Chapter 268: Lunch
Lunch time had already passed since the commotion in the kitchen took some time to clear the misunderstanding. It was already quite late and Frieren’s stomach was already growling. Even though, Mahiru brought them some food to share with the three of them, it wasn’t enough for them, especially when he and Frieren was quite a heavy eater.
In the end, Shido began preparing lunch while Rumia and Frieren took a bath together, since the tub was spacious enough for both of them. After all, their bodies were still a little sweaty from clearing the floors, so it was the perfect chance to freshen their bodies.
However, Mahiru was left stunned. If Rumia and Frieren were bathing now... didn’t that mean they were using Shido’s leftover bathwater? ’Were their relationship really that close?’ she wondered, unable to tell whether the two of them were simply that intimate, or if foreigners just didn’t care about such details.
Still, while Mahiru was in deep thought, Shido’s hands moved swiftly as he chopped vegetables and meat before tossing them into the pan over a roaring flame. Mahiru watched in awe as he displayed his own kind of magic in cooking, carefully noting every technique he used.
Although she was still a little annoyed at him for teasing her and Rumia, Mahiru actually wanted to help Shido. However, he politely declined, explaining that he was preparing a quick dish. Feeling a bit disappointed, Mahiru sat down on one of the dining chairs and simply watched Shido’s impressive performance in the kitchen.
...
"Hmm... it smells so good." Frieren’s nose twitched the moment she stepped out of the bath with Rumia, instantly recognizing the familiar aroma of Shido’s cooking.
Both of them were dressed in a neat fresh casual clothes, their recently bathed figures giving off a refreshing air.
*Growl.*
As if responding to the mouthwatering aroma from the kitchen, Frieren’s stomach growled again, urging her to fill her empty belly. Without the slightest hint of embarrassment, she calmly rubbed her stomach.
Rumia, walking beside her, was already used to this kind of sight. She couldn’t help but chuckle and say, "Frieren-san, I know you’re hungry, but I still need to dry your hair first."
Saying that, Rumia picked up a towel and a hair dryer from the side. Frieren let out a small sigh, knowing she couldn’t escape, and quietly allowed Rumia to dry her hair.
Rumia smiled at her obedient demeanor and began gently wiping Frieren’s hair before switching to the dryer to finish the job. At first, both she and Frieren had been confused and even shocked by these strange devices called "technology," but with Shido’s guidance, they quickly became familiar with them, adapting to their new environment.
It only took a few minutes to finish their routine before they heard Shido’s voice from the kitchen calling them out, letting them know lunch was ready.
...
A number of mouthwatering dishes were laid out on the table, each one glistening with rich colors and tempting aromas. Since Mahiru hadn’t been able to help with the cooking, she decided instead to set the table. Shido gave her an approving nod, grateful for the extra help.
Mahiru’s eyes lit up, a bright smile spreading across her face as Shido answered her. She quickly gathered the plates and utensils, carefully setting them on the table along with the dishes Shido had prepared. Of course, the food she had made earlier was also displayed proudly among them.
"..." Rumia and Frieren.
Rumia and Frieren, who had just entered from the living room, stopped in their tracks. They watch how Shido and Mahiru help each other like a pair of husband and wife causing both girls to fell silent.
"Why do I feel like they look so good together?" Frieren asked in her usual monotone voice. Yet, buried beneath it was a faint trace of dissatisfaction on her tone which was a little hard to discern.
"A-ahahaha." Rumia simply laughed at Frieren whose lips were slightly puckered. Yet deep down, she felt the same, quietly wondering how nice it would be to have that kind of relationship with Shido.
Still, Rumia felt that she needed to help them so she said "Ah, let me help too."
Rumia walked over to join them, helping set up the table and leaving Frieren behind. Frieren was left speechless, feeling oddly betrayed that Rumia had abandoned her to join in.
...
"Wow, it looks so delicious!" Rumia said in amazement. No matter how many times she saw Shido’s cooking, she never grew tired of it.
Frieren nodded repeatedly before quickly taking her seat. Rumia, Shido, and Mahiru soon followed and settled down at the table.
As for Mahiru, although she had already eaten lunch earlier, Shido had invited her to join them. It was an offer she found hard to refuse, after all, unlike Rumia and Frieren, she couldn’t taste Shido’s cooking every day.
It wasn’t her first time tasting Shido’s cooking, every now and then, when Rumia and Shido invited her over to their apartment to hang out, she’d end up sharing a meal with them.
Luckily, she hadn’t eaten too much during her earlier lunch, so there was still room in her stomach.
Shido took the seat beside Frieren, while Rumia and Mahiru sat together across from them. With everyone settled, Shido signaled that they could now eat. "Well then, let’s eat."
"Thank you for the food!" 4x
And so, a lively lunch filled with chatter, smiles, and laughter began. Everyone enjoyed the dishes Shido had prepared, savoring each bite with delight. Mahiru was no exception, though as she ate, she couldn’t help but admit that Shido was much better wife material than her when it comes to cooking.
Of course, Shido also ate the food brought by Mahiru and there was a gap with their cooking, Mahiru’s cooking was still remarkable and could be said to be comparable to the standards of a three-star hotel chef, which was impressive in its own right.
"This is good, Mahiru." Shido said genuinely, without a trace of pretense or irony. After all, it was really delicious to begin with and there’s no reason for Shido to lie. He had to admit that if not for his [Cooking Mastery], Mahiru’s cooking skills would easily surpass his by a wide margin.
"R-Really? That’s... good then." Hearing his approval, Mahiru finally let out a sigh of relief. She had been worried he might not enjoy it, but it seemed her fears were unfounded. Relaxing, she smiled softly as she watched Shido savor the food she had prepared while an unconscious tenderness flickering in her eyes without her even realizing it.
"Un, this is really delicious, Mahiru-chan!" Rumia chimed in brightly after tasting a bite of Mahiru’s cooking, her tone full of earnest praise.
"Mn, mn." Frieren could only nod in agreement, her cheeks puffed out with food, making her resemble a small hamster as she kept chewing.
"Thank you." Mahiru’s smile was so beautiful that it left Shido, Rumia, and Frieren momentarily dazed. It clearly showed how high her charm is, so much so that even the girls found themselves captivated.
Shido who had a high mental power immediately woke up not even a second and said "But still, you really are good at cooking."
"Shido-san, you’ll make me blush if you keep praising me like that." Mahiru’s cheeks turned slightly red as she gave a charming smile, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"I’m sure the man who marries you will be very lucky," Shido said after a brief pause, his gaze meeting hers for a moment.
Mahiru’s blush deepened and was startled by his sudden words. "W-Why is that?" she asked softly, unable to hide her fluster.
"Because he’ll get to eat your cooking whenever he wants. Haaah, I’m so jealous." Shido let out an exaggerated sigh, making Mahiru feel even more bashful.
"T-Then... if Shido-san wants, I can cook for you sometimes," Mahiru replied, her voice soft and shy. "But... don’t expect my cooking to ever be as good as yours, okay?"
"Eh? Really?" Shido blinked in surprise. He was initially just joking but he didn’t expect Mahiru to actually say that. This made Shido wonder if she was secretly hinting that she wanted him to be her husband.
"..." Rumia and Frieren.
"...Un." Nodding Shyly, Mahiru lowered her face as she could see Rumia and Frieren’s strange gazes that made her very embarrassed.
"Alright then, I’m waiting for it." Shido ignored the scrutinizing gazes of the two girls and simply smiled at Mahiru.
"Un." Mahiru gave a small, shy nod, lowering her face and continued to eat while her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
Lunch continued with the four of them happily enjoying every dish until not a single bite was left. When the meal finally ended, they all leaned back and let out satisfied sighs.