The assortment of ingredients spread across the counter gave away Akaya's ambition. From fresh herbs to vibrant vegetables, the selection hinted at more than just a simple meal. Shibahime regarded it all with a skeptical arch of her brow.
"That's quite a lot of food," she remarked, her tone hovering between curiosity and doubt.
"It's for a full-course dinner," Akaya replied, his voice calm yet resolute.
"Quite the effort you're putting in."
"I owe you for the trouble at the forest campsite. Consider this my way of making up for it. Besides," he added with a casual shrug, "you did mention wanting to try my cooking."
Her expression remained unreadable for a moment before she relented. "I did. But tell me, Akaya, are you even capable of preparing something as elaborate as a full-course meal?"
"You've tasted my cooking before. Trust in the skills of a chef who's blessed," he said, flashing a confident grin.
