<Nocturnal Harmonia>

[Apollymi]

Miko began chopping vegetables while the conversations were taking place. Her mind was able to keep track of both and compartmentalize the information. As such she was picking up quite a bit... including what Kaguya sounded like when answering her question. "Uh-huh, you know that if you're happy I am happy for you," Miko mentioned. As she finished chipping up a combination of vegetables she would be using both for the meat and for sides and appropriate extras. "I know you are, but I can see you... ya' know~" Kaguya offered the small girl. "All grown up physically, still processing quite a lot mentally... you don't have to worry about me either," Kaguya mentioned to her friend. "Just having you back makes me feel a bit better~" Kaguya admitted. "Iia, I'll worry all I want and you can't stop me. Besides... what I said still applies. If there's no one else, I'll always want you. I've become a bit more reliable since you saw me last, so trust me♪~" Miko chirped.

Kaguya would be slipping up on her friend and resting her head on her shoulder while she worked. "Hai hai.... it's good to hear you say that. But if you want to be trusted it has to go both ways~" Kaguya said cheekily. "I happened to meet an interesting young man the first week I moved in here..." she lead quietly cheekily. "I think he's known as Dreameater..." she continued which made Miko's eyes widen and her hands stop moving for just a second. "And wouldn't you know he gave me an interesting description of a certain tiny brunette he seemed to be looking for... and wanted to be notified if she turned up," Kaguya mentioned full teasing in her voice. Miko for her part in this... didn't say a word. "That silence is quite loud Mi-chan♥~ Do you want to confess?~" Kaguya interrogated the lass as she went back to chopping vegetables. "Did he talk to anyone else?" Miko asked skittishly. "Iia just me. No worries, I just hope you wouldn't keep a secret like that from me for too long. Also I've seen inside your piano~" Kaguya mentioned she'd not said anything about it, which made Miko relax again.

[Bloodedge]

Information was finally forming into a neat little pile. Still conscious of the fact that they were against his father, who certainly had some magical abilities, he figured aiming for the highest threshold of power was the only viable route for safety's sake. S-rank was his initial goal... but National Hunters sounded much more interesting. He'd be wanting to overwhelm all of them, probably with the caveat of remaining incognito until at least achieving S-rank. "You made it sound like one of the National Hunters might be a planet buster," he mentioned before taking his second shot. Miyuki would pour no more, but the discussion would continue.

"Ishigami Daisuke," said Miyuki. "The streamer?" Yugi asked. "He was. All of the National Hunters are definitely powerful enough to take on a whole country. The only thing that makes him questionable is the fact that nobody actually knows what he does. He goes into Dungeons, even taking an unawakened girl in with him, and he clears them. Behind all the NDAs going on with that guild, the only people who probably know what he's capable of are his guildmates and the other Nationals." It seemed the ceiling was much higher than even Yugi anticipated ─ potentially infinite. As bothersome as that was, it was equally... kind of exciting. Speaking with Miyuki was informative after all, so he supposed he'd continue probing for information until dinner was ready. . .

[Apollymi]

Vegetables were cut, meat minced and mixed and a large cast iron skillet was being heated. All the while, Miko was still listening to the conversation outside and having one with Kaguya. It seemed her secret was still mostly safe, but a lot had changed for her. "I called him, earlier... he seemed busy but he might pop up sometime soon," Miko mentioned softly. "Good, it seems like much like me, he missed you~" Kaguya mentioned cautiously. "I know it doesn't feel like long to you, but for the rest of us... time hasn't been so kind," Kaguya mentioned. Soon she was watching the girl place meat into a pan and hearing and smelling the seasoning of meat. Kaguya moved on and began preparing the table and watching as Miko moved those desserts out of the oven and into the freezer, for chilling. So many things were happening but Miko seemed quite at home in the chaos of the kitchen as time went on.

While Miko watched the meat cook she began making the sauce which she would be making a lot of. The goodness of this dish was the extras and well executed little things. All of the stuff she'd gotten from the shop seemed to be of reasonably high quality and all of it smelled great. She was sure by her small taste tests everything would be good. "So one more thing... how do you swallow all of that?" Kaguya asked while coming back to the stove. Miko turned around on her little stepstool and pointed at a few things. "Breathe through the nose. Start deep from the stomach. Try to relax but it's hard to get over when it feels a bit chokey.... still if you're into that it will go fine. Trust... if you can trust the person not to hurt you, then you'll probably be able to do it. And it gets easier the more you do it!♪~" Miko chuckled. "After you finish setting up the table tell the guys food will be ready in a minute. I just gotta finish this part up!~" Miko chirped the smells of hamburg steak wafting out of the kitchen and filling the house in the way that it'd been when she was younger. And in that moment, once she was alone for a second she'd note... a tear falling onto the stovetop. Even in their quite moment, Kaguya hadn't mentioned her parents... whatever was going on with them, had to actually be terrible. But after wiping that tear away... she did the only thing she could do, "Box it!" she put away those thoughts, and let them get buried deeper. There was too much else to consider.

"Oya? Dinner's almost ready... get yourselves to the table, ya?♥~" Kaguya said while having a look at both of the guys who seemed to be getting along as much as one could expect. Civility was probably one of the major aspects of life of the upper echelons.

[Bloodedge]

As time passed in the kitchen, time passed in the living room. A conversation that Yugi had been steering in a more preferable direction was reaching its natural end soon enough. "Personally, I think it's only natural that we have one of the strongest associations. Even if you don't count the number of S-ranks we have in Japan, our Hunters across the board are nothing to shake a stick at. If you awaken, you'll definitely be part of a good association right here at home!" Miyuki assured, though it seemed Yugi didn't care about that topic at all. Ah, but he was in luck. Kaguya was stepping out into the living room to announce dinner time.

"Welp! That's our cue. Mind grabbing a bottle? I'll take the glasses," Miyuki said. He'd take up the opened bottle and the shot glasses, making his way ahead of Yugi. Only lagging behind enough to leave three paces of space, Yugi took the remaining bottle in one hand to move. He wanted to be out of Miyuki's line of sight. In keeping that positioning, one of his arms was obviously extended outward just a bit, as if on offer for Kaguya just after Miyuki passed her by. Of course, he'd be staring her down the entire time so long as Miyuki never turned around.

[Apollymi]

Miko would be plating what looked like the equivalent of a six pound giant hamburg steak on a platter for the table. She'd been quietly moving about placing steaming bowls of rice and vegetables around the table. She'd also gotten a large bowl with ladle for the sauce so that people could get what they wanted out of that. She was certain her hamburg steak was perfectly cooked, and seasons she'd heard the perfect musical sizzles. She'd also been listening to all of the conversations. 'I'm okay. I'm strong. I can work through it. I'm not alone...' Miko gave herself a bit of affirmation as she prepared to eat a happy meal with her best friend and boyfriend. Extras were all in place and she'd be moving about to put the last of the items on the table.

At the same time, Miyuki was once again leaving his woman at the mercy of another. He'd not even looked back once, as Kaguya casually placed her ass cheeks right against Yugi's hand. Obviously, this was just a matter of availability. She wouldn't be planning to do anything else tonight except spend time with her fiancé. But still, it was fine to do a little bit of riling up of herself, still a cheeky wink would be occurring as they moved towards the dining room table. "Chii♪~ Come on. Sit down! Sit Down!" she chimed. Once everyone else was seated she'd be coming in with that giant platter to put it where it belonged right beside a large serving knife. "I made hamburg steak♪!~" Miko chirped. "And purin, but that's for dessert!♪~" Miko asserted. Her own seat would be beside Yugi's and Kaguya's would be beside Miyuki.

[Bloodedge]

What would come of that offered hand? Yugi wondered, but there wasn't much thought behind it. Per his expectations, Kaguya shifted in such a way as to place her ass against his palm. For being complacent in his deviant expectations, she earned herself a proper squeeze and rub as he moved into the kitchen. Was it Yugi's intention to guide her along with him, by the ass no less? Yes, it absolutely was. He'd aim to do that and ensure her rear was properly groped before separating to take his seat. He'd been smelling the food for a while; it was obviously meat. Upon reaching the kitchen, the true dish became obvious. "H'oh, Hamburg Steak? That's..."

Yugi had stopped speaking. Before he seated himself, he'd looked toward Miko. What he saw in her face was residue, not of crying outright, but... almost. There was the slightest hint of reddened veins in her eyes, a slight puffiness underneath, and a general disturbance around the brows and mouth. "... really something," he finally finished after several seconds of silence. A conversation would have to take place sooner or later. It seemed, based on how things were progressing, 'sooner' was the superior option. The dinner table was no place for such things, though. Besides... Miyuki was already yapping again. "Wow, that smells incredible. Arigatou, Iino-chan! So... I was thinking Kiriya-kun is new to both of us, and Iino-chan is new to me. How about we go for an icebreaker over drinks once dinner is done? You all like games, so how about a good old-fashioned drinking game?"

[Apollymi]

Kaguya for her part in this, got her ass groped as she was lead back into the kitchen. Such was a rather amusing thing, as she quite liked the handsy nature of one like Yugi, not that she'd found anything wrong with what she'd chosen. Ah, but at the announcement of hamburg steak and the like everyone entered the room and Yugi though he spoke of the food seemed to be taking notice of Miko. Kaguya too... could see it... some kind of emotional disturbance written all over the girl's face. That was curious, she didn't look like she was hiding that when Kaguya left the kitchen where did that come from?

Miko for her part in this, noticed the way Yugi was speaking but decided not to focus on it. She could easily manage her own emotions, "Right? The ingredients are great♪!~" Miko chimed. Since everyone was here, she wouldn't focus on her own emotional disturbance and would instead be focused on the food, except... for Miyuki. He had praised to offer and an idea for a drinking game. "Mi-chan♥!~ All this does look great, but you just go here. I get if you may not want to get wasted your first night," Kaguya offered an out as she always would to her friend who seemed to need something she couldn't rightly question with Miyuki in the room. "Iia, it's fine. I don't mind drinking. I do actually want to eat though♪~" Miko mentioned as if all of her impatience simply centered around food. Once they were all seated she'd begin passing around bowls of rice and vegetables pan-seared for people to choose from. Just the same Miko herself would cut a piece of the giant hamburg steak for everyone in equal sizes, including herself, each one about the size of an eight ounce steak. It'd have perfectly crispy brown outsides, and be ever so slightly medium rare in the middle a perfect cook for the girl who was quite excited to eat. She'd offer sauce to everyone who wanted it and then settle down to eat in her seat which no longer needed the cushions she used to to see over the table. Miko was planning to eat comfort food and ignore her emotions for a while and she hoped both people who knew her wouldn't be pushing it too much.

[Bloodedge]

In spite of seeing the turmoil hidden in Miko's expression, Yugi wouldn't acknowledge it all ─ not beyond that initial reaction to oddity. He knew the likeliest cause, and he knew things were both better and worse than what she was probably thinking. There was hardly anything to say regardless. If Yugi didn't want to talk about his family situation, he imagined she didn't want anyone bringing up hers either. So... food as distraction was a viable answer.

Miyuki's idea wasn't too bad either. Theoretically speaking, Yugi wagered a bit of intoxication with the right environment would make a massive difference toward lifting the mood. Kaguya tried giving the other girl a way out of drinking games, Miko showed an interest. "I haven't eaten much since unagi. That alcohol is pretty good past its strength though, and I'm always up for a game," Yugi added. Bowls were being moved around, vegetables and meat slices shared, and sauce poured. All the while, Miyuki was seemingly growing excited to break the ice with this other couple. "That's great then! How about it, hon? Truth or Dare is one we usually go for back at the guild!" he suggested. Yugi shrugged, already picking up a fork for his meal. He thought that was a very stupid game for someone like Miyuki to suggest in this situation, but... Miyuki also didn't know what kind of situation he was in. "I'll play. Itadakimasu," Yugi said, starting his meal with no further wasted time.

[Apollymi]

Miko didn't know how visible her distress was, until Kaguya tried to give her an out. She'd wiped away her tears and she'd not even really cried. Only a couple, only for a second... it was surprising that her being a little bit off registered, to both Kaguya and Yugi. "We haven't eaten since unagi... good point~" Miko chirped seeming to put aside her feelings and bury them further and further. Kaguya for her part in this completely recognized her friend choosing to distance herself from something which she found upsetting. She didn't know what it was, but she also knew Miko wasn't going to talk about it in front of Miyuki at least. "Hai hai, truth or dare is a dangerous game but... I don't mind playing if others are involved~" Kaguya mentioned casually.

Just the same the meal was spread out and would being with a chime from Yugi. He would begin eating and so would everyone else. Miko herself took a bite of a homecooked meal she was quite familiar with and she enjoyed it. It took a lot for her to hold her emotions in check but she'd still enjoy the food if nothing else. "Sugoi♥~ Mi-chan this is awesome♥~" Kaguya commented as she ate her first bite. Actually, this reminded her of eating with Miko's family, which she did quite a few times. Perhaps that was the problem. "Arigatou♪~" Miko chirped as she went through her own food. She'd easily finish her first plate and while watching everyone else eat, have a second without giving it a pause or second thought, such was the nature of her belly.

[Bloodedge]

One, two, three parties agreed to a game of Truth or Dare at dinner's end. Miyuki nodded and picked up a fork. "Itadakimasu!" he announced as well. Yugi, the first to abandon pleasantries and begin his meal, seemed relatively normal after going for the meat first. A low hum told the tale of his appreciation. He didn't stop to comment. He didn't stop at all. The same couldn't be said of the other two. Immediately following Kaguya, there was a Miyuki who'd gone for vegetables first.

"Umai!" Miyuki exclaimed. After only a single bite, he had to confirm that no mistakes were made in his sudden realization. His eyes were wide as he drove a fork through meat, collecting a small amount of sauce to accompany it on a one-way trip to his mouth. There were sparkles in eyes that normally looked tired, devoid of consistent rest for years. "I know it's probably cliché to say, but I think this is the best thing I've ever tasted!" the blonde announced. Such a thing was the expected lip service of someone trying to make an impression. Ah, but that wasn't the case. Miyuki truly found this meal to be something above the few gourmet experiences he had in life. He'd surely be making quick work of his plate as well, but... not without stopping to notice someone was already on a second plate. Well... the guests did say it had been a while since they last ate.

[Apollymi]

The meal started as it would... and Miko fell into the rhythm of consumption. It was much easier for her to ignore any of her own mental and emotional instabilities while she casually ate the food she cooked. Interestingly, enough she'd be hearing something of a chorus from the table. Yugi was the first to simply begin eating, she heard that low hum of his and knew that he was enjoying the food. The other two people in this room chose to speak on the matter. She expected such from Kaguya, who was always pleased by a home cooked meal. And given his pension for formality she also expected something at least passably nice from Miyuki.

Still, she found herself a bit surprised... his words, and the way they sounded were about normal, but he sounded genuinely pleased about his meal. Even the compliment he gave, hit her ears as a genuine appreciation for the food she made. "Arigatou gouzaimasu, I'm glad you're all enjoying it, Shirogane-san. Eat up... and let me know if you want seconds," Miko clarified. The girl said as she was already on her second plate long before anyone else would be.... eating was something rather easy to do, and Kaguya watched as the girl ate her food. She was always found of what Miko cooked, but she wasn't the type to eat more than a single serving of anything. "Oya? Appetite went nowhere, huh? That's good, I was a bit worried♥~" she claimed in a teasing manner. Still, if Miko was eating she was at least dealing with her emotions in some way. "Keep teasing me and I'll eat your dessert♪~" was the playful chirp which seemed to have quite a bit of a solid implication. A smirk crossed Kaguya's face but she just found that more amusing given what Miko had been like in the situation before. She found it a bit odd that there had been no commentary from Yugi, but perhaps their relationship was a bit more wound up in the subtle quiet moments? Miko did seem like she was pleased in general about the reactions to her cooking.

[Bloodedge]

Miyuki couldn't compliment this meal enough if he tried. Even so, the offer of seconds was something he'd have to politely decline. "I'm afraid I'll have to avoid seconds. For what it's worth, I think I can actually finish this plate at least. I'd normally save half to reheat later, but this is too good!" he praised. Without further hesitation, Miyuki went straight for another bite, then another, and so on. All the while, Yugi was clearing his plate in... silence, mostly. Well, he'd be relatively silent to anyone but Miko, who'd undoubtedly hear him almost moaning into the fork at every bite.

The first to begin was the second to finish a plate. Yugi's enjoyment continued to be anything but verbal. By the time he finished eating, he lifted a plate coated in sauce, tilting it only slightly as his tongue protruded, dragging along the residual sauce. Was Yugi such a sloppy eater? Certainly not, but two of the three other people in this kitchen would understand his gesture. As fate would have it, Miyuki wasn't even looking up from his own plate at the time ─ not that it mattered to Yugi if he did. Surely it would just go over the blonde's head anyway. Ah, but why did he do that? There was a threat of eating someone's dessert, so he finally decided to comment on something. "So will I. Team Vengeance♥~"

[Apollymi]

Miko was the type who offered food to others, out of the kindness of her own heart, but not out of a need of the usual variety. Upon hearing that Miyuki wouldn't be having seconds yet another portion made its way to Miko's plate, more rice more, vegetables and even more sauce. Still by the time Miyuki finished talking Miko looked up and Kaguya stiffened. Miko was prone to outbursts and she realized after Miyuki spoke that she was on the verge of one. "Lucky you like it so much, reheating is a sin!" Miko asserted with an odd amount of authority. "Mi-chan has really strong feelings where food is concerned. She also doesn't like microwaves..." Kaguya mentioned as if she found these things to be among the most adorable of all time. Miko looked up from her plate with slight malicious intent, a glare aimed Kaguya's way made the black haired lass shift in her seat. "You can go ahead and have mine too, don't go looking at me like that♥~" Kaguya claimed but it sounded more flirty than scared. Kaguya was one step away from having her dessert devoured by the young lass, ah but those words, were precious. "Chii♪!~" Miko happily chirped as she planned her next serving.

Just the same, a mostly quiet Yugi was finishing up his first plate. Even so, Miko had heard every happy moan and food related noise the man had made, even though it wasn't something picked up by most... Occasionally she looked in his direction with a very vivid image in her head of sitting on his face and hearing similar sounds. Kaguya caught Miko looking and looked where she did as well, in time to see... Yugi licking a plate in a manner that made her legs twitch slightly too. Both girls watched this as they ate, 'If he keeps moving his tongue like that... I am so gonna sit on his face♪~' Miko thought as she completed yet another plate. "Team Vengeance sounds nice to me♪~" Miko chattered seeming to find it perfectly reasonable. "Do you want another or is my serving count five?" Miko wondered of Yugi as she worked on her own plate. She fully intended not to send a single dish back to the kitchen with food still present but that was simply how meals worked around her.

[Bloodedge]

Yugi had some incredible periphery. With it, he was able to see when the eyes of Miko and Kaguya shifted his way, lending to his ability to lock eyes with each of them while they watched. The movements of his tongue became deliberate, trailing in a zigzag pattern along the plate, swirling and so on. There was nothing said about his threat to join in consuming Kaguya's 'dessert', but two of three things had landed. He'd been seen when he wanted to be, and the concept of Team Vengeance was adopted by Miko. Ah, but there was also a question about second servings. It came as no surprise to him that Miko would rather have everyone's seconds; she'd been the one to eat most of the Riverglass Eels as well.

What of his answer though? Yugi did enjoy a fair bit of indulgence, but he didn't have a need for more entrée. The smell and mentions of dessert, however, had his attention. Perhaps his answer should be one that took advantage of Miko's current desire for more servings? Yes, of course it should. "I'll trade for an extra dessert. It's not chocolate, right?" he asked for confirmation before truly offering an exchange. Meanwhile, Miyuki was finally looking up and realizing Miko was already on a third plate. "Um... how long ago was unagi, actually?" he wondered earnestly, seeming morbidly curious for numerous reasons.

[Apollymi]

Kaguya did have something to say, "I definitely want my own dessert guys♥~" Kaguya finally managed when she moved her eyes away. She knew how many of those were made, and knew that bar some very extreme bad behavior, she'd be getting hers. Still both girls got a full view of tongue skills which both would want to take advantage of, 'He has to be doing that on purpose. Damn it's hot. Maybe that's it... I find the directness attractive?' Kaguya thought over her issues concerning Yugi, but that wouldn't stop her from enjoying the show.

Just the same, Team Vengeance was having negotiations. Miko was finishing up her third plate and while she did, Yugi was claiming that he'd trade an entrée for an extra dessert, under the stipulation that it wasn't chocolate. "Well, it isn't chocolate... I take it you don't like chocolate. That's good to know, though is that a bitterness thing or something else. Not judging regardless... but I might be able to help with that," Miko seemed very interested in this lack of chocolate. "Of course you aren't judging, you literally can't given the one thing you won't eat♥~" Kaguya teased. "Urusai♪~" Miko quipped quickly. "And I can give you an extra dessert in exchange for your portion, though I want to know if I'm predictable..." Miko said looking ever so slightly huffy. "Some number of hours ago. I lost track of time... and we didn't have breakfast," Miko answered Miyuki's question rather vaguely before going to slice off her fourth portion and begin that plate as well.