Chapter 152 - Christmas Eve

“It must be pricey feeding this little glutton daily,” Nathan said with a smile, “I hear you like cooking as well?”

For some reason, I wasn’t as nervous talking to Luna’s dad as I was her mom. I felt calm, like he was just someone I could converse with easily. Since Luna told me that he isn’t an awakener, it couldn’t possibly be skill or trait. Maybe it was the fact that he just looked like a friendly person.

“Dad!” Luna shot a glare at him.

“My wallet’s been hurting a little, but, it’s worth it.” I replied, “Yeah, I love cooking, but, it’s mostly simple meals like meats and pasta.”

“Bin!” Luna turned and shot me a glare.

“Hahaha!” Nathan belly-laughed before extending his hand, “Nathan, nice to meet you.”

“Um, Stella!” I shook his hand, “Nice to meet you too!”

“What’s that?” He asked, gesturing to the package in my other hand.

“Oh! This is prime grade meat, I brought it as a gift.”

“Oho! Trying to buy me with food, eh?” He said, “Well! It’s working! Ahaha! Is this how you swooned my daughter too?”

“S-Swooned? I was not swooned by food!” Luna exclaimed.

“Ah, maybe I should’ve done that. But, thinking about it, wouldn’t it be too expensive?” I asked.

“You’re right! That’d break the bank, for sure!” Nathan replied.

“Bin! Dad!” Luna glared at the both of us.

I laughed. I think my papa and Luna’s dad would get along well.

“Say, Stella, I hear Luna complimenting your cooking all the time.” Nathan said.

“Um, well, she does like it a lot.” I nodded.

“Yeah, I can tell with how much she messages me and Julia about it. She’s even sending pictures daily.” Nathan chuckled.

Luna blushed slightly and looked away.

Oh? So she sends pictures of her meals to her parents? That’s really cute…

“I should make them more aesthetically pleasing then.” I commented.

“Haha, don’t bother. It’ll all enter that little glutton’s stomach within seconds anyway.”

“I don’t eat that fast!” Luna said.

“…You do eat pretty fast.” I said.

Luna shot me a glare.

“So, Stella,” Nathan said.

“Yes?”

“How about you cook that meat for us?” He asked, gesturing to the package in my hand, “Both Julia and I have been wanting to try your cooking for quite some time. And I think Luna would love to eat it as well, isn’t that right?” He looked at Luna.

“…Mm…” Luna nodded after a moment, unable to resist the urge to eat expensive steak.

“But this was supposed to be for you and Mrs. Britemill…” I said hesitantly.

“Nonsense!” Nathan smiled, “Everything tastes better when eaten together.” He said, “And, I hear Luna calls your parents in-laws, you should do the same and call me father-in-law and Julia mother-in-law.”

I flinched and blushed before nodding.

“O-Okay, father-in-law.” I said.

“Thank you.” Nathan said, “By the way, what are your parents up to? If they’re not busy, how about they come join us for dinner? I’ve made quite a lot of food.”

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“Ah, mama and papa are busy.” I said, “There was an emergency gate they had to clear.”

It really was unfortunate. My parents were really excited to spend Christmas with us, but then a high mid-tier gate opened up and their guild was dispatched to it. So, they probably won’t be back until sometime after new years.

Hm…I should cook them something for when they clear the gate. Alright, fine, I’ll cook them some ekadyrus meat. It’ll be a late Christmas gift. And well, I’m at it, I might as well make myself and Luna some. Hehe.

“That’s a shame.” Nathan shook his head disappointedly, “Luna, how about you show Stella around the house? I’ll be finished in the kitchen in just a moment and then you can cook that steak you brought.”

“Okay.” Luna nodded.

I placed the package on the counter before following Luna.

Her house was nice and lived-in. I especially liked how much Christmas decor there was.

“Wait,” I said after noticing something.

“Hm?” Luna asked.

“Come here.” I grabbed her hand started walking.

“What is it?” She asked, confused.

After a moment, I stopped and turned to her.

Luna tilted her head.

“Look, we’re under the mistletoe.” I gestured to it with a smile.

Luna looked up and saw it before a slight blush appeared on her face,

“We’re at my parents house…” She whispered, embarrassed.

“But, the rules of the mistletoe, you can’t ignore them.” I whispered back and leaned in.

“Mm…” Luna nodded shyly, looking around and making sure the coast was clear before leaning in. Our lips joined and after a moment we separated.

“Hehe.” I giggled.

“You two are getting along well.” Julia said.

Luna and I both flinched and turned to her. Just where did she come from!? How did she sneak up on us!? I was sure the coast was clear! And how did Luna not notice her!? What happened to her trait!?

Our faces flushed instantly as we stepped away from each other.

Wah! Caught kissing by her mother!? This is so embarrassing!

“Uh…”

“Um…”

Luna and I spoked simultaneously, but neither of us could get out more words than that.

“It’s okay,” Julia showed a warm smile, “Affection means you both are happy, and that’s what matters the most.” She said.

“Mm…” Luna nodded shyly.

“So, do you like the decor?” Julia asked me.

“U-Um, yes!” I nodded quickly, “It’s very festive and lively.” I said, looking around.

The Christmas tree had lights strung all around it and a star at the top of it. There were also candy canes and other Christmas ornaments hung on the leaves and branches

“Thank you. Did you two decorate?” She asked.

“Ah, we didn’t.” I shook my head.

“Bin’s lease is expiring at the end of this month and then we’re moving into my apartment, it would’ve been more stuff to clean up and pack.” Luna explained.

“Hm…Why didn’t you just move into your apartment beforehand? Why wait until the end of the month to move out?” Julia asked.

“…”

“…”

Neither Luna or I could respond.

Truthfully, it was something I thought about…But, I was just being lazy. Every time I thought about it, I’d end up procrastinating.

“Haha,” Julia chuckled softly, “Stella, sweetie, you mentioned you brought strawberries?”

“Ah! Yes!” I nodded, “Let me go get them for you.”

“If you would be so kind.” She smiled.

Luna and I headed to the couch with the box on it. Opening the box, the bag of strawberries sat nicely packed on top of the fatigue potions. I grabbed the bag and when I looked up, I noticed something.

The Christmas stockings on the wall. There were four of them and each was filled to the brim.

‘Julia’

‘Nathan’

‘Luna’

And…

‘Stella’

Luna’s stocking was white with a cute mouse design stitched into it. And my stocking black with a cute raccoon design stitched into it.

They had actually had a Christmas stocking for me here? That’s…

Huh…That makes me happy…and a little emotional to be honest.

I smiled.

I honestly really wanted to steal them. Those stockings were so cute!

“Bin?” Luna said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Sorry, was thinking about something~” I said with a hum, “Do your parents like strawberries?” I asked.

“They do.” Luna nodded, “My mother loves fruits.”

I nodded and a few steps later, we approached Julia. She was at the dining table now—which, may I add, was filled with trays of food.

I counted at least six separate, large dishes or trays. Each had a different type of food on it. There were: Mac and cheese, bowtie pasta with alfredo sauce, sliced turkey, mashed potatoes, ham, and corn. And all of them looked extremely appetizing.

If we were to add the steak I was going to cook that’d be seven different types of food…Each with a large quantity…

I mean, I know Luna can eat a lot, but, does the whole family eat this much? This looks like it’ll become leftover city!

If I had made all this food, I’d have to invite all my friends over—and we still wouldn’t finish eating all of it!

“Is this bowl big enough?” Julia asked, holding a medium-sized wooden bowl.

I turned my attention away from the food and to her before nodding,

“Plenty big enough.” I said.

“Can you bring out four bowls of that size?” Luna cut in.

F-Four!?

D-Did I bring enough strawberries…?

“Of course.” Julia nodded and headed to a cabinet.

I looked at Luna but she didn’t look back, her attention was completely on the food at the table. She even wiped her mouth and gulped a few times in anticipation.

I couldn’t blame her, everything here does look delicious. Even I want to sneak a few bites.

When Julia returned, she placed the four bowls on the table.

“If you don’t mind, could you fill them with the strawberries?” She politely asked.

“Of course!” I nodded and opened the bag, carefully dumping strawberries into each bowl. And quickly, the bag of strawberries I had brought emptied, leaving only about a fourth remaining.

“I always hear Luna raving about these. I’m excited to try one.” Julia said, picking up a strawberry.

She popped it in her mouth and chewed.

Her eyes widened slightly as she swallowed.

“These are really good,” She said after a moment, “You said you grew these yourself, right?” She asked.

“Yes! One hundred percent homegrown and cared for by me!” I nodded proudly.

“I can tell that you’ve put a lot of love and care into them,” She smiled, “It seems like Luna’s reviews aren’t unfounded.”

Meanwhile, Luna was happily munching away at her bowl of strawberries, completely unbothered by the conversation.

“Thank you.” I smiled.

“Oh! Strawberries!” A loud voice came into the room and Nathan followed, he casually headed to a bowl and picked it up before biting into a strawberry.

“Mm!!” He said, “These are delicious! Did you put drugs in them or something?”

“Nathan…” Julia quietly said.

“Ahaha, I’m just saying, these are definitely the best strawberries I’ve ever had.” Nathan replied.

“Thank you.” I said and bit into my own strawberry.

“The kitchen’s free if you’d like use it.” Nathan said.

“What?” Julia cut in, “You’re making our guest cook?”

“Um, I wanted to make everyone the steak I brought.” I chimed in, “If that’s okay.”

“Of course that’s okay, sweetie.” Julia immediately said with a soft tone, “I’m happy that we’ll get to try your cooking already.” She smiled.

Nathan gave me a thumbs up from behind his back.

“I can see that.” Julia said.

Nathan eyes darted to the right and Julia sighed with a smile.

Hm? Did Luna pick up that habit from him? I wondered.

“Here,” Luna said to me, “I’ll show you around the kitchen.” She was still nibbling away at a strawberry as she spoke.

“Luna, don’t talk with your mouth full.” Julia said.

“Mm.” Luna nodded and led me to the kitchen. “So,” She said, still munching on a strawberry, “The seasonings are in here.”

She opened a cabinet and inside…Were not seasonings. The cabinet was full of snacks like chips, cookies, and the like. She closed the cabinet and repeated herself,

“The seasonings are in here.”

They were not.

“They’re actually in here.” She said again.

Nope, not that one.

“In here!” She opened the final cabinet and on the top shelf was all the seasonings I could ever ask for.

“Pfft!” I burst out into laughter. It was a bit much to expect this foodie to know where stuff was in the kitchen, she was someone who never used it after all.

“Ahem!” Luna cleared her throat with a slightly flushed face.

She proceeded to continue giving me the kitchen tour and when she was done, it was time for me to cook.

Chef Stella has returned!