---
Chapter 35: The Taste of Sunday
The kitchen lights glowed warmly against the wooden cabinets as Soren rolled up his sleeves.
“Hey, Hirauka,” he called casually, already taking ingredients from the shelves. “Wake her up and ask what she’d like for lunch. I’ll cook for her too.”
Hirauka nodded. “Oh… okay.”
There was something strangely domestic about the moment. So normal. So far from demons and collapsing concrete.
He quietly walked toward the guest room.
Sayaka was still asleep, sunlight brushing softly against her face through the curtains. Her usually composed expression looked peaceful — almost fragile.
He hesitated before gently shaking her shoulder.
“Sayaka… wake up.”
She stirred faintly.
“Hirauka-san…” Her voice was soft and drowsy. “Where am I…?”
“You’re safe,” he replied gently. “Come. I want you to meet someone.”
Her eyes slowly opened.
“Someone?”
---
They entered the kitchen together.
Soren glanced over his shoulder and smiled faintly.
Sayaka stepped forward politely.
“You saved us, didn’t you? Thank you. What’s your name?”
“Hirauka,” Soren said lightly, “won’t you introduce me properly?”
Hirauka blinked, then smiled.
“Sayaka, this is my best friend… Soren Stj?rnan. He’s the one who saved us.”
Soren extended his hand casually. “I already know who you are. But it’s nice to meet you properly, Sayaka Shiba.”
Sayaka shook his hand. “I’m glad Hirauka has a friend like you.”
Soren’s lips curved teasingly. “I’m more glad my friend found such a lovely woman.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“H-Hey,” Hirauka muttered, slightly embarrassed.
Soren chuckled. “Alright, alright. Now tell me — what would you like to eat? Hirauka has already chosen.”
Sayaka tilted her head slightly. “You can cook?”
“I can,” Soren replied calmly.
She smiled faintly. “Then I’ll have the same as Hirauka.”
“Two plates of kottbullar med potatis, then.”
The name alone carried nostalgia.
“Sit down. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
---
Back in the guest room, Sayaka studied Hirauka quietly.
“You look… really happy,” she said softly.
He blinked. “Do I?”
“Yes.”
He smiled faintly.
“He’s my best childhood friend.”
“Is he someone like us?” she asked gently.
“Not exactly. He’s a raider.”
Sayaka’s gaze lingered thoughtfully. “He lives alone?”
“…Yes.”
“I see.”
Her tone carried something unreadable.
---
A while later, Soren entered carrying two plates.
Steam rose gently from the meatballs resting beside creamy potatoes, berry jam glistening crimson on the side.
“Here you go.”
Sayaka’s eyes widened. “It looks beautiful. What is it?”
Hirauka’s voice softened.
“It’s a Swedish dish. My mother used to make it every Sunday. The potatoes are creamy… and the berry jam gives it a sweet-sour taste.”
Sayaka lifted a spoon.
The moment the flavor touched her tongue, her eyes widened.
“Oh my… I’ve never tasted anything like this before.”
Soren smiled faintly. “Enjoy. I’ll do the dishes.”
“Why don’t you eat with us?” Hirauka asked.
“I ate earlier. This one’s for you.”
There was something gentle about the way he said it.
Sayaka took another bite, smiling brightly. “I’m jealous. You had this every Sunday?”
Hirauka laughed softly. “Those days were… special.”
For a moment, everything felt ordinary.
Just three people sharing lunch.
No devils.
No revenge.
No fear.
---
After finishing the meal, Hirauka walked toward the kitchen.
“Soren?”
The kitchen was empty.
He stepped outside.
Soren was standing on the lawn, looking up at the sky.
The wind brushed lightly against the grass.
“What are you doing?” Hirauka asked.
Soren shrugged. “Nothing.”
There was a pause.
“So,” Hirauka said, “what are your powers?”
Soren turned slightly.
“I was granted the authority of the God of Realms.”
Hirauka blinked.
“My special ability is Void. I manipulate space itself. I can open black holes… expand nothingness.”
His tone was calm. Almost casual.
“I also have higher physical strength than most.”
Hirauka grinned slightly. “Let’s test it.”
Without hesitation, he dashed forward and struck Soren with full force.
The impact echoed through the lawn.
But Soren did not move.
Not even an inch.
Hirauka stepped back, stunned.
“God-level strength… what’s your tier?”
“Seven.”
“…Mine is five.”
Soren’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Let’s test yours.”
He raised both hands.
“I’ll bring one percent of Void here. Let’s see how long you endure.”
The air shifted.
A strange pressure began building around them.
Soren’s body started levitating slightly as darkness rippled faintly in the atmosphere.
Hirauka felt it instantly.
His muscles tensed.
His skin prickled violently.
“It feels like… thousands of needles piercing my body…”
Yet he remained standing.
“Can you increase it?” Hirauka asked through clenched teeth.
Soren blinked.
“You’re serious?”
“Yeah.”
“Then… ten percent.”
The pressure multiplied.
The air itself felt heavy, crushing.
Hirauka’s knees trembled. His vision blurred.
“Ha—!! Stop!”
The pressure vanished instantly.
The world returned to normal.
Birds chirped again.
Wind moved softly.
Soren lowered his hands.
“That,” he said quietly, “is the power of non-existence.”
Hirauka exhaled deeply, wiping sweat from his forehead.
“All I felt… was pain.”
“If I used fifty percent,” Soren said calmly, “your body would begin to shatter.”
Hirauka laughed weakly. “That’s terrifying… How do you endure it?”
“When I summon Void,” Soren replied softly, “I become one with it.”
There was something distant in his eyes.
“As long as I’m connected… it doesn’t hurt.”
Hirauka smirked faintly. “So you cheat your own power.”
Soren chuckled lightly. “You could say that.”
He glanced toward the house.
“Where’s Sayaka?”
“She’s probably on business calls. We’re leaving for Japan tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Soren repeated quietly.
Hirauka nodded. “Yeah.”
He walked back toward the house.
Behind him, Soren remained standing on the lawn.
His expression slowly changed.
The softness faded.
For a brief moment, darkness flickered faintly behind his eyes.
Then he turned away and headed toward his shop.
---
Inside, Sayaka ended her call and stood up.
“Everything is fine at the company,” she said gently. “But we need to leave for Japan tomorrow morning.”
“So soon?” Hirauka asked.
She nodded.
He didn’t know why…
But something about leaving felt heavier than it should have.
Outside, evening shadows stretched quietly across the lawn.
And somewhere between warmth and void—
Something was waiting.
---
