The Aroma from the Kitchen

Kaguya furrowed her brows and turned to Origami, saying, "You wait here. I'll go back and check on things." Without waiting for Origami's response, she placed the items in Origami's arms, pressed off with her foot, and shot off toward the distant apartment like an arrow loosed from its string.

"Wait, you haven't paid yet!" the store clerk shouted urgently from behind her.

"Here you go."

Something bright and shiny flew toward the clerk. She quickly caught it, opening her palm to find a few sparkling, transparent stones.

"What is this? Trying to trick me with a few pieces of glass?" the clerk shouted indignantly. "She might look pretty, but she's nothing but a thief! I'm calling the police to get her arrested!" She picked up the phone but paused as something dawned on her, quickly slipping a ring from her finger to examine it against the "glass" pieces.

It was her cherished diamond ring, which she'd saved up for years to buy and even took a loan to purchase. Being a diamond enthusiast, she'd learned a lot about identifying genuine stones. Carefully observing the "glass" pieces with her magnifying glass, her face went blank, her body rigid like a block of wood. If she wasn't mistaken, these supposed "glass" pieces were actually diamonds.

How was this even possible?

Her diamond was about the size of a grain of rice, but these were the size of thumb nails. The value of such diamonds was more than she could ever earn in her lifetime, yet this stranger had casually thrown them at her, like they were nothing but ordinary pebbles.

Was she… a daughter from some legendary, powerful family?

Meanwhile, Kaguya, who'd been mistaken for a high-born heiress, was racing back to the apartment. If she weren't concerned about using her spatial abilities and creating noticeable distortions that might alert the AST forces, she would have used Yomotsu Hirasaka without hesitation.

Could it be that the AST had discovered them? she wondered.

But it didn't make sense. After meeting Yoshino, Kaguya had secretly injected a trace of energy into her to shield her from most radar detection. Kaguya had tested it beforehand; there shouldn't have been an issue.

Could it be the DEM Company's new weapon systems?

Brushing aside her doubts, Kaguya pushed forward, her body flashing like a streak of light, racing toward the apartment without stopping.

Yet, as she approached the complex, a sinking feeling settled in her stomach, and when she finally arrived, it was as if her heart dropped.

She saw a swarm of AST members floating in the air, automatic rifles in hand, all aimed at the apartment. Some of them had even readied heavy weaponry, fully loaded and prepared for battle, with an air of tension so thick that it seemed the slightest spark would ignite a fight.

A tall woman with a striking face was giving orders; none other than Ryoko Kusakabe from their recent encounter.

"Prepare to attack!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Initially, Kaguya had thought of joining AST to investigate their data and learn about their partnership with DEM Company, as she was particularly interested in DEM. The international corporation harbored many secrets beyond its weapons and technology, including knowledge about Spirits. She had heard DEM was even rumored to be holding a Spirit captive, which intrigued her even more.

But it seemed she'd have to make her move now.

Just as she was about to intervene, the AST forces appeared to receive some new orders, stowing their weapons and turning away from the apartment, abandoning their target and leaving.

What's going on?

Watching the AST forces withdraw, Kaguya felt bewildered. What could have happened to make them retreat from their mission to capture a Spirit? Under normal circumstances, they would prioritize eliminating any Spirit threat to avoid further casualties and damage.

Could it mean…

A bad premonition gripped Kaguya, and she sped up, dashing toward the apartment like a bolt of lightning.

The only reason for their withdrawal could be that they had already captured the Spirit, meaning the threat was neutralized and their objective complete. With Yoshino still in a weakened state, her Spirit power nearly depleted, it would've been easy for the AST to ambush her and succeed in their mission.

If the AST dared to do this, she didn't mind starting a massacre. Being kind and afraid of trouble didn't mean she was indecisive, even if they were beautiful girls.

A cold glint of killing intent flashed in Kaguya's crystalline eyes. Since arriving, this was the first time she had truly felt anger.

Anyone who dared touch what was hers… she would make them pay.

However, when she burst through the door, she froze.

Instead of being whisked away by the AST, Yoshino was curled up on the couch, hugging a large pillow and watching a TV drama.

Startled by the sudden entrance, Yoshino jumped and looked over. Seeing it was Kaguya, she relaxed, hopping off the couch with a soft, "You… you're back."

"Are you okay?" Kaguya asked, still surprised.

"I'm fine." Yoshino tilted her head slightly, a little puzzled. "I… I'm alright."

"Oh, good. Glad to hear it." Kaguya exhaled in relief, realizing that Yoshino must not have noticed anything outside. Likely, the room's soundproofing, coupled with the loud volume of the television, had kept her unaware of the events outside.

It really had been a false alarm.

"Did something happen?" Yoshino asked cautiously.

"Oh, nothing." Kaguya smiled gently, saying, "You're watching TV, I see?"

"Mhm." Yoshino's cheeks turned a bit pink. "I saw the TV, so I turned it on… I hope that's okay."

"There's nothing wrong with that," Kaguya said, patting her head affectionately. "The TV's there to be watched, after all."

"Hey, what about dinner?" piped up Yoshinon from nearby. "We're still waiting to eat, y'know."

"Oh, sorry about that," Kaguya said apologetically. "Dinner will be ready soon. Just hang tight."

By the time night finally fell, Origami arrived back, delayed and carrying the groceries. Yoshino looked like she was about to cry, clutching her small stomach with her big, tearful eyes full of hunger. She was absolutely famished—she hadn't even been this hungry while wandering the streets. Perhaps because of today's intense battles and the resulting energy drain, she felt even hungrier than usual.

"Oh, thank goodness you're finally back!" Yoshinon said, waving one of its little plush arms.

"Where were you? Did something happen? I noticed a lot of AST activity earlier," Kaguya asked with concern.

Origami was about to respond when Kaguya stopped her, taking the groceries from her hands with a smile and saying, "Let's talk after I cook. I don't want anyone getting so hungry that they start biting!"

Yoshino's cheeks turned a soft shade of red as she recalled how, the first time she met Kaguya, she had indeed given her a fierce bite.

With that, Kaguya headed into the kitchen.

Since the place was brand new, the kitchen was untouched, clean and ready to go. Thankfully, it was equipped with all the necessary cooking tools, and Kaguya had picked up seasonings and other essentials at the supermarket, so she could start right away.

With practiced skill, Kaguya washed the vegetables and meat, placed them on the cutting board, then picked up a kitchen knife and began chopping. The rhythmic sound of the knife against the board rang out, each slice precise and uniform, with the vegetables and meat cut into identical pieces that lined up neatly in rows, nearly indistinguishable from one another to the naked eye.

Only someone like Uchiha Itachi or Kaguya herself would use ocular powers for something as mundane as chopping food.

As she continued her precise chopping, she heard the door open and instantly knew who it was—Origami had entered the kitchen.

"Are you… attracted to that little girl?" Origami's voice came from behind her.

"Huh?" Caught off guard, Kaguya nearly nicked herself with the knife.

She turned, surprised, and asked, "What gave you that idea?"

"Nothing in particular," Origami replied nonchalantly. "I was just asking casually."

"By the way," Kaguya suddenly remembered, "what happened today? I saw the AST forces around the apartment. Did something happen? Have they found us?"

"No," Origami shook her head, explaining, "They didn't detect you or Yoshino. They found another Spirit."

"Another Spirit?" Kaguya asked, intrigued. "Are there other Spirits around here?"

Kaguya continued her knife work with speed and precision, slicing ingredients that flew through the air to land neatly on a plate. If anyone else tried this, they'd probably cut off a finger. Only a culinary prodigy might be able to match her skill.

"There weren't any sightings here before," Origami continued, "but this Spirit showed up here for the first time today. You may have heard of her—her code name is 'Nightmare.'"

Nightmare?

Kaguya's hands paused as her brow furrowed slightly. If she remembered correctly, "Nightmare" was the codename for Kurumi Tokisaki . But why was Kurumi Tokisaki near her apartment? Knowing Kurumi's personality, Kaguya understood that her appearance here wasn't a coincidence—she must have come with a specific purpose.

"And the AST—?"

Just then, Kaguya froze as she realized something was happening behind her. Origami's delicate, soft arms had wrapped around her, embracing her from behind, her delicate face resting on Kaguya's shoulder. They were pressed close together, so close that Kaguya could even feel the soft, pliable sensation of two forms against her back.

She wasn't wearing a bra underneath.

"What… what are you doing?" Kaguya's throat felt suddenly dry.

"Nothing much," Origami said, her arms wrapped tightly around Kaguya's waist, "I was just making sure today's clothes fit. I wouldn't want them to be uncomfortable."

Origami was calm as she fabricated this excuse, even though she'd already tried on the clothes earlier.

"Oh… is that so?" Kaguya cleared her throat awkwardly.

"Could you help me when I'm putting on my bra later?" Origami's arms tightened, pressing her softness against Kaguya more firmly. "The clasp is hard to reach."

Warm breath tickled Kaguya's ear, sending a shiver down her spine and making her nearly drop the knife.

Origami's innocent expression and seductive movements somehow harmonized instead of clashing, creating an unexpected allure. The fresh, light scent of her perfume filled Kaguya with an indescribable feeling.

At that moment, the kitchen door opened suddenly. A small head peeked in, wide, curious eyes blinking in confusion as if unsure what Kaguya and Origami were up to.

Kaguya quickly eased Origami away with a gentle nudge, clearing her throat before smiling and saying, "Yoshino, is there something you need?"

This wasn't something an innocent little girl should witness, even if she likely wouldn't understand what was happening.

"Hungry," Yoshino murmured shyly, rubbing her stomach, her face tinged with embarrassment.

Her stomach was almost caving in from hunger, and Kaguya's cooking was taking so long she couldn't resist coming out to check.

"Oh my, why isn't it ready yet?" Yoshinon complained. "I'm starving here, Kaguya-chan! You need to work on your speed."

"Got it," Kaguya responded with an apologetic smile. She sliced a piece of beef and handed it to Yoshino. "Hang in there a bit longer. It'll be ready soon."

Yoshino took the beef but didn't eat it right away. Instead, she politely said, "Thank you," before slowly savoring it. Her delicate and cautious way of eating reminded Kaguya of a small kitten—or perhaps more accurately, a tiny bunny.

With Origami's "distractions" out of the way, Kaguya's cooking speed instantly increased. Her knife danced over the ingredients, leaving countless afterimages. Even a legendary chef might find themselves outmatched here.

In no time at all, thanks to Kaguya's remarkable culinary skills, the kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of delicious, beautifully prepared dishes.

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