[#ShirokumaLiteratureClubNovember③] What are the hot pot ingredients
I am creating a single story using all the monthly prompts from the Shirokuma Literature Club. Since regular members get all the prompts at the beginning of the month, I came up with this idea. I am challenging myself every month with a style where the first entry is a 20-character short story, and subsequent entries are stories with no character limit.
In addition to the above, the story unfolds with a part starting from the prompt where a grandmother reads aloud, followed by a conversation with her grandchild. I would appreciate it if you could join me to see if I can successfully complete 12 stories in 2025.
Click here for the first entry of November👇
Click here for the second entry of November👇
"What would you like for your hot pot ingredients?"
I thought it was strange that this question was asked the moment I sat back down quietly.
"Does my future have anything to do with hot pot ingredients?"
I asked back involuntarily. Then the fortune teller chuckled and said,
"No. I just want to eat hot pot tonight, so I thought I'd use your opinion as a reference."
When told that, I felt annoyed and half-rose from my seat.
"Sorry, sorry."
Apologizing while laughing, the fortune teller finally turned both palms toward the crystal ball. The way they moved their hands as if gently stroking it was exactly like a fortune teller.
I guess they are finally going to tell my fortune for real.
I lowered my half-risen waist back onto the chair and quietly stared at the fortune teller and the crystal ball. The crystal ball changed from a cold hue to a warm one, and it looked as if something like smoke had begun to move softly inside. A solemn atmosphere began to flow through the room, and my back straightened naturally.
This person, I feel like they have a talent for fortune-telling.
My throat gulped with tension.
"I see it..."
"W-what do you see?"
"It's daikon radish..."
"Eh? Is that my lucky item?"
No, that's not it, the fortune teller laughed.
"The crystal ball told me that your favorite hot pot ingredient is 'daikon radish'."
"Please don't use clairvoyance for hot pot ingredients!"
"But you wouldn't tell me honestly, would you?"
It turned into an absurd conversation, but it is true that my favorite hot pot ingredient is daikon radish. A fortune teller who can peer into my heart has real ability... This means I absolutely must have them tell my future...
Turning firmly toward the fortune teller, I opened my mouth again.
"Could you please really read my fortune now?"
"Oh, you're a surprisingly gutsy customer. This will be worth the effort."
The fortune teller held their hands over the crystal ball once again.
📚📚📚
"I'm chicken."
"Huh?"
The grandmother looked puzzled at her younger grandson's sudden words.
"I'm an egg!"
Hearing her granddaughter's statement, the grandmother realized the grandchildren were naming their favorite hot pot ingredients.
"I suppose I like tofu."
she replied.
"Big sister, I said my favorite hot pot ingredient, you know? It's not oden."
"I know. But oden is also a type of hot pot."
The younger brother's eyes went wide in surprise, while his older sister gave him a smug look.
"Paella and jjigae also mean hot pot. It seems hot pot is a menu with great variety in every country."
the grandmother continued. As they got excited talking about how they also liked chikuwa-bu if it were oden, and that they loved chicken meatballs, beef, pork, and fish as hot pot ingredients, it became time for bed.
"Let's ask Mom to make hot pot tomorrow."
"Yeah..."
The grandmother noticed the mouths of her grandchildren, who had fallen asleep in an instant, moving as if they were chewing.
"Are they having a hot pot party in their dreams?"
Suppressing a quiet laugh, the grandmother turned off the room light.
(To be continued)
Manager Kosuke Komaki, thank you for this week as well.