Not long after Mike and Asako arrived near the entrance gate, a jeep approached and stopped near the entrance. A woman dressed in black got out of the car and opened the trunk to take out a large basket filled with various groceries.
"Asako-san, I have come with the groceries you asked for." The woman adjusted her sunglasses after placing the big basket near the entrance gate.
"Mm, thank you for your hard work, Kimie-chan." Asako expressed her gratitude with a smile.
"It's just an easy task. Aha~ Is this the young man that has been talked about a lot among our agents lately? You look younger than I thought. Anyway, nice to meet you, Mike-sama." Kimie pointed her palm to Mike with a light greeting.
"Hmm, nice to meet you." Mike nodded, but his attention was immediately distracted when Asako was about to lift the big basket. "Let me carry the basket for you."
"Hm? I can pick it up, but if you really want to help, then please and thank you." Asako replied with a gentle smile. She let Mike lift the big basket for her, then she waved her hand at Kimie. "See you later, Kimie-chan. In that case, we'll excuse ourselves first."
Kimie just returned the smile and waved her hand. She looked at Mike with a glint in her eyes before she got back into the car and left.
"Would you like to put all of this in that refrigerator, Asako-san?" Mike put the big basket on the table.
"Just put it there, Mike-sama. I'll cook. Oh my... Yukiko-chan hasn't woken up yet, hmm?" Asako put her finger to her chin while glancing left and right.
"Do you want me to wake her up?" Mike offered to help.
"No, it's okay. Maybe she stayed up all night. Let her sleep for some more time." Asako thought for a moment and shook her head in the end.
"Is that so? Then, let me help you with some kitchen matters. Even though I look like an amateur, I'm pretty good at cooking." Mike did a slight stretch of his fingers, then he unloaded the contents of the large basket onto the table.
"O-ya? Sometimes, a person's character can be judged by what they cook. Do you dare to show me and everyone about your character, Mike-sama?" Asako smiled mysteriously as if she already knew this in the scenario.
"Why not? Let's make one dish of mine, and the rest I will help you with. I'm quite curious as to whether you will cook with your special ability or with just both hands, Asako-san." Mike took a knife and played with it for a moment. He accepted the challenge without further ado.
"My abilities are very useful to make my life much easier~ I'm really looking forward to your dish, Mike-sama." Asako hummed and started to keep her hands busy with the kitchen business.
At the same time, several cooking utensils suddenly floated and seemed to move on their own to help Asako in cooking.
"As I thought." Mike nodded in understanding. "But, my dish may not suit the palate of the nobles."
"It's okay. The taste is in your hands, but please make the dish beautiful." Asako reminded gently.
With that, Mike and Asako busied themselves to make breakfast for everyone. Consciously or not, Mike was closely watched by Asako for several reasons and purposes.
When Mike finished making twelve servings of dishes, he immediately helped Asako to cook another dish. "Let me help you, Asako-san."
"Ah, I'm almost done. Anyway, what are you doing, Mike-sama?" Asako refused the help implicitly and politely. Her telekinesis ability was more than enough to take care of almost everything.
"Forgive my ignorance for not knowing all the ingredients and their uses. I met your challenge by making these based solely on my sense of taste. Please taste one and tell me is it good?" Mike took one of his dishes and gave it to Asako.
"Ah, a tuna salad wrap with cream cheese and some mixed fruit for garnish? Am I right, Mike-sama?" Asako looked down at the dish in her hand and guessed that with confidence.
"Is that so? I haven't named my dish, though?" Mike scratched his head.
"Eh?" Asako was a little confused and surprised at the same time. Apparently, Mike didn't really know the ingredients, but he was able to make this salad?
Even so, Asako only shook her head with a subtle sigh. "Then, let me be the first to try your dish, Mike-sama. Excuse me."
After saying that, Asako took the fork and tasted the tuna salad.
"Hmm~ This is delicious, Mike-sama. The taste is right and light in the mouth. I'm sure everyone will like this too." Asako closed her eyes for a moment and smiled in satisfaction.
"Phew... I'm glad you like it, Asako-san. I was worried a while ago. But, it turns out that my confidence in my fish processing skills didn't let me down." Mike breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ah, it's almost time for breakfast. We'd better get this over with and serve it all to the dining room." Asako looked at the clock on the wall and started placing the masks on the plates and bowls.
"Let me help you." Mike immediately came to help.
"En, thank you. Please put all these dishes into the serving trolley over there, Mike-sama. I wonder what Yuna-sama will say when she tastes your dish, hehe..." Asako covered her mouth in a light chuckle.
Mike immediately arranged the dishes onto the serving trolley, including his homemade tuna salad.
After all the dishes came in, he took off his apron and looked back at his clothes. He was still wearing casual clothes, a white t-shirt with black pants.
"Would you like to change first before going to the dining room, Mike-sama?" Asako asked curiously.
"No, it's okay. But, I don't smell bad, do I?" Mike checked himself, but he felt he still smelled good.
"Hmm... Then, excuse me." Asako brought her face closer to sniff, then she nodded. "Hum-mm, you're not emitting any weird or sweaty odors, Mike-sama. All right, let's go to the dining room. Everyone is probably waiting for us there."
"Not us, but the breakfast." Mike rolled his eyes.
Asako pushed the serving trolley, and Mike followed from the side. Everyone was already there by the time they entered the dining room, except for Yuna and Yukiko.
"Yahoo, Mike-han, did you just do your morning workout routine? I couldn't find you at the dojo or in the yard, did you find a secret spot to practice?" Isei raised his hand in greeting.
"No, you'll be able to find me easily if you wake up early." Mike shrugged in reply.
"Oh, hahaha... Let me help you arrange the dishes on the table, Asako-san." Isei awkwardly laughed while scratching the back of his head. He changed the topic to help the chef.
Mike thought he didn't need to help set the dishes on the table. Too many working hands would only make the job difficult. He just went to the head maid who was standing near the dining table.
"Good morning, Mike-sama." Kisa greeted politely.
Mike felt there was something a little strange about Kisa's intonation, but he just put that aside for now. "Mm, good morning. Are Yuna and Yukiko not awake yet?"
"Yuna-sama is probably on her way here, and Yukiko-chan is with uninvited guests." Kisa answered in a relaxed tone, but there was a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Uninvited guests?" Mike asked in wonder. Yet, he didn't need to ask anyone about it because the answer came shortly after.
^^