Chapter 37: Finishing a Meal at May’s House
I also shared a bit about myself, mentioning that tomorrow I would start working as a security guard at Stark Industries. Hearing that, Peter’s eyes immediately widened, clearly showing his strong interest.
Our conversation continued naturally, shifting from one topic to another. At first, we only talked about the animations Peter liked, but before we realized it, the discussion drifted into technology.
It turned out that Peter really liked things like that. He even began explaining a few things in a way that was quite detailed for someone his age.
Eventually, Peter said that he dreamed of becoming a researcher at Stark Industries one day.
His tone sounded serious, far from joking. Even though he was still very young, that determination felt real.
Not long after, the aroma of food began to spread throughout the room. Its fragrance slowly filled the air, making my previously calm stomach start to react. I could even hear a faint growl from my own stomach, making me almost smile awkwardly.
May finally came out of the kitchen carrying several dishes. She placed them one by one neatly on the table—her movements calm and orderly, as if she was used to doing this every day.
After everything was ready, May sat down with us.
I immediately adjusted my sitting posture, straightening slightly. The three of us then said a prayer together before starting to eat the meal that had been prepared.
“How is it?” May asked as I had just taken a bite.
I paused for a moment, truly tasting the food. The warmth came first, followed by a well-balanced savory flavor, with the seasoning perfectly absorbed. The texture also felt just right, not overwhelming, but instead making it even more enjoyable.
“It’s delicious! Wow, you’re really good at cooking!” I said honestly. Without hesitation, I continued eating with enthusiasm.
“Really? I’m glad. I’m happy if my cooking suits your taste,” May replied with a smile. Her expression looked slightly relieved, as if my opinion truly mattered to her.
We continued eating together.
The atmosphere at the dining table felt warm and comfortable. Light conversation flowed continuously, occasionally accompanied by Peter’s small laughter, and even the silence that appeared didn’t feel awkward at all. Everything felt natural, simple, yet somehow… it gave a feeling that was hard to replace.
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Inside May’s house, specifically in the dining room that felt warm from the morning sunlight streaming through the wide window on the eastern side.
I sat on one of the chairs with May and Peter, enjoying a moment that I rarely experienced amidst the constant pressure of daily busyness, as if this morning had deliberately slowed down just to give space to breathe.
The sunlight fell gently onto the wooden table, reflecting a soft glow that revealed the natural grain of its surface more clearly, as if every line of the wood held a quiet story.
Meanwhile, the faint shadows of plates and glasses formed neat, orderly patterns, moving slowly as the angle of the light shifted without being noticed.
The lingering aroma of food still hung in the air—the warm fish soup had been incredibly delicious, with a faint trace of steam that seemed to remain in memory, blending with the soft, clean scent of the kitchen, creating a comforting atmosphere that was difficult to describe with simple words yet felt real in every breath.
Everything felt simple, yet because of that, this morning felt slower, calmer, as if giving a chance to enjoy small moments that usually passed by unnoticed, moments often lost in a rush.
“Thank you for the breakfast,” I said in a calm voice, turning slightly toward May who was sitting beside me.
My hand still rested lightly on the table, my fingers tapping its surface absentmindedly, following the rhythm of my thoughts as they slowly began to drift back into busyness, occupied with other matters.
“It’s no problem,” May replied with a soft, gentle smile. Her eyes showed a sincere warmth, unforced, as if that smile appeared naturally without any need to be held in place. “I’m already happy just seeing you enjoy the food I made.”
There was something in the way May looked at me—not just ordinary kindness, but a simple satisfaction that came from small things, from seeing others feel at ease without needing to do anything grand.
As if watching someone enjoy her cooking was enough to make her feel that the day was going well, without needing anything more complicated or excessive, something that felt genuine and unpretentious.
“Ah?” I raised an eyebrow slightly, then glanced toward the wall clock hanging on the side of the room, my attention drawn to the subtle movement of its hands that kept ticking without pause.
The clock now pointed exactly to eight in the morning, and the ticking sound was soft yet consistent, filling the gaps of silence with a steady rhythm, like a quiet reminder that time kept moving forward without waiting for anyone, no matter how calm the atmosphere in this room was.
Even though I had already completed one task—escaping from the mission given by the Spiderman System—there were still several other tasks that needed to be done, and none of them could be ignored, because each one carried its own consequences.
The reward from that mission was not something to be underestimated—Attribute Status Enhancement Below Level D—something that sounded simple on the surface, yet held significant benefits for me.
For ordinary people, it might sound unfamiliar, but for me, it meant a real increase in physical capabilities that could determine many things, especially in situations that demanded greater speed, strength, and endurance than before.
That meant I couldn’t afford to linger. Time wasted now would become a burden later, and I had no intention of carrying regret over small negligence that could have been avoided from the start.
“It seems it’s time for me to go,” I continued softly, taking a slight breath before preparing to stand. The chair beneath me shifted lightly, producing a faint sound that was barely audible.
“In that case, see you again,” May said as she nodded her head slowly, her movement calm and filled with a natural politeness.
Her expression remained friendly, unchanged from the beginning, as if that warmth was simply a part of her, something that didn’t need to be forced, something that had long been ingrained in her.
“Yes, see you again. I’m really glad you invited me to eat like this—your cooking is always delicious, May. Peter, see you again!” I praised May first in an honest tone, then shifted my gaze toward Peter. The boy was still sitting upright, watching me with a calm yet attentive expression, as if he was holding something behind that gaze.
Peter’s eyes had been lively since earlier, as if the morning’s energy never ran out within him. His gaze was bright and full of curiosity, as though the world around him was always interesting to observe without the slightest trace of fatigue.
“Yeah! See you again, Uncle Dante!” Peter nodded quickly while smiling widely, his movements light and full of spirit, as if there wasn’t the slightest burden weighing on his mind.
Peter’s voice sounded cheerful, full of energy, contrasting with the calm atmosphere in the room, giving the previously gentle silence a warmer, more lively touch.
I stood up from my chair, the sound of its legs scraping lightly against the floor audible yet soft, breaking the quiet with a brief noise that wasn’t disturbing.
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