The world outside continued white.
Not the soft white of a fleeting winter, but the absolute white that surrounded Chaldea like an eternal veil. From the inside, however, the morning silence was almost comfortable. The automatic lights mimicked a dawn that would never come, gently warming the sterile corridors.
Kazuya walked lazily, arms stretched upward as he let out a long yawn. His muscles stretched with a discreet crack that even made his companions glance sideways.
"Maaan... we could schedule the battles after breakfast." He sighed, letting his arms drop. "Stretching should count as official training."
Beside him walked two figures who contrasted in everything, except for the fact that they followed the same Master.
Karna, impeccable as always, had a serene gaze and perfect posture. He seemed to have been awake for hours, imperturbable like an eternal flame. His red mantle swayed silently with each step.
On the other side, Mordred marched with short, irritated steps. The clinking of her casual armor betrayed her bad mood even before her expression did.
"I almost won that time!" she complained, kicking the air as if the corridor were to blame. "But then you, you lunatic albino, hit me with that completely random strike! That's cheating! It has to be!"
Kazuya turned his face toward her with that lazy and dangerous smile that made many Servants sigh and many Servants sigh out of pity.
"Mordred, Mordred..." He tilted his head, mocking. "If you recognize the strike, it can't be that random, right? Besides... cheating is such an ugly word for something as natural as talent."
Redness immediately took over her face.
"D-don't look at me like that! And stop talking like you're a fair knight! I'm serious!"
The corridor seemed to vibrate with her energy. The Rebel Knight's mood was capable of warming even the frozen floor.
Karna remained serene, his expression calm as if he had already foreseen all of it.
"You fought well." His voice sounded soft, almost philosophical. "Your progress is visible. Today's defeat is merely the reflection of the Master's effort."
"Hey, Karna!" Mordred turned to him with instant indignation. "Are you trying to comfort me or make my morning worse?!"
"I'm merely stating the truth."
Kazuya chuckled softly, resting his hands behind his head as he walked.
"See, Mordred? Even Karna agrees. If you want a rematch, just schedule it. But I promise to go easy this time."
"You never go easy!" She clenched her fists, huffing.
"That's because I don't want to ruin your motivation." He winked with pure provocation.
Her face turned even redder, and she looked away with a frustrated grumble.
"Tch... idiot. Just... wait. I'm still going to defeat you in such a beautiful way that you'll spend weeks complaining."
"Uuuh, I'm anxiously waiting."
When the trio finally arrived at the cafeteria, the warm aroma of fresh food escaped through the automatic door even before it fully opened. It was a welcoming contrast to the white and silent corridors.
Inside, the scene was... curiously peaceful, considering the people involved.
Tamamo-no-Mae was in the kitchen with a radiant smile, her ears twitching in pure enthusiasm as she stirred a pot with agile movements.
"Just a little more seasoning and it'll be perfect! Goshujin-sama will be so happy that he might even give me a treat afterward..."
Her tail wagged in a way that clearly betrayed her excess of expectations.
Beside her, Jeanne d'Arc prepared breakfast with an almost religious calm. The apron seemed a natural part of her, and her gentle smile was capable of purifying even a Berserker.
"Tamamo, be careful with the fire. And remember: The master will like it even if it's simple."
Tamamo puffed out her cheeks.
"Jeanne-chan, you don't understand! Goshujin-sama's stomach is a battlefield as important as any other!"
On the other side of the counter, the timid and dedicated Asia cut fruits with surprising precision.
"I-it's all turning out so beautiful... I hope Kazuya-san likes it..."
Ereshkigal, seated beside them while waiting for a pot to boil, crossed her legs with divine elegance. Her serious face hid the slight pink on her cheeks.
"I'm only here because... because it's my responsibility as a wife... to prepare something worthy of him in the morning. It's not like I want to see him smiling first thing or... or anything like that..."
Tamamo laughed mischievously.
"Of course, of course... none of that is because you glow when he compliments your food, hmmm?"
The blush on Ereshkigal's face increased dangerously.
"W-what are you insinuating, fox?!"
Before the discussion could escalate, the door opened fully.
Kazuya entered first with his lazy gait, followed by Karna and Mordred.
The instant he stepped in, four pairs of female eyes sparkled in completely different ways.
Tamamo almost dropped the pot.
"Goshujin-samaaaa! Good morning! Good morning! Good morning with three times more love and dedication!"
Jeanne smiled as if she had seen the sun rise inside the building.
"Kazuya. Good morning. You look well... I'm relieved."
Asia clasped her hands, enchanted.
"Kazuya-san! Good morning! Are you hungry? I prepared fruits for you!"
Ereshkigal quickly looked away, but her voice came out soft, though with a faint tremor that betrayed her.
"Hmph... you took your time, master. Sit down already. I'll serve something... before it gets cold."
Kazuya let out a low whistle.
"Uwaaah... look at that, everyone so excited already in the morning." He smiled, provoking effortlessly. "If I knew causing this effect was so easy, I would've slept in more."
Tamamo shouted first.
"NO! Don't sleep in more! Wake up early! Preferably by my side!"
Jeanne cleared her throat delicately.
"Tamamo..."
Mordred crossed the scene, throwing herself into a chair with an indignant sigh.
"Urgh, even here he gets all this attention... irritating."
Karna maintained a polite and calm smile.
"It's natural. The Master captivates people easily."
Meanwhile, in the right corner of the cafeteria, a group observed the scene with varied expressions.
At the first table, Artoria Alter (Salter) ate pancakes with her usual somber aura.
"Ridiculous... so much chaos first thing. This is his fault."
Jeanne Alter propped her chin on her hand, staring at Kazuya with half-closed eyes.
"Tch. That idiot is still walking around with that imbecile smile? Surprising."
Nero Claudius stood up with a dramatic gesture.
"Oho! My beloved and splendid Master arrives and fills this room with glory! Magnificent!"
Semiramis merely rolled her eyes, aristocratic as always.
"Hmph. He shows up and they all act like they've been enchanted. What a disgrace."
At the farthest table, Edmond Dantès savored his coffee as if it were living poetry.
"The morning stage is unusually bustling... as always when he arrives."
Beside him, Valerie Tepes drank tea with timid elegance. Her eyes followed Kazuya with a sweet glow.
"Kazuya... he's the same as always... but... I'm glad he came back early."
After greeting all his Servants, Kazuya raised his hand, waving to both.
"Yo, Count. Yo, Valerie. Seems like everyone decided to wake up early today, huh?"
Edmond smiled, mysterious.
"That's not so rare, master..."
Valerie blushed to the tips of her ears.
"Yes, but you're always busy dealing with all your wives, Director..."
Kazuya laughed.
"I accept that guilt!"
Seconds later, Tamamo tugged at his shirt sleeve.
"Goshujin-sama, come taste! I made it with love... and effort... and more love!"
Jeanne approached with a plate.
"Kazuya, sit down. I'll serve."
Ereshkigal crossed her arms.
"I made the soup. And it's perfect. Better eat before it gets cold."
Asia lifted a tray of fruits.
"Here! I made it especially for you!"
Mordred shouted from the back:
"HE JUST TRAINED WITH ME, SO HE'S GOING TO EAT PANCAKES! LOTS OF PANCAKES!"
Salter grumbled:
"Noisy idiots..."
Jeanne Alter laughed maliciously.
"This is still going to turn into a civil war."
And Nero opened her arms, radiant:
"Aaaah, what a wonderful banquet of emotions!"
Kazuya sighed... and smiled.
The morning had barely begun....
As soon as he sat down, all the wives around took the first step simultaneously. It was as if a silent command had echoed in the air.
And then it began.
Tamamo-no-Mae leaned forward, holding a spoon with steaming food.
"Goshujin-sama, say 'aaah'! I made this misoshiru with all my love, so it has to be the first thing you taste!"
Before Kazuya could open his mouth, Jeanne placed another spoon in front of him, so gentle it seemed like a blessing.
"Kazuya, here. Just a little. It's healthy and will give you energy."
Ereshkigal quickly crossed the space, approaching her SOUP with an air of absolute dignity.
"No. He's going to have mine. It's at the perfect temperature. Open your mouth, master."
Asia raised a fork with shiny fruits.
"K-Kazuya-san... if you want, I can... feed you too..."
Tamamo puffed out her chest.
"Goshujin-sama, ignore any spoon that's not mine! My food has more concentrated love!"
"Tamamo..." Jeanne frowned gently. "It's not a competition."
"It is!" Tamamo replied without hesitation.
At that exact moment, a shadow approached from behind Kazuya—cold, somber, imperial.
Salter.
She held a piece of pancake on a metal fork, with the same menacing elegance as someone wielding Excalibur Morgan.
"Kazuya. Open your mouth."
Her tone wasn't a request. It was an order.
And immediately, another figure joined the fray—Jeanne Alter, carrying an even larger piece of pancake, covered in strawberries and dark syrup.
"Hah! Get out of the way, mutt. He's going to eat what I make. Here, idiot. Open your mouth."
"I'm not going to let you stuff him with sugar first thing!" Salter retorted, icy.
"And I'm not going to let you ruin his mood with that sad food of a depressed villain!"
"Repeat that and I'll vaporize you."
"VAPORIZE THEN!"
Nero Claudius entered the battlefield as if it were a stage.
"Umu! All of you are incompetent! My beloved praetor must taste the meal of his imperial wife first!" She raised a golden spoon prepared just for him. "Kazuya! Say 'aaah' for your empress!"
Ereshkigal narrowed her eyes.
"No one called you."
"I am Nero Claudius; I invite myself whenever I wish!"
The voices crossed the entire cafeteria. Gazes sparked. Spoons pointed like lances. Pancakes flew dangerously close to royal dignity.
And Kazuya?
He was... laughing.
With his head slightly tilted back, the wide and provocative smile illuminated his face in an almost indecent way.
"Uwaaah... this turned into a real festival, huh?"
They all responded at the same time:
"SHUT UP AND EAT!"
He raised his hands, laughing even more.
"Okay, okay... but one at a time, right?"
Tamamo immediately lunged forward.
"ME FIRST!"
Jeanne pulled her arm firmly.
"No. He's going to start with something light."
Ereshkigal approached her bowl, completely serious.
"The correct order is soup, then the rest."
Salter pressed the fork into his hands.
"No. Pancake first."
Jalter shoved Salter lightly.
"He's eating what I give him. I'm his most fun wife."
Nero opened her arms dramatically.
"All of you be silent! He wants to taste the flavor of the empress!"
Asia tried to lift the tray.
"I-I can wait... but... I'd like to feed him too..."
Mordred, in the back, nearly knocked over the chair.
"YOU'RE ALL CRAZY!"
Kazuya took a deep breath, thoroughly amused.
"Alright, alright... I'll decide."
Silence.
Everyone looked at him.
He smiled... in that sly way that destroyed hearts throughout all of Chaldea.
"I'll take everything."
The cafeteria exploded into chaos.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN EVERYTHING?!"
"KAZUYA!"
"Master?!"
"Goshujin-sama!"
"THIS IS GOING TO TURN INTO A MESS!"
But he was already opening his mouth.
And Tamamo, Jeanne, Ereshkigal, Salter, Jalter, Nero, and Asia all at once tried to shove their respective utensils toward him.
In the end, against all laws of physics, logic, and sanity, Kazuya managed to eat everything.
Somehow.
In some way.
Perhaps by divine miracle.
Or perhaps because he simply had the absurd charisma of someone who could survive being fed simultaneously by seven competitive women.
When the last spoon was withdrawn, Kazuya let out a long, deep, and incredibly satisfied sigh.
"Uuuf... I definitely shouldn't have accepted everything..."
He leaned back in the chair for a moment, but Jeanne was already behind him, gentle, silent like the purest breeze. In a movement so natural it seemed choreographed, she sat down and carefully pulled his head, settling it onto her lap.
"Kazuya... you overdid it." Jeanne stroked his white hair with devoted affection. "Rest a little."
He closed his eyes, melting into the touch, his expression relaxing as if he were floating.
"Uwaaah... Jeanne, you have one of the best natural pillows in the world. I think I'll become a permanent resident of your lap."
Jeanne blushed lightly, but kept her gentle smile.
"I'm glad you think so..."
The atmosphere was perfect.
Calm.
Serene.
Almost divine.
But of course...
The others weren't going to let it slide.
Tamamo-no-Mae, who had initially been smiling satisfied that Kazuya had tasted her food, suddenly stopped. Her smile froze. Her ears stopped twitching. Her tail tensed.
"W... WA... WAIT. Why is he lying on Jeanne's lap?!"
Ereshkigal stood up immediately, slamming her palm on the table.
"WHAT? When did this happen?! I looked away for three seconds!"
Nero pointed dramatically.
"IMPOSSIBLE! That position of power should be mine! I, the legitimate Empress, claim that right!"
Salter narrowed her eyes, her somber aura growing.
"This is unfair. I didn't authorize this scene."
Jalter stood up so fast she knocked over the chair.
"AAAAH, NO! He's not going to sleep on the saint's lap! No way! He should be on my lap! Or better, in my room!"
Asia clasped her hands, nervous.
"I-I'd like... to try one day too..."
Mordred exploded.
"OF COURSE THIS HAPPENS! He just has to breathe and you all go into holy war mode!"
Even Edmond, from the corner of the room, raised an eyebrow.
"The master continues to be quite the figure as always..."
Valerie sighed with a timid smile.
"If you want to lie on my lap, Edmond-sama...."
While everyone boiled, argued, complained, and cast deadly glances at each other, Kazuya opened a single eye.
And smiled.
A brittle, lazy, and absolutely satisfied smile.
"If this is the price for eating well... I think it's worth it."
Jeanne looked down at him, worried and enchanted.
"Kazuya... don't provoke. It'll make things worse."
He closed his eyes again.
"Ah, Jeanne... I think it's already worse."
Tamamo approached in a second, kneeling beside him.
"Goshujin-sama, if you want... you can lie on my lap too! I promise a head massage!"
Ereshkigal positioned herself on the other side, lifting her chin.
"Don't listen to that fox. My lap is more comfortable. And I'd warm it with divine magic."
Jalter threw herself behind the chair.
"GET UP! Switch laps with me NOW!"
Salter merely crossed her arms.
"I don't want to see this. But I won't allow it either."
Nero raised her hand.
"I demand my turn! TUURN! It's an imperial decree!"
Jeanne, even surrounded by chaos, kept her hand stroking Kazuya's hair, with an almost heroic serenity.
"Kazuya, it seems you've... gotten everyone very excited."
Kazuya sighed....
Having multiple wives was troublesome.
His eyes became deep as he looked at the ceiling. Later he would check on Da Vinci-chan's research and go on a date with Morgan, since she basically "threatened" him when he returned from his date with Ishtar.
__________________
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