Page 177 of Mercy Written in Blood

Hiroshi looked him up and down.

"You seem like a man who considers eating an interruption."

"I consider inefficient eating an interruption."

"See?"

Reina swept chopped mushrooms into a bowl.

"Hiroshi, start the rice again."

"There is nothing wrong with the rice."

A sharp smell rose from the cooker. Everyone looked towards it. Hiroshi sighed.

"The rice has developed character."

"The rice has burned."

"Only underneath."

"That is where rice is."

Haruki placed the cake in the pantry and returned. He took the burned pot from Hiroshi before the older man could object.

"I'll do it."

"You always use too much water," Reina said.

"And yet nobody dies."

"An uninspiring standard."

Renji stood near the island holding the vegetables Reina had placed before him — carrots, daikon, spring onions, a bowl of lotus root soaking in water. He looked at the knives, all sharpened recently. Good quality. Well maintained. At least someone in the house respected tools.

"What am I making?" he asked.

Reina glanced over.

"Kinpira."

"You've cut the burdock too thick."

She stopped. Hiroshi smiled. Haruki turned away, though Renji saw his shoulders move.

"No, I haven't," Reina said, looking down at her cutting board.

Renji selected a knife.

"The pieces will cook unevenly."

"They're fine."

"They are three different widths."

"It's rustic."

"That is usually what people say after making an error."