Author's Notes:

Hello to all, I'm Havok. First time writing an anime/manga based story, previous I've had some experience in writing X-Com and Farcry 4 stories which you can easily find on my page. (Originally wanted to do Iron Blooded Orphans) I am still prioritizing my efforts on an ongoing story for Farcry 4 at the moment but that doesn't stop me from diversifying a little. Anyways, I hope you'll enjoy this story and more content to come. Peace out!

[Updated: 1/6/2018] Edits on Furata to Furuta and Jap honorifics replaced with conventional english.

Ishoku Dogen

"Food is the medicine of the soul?" These were Shishou's (Master) first words to Hitoshi when he appeared on the porch of the Cuisine and Culinary school with nothing to his name save the dirt around his young face.

In the school, he lived and breathed cooking. Before he entered a kitchen, he washed the pots and pans. Delicately wiped the plates and silverware till they shone and presented not a speck on their spotless surface. When he entered the kitchen, he did not immediately begin to cook. He was made to chop the vegetables first, then learn the five varieties of meat. Until Shishou judged him worthy of preparing the fresh fish to make sushi and sashimi. When he nicked his hands, burnt his skin, the young Hitoshi never complained like the rest of her disciples. Hitoshi was never as gifted as the older trainees and initiates into the cooking dojo. But unlike the rest, the boy had a persistence in learning to perfection.

When the rest were out relaxing or resting, young Hitoshi was practising, preparing, sharpening his knife and experimenting on the limits of cooking formulas. It was the one quality that separated him from the other disciples and his Shishou shared a special affection for this sort of perseverance. His peers could not see that and so Hitoshi was considered a deuce for the speed of which he learnt or when he asked to clarify during their lessons.

His Shishou begun to have private sessions in tutoring him in the art of cookery, the more she taught him the most she became enamoured by his progress. What he used with his allowances was only used to further his pursuit of cooking. He had a special fondness for purchasing rare herbs and spices not commonly available even in Metropolitan Tokyo. So during his birthday, she would specially order precious herbs and foods. Truffles auctioned in Italy, Black fungus and Lingzhi from China, Turmeric from India, Ginseng in Korea.

To thank his Shishou for her efforts, he would always cook a dish for her with said ingredients she spent to acquire them. And with every dish, he served her came with an aroma, a fragrance and taste that outdid his own usual efforts and put him on a class on-par with herself. But there was something about his food that was different from hers. Every mouthful bled colour and vibrancy that only a sharp sense of taste could appreciate.

When she asked him what he'd done differently he shrugged his shoulders. "I just wanted the thank Shishou for all her hard work, that's all." He gave a simple reply to her.

She found herself looking forward to that annual treat he gave on the day of his birth, despite it being his birthday and not hers, even counting the days till the appointed time. Where the other little arrogant geniuses made exceptionally good food that would certainly bring the crowds to sample their brilliant culinary arts. Hitoshi's food was mediocre in comparison, and yet every year that passed his one dish to her was a masterpiece like no other. The other senior master chefs did not get a taste like she did, so their views towards his average progression were not good enough in the world of culinary cuisine.

And because of this, all sorts of rumours circulated. One was that Hitoshi seduced her into getting better evaluations and support. The other was about her keeping him as her plaything.

As the years passed, she questioned why his food served every year on his Birthday was different from the foods he cooked during his tests and practice lessons. One day she asked to watch as he cooked and he agreed unhesitant, albeit shy.

She scrutinized every step he made with a precision that was no different from his usual routine and yet it turned out different from his usual dishes, just like it had on that same day every year. Hitoshi didn't understand why his Shishou raked her hairs, as she'd never told him once that it was like nothing she'd ever tasted. Hitoshi thought his Shishou grew more and more concerned for the likeliness of him being kicked from the school due to subpar standard.

So to assure him, she told him the truth. Hitoshi didn't know how to respond, being told by a master chef who was in line to succeed the Furuta name from the Grand Master that his cooking was like none she'd ever tasted.

"I really don't know, Shishou!-….. All I thought about was your instructions and what you said about Food being medicine."

His Shishou gave him the space he required as she went to consult the Grand Master who was also her Grandfather gave a hearty laugh in response.

"So, he only serves you dishes with his heart then." Was Grand Master Furuta's conclusion.

A warm feeling began to take root in her as she reflected on these words, the boy she trained and cultured started to appear as a man in her eyes.

"Would a young man want this Thirty-year-old woman with no notable traits besides the knife in her hand?" No. She knew the answer, so she devoted every cell in her body to achieve her original goal of succeeding the school.

In doing so, she became harsher on Hitoshi, now seventeen years of age. Hitoshi never complained about the change of circumstance, he took it all as training. Unlike the rest of the chefs, he had not begged to enter the school because of a better career opportunity. It was to further his love for cooking, like on one cold night alone in the street. An Oden stall vendor handed him a packet of wrapped soup, it filled his stomach and nourished his spirit. Hitoshi wanted to give that same feeling to those that would become his customers.

"My life goal is to have my own restaurant."

But as much as she wanted to make that a reality, his Shishou understood that to help him achieve it with her backing would be detrimental to his quality as a cook. So she stayed her hand, her feelings she hid in the darkest recesses of her heart and life went on.

Or so they thought.

The time spent with his Shishou which could have been given to more talented aspiring chefs was on some of the initiates minds all this while. And without her protection, he was an easy target of prosecution. And such, a clueless Hitoshi had been framed for improper cutting of Fugu (blowfish), leading to a hospitalization of a client. Hitoshi was brought before a panel of senior chefs to be judged.

"I prepared Fugu as was taught to me! Before I served my customers, I tried it myself. My knives were inspected and sharpened daily. The ones you accuse me of are not, what idiot prepares Sashimi with a blunt knife." He defended himself with his honesty.

But it appeared that his unpopularity was found amongst the head chefs as well.

"Then are you suggesting that because you have committed no flaw as you had followed by your tutelary, then-."

"I warn you before finishing that sentence, Master Kei." The Grand Master glared at the senior master that dared suggest Hitoshi's Shishou to be teaching him poorly.

"This blame, I will take full responsibility. I request permission from Honoured Masters to allow me to leave the school." Hitoshi bent down low in a dogeza (Japanese grovel) position. This action flabbergasted the committee who thought just moments ago he was defending himself bravely. Now, he admitted to the offence that would tarnish the name of the school. So they voted to oust him.

Hitoshi was shown out through the same way he came in years ago. No one bid him farewell, not even his Shishou. But he did not feel despair, for he protected his Shishou's honour. If they accused him of improper workmanship then it was only they that thought that he knew in his heart he was right. That was all he needed to know.

But upon arriving at the steps out of the school, the Grand Master stood in waiting.

"If what happened here today does not restrict your love for the cooking, then bear the name Furuta Hitoshi with pride." Handing him a neatly wrapped bundle before bidding him farewell.

The Grand Master shook his head, sighing as he watched the silhouette disappear into the streets. His colleague had deprived the school of an outstanding talent and would do so at the expense of his council position before the Grand Master retired. Furuta Hitoshi sat in the park for a moment to collect his thoughts on what to do next. He took the time to unravel the bundle given to him by the Grand Master on his departure. And it left him surprised at best to find a brand new complete set of knives. He picked out the largest and examined it, a Japanese single grind carving knife used for cutting sashimi, a Yanagi-ba. Upon its fuller were the engravings of the phrase, Ishoku Dogen.

For the first time in a long while, a tear drop fell from his eyes but his expression held no sorrow. Furuta Hitoshi faced the direction of the school and kowtowed with the utmost sincerity.

"Thank you, Shishou. For everything you've done for me."

Since then, Hitoshi had undergone several ups and downs on his path to achieving his dream. With the show of his cooking skill and a stroke of luck, he was accepted into a first-class restaurant as an assistant chef. His resume had been written as graduated from one of the more well respected culinary schools in Tokyo, the owner of the restaurant called the school and had a lengthy chat with the Grand Master of the school who acknowledged Hitoshi's affiliation.

Within a few years, he was the head chef of this 1st class establishment despite his youth. But a rift began to form between him and the 2nd generation owner over the ingredients he wished to use and the ones the owner ordered to save up on expense. That dispute ended their working relationship and Hitoshi was back in unemployment status. His expenses were thin though he had a roof over his head, for the time being at least. That was until he read his otaku roommate's monthly issue of MAMOR. A Jietai army magazine he just took up for light reading.

When one article caught his attention, a Jietai overseas tour under UN peacekeeping duties in Sudan. What caught his eye was the disaster relief in the form of humanitarian aid and the request for volunteers to undertake the non-combat role in aiding the displaced refugees. The cover page showed children happily enjoying the meals catered by the army expeditionary forces' logistical support branch.

Hitoshi found that happiness to be strangely similar to the expression he felt he wore all those years in the street. To eat and be alive the next day. So, the Jietai became his second calling.

Bootcamp was rather interesting, with the Drill Sergeant's constant quotations from Full Metal Jacket. It kept things interesting but Hitoshi did do his job seriously. Before he could become a cook he had to become a rifleman first, his marksmanship and combat prowess was passable. It had been five years since then, he was posted as per his request and outstanding resume to be sent to begin cooking duties as a specialist, even though his present rank was still Leading Private.

It was from here on that one of the most unbelievable events would occur. When men and monster marched through an ancient gate that appeared out of nowhere in the centre of Ginza. A nightmare to those who were subject to the indiscriminate killing and capture to become a slave. And thus, the Jietai were called to the scene. The police who held the invaders dressed similarly to the Ancient Romans were relieved of their duties by the modern might of the Jietai. The Battle of Ginza ended and then begun the one-sided onslaught on Alnus Hill which left without a single Jietai casualty and over three hundred thousand presumed dead soldiers of the Allied and Imperial forces. The inhabitants of Falmart or simply known as Special Region understood first-hand the disparity in the might wielded by the Japanese Self-Defense Force.

"Sir Suguwara, who is that person over there?" Pina inquired from the Japanese Negotiator.

"That's Furuta, one of Itami's men. He used to be a chef in a first-class restaurant." Hitoshi could hear the conversation for not so far away, but tending to the honey glazed ham was far more important.

"It's Definitely not a flavour one could normally try in the Capital. However, Sir Itami's subordinates…"

It was a change of pace from exploring much of the unexplored areas of the special region. Diplomat Suguwara requested his speciality specifically in a gesture of peace to the bureaucrats of the Empire. There was a weapons exhibition over the valley somewhere for the Senatorial delegates, Hitoshi's job was apparently to charm the statesmen and their families with satisfied stomachs. Which wasn't hard guessing from the compliment that Princess Pina randomly gave.

The opportunity to cook in this buffet-style party brought a familiar comfort in Hitoshi's heart, he looked down at the carving knife given to him from his Shishou as a parting gift and couldn't help but smile.

"Right, who's next?" He held carving fork in one hand and carving knife in the other, ready to slice and distribute the next dish which took him all morning to prepare. A row of guests had already assembled at his table where his Doner kebab was held upright as he carved the first portion for a guest.

"It's basically a grilling of a combination of certain meats on a spit with special seasonings. The eco system here in the Special region is a little different from that in Japan, so I had to improvise the taste a little." He handed the slices of meat wrapped in pita bread along with along with a few fresh veg topped with hummus sauce. It was essentially a Shawarma, a middle eastern wrap of meats and vegetables into a fusion of flavour which the first of his customers expressed extravagantly.

"My, how lovely!" One madam exclaimed.

"Thank you for the compliment, madam. Don't be afraid to come for a second helping, I have prepared a few more for you to enjoy." The lady chuckled with joy. And the guests that heard it were ecstatic, they originally had doubts about his cooking competence when they saw him take the lead in cooking instead of the Imperial chefs dispatched by Princess Pina. But a bite from his appetizers being served by Clan Formals' maid staff changed their perspectives entirely. Suguwara was pleased he chose the right person for the job, but Hitoshi felt like he just happened to be the only one who could fit the bill at the short span of time. For calling an active chef from Earth would go through a plethora of security checks before he or she could be cleared. Suguwara was just lucky.

To add into ruining the just settling mood, the thunder of hooves shook the gardens they were in.

"What the hell-…" Expressed the head rider.

"Oh my, his highness Lord Zorzal." The same madam from before gave him heads up of who that was. It looked like a scene was about to be made, luckily Head Maid Kaine came forward to attend to the haughty prince as he dismounted and approached her for the circumstances.

Kaine had the other maids assist by serving some of the freshly made dishes and snacks. The Prince picked up one of the jelly covered appetizers while his men bit into something else served.

"What?!" Zorzal expressed his disbelief at the taste.

"It's delicious, even more than cuisines found in the imperial court!... Furthermore, I've never tasted this kind of texture before."

"…." While it was nice that his food was being compared better than one of this worlds' finest cuisine. Coming from the prince, it just didn't feel satisfying at all like it did with the honest guest here.

It was something more akin to a dog eating what's left on the plate.

His soldiers begun to wolf down on the food in the same way like they hadn't eaten in days, grabbing the platters from the Formal Clan's maids.

"Royal Brother, what brings you here?" Princess Pina came in time to keep him under control, or so he thought as she just handed him a jar of mustard which he actually ate the entire thing out of.

The more he ate his food, the more Hitoshi viewed him like a pig. There was no etiquette in his bites.

"Who's the cook, I want to invite him to the palace and serve the Emperor." When he heard the prince say this, he felt like puking blood.

-You mean to serve you, you self-important twat! I'd rather challenge that flame dragon again!- His inner voice tsukkomi (play the straight man).

Moments later, he and his soldiers rode off after ransacking the tables of the leftovers, which left the maids in tears. Hitoshi looked at the ground to see large chunks of scraps on the grass from where they'd been munching from their hands.

"Wasteful." He sighed.

"Furuta!" The maids gathered around him.

"Furuta!"

"Sir Furuta!" Kaine addressed him differently hoping to garner his favour.

"Uh- what is it?" He almost couldn't balance as they pressed against him.

(groan) A collective sound stomachs aching answered for them besides the pleading eyes they wore.

"I- I'll see what else I can make for you guys then. You've spent a whole day serving the guest, so I'll brew up something special!" He promised them as he tied the working band around his forehead.

"Thank you, Sir Furuta!"

"So kind!..."

"Bless you!"

They gave their thanks in different ways, although Hitoshi didn't see the need for them to act this way. It was common, amongst hotel and restaurant staff that they have their meals before and after work. Often cooked by the chefs and assistants themselves for the staff, depending on who was on duty that day. He intended to apply this practice here as well for Suguwara-san and Princess Pina and the cooks.

"That's… entirely unnecessary."

But it didn't stop them from being cheerful that he was going to cook for them again. What's more, it was going to be something the rest of the guest wouldn't have a taste of. Now Hitoshi never made any promises, but he accepted the challenge nonetheless.

Hitoshi stood by the stove with what little ingredients he had at hand. Much the food that was left uncooked or prepared was parts of vegetables which the cooks had left over from chopping off the imperfections in the vegetables and meat still stuck to the bones.

"Wasteful…" Hitoshi lamented once more, as a professional cook, no matter if he was first rate or just a mess cook. Squandering ingredients or leaving parts behind was absolutely abominable. Even if it allowed him to cook something at the very last minute. What could he do with vegetable bits, chunks of different pieces of lamb, beef, chicken and pork to throw in? Definitely not a Japanese dish that was for certain, he thought. Then an idea from a very subtle experience he had with British sailors who came to dock at Yokohama, a cook off against the Royal Navy's head chef on a Destroyer on transit to the RIMPAC games in Hawaii.

"Get me some potatoes, and cheese as many as you can to feed thirty and quick!" He told one of the cooks on sight who disappeared frantically to procure some from the markets of the nearby town by horse drawn carriage.

Hitoshi went to clear space in the electric oven of the mobile kitchen unit from the battalion store.

"Pick those bones clean and gather what meat you can into a few bowls."

"Uh- shall we separate the meats?" One of the cooks asked.

"No need, I need those vegetables diced and gathered as well, but separate those instead."

"Yes, sir." The cooks left to do the appointed tasks he provided them with. It was very convenient and helpful to have a few extra hands who were competent in cooking, to say the least.

-What to use as a tray?- He pondered hard about what he could use to contain the ingredients to cook in the oven. Unfortunately, there was a limit to how big a tray he could put into the oven of such diameter. The kitchen unit had a small oven as baking was considered secondary to heating precooked food or grilling which was much faster, especially for feeding an army in the field quickly. He thanked his luck the store clerk was willing to even let him Requisition it with a bit of persuasion from Suguwara-san. He looked around at the dishes that piled up at the river for washing when he found the answer he smiled.

It was two hours since the time the idiot prince and the hungry pig soldiers ate up the remainders that were just enough for the staff to have a meal before going off. Even Suguwara and the rest of Third Recon hadn't eaten and only had small mouthfuls of appetizer that was passed around. Had Prince Zorzal not arrived and forced them to depart with the senatorial members to escape his inquisition. Lieutenant Itami left him to continue with feeding the guest, at least that was the initial idea.

"Supper's ready!" He called out as the meals were being removed from the oven to rest.

When the guest had left minutes ago, the work was not finished. The pavilions needed to be taken down and the area swept as it was a private garden of the Emperor's which Princess Pina requested to host her party.

When his voice was heard, the workers and maids put down their tools for cleaning, washed their hands and dusted off their attire.

What awaited them at the tables were jars that had been used to store the concoction they came to know as mustard and mayonnaise which Hitoshi brought. The number was exactly the same as the people seated at the tables. The workers, the cooks, the maids, Suguwara and Princess Pina apparently. Perhaps she was just curious from the rumours the maids passed about his claim and was excited to know what was different from the food he cooked for the guests.

Suguwara raised his eyebrows as he wasn't familiar with any dish that used jars not locally nor in the West. Then again, he hadn't truly travelled to those very exotic places back in the Earth they knew.

Suguwara gave a glance towards him to which he shrugged his shoulders.

"""Itadakimasu(Thank you for the food)!""" The group seemed to have learnt that word from Suguwara beforehand to show their appreciation for the cook and all his hard work.

The lids of the jars were lifted off and exposed them to the rich fragrance of the meal he made for them.

What was there to behold was mashed potato which sort of killed their expectations, but for some reason, it smelled of beef and a combination of other sweet meats as well. They learnt earlier on not to be quick to judge, especially when it came to Furuta Hitoshi. As they dug in further, they realised when that aroma came from.

"This is…." Suguwara seemed to know despite not travelling out of the country often enough.

"Mmmm!"

"What is this delicious concoction?!"

"So creamy, so yummy." One of the maids expressed as she and her colleagues melted with the creamy texture of the potato and melted cheese top. And to go with it, at the bottom of the pot underneath the layer of mashed potato was grounded meat, mostly beef with bits of vegetable to add to the flavour.

"Furuta. What is this dish?" The Princess found the time to ask while the others were busy taking another mouthful.

"It's called Shepherd's Pie, a popular dish in the United Kingdom that's easy to make with little ingredients and can fill a stomach quickly," Hitoshi informed her.

"First layer composes of whipped potato covered with a base of cheese on top of minced meats below with a mix of onions, salt and corn to bring out the richness of the meats. The slices of carrots, lettuce and tomato were to provide some vitamins to the meal. It's a simple dish that anyone could do, even a simple farmer in the special region."

Hearing these prospects whilst they were eating was like saying this dish they enjoyed to the fullest could be done by them on their own time.

"Done by a-…. Farmer?..." Princess Pina seemed to believe every word he said yet could believe that such simple ingredients could make up something so scrumptious.

"Although, these pots….." Suguwara definitely never heard of Shepherd's pie being baked in these small pots.

"I had to live with what I had at hand." Was his answer to that.

"Fair enough, it was my fault for not providing you with the necessary kitchenware and crockery."

Suguwara nodded before eating the rest of the pie inside of a pot, he chuckled just thinking about it.

"You really put the Imperial chefs to shame, Furuta."

"I wouldn't be so hasty in comparing me with-."

"No, it's the truth! You have my word as the Commander of the Rose Knights!"

"Ok! Ok! Your Highness! There's no need to do such a thing." Hitoshi tried to calm the Princess from her outward exclamation that even broke her formalities.

-Jeez. It's just pie.- Hitoshi said to himself.

"Sir Furuta is the God of Cooking!" One of the maids declared after taking in his explanation of the dish.

"That's right! He made such a simple meal into a banquet fit for a king- ney! And Emperor!"

-Woah there!- In Hitoshi's mind he was wondering, was this food really that good? He'd talked to the geological experts in intelligence who stated that there were many similar herbs to Earth found here and with more variations. Meaning that their options were greater than back home, this was literally a treasure trove waiting to be dug. The other nations were definitely biting their fingernails while Japan was happily digging around for valuable minerals.

"Fit for an emperor, eh?" Suguwara mumbled as he took another spoonful looking in Pina's direction.

"You want me to what?!" Hitoshi explained when Suguwara and an official from the Intelligence department at home requested of him.

"Isn't this a chance to get closer to your dream? Imagine the wages they give to those that fall under the emperor's employ."

"Don't joke around with me! Fulfilling my dream requires that I live to fulfil it! And yet-… you want me to venture straight into the enemies territory!"

"They're not our enemies any longer."

"Says the diplomat, you can already see how shaky their politics is. You're getting a civilization that is a thousand years behind in bureaucracy and other areas. It's inevitable they'll feel envious if anything. But before that, we're still invading outsiders of this world."

"And here I should be wondering if you should take my position in proceeding on with our delegations." Suguwara laughed. But Hitoshi was still wearing his grimace, and rightfully so. They were throwing him deep into the hornet's nest.

He wasn't a goddamn spy and neither did he have the training for this kind of infiltration. When he entered the Imperial Palace, it was a no brainer that he'd be reporting the activities back to Alnus Command.

"You'll have a team from Special Forces Group stationed in the outskirts to relay and get extraction from. Don't worry about it."

"Nonsense."

"Huh?" The intelligence officer's mood changed 180.

"There's a limit to how much a small group like that is capable of, and even more for me alone."

"…." Suguwara could see he was not willing.

"Get someone else." Hitoshi still said it to affirm his stance on this matter.

"Alright….." Suguwara said in agreement.

"You leave us no choice in the matter, Leading private Furuta."

"The hell you say."

"I'm now ordering you on my authority as the appointed intelligence officer over the special region activities."

"You sunnovabitch spook…" Hitoshi cussed.

"That's what we are, Furuta-Kun. But we do it for the country, and these are your military orders. You're welcome to oppose it."

"Tsh!"

"I'm sorry, Hitoshi. But we really need an insider on this. You've met Prince Zorzal."

"How could I forget... Idiot Prince." Suguwara chuckled as he made no attention to hiding his last comment.

"Yes..haha…. idiot prince. Believe it or not, he's the biggest rival to Princess Pina. Not because of his skill but rather his stand, as you might've guessed not everyone is for peace with our country."

"…" Hitoshi didn't want to spend another second in this room as it was already irritating seeing their faces.

"You'll be doing your country proud."

And so, Furuta was set on his way to the Capital to be introduced into the Imperial kitchens by Princess Pina. Lieutenant Itami drove him there with Princess Pina, and Lolita Demigod Rory on his lap throughout the ride. Seeing that gorgeous demi-god pull an awkward flustered look on his superior throughout the trip was slightly relieving because Itami did not stand up for him once when he'd been the sourced by the spook for this job. He rewarded Rory with a small pouch filled with a nutmeg concoction which promoted sexual stimulation to the male organ.

Rory grinned with delight as she concocted all sorts of schemes to lure Itami into bed with her, she accepted his tribute with grace on his request that she dominates him and make him feel the pain.

"You're quite the Sadist, Hitoshi." She cooed.

"I'll be taking them back then if you'll not cooperate."

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Since when does a devotee demand tribute back from his god?"

"I'm not your devotee. The day I add a "Ro" to my surname or worship a loli demi-god who scares people with her giant axe, is the day I acknowledge the tragedy that you are in this love-comedy you call a relationship with Lieutenant Itami." Rory expressed surprise at that insult but showed a sly grin underlining her composure.

"Ahhh... Youjiii! Furuta is being mean!" She accused him in her usual lazy seductive voice.

"Hitoshi, leave her alone." He said without even turning away from the road like they were siblings fighting during a road trip. That's when Rory truly became angry with Itami and kicked him on the shin and nearly caused him to crash the Humvee halfway on their trip to the capital.

Upon arriving in the capital which shouted copyright of Rome, Hitoshi escorted by Princess Pina bid the two farewell and good luck. Rory was only happy to be alone with Itami and insisted Princess Pina hurry up with leaving them alone.

"Say, Furuta."

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"You've been with Itami since the beginning, have you not?... I was thinking…."

-This again.- Hitoshi sighed internally. This made her the number what now?

There was Rory, Lelei, Tuka, that ex-wife of his and now Pina. By the end of their service, he'd have a harem to fulfil every since otaku's wet dream fetish. Oh, how angry the otaku nerds back home will be. (Author: Nerd Rage)

"Lieutenant Itami is my superior, he's serious only when he needs to be and takes things easy when he doesn't."

"Oh-… I see…."

"If you're so interested, maybe you should ask him yourself. I'm sure he won't deny her highness a conversation even if it intrudes on his social life."

-Like he has any.-

Princess Pina seemed to turn red.

"I wasn't referring to that I-….. I meant if he went back to Akibahara frequently even after the diet conference."

"…What?" Hitoshi didn't have a clue about what she was on about. Then she began to mumble something about BL which made him sigh. From what he heard from Kuribayashi was that the Princess and her knight Bozes discovered the world of Boys Love novels and smut, worst off was they spread that filth amongst the entire knight order and have now begun some sort of translator group from Nihon to the standard Imperial language. The less he knew the better.

Hitoshi was exposed to a lot of sightseeing along the way, this place was really a mirror image of the picture he'd seen of Rome. Did Rome get inspired by them or did some Romans get warped here accidentally through some sort of trans-dimensional relay of image and reality?

The imperial palace composed of several courtyards and sections that were guarded by the praetorian guard, the elite guard of the emperor and the Royal family.

"Halt." Called out the last set of guards into the inner sanctum which was where the courtyards of the Emperor Molt Sol Augustus lay.

"This is Furuta Hitoshi, starting today he'd be working in the kitchens together with the cooks."

Hitoshi wanted to slap his head, she used his Japanese name even when Lieutenant Itami told her the nature of his mission.

"Uwah!- Uh- I mean." Princess Pina stumbled.

-Too late.-

Hitoshi just shook his head, since she'd gone this far there was no use denying it. If not, she was just making them both out to be suspicious individuals. She might be spared, but the guillotine would be for him.

"You! Arms up, let's see what's in the bag." A spot check, which meant that the praetorian guard would accept his entry after all.

Hitoshi handed his bag of tools over to the guard in front as the other patted him down for hidden weapons.

The one checking his bag searched quite roughly that he was afraid he'd damage the ingredients he brought inside.

"Bastard!" That guard suddenly shouted and drew his gladius.

"He's an assassin after all!" The rest of the guards drew their short swords and positioned their shields to interlock to form a wall.

"Hang on a minute, what is the meaning of this? Furuta-dono bears no arms, I've checked with him already." Princess Pina stood in their way to block them.

"Then will your highness care to explain this?" The guard took out one of Hitoshi's carving knives and emptied the bag onto the floor causing the rest to drop on the hard brick hard.

"Hey! Watch it, those are valuable!" Hitoshi shouted at them for their manhandling of his precious set.

"Furuta, this-…"

"These are my carving knives for preparation of the ingredients, I brought them because I was comfortable using them at my convenience."

Princess Pina sighed in relief.

"So they're only tools for your cooking and not weapons."

"Are you serious?" Hitoshi said out loud and realised he didn't say it to himself exclusively. Even the guards were shocked for a while when he challenged royalty.

"Whatever the case, we shall confiscate these." He reached out to collect them with another guard. But Hitoshi stood in their way.

"Oh no, you don't!" He said as he snatched away one from the leading guard's hand.

The guard was about to retaliate but Princess Pina stood in the way once more.

"Can't you let those go, I'll promise to have the foundries produce a new set just for you."

"No can do, your highness. These knives have a sentimental value to me that has no price to 'em." Princess Pina saw a determination in his eyes she'd never seen before, so she could see he was being genuine about the knives.

"And what do I tell the captain of the Guards? That I let a stranger through completely armed with knives? These knives stay or he doesn't enter."

"Then I won't enter, gimme back my knives!"

"Do you know where you are to make a scene? I could have you killed for an illegal intrusion into the palace grounds."

"Do it! I'd like to see you try!"

"Furuta!" Princess Pina couldn't believe they were actually fighting here even before he entered the palace grounds.

"What's all this commotion about?" Came a gentle husky voice from within the palace grounds. What appeared to be a silhouette at first because of the shadow of the building casted over her.

"Uh-….I-….. Mila-…" The guard stuttered as he seemed to have an idea who that was.

Princess Pina seemed to quieten down which was strange from Hitoshi's observation. What kind of power did she hold? And as the silhouette got closer, Hitoshi noticed two prominent rabbit ears on that individual. If not for an appearance of others like Delilah in Alnus he wouldn't have known what she was, but he did now. Although, he began to have a new question formed up in his head.

What was a member of the warrior bunny tribe doing here of all places? Stepping into the light was fair-skinned warrior bunny with silver hair at least waist long and had a pair of red ruby eyes that seemed to look down on whatever that it lay its gaze on. That arrogance was justified solely by the beauty of her appearance and slender figure that put even Delilah to shame.

"L-Lady Tyuule!"

The name the guard called her by. At this point, Hitoshi had little expectations onto that name.

She reached down to pick up one of the knives, one that had the most meaning to him. She examined the quality of the blade and noting the engraving carved upon the fuller.

"What does this say?"

Little did he know the impact she would place on his life to come.

Author's Notes:

What's not to like about bunny girls. When I first saw Tyuule I kinda pitied her setting even after her whole ploy to throw the whole empire into chaos. It was just Zorzal's karma for going against his word when they discussed the tribes' fate. Hopefully, I don't have to kill her off like it did happen canonically in the novel.

(Edited: 12/09/17) : Wrote Furuta Hitoshi as Hiroshi. So Sorry. :)