"I understand."
Soyo gave a somewhat forlorn smile. For some reason, Kyo's mind automatically supplied an imagined voice-over to that expression—"But isn't this fine too?"
"You must be hungry too, Kyo. Let's eat." As if to show she had nothing more to say on the matter, Soyo finally ladled herself a few spoonfuls of vegetable soup.
"Mhm. Well then, for the second time—I'm digging in."
Finally, she could eat in peace. She wasn't exactly starving, but she had been looking forward to this soup for quite some time.
But no rush. Kyo suppressed the urge to just pick up the bowl and start drinking straight from it.
The best part had to be saved for last. First, she'd finish the rice, vegetables, and pasta in the bowl—only then would she pour herself a full bowl of broth and savor it properly.
When it came to drinks, Kyo was all about the ritual.
She poked at her rice, now soft and soaked through with the rich broth. It was tender enough that her chopsticks slid through effortlessly. With practiced ease, she picked up a piece of potato along with a small bundle of rice and brought it to her mouth.
The potato, simmered to perfection in the thick soup, was soft and velvety. There was no need to chew—just pressing her tongue lightly against it was enough for it to break apart into a smooth, creamy texture.
It practically melted on her tongue.
As for the broth-soaked rice, it was fluffy with a slight stickiness. With each gentle bite, as her teeth crushed the grains, the tangy-sweet tomato essence infused in the broth seeped out, coating her taste buds.
The balance of acidity and sweetness was an instant appetite stimulant, making her crave the next bite before she'd even finished the first. Beyond the natural sharpness of tomatoes, the broth gave the rice a refreshing depth—an invigorating, heartwarming flavor that lingered even after she swallowed.
Even after thoroughly chewing and swallowing, the taste remained, leaving behind a satisfying aftertaste that refused to fade.
Kyo smacked her lips slightly, a newfound appreciation blooming for Soyo. If she were to think of Soyo as a bartender of sorts, then this vegetable soup was an outstanding creation.
She had planned to finish everything else before drinking the broth, but after just one bite, she was already struggling to hold back. What do I do now?
This was Kyo's first time coming to Soyo's house, and also the first time eating something she had cooked herself. Of course, Soyo would want Kyo to enjoy it.
So, from the moment Kyo took her first bite, Soyo had been subtly sneaking glances at her reaction, eager to gauge her thoughts.
What she saw was Kyo first looking serious—like she wasn't just eating a meal but performing some kind of solemn ritual—before carefully taking in that first bite.
Then came slow, deliberate chewing. At first, her expression remained stern and focused, but little by little, her features softened. Her puffed cheeks moved rhythmically as she chewed, resembling a hamster in an oddly adorable way.
It must've tasted pretty good.
Soon enough, Kyo's expression shifted into one of pure enjoyment. The pace of her chewing subtly quickened, and a glint of light flickered in her blue eyes.
Looks like it really is to her liking. That's perfect.
If that was the case, then Soyo could start planning ways to keep feeding Kyo in the future…
Satisfied with her observations, Soyo finally started eating as well. At the same time, she mentally sorted through future opportunities to cook for Kyo.
Meanwhile, Kyo had begun to pick up on something else.
Even though she had only tasted the broth that had soaked into the rice—a mere trace of the soup Soyo had made—there was still something about it that resonated with her.
Of course, since it was such a minuscule amount, she couldn't quite grasp a specific emotion from it. Instead, it was more of a hazy, fragmented sensation—
A warmth, spreading from within.
Starting from her core, it flowed outward, coursing through every inch of her body, reaching even the tips of her hair.
Kyo couldn't help but shiver pleasantly, the warmth leaving her feeling completely at ease.
But then she realized—she had made a mistake.
It wasn't that there was no emotion contained in the soup. Rather, it was an emotion that only revealed itself after the warmth had fully settled in.
That feeling was—
Greed.
More. I want more. I want more…
That fleeting warmth had vanished in an instant. Yet, precisely because she had experienced it, the craving it left behind felt so heavy—driving Kyo to keep eating.
She licked her lips and picked up her pace.
The more she ate, the more tangible that warmth became. But at the same time, so did the greed that followed.
Even after getting a second helping of rice, she continued spooning up the broth and vegetables—one bite after another—until, before she knew it, her bowl was empty.
Soyo watched in mild surprise.
Even though Kyo's movements remained composed, almost refined—fitting even for the standards of Tsukinomori—somehow, she had managed to finish everything in no time, including a generous portion of potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables.
"Kyo… you really liked it, huh?"
"Yeah. It tasted great."
Kyo swallowed the last bite. Putting aside the abnormal appetite that had overtaken her, Soyo's skills as a cook were undeniable—the soup was truly delicious.
As she spoke, Kyo filled her bowl again—this time, with just the broth.
Now, there was nothing else. No rice, no vegetables—only the pure essence of the soup itself.
Anticipation stirred within her.
If the mere traces of broth clinging to the rice had given her such an intense sensation, then drinking it directly…
What kind of experience would that be?
She could already feel it.
That same stirring within her heart—the same way Sakiko's tea and Taki's coffee had once made her feel.
This was what she had been chasing after.
A feeling she had never known before—
"I'm digging in."
For the third time, Kyo uttered those words.
Then, she drained the bowl in one go.
...
The moment she finished, Kyo shut her eyes and fell into a deep silence, as if lost in a memory.
After some time, she gently pressed a hand against her chest and opened her eyes.
Inside her mind, the still waters of her heart—normally so calm, only occasionally disturbed by ripples—had begun to surge.
"…Haruhikage."
She murmured the words, but before she could say more, that overwhelming warmth—the kind that felt like basking in the sun on a perfect spring day—enveloped her completely.
Like soaking in a hot spring.
With her hunger satisfied, the day's exhaustion catching up to her, and that irresistible drowsiness creeping in…
Kyo couldn't hold back.
She slumped onto the dining table—
And fell asleep.
---
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