Venzel heated up the pan, letting the oil shimmer before pouring in the contents of the bowl.
The egg sizzled on contact, its aroma curling into the warm kitchen air.
Soho, having just finished her side of the cooking, set her ladle down and leaned against the counter with mild curiosity.
"Only one egg?" she asked, eyeing the pan.
"Auntie, this one's special," Venzel replied with a grin. "It's from the farm. Wanted to taste-test it before bringing in a whole batch."
She crossed her arms. "Mmm. And where exactly is this mysterious farm?"
He flipped the omelette with a little flair.
"Business policy. Can't reveal too much. Just sit back and enjoy the results." He chuckled, the smell of the egg now rich and buttery.
The omelette was plain, just an egg, a pinch of salt, and a little oil but something about it already smelled better than usual.
Or maybe that was just the placebo effect of digital poultry.
Soho squinted at the pan, unconvinced.
"I don't know, Venzel. This all sounds shady. You sure this 'partner' of yours isn't a scam artist?"
Venzel shrugged, sliding the egg onto a plate.
"Shady's subjective. Besides, I've got it handled."
Soho raised a brow, still skeptical.
"Well, I say cut ties with that co-partner of yours and start using the land your family left you. At least you'll have full control."
He gave her a lopsided smile.
"Don't worry, Auntie. One step at a time. I'm just… warming up the pan."
She sighed, then reached over and handed him a fork.
"You and your metaphors. Just don't burn the land while you're at it. Don't make your father proud."
Venzel laughed softly and took a bite.
"…hahaha, that's actually really good."
Just then, Tsuki, Aoki, and Ryu walked into the kitchen, voices trailing in from the hallway.
Without missing a beat, Aoki strode forward and pulled Venzel into a strong, heartfelt hug.
"Son," he exclaimed, voice thick with emotion, "oh, how long I've waited to hear you say that."
Venzel blinked, startled by the sudden affection, but didn't resist. Tsuki stood nearby, her eyes shimmering with pride.
Hands clasped together, she looked every bit the proud mother watching her child finally come home, not just physically, but in spirit.
Ryu wandered to his wife's side, brow furrowed as he took in the cheerful commotion.
"Soho… what's going on here?" he asked, bewildered.
Before she could answer, Aoki, still half-hugging Venzel, turned with a dramatic sigh.
"This son of ours, Ryu, he's always been rebellious," he began, letting go of Venzel to gesture theatrically. "Since high school, he refused to touch a single mari we gave him."
Tsuki nodded firmly. "When we visited him during his college years, he was so thin, thinner than a bamboo. And still, he wouldn't touch the money we sent."
"And then," Aoki added with a flair of fatherly pride, "he got himself a job at a top game company. All on his own. Not a single favor pulled."
"Alright, alright," Venzel cut in, cheeks warm with embarrassment. "That's enough, all of you."
He quickly reached for the plate and raised the egg in his hand like a peace offering. "Let's focus on this. Here—Mom, Dad, Uncle, Auntie—give it a try."
He held up the simple golden omelette.
"This one's from the farm I'm investing in. I'm practically a co-owner."
Aoki leaned in, skeptical at first, then took a bite.
His eyes widened. He blinked, then stared at the rest of them as if he'd just seen the face of God.
"…What in the world—"
Ryu raised an eyebrow and stepped forward, curious. He took a bite next, chewing slowly. Then his mouth stilled.
"…What is this?" he whispered, awe creeping into his tone.
Soho and Tsuki, both seeing their husbands stunned into silence, shared a glance, then immediately reached for their shares.
The moment they took their bites, their expressions shifted.
Eyes wide. Mouths slightly agape. A silence settled.
Then—all at once:
"Son!"
"Is that the effect of the egg?!"
Venzel threw his head back and laughed. The way they said it in unison was almost musical.
A few seconds of another silence passed, then Uncle Ryu cleared his throat and spoke up, lips twitching in thought.
"Son… this egg of yours is magical. I don't know if this bunch of dimwits noticed it or— ouch, ouch—!"
Before he could finish, Aoki pounced on him with all the enthusiasm of a child starting a pillow fight.
The kitchen erupted in laughter as the two men wrestled lightly, laughter echoing off the warm, curry-scented walls.
"Say that one more time, you lizard! Dimwits, huh?!" Aoki shouted as he mock-strangled his old friend.
"You damn bear! Let me finish speaking!" Ryu barked, trying to push him off.
Aoki finally let go, chuckling, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeves. "No one calls my wife a dimwit! You can call your wife that— OW, OW—"
Soho had stepped in and was now pinching his ears sharply.
"Sister, you won't mind me, right?" she asked innocently, turning to Tsuki with a cheeky smile.
Tsuki, arms folded, regarded Aoki with a smug little grin and said, "Hmm? I don't know what you're talking about."
She turned her face away in exaggerated indifference.
"Ahem," Ryu cleared his throat again, more composed this time as he straightened his collar.
"Son. This egg of yours, it's no ordinary ingredient. I felt my mind clear and also my focus seemed to have been snapped into place. If we could bulk order these… I could get them to my staff. Imagine the efficiency boost in our trading floors!"
Yes! That's it! I caught my second customer! Venzel screamed internally, fireworks exploding in his mind.
Outwardly, he nodded with a modest smile.
"Uncle Ryu, well… the production cost is a little on the high side right now."
Ryu waved it off. "Oh son, don't worry. Just tell me how much you and your partner are asking for each egg. And please, don't give me a family discount. I mean it."
"Yes, son!" Aoki chimed in, arms still a little sore. "Don't listen to this lizard, scam this fool."
Aunt Soho, still giggling, finally released Aoki's ears.
He sighed in relief, rubbing them—only to freeze when he felt a gentle, ominous touch on both ears again.
The sensation was soft this time.
His blood ran cold.
He didn't need to turn. He knew.
It was Tsuki.
"Darling," she said sweetly, with the kind of calm that spelled doom, "shall we go for a walk?"
Aoki gulped audibly. "Y-yes, my love."
The others burst into laughter as Tsuki led her husband out of the kitchen.
* * *
[Egg – Level 1]
Effect: +1 Taste | +1 Focus & Concentration (for a short duration)