The kitchen was a patchwork of salvaged parts.
To celebrate its completion, we decided to hold a modest party. The stars of the show were the pizzas we had ordered through the colony’s delivery service.
“...So expensive,” Mina murmured, her eyes glued to the payment screen on the handheld terminal.
Our order consisted of the following:
One ‘Ripe Genuine Tomato Margherita’ for 2,200 credits. One ‘Genuine Eggplant and Thick-cut Bacon Tomato Sauce’ for 2,400 credits. One ‘Hokuhoku Genuine Potato and Genuine Corn Mayo’ for 2,300 credits. One ‘Genuine Broccoli and Puripuri Shrimp Seafood’ for 2,500 credits.
With an added mountain of Synthetic Potato Fries and several bottles of carbonated drinks, the total bill had climbed past 10,000 credits. The fries were cheap things—little more than potato paste molded into shape and deep-fried—but they were essential for any proper junk food feast.
“Don’t worry about it. We can’t do this every day, but today is a continuation of the celebration. Besides, consider it research. This much is well within the margin of error.”
“...Boss!”
Mina clasped her hands together with exaggerated reverence, her eyes sparkling with a playful mix of admiration and jest.
“It’s like a dream, being able to eat until I’m full every single day,” I heard her whisper under her breath. Her rat ears twitched and trembled with pure anticipation.
Eventually, a delivery drone arrived at the ship’s airlock. When I opened the insulated box, the classic, salty aroma of sausage and salami wafted out, followed by the sweet scent of roasted vegetables.
“Whoa...” Mina breathed, her eyes widening as she peered inside.
Four large pizzas sat regally within their boxes: the vibrant red of the Margherita, the deep purple of the eggplant, the sunny yellow of the mayo-corn, and the fresh green of the broccoli.
True to their marketing, the toppings were indeed real vegetables. However, the slices were thin and the portions modest. Even so, they radiated a vivid, succulent color that was a world away from dried flakes or synthetic pastes.
Well, based on the price of those hot dogs, I suppose this is the best we can expect. It really is pricey, though. If I want to eat like this regularly, I’m going to have to go straight to the source.
“Alright, let’s dig in.”
“Wait.”
I held up a hand to stop Mina as she reached out. I lightly pressed the edge of one pizza with my fingertip.
“...Just as I thought. It cooled down during the delivery. The dough has absorbed the moisture from the toppings; it’s gone soggy.”
“? It’s still warm, isn't it?”
“There’s a world of difference between ‘warm’ and ‘piping hot.’ When it comes to pizza, the most delicious moment is when the cheese is bubbling like magma and the crust has a distinct snap to it.”
I grinned and pointed toward our newly finished Junk Kitchen.
“This is perfect. Consider this the maiden firing for our new equipment.”
I took a thick iron slab—originally a scrap of armor plating I’d scavenged from Junk Street—set it atop the stove, and twisted the ignition.
VROOOOM!!
A pale blue flame erupted with a roar, licking the bottom of the plate. This was the violent heat of an industrial burner, something far beyond the capabilities of a standard household stove. The iron plate soaked up the heat instantly, causing a haze to shimmer in the air above it.
“Wait, isn't that too high?! You'll burn it!”
“Compensating for the heat with skill is exactly what makes a cook!”
I slid the pizza onto the iron plate. A loud, aggressive sizzle echoed through the room. The excess moisture in the dough evaporated in a flash, replaced by the savory, toasted aroma of wheat. I immediately covered the pizza with a metal bowl, creating a makeshift oven effect. Even without heat from above, the intense radiation from below melted the cheese from the inside out.
“...Now!”
I whipped the bowl away to reveal a pizza reborn. The dull, dying cheese had transformed into a gooey, bubbling delight, and the tomato sauce was simmering with new life. The edges of the crust were scorched to a perfect, crispy golden brown. The aura it radiated was worlds apart from the soggy disc it had been just minutes ago.
“It’s finished. My ‘Super-High Heat Rebake Margherita.’”
I moved the piping hot pizza to a cutting board and sliced it up. As I lifted a piece, the cheese trailed off in long, translucent strings.
“...Amazing.”
“Here. Eat it before it cools down again.”
Mina accepted the slice timidly, though she looked like she could hardly contain herself. She blew on it frantically before taking a bite of the crust.
Crunch. Snap.
The sound was sharp and satisfying.
“Mmph...!”
Mina’s blue eyes flew open. She huffed and puffed to handle the heat as she began to chew.
“...It’s so good! What happened? It’s totally different!”
“Right? I drove off the moisture and restored the crispiness to the dough.”
Mina stared at the pizza in her hand with an expression of pure disbelief. Then, as if summoning her courage, she bit into a slice of the main attraction: the Ripe Genuine Tomato.
Pop.
The red fruit burst with a tiny, distinct sound. In an instant, Mina’s eyes widened even further.
“...No way.”
Because of the rebaking, the heated flesh of the tomato had broken down, releasing a flood of concentrated juice. It wasn't just watery liquid; it was a sweetness cultivated under real light, balanced by a vivid, sharp acidity. It was a powerful botanical statement that held its own even against the rich tomato sauce.
“It’s sweet... It’s sour, but in a good way. My mouth is just... bursting with it. Is this what real vegetables are like?” Mina murmured blankly.
Even after she swallowed, a fresh, green aftertaste lingered. Compared to the "vegetable-flavored pastes" or the "dried vegetables" with extracted nutrients she had grown up on, the sensory richness was on an entirely different level.
This was the taste of life.
“Yeah. It’s only a small piece, but that’s definitely a real tomato.”
I took a slice for myself and nodded. The contrast between the rich, hot cheese and the bright acidity of the tomato was the true essence of a pizza. The cheese was still a synthetic blend—it had a slightly chemical oiliness—but the freshness of the tomato neutralized it perfectly. It had the face of junk food, but the soul of real ingredients.
“Akito, this is delicious. It’s so, so delicious.”
“Good. Eat up. We’ve got four of these things to get through.”
Mina dove back in for a second mouthful. She didn't even care that sauce was smeared on the corner of her mouth; she just looked blissfully happy. Watching her, I nodded in satisfaction.
A rugged, patched-up kitchen. A simple rebaked delivery pizza. It lacked the refinement of a high-end restaurant, but this kind of heat and energy was the real charm of cooking. Though I’m still a long way off from making a meal entirely from scratch.
“...Thank you for the food.”
In no time at all, the four pizzas and the sides had vanished. Mina rubbed her stomach, staring up at the ceiling with an enraptured expression.
“...I think I finally understand what you meant, Akito. About the charm of things being warm and having so many different flavors.”
“Glad to hear it.”
I gave my reliable partner, the makeshift stove, a friendly pat. Our bellies were full. Both mentally and physically, our energy was topped off.
I had five million credits, a powerful kitchen, and a top-tier engineer. The preparations were complete.
“Alright. We’ve had a solid meal. Now it’s time to get to work.”
I stood up and activated my terminal. Basking in the afterglow was fine, but it was time to earn our keep.
Author's Note: Authentic pizza ovens are amazing because they really do bake things in an instant.
This newcomer is surprisingly excellent as the "reaction character," leaving Lucia with no room to step in!
If you found this interesting and are looking forward to the continuation, please tap the "★" button! Akito's dinner tomorrow might get a little upgrade. Thank you!