Chapter 215. [Etymology Quiz]

“W-What are you saying!? ‘What do you mean’ different from what Iroha said earlier!?”

“Yeah, I did say that. But I don’t think it’s bad; I find this quite delicious.”

“Well, yeah~”

In response to my statement, Mai nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Ah-nee was happily devouring the rolled sushi beside us.

“Could it be, Ogu, you’re getting influenced by Japan again?”

“Huh!? N-No way. Well, maybe a bit.”

“Indeed, it’s a different dish from traditional Japanese sushi. If you eat it considering it as something else, it’s actually delicious. Here, ahh.”

I picked up a piece of rolled sushi with chopsticks and offered it to Ogu.

It wasn’t until afterward that I realized what I had done.

Since the same thing had been done to me earlier, I unconsciously reciprocated.

But it’s too late to worry about it now. Whether doing it or having it done to me, it doesn’t make much difference.

“I-Iroha-chan’s ‘ahh’ from me too!?”

“W-Well, it’s my first time doing this!”

Ah-nee, looking a bit bewildered, swallowed nervously.

Then she said, “Thank you” and opened her mouth.

“Nom… munch munch. Strangely, it feels delicious when you’re told. I’m nervous, so I can’t really taste it properly!”

“If Iroha-chan eats it, anything will taste delicious for sure! Iroha-chan, let me try too~!”

“I’m not your parent bird. Eat it yourself.”

I picked up a piece of rolled sushi with chopsticks and put it in my mouth.

Mai screamed, “Ahh!” in surprise.

“Iroha-chan! Me too, ahh! Aah~!”

“Haa~, fine. There, ahh.”

Mai happily opened her mouth, and right after that, Ah-nee appeared from the side, swiftly snatching the rolled sushi from my chopsticks.

“Mmm~! Iroha-chan’s sushi is so tasty~!”

“Oh, come on, big sister! Spit it out~!”

“Ahaha! Hey, wait!? Ugh, it’s choking!?”

Mai grabbed Ah-nee and started strangling her, but everyone seemed to be doing well.

Quietly, Ogu and I retreated to the side so as not to get involved.

As a bonus, I took another Spicy Tuna Roll from her plate.

“Iroha, do you like this?”

“Not particularly. But I prefer things made with unusual ingredients like avocado, smoked cheese, chili sauce… things I don’t usually see. If it’s too close to regular sushi, it might feel different from Japanese sushi.”

“I see. Hey, Iroha! Here’s a question after the Statue of Liberty; Ogu’s quiz!”

Following the Statue of Liberty incident, Ogu presented another quiz.

I wonder if quizzes are a trend for her.

“The negitoro used in this Spicy Tuna Roll is visibly lacking green onions. Still, do you know why it’s called negitoro?”

It was a surprisingly difficult question, and I pondered over it.

Negitoro? Not only does it lack green onions, but it’s not even toro. I thought for a while, but the answer didn’t come.

I surrendered honestly, “Hmm, I give up. I don’t know.”

“F…Fu…Fuhaha! I’ve finally defeated Iroha!”

Ogu laughed triumphantly.

Well, there’s no need to celebrate just because I couldn’t answer.

“In reality, I’ve been preparing for this moment since the incident with the doggy bag. I wanted to make you say ‘Gah’ someday!”

“Oh, is that so? What a waste of effort.”

“What are you saying!? It’s not a waste now! Iroha, do you want to know the answer?”

“Well, if you know it, sure. Do you know the answer, Ah-nee?”

“Mocking me, are you? I wouldn’t ask a question without knowing the answer! By the way, Iroha, do you even know what negitoro is made of?”

“It’s made from the belly part of the tuna, right?”

“Exactly! And the answer is. In the past, in Japan, removing the belly part from the bones was called ‘ne-gi-toru’! So, even without green onions, just the tuna alone is called ‘negitoro’!”

Ah-nee proudly explained, puffing her chest.

I nodded understandingly, “I see,” and then told her, “Uh, Ogu. Sorry to interrupt your triumphant moment, but that might be misinformation?”

“Huh!?”

“In general, every word has its origin or etymology, but as far as I know, there’s no connection between ‘negitoru’ and the act of removing the belly part. In fact, the etymology of ‘negitoru’ might be more likely to be the other way around.”

[!?!?!? So, I am now”

“Revealing a proud misunderstanding, maybe? That’s why I also answered ‘I don’t know.’ If you know the answer, I’d like to know too.”

“W-What!? Is it my fault now!?”

Well, if anything, it’s more like “the other person’s fault.”

Ah-nee doesn’t know about the language cheat, so it’s understandable.

“Waah… If that’s the case, Iroha, I…”

“Your misunderstanding would be quite the spectacle. So, I also answered ‘I don’t know.’ If you know the answer, I’d like to know too.”

“Ugh… I-I might not know either!”

“Oh, Ah-nee, that idea is interesting! Let’s go with that! Soon, we’ll do a segment to discover Iroha-chan’s ‘first-time’ experiences! We’ll ask various VTubers to share episodes and questions!”

“Whaaat!?”

Once again, Ah-nee brought up something troublesome.

Sensing trouble, I grimaced.