Shirou's Return from the Fae Kingdom

"Should we get one for our place too? Grandfather, who used to forbid pets, ran away from home himself~~~"

The calico cat seemed accustomed to human residences, displaying a composed demeanor despite the Matou siblings' attempts to tease it, showing no fear of people.

Taiga Fujimura licked her lips enviously, "I want to pet it too."

The moment she and Shirou got close, the calico cat suddenly arched its back.

The kitten, in its Spinosaurus Form, glared at the two of them and let out a loud "Meow!", then agilely leaped over the wall and fled.

"Ah! Sister Fujimura scared the kitten away!" Shinji Matou yelled in distress.

"Huh? It's my fault!?" Taiga Fujimura looked utterly innocent.

Shinji declared, "Kittens are highly spiritual creatures! They can discern good from evil in people! It must have sensed the evil in your heart! That's definitely it!"

"I-I'm sorry..."

Taiga Fujimura lowered her head dejectedly. Could the rumor that tigers are disliked by cats be true?

"Heh heh, Sister Fujimura, you're so clumsy. Don't you think so... Brother Shirou?"

"Malice... in my heart."

The red-haired youth quietly watched the direction the kitten had fled, lost in thought.

Volume 1, Chapter 023: The Returning Cooking King

The Fujimura Group had other matters to attend to today and left in the afternoon, leaving only Taiga Fujimura behind.

After a satisfying afternoon of watching television in the living room, Shinji Matou and Sakura prepared to go home.

"We'll be heading back now, Shirou."

"Wait a moment."

"What is it?"

Shirou thought for a moment and said, "It's a rare opportunity, so I think everyone should stay for dinner here."

"Ah, are you going to order takeout?"

When Taiga Fujimura asked, Shirou shook his head, "No, I'll cook."

The three of them: "...?"

Upon hearing this, the middle school girl and the elementary school siblings in the living room wore stunned expressions, as if "cooking" were some obscure word.

After a long pause, Sakura Matou finally reacted, surprised, "Brother Shirou, you can cook?"

"Yes."

"Not instant noodles?" Shinji retorted.

"Only Shinji would consider instant noodles as cooking and eat them with such gusto," Shirou said disdainfully.

While at the Matou residence, Shirou had never once entered the kitchen.

Although he had approached the kitchen a few times, the Matou family's servants had always treated him as if he were just playing around, and he never managed to get inside.

So, despite having stayed for several months, the siblings still didn't know Shirou could cook.

It wasn't something worth bragging about, the red-haired youth thought.

During his time in Britain, cooking had been one of Shirou's few hobbies besides training and fighting.

Although he was initially forced into the role of the team's cook, he had gradually grown to enjoy the work.

After returning to Pan-Human History, Shirou hadn't entered a kitchen for months and didn't particularly feel the urge to resume his old role.

Thinking back now, perhaps he didn't love cooking itself, but rather the atmosphere of everyone eating together.

Shirou recalled the first time he cooked...

"It's, it's so delicious! I've never tasted such good meat before. I could die happy now..."

"You're exaggerating, Morgan."

"Shirou, what kind of meat is this? How can it be so delicious?"

"It's just ordinary pork."

"Pork?"

The Savior widened her emerald eyes, staring incredulously at the golden-colored meat on the plate.

Shirou further explained, "This is a dish called Tonkatsu."

Morgan frowned in confusion, "Why is your fried pork golden and not burnt and inedible?"

"It's because before I put it in the oil, I coated the pork with flour, and then sprinkled a thick layer of dry breadcrumbs."

Hearing Shirou's method, Morgan was as astonished as if she had discovered new land on the vast ocean beyond the island of Britain.

It's no wonder, considering how backward the food culture is in the Fae world.

Or perhaps, Fae don't even have the concept of culture.

Farming, architecture, academics, family, etiquette... all these aspects of Fae society are merely crude imitations of humans.

Except for one clan whose sole purpose is "eating," most Fae can achieve immortality without sustenance.

The Fae simply mimic human eating habits because they find "human actions to be beautiful."

In such a distorted world, it's natural that no food culture would arise.

Processing meat involves roasting large chunks of raw meat over a fire, sprinkling on some salt, and then cutting it off with a small knife to eat – a truly primitive method.

Shirou pulled a book from his bag and continued his explanation:

"This is 'Driftwood' I found on the coast a few days ago, a cookbook from Pan-Human History.

It contains cooking methods from various countries. I was trying to prepare something based on its recipes... Hey, are you listening to me?"

"Hmm, what?"

The golden-haired Paradise Fae, disregarding all ladylike decorum, wolfed down the food, her small face stuffed full like a hamster's.

Shirou: "..."

Recently, he'd heard some not-so-good rumors.

Due to Morgan's ferocious personality and her wild, reckless combat style, some Fae privately and contemptuously referred to her as the "Demon Boar Clan."

"Wild Boar Princess Morgan"... snicker.

Shirou actually found it incredibly fitting.

Is it really okay to continue like this, my dear Savior?

"I'm done, Shirou! Another bowl!"

"Alright, alright, I'll get you more rice... Hey! Melusine, what are you doing?! Don't drink the soy sauce straight from the bottle!

Ugh, all the soy sauce I painstakingly brewed is gone without a drop left..."

"The food Shirou makes is delicious... Everyone else thinks so too, right?"

After the meal, the Savior suddenly announced: From now on, Shirou would be considered a member of the Kitchen Squad, serving as the head instructor.

"To save the world, please continue to hone your skills in the culinary arts, Master Shirou."

After "maintaining equipment," it's now "culinary instruction."

Isn't the burden on me too heavy? We're a whole team!

Shirou naturally intended to have a serious discussion, lodge a strong protest, and privately ask Morgan why she did this, only to receive this reply:

"Because... I just want to rely on you more."

Shirou snapped back from his distant memories, got up, and went to the kitchen to check the necessary supplies.

He wrote down the items to buy in his notebook and walked towards the entrance.

"I'm going to the shopping street to buy some ingredients and missing kitchenware."

"Ah... Brother Shirou, I'll go with you."

Sakura Matou quickly followed him.

"Shirou! Wait for me, I'm going too!"

Shinji Matou also ran over.

Sakura: "Tch... Brother could have just not come."

Shinji: "Why?"

Shirou walked past the affectionate siblings and called out towards the living room, "Well then, Sister Fujimura, I'll leave the house to you."

"Be careful on your way, come back early, and don't go with strange uncles anymore, okay?"

The irresponsible guardian, Taiga Fujimura, while unconcernedly munching on potato chips, stared at a variety show on TV, occasionally bursting into laughter.

Only after everyone had left did she realize.

"Huh... Shirou's actually planning to cook dinner tonight?"

Whether it was Taiga Fujimura or the Matou siblings, despite their immense trust in Shirou, they still harbored doubts about the boy's cooking abilities.

Even if Shirou was an exceptionally unique and special child, one who could even be called a genius, but...

Was it asking too much to expect him to cook?

"Alright, it's time to show some adult resolve."

Taiga Fujimura made a decision with a mournful expression.

No matter what culinary disaster Shirou produced, she would feign praise, saying "Delicious, delicious," and force it all down her stomach.

↓↓↓ Witch of Rain (Left 1) -1; Savior (Middle) -2; Queen (Right 1) -3↓↓↓

Volume 1, Chapter 024: Sakura's Change

We arrived at the commercial street in Miyama Town with the Matou siblings.

Every time Shirou passed through here, he would marvel at the convenience of modern civilization.

Although the Fae Kingdom had developed for over ten thousand years, its commerce was still in a very primitive stage.

Whenever Shirou and Morgan visited a town, just procuring supplies would take several days.

If it were Pan-Human History, everything could be settled in one day at most.

"Brother Shirou, let's go."

"Oh, okay... Where's Shinji?"

Turning around, I found the familiar seaweed had disappeared.

Sakura Matou said, "Brother is probably attracted by the toy store. Let's just buy our things and call him when we're leaving."

"Is that okay?" Shirou was a little worried.

"Mm." The girl's tone was firm.

In the end, under Sakura Matou's insistence, it turned into time alone for the two of them.

Two hours later, Shirou and Sakura Matou walked out of the last store, carrying many shopping bags.

"We bought so many things, Brother Shirou."