Chapter 45: Misunderstanding On All Ends
"What is the meaning of love to you, Mr. Riley?"
It was a weird question, definitely not something anyone would have expected coming from a cooking class that hyper-focused on making the students into future chefs. The curriculum of the normal classes of the Mega Academy, after all, ensures that their students will come out at least somewhat ready for the world.
After all, almost 99% of them wouldn’t really become a superhero.
Most students came here not to save the world, but to learn how to control their powers and, more importantly, to live normal lives without the burden of heroism. They were teenagers, after all. And only a rare few actually dreamed of wearing capes.
They came here to learn to cook. And now their instructor was asking about love.
Worse, he was asking perhaps the last person you’d expect to have an answer for it.
Chef Jordan slowly walked toward Riley’s workstation, causing Pauline to edge away slightly, casting an expectant glance at her partner. She, like the rest of the class, was curious. Curious... and uneasy.
Riley, on the other hand, merely tilted his head. He looked more confused about the question than actually thinking of an answer, as if trying to reconcile why they weren’t plating dishes like Chef Jordan said they would.
But then, after a few seconds, he glanced at Chef Jordan’s shoulder and finally answered,
"I believe love is a spectrum, Chef Jordan," he said calmly. "It is all emotions and feelings, combined into one."
"Hmm?" Chef Jordan narrowed his eyes, "Go on."