After 2: The Most Important Ingredient in Cooking Is
The Most Important Ingredient in Cooking Is
A girl named Samidare Satsuki had begun carrying herself with a strikingly mature air since starting university.
Back in high school, she’d still had a distinctly childish vibe—a lingering softness in her expression that made her seem much younger—but now, bit by bit, that innocence seemed to be fading.
Not that her appearance had changed all that much.
She was still just as petite, and if anything, her features still leaned toward the youthful. If someone saw a photo of her, it wouldn’t be surprising if they mistook her for a middle schooler.
And yet, the aura around her was completely different.
Maybe I was the only one who noticed.
Ever since she found out we were only stepfather and stepdaughter, Satsuki’s been acting like she wants to stop being “the daughter.”
Maybe it was thanks to that effort that my own perception of her had started to shift… I was mulling it over absently on the living room sofa when I suddenly felt a light tap on my shoulder.
“Daddy… oops, I mean, Itsuki. Dinner’s ready~”
When I turned around, Satsuki stood there in an apron, beckoning me over with a ladle in hand.
Her slightly longer hair was tied back in a ponytail to keep it out of the way while she cooked—it suited her surprisingly well.
“Tonight, I made your absolute favorite: Acqua Pazza~”
Spread out on the dinner table was a dish that looked like some kind of soup, filled with seafood and vegetables…? I couldn’t even tell what it was supposed to be.
“Since when did I ever say Acqua… whatever-it’s-called was my favorite?”
“You said it in your dream~”
“…If you just wanted to eat it, you could’ve said so. No need for the psychic routine.”
I gave a little shrug, and Satsuki grinned back, all playful charm.
“Ehehe~ So I went to this restaurant with my friends the other day, and it was so good, I thought, ‘Daddy has to try this too!’ …And, well, I kind of wanted to eat it again myself~”
“…I see. Well, thanks for making it.”
When I thanked her, Satsuki gave a shy little wave with her ladle, like she wasn’t sure what to do with her hands.
“Oh, no need to thank me~ I'm just doing my best as your brand-new wife, even if I’m a bit clumsy at it~”
“You’re not my wife.”
She was always trying to slip into the role of “wife” or “bride” whenever she got the chance, so I made sure to nip it in the bud.
It’s still way too early—just give me a little more time to enjoy being your Daddy… at least until you’re old enough to be called an adult.
“Alright then, time to eat.”
“Go ahead, dig in~!”
I took a seat at the table and reached for my spoon. Satsuki watched me with a beaming smile, eyes locked on mine. Honestly, with her staring like that, it was kind of hard to eat… but she never seemed satisfied until she saw that first bite go in. So, I scooped up a mouthful and dove in.
“Wow, this is really good…”
The flavor was incredible—no complaints whatsoever. Compared to my cooking, it was night and day.
“You know, I always wonder… how did you get so good at cooking, Satsuki?”
It’s only been, what, three months since she started? And she’d already left my skills in the dust.
“You used to say, ‘Cooking is for eating, not doing,’ and you’d never even touch the stove. I swear, Satsuki, you’re unbelievable.”
I couldn’t help but let the words of admiration slip out.
And I wasn’t just being nice. I meant every word.
This girl could handle just about anything with ease. If she set her mind to something, she’d figure it out. That’s probably why she could cook too… but even for someone gifted, her knack for picking things up was unreal.
“S-Stop flattering your daughter like that… Honestly, Itsuki, you’re such a daughter-flirter. If you keep saying sweet things like that, I’ll get so happy I’ll want to jump on you—are you ready for that~?”
“Yeah, I’d appreciate it if you held back on that part…”
Lately, Satsuki had really been maturing.
When she threw herself at me like she used to, all casual and carefree, it left me feeling weirdly conflicted. I’d really appreciate it if she could tone the clinginess down a bit.
“Ichu—ahem. Itsuki, do you know what the single most important seasoning in cooking is?”
Then, cheeks flushed red, Satsuki said something that made me want to bury my face in my hands.
“It’s love, you know? There’s always tons of love packed into my cooking… Maybe that’s why it tastes so good~”
“…Yeah. I think… I can kind of taste that.”
Maybe that really was it—maybe it was the love she put in that made her food taste so special.
“So really, I’m not that amazing. It’s not like I’m a natural at cooking or anything… It’s just, Daddy, your food always had so much love in it, and I guess… I just wanted to copy that.”
As she said it, Satsuki gave me a bashful, glowing smile.
Just seeing that smile filled my chest with warmth—it was the kind of happiness that seeps in before you even notice it.
Thanks to all the love I’d poured into raising her… Satsuki was growing into a truly beautiful, extraordinary young woman――