I'm thirsty. Let's go get some fruit juice.

　I was lounging indoors, but I got up from the bed because I was thirsty.

　It would be easier if I drank the fruit juice stored in my spatial magic, but that's where the change of scenery comes in.

　The body will inevitably stiffen up if you stay indoors with the cold air, so you need to do some proper, moderate exercise.

　I stand up and turn my neck and arms, stretching and loosening my muscles before starting to walk.

　When I open the door, the moderately warm air caresses my skin.

　Currently, there are buckets of ice created by my ice magic all over the mansion and set up all over the place. Thanks to that, most places are cooler than outside.

　It's the right temperature, like autumn, and I go downstairs and into the kitchen.

Bartolo, I'll have some juice!

　I go in as I say this, but there's no reply from Bartolo.

　Normally I'd get an "oh" or some other appropriate reply, but I wonder if he's not here today?　

　I thought so, but when I looked around, I saw Bartolo in the center of the kitchen in a batch.

'.........hmmm, what to do next?'

　Bartolo snarls as he stares at something on the stand.

　Perhaps it's because of the wrinkles between his eyebrows that make his already vicious face even more terrifying. His face is so powerful that I can't help but think he's angry.

　However, Bartolo is not a guy who gets angry for no reason.

　What is it that he's thinking so much that he doesn't even notice me coming in?

　I'm curious, and I move closer to Bartolo, not to the refrigerated mages, but to Bartolo.

Bartolo, is something bothering you?

Oh, no!

　I approach and call out to him, and Bartolo backs away as if surprised.

"What's up with you, kid? Can you please approach me normally without distracting me?

'No, as far as I'm concerned, I'm approaching it like a normal person...'

　When it comes to the kitchen, shenanigans such as startling people with cooking utensils, knives, etc. are not legal. And if you do that, they'll never let you in the kitchen again.

''Well, I've been thinking about it too, so I guess it can't be helped.

Food for thought?

Yeah, it's all about the sea fish the boys brought back for me. We had a little bit of a trial and error process.

　I looked at where Bartolo was pointing and saw a frozen bonito tataki on the cutting board, and on the table were dishes like carpaccio, soy sauce marinated and steak.

　The ingredients I had frozen with ice magic and brought home were probably being thawed and cooked.

Oh, it's true. Oh, it's true, it's lightly cooked.

Yeah, the note says that bonito tastes better and is less dangerous, and that's what the boy said.

　Yes, bonito often has fungus on its skin, and eating it raw can be dangerous. If you lightly roast it, the fungus will be killed and the moisture will be reduced, which will improve the texture of the fish. If you want to eat it raw, you should sear it.
It is.

　I guess the Silford family cooks knew this from years of experience, as they told me when I was freezing my bonito with ice magic and gave me a note with notes about each fish. Really, the cooks at Eric's house are excellent and kind.

'Can I try some?'

Yeah, have a taste.

　I ask, and Bartolo pulls the tataki over to me and fills a small plate with soy sauce.

　He grabs the tataki with his fingers, dips it lightly in the soy sauce, and pours it into his mouth.

　The big piece of skipjack meat sits delicately on your tongue, and when you bite into it, the rich flavor of the skipjack and the taste of the soy sauce spreads in your mouth.

　Yes, it still has a distinctive taste, but the combination of the rich fatty taste and the soy sauce that surrounds it is wonderful.

Yes, it's delicious. It's nicely cooked and ready to be tatakied.

'Yeah, but it's got a bit of a peculiar taste or smell to it, and I think it would be easier to eat if there was a condiment to take it out, but how did it go at the Silford family compound?'

'Yeah, I used ginger and green onions and grated radish and stuff like that. The rest of the time we didn't have soy sauce over there, so it was a citrusy sauce that was refreshing.

'I knew it!　Then we should use condiments to make it easier to eat.

　I reply, and Bartolo says with an innocent smile.

　I guess he's happy that his instincts as a cook are correct.

　Normally, Bartolo is a tough guy, but at times like this, he smiles like a child.

''Can I have some of the steaks we have over here, too?

　I ask Bartolo, who moves the seared pork from one place to another.

　I asked Bartolo, who was moving the seared pork to a new location. This one is also cooked in a soy sauce base and looks very tasty.

Oh, there's no condiments in it, though.

　As Bartolo laughs and says, I stab the steak with my fork and put it in my mouth.

　Unlike the tataki, the steak is tight and firm. But when I stick my teeth into it, it crumbles in my mouth with a hollowness, spitting out the refreshing taste of the meat.

'Yeah, yeah, sure, it doesn't have any condiments in it, but I don't think you'll mind, thanks to the sauce being just right.

　The flavor of the bonito is unique, but thanks to the slightly sweet soy sauce-based sauce, the smell is not so bad.

I see. Then I'll add some green onion and ginger to my grill instead of sauteed. That was helpful.

　It's a little embarrassing to be thanked straight away. I was just doing a little taste test.

"Oh, man, this is bad. I'll have to make her lunch soon.

　As I'm a little embarrassed, Bartolo starts putting away the food as if he's remembered.

　Come to think of it, Elinora's sister was at vigilante training today. It's almost noon, so I guess I have to hurry up and make my lunch.

''What will we have for lunch today?''

I wasn't thinking about it because I was too busy with the bonito.

Why don't you just throw a steak and rice in there?

　A bonito steak goes well with rice. That alone is enough for a bento.

No, that's not good enough for me. It's a girl's bento.

　Oh, I see. Sister Elinora is here = Sister Emma and Sheila, plus a few girls who have recently joined the vigilante group. I guess it's not good enough to make a proper lunch for the guys. It's hard for Bartolo too.

　However, time is doubtful if I'm going to make a good looking meal now. They needed to provide a different kind of food that was easy to make and tasty.

Then how about grilled bonito onigiri?　It doesn't look glamorous, but we use precious sea fish here and it's easy to make.

'Oh?　What's the dish?

　When I suggested it, Bartolo came up to me with interest, so I explained.

　Yaki Onigiri, or grilled bonito, is a Japanese word for tataki, chopped into small pieces like namelo, mixed with rice and grilled. I believe it was another name for a fisherman's dish called konamasu in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.

It's like having bonito meat mixed with rice in a grilled onigiri. It sounds delicious, but that's not all there is to it...

　When Bartolo heard part of my explanation, he crossed his arms and snorted.

'Hmmm, Bartolo. That's not all.

What?

Grilled bonito onigiri are delicious on their own, but during this hot season, they're even better when served with a cold broth. Pouring the cold dashi over the rice and tataki all at once...

　When I speak slowly and deliberately to make him imagine, Bartolo clears his throat as if he imagined such a scene.
It is.

Well, I've got a dinner on the table.

　Yay. Actually, I just want to eat it for lunch, but in this season when the heat is making me lose my appetite, it's good and easy for Elinora sister to eat.

　If you ask me if it's a girly bento, that's definitely not it, but....