Fu Fu lay on the table, her gaze fixed intently on the Go board as she listened to Luc Vaudelier's explanation. After confirming the special rules in a few complicated scenarios, Furina sat up straight, a triumphant smile curling her lips.
"See? I told you I'm smart. I just wasn't paying attention before. When I actually focus, I understand everything instantly."
Luc smiled faintly. "Then let's see how smart you really are. Black goes first."
Although Luc was just an amateur Go player, coming from a modern world gave him a distinct edge. His skills easily outmatched Furina, who was playing Go for the very first time.
She watched helplessly as her stones were surrounded and captured one after another. Multiple times, she had crafted what she believed to be foolproof strategies—only for Luc to dismantle them effortlessly. Every counterattack she attempted was stifled, as if he was always one move ahead.
After several crushing rounds, it became clear that Furina was on the verge of collapse under Luc's unrelenting strategy. She puffed her cheeks in frustration, watching him calmly consider his next move. How could this man be so good at everything?
Hmph! There's no way I'm dumber than him!
Suddenly, Furina's eyes lit up with mischief. She pointed dramatically toward the window and shouted:
"Look! There's a massive bird!"
Luc instinctively glanced out the empty window.
When he turned back, he found Furina staring at him with a nervous, overly innocent expression. Her hands were hidden behind her back—just like a child caught red-handed.
Suppressing a laugh, Luc looked down at the board, slowly spinning two stones in his fingers. "You stole a piece, didn't you?"
Furina flinched. "You… you noticed?"
Luc smirked. "Of course. Any decent Go player learns to review games within a couple of years. I've practiced just enough to remember the board state and every move. I can tell if something's missing."
Furina's face fell, and she reluctantly handed over the two stones she had palmed. Luc gave her a tired look, like a father discovering his daughter had tried to cheat with crayons.
"…You stole two white stones? That's your own color."
Furina blinked, then realized her mistake. "Ugh—I panicked, okay?! I didn't think you'd actually notice that fast. You're too good at this!"
She crossed her arms defiantly. "What if I try stealing again?"
Luc chuckled. "Alright, I admit it. I didn't notice anything. I was bluffing. Had no clue you stole anything until you reacted."
"…Huh?"
"I was just testing you," he added casually, sipping his tea. "Didn't think you'd fall for it that easily."
Furina's face turned red with frustration. "You—! I got tricked into confessing?!"
"I mean, you did cheat first…"
"That's because I wanted to win!" she huffed, like a wronged child. "You're taking this game way too seriously!"
Luc sighed as he set down the two stolen stones.
Furina stared at the board, still stewing. Had she not cheated, he wouldn't have gotten another turn. Her win, however hollow, now tasted even more bitter.
"Alright, fine. I surrender. Better that than having to console a teary-eyed girl over a board game."
Even though Furina technically won the match, she didn't feel triumphant. Something about Luc—the way he calmly outmaneuvered her—gnawed at her pride.
No… I have to beat him at something!
Determined, she shot him a glare just as he stood up to fetch something from the kitchen.
"Your cake smells weird."
Luc turned, confused. "Huh?"
"Yes. Your cooking is good, sure—but compared to mine? You're still leagues behind."
He raised an eyebrow, amused, but said nothing as he placed a cake on the table.
"So you're not going to eat the cake I made?"
"Nope. I cook for myself every day—lavish spreads, fancy pastries, you name it. I'm already tired of cake."
Furina tried to act indifferent, even as her eyes darted to the fresh, strawberry-topped cake with poorly hidden longing. Her stomach betrayed her with a soft rumble, and she quickly wiped the corner of her mouth.
Luc gently patted her shoulder. She turned to find him placing a slice of the cake before her, topped with all her favorite fruits.
"Don't think I'm touched by your cake! I'm just not wasting food, got it?!" Furina snapped, cheeks pink.
"I can finish it if you don't want—"
"Hey! Hands off the cake!"
In the next moment, Furina snatched it like a dragon guarding treasure, and began devouring it with great enthusiasm.
After a few bites, she announced:
"Tonight's dinner will be your last! I challenge you to a cook-off!"
Luc blinked. "A… cook-off?"
"Yes! A culinary showdown! You and I will each cook a full course meal, and my three companions will be the judges. They'll score our dishes fairly—of course, we must taste each other's cooking too."
Luc wanted to argue how wildly biased this setup was but held his tongue. If this meant staying longer, he'd play along.
Dinner time came. The kitchen was spacious—more than enough for two chefs at war.
Furina was as curious as she was competitive. She wanted to know how this outsider managed to win her taste buds over so easily. She snuck glances at Luc as he worked—slicing, stirring, flipping a pan with effortless grace. Even the way he added seasoning seemed precise, almost scientific.
Is he a chef in his world? she wondered.
Her focus wavered. She had macaroni boiling, but her attention kept returning to Luc's fluid movements. It looked like he was dancing with the utensils. In contrast, her method was chaotic—water sloshing, spoons clanging, and the faint smell of something… overcooked.
"Oh no!" she suddenly yelped. "The macaroni!"
Luc peeked over. The pot was indeed bubbling too hard. Furina grimaced.
This wasn't looking good for her.
Luc, meanwhile, plated his dish with elegance, finishing just in time. He didn't mock her or boast—just calmly cleaned up.
Furina glanced between her slightly soggy macaroni and Luc's beautifully arranged entrée. Even her pride couldn't deny the difference.
But her spirit burned brighter than ever.
Even if I lose… I'll win next time.