Chapter 1353 - Camping Under the Starry Sky ④
After a walk around the neighborhood with Isis-san, we decided to fish in the afternoon and cook lunch together. What we’re having for lunch is one of them stylish paellas.
……No, I chose it simply because it felt like something you’d eat when camping while I was browsing a recipe book……
[Errr…… First, devein the shrimp……]
[……Then, I will…… chop the vegetables.]
[Thank you.]
Looking at the recipe book, I proceeded with handling the ingredients. I can cook to some extent as I had been taught by Sieg-san, while Isis-san herself is good at cooking.
However, neither of us was at an extremely good level like Alice, but I think it’s nice to be able to cook while consulting each other like this.
While looking at the nearby Isis-san as she skillfully chopped the vegetables, I prepared the fish and sh.e.l.lfish. Removing the guts and cleaning them, I cut them into pieces that are easy to eat.
Then, putting the squid into the frying pan with the chopped vegetables that Isis-san chopped, I stir-fried them slowly.
[How long do I fry this……]
[……Errr…… It’s best to cook both sides of the squid carefully…… while not touching it too much…… until both sides of the squid are browned.]
[Ohh, Isis-san knows a lot about handling this. Have you made this before?]
[……No…… but I’ve read cookbooks before…… and I remember what was written…… to some extent.]
[I see, Isis-san cooks really well after all.]
[……I practiced…… so that I could feed Kaito.]
Come to think of it, the very first time I went to visit her house, Isis-san was still not that great of a cook. However, she had served me her home cooking several times since then, and I have never felt like she made anything like the one she made the first time.
Thinking that since it was Isis-san, she must have really worked hard and practiced, it warmed my heart.
[Ahh, it looks like it’s about time. Next is……]
[……Here…… Tomatoes.]
[Thank you.]
Adding the tomato paste that Isis-san pa.s.sed to me, then let it boil down. Removing its moisture apparently softens the sourness, making it mellow.
After waiting for it to boil down, I added the remaining seafood, water, salt and saffron. Once the broth is simmering the seafood is removed to a separate dish, while the rice is added to the remaining broth and cooked.
[……It smells good…… and seems like…… you’ve cooked it well.]
[It does look good. I just have to be careful not to let it burn…… Finally, put the seafood back in and add lemon and parsley…… Okay, it’s done!]
[Well then, shall we start eating?]
[……Unnn…… Ahh…… I also made pot-au-feu…… Let’s eat it together.]
[Eh? When did you cook that?]
[……I was making it…… while Kaito was working hard on your paella.]
Surprisingly, Isis-san seems to have made pot-au-feu while helping me cook, and the pot-au-feu in the small pot looks incredibly delicious.
With the table and chairs for camping already taken out, we placed the pan of paella and pot of pot-au-feu in the center, and lining up the tableware, the preparations are complete.
[Well then, thank you for the food…… Unnn. Delicious.]
[……Thank you for the food…… Delicious…… You’re a good cook, Kaito.]
[No, no, that’s thanks to the recipe I followed. The pot-au-feu Isis-san made is also really delicious.]
[……If you’re pleased with it…… then I’m…… also happy.]
The food was well done and the smiling Isis-san was adorable, but just as I was thinking that it was a really wonderful lunch, Isis-san scooped up the paella with her own spoon and with her other hand underneath, she held out the spoon to me.
[……Kaito…… Ahhhn.]
[Eh? T- Thank you. Ahhhn.]
[……Delicious?]
[Yes, very much.]
As a happy smile appeared on Isis-san’s lips as she fed me the paella, I nodded my head while feeling a little embarra.s.sed. W- Well, it’s just the two of us here, so there’s no problem with this……
Having such thoughts in mind, I also scooped up some paella with my own spoon and held it out to Isis-san in return.
[Isis-san too, here you go.]
[……Ahhhn…… Unnn…… Delicious…… Kaito feeding it to me…… makes it…… much tastier.]
[A- Ahaha…… I feel like it tastes better than usual when Isis-san feeds it to me too.]
[……I see…… That’s great…… Then…… have some more.]
Isis-san happily smiled and held out food with her spoon to me again. Of course, I had no reason to refuse, so I opened my mouth and let her feed me.
In return, I would also feed her with my spoon, and we both ate lunch peacefully.
Serious-senpai : [I- It hurts…… S- Somebody help me……]
Makina : [You called?]
Serious-senpai : [I didn’t call you. Seriously, I didn’t call you! In the first place, I’m asking for someone to help me! Not to make it worse!!!]