96 A Day In The Life of Steven Omeo, Part III

Once we were home, I darted straight to the kitchen and got started on dinner. I made pate as the appetizer and while everyone did get some, I had to keep an eye on it because Kanna would try to grab more than her share.

Other than that, everything was fine.

Madelyn: "I tidied up the living room like you asked."

Steven: "Thanks, Madelyn, I'll make sure you eat well tonight."

Madelyn: "I'll hold you to that, Chef!"

Kanna entered and her pleading eyes were telling me that she wanted even more pate.

Steven: "Sorry, Kanna, I can't make any more pate. I need enough salmon to feed everyone."

She stands behind me and embraces me.

Kanna: "I love you…"

No way…

When my mom said "food is the fastest way to one's heart," she wasn't kidding.

Madelyn: "I'mma leave… I feel like a third wheel here."

Steven: "I love you too."

Kanna: "Can I help?"

Steven: "Of course, uh, you know how to make the salsa?"

Kanna: "Toss together the oranges, avocado, red onion, cilantro and lime juice?"

Steven: "That's perfect, Kanna."

Kanna: "Is that all?"

Steven: "Yeah, this is an easy dish, so we're not going to cook for hours."

Joan curiously comes into the kitchen.

Steven: "Hey, Joan."

She stands next to me, peeks over the counter, and watches me as I cook.

Steven: "Do you like fish?"

She nods.

Joan: (SL) "What kind of fish are you using?"

Steven: "Salmon. Did you need anything?"

Joan: (SL) "I wanted to know how you do it."

Steven: "Do you want to watch us cook? I don't mind getting a stool you could sit on."

Joan: (SL) "When is mama coming to visit?"

Mama?

Visit?

She could only be talking about one person in particular.

Steven: "You mean Rayna?"

She nods.

Steven: "Why would you think she's your mama?"

Joan: (SL) "You both saved me and gave me a home."

Steven: "Well, you'll be surprised to know that she's visiting today."

Joan: (SL) "She is?"

Steven: "That's right, apparently they figured out a better way to travel without having to—"

I don't want to tell Joan that we cut ourselves just to use blood magic.

Steven: "Without putting themselves at a huge risk. I don't know how exactly they figured it out, but mama did."

As we were talking about her, I heard the bell to the front ring. There was a good chance it could be her and even Joan was looking in that direction.

Steven: "I think that's her, Joan. Go check it out if you want to."

Her smile grew widely and she excitedly runs to the front, leaving me in the wind.

Steven: "She's excited."

Kanna: "What did she say in sign language?"

Steven: "She asked if Rayna was coming."

Kanna: "Rayna is her mom?"

Kanna: "That's good."

Steven: "You're not upset over it?"

Kanna: "No, I told you I'm too young to be a parent. I want to be an older sister, kind of how Madelyn is to you."

Steven: "Madelyn is a perfect blend of helpful and annoying. You have to strike that balance if you want to be an older sister."

Kanna: "Is she annoying? How?"

Steven: "Did you forget that time she tackled me to the floor and wouldn't let me go? Or that time she stole my glass of lemonade?"

Kanna: "Isn't that—oh, I see what you mean about being annoying."

She brings over the salsa she tossed together and places it I'm front of me.

Kanna: "How's this?"

Steven: "That's perfect. When did you learn to cook?"

Kanna: "I just mixed the ingredients together. It's similar to alchemy."

Steven: "You just mix things in Alchemy?"

Kanna: "Well, yeah… cooking is Alchemy but without the magic."

I'm sure they're completely different things. Otherwise Yuuna wouldn't be needing all her specialized tools.

Steven: "How good are you at alchemy now?"

Kanna: "I'm still ranked as an Apprentice."

Steven: "I didn't know there were ranks."

Kanna: "There are, my mom is called a "Master," and there would be titles too, but mom prefers her name."

Steven: "Even though she gives everyone a nickname?"

Kanna: "Yeah, that's how it is. I'd like to have a title though."

Steven: "Atelier Kanna of The Mysterious Servant." [1]

Kanna: "What?"

Steven: "What?"

Kanna: "What did you just say about me?"

Steven: "What did I say?"

Kanna: "You said—! Nevermind."

...

Authors Notes:

[1] - "Atelier Kanna of The Mysterious Servant" is a reference to the Atelier series, a franchise of RPG games developed by Gust Corporation.