In the heart of a softly lit kitchen, where the golden glow of pendant lights mingled with the ambient warmth of a late evening sun, a person set about crafting a culinary masterpiece that would soon become a vessel of comfort and joy: macaroni and cheese. The room was a sanctuary of soothing aromas and gentle hums of activity (in Naofumi's head at least).

That person, was of course, Naofumi Iwatani. While he was cooking, he did his best to tune out the other distractions in the room, ignoring how Shindo and Filo were still fighting over which anime to watch, while Eclaire and Raphtalia planned their much-deserved girl's day out.

No, right now, there were only two things that mattered- him, and this recipe! Yes, macaroni and cheese was a simple thing, but if he could perfect this, only then could he say that he really had some cooking talent. He didn't like it when people paid too much attention to his cooking, but he wanted to make something that would really stand out tonight!

A gleaming saucepan, cradled in the embrace of his eager hand, was placed over the stove, its polished surface catching flecks of sunlight. The burner ignited with a tender blue flame, promising a dance of heat and transformation. To Naofumi, this was no ordinary flame- but akin to the sacred fire in which it was said the universe had been made! As the pot heated, a whisper of anticipation filled the air, a promise of the indulgent dish to come.

With practiced grace, a generous pat of butter was introduced to the pan, its golden sheen melting into a liquid silk that sizzled and swirled with an inviting aroma. The butter's aroma, rich and creamy, wove a delicate thread through the air, beckoning the senses to awaken and revel in its decadence.

At this moment, Filo and Shindo stopped fighting, and even Fitoria, who had been mostly absentmindedly fiddling on her phone, noticed that something was happening in the kitchen. Something that few mortals could have claimed to have lived and seen with their own yes.

Naofumi, however, was indifferent. Like a Buddhist monk, he had thrown all these mortal distractions out of his head. Next came the flour, a snowfall of white, sifted with care into the bubbling butter. Each spoonful was a delicate cascade, mingling with the melted gold in a harmonious dance. The mixture thickened as it was stirred with a wooden spoon, the steady rhythm a gentle lullaby that hinted at the creamy delight to come.

A cascade of milk followed, poured in with an unhurried elegance. It swirled into the roux, its cool, milky essence blending seamlessly with the warm, golden base. The mixture began to thicken, its consistency becoming velvety and smooth, like a luxurious fabric being spun from the finest threads.

Now, there was not a single mouth in the room that was not watering save for Naofumi's. Filo and Shindo even turned off the television completely, realizing that they were witnessing the birth of a culinary masterpiece!

Even Fitoria's stone-cold heart melted like the butter in the pan at the aroma! Eclaire and Raphtalia, normally quite elegant and cultured, were drooling at the mouth.

Though once again, Naofumi paid no attention to all of these things- as it was said, lions did not concern themselves with the bleating of sheep!

Still, one thing could definitely be said- that the room was actually quiet right now, not just in Naofumi's mind.

Cheese, the pièce de résistance, was then added. A blend of sharp cheddar and creamy mozzarella, the cheeses were grated with meticulous care. As they tumbled into the pot, their flavors unfurled like a bouquet of rich, aromatic notes. The cheese melted slowly, blending into the sauce with a silken grace, forming a luscious, golden blanket that enveloped the mixture in its creamy embrace. Naofumi had chosen this cheese blend specifically for the way that they would compliment each other- like the wind complimented cherry blossoms, like the barn complimented the barn owl, so too did these two cheeses compliment each other.

In the meantime, the macaroni, small and unassuming, had been boiling gently in a pot of salted water. The pasta, now tender and perfectly al dente, was drained and added to the sauce with a loving touch, Naofumi hadnling it with more tenderness and gentleness than a mother would while caressing her newborn. The macaroni twirled and mingled with the cheese in a seemingly endless dance, each piece enveloped in a rich, creamy embrace, melding together in a union of flavors and textures.

The food was already quite alluring, but Naofumi knew that he couldn't let his guard down now. What he did next would be the difference between this just being good, and it being a true work of art!

The final touch was a sprinkle of breadcrumbs, seasoned and crisped to a golden perfection. They were scattered across the top of the dish by Naofumi just like Salt Bae (Raphtalia had to try hard to not imagine Naofumi shirtless while he was doing so), promising a satisfying crunch beneath the creamy surface. As the casserole was slid into the oven, its top was kissed by the gentle, enveloping heat, transforming the dish into a bubbling, golden masterpiece. Indeed, liquid gold would not be as valuable as what Naofumi had created- or so, many of the people in the room thought (most of them were filthy rich so you should probably take their opinions with a grain of salt).

As the timer ticked away and even Naofumi joined the others in waiting with baited breath, the kitchen was filled with a tantalizing aroma, a symphony of cheese and warmth that spoke of comfort and contentment. Each moment was steeped in anticipation, a promise of the indulgence to come. When the dish was finally removed from the oven, its surface was a vision of bubbling perfection, a testament to the love and care that had gone into its creation.

Of course, Naofumi knew there was something even beyond a final step- the presentation! Before, he had contented himself with caring only about the taste of what he made, but it would be so no longer! No, now was the part where his lack of experience might show, and yet, he would trudge further regardless!

With a final flourish, a sprinkling of fresh herbs—parsley and chives—was added, their vibrant green contrasting beautifully with the golden cheese. The macaroni and cheese was now a sight to behold: a luscious, comforting embrace of flavors and textures, ready to be savored with all the joy and appreciation it so richly deserved.

Naofumi took a bite himself, yes, this definitely fit his standards.

"No fair! Naofumi's gonna eat it all himself!"

"No fair Big Bro! Mom always said that we had to share things, remember?"

The others were more restrained in what they said, but they all had murderous expressions on their faces.

"Hey, I was just making sure it was ready to eat," Naofumi said. "Now, can someone help me set up the plates so that we can all actually dig in?"