Everyone's Expectations

"Just give me something to prove that I have earned your recognition."

Shi Hen explained.

"...But the proof of a Flame-Chaser can only be given to someone who bears the power of the corresponding Signet."

Sakura found herself in a difficult position.

This was obviously cheating.

Shi Hen did not even possess the slightest bit of Signet power.

"Elysia did not do it that way."

As he spoke, Shi Hen opened his palm, and a purple crystal flower immediately appeared.

"This..."

Sakura felt even more troubled.

She could sense that Shi Hen had no Signet power, yet he had received Elysia's gift.

Could it be that the rules of the Elysian Realm had changed again? Why had no one informed her?

The girl felt excluded.

"Elysia said that as long as I showed this crystal flower to the Flame-Chasers, I could receive your proof." Shi Hen calmly smeared Elysia's name. "Could she have lied to me?"

As he spoke, Shi Hen put on an utterly wounded expression, as though this were something absolutely unforgivable.

"...All right." Seeing how devastated the youth looked, Sakura pondered for a long while before finally nodding slowly. She decided to preserve Elysia's reputation. "This is a cherry blossom. I do not know whether flowers like this still exist in your era, but if I had to choose something as my unique proof, I would want it to be this."

With that, the girl handed a cherry blossom to Shi Hen.

"Mm, it is a very beautiful flower. Thank you, Sakura." Examining the pink flower in his hand, Shi Hen spoke as he rubbed his fingers together, conjuring a similarly colored but noticeably more vibrant flower. "This is a flower from our era. It is called a peach blossom and is often used as a metaphor for beautiful women. Consider it my gift in return."

"...Thank you."

Sakura spoke softly, looking somewhat surprised.

She had never expected that one day, she would receive a gift from a visitor.

And how exactly had he done that?

Extracting objects from memories should have been an ability unique to the Flame-Chasers, because they were the memory entities that made up the Elysian Realm.

Compared to the Flame-Chasers, visitors were merely passersby. All the information they left behind would rapidly fade away like dew beneath the sun; only the Flame-Chasers' memories could endure.

Feeling the touch of the peach blossom in her hand, no different from the real thing, Sakura's doubts deepened.

"Sakura, as a Flame-Chaser, I hope you can teach me some of your unique skills."

Shi Hen said.

"I can. That is precisely why I exist here." Seeing things finally return to the proper track, Sakura instantly relaxed. "What I excel at is an assassination technique called Setsuna. Next, I will let you experience it directly through combat."

The assassination techniques she knew had originally had no name, but once she stood here as a Flame-Chaser, that set of techniques came to be called Setsuna.

"No, that is not what I want to learn."

Shi Hen shook his head.

Although Sakura's combat techniques were indeed formidable, he was not interested in them.

There was no particular reason for it. They simply were not compatible.

"...But that is the only thing I am good at."

Sakura's expression looked somewhat innocent.

She felt that things were once again drifting into a realm she could not understand.

"I want to learn your cooking. You know how to cook, right?"

Shi Hen said.

After all, she had the same kind of married-woman face as Mei.

Having a married-woman face did not necessarily mean someone was a married woman, but their traits usually would not be too far off.

Of course, a certain general was an exception.

"I only know some simple dishes..."

Sakura was very modest.

"Then that is what we will learn."

Shi Hen said firmly.

Sakura: "..."

Who came to the Elysian Realm to learn how to cook?

Faced with something she had never encountered before, honest Sakura was at a loss again.

She had always taught visitors assassination techniques before, and no one had ever objected.

Even those visitors unsuited to that style of combat would usually learn a few moves from her.

After all, these were battle techniques she had refined through countless trials, and they were extremely practical.

But this guy before her was not doing anything serious at all!

"Compared to combat techniques, I want to know why Sakura holds a sword." Shi Hen said as though explaining himself, his tone sincere and composed. "If I can learn how to cook from you, I should be able to understand why you chose to fight.

"I think that compared to cold knowledge, this is something more important—something truly worth passing down through the Flame-Chasers."

Meeting the youth's incomparably sincere gaze, Sakura thought for a moment and could not help but nod slowly.

She had to admit that what he said made perfect sense.

Besides, even Elysia had generously given the youth her proof. He surely had something extraordinary about him.

And so, Sakura began teaching him in the Elysian Realm those things she had nearly completely forgotten.

Each Other's Expectations

Elysian Realm Hall.

"Here, try this."

Placing a plate of oddly shaped stir-fried meat slices before the pink-haired girl, Shi Hen urged her.

"Sakura made this? She can still cook now?"

Looking at the food before her, which felt strangely familiar, Elysia's face showed traces of surprise.

Though the humans of the two eras shared the same origin, their later growth and development had each taken on their own characteristics. Thus, food that seemed rather strange to the youth was, in her eyes, the most ordinary part of daily life.

"I used a little trick."

Shi Hen stared directly into the girl's eyes, showing not the slightest shame over having smeared her name.

When it came to thick skin, the two of them were on the same level.

"Hehe, you really are popular." Elysia giggled. "But why did Sakura not bring it herself? Was she feeling shy?"

Shi Hen pressed his lips together without answering.

Not insisting on an answer, the girl picked up the knife and fork beside her, placed a slice of meat into her mouth, and then... her expression twisted out of control for an instant.

"It tastes pretty good. You should try some too."

Forcing down the slice of meat, Elysia regained her smile and spoke.

"No need."

Shi Hen shook his head.

"Try it. It is Sakura's thoughtfulness, after all. You will make a girl sad if you act like that."

Elysia continued persuading him.

"Sakura is a very strong girl."

Shi Hen remained completely unmoved.

"..."

Elysia fell silent for a moment before speaking. "This was not made by Sakura, was it?"

That terrifying taste was not something Sakura could possibly achieve.

"Yeah, I made it."

Shi Hen admitted it frankly.

"You actually admitted it?" Surprise appeared on Elysia's face. "A chef has to personally taste the food after making it. That is basic etiquette when it comes to food."

She tried to make Shi Hen realize the mistake he had made.

"I did taste it. That is why I came to have you taste it too."

Shi Hen nodded.

It had nearly made him use his Revival Armor.

"..."

Even Elysia could not help falling silent.

That was clearly even worse.

She had swallowed that slice of meat just to get one over on Shi Hen.

"How did you manage this?"

After thinking about it, Elysia asked curiously.

She would have to let Dr. Mobius try it someday. They were the very best of friends, after all.

"Sakura taught me the cooking of your era, then I combined the culinary methods of both eras and innovated."

Shi Hen explained concisely.

This proved that when two different civilizations collided, they would not only create sparks; they might also create ashes.

"Um... You did very well. Do not do it again next time."

Elysia put it tactfully.

She felt that Shi Hen would probably have a lot in common with Mei.

"I will improve. Then I will let you try it again."

Shi Hen wore a resolute expression.

His faith in fine food could not be shaken so easily.

Elysia's face immediately turned a little paler.

"Want to try this? It is a popular drink from our era."

As he spoke, Shi Hen rubbed his fingers together and conjured a cup of bubble tea.

"You did not add anything else, right?"

Elysia became wary.

In the past, she had always been the one tricking others. She had never expected to fail this time.

"I am not some kind of demon."

Shi Hen shook his head.

"Fine." Elysia nodded, then puffed up her cheeks as she threatened him, "If you trick me again, even I will get angry."

"Actually, I think you are very cute when you are angry too."

Shi Hen said lightly, and a single sentence made the girl's half-extended hand freeze in midair.

"But this time, let me see what you look like when you smile."

Shi Hen proactively placed the milk tea into the girl's hand.

Looking at the light-brown liquid in her hand, Elysia's face flashed with hesitation, but after thinking it over, she still took the straw between her teeth.

She desperately needed something else to ease the horrible taste in her mouth.