Toji And Maki Novels & Stories

"One soup three dishes?" The chef nodded, then used his hands to point. "Miso Soup, grilled fish, Tagamo-yaki, also known as omelet, Nimono and Tsukemono, you call them vegetables. Then, last but not the least, a pot of high-grade sencha green tea." "I call this brilliance," Caine said, rubbing his plans together. "What's your name, chef?" I asked. "Chef Toba," he answered with a hand to his chest and a bow.

I shrugged and dressed before putting my hair up into a neat bun. After a quick glance at the mirrored closet doors, I walked out. I followed the delicious smell of food to find Hikari and Riko sitting at a table in their kitchen with a full traditional Japanese breakfast set out for three. Rice porridge, miso soup, grilled mackerel, tamagoyaki, green bean gomaae, pickled cucumbers, natto, and a steaming cup of green tea.

I inquired, my voice casual yet tinged with curiosity. Tiara and Maki exchanged a wary glance before Tiara spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's... intimidating," she confessed, her hands trembling ever so slightly at her sides. "But he's also powerful. It's hard not to feel a certain... reverence in his presence." Maki nodded in agreement, her expression troubled. "Yes, powerful," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the gentle rustle of the breeze. "But also... unpredictable."

**Mia:** “Thank you. It smells amazing in here.” Haru leads her to the table, pulls out a chair. They sit—Haru beside Mia, parents across. Keiko brings plates: steaming rice, miso soup with tofu and wakame, tamagoyaki slices, grilled mackerel, pickled r****h, and fresh fruit. **Keiko (serving Mia first):** “Eat as much as you like. Werewolf appetites are no joke—I remember from Seras’s friends.”

I whispered, taking off my gloves. “There are plenty more like this in Korea,” Jiro said with a grin. “And even better ones.” “I’d love to see them,” I chuckled, scanning the menu. “What do you want?” he asked, looking at me. I pointed at the menu and said nothing as he approached the counter. “Karemel makiato hana, hot americano hana juseyo,” he said in fluent Korean while handing over his card. “Algesseumnida, sonnim. Jamsi gidaryeo juseyo,” the barista responded with a bow.

Second, because of what he was cooking. I swallowed and said, “You’re making me tamagoyaki?” His insides melted as Zen expertly rolled the egg omelet in the traditional Japanese rectangular pan using wooden chopsticks. “There’s also natto, nori, broiled aji—” “Steamed rice, miso soup, and tsukemono,” i finished in awe. “You made me a Japanese breakfast?” I scanned the dining table where bowls of rice sat among bowls of rice and my favorite pickled ume plums or commonly known as umeboshi.

I made this sushi myself; you know. Finish it, sir. Marta

Summoning the courage again, she pushed the leaf aside, hoping to get a good glimpse of everything that was happening. Huts of different styles and sizes lined every corner of the clearing. Its red body contrasted the brown thatched roof that hung on it to serve as a shield. There was no marking on the building to give out the tribe or the clan that resides here. The knowledge made Ejima swallow. Just like the stories had said, the missing toe creatures always live in isolation and distinguish themselves from humans by not placing markings on their building or skin. Children also roamed around the place, their voices echoing loud with the evening air.

Akiko said, letting Kenji continue cooking. “Sit down. It’s almost done,” Kenji said, placing the pan back on the stove. Of course, he was making tamagoyaki. If Akiko’s go-to meal for quick cooking was miso soup, Kenji’s was rolled eggs. Akiko didn’t follow Kenji’s order to sit down. Instead, she chose to set the table. She did the same when she resided in Kenji's home—prior to her union with Yuto. Akiko grabbed bowls, filled them with rice, warmed up the seaweed soup Kenji had reheated, and brought everything to the table.

I knew a few of them, such as sushi and sashimi as well as yakitori and tempura. We ate while the conversation continued about the sake and sake set. I found out the flask was called Tokkuri and the cup called Ochoko. Once that topic was out of the way, the men mostly went on about business, as I’d guessed before arriving. I didn’t mind, of course, since I had the delicious food to occupy me. Now and again, however, I did catch James eyeing me as I ate. When I licked my lips, his eyes darkened and there was a smile playing about his lips as well. “Heard you bought yourself a pet for five million,” James said to William sometime later.