A big breakfast

After that conversation, Sophia and I make our way down to the tavern's dining room, eager for a hearty breakfast. As the tantalizing aroma of grilled meat and sausages fills the air, my stomach growls like a wild beast. I need nutrition. I need it badly.

Upon entering the room, I spot Yumi seated at a table near the window, a black cat nestled in her lap.

"Hey, good morning," I greet her with a smile.

"Jack!" Yumi's face lights up at my arrival. "You're awake! How are your injuries? Are you okay?"

"Haha, yes, I'm all better now," I confirm with a robust laugh, settling down at the table.

Sophia joins us too. "You know, Yumi helped me take care of you. She was so worried about you that she even volunteered to stay up all night yesterday, but I told her that there was no need, as your condition had stabilized."

"Woah, I really appreciate your help, Yumi."

"No, it was nothing," Yumi shakes her head, blushing a little. "Sophia was the one who saved you. I only did what I could, and it wasn't much."

I guess she can be a bit shy when someone compliments her.

"Nah, I'm sure that I was only able to heal so quickly because of you. And I'm glad you are safe, Yumi."

"T-thank you, Jack," Yumi replies with a smile. "Anyways, how do you feel? Are your injuries hurting a lot?"

"Nope, all healed!" I answer while raising my chin up and showing Yumi my neck.

"Woaaah!!! There's not even a scar!" Yumi exclaims, her eyes widening in shock. "But you were bleeding so badly, I thought you were going to die! Incredible!"

Indeed. Her reaction mirrors my own when I first checked. No scar, nothing. The healing power of a Phoenix's tear is truly out of this world; it's as if my neck had never been stabbed to begin with.

"Well, I do feel something though, urghh…" I make a sour face.

"Huh? What? What's wrong?" both Sophia and Yumi jump from their seats and ask simultaneously.

"Urrghhh… I feel… HUNGRYYY!!!" I blurt out dramatically.

It's supposed to be a joke, but no one laughs. Instead… BOOM! Sophia punches me, her fist landing squarely in my stomach.

"Owww!" she cries. "What the hell? Why is your abdomen so hard!?"

"Haha, my muscles are like bricks, you know?" I reply with a grin. "There are three hardest things in the world: diamonds, understanding women, and my abs."

"Heh? What the heck are you talking about?" Sophia is not impressed.

Meanwhile, Yumi makes a pouty face. "Jack, please don't scare us like that!"

"Ah, sorry, sorry…" I apologize. Seems like my jokes are too much for them. "But oh boy, I'm so hungry right now I can eat a cow!"

Without hesitation, I order a feast: forty strips of bacon, twenty sausages, and sixty eggs.

As the food arrives, the girls watch me eat with eyes wide in disbelief. After all, their order combined is only a tenth of mine!

"Can– can you really finish all of that food?" Sophia is so shocked by the quantity.

"Of course!" I reply confidently.

<Estimating entire meal's nutritional values: completed.>

<Macronutrient: 10 560 580 7780 calories, grams protein, fat, carbohydrate>

Sapphire provides a comprehensive breakdown of the entire meal's nutritional values in a split second. It's a mountain of food indeed, but exactly what I need in order to replace the muscle loss from an extended period of bed rest. A giant intake of high-quality protein and fat is crucial for my recovery.

"And by the way," I say, turning to Yumi, "is that your new friend? Would you mind introducing him to us?" 

There is a cat napping on her lap that have been catching my attention.

"Yes! His name is Charcoal. I met him yesterday morning, but he already likes me!" Yumi responds with a smile.

"Oh, that's wonderful!" 

I didn't know there were cats in this world as well. Very nice. Out of all the animals, cats are my favorite, even though they can be assholes sometimes.

Yumi shares that Charcoal was a stray who, for some reason, had taken a liking to her. That morning, upon drawing back the curtains, she discovered him perched on the balcony. After offering him some treats, the two quickly formed a close bond, becoming the best of friends. The name Charcoal simply refers to the color of his fur. It's a fitting name.

"Yumi, may I pet him?" I ask.

"Of course! He's so nice; he won't bite!"

I then reach out my hand, touching Charcoal's fur.

"Ooooh, indeed!"

True to Yumi's words, the cat remains docile under my touch. His eyes flutter open briefly before he settles back into sleep. However, my intention isn't just to pet him. I also take the opportunity to assess his health via Sapphire. His fur is clean and silky. I find no wounds, injuries, nor signs of illness on his body. His breathing and heartbeat are both normal. Overall, Charcoal appears to be in excellent health.

Is this really a stray cat? I wonder. There is no name tag or anything like that on him.

"So… erm… Jack, can we keep him… as a pet?" Yumi asks, looking at me with puppy eyes. I also notice Sophia's eyes searching for my approval too.

"Well, I don't see why not!" I nod, patting Yumi's head. "But if he's your pet, then you have to take good care of him from now on. Can you do that?"

"YES!" Yumi's eyes light up, and the brightest smile blooms on her face.

That reminds me, I have never seen Yumi so happy like this, ever since we got summoned into this world. Sophia seems happy as well. She joins in petting Charcoal for a while.

"However, you still have to be careful, Yumi," I warn. "There could be some diseases transmitted via pet scratches or bites."

"Yeah, you're right!" Yumi nods. "I will be!"

"So, Sophia," I then turn and ask, "is there any veterinary service in this world? I mean, something like healthcare, but for pets? I would love to have Charcoal checked soon, to make sure that he's healthy and safe."

"Yes!" Sophia confirms immediately. "We have a guild dedicated to beast tamers, if that's what you mean. There are healers there who specifically care for animals."

"Perfect!" 

And with that, we welcome the fourth member to our party—Charcoal—a cute little black cat who loves to nap and laze around most of the day.