(In the days following the hot springs trip, Misaki's request lingered in Ahmed's mind like a bell whose echo wouldn't fade. Every time he remembered the first part of her challenge—to show his muscles—he felt a heat spreading across his face, as if the embarrassment was coming back to him. However, the other part of her request, to prepare a Yemeni seafood meal, stirred a different passion within him.
Ahmed saw cooking as another language for expression, and a way to leave a mark on the heart of the one he shared the food with. Therefore, he decided to make this dinner a special event, not just a passing response to Misaki's request. He began to think about the dishes that could reflect the spirit of his country: rich spices, seasoned rice, and a zesty sauce mixed with the flavors of the sea.
He smiled to himself as he planned in his mind: "If this is a challenge from Misaki... then I will make it a challenge worthy of me as well." He knew that the matter was more than just food; it was a hidden promise to show another side of himself, not with the boldness of words, but with the sincerity of action.)