Yuuto stared at the screen of his flip phone, his thumb hovering above Irene's suspicious message.
"…What's wrong with Irene? It feels like she's holding something back."
He frowned, confused.
But before he could type anything, new messages started flooding in.
---
[Kuroneko]:
Anyway, what are your login rewards today?
[Kuroneko]:
I got… a spatula.
Again.
Why am I getting cooking tools all week?!
Yuuto could practically feel her frustration through her rapid typing.
---
[Yamato]:
Oh! I got a hamburger and a drink today!
[Lady Avalon]:
Yamato, you got food too?
I received the same yesterday and today…
[Yamato]:
Yeah!
For four days straight, I've been receiving nothing but food!
And in huge amounts!
But it's helping the starving people of Wano—well, not all of them, but still…
As Yuuto read it, he imagined Yamato lifting a burger to the sky with a proud grin—like she was offering it to the gods.
---
[Irene Belserion]:
So… you're sharing your rewards with other people?
Her tone was sharp, but not hostile—more like someone checking for a potential disaster.
---
[Yamato]:
Of course!
I'm Oden—the leader of Wano!
I won't let my people starve!
Yuuto smiled faintly.
That's so Yamato, he thought.
But then Irene sent another message.
This one… heavy.
---
[Irene Belserion]:
Yamato.
There's something you need to understand.
That food… it's only temporary paradise.
When the rewards stop coming, they will suffer.
Maybe even worse than before.
Yuuto reread the lines slowly.
There was bitterness in Irene's words—something deeply human, despite how rarely she showed it.
The chat fell silent for a few seconds…
Then—
---
[Yamato]:
No.
You're wrong, Irene.
Her next messages came firm and clear:
---
[Yamato]:
If I give them food today, then they live today.
If the rewards stop tomorrow, then I'll fight tomorrow.
The people of Wano aren't burdens.
They won't despair just because the food stops.
And if they fall…
I will lift them back up.
Just like Oden once did.
Yuuto's eyes widened.
Her words were short, bold, and powerful.
The group resumed after Yamato's declaration.
---
[Irene Belserion]:
…
Do whatever you want, brat.
---
[Hatsune Miku]:
Waaah~ Yamato, that was so cool! ✨😍
[Lady Avalon]:
Hahaha!
Yes—those are the words of a true leader.
I like your spirit.
[Yamato]:
Thank you, Lady Avalon.
And thank you, Miku.
Her tone carried pride, but also honesty.
---
A moment later—
[Hatsune Miku]:
By the way, I got a music album today! From all kinds of worlds! 🎶💿
[Irene Belserion]:
I received… a spatula.
Same as Kuroneko.
[Irene Belserion]:
Never once did I imagine I—Seiryu no Hi—would receive a mystical cooking utensil.
---
[Lady Avalon]:
Oh?
Two people got the same reward?
This is the first time that's happened…
[Irene Belserion]:
Well…
I don't know what it means.
Let's just hope it's not a bad omen.
---
[Kuroneko]:
Irene-san…
You just raised a flag.
[Irene Belserion]:
Flag?
What's that?
[Kuroneko]:
…Forget it.
---
After some chuckles passed through the chat, Kuroneko called out again.
[Kuroneko]:
Now, Yuuto.
Your turn.
What did you get today?
Yuuto typed slowly.
[Yuuto Kido]:
I… got a book.
[Irene Belserion]:
A spellbook?
Or something useful, brat?
[Yuuto Kido]:
…not a spellbook.
It looks like a cooking book.
Three seconds later, Yuuto added:
[Yuuto Kido]:
Its title is…
"Emiya Family's Cooking Book."
[Kuroneko]:
You got Emiya's cooking book…?
Her typing even looked like she was shaking in shock and envy.
---
[Lady Avalon]:
Congratulations, Yuuto. 👏✨
That book… is truly remarkable.
[Hatsune Miku]:
What kind of book is that, Kuroneko? Ooo I'm curious~ 🎶
---
Kuroneko immediately typed a long explanation, like a teacher saving her student from culinary ignorance.
[Kuroneko]:
"Emiya's Cooking Book" probably contains every recipe Shirou Emiya has.
All of them.
From home-style meals, stamina dishes, to mental recovery foods.
It's an incredibly important book, Yuuto.
You must study it.
---
[Yuuto Kido]:
Eh?
Is it really that good?
It's just… a cooking book.
It's not cursed, right?
[Kuroneko]:
A blessing, Yuuto.
Not a curse.
Trust me…
it will make you the strongest in the group.
---
Silence.
---
[Irene Belserion]:
How could a cooking book possibly make someone the strongest?
Her tone was haughty, elegant, skeptical—as expected from her.
---
[Kuroneko]:
Hehehe…
You'll see, Irene-san, once we enter the One Piece world.
[Irene Belserion]:
HM.
I still don't believe it.
---
[Yamato]:
If Kuroneko said so… then that book must be really amazing!
[Kuroneko]:
Of course!
Yuuto, you must study it.
---
Yuuto glanced at the book tucked in his bag before typing.
[Yuuto Kido]:
Alright… I'll try reading it later.
And apparently… Arthur can cook too, so I'm a little curious now.
---
[Kuroneko]:
WHAT??
Arthur can cook too??
I thought he only knew how to eat like Artoria…
This is shocking.
---
Lady Avalon jumped in immediately, proud like a peacock.
[Lady Avalon]:
Of course Arthur can cook.
He's not as skilled as Emiya, but he's quite capable.
And unlike Artoria, he doesn't have a "black hole" in his stomach.
Her tone radiated smug teacher energy.
---
After the long conversation quieted down, Yuuto swiped to his private chat with Merlin.
He typed:
[Yuuto Kido]:
Sensei, I'm heading to the warehouse from yesterday to continue training.
Once the message was delivered, Yuuto closed his flip phone and exhaled softly.
"Alright… time to get back to training."
He rose from his seat and grabbed the jacket he bought yesterday—light-colored, soft fabric, with a small emblem on the sleeve.
He put it on, adjusted the folds, then pulled up the hood until it shadowed most of his face.
When the hood draped over his blonde hair, a faint shade covered his eyes.
'…With this, maybe that disgusting feeling will lessen.'
Even though his face now looked striking—almost model-like—he felt uncomfortable when people stared at him.
Something inside him twisted with disgust whenever strangers' eyes lingered on him.
'Well… Arthur also wore armor with a hood a lot, back then.'
He slipped the phone into his pocket, tightened the drawstrings of his hoodie, and stepped out of the apartment.
His footsteps were quiet, steady.
The morning sun was bright, casting gentle light across his jacket.
But Yuuto walked straight ahead without looking around, hiding himself beneath the hood like a shadow that didn't wish to be noticed.
The old warehouse awaited him.