Arashi’s Apartment

~Forty Minutes Later~

Asami was sitting as she had already taken the table out of her pocket again. Arashi placed down a pitcher of water and three empty glasses, she sat down on one of the empty seats and restlessly moved her left leg. Asami picked up the pitcher and poured her cup with water and said. “How long has it been since you had dragon?” Arashi thought for a moment as Asami placed the pitcher back on the table. Arashi said. “I had it once when I was ten for my birthday, so eight years.”

Asami tapped her index finger on the table a couple of times, she said. “On your birthday?... I think I vaguely remember your mother paying me for it…” Arashi had a hint of disbelief on her face, she said. “She paid for it? Mo-. Mother told me it was because you had hopes for me.” Asami let out a laugh as she playfully pushed Arashi’s shoulder and said. “I’m just joking with you, Ikari was very adamant about telling me that half a kilogram of dragon meat would be helpful for your growth.”

Arashi’s brows furrowed in confusion, she spoke in a soft tone and said. “Half a kilo?...” She spoke normally as she continued. “She only gave me a hundred grams and surprised me with a hundred and fifty after six months.” Asami kept a straight face and thought. Oh… I should start paying attention to what other people have to say… She patted Arashi’s forearm a couple of times and said. “I think you should have this conversation with your mother.” From the kitchen Reiki was carrying a plate in each hand, he said. “What conversation with her mother?”

He made his way to the table, before Arashi could say anything Asami spoke first and said. “Don’t worry about it.” Reiki placed a plate in front of them, he said. “Same steak as before for Asami and Arashi liked her steak medium-rare slightly on the rare side.” He pointed in the direction of the kitchen and continued. “Your sides will be out in a moment or two.” Reiki made his way back to the kitchen while Arashi poured water into her glass as Asami picked up her knife and fork. Arashi took a sip of water, she thought. … I never thought I’d get to eat dragon meat again… Mom would be so jealous of me.

Asami had already sliced off a bite-size of her steak while Arashi picked up her knife and fork, she thought. Find the loose fibers using the tip of the knife and in one swift motion slice it off… From the kitchen, Reiki was carrying three plates and one bowl, one on each hand and one on his forearm while the bowl of rice was on top of his head. He made his way to the table and placed their sides near them, Reiki said. “Blistered cherry tomatoes and steamed asparagus for Asami and for Arashi wedge-cut fries and rice.”

Arashi stabbed a large bite-size piece of steak she cut off, she said. “Reiki, my share of meat better be in the fridge.” While making his way to the kitchen he lazily waved his hand at her and said. “It already is an entire kilogram just like I promised. You make it sound like I owe you money.” Arashi was about to eat the large cut of steak stabbed on her fork when she noticed Asami staring at her. Arashi said. “... What?...” Asami’s gaze went back and forth to the steak on her fork and onto Arashi. Asami said. “Are you sure you want to eat that in one bite?”

Arashi blinked twice, she said. “You said Reiki’s method works.” Asami nodded at her and said. “It does, but I ate one too many bites and felt like something was trying to pull my stomach out from my belly button.” Arashi moved her gaze onto the steak impaled on her fork as a red-like liquid dripped down to her plate. She placed the steak onto her plate and cut the large bite-size pieces into three smaller bites while Reiki made his way back to the table from the kitchen.

He was carrying a large plate in one hand and a similar-sized plate that had a mountain of fries, Reiki said. “What did I miss?” He sat on the table, picked up his knife and fork while Arashi ate a small bite of steak as she stared at the portions of his food and thought. His appetite will never cease to amaze me… I think that’s at least twice what my mom forced me to eat to gain muscle when I was in the middle of training of body cultivation… Asami shook her head sideways and said. “Nothing other than her almost eating too much steak.”

Reiki struggled to cut his steak, he gave her an odd look and said. “... You warned her?...” Asami was able to cleanly cut her steak as she stabbed it with her fork, she said. “Yes, despite my reluctance. I did promise her mother I would look after her to some degree.” Arashi ate a piece of steak as she exhaled from her nose, she thought. I would be insulted but this steak is so good to care. After a few more repeated motions of cutting the steak, Reiki managed to slice a large piece off. He said. “Why did you two ask me to make the sides? Last time I had to finish them.”

Asami ate some steak as she gestured for him to wait while Reiki poured water into his glass with his left hand and grabbed a couple of wedge-cut fries with his right. Arashi quickly stabbed the other bite-size piece of steak on her plate and ate it as Asami gulped down a mouthful of food. Asami said. “And we didn’t hear you complain.” Reiki took a sip of water to help the fries go down, he said. “I’ve never met anyone who whined when it came to free food.”

Arashi was still in the middle of chewing as she snapped her fingers a couple of times and got both of their attention. After a few seconds, she was still chewing while Reiki glanced at Asami and said. “See, this is why steak tartare is a thing. Too much chewing.” Asami thought for a moment, she said. “I still prefer rare steak to steak tartare. The portions are too small for the latter.” Arashi tapped on the table a couple of times as she took a big gulp of water to help the food go down.

She let out a satisfied sigh and said. “I know someone who grumbled at free food.” Reiki’s eyes slightly widened in disbelief, he said. “You’re acquainted with someone that fusses over free food?” Arashi nodded as she stabbed the bite-size steak on her plate as it slightly oozed out red liquid from the pressure of her fork. Asami used her knife and fork to cleanly cut a piece of her steak while Reiki glanced at his messy cut, he said. “So, neither of you two are going to teach me how to properly cut this steak?”

Both of the women slightly shook their heads sideways, Asami used her fork to stab the bite-size steak on her plate. She said. “Nope, I think it’s hilarious watching you struggle.” Arashi reached for her glass as she took a swig of water, she swallowed and said. “You’ll learn by doing, that’s how my mo- mother taught me.” She held her steak stead using her fork and in one smooth motion cut off a bite-size piece. Reiki let out a soft sigh just loud enough for them to hear, he said. “I cooked for them and all I get in return is playing the fool.”

~ Twenty-Five Minutes Later~

Arashi used the back of her hand to wipe some sweat on her forehead, she glanced at her plate to see seven small bites of steak left. She thought. I feel like I’m going to burst. She let out a loud burp and said. “Excuse me.” Asami was using a red silk handkerchief to gently wipe the sweat on her face, she thought. I need to take a shower after this, the meat sweat is making me feel uncomfortable. The two of them glanced at Reiki who already ate more than half of the steak on his plate.

Asami moved both of her sides closer to Reiki and said. “You can have my asparagus and cherry tomatoes.” She moved her gaze onto her steak that she cut into nine bite-size pieces. Arashi glanced at her bowl of untouched rice along with her plate of wedge-cut fries, she thought. I want to eat some fries… But if I do, I will puke… She placed down her knife and fork on the napkin beside her plate and picked up her bowl of rice and the plate of fires.

Arashi said. “Here, you can have mine too.” She placed both the plate and the bowl near him as Reiki quickly ate through all the sides. Asami placed her silk handkerchief on the table as she glanced at him while using her fork to stab one of the bite-size steaks she cut on her plate, she thought. Eight point eight kilograms of dragon meat in two sittings… She glanced at Arashi who was forcing herself to chew the food in her mouth. Asami continued her train of thought. He easily would’ve eaten ten kilos if he hadn’t made a deal with her…

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Arashi placed her left elbow on the table, she combed some of her hair using her hand and thought. I just need to keep eating, the moment I stop these six pieces on my plate will be harder than my ‘spars’ with my mom when I was young. She glanced at Reiki who already ate all the sides the two girls had given him along with the large mountain of wedge-cut fries that was already half its previous size. Asami took a small sip of water, she said. “... Reiki… Are you sure you’re completely human?”

Reiki struggled to chew the steak in his mouth, after a few more tries he managed to gulp down a mouthful of food. He said. “Yes, I am one hundred percent bonafide human. Why do you ask?” Arashi managed to swallow the food in her mouth as she let out a hiccup, she said. “Excuse me.” She wiped her lips using the back of her mouth while stabbing another piece of steak on her plate. Asami glanced at what was left of his large steak which was still at least four to five times the size of what she had, she said. “... Just making sure…”

Arashi inhaled as she forced herself to eat more steak, she thought. … Now I remember why it took me three months to finish that steak on my birthday… Reiki stared at the large steak on his plate, he moved his gaze onto Asami and said. “Can you at least give me a hint? My arms are getting tired from cutting the steak.” Asami smiled at him as she spoke in a cold tone, she said. “No.” She used her fork to stab a small piece of steak she cut on her plate and continued. “I think it’s funny.”

Reiki shoved a fry into his mouth while chewing, he thought. At least one of us is enjoying ourselves… He picked up his knife and fork and started cutting a large piece of the steak, from the corner of his eye he saw Arashi using the back of her hand to wipe some sweat on her forehead. He moved his gaze back onto his plate, he said. “If you two wanted me to wash the dishes, I would’ve done it if either of you asked.”

~Thirty Minutes Later~

Asami was sitting by the table with her eyes closed as she slowly inhaled while controlling the circulation of mana in her. Arashi had her arms crossed on the table as she rested her face on top of her forearms, the mana around her was slowly moving in a clockwise direction as the center was in the area of her stomach. Reiki made his way to the table as he came from the direction of the kitchen, he said. “How goes controlling your mana?” He sat on the empty seat as he stared at the two women concentrating on their mana flow.

Neither of them said anything as Reiki waited for a response while letting out a yawn, he thought. … I’m getting sleepy… Is it Q’s doing again?... Asami eventually opened her eyes as both of her irises were red, the color of her iris slowly changed back to dark brown as she moved her gaze onto him. She said. “I’ll need to meditate for around ten to twenty minutes but I’ve managed to calm down the mana in me.” Her pupils faintly glowed a light blue color as she observed Reiki’s mana that was constantly expanding and compressing, she thought. I knew it… He’s constantly assimilating the mana around him including inside his body…

Asami continued her train of thought. Although it’s a minuscule amount if he does that by ‘breathing’ by the time he grows up. He’ll have mana that can rival high elves… She said. “Are you hungry?” Without missing a beat, Reiki said. “I could eat.” Asami’s eyes slightly narrowed as she stared at him and said. “How much?” Reiki pretended to think, he said. “That depends, how much are you offering?” Asami stared at him and thought. After eating all that he still has an appetite… Reiki nodded at Arashi and said. “Is she going to be fine?”

Asami nodded as she took something out from her pocket and tossed it to him, she thought. Let’s see how he handles wyvern meat. Reiki caught what she threw at him in mid-air as he stared at the heavy rectangular object wrapped in dark brown grease paper. He smelled something from the object and thought. I smell… Spices… Reiki quickly unwrapped it to see thick very dark reddish cuts of meat in the shape of bacon, he moved the meat closer to his face and took a whiff of it. He thought. … I can’t tell what blend of spices it is…

Asami smiled at his reaction, she said. “She’ll be fine, her family has countless books all over the world. Most of them are influenced by cultivators from china.” Reiki took one out from the wrapper as he took a bite, he thought. It’s soft, I thought it would be tougher. Asami's smile turned into a smirk, she said. “How’s the spoiled wyvern meat?” Reiki was in the middle of chewing as she gave him a wide-eyed look. Asami laughed at him as she accidentally lost control of the mana inside her as she felt a sharp pain in her stomach.

She placed a hand on her stomach and continued. “With certain spices wyvern meat fermentation tenderizes the meat.” Reiki stared at her for a couple of seconds as he slowly started chewing again, he thought. It is oddly soft… I think it has the same texture as freshly made tofu. Asami took a couple of deep breaths while Reiki finished one of the thick strips of wyvern meat, he said. “You told me there’s spices, I don’t taste any.” Asami was too occupied with controlling her mana, he shrugged his shoulders and continued to eat more.

Reiki ate a couple more strips as he used his hand to wipe some sweat on the side of his face, he thought. So it’s supposed to be spicy, this would’ve been a passable snack if the meat had a more prominent flavor. He ate one strip of wyvern meat whole by slurping it like a noodle, Reiki continued his train of thought. But I do like the gradual increase of heat from eating more. Asami moved her gaze onto him and saw that he already made a visible dent in the strips of meat, she said. “How many did you eat?”

Reiki gulped down a mouthful of food as he glanced at the wyvern meat wrapped in grease paper he was holding, he said. “I didn’t bother counting.” He wiped some sweat on his eyebrow and continued. “Are these supposed to be this spicy?” The corner of Asami’s lips curled upwards, she said. “Too much for you to handle?” He shook his head sideways and said. “I love spicy food. It just feels like my stomach is… Fiery? More so than usual.” Asami’s eyes lit up as her lips curled into a smile, she said. “If you don’t want to get hurt. I recommend burping.”

Reiki’s brows furrowed, he said. “What is that-.” He felt some air moving around his stomach as it was followed by the intensity of the heat sharply increasing. He started to hiccup constantly while Asami watched in amusement, after a couple more hiccups Reiki felt the heat spreading to his lungs and esophagus. He somehow managed to speak, Reiki said. “It feels like everything in my upper body is melting.” One more hiccup as he let out a loud burp and spewed a surprising amount of fire out of his mouth.

[System: User has received 7 Fire Damage.]

He felt the inside of his mouth dry up from the fire and put down the grease paper along with the strips of meat onto the table. Reiki let out one long exhale from his nose as he leaned on the backrest of the dining chair, he spoke with a hoarse voice and said. “Much butter.” He licked the inside of his mouth while Asami had a hint of disappointment on her face, she said. “That’s it?” Reiki just stared at her for a moment, as his voice was slightly normal. He said. “Thanks.”

He picked up the grease paper along with the strips of wyvern meat, stood up from the chair, and spoke with a raspy voice. Reiki said. “I’m going to take this as compensation for that little incident.” He cleared his throat and continued. “Tell sleeping beauty that I left her kilo of meat in the fridge on top of a cutting board.” He pocketed the grease paper and made his way to the window while Asami watched him make his way out and said. “Can you come by around dinner to make my steak again?” Reiki lazily waved his hand at her, he reached the window and vanished from the room.

『Flash Has Been Activated. Mana Cost: 6,250.』

Arashi slowly lifted her head from her forearms as her eyes were half-opened, she slowly looked around the room and saw Asami staring at her. Asami said. “Morning, how was your nap and cultivation?” She let out a stifled laughter when a bit of drool came from the corner of Arashi’s lips. Arashi used her hands to fix her hair, she spoke in a soft tone and said. “... Reiki?...” Asami glanced at the window, she said. “Gone.”

Arashi’s eyes widened as she stood up from the chair she was sitting on and placed both her hands on the table. She said. “My dragon meat!” Asami rolled her eyes at her and said. “It’s in the freezer-.” Before she could finish, Arashi vanished and appeared by the fridge. She opened the fridge’s door, saw a kilo of meat with beautiful marbling on top of a cutting board. Asami stood up from her seat with a wave of her hand, the table and chairs vanished, she thought. Still can’t stop thinking about meat… I’m starting to think she’s Ikari’s clone.

________________________________________________________________________________

At The Front Of Kiru’s House

Reiki was standing by the doormat as he stared at the door, he thought. What kind of excuse can I make up on the spot to leave early… The door opened as Kanzei was wearing his usual black suit that was paired with a pink apron, as his shoulder-length hair was tied into a ponytail. Reiki nodded at him and said. “Doing some spring cleaning Kanzei-san?” Kanzei shook his head sideways, he said. “No, just some laundry and light dusting today.” He suddenly moved his gaze to the corner of his eyes as a streak of white made its way toward them.

An albino crow appeared on Reiki’s shoulder, he glanced at her and said. “Hi Cherry, any chance you stole a billionaire's credit card?” Kanzei let out a small laugh, Reiki thought. I’m being serious. Kanzei opened the door as wide as he could as he made way for him to enter, he said. “Ojou-sama is currently in the middle of her bubble bath.” Reiki kept a straight face, he thought. Of course, she is. He made his way into the house while Kanzei continued. “Do you have a preferred drink?”