Mei had a complicated expression when she looked at Asuka's creation.
"H-how is that even possible."
Asuka sat across from her, embarrassment written all over her face.
"I mean, at least it didn't catch on fire this time," she said.
"It's actually quite impressive. I've never seen this color in the stew before."
In front of the pair was supposed to be duck and vegetable soup. It looked like grease and pond scum had a baby. The smell punched Mei in the face like a brick of old onions and despair.
Trying to save face, Asuka stood with forced confidence, gripping a spoon.
"Well, the presentation and smell are just that. Time for the taste test."
"A-Asuka, I wouldn't-"
Before she could finish, Asuka had already taken a spoonful of the concoction and poured the abomination into her mouth. She tried to swallow but as soon as the soup touched her taste buds, her throat automatically closed and refused to open no matter how much she tried. With no way to force it down, she was forced to endure it—the inconsistent texture of the broth, thin and watery in some parts, thick and slimy in others. A large, hard, undercooked and flavorless potato chunk. And a piece of duck which felt and tasted like tree bark. To say it was repulsive would be an understatement.
Unable to contain it any longer, she sprinted to the toilet and emptied the little contents of her stomach. When she finished, she held her aching stomach and wiped her mouth.
"Ugh..." she groaned.
Soon, she heard footsteps behind the bathroom door.
"Asuka? How do you feel?" asked a concerned Mei.
It took her a moment to reply but eventually she managed to groan out a reply.
"I'm...okay."
"You sure? That didn't sound like you were okay."
"I'll be fine. Just give me a moment and I'll be alright."
"Fine. I'll be right out here if you need me."
She sat there on the bathroom floor taking deep breaths. Though what happened before could be seen as a comedic moment, Asuka's expression did not express any humor.
She pulled her knees to her chest, resting her forehead on them.
"Ah... damn it."
Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
Then, a voice from inside her head began to speak.
"Unlike her, you can't hide your emotions from me. Why does frustration cloud your mind?"
Asuka took one last deep breath before speaking.
"Ever since I was a child, I always ended up good at everything I tried. Even if I was terrible at first, I'd end up nearly mastering it after just a few tries. Even the most difficult things took only a couple days to get better at. But this..."
She paused, collecting her thoughts before continuing.
"It's been years and I still can't cook for the life of me. I just don't understand why I still haven't gotten better yet."
Annie took her time coming up with an answer.
"I've been within you ever since you were a child. Twelve years I've seen you learn new skills and concepts faster than damn near any being should be capable of. Being able to do that has many benefits. But that prodigious nature of yours has made you severely entitled."
Asuka tilted her head, confused at Annie's words.
"Entitled?"
"You've gotten so used to being good at everything that you think you can just casually try something over and over again until you're just good at it. But, that's not how the overwhelming majority of beings learn. More often than not, people go through a lot of work and struggle before they get better. And it's usually never fun," Annie finished.
Asuka pouted at Annie's words.
"Seriously?"
"Yup. I know compared to what training you've done over the years it may seem mundane. But if you're unwilling to put in the effort in something merely mundane, how can you put in the effort in situations which help others but hurt you?"
Hearing this, she knew, despite not wanting it to be true, Annie was right.
"Okay, so what are you saying is that I need to work harder and it will happen?" Asuka asked.
Annie laughed at the naive girl's words.
"Oh by the Aeons, if only. At this rate, you'll fossilize before you so much as poach an egg. You'd need to make it your primary focus for a good number of years to get to even an acceptable level of cooking."
Annie didn't miss the visible disappointment on Asuka's face when she said this.
"For now, focus on your mission. Take everything else slow. You'll get there eventually. Taking down that cult is a far bigger priority. So worry about them first."
"You're right."
Asuka shot to her feet, ready to move on—only to wobble as a wave of dizziness nearly knocked her over.
"I really do need to eat though."
"Yes. You definitely should."
~
After that, Mei very quickly cooked a proper version of what Asuka was trying to make. The aroma of the broth and duck made Asuka's spine tingle and mouth water.
Mei couldn't help but show a smile seeing Asuka's expression.
"I think I've made you wait long enough. I hope you enjoy it."
Without waiting, Asuka took a spoon and dipped it into the broth. She took a slow sip, savoring the rich and subtly gamey taste. She felt no resistance as she used her spoon to take a piece of the tender duck. She dipped her spoon again, consuming both the broth and duck this time. A piece of duck so soft it nearly melted under her tongue. Her mouth watered with every extra second she kept it in her mouth.
As soon as she swallowed, she relaxed her shoulders and let out a satisfied sigh.
"This... is the best meal I think I've ever had."
Mei clapped her hands with childlike happiness.
"I'm so pleased that you enjoyed it."
"Enjoyed," Asuka exclaimed, "If anything, I'm mad you never cooked this before. This is amazing."
"Well, I made plenty so you don't need to hold back. Take as many bowls as you need."
"You really are an angel, you know that Mei."
Red flushed onto the woman's face.
"Oh... you flatter me too much."
Seeing how embarrassed she was, Asuka couldn't help but laugh.