Kirei Church.
Under Father Kirei Kotomine's witness, the Masters and Servants who had formed a temporary alliance and established a united front roughly discussed tomorrow's assault plan. Then, some refined their respective assignments, some patrolled nearby, and some rested inside or outside the church, waiting quietly for dawn.
The night was long. Bored out of his mind, Samael yawned and wandered out of the church to ease his somewhat tense nerves.
Without realizing it, he reached the dense woods behind it. A breeze brushed his face and gently lifted his hair. Samael closed his eyes in contentment, enjoying this brief peace as his nostrils twitched at the rich scents carried on the wind.
There was the fragrance of earth, the freshness of branches and leaves, the faint perfume of flower buds, and... tempura?
And... wagashi, tonkatsu, miso soup, Tonkotsu Ramen?!
The ancient serpent, who had been breathing in the natural air with his eyes closed, snapped them open in astonishment. He instinctively sniffed again, his gaze firm and his expression strange.
"The tempura uses black tiger shrimp. The hagi mochi is soft and chewy, sweet without being cloying. The tonkatsu is fried at just the right temperature, golden and crisp outside while locking in all the juices within, neither tough nor dry. The Tonkotsu Ramen is wonderfully springy and smooth, with a rich broth simmered over high heat, full of color, aroma, and flavor..."
In the woods, a clean tablecloth had been spread across an open patch of grass. A pink-haired Fox Spirit wearing a black bow and a heavy white Nordic court dress lounged at one side, elegantly and professionally judging the dazzling array of food before her one dish at a time. As the delicacies entered her mouth, the narrow fox eyes on her alluring face narrowed in