First, I chop the cucumber into chunks.
Aiming for pieces that aren't too thick or too thin.
The tomato goes into rough dice. I mince the garlic and bird's-bean chili finely.
"......"
I put the frying pan on the heat and add water and salt.
The amount of water seems about right. Once it boils, I toss in the pasta.
The noodles I'm using are medium-thick guine.
The name and shape are both similar to linguine.
"......"
I boil them. Midway through, I throw in the prepped tomato and cucumber.
"......"
Once the cucumber gets some char marks, I take the pan off the heat.
When the tomato turns soft and mushy, it's good. After that, I check the noodle firmness and drain the water.
Cooking everything together in one pan like this is to minimize the dishes I have to wash.
"......"
I season with pepper, add a splash of lemon juice, and toss it all together so the flavors coat the pasta.
"......"
I drain it well, carefully plate it on a wooden dish, and it's done.
Tomato and cucumber pasta with a hint of lemon.
"Alright. Done. Pakira?"
"Hwah? A-ah, yeah. H-hm. I-see."
She accepted the pasta and fork with a bewildered look.
Pakira was sitting on my bed.
There were chairs available, but she'd chosen to sit on my bed.
She'd watched me cook the entire time without saying a word.
Not a single word the whole time.
Since I'd invited her, she hadn't said a single thing.
"...I'm sorry."
"Huh, wh-what?"
"I mean, that time I invited you so suddenly like that... it was a bother, wasn't it?"
"............"
Why had I invited her.
Why had I brought her to my place — honestly, I had no idea.
Before I knew it, in the heat of the moment, so naturally I didn't even realize it — I'd invited Pakira over.
It was so unbelievable that I was in complete turmoil on the inside.
Pakira must have been just as surprised.
So it was only natural if she hated me for it.
"Really, truly..."
"...It's delicious."
"Oh."
Pakira twirled some pasta and cucumber around her fork and put it in her mouth.
Crunch… a sound came from her mouth. Pleasant.
"Now this is a lovely meal. The lemon acidity is just right, too. This is a flavor I enjoy."
"Is it not too spicy?"
In truth, I had been nervous and chopped up a few too many bird's-eye chilies.
"Just right. The tomato is perfectly seasoned as well. Come now, Wof, eat up before it gets cold."
"Y-yes."
I picked up the pasta and went to sit down in a chair.
Oh, there was no chair.
"What are you doing?"
"Um, there's no chair…"
"It's your bed, so just sit here."
She gave the bed a few little pats.
She looked at me as if to say, "What are you even talking about?"
I sat down next to Pakira.
I said "itadakimasu" and started eating the pasta.
Crunch, crunch, crunch… the cucumber had a satisfying bite to it.
"Tomato and lemon go well together, don't they. I've learned something useful."
"I'm glad. That you like it."
I poured the chilled water from the crescent vessel into a cup and handed it over.
"Is it chilled?"
"I figured you'd prefer it that way."
"Ice?"
"Yes."
I'll just go with that explanation.
Ice isn't rare.
It's a little pricey, but not exactly unobtainable.
That's because there's a freezing Relic.
The Relic itself isn't all that rare, either.
I've heard anyone with a water-attribute Relic can make some.
Still, ice water isn't exactly common, so perhaps it deserves a bit of surprise.
"Whew. Thank you for the meal. That was truly delicious."
Pakira finished every last bite of her pasta.
I finished mine too and stacked the plates.
It's nice that she ate so cleanly.
And it really must have been good.
Her two tails were wagging back and forth.
A good feeling.
"Thank you for this dish. Actually, I remembered it after a long time and decided to give it another try. It didn't turn out well back then. But this time... it turned out really delicious."
Since that summer day, I'd grown just a little.
But the taste of the pasta I ate with her on that summer day — that would last forever.
"Oh my. I do not cook."
"Is that so?"
"Lupinus is the one who excels at it. Riv and I simply eat."
She smiled wryly.
Lupinus — that elf woman?
She'd seemed so noble, but that was unexpected.
"Say, I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"Could you teach me the recipe for this pasta? I'd like to teach it to Lupinus."
"Sure. ...Huh?"
In an instant, my body went rigid.
Something soft, long, and alive touched my hand, my arm.
A tail.
One of Pakira's two pure-white tails had touched my arm.
"How kind of you."
"It's easy to make, and you can arrange it in different ways, too."
What—?!
The tail wasn't just touching me — it had started wrapping around my arm.
"I-Is that so? Then even I—"
"P-P-Pakira—"
"What is it?"
She tilted her head, looking blankly at me.
Was she doing this completely unconsciously?
But her tail had already wrapped completely around my arm.
And now a second tail was reaching for my waist.
At this point, I really had to say something.
"Um... Pakira, your tails..."
"My tails? Whoa!?"
She let out a strange yelp.
Then the tails instantly withdrew from me.
When they retracted, it wasn't just Pakira's cheeks that flushed red.
Her bare arms and legs turned crimson.
Pakira hung her head, trembling slightly.
This was bad—I should say her name.
"Pakira."
Suddenly, Pakira stood up.
W-What happened?
"I..."
"Um?"
"Sorry, I just remembered something urgent, gotta go!"
With that, she dashed off.
I was left there, blinking.
"…Heh, heh, ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha!"
And I laughed.
It was funny. So funny my stomach hurt.
But it wasn’t even funny.
It didn’t have to be exactly like that summer day three years ago.
Three days later, early morning.
In front of the Hydrangea dungeon.
Despite the early hour, it was bustling with people.
This was the formation of the anomaly suppression squad.
Two Second-Rank delvers.
Agaro, the "Doom Sword."
Megadia, the "Black Devourer."
Three Third-Rank delver parties.
The formidable trio of beauties, "Torquetam."
The fierce, up-and-coming party, "Zan Brave."
And the largest, most famous party in Hydrangea, "Kuun Hunt," had abruptly withdrawn.
I didn't know the reason. But apparently everyone was happy to hear the news.
As for "Kuun Hunt," they had the backing of both the Hydrangea Council and the Guild.
Their participation was essentially non-negotiable, and it sounded like they'd clashed quite a bit with Agaro, the overall subjugation commander.
A messy tangle of adult politics. The whole "defer to whoever's above you" game.
"..."
Honestly, I wasn't a fan of "Kuun Hunt" either.
I'd been approached by them once before — oh wait, had I?
I nearly forgot about it.
Yeah, it happened just once. The name was, I think... Bo, Bob.
"Wof!"
Wof? No. That one was Bobby.
"Wof! You. What are you doing here?"
"...Oh, Pakira."
She came over to me, looking surprised.
"Why, you —"
"Good morning."
"G-Good morning isn't — I mean, why are you here?"
"There's something I'd like to give you, Pakira."
I took out a small bottle.
"This is...?"
The contents were a gleaming liquid.
"If you're ever badly hurt beyond healing, or close to death — please, use this."
"............You."
Pakira narrowed their eyes and accepted the small bottle.
The atmosphere shifted. Pakira was suspicious — wondering what I was going on about.
Even so, I absolutely had to give this to Pakira.
But I couldn't explain.
I couldn't say a single thing about what was inside this small bottle.
So however cliché or rough, this was all I could say:
"Please trust me."
That was all I could manage.
Pakira looked at me. Then broke into a wide grin. ...Huh?
"You fool. Don't go underestimating the Torquetam."
"S-sorry."
After what happened last time, I couldn't help it.
"Still — better safe than sorry, as the saying goes."
Pakira tucked the small bottle into their pouch.
They believed me. I felt relieved.
"Pakira. Be careful."
"Mm. I'll make it back safe."
With that, Pakira turned on her heel, then looked back once more.
"Pakira?"
"…When I get back, there's something I want to ask you."
Her expression was serious and complicated.
I swallowed.
"O-Okay."
"Wof. You take care too."
"Y-Yes."
Pakira let out a soft laugh and turned her back to me.
Then she walked away without looking back.
I hope nothing happens.
I prayed.
Well, I should do my best too.
Starting tomorrow, I'd be joining the dungeon delves.