The sun was long gone. The kitchen glowed under warm overhead lights, and the windows had turned into dark mirrors reflecting the space back at itself.
Kaoru answered his phone on the third ring. “Yes. I’m here.”
I checked my left.
Steam rose from multiple pots now, curling thick toward the ceiling. Chef Bunzo stood over a wide plate, arranging vegetables with the focus of a man defusing a bomb. His fingers placed each piece with surgical accuracy.
Green, white, yellow, red, black. The rule of five.
One of his assistants ladled miso into small bowls, and another lifted a tray of steamed tofu glistening with a dark glaze.
The whole kitchen smelled different than when I'd opened the book.
Richer.
Layered.
Earthy root vegetables filled the space with herbal fragrances while the clean scent of steamed rice had settled over everything like a blanket.
Kaoru nodded. “Yeah. I’m with the Heart.”
I blinked and looked at him.
“Yeah.” Kaoru sighed. “She told us.”
I felt someone watching and checked that direction.
Yoichi still leaned against the wall with his arms folded, but the amber in his eyes had gone dark with the fading light. “Do you want more wine, Nyomi?”
“Well. . .” I considered that and decided I was already decently tipsy enough. “No. I’ll have some later.”
“Sounds good.” Yoichi winked.
Kaoru bobbed his head. "Alright. Got it. Yes, sir. I'll let her know."
I quirked my brows.
He hung up. "That was the Roar. They're close. Maybe ten minutes out."
My chest loosened. My shoulders relaxed.
Finally.
I closed the book and my whole body softened.
Ten minutes and I'll be in Kenji’s arms.
Then Hiroko's face moved through my mind. Quick and uninvited. The way her eyes had sparkled when she talked. The way she'd leaned in close like every piece of advice was a secret she was trusting me to keep.
My throat tightened.
I shoved my sadness away.
I'll grieve later. Right now, I need to be ready for them.
I smoothed my hand across the cover, stood, and looked at Chef Bunzo and then at Yoichi. "Let's set everything up at the big dining table."
They nodded, and we got to work.
