[Day 2, Early Morning- Common Room/Kitchen] The Breakfast of Champions (Open)

[Bayushi Choudai]

"I could do no less."

He chuckled.

"After all, barging into someone's kitchen to make use of it is a thorny proposition. Particularly when disruption could be potentially catastrophic for a wider service."

[Saibankan]

"Ah no worse than receiving a crate of potatoes when you ordered a crate of eggs." she demurs

"We all did our best and conquered the issues together. That's the important bit not the difficulties themselves".

[Bayushi Choudai]

"True enough, true enough. And it has been a privilege to assist. Tell me... where did you learn your craft?"

[Saibankan]

"True enough, true enough. And it has been a privilege to assist. Tell me... where did you learn your craft?"

"Ah, at my mother's knee, Bayushi-sama. She taught me everything I know about running a household, including cooking. There is nothing better for a family than to welcome them home at the end of the day with a shared meal."

"Surely Bayushi-sama's spouse looks forward to his own efforts in the kitchen after a hard day, neh?"

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Surely Bayushi-sama's spouse looks forward to his own efforts in the kitchen after a hard day, neh?"

His mask and his On held, but barely.

The meals he had made for Hatsuki during their time in Naishou had been true labors of love, and he knew it was incredibly unlikely that his marriage- whoever the woman was- would replicate the experience.

"That would require this one to be wed. I believe the arrangements have been made, but I do not yet know the name."

[Saibankan]

"Oh?" the cook's sunny demeanor brightened a shade.

"Oh, congratulations Bayushi-sama!" she said, apparently completely fooled by the Bayushi's On.

"Will they be marrying in? Where will you set up your household? What will you cook for them first?" she said, far more excited about the Bayushi's coming nuptials than he was.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Given recent events, my marrying out was never a serious possibility, so she will be marrying in.."

Even though, with four siblings, his family probably could have spared him in the ordinary run of things.

"Our household will likely be in either the Painted City or Kyuden Bayushi, depending on certain... outcomes. As for the first dish..."

He paused. Thought it over.

Badly-prepared fugu? No, no, that's a joke too far... assuming it even IS a joke.

"... probably spicy ramen, like my grandmother used to make. A bit of zest, a bit of comfort."

[Saibankan]

"Given recent events, my marrying out was never a serious possibility, so she will be marrying in.."

Even though, with four siblings, his family probably could have spared him in the ordinary run of things.

"Our household will likely be in either the Painted City or Kyuden Bayushi, depending on certain... outcomes. As for the first dish..."

He paused. Thought it over.

Badly-prepared fugu? No, no, that's a joke too far... assuming it even IS a joke.

"... probably spicy ramen, like my grandmother used to make. A bit of zest, a bit of comfort."

"Oooooh, nice choice Bayushi-sama. Very, very romantic choice. I'm sure she'll feel every ounce of love you put into the dish." she said, oblivious to the Bayushi's hidden thoughts.

"You'll surely sweep her off her feet, and every day will be like your first for many many years, I'm sure of it!"

She'd already written a little story in her head of the two growing old together, very much in love. It was unintentionally one of the largest works of fictions written during the competition yet.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Oooooh, nice choice Bayushi-sama. Very, very romantic choice. I'm sure she'll feel every ounce of love you put into the dish." she said, oblivious to the Bayushi's hidden thoughts.

"You'll surely sweep her off her feet, and every day will be like your first for many many years, I'm sure of it!"

She'd already written a little story in her head of the two growing old together, very much in love. It was unintentionally one of the largest works of fictions written during the competition yet.

Don't kill her, don't kill her, she's really a nice person, a good cook, and it would plunge the others guests into dietary distress. Besides, it would make for a few really awkward conversations afterward.

"As you say."

He started in on making his own soup. An astute observer would note that the changes to the recipe everyone else got were incredibly minor- in most respects, he likely could have simply added some seasoning to his bowl.

But starting from the beginning seemed to give him greater satisfaction.

[Saibankan]

Meanwhile the cook was attending to cleaning the kitchen along with her staff.

"Don't mind us Bayushi-sama, take all the time you need. Just want to make sure we're all clean before lunch rush." she assured him.

She seemed just as content with the cleaning as she was with the cooking, humming happily to herself.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Of course. I would never ask you to spurn your duty."

Much as I'd like to spurn mine. Whoever the hell I'm being paired with.