I stood on the bridge, monitoring the main screen as we cruised through the void.
"Lucia, what's our ETA for Orbit?"
"Maintaining our current cruising speed will allow us to connect to the docking bay in forty-eight hours. The client's dedicated containers are showing no abnormalities. Temperature and humidity are currently holding at optimal levels."
I nodded at Lucia’s report. The cargo was in good condition. It didn't look like there would be any issues fulfilling the contract.
"...Alright, that’s that for now."
I let out a long breath and stretched. As the tension left my body, my stomach gave a faint growl. A quick glance at the clock told me it was the perfect time.
"Let's get some food."
I stood up and made my way to the kitchen.
"Master, are you starting on dinner?"
When I stepped into the kitchen, Lucia was already there, preparing tea.
"Yeah. I’ve got some incredibly fresh stock, so I’m going to make sashimi."
I pulled a single fish from the refrigerator: an Azurite Shiner.
It was a small, bioluminescent blue fish that looked remarkably like an Earth sardine. Having just been removed from the freshness preservation field, its body was so firm it felt as if rigor mortis hadn't even begun to set in.
I laid it on the cutting board and picked up my knife. The only sound in the kitchen was the pleasant, rhythmic splashing of running water.
First, I removed the head and opened the belly. I worked quickly to scrape out the innards without nicking them, then rinsed the blood from the spine under the tap. When a fish this fresh was hit by water, it sparkled like a gemstone. The contrast between the blue back and silver belly was stunning, with a shimmering, iridescent luster where the two colors met.
I decided to go with hand-filleting for these.
I slid my thumb along the backbone, easing the flesh away from the bone. Using my hands instead of a knife transferred less heat to the meat and allowed the bones to come away cleanly. For small fish like sardines, this was the superior method.
"...Still, this kitchen is starting to feel a bit cramped for this kind of work."
The depth of the sink and the available counter space were starting to feel inadequate now that I was handling fish in earnest. It had been more than enough back when I lived on nothing but heated-up frozen meals, but now that I was actually cooking, my frustrations were growing. I’d have to look into a renovation eventually.
Lost in thought, I dipped the fillets into cold water. When I patted them dry with a paper towel, a firm, springy elasticity pressed back against my fingertips.
"It smells wonderful desu-u...!"
"Akito! Is it ready yet?"
Just as I was finishing up, Emma arrived, her nose twitching at the scent, followed by an impatient-looking Mina.
"Yeah, just finished. Have a seat."
I carefully arranged the silver fillets on plates for everyone. For garnish, I added a bit of grated pseudo-ginger, then served up bowls of synthetic rice.
The Sardine Sashimi Set was complete.
"Ooh! Is this the Azurite Shiner?"
"It’s beautiful desu-u... Like a jewel..."
Lucia was already waiting at the table with tea. The three of us took our seats and pressed our hands together.
"Itadakimasu."
I reached for the soy sauce cruet—a small, manageable container I had filled from our large storage tank. As I tilted it over a small dish, the dark liquid trickled out with a satisfying sound.
Being able to use genuine soy sauce as a daily staple, a luxury I’d only ever dreamed of... the mere sight of it was enough to make me emotional.
Mina and Emma followed my lead, pouring their soy sauce and reaching for the sashimi with their chopsticks. They dipped the fish generously, then carried it to their mouths along with a bite of white rice.
"Mmm! It's so good!"
"It’s cold, yet it just melts in my mouth desu-u...! And this sauce... this soy sauce is the perfect match desu-u!"
Mina beamed with a wide, full-cheeked smile, while Emulgand slumped in bliss, her glasses fogging up. I shoveled a mouthful of sashimi and white rice into my own mouth.
"...Delicious."
The warmth of the rice activated the oils in the sashimi. Rice, fish, and soy sauce—I wondered if there was a better combination in the entire universe. The quality of the rice was still a hurdle, but every chew brought a fresh wave of happiness.
"You have a wonderful expression on your face, Master."
"Yeah... After all, this is how fish is supposed to be."
I looked down at my empty bowl and let out a quiet, satisfied laugh.