kscans

Chapter 506 - A Splendid Lunch

It's my personal theory, but I believe cooking reveals a person's 'personality' in many ways.

From the taste and appearance of the finished dish to the cooking process itself, an individual's habits come into play at every stage, from menu planning and preparation to cleanup.

For example, I'm a typical efficiency type. I don't have strong preferences for either cooking or baking, so I live by the creed that saving time equals justice.

Of course, I want to eat delicious food, so I don't cut corners where it matters, but that's also probably why I can never move beyond cooking by the book.

Now, as for Sora-san—

"…………Have you worked in a traditional restaurant or something before?"

"Um… I don't think sandwiches are served very often in traditional restaurants, are they…?"

In a word, she was meticulous.

Her movements were utterly confident, and the brisk, speedy way she handled everything was similar to my own by-the-book style, but hers was born from a thoroughly refined and extremely careful technique.

In other words, she was fast because she was sure of her movements and made no mistakes. And despite her cooking speed rivaling mine, where I ruthlessly cut corners wherever possible, her food would undoubtedly taste better.

I mean, if I were to make a sandwich, the thought of carefully prepping the bread with butter and mustard wouldn't even cross my mind.

Her knife skills were naturally flawless, and from the way she prepped the vegetables and boiled the eggs… the menu was simple, so the tasks were all straightforward, but that's precisely why her skill was so easy to see. This fifteen-year-old has got it.

I've lost count of how many times I've thought this, but are you really fifteen?

"Am I right to assume that was a compliment?"

"Of course it is. Ashe said we could leave the meals to the chef who's coming later, but seeing this makes me curious about other, more elaborate dishes you can make…"

When we were discussing what to make, she had confidently said, "I can basically make anything."… You know, I have a feeling Sora would be great at making home-cooked meals.

Meeting her in the real world, she has an overflowing ojou-sama elegance, but she still has this calming, reassuring quality to her that just fits that image—

Whoops, what's with that action? Too close, too close.

"…I think Ashe will be back or Nia will be down any minute now."

"They're not here yet. I've been holding back since this morning, so just a little."

I arranged the colorful sandwiches on a large platter, and we were done. I had been cleaning up as we went, so all the work was finished at the exact same moment the food was ready—which was when I praised her, but her response was action rather than words.

Heat radiated from the body that pressed tightly against mine, but with the air conditioning on, I couldn't use the 'it's hot because it's summer' excuse.

"Well, alright… thirty secon—"

"We're not holding hands, and I'm not hugging you, so the count is void. This is just me leaning on my partner because I'm tired."

"Huh… Sora-san, you've gotten pretty good at saying sly things, haven't you?"

"Only to you, Haru. …Do you not like it?"

"That's sly too."

With our proximity and height difference, her upward glance was a critical hit.

My brain was momentarily taken over by 'cute,' but I've been building up a bit of resistance lately.

"Alright, that's enough. I'm going to check on Nia. She'll probably be feeling better soon."

I didn't want to be rough, so I gently patted her beautiful black hair, with its ever-present angel's halo, and slipped away.

Immediately, Sora puffed out her cheeks in a clear show of displeasure, but there was no need to worry.

"Hmph… I won't let you get out of our 'once a day' promise, so you'd better be prepared."

"Haha, ha… please be gentle with me."

Even if her advances were brushed off once or twice, this partner of mine wasn't one to get discouraged anymore.

◇◆◇◆◇

"I apologize for causing trouble so early on…"

"It wasn't really trouble. I was worried, though."

"I'm relieved you're feeling better now."

"Well then, sorry for making you worry. Thanks."

When I checked on her, Nia was already up. I met up with her and Ashe, who had returned from her inspection, just as it turned noon.

When I asked where we should eat, our host replied, "Anywhere is fine," so we brought our light meal to a nearby, comfortable-looking lounge and started our lunch.

First, Nia held up her phone with its apologetic message and bowed her head, but her words were brushed aside within ten seconds, first by Ashe and then by Sora, after which she revised her message.

Nia's ability to move on quickly is one of her strengths. I think it's a great, refreshing quality.

With that out of the way, we put our hands together and said, "Let's eat." —Man, this is amazing. It's the first time I've shared a meal with both Nia and Ashe, and seeing two foreign girls follow Japanese customs is a rare experience.

In terms of appearance, Sora also has a slightly non-Japanese look to her, so seeing the three of them together is even more so. If you took a picture and donated it to a museum, they'd probably accept it without question and put it on display the same day.

"Haru."

"Yes—um, I might have asked this before, but am I that easy to read?"

As I was thinking something stupid, Sora immediately smiled at me. Sensing that she had read my incomprehensible thoughts, I asked the others.

Ashe and Nia both tilted their heads and—

"I think it shows on your face."

"When you're thinking something weird or rude, you can kinda tell from your vibe."

"No way…!"

Their completely matter-of-fact affirmations were a fatal blow.

How could this be? I, the one who was told so many times in high school, 'Haru-kun, I have no idea what you're thinking…,' the lone part-time fanatic…!

"Um, setting Haru aside for a moment…"

"The sadness of being set aside by my precious partner…"

"Oh, be quiet! Just eat your sandwich!"

"Yes, ma'am."

Well, it's fine, I guess…

Besides, this was my precious partner's first time cooking for me. I put on a poker face while inwardly ecstatic, picked one up, and took a bite—

……………Ah… this is, well.

This is simply 'violence,' a combination of high-quality ingredients and a high-quality chef. It wasn't revenge for my teasing, but I'll be sure to praise her to death later and make her blush.

This time, I deliberately suppressed my expression and vibe while thinking my stupid thoughts. Meanwhile, the conversation among the dazzling ladies continued smoothly.

—Correction, the one-on-one conversation between Sora and Ashe continued smoothly.

Since we were eating with our hands, Nia had politely put her phone away and was concentrating on her sandwich. Judging by her happy expression, she didn't seem to mind at all… but this is something I should pay attention to in the future.

It would be better to avoid menus that require eating with your hands so Nia can join the conversation.

"When will the other guests be arriving?"

"Uni will probably be here by evening. The other three… I'm not sure. Goldow and the others said it might be nighttime."

"Uni-san, the Heavy Tank… he's the only one I haven't met. I'm a little nervous."

"He's a good person. He's exceptionally good at reading the room and is considerate without letting on. He's a bit different from Haru, but they might be similar in that they can get along with anyone in an instant."

"Is that… so?"

"Hmm? Uh… well, he seemed like a fun guy, I guess."

Unlike Sora, I had met him before, but we hadn't exchanged many words. Since he wasn't in the party for the subsequent White Throne subjugation, my only contact with the second-ranked member of the Southern Faction was during that Four Pillar War.

And in that one and only encounter, what I did to him was a 'sucker punch.' I'm honestly a little scared of what kind of impression he has of me.

"The Heavy Tank is an old-timer, right? In terms of personality, wouldn't Sora, who knows him from videos and such, know more than me?"

"That might be true, but… I was just wondering if people's behavior in the real and virtual worlds can be different or not."

I see. She said it while looking straight at me, clear as day.

"Haru is one of the ones who's more consistent. It's not uncommon for people to change so much they seem like a different person, so Sora is right—but Uni is relatively the same. You don't have to worry."

Ashe's confident declaration seemed to have eased some of her tension. Perhaps as a thank you for the consideration, Sora's expression relaxed slightly as she opened her mouth to speak—but was abruptly cut off by a sudden "Ah," as if Ashe had remembered something.

"He's a good person, but… just one warning."

And then, with Ashe's next words, delivered with a rare, deliberate pause,

"He's an unparalleled food lover and gets angry if you get in his way too much. I think he'll probably just be playing in the kitchen the whole time after he arrives, but… be careful when you enter his territory."

It was the moment it was confirmed that the Heavy Tank, whom I had barely met, was just as eccentric as the rest of the title holders.