Serina Finds the Cooking Class Fun
As we passed through the market square, a little kid came sprinting toward us.
"Serina! This is for you!"
The child held out a wooden container. It looked like a lunchbox.
"What's this?"
"Mom and I made it together for you, Serina!"
"For me?"
"Yes! Please eat it, Serina!"
Serina accepted the lunchbox. Not long ago, witches had been known as objects of pure terror. These small changes, still tiny but real, left her feeling dazed.
"Hmm..."
Serina seemed unsure what to say. She simply kept touching her lips with her fingertips.
"Hey kid, Serina says thank you."
Unable to watch any longer, I spoke up on her behalf. Only then did the little one break into a huge smile and scamper back to hide in his mother's arms.
Serina watched them go, then pursed her lips.
"Cute."
She hugged the lunchbox tightly to herself.
"Want me to carry that?"
"No. I'm going to hold it."
She must have really liked it. She forgot all about linking arms with me and walked along clutching the box with both hands.
"Serina. Are you in a good mood?"
"...I am."
She pressed the lunchbox against her chest.
When we knocked on the door of Sylvia's house, Maria answered.
"Oh my! Allen Oppa!"
"Maria~!"
Serina clearly didn't like the way Maria called me Oppa.
"Serina!"
Maria greeted Serina far more enthusiastically than she had me. The moment she saw her, she threw her arms around her in a big hug.
"What are you doing?"
"I missed you so much, Serina! You're so beautiful!"
"Hmph. I already know I'm pretty."
With two well-endowed women hugging, there was a surprising amount of space left in the middle.
"So what brings you here today?"
"Ah! I asked Sylvia to teach Serina how to cook, but she said you'd be better at it, Maria. So here we are."
"Cooking lessons?! Then you've come to the right place!"
Maria jumped with excitement, and her chest bounced along with her. Gulp.
The moment we stepped inside, Maria brought out two aprons and handed one to Serina.
"Serina! Tie this around your front!"
"What is it?"
"It's an apron. It'll make cooking much easier."
"An apron. We don't have one at home."
Then she looked at me.
"Let's buy one on the way back."
Serina nodded.
"Also, Serina, this is the kind of outfit men really like."
"You mean the apron?"
"Yes. This isn't an ordinary cooking uniform."
"Then what is it...?"
"Hehe... well, you see..."
Maria leaned in with mischievous eyes and whispered something into Serina's ear. What was she saying? When she finished, Maria was giggling nonstop.
After hearing the whole thing, Serina glanced at me for a second. Then her face turned bright red and she spun away.
What the hell... They're having secret conversations without me. I feel like I'm being left out.
"It's your ultimate technique, Serina!"
"Hmm... I doubt I'll need it, but I'll keep it in mind."
"Hehe! You're so cute, Serina. Can I ask you for one tiny favor?"
"What is it?"
"Can I touch your chest? Just once?"
"What...?"
"Just once...!"
Without waiting for permission, Maria grabbed Serina's breasts with both hands.
"W-what are you doing?"
"They're so bouncy and firm...! And your butt too!"
Then she boldly reached around and squeezed Serina's backside with both hands. Her palms couldn't even cover it all.
"That's enough. Let go."
"How is your body so elastic?! Do you have some secret?"
"There's no secret."
"I thought mine were pretty good, but yours are on another level."
Then she grabbed her own chest for comparison.
Whoa. Coming here was the right choice.
"Everything is a gift from birth."
"Hng... Allen Oppa. I'm always ready to become your bride, you know."
"Out of nowhere...?"
"This kind of thing needs to be appealed!"
Maria suddenly started talking about becoming my bride. I was so startled I nearly dropped the teacup I was holding.
"What do you mean by 'appeal'?"
"Um... actions or words meant to capture someone's heart?!"
"Why would you do that?"
"Why? Because you want to win that person's heart, obviously!"
So bold. Everything about Maria was bold.
"If you appealed to someone, Serina, any man would fall for you!"
"I don't need to do that."
"Hehe. So cool!"
Maria stared at Serina with sparkling eyes, like she was looking at a baby bird.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because I like you too much. Later, when you and Oppa get married, can I come in as your concubine?"
"M-Maria. There are things you shouldn't say."
I jumped in surprise and quickly checked Serina's expression.
"Hng. I can't? I like both Unni and Oppa though."
"I'll think about it."
Serina didn't reject the idea outright. To her, Maria seemed purely adorable. Being around Maria was exhausting for me. You never knew what would come out of her mouth next. Are all kids like this these days?
We finally started the actual cooking lesson. First came chopping vegetables while wearing aprons. Serina was learning knife work with a serious face. Her expression was grumpy. It looked like things weren't going the way she wanted. She was clumsy even at holding the knife. The vegetables came out all crooked and uneven. She was huffing to herself.
"Serina, take it slow!"
"This isn't easy."
Before long, beads of sweat had formed on her forehead. Maria pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and gently dabbed it away.
Even while grunting with effort, Serina never complained about learning to cook. It seemed she actually found it fun.
While the vegetables were steaming in the pot, Maria asked Serina,
"Serina, do you have any romantic fantasies about dating?"
"Dating?"
"Yes! The sweet, lovey-dovey stuff you do before marriage is called dating!"
"Then am I dating right now?"
"Oh my! Serina, are you dating someone?!"
"Yes. I am dating."
Maria turned to look at me. I awkwardly averted my eyes.
"Oh my... Since when?"
"I don't know."
"How can you not even know your anniversary?!"
"Anniversary?"
"These days all the young people in the village count the days since they started dating! It's the trend!"
"What’s so good about counting days?"
"On the 100th day, the guy gives the girl a present. You make it your own special day."
"One hundred days. One hundred days sounds good."
Serina spread all ten fingers, trying to count to a hundred. Realizing she didn't have enough fingers, she awkwardly closed them again.
"If you don't know, just start counting from the day you first held hands!"
"The day we held hands..."
"I'm so jealous! Allen Oppa, when are we going to hold hands?"
"Maria. Only I get to hold Serina's hand."
Serina grabbed Maria's shoulder with a serious expression and gave her a warning.
"Hng... Then will you at least hold my hand, Serina?"
"Fine. I'll allow you to hold my hand."
"Yay! Thank you!"
Maria took Serina's hand and immediately pulled her into another hug. I want to hug her too...
"I have another fantasy."
"What is it?! Tell me quickly!"
"Someone protecting me."
"Protecting you...?"
"Yes. When my power is exhausted, standing by my side and protecting me."
For a moment, Serina wore a bitter expression, as if she would inevitably lose her strength someday.
"Hahaha... Don't say it so sadly. I'll protect you."
"Really?"
"Of course. Just trust me."
"Tch... You're so weak, though."
After those words, Serina's previously excited mood calmed down considerably.
"All done!"
Sauce was poured over the steamed vegetables. Then meat was placed on the pan.
"The meat is grilled separately."
"It smells wonderful..."
"Once the meat is nicely cooked, just pour the vegetable sauce over it and you're finished!"
"That's simple."
"Right? No matter what kind of meat you use, it'll taste great with this sauce."
"Magic sauce..."
"Exactly! It's magic sauce. So you have to learn it properly, okay?"
"I will."
Serina had even rolled up her sleeves as she focused on learning.
I watched her from the sofa. Even while busy grilling the meat, Serina kept stealing glances at me. When our eyes met, I smiled. She quickly turned her head away.
Some time into the lesson...
"Allen Oppa, it's done!"
"Uh... hmm...?"
Maria shook me awake. I must have dozed off on the sofa. I'd definitely been watching the meat cook earlier. I wiped the drool from my cheek.
"You fell asleep?"
Serina spoke with a pouty expression. She seemed a little angry...
"Sorry... The weather was so warm..."
"It happens."
With her arms crossed, she turned away without saying anything else. Then she plated the finished dish.
I sat at the table and admired the completed meal with my eyes.
"It smells great. The onion aroma is really strong."
"Serina worked really hard on this. Try it!"
"I can't believe it. Serina made something like this...!"
"Do you dislike it?"
"No. I don't dislike it. I love it."
"Did I make you happy, Allen?"
"Yes. I'm happy."
Only then did she break into a bright, eye-crinkling smile.
"Try it."
Serina cut a small piece of meat for me. She stabbed it with a fork along with some vegetables and held it out.
Hmm. The smell passed. The appearance passed. For the taste... I added a bit more sauce and put it in my mouth. Chew chew.
"Oh... It's delicious?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's sweet and savory, and the seasoning is perfect."
"Is it good?"
"Yes. It's not greasy at all. I want more."
"There's plenty. Eat as much as you want."
Seeing me eat with genuine enjoyment, she finally relaxed. She rested her chin on her hands at the table and watched me eat.
"The lunchbox."
Serina suddenly remembered and brought out the lunchbox the child had given her earlier. Inside were potato pancakes, eggs, and stir-fried vegetables.
"Serina, why do you have a lunchbox?"
"I received it on the way here."
"Wow! I'm so touched. You're really popular, Serina!"
"That's right. I'm popular."
When Maria praised her, Serina looked proud. She turned the lunchbox this way and that, showing it off.
We enjoyed both the lunchbox and the cooked meal together. After the cooking lesson ended, Serina said she wanted to learn even more dishes. Maria welcomed the idea enthusiastically and suggested an intensive course.
For some reason, Serina seemed especially well-behaved when she was with Maria.
On the way home, I wrapped my arm around Serina's waist. She lifted her hand and wrapped her arm around mine. We walked naturally with our arms around each other's waists.
"Oh, right. Serina... I need to go home alone tomorrow for a bit."
"Why?"
"The baby goats are arriving."
"By yourself?"
"Yeah. So... can you stay in the village by yourself for a few days?"
"I don't want to. I'll go with you."
"But you have cooking lessons, and going back and forth would be a hassle. It'll only be a few days."
"But I don't want to..."
When the goats arrive, I need to build them a pen, catch up on all the delayed work, and handle many other things. I'd been neglecting my livestock duties while staying in the village with the witch. I couldn't live in the village forever.
"It'll only be a few days. Or you could stay at Sylvia's house. I'll ask them for you."
"Tch..."
She clearly didn't want to be apart, but it couldn't be helped. Seeing how well she got along with Maria, I felt reassured enough to leave for a short while. It was only a few days. Nothing should happen... right?