Chapter 137: My Neighbor Next-door Is An Angel
By the time Shido returned to his apartment it was already 5 PM. The rays of the sun had shifted into a warm golden hue, casting a soft amber glow over the city.
Once inside, Shido immediately got to work. He began unloading the items from his inventory and placing the food and drinks neatly into the fridge. He made sure to leave out a few ingredients for dinner. Tonight, he planned to make croquettes, something he hadn't had in a while.
Shido entered the kitchen and rolled up his sleeves and started cooking dinner.
He grabbed a few potatoes and placed them in a pot of water to boil, setting it on the stove. While they cooked, he began finely chopping onions, the familiar sting hitting his eyes, but he powered through with practiced ease.
Next came the ground beef and minced pork, which he seasoned lightly before tossing into a pan. The sound of sizzling meat filled the room, blending with the comforting aroma of onions and spices. Once the meat was cooked, he drained the potatoes and mashed them until smooth, then folded in the meat mixture and added a bit of salt and pepper.
With deft hands, Shido formed the croquette patties, carefully dipping them in flour, egg, and panko breadcrumbs. Each one was crisped to a golden brown in the frying pan, giving off a delicious crackle as they cooked.
After placing the freshly made croquettes onto a plate and setting them on the dining table, Shido headed toward the bathroom. A thin layer of sweat clung to his skin from wandering all over the city, and a hot bath was exactly what he needed. Shido figured to have dinner after taking a bath.
The warm water instantly soothed his tired muscles. "Ahh... what a nice bath," Shido murmured, leaning back in the tub as steam gently rose around him.
Despite the comfort, the silence around him echoed too loudly. The Itsuka residence had always been lively, filled with noise, laughter, shouting... chaos. But now, only stillness greeted him.
Soaking in the tub, Shido leaned his head back and gazed up at the ceiling. The steam blurred his vision slightly, and before long, his eyes slowly shut, and he allowed himself a brief nap.
The furniture he ordered was set to arrive tomorrow, so there was no need to rush anything else tonight. For now, he simply let the quiet lull him.