(When evening fell, Ahmed carried his dishes carefully to the Tanaka family's home, as if he were holding a small treasure in his hands. Everyone gathered around the warm wooden table, and as soon as the lids were lifted from the dishes, the fragrant aromas spread throughout the place—a mixture of the distant sea and Eastern spices that their home was not accustomed to before.
Misaki's parents' eyes widened in astonishment and admiration, while the children raced to lean over the dishes, captivated by the beautiful colors and the gleam of the golden oil on the surface of the fried fish. Everyone carefully reached out their hands at first, but soon the first bite turned into wide smiles and nods of approval.
The crispy fish, the shrimp submerged in the flavorful red tomato sauce, and the fluffy white rice that balanced the heat of the spices... all of it gave them a new experience they were not used to.
As for Misaki, she sat contemplating the dish in front of her, then took her first bite in silence. With the first chew, her eyes widened with a childlike astonishment, as if she were discovering another world of flavor. She began to eat slowly, savoring every taste, every spice dancing on her tongue. In her heart was a hidden appreciation for Ahmed's effort and an even greater admiration for his ability to bring a part of his distant homeland into her home. She smiled at him shyly, her eyes shining with a gratitude she could not express in words.)