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"Uoooo! This is amazing! It's seriously delicious!"
The table in front of us looked like it belonged in a five-star restaurant, not a remote wooden lodge hidden deep in the mountains. After a full day of exhausting training—both physically and magically—this dinner spread felt like salvation itself.
I chewed a tender bite of the meat dish and nearly teared up from the flavor. Apparently, it was wild boar hunted by Rias herself. The herbs Kiba had foraged in the afternoon had been ground into fresh spices, and the meat didn't have any of that weird gamey aftertaste I'd feared. It was savory, juicy, and rich with smoky depth.
"This is my first time eating wild boar," I said, grabbing another piece. "If this is what it always tastes like, I might just switch careers to hunter."
Beside the meat dish was a simple grilled fish. Buchou again—seems like she'd taken fishing duty too. Salt-crusted, crisp on the outside and fluffy inside, it was enough to shut down all the senses except taste. Even something as basic as this was elevated to a divine meal when served with this level of exhaustion and hunger.
And speaking of divine…
"Ara ara. We still have plenty of food, so don't be shy, Ise-kun," said Akeno with a serene smile, her voice tinged with gentle teasing.
She was wearing a traditional Japanese apron, the kind housewives wear in dramas, and it should've looked old-fashioned—but on Akeno, it looked… domestic. Elegant. Weirdly sexy.
She leaned in and refilled my rice bowl without waiting for me to ask. I blinked, momentarily mesmerized.
I held the steaming bowl in my hands like it was sacred. "Thanks, Akeno-san. You're really amazing."
"It's nothing. I love taking care of everyone. Especially you." She smiled again, this time with a slight tilt to her head that sent a shiver down my spine.
Kiba, sitting across the table, let out a satisfied sigh. "The herbs I found were useful after all."
"Yeah," I replied between bites. "You might be the party's secret MVP."
He chuckled. "I'll take that as high praise."
The clatter of chopsticks filled the dining room. Koneko sat near the end of the table, stuffing her cheeks full of rice and grilled fish. It was like watching a squirrel power through dinner—and fast. I wisely kept my mouth shut, knowing any comment about her appetite might end with a crushed chair or broken plate.
The atmosphere was warm and lively. We were family for tonight—sharing exhaustion, laughter, and food. And that made it all the more worth it. I thought back to how we had dragged our gear up the mountain trail. Most of the weight had been cookware, food containers, and seasonings. At the time, I had cursed every single one of those items. Now? Worth every ounce.
And then, I said it. I didn't mean to.
"I really want Akeno as my wife."
Silence.
My chopsticks froze midair. The words had left my mouth before my brain had processed them. It was supposed to stay in my head—one of those harmless inner thoughts.
But no. I'd said it out loud. And everyone heard.
"Ufufu…" Akeno giggled, raising her hand to her cheek in mock surprise. "You're embarrassing me, Ise-kun."
Her smile was radiant. She didn't look upset at all—in fact, she seemed pleased. The kind of pleased that made me both nervous and thrilled. She leaned slightly closer.
"I might just take you up on that someday," she whispered softly, so only I could hear.
I blinked. Swallowed. Nearly choked on my rice.
Then I noticed Asia.
She sat beside me, her expression a little too neutral, her hands neatly folded in her lap. Her shoulders were slightly tense.
My eyes drifted to the onion soup in the center of the table. A bowl of it had been placed in front of everyone. Light steam still rose from the surface.
"I also made this soup," Asia said softly.
Her voice didn't carry disappointment. But her eyes did. That, and a trace of sadness she was clearly trying to hide.
I mentally slapped myself. Idiot. You praised Akeno-san like she was a goddess and didn't say a word about Asia's dish. No wonder she's upset.
I quickly reached out, picked up my bowl, and took a long sip.
Warmth flooded my chest.
The onion flavor was delicate, but not bland. It was comfort in a bowl—simple, sincere, and carefully made. Just like her. It wasn't flashy like Akeno's gourmet flair, but it made my chest feel lighter.
"This is delicious, Asia. Really," I said with genuine gratitude. "It's the best soup I've had in a long time. Can I have seconds?"
Her expression changed immediately. A bright smile spread across her face, and her shoulders relaxed.
"Y-Yes! Of course! I'll get it right away!" she chirped, already pouring another ladleful into my bowl.
I gave her a grateful nod, holding the new bowl in both hands.
"I'm really happy you liked it," she said softly.
I smiled at her. "Asia, anything you make will always be special to me."
Her face flushed, but her smile didn't waver.
Across the table, Rias had been watching the whole thing. Her gaze lingered on me a moment longer than usual, her expression unreadable—but then she looked down at her plate and resumed eating.
Eventually, everyone eased back into conversation. Koneko started a debate over who could do the most push-ups, which led to Kiba challenging me. I politely declined, too focused on my second bowl of soup.
By the end of the meal, we were all full, happy, and tired in the best way.
When we started cleaning up, Asia and I worked side by side washing dishes, and even that felt… peaceful. Like maybe, in this crazy supernatural life I was now part of, I could still have quiet moments like these.
~~~
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