Chapter 55: Rice and Eggs
"Yeah! We can go to Pakura-chan's house!" Makima exclaimed softly with excitement, her previously tense body now relaxed and filled with happiness. She hugged Pakura tightly, feeling the warmth of the friendship that Makima had been searching for all along.
"By the way, do you have something to eat?" Souta asked a bit awkwardly, feeling a lighter mood after that moment. He smiled stiffly, trying to divert attention from the emotional moment.
Hearing the question, Pakura and Makima exchanged glances. A small smile appeared on their faces before the two little girls burst into laughter together. Makima hurried to the kitchen with quick steps, and Pakura eagerly followed to help.
Souta remained silent, watching them with slightly hesitant eyes. He thought that cooking might not be their strong suit, but he decided to stay calm.
Even though Souta wasn't sure if the dish they were going to make would be edible, he chose not to say anything and just waited.
While waiting for their arrival, Souta reached into his clothing and carefully pulled out several sheets of paper. The papers looked a bit crumpled, but every stroke on them seemed to hold a great secret.
These papers were the result of findings at the Puppet Arts Theater—where Souta currently worked. Although most of the papers were filled with seemingly meaningless scribbles, to Souta, they were a very valuable treasure.
The sketches depicted the parts of the Wooden Puppet in great detail, and Souta felt that there was something greater he could learn from these images.
With great care, Souta began to examine each drawing closely. The dim lighting in the room added a mysterious atmosphere, forcing his eyes to focus deeper.
In each sketch, Souta discovered surprising elements. The arms of the Wooden Puppet could transform into a sword with sharp blades, the body could merge and change into a sturdy large shield, and the head could transform into a long and fearsome spear.
Each transformation of the Wooden Puppet seemed to give it new life, as if the creature itself could adapt to its surroundings.
"Who could create such a complex design?" Souta thought, his heart racing with curiosity.
In every stroke, Souta began to sense a high level of ingenuity, artistry, and technique—something he might have never encountered before. Who was the creator of these sketches? Were they an artist or a highly skilled craftsman?
Moreover, Souta began to ponder something that troubled his mind even more: why did the Puppet Arts Theater need so many workers?
Souta had heard rumors that they were planning to hold a grand performance in the coming months.
However, the scale of the event remained a mystery to Souta. "How grand and magnificent could the performance be that they need so much manpower?" Souta thought, his mouth slightly pursed as if deep in thought.
Yet, in the midst of Souta's contemplation, a smell that greatly stimulated his sense of smell brought him back to reality. The delicious aroma of food slowly spread through the air, diverting Souta's attention from his racing thoughts.
Before long, the two little girls appeared from a narrow hallway. Pakura and Makima, carefully carrying a wooden tray. The tray was filled with simple yet appetizing dishes.
Pakura placed two bowls of rice topped with warm fried eggs on the table, while Makima followed with one bowl of rice and fried eggs, along with three glasses of cold water.
Souta stared at the food with slightly wide eyes. "Hmm... rice? And eggs? Are you sure you're serving this?" Souta asked with a hesitant tone, his voice sounding surprised.
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Chapter 56: Eating at Makima's House
Souta knew very well that in Sunagakure—known as the poorest village among the five great villages—the prices of staple foods like rice and eggs were very high.
Especially rice, which had become a rare staple in this area. It was something that could only be afforded by certain circles, and seeing it served so casually made Souta truly shocked. It was as if Makima was ignoring the harsh reality surrounding them.
With a slight smile on her face, Makima calmly shook her head. "It's fine. After all, my friends only come here occasionally, right? You could even say that you are the first friends to visit my home," Makima said softly, looking at the two of them.
Souta felt warmth in Makima's words, despite the hidden tension behind his own smile.
Pakura, who heard this, fell silent for a moment and glanced at Souta. Their eyes met, and Souta responded with an awkward smile, unsure of what to say. "Is that so..." Souta murmured quietly, and he quickly nodded, trying to shake off the awkwardness within him.
Makima looked at them with an even wider smile, "So! Let's eat!" Makima's voice sounded full of enthusiasm, and her eyes seemed to sparkle. It was as if this simple meal was not just to fill their stomachs, but also to celebrate the newly formed bond.
"Yes," Souta replied with a nod, followed by a nod from Pakura. Without much more conversation, the three of them began to eat heartily, occasionally chatting, but for the most part, they simply enjoyed the food that had been prepared.
The atmosphere at the table felt warm and friendly, and even though the three of them came from different backgrounds, a bond was beginning to form through this simple meal.
After finishing their meal, Pakura and Makima carefully placed their empty bowls and glasses on a wooden tray. Pakura's hands moved quickly, as if she knew what to do next.
"Let me wash the bowls and glasses," Pakura said firmly, her eyes then looking at Makima, who appeared a bit confused.
"Eh? But you don't have to do that..." Makima immediately tried to refuse, her face showing concern, but Pakura had already anticipated Makima's response.
"Of course I will. You invited us to your home, provided us with food, and offered a comfort that we cannot repay with anything else. This is the simplest thing I can do," Pakura replied sincerely, lifting the wooden tray.
Makima paused for a moment, then broke into a wide smile. "Ugh, fine! Alright! I understand! Thank you so much, Pakura-chan!" Makima said earnestly, and she happily handed over the task.
"Just leave it to me," Pakura nodded confidently, and she quickly left the table, carrying the wooden tray with the empty bowls and glasses towards the kitchen.
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"By the way, who cooked the eggs?" Souta, noticing that Pakura had gone to the kitchen with a light step, finally decided to ask with a curious tone, his eyes following Makima's movements.
"Pakura cooked the eggs... Hehehe, I haven't learned to cook yet," Makima replied with a shy smile, her face slightly flushed, clearly a bit nervous as she admitted it. Makima's eyes seemed to avoid making contact with Souta, as if unsure whether that was a sufficient answer.
"... You can learn later, right?" Souta offered a warm smile, trying to encourage her. His eyes narrowed slightly as he observed how serious Makima was in this conversation.
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