The World’s Strongest Daughter.

“…Let me just buy this one.”

I checked the snack Min So-yeon brought and shook my head, speaking firmly.

“No. We already bought three snacks.”

“…But we didn’t buy this flavor.”

Min So-yeon also didn’t back down and appealed to the necessity of the snack.

“We originally planned to buy only one, but you put three in the cart. You can eat the ones at home and then buy more later. Okay?”

After a few rounds of squabbling, she finally gave up.

As if sulking, her pouting lips and forced walking made it seem like I was looking at her young self, making me smile unconsciously.

After she put back the snack and returned, I gently coaxed the sulky Min So-yeon and pulled the cart again.

“Didn’t I say I’ll make you something tastier than snacks?”

“Nothing is better than snacks…”

She seems to be really sulking.

We passed the processed foods section and stopped by the fresh produce corner.

Today’s dinner menu is white rice, kimchi stew, and stir-fried sausage and vegetables.

A very classic menu.

I wanted to make her tastier dishes, but the basic ingredients were too lacking, and it felt a bit too much to buy everything at once, so I decided to purchase and use the necessary ingredients each time.

Min So-yeon and I stopped by the refrigerated section, and I scanned the numerous sausages, struggling to find the product she liked the most.

People say sausages are all the same, but isn’t it a parent’s heart to feed their child their favorite?

“Found it.”

After picking up the product I found and putting it in the cart, I called Min So-yeon, who was looking at other items next to me.

“So-yeon. Let’s go.”

Then she trotted over and glanced at the product I put in, slightly speaking to me.

“…Did you buy the delicious one?”

“Of course. You like it too, right?”

She took her eyes off as if it didn’t matter and went ahead.

Like that, we bought a few more necessary items and headed home.

The original plan was to chat with Min So-yeon as we walked, but she kept nagging about how much we bought, so we had no choice but to take a taxi and return home.

*

After returning home.

I immediately started moving busily and putting away the groceries.

After taking out the necessary amount of the purchased ingredients…

“So-yeon, I put the vegetables in the fridge, and the snacks and seasonings…”

“…Okay.”

She didn’t seem very interested.

…Right, even if she has them, she probably wouldn’t use them.

Ultimately, I told her I’d take care of it, organized it according to my standards, and then started preparing dinner.

The first thing to do is cook the rice.

I opened the purchased rice, washed it appropriately, and put it in the electric rice cooker I saw earlier.

It should last until tomorrow morning.

Next is kimchi stew.

Since it’s the main dish, I decided to put some effort into making it.

I poured the pork belly for the stew I bought from the mart into the pot I prepared in advance.

I turned up the induction power and spread the meat evenly so it cooked well.

Listening to the sizzling sound of the meat, I cut the kimchi I bought from the mart into appropriate sizes.

It’s best to boil it with well-fermented kimchi, but I have no choice but to substitute it with what I have.

While I was also chopping the green onions to add at the end, the smell of pork belly cooking began to spread in the kitchen.

Min So-yeon, sitting at the table fiddling with her cell phone, sniffed the smell and looked toward the induction stove.

… She’s looking for the snacks we bought, isn’t she?

“So-yeon, I’ll finish soon, so eat the snacks a little later.”

Startled, Min So-yeon slowly sat back down and spoke as if making an excuse.

“Oh, no I wasn’t…”

Her face turned red as if caught doing something embarrassing, looking quite cute.

Back to cooking.

I added some cooking oil to the pot and poured the pre-cut kimchi.

Then, the sound of kimchi frying in the heated pot was heard.

I quickly mixed the kimchi and pork back and forth, and it already started to smell delicious.

I slightly lowered the heat so the kimchi could cook thoroughly, then started on the stir-fried sausage and vegetables.

Just cut and stir-fry the sausage and vegetables, and it’s done. What could be easier and tastier than this?

I cut the sausage and vegetables I bought from the mart into a size that Min So-yeon could eat comfortably, then poured them together into the round pan I had prepared.

Since the kimchi stew isn’t finished yet, I need to take it slow.

I set the induction temperature low and focused on the kimchi stew again.

The kimchi and pork belly should have been well stir-fried by now.

I immediately poured water and turned the temperature up high.

In my experience, three things are enough for the seasoning of kimchi stew.

Red pepper powder, MSG, and anchovy broth.

I added the prepared red pepper powder and a little seasoning and finally added the anchovy broth capsule.

If it just boils vigorously like this, the kimchi stew is done.

All that’s left is the stir-fried sausage and vegetables.

I immediately turned the induction heat to high and started stir-frying the vegetables.

Since it was already heated, the vegetables soon gave off a delicious smell.

Sizzle- Sizzle-

When the onions were somewhat cooked.

I sprinkled in the seasonings I prepared in advance one by one.

Ketchup and sugar for the base, and a little pepper and MSG.

The seasonings and vegetables were mixed, and a delicious aroma hit the tip of my nose.

“…Is it done?”

Min So-yeon urged me with an impatient voice.

When I turned around, Min So-yeon looked at me, swallowing her saliva.

She kept smacking her lips, so it seemed like the smell passed.

Then what about the taste?

I picked up a sausage and onion and slightly pushed it toward Min So-yeon.

“Want to try?”

She eagerly took the sausage I handed her as if she was waiting and spoke her thoughts with twinkling eyes.

“When can we eat…”

The taste also passed.

I decided to end it early.

After lowering the heat on the stir-fried sausage and vegetables, I finished by adding the chopped green onions to the kimchi stew.

While taking out the side dishes I bought from the mart, the rice was also done, so I asked Min So-yeon to bring it over.

She looked at the fluffy, well-cooked rice and urged to eat quickly.

Looking at the time, it’s a bit early for dinner, but it’s an awkward time to wait.

“…Then shall we eat?”

I started setting the table with Min So-yeon’s strong agreement.

***

So-yeon’s POV

Fluffy, well-cooked white rice.

Kimchi stew with a somehow nostalgic taste.

And stir-fried sausage and vegetables that perfectly suit my taste.

Nothing was lacking.

I quietly put down my spoon and glanced at Yoo Ji-hwan sitting across from me.

No, how is he good at cooking too?

Even though I treated him badly, he always talks to me, and now he’s cooking for me.

There’s a limit to being kind. He must want something from me for sure.

What could he want so badly that he’s treating me so well?

Mom’s name? Money? If not that, then…

“… What’s wrong?”

Ah.

I stared too blatantly, and he noticed my gaze.

“…Nothing. It’s nothing.”

I glossed over it and lightly avoided his gaze, then picked up the spoon again.

A mouthful of rice, a mouthful of kimchi stew.

I don’t even remember the last time I ate such a delicious home-cooked meal.

I thought I’d just eat first, so I moved my spoon diligently.

“…So-yeon, eat slowly.”

Perhaps it looked like I was eating in a hurry, he spoke to me with a slight smile.

Again, again.

That habitual smile is the problem.

I kept my head down so he couldn’t see my face and continued eating.

It’s absolutely not because I’m embarrassed.

After finishing the meal like that.

Yoo Ji-hwan even volunteered to do the dishes.

He went grocery shopping and cooked for me, and then he will do the dishes too?

This makes me look like a woman with no conscience.

“Oh, no! If I let you do that too…”

“It’s okay if you do it, but then I won’t know where everything is.”

“…Huh?”

I was a bit flustered by his words.

It sounds like he’s saying he’ll come again…

Yoo Ji-hwan spoke while putting on an apron.

“I’ll call you when I’m done, so rest a bit while eating snacks or something.”

I didn’t do anything. What does he want me to rest from?

I thought I should at least help, so I offered to assist.

“… I’ll help.”

“Huh? It’s oka-”

“I want to help.”

Perhaps because I persistently clung to him, he seemed to think for a moment, then spoke slightly.

“Hmm… Then, can you just wipe the dishes dry and put them up?”

I can wipe them dry.

“…Okay.”

The dishwashing began, and I waited for work, holding a dry cloth.

I received the dishes he handed me, wiped them dry, and put them in the cupboard.

It wasn’t anything special, but I felt relieved thinking I was somehow helpful.

While I was diligently wiping spoons and chopsticks.

“Wipe thoroughly so it doesn’t leave marks.”

Yoo Ji-hwan spoke to me softly.

“…”

The moment I heard his words, I felt an inexplicable sense of deja vu.

The cloth in my right hand, the spoon in the other hand.

And his figure struggling at the low sink wearing an apron.

A feeling that somehow seeped into my heart.

What is this feeling?

Since my hands stopped, Yoo Ji-hwan, who was handing me the last dish, spoke casually.

“… What’s wrong?”

I barely came to my senses when Yoo Ji-hwan’s voice entered my ears. I moved my hands again, saying it was nothing.

Watching Yoo Ji-hwan’s back as he organized the dishes I wiped in the cupboard, I could feel an inexplicable sense of deja vu again.

After all the organizing was finished, Yoo Ji-hwan naturally went home.

He left saying, “See you tomorrow,” but I don’t know if that’s a customary greeting or if he really intends to come tomorrow.

Alone in the house.

I picked up the snacks I bought from the mart and headed to the living room.

I sat on the sofa, turned on the TV, stopped on a random channel, and opened the snacks.

The snack crunched and crumbled in my mouth.

The salty and nutty taste is just the way I like it.

But for some reason.

Somehow, the snack that was so delicious tasted bland to me today.

Is it because I’m full?

In the end, I threw away the snacks that I barely ate.

“…”

I felt an inexplicable loneliness.

Is it because I tasted human warmth after too long?

Aching from the loneliness that suddenly rushed in, I chose to escape.

…To my computer.

The only thing that can soothe my bitter heart is gaming after all.