From a casual glance at the sun, it looked like it was past noon already. That meant it was close to lunch time.
After heading off from Welf's forge, I decided to head into the kitchen to make some lunch. Considering everything happening, everybody else was probably busy... and I definitely needed to make up for some things, so I figured I'd treat everyone to a good meal.
But when I walked inside, I was surprised to see Ryuu and Artemis already there.
Ryuu noticed me first and nodded towards me. "Hello, Bell. If you are hungry, wait a few moments. We just started preparing lunch."
I walked over to the sink to wash my hands and then said, "Well, I was planning on cooking for everyone, but it seems you two beat me to it. I'm surprised though. I thought you'd be busy right now."
Ryuu placed a few tomatoes on a cutting board and started dicing them. As she did, she said, "I intended to. But since Artemis used her skill to create a barrier around our home, there really is not a need to do so."
"Oh, true." I nodded and glanced at Artemis. "Thanks for that. It'll prevent another ambush like last time. We were lucky... but let's not rely on luck too much."
Artemis smiled. "Of course. And I am more than happy to help protect the children." As she said that, she dug around in the cabinet and pulled out some onions and various herbs, handing them to Ryuu. "I have not been able to do much... so this makes me happy."
"Hey now." I wiped my hands dry on a towel and said, "You're doing great just being around, Artemis... Or Selene? Probably Selene, right?"
Artemis chuckled and said, "Selene is fine. We should make a habit of it, shouldn't we?"
"Right. We really should. Don't want even more questions around our family... though at this point, maybe we just double down on the weirdness..."
Ryuu rolled her eyes and placed the minced tomatoes into a pot. "Please do not tempt fate, Bell."
"Fair, fair." I knocked on the wooden countertop and then said, "Anyway... looks like you guys are making pasta? What can I help with?"
Ryuu hummed and said, "Selene and I will prepare the sauce. Can you prepare the noodles?"
"Sure thing." I walked over to set a pot of water to boil and then started pulling out some flour, eggs, and salt to make fresh noodles.
Ryuu noticed and said, "I meant the ones from the pantry, Bell..."
I started making the dough and chuckled. "I know. But fresh noodles are slightly more nutritious. And I can't let all my new little sisters be malnourished, can I?"
Ryuu rolled her eyes, a faint smile on her face. "You always do excessive things, Bell."
"Hey, when it comes to people I care for, nothing is enough."
Artemis let out a warm smile at that and said, "No wonder Hestia loves you so..."
Ryuu started mincing the herbs and nodded. "Indeed. And it's a very good thing that our captain here has only two women in his heart. Who knows what sort of menace would be unleashed upon womankind if he didn't."
"Hey, I resent that statement." I started kneading the dough and said, "Even if I didn't love Tia and Freya, I wouldn't go around talking up every girl I saw."
"No. But you are such an outstanding individual who loves to intervene so much with others that odds are high you would inevitably steal women's hearts left and right, Bell." Ryuu swept the minced herbs up into the bowl of minced tomatoes and then started heating a pot of cream. Glancing at me, she pointed her knife and said, "A menace to Orario and the bane of women everywhere. In another lifetime, I'm sure that's what you would be, Bell."
I chuckled and said, "Well, no point talking about what ifs and other lifetimes." I started making noodles from the dough and said, "We only have the here and now, after all. And here and now, I love Tia and Freya and nobody else."
Artemis chuckled as she pulled out some meat from the ice box. Setting it on a separate part at the counter, she said, "You like to emphasize that, don't you, Bell?"
I tossed the first batch of noodles into the pot of boiling water and started making some more dough. "Of course. Have to remind the world and everyone I meet so that no one gets any bright ideas." I paused and then cautiously looked at both of them. "...Neither of you like me like that, do you...? Because if you do-"
Ryuu snorted and cleaned up her cutting board. "Please. You have long cemented yourself in my books as the annoying little brother I have to keep an eye on lest he set the house on fire."
"Hey! I'm not THAT bad. I'd only like... burn a small corner."
Ryuu rolled her eyes and then started mincing the meat that Artemis laid out.
As for Artemis, she smiled and said, "You can rest assured, Bell. I am fond of you and appreciate what you have done for me. But..." She hummed and said, "You are... not quite my type?"
I blinked and stopped in the middle of kneading the dough. "...Huh?"
Artemis giggled and said, "You are quite heroic and indeed very handsome. But..." She hummed, lost in thought. "I'm not sure. I feel like my heart already belongs to someone else?" She placed her hand over her chest and muttered wistfully, "It's a bit strange... Perhaps because this all seems like a dream?"
I winced. "...Sorry. I forget sometimes that you lost your memories, Ar- Selene."
Artemis shook her head. "It's quite fine. I'm very happy the way I am now." She let out a genuine smile and said, "Spending time with all the children and also having such a large and caring family... it's more than I could ask for." She paused and laughed. "Though I could use with a little less excitement, dear Captain..."
I held up my hands and said, "I got it, I got it. I'll try not to make things too crazy in the future."
Ryuu started making the sauce, mixing in the herbs and tomatoes into the bubbling pot of cream. As she did, she glanced over and said, "Please do. I have had more than enough excitement to last even my long lifetime..."
I laughed and said, "Fair, fair..."