[Essay] I think people who only eat should boost the motivation of the person who cooks, don't you?

How is everyone doing?
I am Shusho.

This is sudden, but does your partner cook?

My partner, Wai-san, hardly ever does.

Wai-san's opinion is that the tip of the kitchen knife is scary.

But, there was a time when they finely chopped up Spam and made me fried rice as an omelet rice.
I'm sure they have a particular preference for things being "finely" chopped.

They have also peeled and cut pears for me,
and have even cut chocolate cake for me.

Despite saying the tip of the knife is scary, they actually do it more than expected.

When I talked to Wai-san and decided that we would start seeing each other,
I told them this on the very first day.

In my house, there is an iron rule that the person who cooks doesn't have to do the dishes.
So, if I cook, you have to do all the dishes.
Because it is an iron rule.

By the way, there is no such rule at all in my parents' home.

When I was young, my friends would gather at my house once a month for a home party with food I made and drinks they brought.

There were always five or six people, so I would usually make two hors d'oeuvre platters, and the main dish would be homemade gyoza or stew depending on the occasion.

Since I was providing the space and cooking the food, I established that the participants would do all the cleaning up, which is the origin of the "iron rule."

I've forgotten Wai-san's reply, but even after eight years of being together, they have shown no sign of breaking that "iron rule" and quietly do the dishes.

I wonder about myself for blurting out an "iron rule" on the first day,
but when Wai-san comes over, I always make sure to ask for their food requests.
It's a bit frustrating that my maiden heart wants to cook the favorite foods of the person I love.

Wai-san's favorites haven't changed for several years:
* Chicken breast chashu
* Fried chicken
You can't go wrong if you make these two heavy hitters.

People often talk about a meal consisting of soup and three sides, but
delicious pickled plums bought at a favorite shop,
miso soup with lots of ingredients,
and a main dish.
That's usually all we have.
It's not even three sides.
Since Wai-san is satisfied, I consider this fine.

While I am standing in the kitchen,
Wai-san wanders around.
They seem to like watching the process of the food being made.
But I don't have time to pay attention to them while I'm cooking.

I think cooking is the ultimate
multitasking.

Even though I am calculating this and that while cooking,
Wai-san mysteriously tries to help with the dishes 30 seconds before the food is ready.
The timing is just too perfect.

Oh, oh, why now?
Why did you decide to help with the dishes right now?

Huh? It's already done now.
The food is just waiting to be plated!!

You were watching, right?
You were watching the whole time as the food was being prepared.
Did you not understand?

Don't do unnecessary things.

Brain switch, ON.

Hey!
Why are you doing the dishes when it's about to be finished!!

It seems the switch for saying exactly what's on my mind has been flipped.
Even though Wai-san was just trying to follow the 'iron rule'.

Wai-san doesn't really mind being scolded and stops washing the dishes.
Even when scolded, instead of saying 'I'm trying to be considerate too!',
he just says 'Oh, is that so?' and brushes off my feelings,
which I think he is very good at.
I think that's a great talent.

I want to loudly declare that saying 'It's delicious, it's delicious' about the finished meal
is the duty of the person eating.

Even if it's burnt or a failure, you shouldn't blame them.
If they serve it to you saying 'Just eat this,' you'd naturally get angry, but
basically, you can't go wrong by lifting up the person who cooked for you.

The person cooking is
thinking only about whether you'll say it's delicious or if you like the taste.

However, there is a note of caution here.

Never praise a dish that relies solely on the power of its ingredients.

Like pickled plums, chilled tofu, or edamame just thawed in cold water.

The day you praise that,

well, that's just a letdown.

If they went out of their way to travel far to buy it, then
it's necessary to say 'It's delicious, thank you' for that effort, but even if you praise a dish that values the taste of ingredients bought at a local supermarket,
your own stock is almost never going to go up.

Isn't it a waste that your own stock goes down even though you praised them?

I think, "Maybe I'll put a little extra effort into this meal."

That extra effort is "love," isn't it?

If you want to feel love in your food,
you have to boost the motivation of the person cooking.
That's the only way.

This is delicious.
I love this flavor.
Thank you for making this.

Just that alone boosts motivation,
and it feels like being cast with a spell that makes the daily chore of cooking
feel a little lighter.

I'm eating it in silence, so of course it's delicious.

To those who say that.

Huh?

What is that? Where are you coming from with that attitude?

You should just prepare your own meals for the rest of your life.

No matter how good someone looks on the outside, I feel like something is
missing with people like that.
After all, I think it's better not to spare the effort of expressing things in words.
If you want to be loved, that is.

I'm glad Wai-san is someone who puts things into words properly.

I want to put in the effort and cook the food they like.

They are the kind of person who makes me feel that way.

I also make sure to say thank you when they do the dishes.

Putting things into words is truly necessary after all.

Gratitude won't be conveyed unless you show it through your attitude and your words.

When I was talking about cooking with Wai-san,

even if it's my favorite dish, if it's served for three days in a row,
I might get a little tired of it.

That's what I said.

Instantly

Switch ON

Look, I'm making this because you said you liked it, and because it made me happy. That happiness alone is what makes me want to cook. That's what keeps me motivated! Don't say things that lower my motivation!

It seems my switch has been flipped directly again. Or rather, does my switch only have a direct mode?

By the way, I have never served the same dish for three days in a row.

But I would hate to be told something like that.

Well, some people might dislike leftovers, or get tired of eating the same thing for two days, so there are definitely preferences. I know that a certain number of people feel that way. And I know that three days is a fairly long time.

Yeah, I think I understand that part. So, rest assured, I won't make the same thing for three days.

Saying "that was delicious" to the person who cooks is a magic word, so I want you to keep casting that spell. The reason I want to put in that extra effort is...

part of love.

One way to express love is...

cooking.

Please, don't ever forget that.

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