As Yuto returned to the kitchen to prepare Yuyuko's meal, he fell into deep thought.
'Ten servings...'
He recalled the scene of her eating yesterday.
He had a feeling that even after finishing ten servings, Yuyuko probably wouldn't be full.
'But what should I make?' That was the crucial question.
Just then, Konpaku Youmu, who had been waiting outside, stood up.
Yuyuko looked at her gardener with confusion. "Youmu, what's wrong?"
"I want to go help the Boss."
"Eh? Youmu, you're going to help the Boss cook?"
"Yes, Yuyuko-sama."
"Mmm... alright. But Youmu, you can assist the Boss, but let him do the actual cooking, okay?"
"Understood."
Having received her master's permission, Youmu headed toward the kitchen.
Yakumo Yukari, who had been watching, looked puzzled. "Yuyuko, why did you ask that of Youmu?"
Hearing Yukari's question, Yuyuko's expression grew cautious.
Only after she saw Youmu enter the kitchen did her face relax. Then, she leaned close and whispered into Yukari's ear.
"Because Youmu's cooking isn't as delicious as the Boss's."
Hearing the soft whisper, Yakumo Yukari couldn't help but smile.
She gave Yuyuko a light, exasperated tap.
"Honestly, your words would hurt Youmu's feelings."
"Exactly! That's why I only whispered it to you!" Yuyuko replied, nodding with exaggerated seriousness.
Watching her, Yakumo Yukari felt a wave of emotion. 'Yuyuko has become so considerate.'
Her thoughts were like those of a proud mother.
Although, in terms of age, she was old enough to be Yuyuko's grandmother's grandmother's grandmother...
But! A beautiful girl is forever seventeen!
As long as Yakumo Yukari believed she was seventeen, she was seventeen.
Reality be damned!
Of course, if someone dared to call her an old hag to her face... well, their fate would depend on the circumstances. If she couldn't beat them, she'd endure it.
If she could beat them, she'd hammer them into oblivion.
Such is the wisdom of the Sage of Youkai ╮(╯▽╰)╭
The moment Youmu stepped into the kitchen, she felt a prickle of unease, as if someone were speaking ill of her.
A young woman's intuition is at its most sensitive and accurate during her girlhood.
Youmu frowned before her expression returned to calm.
She couldn't guess who was talking behind her back. But Youmu, confident in her own blameless conduct, wouldn't let such slander bother her.
Only those with dark hearts would resort to such behavior!
This was the righteous gardener—Konpaku Youmu!
Achoo! Yuyuko sneezed.
She found it strange. 'Why would a ghost's body even sneeze???'
...
Back in the kitchen.
Yuto looked down at the girl, who was a full head shorter than him, his expression puzzled.
"Youmu, is something wrong?"
The kitchen wasn't exactly off-limits to others.
Yuto just disliked being disturbed while he was cooking, but since he hadn't started yet, it was fine.
"Boss, please allow me to assist you!" Youmu bowed deeply to Yuto, her tone formal.
Yuto was momentarily stunned.
This was the second time she had bowed to him since they'd met.
'Does this girl just really love bowing?' Yuto mused internally, though he kept a smile on his face.
"Youmu, what do you want to help me with?"
"Help you prepare the meal for Lady Yuyuko."
"That's really not necessary. I can handle it myself."
"No, I already understand your immense generosity and broad-mindedness, Boss! Please, don't push yourself any further. Let me help you!"
Yuto's mind went blanker. He was now certain of one thing: the girl before him had definitely misunderstood something! Yuto had no idea when he had ever displayed such "immense generosity" or "broad-mindedness." ...Though, he had to admit, those descriptions weren't entirely inaccurate when applied to him.
"I understand, Boss. Lady Yuyuko's appetite is always a headache. You must have worked tirelessly for her yesterday. As Lady Yuyuko's subordinate, I am deeply grateful. Today's request for a ten-person portion must also be quite a burden for you. To express my gratitude and remorse, please allow me to assist you!"
Listening to Youmu's words, Yuto finally began to grasp the situation... a little. It felt like a loyal subordinate worrying herself sick over her troublesome master.
This way of expressing gratitude—by trying to help someone who was enduring her master's unreasonable demands—gave Yuto the strange feeling of dealing with a court official from ancient times.
"Alright, then."
Youmu's plea was sincere. Yuto felt that if he refused again, she might actually become heartbroken.
'People who put loyalty first... their minds just don't work normally.'
"By the way, Youmu, do you know what Yuyuko likes to eat?"
Yuto had already been wondering what to make for Yuyuko.
Now that Youmu, her close attendant, was here, it was the perfect opportunity to ask.
Youmu pondered for a moment. "Boss, do you have any Roasted Night Sparrow here?"
Roasted Night Sparrow.
This was the second time Yuto had heard of it. The first time was from Yuyuko herself.
"No. What's a Night Sparrow?"
"Oh, it's a bird-like youkai that loves to sing. Lady Yuyuko is very fond of eating her bones."
"This is a normal human restaurant, you know."
"My apologies. That was thoughtless of me."
"It's fine. Besides that, what else does Yuyuko like to eat?"
"Umm... Lady Yuyuko likes to eat everything. There doesn't seem to be anything she won't eat. So, Boss, you can just make whatever you like!"
'Great.'
Even asking Youmu yielded nothing useful.
Yuto shook his head with a helpless sigh. In the end, he'd have to figure it out himself.
'A large, filling dish that's also relatively easy to prepare...'
His gaze drifted to the curry paste he'd bought a long time ago.
His eyes lit up.
He had an idea. Curry rice it is!
He could simmer a huge pot of curry and serve the rice separately in a bucket.
That would provide a massive portion, and it would be convenient for Yuyuko to eat.
Working with Youmu was smooth. Since she had been cooking for Yuyuko all this time, Yuto barely needed to explain anything.
For instance, when Yuto announced he was making curry rice, Youmu simply nodded in understanding.
After that, tasks like dicing the beef, potatoes, and onions were handled without Yuto even having to ask.
Youmu instinctively knew what to do.
To Yuto's astonishment, Youmu wielded the kitchen knife with even more skill than he did himself.
Yuto glanced at the sword hanging at her waist and understood. They say there are common principles between different weapons.
Someone who's a master with a samurai sword might naturally be a master with a kitchen knife as well.
Youmu was a perfect example.
The beef had barely left the freezer and reached the cutting board before Youmu had already diced it into perfect two-centimeter cubes.
'Tsk, that's seriously impressive!' Yuto couldn't even follow her blade's movements. 'Perhaps this is what it means to be a true swordswoman,' he thought.
Now, Yuto had already started stir-frying. While his knife skills weren't as fantastical as Youmu's, when he started stir-frying the meat, the girl watched him with admiration.
'No matter what, I can't lose when it comes to cooking!' Yuto felt a surge of pride.
"Add water," Yuto instructed Youmu.
The girl lifted a container of water and poured it steadily into the pot without spilling a single drop. This demonstrated Youmu's incredibly precise control.
Though she appeared to be a slender, delicate girl, a full head shorter than Yuto, she clearly couldn't be measured by human standards.
Yuto glanced at the strange, white mass floating behind Youmu. "Youmu, what's that white thing following you?"
"Oh, this?" Youmu asked, hugging the white, cotton-like mass.
Yuto nodded.
"This is my half-spirit. Um... Boss, you can think of it as the other half of my soul."
"Half-spirit? Are you a ghost like Yuyuko?"
"Strictly speaking, no. Lady Yuyuko is a pure ghost. I'm half-human, half-ghost."
"You can be half-ghost?"
"Mhm!"
Seeing Youmu's earnest nod, Yuto couldn't help but feel amazed. He'd learned something new again today.
After adding water to the stir-fried beef, potatoes, and onions, he needed to let it simmer for fifteen minutes.
While waiting, Yuto could make some taiyaki for Sakura and Hestia.
But first, he had to serve the flower cake to Yuuka.