How did it come to this?
[I knew that one of these days, I would have to settle things with you once and for all.]
[Ehh~~ Why don’t you just keep on running away? That is if you don’t want to be defeated…… Don’t you think?]
[Fufufu, that’s really funny. I’ve always known you would be a great clown, Shalltear.]
[Ahaha, I think you shouldn’t be saying anything too cool, you know? You’re really funny, you know? Ein-san.]
Both of them were smiling, but in front of me, sparks were flying in between Ein-san and Alice. Both of them look as if Hannyas were floating behind their backs, and cold sweat runs down my back.
I didn’t know if Kuro couldn’t carelessly interject between them or not, but she flusteredly looked between them.
[……Kaito…… Tea…… Here.]
However, amongst this atmosphere, only Isis-san was acting normal. With a cute smile on her face, she only offered me a cup of tea.
It all started just a few moments ago…… around an hour or so, after we came back to the accommodation facility together after I slept on Kuro’s lap.
After that, Isis-san came and we all decided to have dinner together……
[Well then, Kuromu-sama. I will start preparing dinner.]
[Unnn. I’ll leave it to you~~]
Yes, just as Ein-san was about to head for the kitchen to make dinner, Alice, who had appeared before I knew it, muttered.
[……In that case, should I make it myself? I’m very familiar with Kaito-san’s taste after all.]
[……Shalltear? Can I take that as a challenge to me?]
[Ehh? No, I didn’t mean to pick a fight with Ein-san. If it’s Ein-san cooking for us, I’m sure that you will prepare a very sumptuous and delicious meal, and thinking about it now makes me look forward to it…… Well, it’s not just about being very sumptuous though.]
Around that time, for some reason, things started to get unsettling. I think it was probably at that moment that the first sparks flew.
[……That’s a really amusing joke you have. Are you saying that you’re better than a maid like me?]
[No, no, that’s not what I was saying~~ Well, what I’m saying is that I’m better at you in terms of cooking food that Kaito-san will like……]
[……E- Ein? S- Shalltear?]
Kuro seemed to have also sensed the situation, and tried to make a follow-up but…… she was too late.
[H- Hey, Kuro? Do these two not get along with each other?]
[That’s not the case! Rather, this is even the first time they’ve ever had a fight, you know!? Shalltear normally wouldn’t be so stubborn about things either……]
It seemed that Ein-san and Alice weren’t particularly on bad terms with each other. According to Kuro, Alice was more likely to back down when the atmosphere became but…… It seemed that Alice was getting stubborn because I was involved in this matter.
And now, there were two cooking tables in front of me, set up like those cooking shows on TV, with Ein-san and Alice facing each other. It feels like a true cooking competition.
[……Are you okay with those ingredients, Shalltear?]
[……It’s not all about how sumptuous the ingredients are. I know all about Kaito-san’s tastes! I even remember the moment when “he cried after he accidentally ate bell peppers”!]
[Oi! Why the heck do you know that!?]
Seriously, where the heck is my privacy!? Why is my black history being spread around all the time!?
This is weird. This is supposed to be a confrontation between Ein-san and Alice, but why the heck am I receiving damage here? Oi, Kuro! You’re their guardian! Don’t just sit next to me with a resigned look on your face, eating baby castellas!
Isis-san too, why are you acting like a referee there!? No more, I can’t follow what’s happening anymore!
With Isis-san’s call, both of them immediately started moving.
In the blink of an eye, Ein-san was chopping a large amount of food and preparing it in a complicated manner. Meanwhile, Alice cooked with a number of knives, brilliantly making use of all of them at the same time.
To be honest, the both of them were so fast that I couldn’t see them, but they’re probably evenly matched…… I guess?
[……You’re doing great, Shalltear. As expected of the one I recognize as my equal.]
[Ein-san too, you’re as great as ever…… As expected of a maid.]
……Well, I’ve got a lot of things I want to say but…… Don’t nonchalantly use the word “maid” as if you’re talking about a superhuman. It’s just Ein-san that’s monstrously powerful here.
I didn’t really know what’s going on, but it seems like they recognized each other and a heated battle was going on.
As I look at them, a white container and a spoon were placed in front of me.
[Eh? Isis-san? What’s this?]
[……Gratin…… I made it…… for Kaito.]
[T- Thank you…… Arehh?]
I feel like something’s strange. Why did Isis-san, who was acting like a referee just now, present me a gratin as if it was natural?
I mean, this gratin…… When in the world did she make it?
[……Because Kaito was coming…… I made it.]
[Ahh, I see…… So that’s why Isis-san met up with us later.]
The reason why Isis-san wasn’t here when I arrived at this accommodation facility was that she was making gratin for me huh.
Unnn, this makes me…… kind of happy. Not eating this isn’t an option.
[……With this, I’m fini——- Isis!?]
[I’m also done——- What’s happening!?]
At the same time as Isis-san offered to feed me with a smile, Ein-san and Alice also finished cooking…… and their eyes widened in astonishment when they saw Isis-san.
[W- Wait, Isis-san? W- What is that……]
[No, that’s not what I was talking about. Ummm, what about the match between me and Shalltear……]
[……There’s one…… for everyone, okay?]
[ [ ……I- I see……. ] ]
Apparently, Isis-san didn’t quite understand why Ein-san and Alice are fighting against each other. They certainly didn’t say anything directly, and they were just indirectly throwing taunts at each other……
Thus, I didn’t know if the malicious thoughts in their minds were cleared away by Isis-san’s pure smile or not, but both of their shoulders slumped down.
Seeing the situation, Kuro took out a blue flag out of nowhere and declared.
[……This is, unnn…… Isis’ victory!]
[The Dinner Showdown for Kaito-kun.]
[……Unnn? ……I don’t really know…… what’s happening but…… I won.]
After saying that while tilting her head, Isis-san turned to Ein-san and Alice and gave them a lovely smile.
[……Shalltear and Ein too…… Let’s eat? ……If everyone eats together…… It becomes…… even more delicious.]
[…..Roger that. By the way, Ein-san, that looks delicious, doesn’t it? Please let me have a taste.]
[……I don’t mind. In return, let me have a taste of that too.]
After accepting the request of the pure-hearted Isis-san, Alice and Ein-san wryly smiled before preparing a chair. Then, Ein-san glanced at Kuro, and after she received her nod, she sat down.
Of course, Kuro put away her baby castellas and began to eat the gratin that Isis-san had made with a smile.
Dear Mom, Dad————- The cooking showdown between Ein-san and Alice started before I knew it, but in the end, the match didn’t come to a conclusion. However, seeing the two of them enjoying themselves somehow, it seems like it’s just as Kuro said———– It’s Isis-san’s victory.