"Oh, you guys are already in the room, you must be quite eager to eat, huh?" Adam smiled slightly looking at Uta who was side-eyeing him.
"Who wants your food?" And of course, she wasn't happy with his teasing but…
Grumble~~~
"Your stomach is telling a different story," Adam smirked as Uta's face became red with anger and embarrassment.
"I won't eat anything you cook!! I am just hungry," Uta shouted and Adam looked unfazed, in fact, he was bringing out dishes and placing them on the table.
"Sure Sure, Gordon let's eat it is a seafood special today," Adam said as he placed a big crab on the table, and just like always his dishes looked amazing.
"Adam…" Gordon didn't know what to say since he was more interested in having Uta eat than eating himself even if he liked the food that Adam brought.
"What? She said she wouldn't eat so it isn't good to force her," Adam sat down like there was nothing wrong with this and took out meat from a crab leg instantly, "C'mon let's eat before it cools down."
"This is tasty, try it Gordon," Adam said and Gordon was stuck at the moment, he could see that Uta was eyeing the food on the table but wasn't moving at all, on the other hand, Adam was egging her on while describing how good the food was at every bite.
'Is this actually going to work?' Gordon wondered since Uta was quite stubborn and he doubted this trick Adam was trying would work on her. But…
"Oi Oi, don't think I can't see you drumstick thief," Adam pointed at Uta who was sneakily trying to take a chicken drumstick that was placed in front of her.
"What? Are you really going to let a kid starve when you eat in front of her face?" Uta tried to look pitiful which would mostly work for others but Adam didn't care.
"Yes, I'll do that exactly so leave the drumstick," Uta pouted, she was unhappy since this guy was just too uncaring.
"Why are you unhappy?" Adam tilted his head looking at her, "Didn't you say that you didn't want to eat it just a while ago?"
Uta knew she had said that but wasn't he being too petty? Like who takes the temper tantrum of a child this seriously?
"…" But Uta couldn't deny it and kept the drumstick back, she was hungry and wanted to eat especially since the food he made was too good, it was just that she couldn't do it now that he had been so petty.
She had never felt like she could get this hungry, not to mention that…
'Even the food I made in dream world doesn't taste like this,'
She wanted to eat but couldn't, the appetite that roused up after a year wasn't going to be sated at this rate but she wouldn't budge herself.
'A guy like this can only be a pirate, Hmph!' She herself wasn't any less petty than him.
'…Uta' Gordon on the other hand was just sitting at the table, 'I can't let something like this happen…. No, I shouldn't.' And just as he was about to stand up but…
"If you really want to eat I can let you," The one who spoke up first was the one who caused all of this trouble.
"Really?" Uta asked as her eyes lit up as she looked at Adam, her previous determination was nowhere to be found.
"Yes," Adam nodded but then looked at Uta with a kind smile, "But you'll need to do something for me." And suddenly that kind smile didn't look kind anymore.
"W-What?" Uta of course felt it, she felt a heavy feeling in her heart, something like this…
'Is it going to happen again?' Uta thought back on how she ended up on this island, those memories were painful but they taught her a lesson, 'No I need to make sure it doesn't happen again!' She looked at Adam but before she could speak.
"Teach me how to sing," Adam uttered some ridiculous words.
"…What?" This time Uta was confused, what was going on here?
"I mean, teach me how to sing in exchange for the food," Adam added a few more things, "I heard from Gordon that you are the best singer in the world."
'What? From me?' Gordon looked just as confused but he chose to stay silent, nothing else mattered at this moment.
"As long as you teach me I'll cook anything you want and as much as you want," Adam looked at Uta with a smirk, "So, what do you say?"
"For real?" Uta asked after hearing his words and Adam nodded, he wasn't lying since realistically she didn't eat enough to make him rethink his decision.
"As long as you don't betray me of course," He added but…
"Don't be ridiculous! I'm A Proud….!" Uta jumped up on her seat but stopped.
"A proud what?" Adam asked as Uta clenched her fists and her lips trembled slightly at the memory that came to her, but she pushed through it.
"A proud… Musician!" Uta then pointed at Adam, "You better not try to betray me or else..."
"Or else what?" Adam asked with a small smile and…
"I ….won't teach you anything!" Uta shouted and Adam laughed since...
"That… would certainly be troublesome," Adam shook his head before smiling, "Let's eat our dinner before it gets cold."
"Yes!!!" Uta sat down quickly and started to eat twice as fast as compared to last night.
'This isn't right….' But Gordon on the other hand didn't eat much that day since something heavy was already pressing him down.
And after dinner ended Uta went back to her room.
'That went better than I expected,' Adam thought after cleaning up the kitchen with a smile, 'Well, she is still a kid I guess.'
It was here that Adam felt someone walk inside the kitchen without making any noise, he turned around and…
"What are you doing on the ground?" Adam asked seeing the old guy on his knees.
"Please teach me," His words were barely a whisper as he lowered his head.
"Teach you what?" Adam asked stepping back a little.
"Teach me cooking," Gordon asked and…
"What's with the whisper-like voice?" Adam couldn't help but mention that since it was weird along with the way he walked in.
And that is how the two ended up outside of the house, where Adam heard the reason behind that whisper and silent footsteps.
"Did you really believe that she will wake up in her room upstairs if you speak or walk normally in the kitchen on the 1st floor?" Adam asked in exasperation as Gordon nodded like it was a matter of fact.
"I just didn't want to take the chance," Gordon went to see Uta to give her some cow milk, but she was already asleep.
Even her door was open as she seemed to be too sleepy to lock it.
That is why Gordon was tippy-toeing around the place with just whispers for words, it was no secret to him how little Uta slept given that she already had dark circles at her age.
She was still affected by her past and Gordon hadn't seen anything that could help her forget it, but now he had a clue…
"So, will you teach me?" Gordon asked once again.
This was the only way that had presented itself in front of him during the last year. Uta smiled when she ate Adam's food and he wanted that smile to remain while she could live normally once again.
'But it is not like he will remain here forever,' That is why Gordon wanted to learn how to cook like him, so that he can keep Uta happy even after Adam leaves.
"Well, I see no problem," Adam shrugged since he understood what the other was trying to do.
"I thank you from the bottom of my heart," Gordon bowed his head before asking another thing, "If you need anything for payment just tell me, I'll do it. it doesn't matter what it is." And when Adam heard this genuine question he just walked away.
"What? Hey Adam, what happened?" Gordon ran after him to ask why he wasn't answering.
Since even if a lot of treasure was taken from the island there was still a sizable amount here even at this moment. But it wasn't like Adam wanted something… it was just the way this question was framed along with his work.
"If you talk about payment one more time," Adam looked at Gordon before continuing, "I will not teach you."
"…" And this was enough to shut Gordon up since he didn't want to risk it.
'All that matters is for Uta to be happy,' That is all Gordon cared about because Uta was all he had at this moment, everything else was destroyed.
That is why he didn't care what was missing or not.
"Back to the kitchen," Gordon was brought out of his thoughts by Adam and he was confused.
"To the kitchen?" He asked since what was the point in going there now?
"Of course it is to start your training," Adam turned to look at Gordon, "Make sure to not die alright?"