I imitated Kaim as I picked out the sprouts. He sometimes stopped me because I was handling the knife poorly, and although it took a while, I managed to finish preparing the potatoes.
I peeled the onions, finishing the vegetable preparation.
"How was that?"
"That's about what I expected for your first time. Next, we'll chop the vegetables."
Kaim picked up a carrot and deftly chopped it into bite-sized pieces. In no time, the carrot had been cut into small chunks.
"Did you see that? I'm not asking you to do exactly the same thing. Just try copying me for now."
"Yes, I'll do my best."
Cynthia picked up a carrot too and set it on the cutting board.
Then she raised the knife high into the air.
"Stop."
"?"
"What are you about to do?"
"Cut the carrot."
"Then why are you raising the knife so high?"
"It's so hard. I can't chop through it with my strength alone."
"We're not cooking with a blunt blade. That knife is sharp enough to cut someone's fingers. A little pressure is enough to slice through it."
I was a little surprised by what he had seen, but Kaim continued explaining.
"As I said before, basic cooking doesn't take much strength. I train to build muscle, but not every mother in the world does strength training, right? They can still cook."
"I see. Of course."
"With the way you're doing it now, you could cut your hand if you miss."
"Why?"
"If you don't raise the knife blade above your hand, you won't cut your hand."
Kaim broke off and picked up Umbreon and Glaceon from beside his feet. Then he held their paws and turned them toward Cynthia.
"Imagine Umbreon's or Glaceon's paws when you curl your hand."
"What do you