking… Ahhhhhh!?>>


    Angu Ogu''s high-pitched scream echoed in the room.