Once I agreed, she took half of the chicken and chopped it into smaller pieces.

    I took the chicken pieces for a wash and threw them into the boiling water to skim off the scum on the chicken. Then I poured some oil on the frying pan and preheat it, adding some garlic crumbles.

    Then, Kuroyuki took a bag of marinated minced pork belly meat and poured all of it into the frying pan.

    However, the amount she prepared beforehand... It''s as if she expected my arrival.

    "When did you prepared that much...?" I asked her, while pan-frying the minced meat.

    "...I wasn''t expecting you to be late for six months." She told me.

    "I wasn''t expecting myself to be late for six months either."

    While telling her that, Kuroyuki took away the pot with the chicken and poured it into the sink. She cools the chicken with water and plucks off the blood clot, tendons, and scums on it.

    When my minced meat is half ready, Kuroyuki tossed the washed long beans into my frying pan. And for the saucepan— she threw the remaining garlic and ginger slices in it.

    Somehow, my frying pan is a bit small— so I had to show off some of my frying skills in front of her by tossing the entire mixture.

    ".................."

    Seeming satisfied at my performance, she nods her head.

    Then she adds the chicken pieces into her saucepan, frying them while adding some soy sauce to increase the flavour, and some black soy sauce to fabricated the dish.

    Finally, she took the Flower Carving Wine (花雕酒) and pours it from high above— where flames from the bottom of the saucepan rise.

    A fascinating scene that any good eastern chef could pull off.

    She looks ???ky for a moment, but it was fun watching her expression.

    It was then my long beans were well done— I pour it on a plate.

    Now, all we need to do is wait for the chicken to be done.

    "...Who taught you how to cook...?"

    As I was thinking to strike up a conversation first— Kuroyuki was already in it.

    "What''s this...? Are you trying to stalk me—"

    CRACK!

    "—OWWWWWW!!?"

    "...Don''t misunderstand."

    I got ???ky. She completely knew what I was thinking, and thus, she shuts me up with her demon''s grip on the face.

    "ALRIGHT I''M SORRY— I WILL TALK!!!"

    If I didn''t apologize, I wondered when she will release my face... If it''s isn''t for that violent side of her, she''d been a lot more perfect— but then again... I find this violent side of her to be rather cute.

    "Ehem, dad taught me most of the basics. As for the taste, mom is the expert, haha."

    Suddenly, I felt something stirring in my ?h?st. It weighed heavier in every word I speak.

    "...Lu......?!"

    If Kuroyuki hadn''t held me with her arms, I wouldn''t have realized that my legs lose their strength to stand.

    Tears flowed from the corner of my right eye.

    "...... What''s wrong......!?"

    Gently and carefully, she places me on the floor, embracing me in her arms.

    ...It feels nice... and warm.

    "...Sorry...... can you... let me stay like this...... for a little longer......?"

    "...N."

    Did I just... went to a mental breakdown...?

    Not even the day my parents vanished... I had come to a breakdown. Is it because I have been suppressing it for so long...?

    Not good... I need to stay calm to suppress the seal''s effect...

    .........................

    After I managed to calm down and suppress my unstable emotions... Kuroyuki raised my head so I could look at her.

    "... What''s wrong." She looks at me with a worried look.

    It''s not a question. She''s telling me to answer her.

    I was nearly on the verge of a breakdown when I knew about her ring... and now, I broke down entirely when I was reminded about my parents...

    ...I don''t know what came over me— I just can''t go against this girl.

    "...chicken..." I told her.

    She switches off the stove afterwards.

    Once again, with both of her hands placed on my cheeks, she adjusts my head to make sure that I''m facing her.

    ...But I can''t.

    I can''t look at her straight now.

    Because behind those bluish eyes of hers— I could tell... she had been through many sufferings... and they are worse than mine.

    ...I felt like a jester in front of her.

    "...Lu." She called me. "...Look at me."

    "...I can''t," I replied with a weak voice.

    "...I know what you are worried about." She said. "...You aren''t a fool. I won''t laugh."

    "...I know you won''t. I just can''t get over with it myself..."

    "...As I thought... even though you are like that... you are the personality that holds most of the negative emotions..."

    "Is that so...?" I asked.

    ...I didn''t realize that myself.

    "I''m sure am pathetic..." I inadvertently murmured.

    "...Not at all." She said to me. "...You did well to hold in your negative emotions up until now."

    "... That''s not it. I devoted six years of my time entirely to my family... It''s my first time facing this emotion myself..."

    "...Then don''t let your emotions control you. Despair, sadness, and even losing your sanity would never solve your problems."

    "...Kuroyuki... Can I... ask for your shoulder once more...?"

    "...N."

    Without another word, Kuroyuki moves her hands to the back of my head, gently pressing it to let me rest on her shoulder.

    "...A-Ah......"

    With the rhythm of my breathing suddenly broken, my tears surged suddenly. I thought I had my emotions controlled— but the tears won''t stop.

    But even so, Kuroyuki calmly held me in her arms, stroking my head.

    .........................

    It took me a moment for my emotions to finally come to a rest.

    After calming down, I find this situation to be rather embarrassing.

    But man... I wouldn''t mind if she embraced me for the rest of my life.

    "...You returned to normal, haven''t you...?"

    ...She noticed.

    "...Hahaha. Pardon me."

    Facing that, I could only force out a laugh and stand up.

    "...Thanks, Kuroyuki," I said.

    Which then, I patted her on the head.

    SLAP.

    "... Don''t touch my head." She told me while slapping my hand away.

    "My bad. Let''s have lunch, then...?"

    "....N."