38 The Company I (1/2)
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In the Kouzuki household, a feast was prepared to celebrate Kazuya's victory. Thanks to Mei and Kyouko's efforts, they were successful in evading the journalists who couldn't wait to get an interview. Kazuya himself wanted to stay low key, he knew his reputation would be boosted by his achievement but he didn't want his status to be revealed.
This was one way to avoid the annoying people in Sacred Forest Academy that Mei warned him about.He knew that his identity couldn't be kept hidden forever but still preferred to keep it quiet for as long as he can. Most of the children their age may not be thinking about things such as social advantages but that doesn't mean their parents did not.
”The food is amazing as always granny” Kazuya complimented the caretaker.
”I'm glad to hear that they suit your taste young master”
”You should be more grateful to my grandmother young master. Your sudden change in taste made her learn many new things. We were used to taste the failures from her first try” Yui who was standing by Fujiyama added.
Steak, Pizza, Pasta, Sushi, BBQ, and the like made up the feast. Surely Fujiyama herself couldn't prepare such a feast alone so the sisters were brought in to assist her. Kazuya's tastes indeed have changed from what they knew as both worlds' influence showed in his choices in cuisine. While earth had the sophisticated cuisines, he missed greatly when he was in Edea, the crude yet mana filled meat of beasts from the wild would really be helpful for him right now.
”Thank you for always preparing food to suit my tastes granny Fujiyama. You don't always have to make these kinds of food all the time” he didn't fail to notice how she opted to make these by hand instead of purchasing them. Kazuya knew that she noticed his attachment to fresh foods which is why he was grateful for her thoughtfulness.
”It is no trouble at all young master. This old lady is having fun learning new things. I should be the one to thank young master for making me realize that I still have a lot of things I can improve”
”I would like to learn culinary from you one of these days. I'm afraid I won't be able to satisfy myself once I start living alone after middle school” Kazuya said. He was concerned about feeding himself after going to Edea. His culinary skills were only subpar and couldn't compare to Fujiyama's. Eating her food everyday made his tongue pickier as she improved.
””What did you say!?”” Fujiyama knew to step back as Kazuya was pulled from both sides. The two girls forgot to control their own growing strengths and ripped the sleeves on both sides of his shirt.
”I wanted to learn how to cook from granny Fujiyama” he realized what he said wrong. Kazuya has felt a bit fearful after seeing the state his clothes were in. ”Being able to cook is a usef—”
””Not that!!”” The Fujiyama trio tried to hold their laughs as the two grown women interrogate Kazuya like a lover caught cheating. The three knew that with their young master's intellect, he already knew what he said wrong and was stalling while thinking of an answer to satisfy the two.
”You mean living alone after middle school?” Kazuya tried hard to put up an act. ”I heard my classmates talking about it. They said that their brothers and sisters moved to the dorms after graduating from high school. There were those that said that it could be as early as middle school so I thought that it was a normal thing to happen”
””NO!”” The two rejected the idea.
”Kazuya don't believe such things. Moving to study only applies to those who live very far away from their schools” Kyouko tried hard and gave a lot of examples to explain. She didn't like the idea nor even thought about letting Kazuya move to a dorm.
”Mother-in-law is right Kazu. How can you say such things? Can you bear to leave your poor big sis alone?” They rarely got along when it came to Kazuya but they stood as a united front against what they just heard.
”Is that so? I'm relieved then. I thought it was a normal thing. I was afraid that I had to leave when I got older so I'm relieved to hear I won't have to” This made him feel a little guilty. He didn't know how time flowed in Edea compared to earth. He planned to use this excuse to give himself some time because he didn't know how long he would stay there once he went.
Fortunately, this pacified the two ladies as they continued their meal. This was the first time the Fujiyama sisters attended a meal with the three occupants so they couldn't help but stare at the startling appetite of their little young master. They initially thought that they helped with too much food after learning that there wouldn't be any other guests but after seeing the boy's appetite, they couldn't help but think where the food was going.
Kyouko's phone rang just as they were finishing up.She looked at the number and immediately answered. The expression on her face grew a bit serious as she glanced at Mei. Kazuya could tell just by listening that Lee made a move that will cost him.
”Kazuya, I'm sorry but our trip will have to be postponed” Kyouko regretfully announced.
”It's okay mom. What was that all about?”
Kyouko hesitated but under the unwavering gaze of her son, she decided to tell him all of it. He already knew the part about Lee's involvement in this after Jirou told him. What he didn't about was the sensitive relationship between the Kouzuki and the Kurogane families. It never occurred to him until now who or where his father was.
”A-are you curious about your father?” Kyouko nervously asked.
”I'm not” Kazuya hasn't even seen a picture of that guy nor did he hear anything about it in the past. He only knew that Kyouko was the only relative he had and no one from the Kurogane side ever cared to show themselves in front of him. ”You don't need to be nervous about them too much mom. They will regret it if they dare even as much as threaten us” a flicker of bloodlust made the people in the room feel a chill.
”It's not their threats we should be worried about but their reach. People may see our families on the same level but without our allies, we are at a disadvantage”