Chapter 230: ** - 230: He Will Get Used to It**
Kitahara Kaede plated the final dish.
The lingering heat from the pan, mingled with the rich, savory aroma of the sauce, filled the entire kitchen. Three dishes sat on the stove—one meat and two vegetables—all simple, home-style stir-fries. It was more than enough for one person.
He picked up a cloth, intending to wipe away a few splatters of oil from the stovetop. Just then, there was a knock.
*Knock, knock.*
Kaede stopped mid-motion, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. *Terumi Mei? Didn’t she say everything was settled? Has something gone wrong?*
Setting down the cloth, he walked quickly to the entryway and pulled open the door.
As expected, Terumi Mei was standing there. She was still wearing the same clothes from earlier in the day, her long hair draped casually over her shoulders.
"Chief Terumi Mei," Kaede said, getting straight to the point. "Is there an emergency?"
Mei shook her head. She didn’t speak immediately; instead, her eyes bypassed him, staring intently into the house. As the door opened, the fragrance of the food surged outward, becoming even more potent.
*Gurgle.*
A soft sound echoed from her stomach.
Mei’s cheeks flushed a deep red. Like a kitten caught red-handed, she lowered her head in embarrassment. This sudden flash of vulnerability made her seem far more lively and human.
"I... I just finished my mission and was heading home," Mei said, her voice a mix of hesitation and a hint of playfulness. "I hadn’t even reached my own front door when I caught a scent. It’s wafted halfway down the street."
She blinked. "The smell was coming from your place, so I wanted to ask... what are you eating tonight? It smells divine."
Kaede stared at her, momentarily stunned. She had knocked on his door just for this? Was the aroma really that exaggerated?
*Does she want me to invite her in to eat?*
*No. Absolutely not.*
Last time, he had offered a polite greeting during breakfast, and the woman hadn’t hesitated for a second before walking right in.
But then, a thought occurred to him. Over the past month, she had brought him breakfast several times. Each time, the food was in a thermos, and though she claimed it was "on her way," the temperature was always perfect—clearly a deliberate effort. Now, here she was standing at his door, her stomach growling. To drive her away without a word seemed a bit too cold.
Kaede sighed inwardly, though a polite smile remained on his face. "Just some home cooking. Chief Terumi... would you like to come in and have some?"
As the words left his mouth, a sliver of hope remained in his heart that she would be polite and decline.
"Would that... be alright?" she asked, hesitating. She blinked, appearing genuinely conflicted. "Do you have enough for two people?"
Kaede felt a surge of relief. *She’s asking because she feels awkward; she’s looking for a way out.* As long as he followed her lead and said "not quite enough," she could leave with her dignity intact.
He immediately replied, "For two people..."
"Then alright!"
The words "it might not be enough" became lodged in Kaede’s throat, nearly choking him. He watched as Terumi Mei cut him off mid-sentence, a smile on her face that suggested, *Since you’re being so hospitable, it would be rude of me to refuse.*
"I eat very little. It should be just enough for us to share."
Internally, Mei gave a cold smirk. She had carefully crafted this excuse, intending to be polite at first, but she had sensed that Kaede wanted to reject her. Fortunately, she had reacted quickly, leaving him no room to say no.
With things having reached this point, what else could Kaede say?
"...Then, come in." He stepped aside to clear the doorway.
A nearly invisible curve touched the corners of Mei’s lips as she stepped inside. As they brushed past one another, a faint fragrance, like wild flowers, drifted into his nostrils.
Kaede silently closed the door.
***
In the living room, Mei had already made herself at home at the dining table. Kaede had no choice but to bring the three dishes from the kitchen, scoop another bowl of rice, and set out a second pair of chopsticks.
"The conditions are simple. Please, help yourself," he said, handing her the chopsticks.
He pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down, lowering his head to focus on his food.
Mei took the chopsticks and picked up a piece of grilled fish. As she tasted it, she realized—*this is the flavor.* In her memory, the food that man made tasted exactly like this.
Her movements paused. Her long eyelashes lowered, masking the surge of emotion swirling in her eyes.
*Not enough.*
*It’s still not enough.*
He was sitting right there, only an arm’s length away. She could touch him if she reached out. But that was far from enough. Mei’s grip on the chopsticks tightened slightly.
In the past, she hadn’t dared to push, believing she had plenty of time to "boil the frog slowly" and take things at her own pace. But things were different now. Master Yuan had only given her half a month.
More importantly, there was that woman—"Aki." A woman waiting for him in Konoha. A woman who could snatch him away from her at any moment.
If she remained timid and waited until he returned to the Leaf...
No. She would never allow that.
"I didn’t expect," Mei said casually, breaking the silence, "that Jonin Kitahara would be such a wonderful cook."
She picked up some greens and placed them in her bowl, her tone light and effortless, betraying nothing. "Did you often cook for others when you were in Konoha?"
Kaede’s chopsticks paused for a fraction of a second. A flash of a memory crossed his mind: Tsunade holding a bowl, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.
He swallowed the vegetables. "I lived alone, but I cooked for friends occasionally."
His tone was flat, devoid of any particular emotion. However, Mei, acting as if nothing were wrong, pinpointed the word "friends" with surgical precision.
*Friends. What kind of friends? Is it that "Aki"?*
Her face still wore a gentle smile, but her chopsticks left a shallow scratch on a piece of tofu in the dish.
"Is that so? Your friends are truly lucky," Mei said. She moved the tofu into her bowl and lightly stirred the rice, her voice soft, almost like she was talking to herself. "I’m quite envious... to be able to eat your food so often."
*Something about that sounds wrong,* Kaede thought.
He looked up and discreetly observed her. She was looking down, the lines of her profile softened by the light. Her expression was calm, showing no signs of abnormality.
*Am I overthinking it?*
Kaede looked away. "It’s alright, I guess," he replied vaguely, deciding not to pursue the conversation and returning to his meal.
Mei stopped talking as well. Silence returned to the table, punctuated only by the occasional clink of chopsticks against ceramic. She ate slowly, savoring every bite with an elegant poise.
As the familiar flavors melted on her tongue, a sense of greed and satisfaction grew like vines in her heart, entwining around her soul.
*Tonight is just the beginning,* Mei calculated.
Her gaze fell upon the man across from her, who was doing nothing but burying his head in his rice.
Once.Twice.Three times.
*He will get used to it.*
He would get used to her being in his home. He would get used to her being by his side.