44 44. Sakuya's Breakfast, Saji's Struggles, and Unseen Bonds.

Kouske's POV

In the early morning, I am roused by the delightful sizzle emanating from the kitchen, a promising sign that someone is already busy preparing breakfast.

As I venture into the kitchen, I discover Sakuya orchestrating the morning feast. She's taken the initiative to rise before me, ensuring a delicious start to our day. With a keen awareness, she acknowledges my entrance.

"Good morning, Miyamura-sama. Please be patient; breakfast will be ready shortly," Sakuya greets me with a graceful bow, clad in her impeccable maid uniform.

"Morning, Sakuya-san. You can just call me Kouske, you know," I respond, aiming for a more casual interaction.

"No. A maid shouldn't directly address her master like that," Sakuya replies with unwavering poise.

"You did suggest a more casual approach yesterday. Seems only fair if you reciprocate," I quip, feigning a touch of hurt.

"Miyamura-sama, that's..." Sakuya is momentarily at a loss for words, navigating my unexpected playfulness.

"How about at least 'Kouske-sama' then?" I propose.

"Okay," after a contemplative pause, she concedes, adding a subtle touch of formality to my name.

"So, what are you cooking?" I asked curiously, my senses captivated by the appetizing aroma wafting through the air.

"Vegetable and Turkey Scramble," Sakuya responded.

[A/N: I actually made mistakes many times and wrote Grayfia instead of Sakuya. I mean, they look almost the same!😅🤣]

I tried to recall some details about the dish. A nutritious breakfast, the Vegetable and Turkey Scramble, brings together lean ground turkey, vibrant bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, and fresh greens like spinach or kale. Seasoned with herbs and spices, it offers a perfect fusion of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Whether served on whole grain toast or in a wrap, it promises a delicious and balanced start to the day.

"Let me help you cook, Sakuya-san," I said, enthusiasm bubbling in my voice.

"That won't be necessary, Kouske-sama. It is a maid's duty to cook," Sakuya firmly refused.

"I also want to cook, though..." I stated, my gaze unwavering.

"But..."

I, for one, wasn't going to step back from this. How could I ever think of rivaling Emiya if I just stopped cooking from now on?

"I always cook as a hobby. Are you going to deny me my leisure?" I spoke seriously, locking eyes with her.

I am serious about my cooking.

Sakuya looked conflicted but relented nonetheless.

"Then you can help me by starting with chopping tomatoes," Sakuya said.

As I deftly chopped the tomatoes, Sakuya observed my proficiency, nodding in approval.

Sakuya:"Impressive knife skills, Kouske-sama."

Kouske: "Thanks! I've spent quite a bit of time in the kitchen."

I reflected on the countless moments I've spent in kitchens, spanning both this life and my previous one.

Our culinary collaboration continued seamlessly. I handled the veggies, and Sakuya masterfully tended to the turkey and spices.

Kouske: "So, Sakuya-san, any secret ingredients you add to make it special?"

Sakuya:"A touch of love and attention, Kouske-sama."

I looked at her incredulously for a moment, and then she giggled, hand covering her mouth. It seemed she was joking, finally loosening up a bit.

As the delightful aroma filled the kitchen, the symphony of sizzling ingredients neared its crescendo.

Sakuya: "The dish is almost ready. Could you set the table, Kouske-sama?"

Kouske: "Sure thing!"

Swiftly arranging plates and utensils, I turned around to find Sakuya had already set the table with grace and elegance which left me in awe.

Kouske: "You are like a professional, Sakuya-san." I complimented her.

Well, it wasn't surprising for her to be this good.

Sakuya:"It's part of being a maid, Kouske-sama. Presentation is key."

The table was a masterpiece, and afterward, Sakuya went to wake up Lavinia, who was still fast asleep.

After a while, Lavinia emerged, having refreshed herself. Taking her seat, Sakuya skillfully presented a plate of delectable dishes.

Lavinia, captivated by the enticing aroma, eagerly expressed, "It smells delightful. Ko-kun, did you prepare this?"

"Sakuya-san actually prepared it; I merely assisted a bit," I explained.

"Kouske-sama, here," Sakuya offered, presenting a plate of food for me.

"Sakuya-san, you should join us at the table," I suggested, taking my seat while she remained standing.

"I will be fine eating after you two finish," Sakuya gracefully remarked.

"But we should all sit together and enjoy the meal together!" Lavinia insisted, casting an expectant look at her.

"You should join us. A meal is only truly enjoyable and fulfilling when shared with everyone," I added persuasively.

Under both of our persuasion, Sakuya took a seat beside us, graciously serving food as needed. Engaging in casual conversation, we enjoyed the exceptionally delicious meal, surpassing even my culinary skills.

"It was delish! But Ko-kun! You should have woken me up earlier. Then I could have also cooked alongside you two," Lavinia exclaimed, puffing her cheeks slightly.

It appears she's still eager to learn how to cook. Having Sakuya here feels like a stroke of luck. I could dump the responsibility to Sakuya to teach Lavinia how to cook, steering clear of any potential mishaps in a girl's cooking experiments.

"Sorry, Rey-chan~! I will wake you up next time. But before that, if you still want to learn cooking, then Sakuya-san can help you, right, Sakuya-san?" I suggested, directing my gaze toward Sakuya.

"I will be glad to help, Lavinia-sama," Sakuya replied with a slight smile adorning her face, still maintaining her stoic expression as she looked at Lavinia.

"Mou~! I told you to just casually call me Reni," Lavinia insisted, pouting once again. Well, she's still a child.

"Okay, Reni-chan," Sakuya replied.

It seems she didn't argue much when it came to her. Well, Rey-chan's undeniably cute as hell. No one can deny her any request.

After that, we met the Azusawas, and Sakuya-san was introduced as a maid and a human magician from Russia.

Aunt Arene was enthusiastically observing a stoic Russian maid for the first time. After our training finished, she took Sakuya with her to chat.

Then on our way to school, we encountered Saki, Rin, and another girl walking. It appears Saki occasionally prefers a more normal commute, and she approached us upon seeing us.

"Hello Kouske-san, Lavinia-san. It's nice meeting you here," Saki greeted us with a smile.

Behind her stood Rin and the new girl.

"Morning, Miyamura-sama," Rin greeted in her own way.

"Hello, everyone," I replied as Lavinia engaged in enthusiastic conversation with them.

Soon, she also noticed the new girl, who seemed to be hiding behind Rin. The timid type, with long blue hair, purple eyes, and glasses. Eye problems at such a young age? Poor thing.

"Hello. What's your name?" Lavinia asked, gently taking the girl's hand with a warm smile.

"F-fujisaki A-aya! Hee!" She stammered in reply and retreated behind Rin to hide.

She reminds me a bit of Gasper with her behavior. Ah, she's that glasses girl from Saki's clique. If I recall correctly, before meeting Saki, she used to be bullied by the boys, and Saki was the one who saved her alongside Rin. It must be why she's like this. It seems to be a recent event, and she's likely still a bit traumatized, explaining her scared reaction to me.

"Please don't mind her. This girl is a bit shy," Rin explained on her behalf.

I greeted her as well, and they continued chatting among themselves. However, one person remained silent and uninvolved. I glanced at Asagi, who had her cheeks puffed up. Saki, noticing my glance, subtly directed her head towards Asagi.

With a mocking undertone, Saki said, "Oh, Azusawa-san! You were here! Sorry, I didn't notice you before."

This remark visibly angered Asagi.

Saki is undoubtedly kind, but she can be extremely petty and competitive. Given that Asagi previously ignored Saki's attempt to befriend her, this seems like her way of seeking revenge. Saki appears to have enlisted Rin and Lavinia in her words, momentarily diverting their attention from Asagi. Despite her young age, Saki is a meticulous girl with excellent grades, demonstrating her ability to work hard for what she wants.

Rin appeared to notice just now and looked apologetic toward Asagi. Asagi-chan should start being more honest; otherwise, more incidents like this might occur. I didn't intervene, understanding that none of them had malicious intentions. Lavinia skillfully steered the conversation back on track as we all reached school, chatting happily.

Lavinia and Aya separated, belonging to different classrooms. Lavinia, being our senior, and Aya coming from a different class.

During homeroom, the teacher informed us about Saji's absence today and the tragic news of his parents' death. Although I doubt most in the class fully comprehend the meaning of death as they all are still children, it's revealed that Saji's parents have already passed away in an accident.

He and his siblings are expected to be adopted by his grandfather soon. Unfortunately, the elderly grandfather also doesn't have much time left, maybe a few more years or so according to my memories. Saji's hardships are likely to begin soon without having an adult figure in the family.

In reality, even if Saji lusted after Sona's body the same way Issei did for Rias's, he was far better than Issei and he proved to be far more respectful and deserving of admiration.

Despite adopting a somewhat delinquent persona in the future, Saji stands out as one of the best brothers one could imagine and he worked far harder than anyone else to fulfill Sona's dream.

His dedication and hard work, especially after acquiring all the four main Vritra Sacred Gears, set him apart. It's worth noting that his growth was hindered only because his original main Sacred Gear was Absorption Line instead of the other three.

Ddraig even complemented Saji for his obsession that lets him force his way through any hardship that presumably came from being the host of an Evil Dragon King.

I guess, I kinda feel bad about him. Even in my conversation with Vritra before, she affirmed that he's a remarkably decent host, drawing from my own memories.

Considering this, I'm contemplating the idea of offering anonymous financial support to him. Additionally, I plan to present him with a good Sacred Gear, one that might capture Sona's attention and enhance his ability to support her in the future.

These considerations occupied my thoughts as the class commenced. Deciding to postpone these plans, I reminded myself that the day after tomorrow is the day when I will meet Cleria and her peerage members again.

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