One step, two steps.
Shirou's heart sank. This street probably didn't have any shops either, did it?
That made sense. None of the streets ahead had any, so why would this one? He had been overthinking it!
"Hey, kid, why are you out here at a time like this? Hm? And you brought a girl with you." A steady male baritone rang out. That familiar voice—could it be...?
Mapo, it's you!
But why was this Mapo carrying so many things?
With his ex-rank housekeeping skills, Shirou could tell at a glance that one bag contained noodles and another contained tofu.
"Mapo?" Shirou blurted out, and a golden light flashed in Kirei Kotomine's eyes.
"Shirou Emiya, do you like Mapo Tofu too?"
Sitting inside the shop, Shirou and Sakura felt its warmth. In weather like this, staying home really was far more comfortable. Outside was simply too terrifying.
"Senior, are we having Mapo Tofu ramen?" Sakura asked softly.
"In this freezing winter weather, eating something hot and spicy feels pretty nice." Shirou spoke righteously, utterly ignoring the fact that Sakura had gone hungry for so long because he had been too lazy to cook, leaving them with no choice but to eat Mapo Tofu.
"Your ramen."
Inside the bowl, it was as though a red sun had been served up. Its crimson glow warmed the heart. Chili oil and tofu blended into one—this was Mapo Tofu!
"Um, where are the noodles?" Sakura's hands, which had been about to come together, froze the moment she saw the bowl.
"The noodles are merely a garnish, buried deep within the Mapo Tofu to a degree that makes one feel sorrowful." Shirou took a sniff. As expected, it was good Mapo. The technique was impressive.
"Hmph, Shirou Emiya. I never imagined your understanding of Mapo would run so deep. I'll give you some extra." Dressed in a manager's uniform, Kirei Kotomine wore a faint, delighted smile.
"Then thank you very much." After all, there was another soul within him, whose skill in this area was no less than Shirou's own skill with Japanese cuisine!
"Let's eat!"
With that battle cry, Shirou took the lead and dug into the Mapo Tofu. The fragrant, spicy red oil, the vividly colored tofu—every piece teased his tongue, as marvelous as flames burning in his mouth!
In winter, wasn't eating spicy food the greatest joy in life?
A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead. For the heat and fragrance of Mapo Tofu to blend so perfectly, it was truly excellent.
Sakura was no slouch either. Though she appeared calm and elegant in this contest, the speed at which she demolished her food was no slower than Shirou's.
Their speeds in devouring the Mapo Tofu were astonishingly even. No—Sakura was faster!
"I'm done!" Sakura wiped the chili oil from the corner of her mouth and smiled at Shirou, who was still eating. "Looks like you're going to lose to me this time, Senior."
"Hmph, Sakura, you're still too young. That's why you're the junior. See? The broth at the bottom of this Mapo Tofu is the essence of this bowl of Mapo ramen. Watch me drain it in one gulp!"
"Senior, that's too sneaky! You're going to drink that?!"
Sakura and Shirou lifted their bowls and drained the soup in one gulp, leaving almost nothing behind.
"I'm done!"
They declared it at the same time.
Before you continue