"All right, all right." Menchi had finished preparing a whole plate of prawns and started chopping ribs and slicing scallions and ginger. "I'll admit I brought this on myself. At least let us handle this meal."
Buhara stir-fried the prawns Menchi had handed him, drizzled on a little sauce, and took them straight off the heat.
He gave a simple, good-natured smile. "We're all friends here. No need to stand on ceremony."
"In that case..." Biscuit put on a reluctant expression and exchanged a look with Gelman, who remained impassive beside her. Then she said, "We'll leave it to you, then. Sorry for the trouble."
So, ten minutes later, Gelman, Biscuit, and the others were enjoying a delicious meal prepared by the Gourmet Hunters Menchi and Buhara.
It was all ordinary home cooking, but as soon as they tasted it, they could easily tell which dishes Menchi and Buhara had made and which Wing and Gelman had prepared.
Gelman and Shizuku kept nodding as they ate.
Biscuit, meanwhile, praised Menchi and Buhara's cooking nonstop, until Menchi was practically floating with pride.
Buhara just kept smiling his usual simple smile.
Wing watched Chikyū eat with shining eyes, then saw Kurapika unconsciously reach for extra helpings, and felt even more ashamed.
Still, nobody blamed him or Gelman. Before Menchi and Buhara had arrived, they'd been the pillars of the kitchen, and their cooking hadn't been bad.
By the end of dinner, everyone was quite satisfied, except Buhara, who hadn't eaten his fill and went off to make a late-night snack. The others either sprawled on the sofa or went for a walk outside the mansion.
After washing the dishes, Gelman returned to the main hall and saw Biscuit beside Menchi, saying something that made her nod repeatedly.
As soon as she saw