Then, they were stunned by a table full of delicious, tasty and tasty dishes in front of them.
"This... this is all done by you, Mr. Sōkū?!" Anko's eyes widened, he breathed hard through his nose, and his saliva almost flowed out.
This is too fragrant!!!
Sara looked at the dishes on the table that were no less inferior to those at a palace banquet, and then looked at Sōkyū Hatake wearing an apron with a gentle smile, and an indescribable warmth and excitement surged in his heart.
At this moment, he was no longer the aloof controller, but a gentle man who was willing to wash his hands and make soup for them.
Ayame is looking at the colors and combinations of the dishes professionally. As the person in charge of the food field, she can better see the extreme kung fu and almost demanding precise control of heat and seasoning contained in these seemingly home-cooked dishes.
"Sōkū... Every time I see you, I think your level is... too awesome."
Sōkyū Hatake took off his apron and smiled.
"You can't treat your own stomach badly by treating anyone badly. Come on, try it and see if it suits your taste."
The four of them sat around the dining table. Anko could not wait to pick up a piece of charcoal-grilled rock fish, blew on it twice and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Wow! It's so hot! But... it's delicious!" she shouted vaguely, her eyes narrowed with happiness, "It's so crispy on the outside! So tender on the inside! There's no fishy smell at all! It's great!"
Sara elegantly picked up a piece of braised leaf beef and put it into her mouth to savor it. The salty aroma of miso, the slight sweetness of honey, the mellow fruit wine, the fatness of the beef and the fragrant aroma of braised leaf bloomed in her mouth in distinct layers, finally blending into an incomparably harmonious and wonderful taste.
She couldn't help but nodded slightly, her eyes full of admiration. "The taste is very mellow and the combination is just right."
Ayame has a special liking for the bowl of salmon roe rice. The rice is moderately soft and hard, and the salty ocean flavor brought by the salmon roe exploding in the mouth is perfectly combined with the sweetness of the rice. Even a gourmet expert like her can't fault it.
"This rice... the heat and seasoning are impeccable. Sōkū, you really should come to the Life Sciences Department Coaching to check out our dish research and development."
Sōkyū Hatake Seeing them eating happily, he picked up his chopsticks and ate slowly, with a satisfied smile on his lips.
"As long as you like it."
The dinner was held in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Everyone chatted about interesting things that had nothing to do with work and shared delicious food. Occasionally, Anko protested for grabbing food and Sōkyū Hatake laughed and joked.
The moonlight outside the window is getting brighter, and the clear light fills the courtyard. The water vapor from the hot spring is rising, intertwined with the laughter and laughter in the house, forming a warm and beautiful picture.
At this moment, there are no changes in Shinobi World, no intrigues of power, only delicious food, hot springs, moonlight, and the tranquility and warmth of each other's company.
For Sōkyū Hatake, perhaps this is one of the few simple and true happiness he pursues after taking control of everything.
After the meal, the four of them moved to the open-air hot spring bath. Soaking in the warm spring water, they looked up at the bright starry sky and the silhouette of the mountains in the distance.
The body and mind are completely relaxed, and the fatigue of the day and the satisfaction brought by the delicious food make people drowsy.
Sara leaned against the pool, with the warm spring water flowing over her smooth shoulders. She looked at the stars and sighed softly.
"It would be nice if I could always be this leisurely."
Ayame sat next to her, closing her eyes and enjoying the tranquility, with a slight smile on her lips, "Yes... time like this is really precious."
Anko, on the other hand, was like a happy fish, flopping a few times in the hot spring pool which was not too big. Then he came close to Sōkyū Hatake and asked with a smile, "Sōkū, you want to cook for your next vacation! It's so delicious!"
Sōkyū Hatake reached out and rubbed her wet hair and said with a smile, "It depends on your mood."
As the night gets darker, the starry sky becomes more and more brilliant, like dark blue velvet sprinkled with fine diamonds.
The steam in the open-air hot spring pool blurs your vision, but makes other senses sharper. The warm spring water wraps your body, dispelling the last trace of fatigue, and bringing you an almost lazy feeling of comfort.
Sara, Ayame and Anko all calmed down and enjoyed this rare tranquility. Anko stopped fluttering and imitated Sara, leaning on the smooth rocks by the pool and looking up at the stars, showing a rare sense of tranquility.
Sōkyū Hatake closed his eyes and felt the gentle touch of the spring water.
As the waves rippled, they would occasionally touch the smooth and delicate skin of the women around them, causing a subtle throbbing. The smell of sulfur mixed with their faint and different post-bath fragrances lingered on the tip of the nose, creating a reassuring yet somewhat distraught atmosphere.
Suddenly, he felt a slightly cool hand Limber gently cover the back of his hand that was resting on the edge of the pool.
It's Sara.
He opened his eyes and looked sideways. Sara was also looking at him. The dense water vapor made her Queen-like dignified face look much softer. Under the reflection of the moonlight and hot spring lights, her purple eyes were filled with water, as if they contained thousands of emotions.
"Sōkū..." Her voice was lighter and softer than usual, with a hint of uneasy Frisk trembling, "Sometimes, I always feel like I'm dreaming."
Sōkyū Hatake did not withdraw her hand, but turned her palm over and gently held her catkins in the palm of her hand. Her fingers were slender, carrying the slight heat and Limber after soaking in the hot spring.
"Oh? What kind of dream?" he asked in a low voice, his voice seemed particularly low and magnetic amidst the sound of gurgling water.
"A... so beautiful a dream that it makes me afraid of waking up." Sara's eyes dropped slightly, falling on the hands held by the two of them.
"I still remember that a few years ago, Rōran was just an ancient city-state struggling in the wind and sand. I was anxious every day about how to protect my people and how to maintain the stability of Ryūmyaku. At that time, I never thought that one day..."
She paused, as if she was organizing her words, and seemed to be calming down her slightly ups and downs.
"I never thought that one day, Rōran would become the center of the world, and I... would be able to look at the starry sky and soak in the hot springs like this with you and everyone like now, without having to worry about whether any disaster will happen tomorrow."
Her fingertips curled slightly in his palm, as if seeking some kind of confirmation.
"You changed everything. You changed Rōran, you changed Shinobi World, and you also... changed me. You gave me everything I couldn't imagine... strength, safety, and..." Her cheeks flushed, not sure whether it was the heat of the hot spring or shyness, "And this heart."
Sōkyū Hatake listened quietly, and he could feel the uneasiness Frisk deep in Sara's words. She seemed to have everything, but it was all closely connected to him. This dependence itself might be a sweet burden.