Sometime later, I have been recruited by Kiku to help in the kitchen. It turns out the lower floor also accommodated a store room, a dining area, and a larder as well. We were told by Seria, who returned periodically, that we were welcome to use the supplies.

Kiku, who still had her hair down and helm removed, was inspecting a wheel of cheese and length of sausage she had retrieved, whilst I was chopping up some greens.

"What are we making here?" I ask.

"Um... I'm having to improvise. A gratin with sausage and Defris shoots. With breadcrumbs rather than flaked rootwarts."

She rubs the side of her head in contemplation. The cut above there has scarred nicely now.

"It's... it's really missing several key ingredients here. Does the sage just eat cheese and bread!?" She exclaims.

"I guess cheese toasties are pretty easy if she is just trying to study all the time. Academics are always like that." I say, kind of relating to this condition from my own student days... though unlike my experience, it doesn't look like Seria is lacking money.

"T-toesteez?" She looks at me, raising an eyebrow.

Oh right... I think I've ascertained that sometimes, an English word doesn't get translated, like when I told Aria about Cars. I'm guessing because it has no equivalent.

"You melt slices of cheese in-between toasted bread slices. Not exactly gourmet food, but its quick and easy and pretty good for breakfast." I explain.

Kiku looks like she is pondering seriously.

"You... melt the cheese... because the bread is hot? It becomes gooey between crisp slices? A contrast... Huh..." she mutters to herself "...of course, if there are strange fruits, there will also be new ways to prepare food... how could I not figure that out...?"

"I'm not exactly a professional, but I'm sure I could remember a few dishes from my world, if you'd like that, Kiku?"

"I'd love that, Nii!" She exclaims with a serious expression, fists balled in front of her face. So cute! I ruffle her hair again.

She chitters and gives me a radiant smile that makes me tingle.

Kiku really does love her food, doesn't she?

Sometime after, the rather large pot of crispy gratin is prepared, and smells lovely.

"Um... hehe... nice work, Nii." Kiku compliments.

"Huh? I hardly did much this time. It was all you." I reply.

"No, no... um... the support is critical for a chef. Celia-shishou always said that running a restaurant relies on everyone. So... um... even just chopping and cleaning is important." She denounces me intensely.

"Hmm... I see. Then... thanks Kiku. And good job."

"Nnn... that’s right." She nods, blushing slightly.

"So is Celia your cooking teacher? Do you want to be like her?"

Kiku looks shy and goes a bit wide eyed.

"Um... hehe... I did mention her... oops... well... um... it's a secret." She grins.

"Haha... well, fair enough. I think you'd be cute no matter what you did, Kiku."

"Hnn... you silly twat, Nii! Y-you should s-save that for Aria-chan! I'm not worth all that much." Rowdy Kiku rebukes me, looking away.

"No way. If a girl is cute, pretty, or good at something, you should tell her. You're worth plenty, Kiku. You said just before that support is important. You're an important support to me here. I value you. It's the least I can do."

She looks shocked, but we really need to keep drilling at her low self-confidence, don't we?

"Nnn... um... ok... t-thanks... Nii"

She twiddles her fingers and her fringe covers her eyes a bit, but I can tell she has a funny smile.

"Let’s get this food to the others. I bet they'll love it."

She nods, and picks up the pot with a large glove. I follow her into the dining area. The smell has apparently already attracted a roving Ninja, whom is sat at the foot of the long table, in a patient, meditative posture.

I go into the study to retrieve an Aria, and when I return with her, Seria has also reappeared again and positioned herself at the head. How she got past me is a mystery... bloody wizards.

Well... never mind. I sit at the table after retrieving a bottle of what I believe is beer from the side cabinet.

"I must say, this seems extraordinary! It is a very long time since I sat to have a proper meal like this." Seria remarks.

Hehe... I knew it. I give a knowing glance and wink to Kiku and she smirks and looks away, blushing slightly as she lays out cutlery.

Nothing like a bonding session with fine food, and lolis for company!