"Big sister!" Kazama waved enthusiastically as he spotted Asuka Shimizu standing by the roadside.
Asuka turned around at the sound and saw the little boy from earlier. She walked over and responded in a mechanical tone, "Hello..."
"Uh..." Kazama was taken aback by her cold demeanor.
Her indifferent attitude momentarily stunned the cheerful Kazama, but remembering her seemingly pitiful circumstances, he forced a bright smile.
"Sister, my mom wants to invite you to our house for lunch. Would you like to join us?"
"Lunch? I do."
Asuka's tone rose slightly, a clear indication of her excitement.
Kazama immediately noticed the shift and became even more enthusiastic.
"Great! Come with me, big sister," he said, taking Asuka's hand and leading her toward his home.
Location: Nohara Household
"Shinchan! Put your toys away; it's time to eat!" A slightly plump woman in her thirties, about 160cm tall, yelled at a small boy with a round head, dressed in a red shirt and yellow shorts.
Nohara Shinnosuke, better known as Shinchan, lay sprawled sideways on the tatami mat, casually picking his nose. Toys were scattered across the living room. Without looking up, he replied, "Why don't you clean them up yourself, you troublesome, triple-layered fat oppa-san?"
"You! What did you just say?!" Mitsy Nohara instantly transformed into her Super Saiyan mode, her fists clenched like two sandbags.
"Are these your toys or mine? Are you going to clean them up or not?!" she bellowed.
Seeing his mom about to unleash her signature "Twisting Fist," Shinchan broke into a cold sweat. Taking advantage of a moment's distraction, he darted under her arm, opened the sliding glass door, and ran out, yelling, "You old witch with three belly folds! You'll get wrinkles if you keep shouting!"
"SHINCHAN!" Mitsy roared furiously.
But Shinchan had already slipped into his shoes and made his escape at lightning speed.
"I'm so done with the old witch's cooking. I don't wanna eat it!" Shinchan muttered, walking leisurely along the street with his hands clasped behind his head.
It was lunchtime, and the aromas of various dishes wafting from homes and restaurants only served to intensify his hunger.
Rubbing his growling stomach, he whined, "I'm starving..."
Suddenly, an idea struck him. "That's it! I'll go eat at Kazama's place!"
But just as quickly, he hesitated. "No, it's the end of the month. Kazama's family, Nene's family, and even Boo-chan's family must be like mine—broke! Their food won't be much better." He pouted, then grinned mischievously.
"Kazama's mom is different! She's so gentle—and she even cleans my ears! Hehe~" His face lit up with a mischievous smile as he plotted his next move.
"Alright, Kazama's house it is!" With renewed determination, Shinchan changed course and headed toward his friend's home.
Meanwhile, Asuka and Kazama had just arrived at his house.
"Mom, I'm back! And I brought big sister with me!" Kazama called out toward the kitchen.
"Alright, dear! Give me a moment!" came the reply from Mineko Kazama, accompanied by the sound of the stove being turned off.
Asuka looked around the house with mild curiosity. It was modern in design, though she couldn't quite determine whether its aesthetic leaned more Japanese or European.
"Hmm..." She frowned slightly as an odd sense of familiarity washed over her. Despite her apparent lack of experience, she instinctively recognized these details, as if the knowledge had always been a part of her.
What's going on?
Her musings were interrupted when Mineko Kazama stepped out of the kitchen.
What a beautiful young girl! Mineko thought, momentarily taken aback. Asuka's striking features and elegant demeanor were captivating, even though her skirt was a bit dirty. She could hardly believe this girl might be an orphan.
Asuka, noticing Mineko, felt a sudden influx of information:
Character: Mineko Kazama (28 years old)
Personality: Gentle, with a hint of playfulness.
Traits: Refined taste.
Favorability: 45 (Polite).
Asuka blinked. She realized this must be a perk from the system—an ability to gauge others' personalities and favorability with a glance.
Not bad... except the favorability part isn't very useful, she thought.
Mineko smiled warmly at Asuka and extended her hand. "Hello, little sister. I'm Kazama's mother. Welcome to our home."
"Hello. Who is Kazama?" Asuka asked, shaking her hand.
"Ah? Kazama, didn't you introduce yourself to big sister?" Mineko turned to her son, raising an eyebrow.
Kazama scratched his head, embarrassed. "Uh... I guess I forgot."
He stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Hello, big sister. My name is Toru Kazama, but you can just call me Kazama."
Asuka nodded, about to introduce herself, when a sharp burning smell wafted from the kitchen. She wrinkled her nose and asked, "Does your family like food that smells... burnt?"
"Ah! Burnt? Oh no! I forgot to turn off the stove while making broth!" Mineko exclaimed, dashing back into the kitchen. A cacophony of frantic noises followed.
Kazama, visibly embarrassed, turned to Asuka. "Sorry, big sister. Looks like lunch will take a while..."
Asuka glanced at the kitchen, her brow furrowing in thought.
"Host," the system's monotone voice suddenly chimed in, "this is a prime opportunity to showcase your cooking skills and increase favorability."
"But I can't cook," Asuka replied, unfazed by the sudden intrusion.
"Incorrect. The God of Cooking system's basic skills were integrated into your physical capabilities. You possess the foundational expertise of a master chef—though only for Chinese cuisine at the moment. Unlocking other cuisines will require completing favorability tasks."
"Really? Alright, turn yourself off now."
"...Understood."
The system fell silent.
Kazama, oblivious to her internal dialogue, scratched the back of his head. "Um, big sister—would you like some water while we wait?"
"My name is Asuka Shimizu," she replied, a small smile tugging at her lips.