Soul Of The Night [Aina/Kenichi]

"That so, huh? No shame there. I'd like to see how well you can keep up, Aina."

Aina was far from alone in her desire to voraciously consume the food that filled their table. The aroma of well-prepared cuisine assaulted his nostrils as his stomach roared excitedly. He didn't really see why Aina ought to feel embarrassed about being honest with herself. He admired that in a woman, in anyone really. He welcomed those who were bold, who were direct, who lived lives dictated by their own rules, and not by the general populace.

When the food arrived, just as her expression lit up, his eyes went wide like saucers, inhaling the tantalizing scent of freshly made food into his nostrils. His hands reached forward to grab at a few of the plates well. Pizza, Lasagna, and Spaghetti were all drawn towards him, with two glasses of wine at the side. It was almost as if they were in unison, as Kenichi wasted no particular time in diving into what caught his eye the most - the pizza. The taste of each slice set his taste buds aflame, causing him to groan happily with joy.

"Amashing~!"

Speaking with his mouth full, he went through the pizza at a breakneck pace. An entire pan had seemingly been cleared within a matter of minutes, the sight humorously akin to what one might see out of a competitive eater trying to beat a time limit. Of course, there was no desire to match her pace. He simply found this authentic taste to be that delicious, compared to what he had in Japan. He turned his eyes towards the spaghetti and then Lasagna. He wondered for a moment, shrugged his shoulders, mixed them together, and tore into it with the ferocity of a lion. Bite after bite earned a similar sign of approval as the first did.

Absolutely. Divine. Grabbing a cup of wine, Kenichi would wash it down, a happy sigh escaping his lips as he grinned from ear to ear. An Action-filled night. Philosophy. Good food. Good drink. The company of an attractive woman who opened his mind up to thinking a little more deeply on how he ought to progress from here. Kenichi could not ask for more.

He might have desired a little peace and quiet at first, but hell, he'd take this ten thousand times over! He thought about wiping the remnants of food and drink with his arm, but he had to maintain some measure of decorum here. They were in a restaurant, after all. Pulling a napkin towards his face, he wiped away the red spots and turned towards Aina. He softly sipped the second cup of wine at his side, leaning with a playful grin on his face.

"Honestly? A bit of both. If something is really good, I really can't help myself. I'll go through it so fast that I end up ordering more just to experience it all over again. I think I tend to slow down more whenever it's a home-cooked meal. I know that sounds strange, but I truly believe there is so much you can experience in eating something a person made with love and care. Judging by that show you put on, I'd say you're a bit of a fast eater?"

A soft wink was cast in Aina's direction in response to her jovial comment. He continued to nibble at a slice of pizza as well, playfully leaning into his chair. Every now and then, he took a casual sip of his wine, allowing his body to settle into its own lightly intoxicated daze. Kenichi deemed this night one of utter bliss. It was all that he lived for, truth be told. A dash of adventure, a touch of peril, great food, wonderful drink, and the welcoming presence of a beautiful woman who was a breathe of fresh air. Gazing toward her, he'd maintain that radiant grin, offering his own commentary to their meal.

"What did I tell you? Food and drink unlocks the door to my heart. Anyone who offers shall never feel as if their money or food has been wasted on my watch. I must admit, it was quite endearing to see you attacking your own meal the way you did. Some women are so... touchy about things like that, but I think it's pretty cute when they let loose and care little about the public eye. To me, that's what i means to be free, you know? Why be ashamed? Variety is the spice of life, and I adore savoring each spice even if they sometimes burn my tongue... like this pizza did," he remarked, a humorous jest voiced with joy in his voice.

Kenichi leaned forward in his chair, amber eyes observing the woman in curious admiration. A fascinating woman, indeed. A fusion of so many things that didn't seem to mesh properly, but combined quite well overall.

"Naps are certainly nice, not gonna lie. That's usually my go-to option, too. To be honest, whenever I try sweating it off in a spar or a training session, I usually end up burning it off so much that I end up hungry once more. I've been told my stomach is something of a black hole, but I don't think that's true... or maybe it is, who knows~?"

The radiant grin worn across his face could have lit up an entire room when Aina offered the possibility of preparing a meal of her own make. Naturally, as food was the key to his approval, so too was a homemade meal prepared by someone's hand. To the average person, there may have been little difference. To Kenichi, the two were as far apart as heaven and earth. Did it lessen the meal he was indulging in currently? Of course not. What truly distinguished them was the level of intimacy.

The men and women who prepared their meal for them tonight were obligated to do so under the condition of being paid. If the two of them, sitting at this table, lacked insufficient funds, they would have to pay for it in other ways. Conversely, if the food and service were poor, they would face their own share of consequences. Complaints could be voiced, poor reviews could send their five star to a four, a three star to a two. There was a profound pressure in an environment like that.

Naturally, none of that existed in the setting of a household. One could make a poor meal and simply start over again, practicing until they mastered their recipe of choice. When they mastered that recipe, the result was otherworldly. Kenichi held no particular worry towards the notion of being a guinea pig for her recipes. He was no culinary maestro himself. The list of things he could cook could probably be counted on one hand. To him, the offer was music to his ears.

"First, I've been treated to a meal. Now, I've been presented the possibility of having a meal prepared for me? I honestly feel spoiled. I was already fond of you before, based on wisdom and insight alone. Now, I'm charmed. Any more of that, and I might be compelled to court you before long," he remarked with a hearty chuckle, catching the mobile device in his hands.

"You needn't worry too much about too much food. I love it with a passion, but I also love keeping myself active even more. Whether in combat or sparring, I'm always keeping my body in motion. My metabolism is sort of like a cheat code, ya know?"

With his digits typed into the phone, he softly placed the mobile device back into her hand, leaning into his chair again.

"There. With that, you can reach me any time you want. I'm always a phone call away. Say the word and I'll race across the planet. Okay, that's a bit of hyperbole. A lot of hyperbole, actually. Still, I'm sure you get the idea," he noted with a chuckle.

Kenichi chuckled heartily at the little burp that escaped her lips. She was clearly ready to go home and unwind. A soft smile lined his lips as he sighed happily. This night was more than he expected. He roamed the mountains and crossed paths with a woman who left a fine impression on him. It honestly felt surreal. There were thousands of ways the night could have went, but it ended on a note so wonderfully high. He was elated.

Of course, he blinked his eyes when he turned around, receiving a hug from the plum-haired woman. This, too, felt nice. He returned the hug, following Aina until the cab arrived. He was certainly excited to see her again, as soon as she desired. The kiss blown in his direction only heightened that desire as he pretended to catch it before waving the woman goodbye. Heading off into another direction, Kenichi stared into the moon as it cast an illuminating glow over his face.

It was a night to remember. That much was certain...