novelnext Chapter 222 Let's go fishing!
Chapter 222 Let's go fishing!
Chapter 222 Let's go fishing!
Kanna glanced at the salad, then at the kitchen, and decided to wait for the hot dishes.
Finally, Mirajane carried the first hot dish out of the kitchen.
It was a large plate of grilled fish, the skin of which was grilled to a golden brown and crispy, sprinkled with spices and lemon juice, and the aroma was irresistible.
Kanna's eyes widened in disbelief.
Mirajane placed the grilled fish on the table, and Kanna immediately reached for her fork, but Robin stopped her.
"Let's eat after everyone has arrived."
Connor reluctantly put away her fork, her lips pouting so much they could hold an oil bottle.
Mirajane smiled, turned around and went back to the kitchen to continue serving the dishes.
The second dish was stewed meat. The meat was stewed until very tender, the broth was rich, and a thin layer of oil floated on top, making one's mouth water at first glance.
The third is vegetable soup, which is light and refreshing, with the natural sweetness of the vegetables.
The fourth dish is seafood fried rice. Each grain of rice is distinct, and the freshness of the seafood and the aroma of the rice blend together perfectly.
Then came a dessert, a pudding made by Mirajane, with a golden caramelized surface that made a crisp sound when tapped.
Sixth — Seventh —
Finally, there was a large fruit platter, with fruits of various colors neatly cut and arranged into a beautiful pattern.
Bai Yu walked over from the bow of the ship at some point, stood by the dining table, and looked at the table full of dishes, admiring it in his heart.
Robin walked over to him and whispered something.
"Bai Yu, are you sure she only knows a little bit?"
Bai Yu did not answer.
Kanna couldn't control herself any longer. When no one was looking, she secretly reached for the grilled fish, grabbed a piece, and stuffed it into her mouth.
Then her expression went out of control again.
"Delicious! Delicious! So delicious!"
Kanna was so excited that she was incoherent, grabbing the grilled fish and stuffing it into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster.
Rangiku couldn't stand it anymore and grabbed Kanna from the edge of the table.
"Everyone's not here yet, why are you eating already?"
Kanna was suspended in mid-air, still clutching half a grilled fish tightly in her hand, refusing to let go.
"I'm hungry!"
"Wait a minute!"
"I can't wait even a second longer!"
Shiraha sighed, took Kanna from Rangiku, and placed her on a chair.
"Eat."
Connor felt like she had been granted a pardon and immediately pounced on the grilled fish, eating with great relish.
Bai Yu looked at the others.
"Sit down and eat, there's no need to wait."
Artoria was the first to sit down.
She picked up her fork, speared a piece of stew, put it in her mouth, and then her expression changed.
The change was subtle, but Bai Yu noticed it.
Artoria's pupils dilated slightly, and she slowed down her chewing, as if she were savoring something extraordinary.
"How is it?"
Rangiku asked, "There's also a piece of meat skewered on the fork."
Artoria put down her fork and looked at Mirajane.
"It's delicious."
Her comments were brief, but sincere.
"Thank you."
Mirajane smiled and sat down opposite Artoria.
Rangiku stuffed the meat into her mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and then froze.
She turned to look at Mirajane, her eyes filled with shock.
"Did you really make this?"
"yes."
"Aren't you new here? You're not familiar with the ingredients in the kitchen, are you?"
"I memorized it after just a quick glance."
"How long has this meat been stewing?"
"One hour."
"What seasonings did you use?"
"secret."
Rangiku fell silent.
She put down her fork, picked up her wine glass, and solemnly walked up to Mirajane.
"Miraj".
"Um?"
"From this day forward, you will be the person I respect most."
Mirajane was amused by her earnestness.
"Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?!"
"No, this is a very serious matter."
Rangiku's expression was very serious.
"In this world, nothing is more respectable than someone who can cook."
She tilted her head back and finished the drink in her glass, then clasped her hands together and bowed deeply to Mirajane.
"Please accept my deepest respect."
Mirajane was both amused and exasperated, and quickly helped her up.
"Alright, alright, sit down and eat, the food's getting cold."
Rangiku was pushed back into her seat, but her eyes remained full of adoration.
Yachiru picked up a piece of fish and chewed it slowly, her smile becoming even gentler.
"Hmm~"
She let out a satisfied sigh.
"This smell reminds me of a place from a long time ago~"
Bai Yu glanced at her, but Yachiru didn't continue speaking. She just kept eating, her face bearing that ever-present gentle smile.
Robin sipped his vegetable soup, looking at Mirajane with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Miraja, in your original world, you must have been more than just a 'little' at that level, right?"
Mirajane paused for a moment as she picked up some food.
She looked up into Robin's eyes, those dark pupils held no scrutiny, no probing, only pure curiosity.
Mirajane smiled.
"In my original world, I cooked most of the meals for the guild."
"union?"
"Yes, it's an organization similar to a pirate crew. Our guild has a lot of members."
Mirajane smiled, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes.
"I guess so, but it's the best place I've been in all these years, besides this place."
Bai Yu remained silent. He ate his meal quietly, occasionally taking a sip of wine, watching the group of women make a ruckus.
A faint smile always lingered at the corners of his mouth; it wasn't very obvious, but it was definitely there.
The party was very lively.
The sun had completely set, and the stars began to light up one by one. The starlight and the lights of the Dawn were reflected on the sea, creating a scene as beautiful as a painting.
On the deck, music, laughter, and the clinking of glasses mingled together, creating a lively atmosphere.
Kanna was full and slumped in her chair, her belly round and full, still holding a piece of fruit in her hand, taking bites here and there.
Rangiku had drunk a lot of alcohol; her face was as red as a boiled shrimp, and she was starting to slur her words, but she kept drinking.
Yachiru sat on the mast, a glass of wine in his hand, sipping slowly, a gentle smile on his face, watching everything on the deck.
Artoria was eating very seriously; she had already emptied more than thirty plates and was now attacking her fortieth.
Robin didn't eat much; she spent most of her time watching everyone with a satisfied smile on her face.
Mirajane sat next to Bai Yu, holding a glass of wine and sipping it slowly.
Looking at the group of people in front of her, a strange feeling welled up inside her.
These people, whom she had only known for less than two days, gave her a feeling she hadn't had in a long time.
That's the feeling of family.
They weren't the kind of family members from Fairy Tail, but a different kind—equally warm and equally precious.
She glanced at Bai Yu, who was looking at the distant sea, lost in thought.
"What are you thinking about?"
Mirajane asked.
Bai Yu withdrew his gaze and looked at her.
"I'm thinking about what you'll make for breakfast tomorrow."
Mirajane paused for a moment, then laughed.
What would you like to eat?
"casual."
"Doing whatever you want is the hardest thing to do."
"Then you can do it as you see fit."
Mirajane pursed her lips, but didn't say anything more.
After a few rounds of drinks, Rangiku completely let loose.
She stood up from her chair, swayed as she walked up to Mirajane, and squinted as she looked her up and down.
"Miraje~"
Her voice was drawn out, thick with the effects of alcohol.
"What's wrong?"
Mirajane looked at her.
I have a question for you.
"ask."
"You have such a great figure, how do you maintain it?"
Mirajane was taken aback.
Rangiku continued speaking, gesturing with her hands.
"Look at your chest, look at your waist, look at your legs, your proportions are just too incredible!"
Mirajane was both amused and exasperated. Before she could answer, Robin spoke up.
"I'm curious too."
Robin held his wine glass, leaned back in his chair, a slight flush on his face, and his eyes were more languid than usual.
Mirajane was a little embarrassed by the praise.
"Don't do this—"
Don't be shy~
Rangiku moved even closer, almost touching Mirajane.
"Come on, tell us, do you have some secret? Like a special training method, or some kind of magical enhancement?"
Yachiru had somehow climbed down from the mast and stood behind Mirajane, smiling gently.
"I'd like to know too~"
Her voice was very soft and gentle, but for some reason, Mirajane felt a chill run down her spine when she heard it.
Yachiru tilted his head, his gentle eyes looking at Mirajane's back.
"Your bone structure is very good, is it natural?"
Mirajane swallowed and nodded.
"It must be something I was born with —"
Yachiru smiled, a very gentle smile.
"That's great!"
Artoria put down her fork, wiped her mouth, and looked at Mirajane.
Her expression remained serious, but what she said stunned everyone.
"From a knight's perspective, your physique is indeed excellent. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs—this build is very advantageous in combat, allowing you to maintain agility while also exerting power."
She paused, then added.
"Besides, it must be difficult to find a breastplate that fits you properly, right?"
Mirajane: "————"
The entire room fell silent for a second.
"A breastplate! Hahahaha! Artoria, why did you think of a breastplate?!"
Artoria looked completely innocent.
"I'm telling the truth."
Robin covered his mouth, laughing so hard his shoulders were shaking.
Unohana smiled gently, "Artoria is such a lovely child."
Mirajane's face turned completely red. It wasn't that she hadn't been complimented on her figure before, but being surrounded by a group of women discussing it, especially in this way, was something she had never experienced before, even back in Fairy Tail.
Bai Yu sat to the side, watching everything calmly.
Connor climbed off the chair, ran to Mirajane, and looked up at her.
"Sister Mirajane, what is that big thing they're talking about?"
Mirajane's face turned even redder, and her ears burned.
Kanna tilted her head and continued to ask innocently.
"Is it edible?"
"Your brother Baiyu probably ate something last night!"
"Really? I want to eat it too—"
As soon as Kanna finished speaking, the atmosphere on the deck instantly became subtle.
Rangiku's laughter stopped abruptly. She stared wide-eyed at Kanna, her mouth opening and closing like a fish pulled ashore.
Robin's hand, holding the wine glass, froze in mid-air. His expression twitched between wanting to laugh and wanting to explain, finally settling on a deep red.
Artoria picked up the fourth plate expressionlessly, demonstrating with her actions that this matter had nothing to do with her.
Bai Yu's face darkened for a moment, then returned to normal.
He looked at Kanna's innocent face and took a deep breath.
Kanna tilted her head, looking at the adults with a confused expression, muttering, "Can I eat this or not?"
"—I don't think I understand."
Bai Yu didn't say anything more. He looked down at Kanna, reached out, and ruffled her hair.
"You can't eat it."
"For beggars?"
Kanna's eyes were filled with confusion, her ruby-like pupils reflecting Bai Yu's face.
"Because that's not for eating."
"Is that a beggar?"
"yes----"
Bai Yu paused for a moment, thinking about how to explain.
"It's something only adults have."
Kanna looked at herself with her eyes, as if she understood a little bit, but also as if she didn't understand anything at all.
"Will I have that when I grow up?"
Bai Yu paused for a second.
"----uncertain."
"Does that mean Sister Mirajane, the beggar, has it?"
"Wait until you grow up."
"oh."
Kanna nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
The laughter on the deck gradually subsided, the effects of the alcohol slowly crept onto everyone's faces, and the party atmosphere shifted from lively to languid.
After eating, Kanna's belly was round and full. She lay on her back on the deck, looking at the starry sky above.
"Wow, so many stars!"
Kanna stretched out her little hand and reached out towards the sky, as if trying to grab those sparkling little things.
Robin leaned against the ship's railing, looking up at the starry sky. The wind blew through her black hair, which shimmered softly in the moonlight.
"The stars over the sea are always brighter than those over land."
"Because there are no lights on the dry dock."
Artoria said, putting down her plate and looking up, her green eyes reflecting the starry sky.
"In my world, the night sky is beautiful too. But the stars here seem closer."
Rangiku leaned against the gun barrel, still holding a bottle of sake in her hand, but she was no longer drinking.
She squinted, looking at the distant sea.
"Have you noticed how unusually quiet it is tonight?"
Everyone quieted down and listened attentively.
Indeed, the night is exceptionally quiet tonight. There is no wind, only the gentle lapping of waves against the hull, slow and rhythmic, like an ancient lullaby.
The voice was very low and deep, as if it came from a very, very far place, or as if it rose from the depths of one's heart.
Whoosh—whoosh—
The sound of the waves was exceptionally clear in the quiet night. The tide surged up and receded, surged up and receded again, endlessly repeating itself.
"The sound of the ocean is so beautiful~"
Mirajane calmed down as well. She looked at the dark sea and listened to the rhythmic sound of the waves, and the chaotic thoughts in her mind slowly sank away.
The ocean seems to possess a magical power, capable of encompassing and accepting everything, making all emotions seem less important.
"I've never paid attention to this sound before."
Mirajane said softly.
"If you stay in a noisy place for too long, you will overlook these simple things."
"But these things are always there, and they will always be there as long as you are willing to listen."
Bai Yu raised his wine glass, silently toasted the starry sky, and then tilted his head back to drink.
Rangiku yawned and stretched lazily.
"Ugh... I'm a little sleepy..."
"No, it's too early."
Rangiku rubbed her eyes, trying to stay awake.
"Besides, with such good weather and such a beautiful starry sky, it would be a shame not to play some card games."
"You want to play the beggar?"
Robin asked.
Rangiku thought for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up.
Night fishing!
"What?"
Night fishing! Fishing!
Rangiku jumped down from the mast, gesturing with her hands to indicate her name.
"Just imagine, under this beautiful starry sky, with the sea breeze blowing and the waves crashing, drinking and fishing at the same time—how romantic!"
Robin makes an eye gesture.