Lock hesitated for a moment, instantly whetting the curiosity of everyone in the room—and stirring expectations in a few hearts.
Then he spoke calmly.
"It was just a sudden realization. I felt I had to become better, so I changed."
Sorry—changing because of someone?
That didn't exist at all.
After all, habits formed over long periods—especially daily routines—were the hardest things to change in a short time.
Lock's transformation was simply because the one living in this body now was no longer the original owner. Their habits were different.
But that secret wasn't something he could ever explain.
"Tch."
Ryukyu folded her arms beneath her chest. The faint gloss on her lips made the sound of dissatisfaction especially clear.
Clearly, she wasn't satisfied with that answer.
"Since today is a party," Lock said calmly, deliberately ignoring it, "you'll all stay for lunch, right?"
Mt. Lady raised her hand cheerfully. "Then I won't be polite."
Jiro Kyoka nodded. "I'll tell my parents."
Originally, Hatsume Mei had planned to eat something simple for lunch and then head straight to her secret base at Dagobah Seaside Park. After thinking it over, she didn't refuse and decided to stay.
As for Aunt Ryukyu and Nejire, the party had been their idea in the first place.
"Alright. I'll start preparing," Lock said, finally relaxing. "You can eat some fruit or watch TV for a bit."
There would be no Shura battlefield today.
First—Mt. Lady and Sirius. These two were purely here for fun. Crossed out.
Next—Aunt Ryukyu. As an aunt, she didn't even qualify to enter the battlefield. Crossed out.
Then Hatsume Mei. This inventor was already itching to face cold metal and components rather than human drama. Crossed out.
That left only Jiro Kyoka and Nejire.
Nejire had zero awareness of that kind of thing—harmless to humans and animals alike, even if she herself had no idea how dangerous her natural charm was.
As for Jiro Kyoka, she was Lock's childhood friend. With the layers of seniority and class relationships involved, she would naturally treat Nejire with respect as a senior. She wouldn't cross any lines.
So—
Today was destined to be calm.
"Hey, Lock… you can cook?"
Jiro Kyoka was startled. In the past, Lock always bought bread. After Baloo appeared, it was always bento prepared by his maid.
"I live alone," Lock replied. "And cooking happens to be one of my hobbies."
Aunt Ryukyu and Nejire already knew this.
Hatsume Mei knew too—there were times she stayed up late at her secret base, and Lock would casually make her a midnight meal.
Only Jiro Kyoka was left stunned.
She glanced at the others' expressions and suddenly felt she had failed as a childhood friend.
When did Lock meet so many beautiful women?
When did he learn to cook?
And how did she know none of it?
"Lock, I'll help too."
Ryukyu stood up.
The last time Lock visited her home, she had been too shocked to intervene and let him handle everything alone. This time, there was no way she would sit back.
Once someone took the lead, the others couldn't remain seated.
They were guests, not eating at a restaurant. Watching the host cook alone was simply improper.
Especially when the host was a boy.
"That would be great, Aunt Ryukyu," Lock said with a smile, not refusing.
There were seven people in total—it would be inefficient to handle everything alone.
Besides, Lock preferred eating at home with friends. And he genuinely enjoyed cooking.
"Lock, Lock! Me too!"
Nejire bounced over, the curled strand of hair on her head wobbling.
Lock paused. "Nejire… you can cook?"
Thinking back, whenever Nejire had taken care of him, she almost always bought bento from outside.
"Of course!" Nejire's eyes darted away slightly. "I got full marks in home economics."
"…Then what can you make?" Lock asked casually.
Home economics covered everything from washing vegetables to cooking, cleaning, and laundry.
"Miso soup, tamagoyaki, omurice, curry…"
Nejire's cheeks flushed slightly. Every dish she listed came straight from class.
"And me too."
Jiro Kyoka stepped forward, standing beside Nejire.
Just like that, the three of them joined Lock in the kitchen.
Mt. Lady, Hatsume Mei, and Sirius stayed in the living room. The first two didn't know how to cook at all, and Sirius felt the kitchen was already crowded—better to remain a quiet audience.
Lock looked over the ingredients Baloo had asked Mt. Lady to bring.
Tomatoes. Eggs. Potatoes. Pork. Tuna. Preserved eggs. Coriander. Shrimp. Yam. Green peppers.
He leaned out and asked, "Does anyone eat coriander?"
Coriander was one of the most controversial foods in the world.
Those who liked it could eat it at every meal.
Those who didn't… felt like they were swallowing poison.
Lock himself could eat it—but didn't like it.
Three people in the living room shook their heads.
Three people in the kitchen did the same.
Alright. Coriander went back into the fridge.
"Lock! Lock! What's this?"
Nejire's voice rang out again as she pointed at a dark egg.
"That's a preserved egg," Lock said flatly.
Jiro Kyoka covered her mouth in horror. "That's something only the devil eats!"
Lock was speechless. "Isn't that a bit exaggerated?"
Jiro looked away, still shaken. "I read foreign news. There's a 'Disgusting Food Museum' overseas—and preserved eggs are in it."
Lock twitched at the corner of his mouth.
A classic misunderstanding.
Foreigners swallowed preserved eggs whole like boiled eggs—of course, they'd vomit.
Even apex predators in the food chain had tried it that way and failed.
If only they'd tasted preserved egg tofu or preserved egg and lean meat porridge…
They'd understand what delicious really meant.
In the end, preserved eggs—like coriander—were returned to the fridge.
Then Lock looked at the green peppers.
…The second great misunderstanding was about to begin.
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A/N: 40+ Advance Chapter Has Been Uploaded.
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