Two crisp clacks rang out as plates met the tabletop. Speed Symboli, who had been lost in thought, finally realized Eternal Meteor had finished cooking and returned to the table.
Even though Speed Symboli had said she'd already eaten, a plate appeared in front of her anyway—an extremely familiar kind of breakfast, or rather brunch—only the portions were noticeably smaller than what she remembered.
Pan-seared cherry tomatoes. Crispy bacon. A sunny-side-up egg cooked until the whites were set while the yolk was still perfectly runny. A pure-meat sausage. And one modest slice of bread, fried until crisp in cultured butter rich with dairy aroma.
It was almost identical to the brunch she used to eat in the UK, except there was no black pudding and no baked beans. Everything else matched.
"What's this…?"
"I usually make breakfast for two people," Eternal Meteor said, scratching the back of her head in a cutesy way. "This time I kind of… did it out of habit and made extra~"
Of course, that was a line she'd improvised on the spot. "Anime coincidences" like that didn't really happen to her. She said it mostly to salvage her image.
Because with her earlier behavior, she'd looked a bit… unstable. She didn't know what impression Speed Symboli had formed, but if there was any chance of a "this kid's weird" label, she had to correct it immediately.
First impressions mattered—a lot.
And even if Speed Symboli truly wasn't hungry, Eternal Meteor couldn't exactly not make her a plate.
What was she supposed to do—cook her own food and then sit there eating happily while Speed Symboli watched?
Besides, Eternal Meteor had noticed it: when she asked whether Speed Symboli had eaten, Speed Symboli's eyes had flicked toward the wall clock.
When Eternal Meteor went into the kitchen and checked the time, she realized she'd slept straight through to ten.
No wonder she was starving.
It was basically noon—making more food couldn't hurt. If Speed Symboli didn't eat it, Eternal Meteor could always finish it herself.
"Would you like to try it?" Eternal Meteor asked. "But if you're not hungry, please don't force yourself."
"Then I won't be polite."
Under Eternal Meteor's "eager" little look (mostly acting), Speed Symboli picked up her utensils and began tasting the brunch.
She really had eaten breakfast earlier—but back in Britain, she used to eat heavier in the morning. After returning, her routine hadn't quite adjusted.
She also hadn't been back to the Symboli household in a long time. Breakfast had followed the old menu, and the shift to lighter food honestly didn't keep her full.
After the first bite, she was mildly surprised.
Not because it was unbelievably delicious—more because she could tell Eternal Meteor had excellent control of heat and timing on every ingredient.
This wasn't beginner-level cooking. This was the result of doing it often.
But that didn't quite match a "wandering" background… unless—
"It tastes very good," Speed Symboli said. "So you cook often?"
"Lately I've been cooking for myself a lot," Eternal Meteor replied. "You could call it a hobby."
Seeing Speed Symboli didn't stop after a single bite, Eternal Meteor quietly exhaled in relief. Good—she hadn't misjudged the breakfast choice.
If her memory wasn't wrong, the woman in front of her was someone who could make Rudolf cry.
But so far, Speed Symboli didn't feel especially harsh or aggressive.
Eternal Meteor took a couple more bites from her own plate, then looked up at Speed Symboli. After Speed Symboli finished a mouthful, Eternal Meteor asked the question she'd been holding back since the start.
"May I ask why you came to see me today, Lady Symboli?"
It was blunt. Since Speed Symboli hadn't shown any hostility, Eternal Meteor couldn't be bothered to keep probing slowly. It was faster to ask directly.
"To confirm what your relationship with Rudolf is," Speed Symboli said, just as bluntly. "To see whether she's done something unethical."
Speed Symboli didn't see any reason to hide it. From observation, Eternal Meteor didn't seem like an unreasonable child—she could handle a direct answer.
"Cough—cough—cough—!"
The first half was within Eternal Meteor's expectations. She swallowed her food fine.
The second half, however, made her choke violently on her own saliva.
Before Speed Symboli could stand, Eternal Meteor waved to show she was fine, then grabbed the water that had been on the table and drank it down in one go.
"I think you've misunderstood something," Eternal Meteor said, voice finally steady. "Rudolf and I are not… not that kind of relationship."
Unfortunately, the way she said it sounded a lot like guilty self-incrimination.
"You mean," Speed Symboli replied, gaze sharpening, "New Year's fireworks together—then living together now—and you make her breakfast every day?"
Under that suddenly serious look, Eternal Meteor forced herself to keep explaining.
"It's… repayment."
"Repayment?"
"Yeah." Eternal Meteor nodded. "To repay her for saving me."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 132)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter140)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter95)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter165)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 145
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 135
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 95
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 155
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 125
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 105
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 62
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 80
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 80
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 62
Uma Musume: I Want All 65
I Can Copy Unique Skills 53
Summoning an Evil God, but the 41
Supernatural Multiverse 45
My Harem Is Indescribable 35
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 46
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