While the Vulcan was racing through space toward its target position, things were also in motion back on Hourai Island.
"Jin! I did it!"
Saki came bursting into the room where Jin and Elsa were finishing their post-breakfast hojicha at Home.
"Saki-nee..."
Elsa frowned at her appearance. Her hair was a disheveled mess, and dark circles had formed under her eyes.
"You stayed up all night again, didn't you?" Jin added reproachfully.
"Ah, hahaha... I just got on a roll... B-but look! It's finally finished!"
Saki hurriedly held out the sheet she was carrying.
"Oh? Is this... plastic?"
"Exactly! It’s the 'magi-plastic' you were talking about, Jin!"
"Hmm... let me see."
Jin took the sheet from her. It definitely had the smooth texture, lightness, and flexibility characteristic of plastic.
"This is impressive, Saki."
"Ehehe... I worked... hard..."
The moment she finished speaking, Saki collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut and immediately began to snore.
"...Saki-nee..."
"She really pushes herself too hard," Jin sighed.
After covering the sleeping Saki with a blanket, Jin and Elsa quietly slipped out of the room.
"Wait, if she was doing this at the laboratory, didn't Laojun or Aaru say anything to stop her?"
"You're right, that is strange," Elsa agreed.
Jin and Elsa discussed the matter as they walked toward the laboratory.
"Laojun, what happened?" Jin asked as soon as they entered the workshop.
"Yes, My Lord. I presume you are asking about Saki-san?"
"I am. Why did you let her go to such extremes?"
"I apologize for that. However, Saki-san was very insistent, claiming it was only for this one time."
"And Aaru went along with it too?"
"Yes. Aaru-san was also swayed by Saki-san’s passion and looked the other way on the condition that it was a one-time occurrence. She is currently at your house, My Lord, staying by Saki-san's side."
"Ah, so we must have missed each other."
"I suspect that seeing you, My Lord, worrying so much about the Hale situation made Saki-san want to accomplish something herself."
Perhaps Saki, in her own way, wanted to prove her worth as a member of the Jin Family.
"She was quite active—devouring data on polymers and enlisting Smith 2's help to synthesize various materials. It was a major effort."
"I see. So, what exactly did she create?"
"Please hear the details from Saki-san herself."
"I suppose you're right."
Agreeing with Laojun that Saki would likely want to explain it herself, Jin decided to wait for her to wake up.
"In the meantime, I’ll get started on some further analysis regarding Hale."
"Certainly. I shall assist you."
By the time lunch arrived...
"Jin-nii, Saki-nee is awake."
Elsa came to call Jin, announcing that lunch was ready.
"Oh, is it that time already?"
Jin had been discussing future strategies regarding Hale with Laojun, but he cut the conversation short and stood up.
"Laojun, we’ll talk more later."
"Yes, My Lord."
When Jin returned to the house with Elsa, the newly awakened Saki was already sitting at the dining table.
"Jin, Elsa, I'm starving..."
"My deepest apologies, Jin-sama, Elsa-sama."
In contrast to Saki's high energy, Aaru looked quite apologetic.
"Saki-sama insisted so strongly this time..."
"It’s fine, I already heard the details from Laojun. Saki was just being earnest, right?"
Jin comforted Aaru, who was bowing her head in apology.
"Saki-nee, did you wash your face?"
"Yeah, Aaru made me," Saki answered with a laugh as Elsa brought out the food.
"Good. Lunch today is rice porridge."
It was a menu clearly chosen with Saki’s condition in mind.
However, this was no ordinary porridge. It was a proper rice porridge prepared in an earthen pot, served with an array of toppings: vegetables, katsuobushi, nori tsukudani, umeboshi, oshinko, and bubu-arare.
Jin was actually quite a fan of nori tsukudani.
"Let's see... it all looks delicious, but what’s this?" Saki asked, pointing at the bubu-arare.
"Those are 'bubu-arare'."
"'Bubu-arare'!?"
Jin had heard that "bubu" referred to hot water or tea in the feminine dialect of the Kyoto region.
"You usually sprinkle them on ochazuke, but I think they'll be great in porridge too."
"Hmm?"
Jin took a small bowl of porridge and used a teaspoon to sprinkle some bubu-arare on top. He then took a bite using a renge—more accurately, a chiri-renge.
"Yeah, this is great."
The secret was to eat it before the bubu-arare could absorb the liquid and lose its crunch. It allowed you to enjoy the contrast between the creamy porridge and the crispy texture of the bits. They were lightly seasoned with salt and soy sauce.
"Let me try... Oh, this is excellent!"
"Right?"
Saki tried it and immediately took a liking to it. Elsa also seemed to be enjoying her meal.
"Make sure you eat your vegetables too," Jin reminded Saki.
Like seven-herb porridge, the greens had been quickly simmered so that they still retained their vitamins.
"Yeah, I know."
When it came to nutritional balance, Saki was no novice, but she still tended to pick out only her favorite foods if no one said anything.
"Saki-sama, the citric acid in the umeboshi is good for your recovery, so please eat that as well."
"Ugh, I'm really not good with sour things..."
Since Aaru was already handling that part of the lecture, Jin didn't press the issue further and focused on his own porridge.
"Phew, that was good."
"Thank you for the food."
"You're very welcome."
After the meal, they were served buckwheat tea. It was caffeine-free, fragrant, and gentle on the stomach.
"Now then, Saki. Now that you've settled in, I'd like that explanation."
"Right. Well, to start with..."