05/02/2012, Velvet Room, Lunch Time.
Inside the Velvet Room, a lavish lunch unfolds, the air rich with the aroma of hand-made dishes. Koneko, convinced she's currently the luckiest devil alive, devours the feast with unbridled enthusiasm. Despite her petite frame, she attacks each plate Makoto has prepared with the ferocity of a ravenous beast, her appetite seemingly defying the laws of physics as she consumes far more than her small body should logically and physically hold.
"You have quite the appetite Koneko" comments Ryoji, while munching something his eyes fixed on the black hole that is Koneko's mouth as she eats, devours, gnaws, gulps, chews, bites, swallows, crunches, sips and drinks.
'She has an appetite almost as big as the rusted lizard's' comments Odin. 'I priiiide myself in my appetite! No one can beeeeeaat me old man' creaks Fafnir taking Odin's comment personally.
"Senpai, this is... incredible. It might just be the best food I've ever tasted" Koneko murmurs, her voice brimming with genuine awe, her words flowing straight from the depths of her heart.
"T-thank you," Makoto stammers, caught off guard by the intensity of her praise.
"Well that's one of the best qualities of Makoto. If I didn't know any better I would bet you have a cook Persona always present in your mind" says Ryoji.
'The only one I can think of able to perform such culinary skills is The Dagda' says Kohryu. 'Don't mention the 'Perfect Being'. He unnerves me' says Apollo having clearly some conflictual past with Dagda. 'Of course the Sun God doesn't like someone like The Dagda' says Lucifer saying that name with rare respect.
'If you find yourself dealing with the Tuatha Dé Dannan of this world it might be useful asking his help, Universe' says Izanagi.
Meanwhile Koneko finished her meal and now a huge smile is plastered on her lips. "Thanks a lot Senpai" she says grateful.
"Next time you don't have to follow me through half of the city, you can ask me directly you know?" says Makoto. The boy, in fact, passed all the morning being followed by a silent Koneko.
"How did you even knew about Makoto's cooking?" obviously asks Ryoji.
"Akeno made some good pastries this morning for breakfast. I then asked who taught her doing them and she replied it was Miss Grayfia which stole the recipe from you Senpai" says Koneko.
"Oh, I understand" feeling Ryoji's inquisitive gaze Makoto is forced to give an answer himself. "While they were training I sometimes helped Grayfia with cooking" says Makoto finally clearing any doubts.
"Is there a dessert?" asks Koneko.
"No, I didn't make it. I don't usually cook this much..." Makoto admits, turning to face Koneko, who's now pouting dramatically, her eyes wide and pleading as she silently begs for a sweet treat.
'Ah! Where was this boldness just a week ago?' Apollo quips internally, his tone laced with amusement.
'I find it rather endearing' Cendrillon counters, her voice warm with affection as she observes the scene.
'It means the Hanged is growing more confident around the Universe, hee hoo!' Jack Frost chimes in, his voice brimming with delight at the progress.
'Universe, I formally request that you prepare a dessert for the Hanged, hee hoo. And if I may offer a suggestion, I'd recommend a Strawberry Frost, hee hoo!' the Demon Doll adds, his tone playful yet earnest.
'Whaaat? Jackie that... that's cannibalism!' shouts Cendrillon. 'Hee hoo' sighs Jack Frost. 'I will create the perfect Strawberry Frost Slush, hee hoo'.
"Fine, Jack Frost has an idea" Makoto announces, instantly capturing Koneko's undivided attention. He reaches into a cabinet behind the counter, retrieving a glass cup, and sets it down on the wooden table with a soft clink.
Koneko's eyes widen, her gaze locked on Makoto like a child mesmerized by a magician about to perform an enchanting trick or like a cat following a mice with its eyes.
"Do it, Jack Frost," Makoto mutters, one hand half-covering his face from the embarrassment to use his powers for something as trivial as making a slushy. The Demon Doll materializes atop the counter, its presence funny yet elegant. With a snap of its fingers, a flurry of light-red ice swirls into the glass, forming a vibrant, frosty slush that looks almost too perfect to drink.
"Here you go, Hanged, hee hoo! I hope you like strawberry, hee hoo!" Jack Frost chirps, personally lifting the cup and handing it to Koneko with a flourish movement of his gloved hand. Ryoji, thoroughly amused by the spectacle, breaks into applause, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Thanks, hee hoo! Jack Frost is always here to surprise and amaze, hee hoo!" the Demon Doll declares proudly before vanishing back into the depths of Makoto's mind, its cheerful laughter lingering in the air even if the doll is already gone.
Time seems to stretch endlessly for Koneko as her hands cradle the cup of Strawberry Frost Slush. She could swear an angelic choir is singing in her mind, their harmonies echoing with each passing second. Her heightened nekomata senses send electric shivers down her spine as she leans in, her nose catching the cool, sweet aroma of the dessert.
'So, paradise exists for devils too' she muses, completely lost in her own blissful world made entirely of slushies. She plunges her spoon into the crimson hill of icy gold, lifting it a tiny amount to her mouth, which waters uncontrollably in anticipation.
The moment the slush touches her tongue, her taste buds erupt in pure ecstasy. The flavor is perfectly balanced, not overly sweet, with a subtle tang of acidity from the slightly underripe strawberries, creating a symphony of taste that leaves her utterly captivated.
A soft, delighted hum escapes her as she closes her eyes, her face lighting up with an unrestrained, radiant smile. Her legs swing excitedly beneath the table, barely contained as she struggles to hold back her sheer joy, every movement a testament to the bliss coursing through Koneko's body.
"Jack Frost may I have one too?" asks Ryoji blindly curious by this, literally, magic slush.
'Hee hoo! The frightening Death, Appraiser of the Fall and herald of Nyx comes to ask poor little Jack Frost a slush. Hee Hoo!' says the Demon Doll, his joke causing a copious laugh from the other Personas.
"Yes, the very same" replies Ryoji half joking.
Jack Frost pointedly ignores Ryoji, much to the latter's visible annoyance. However, rather than escalate the situation, Ryoji simply shrugs it off, choosing to let it slide with a roll of his eyes.
When Makoto glances back at Koneko, the girl has already emptied the cup of slush, its contents slurped by the girl in under a minute.
Without a hint of shame, Koneko thrusts the empty cup towards Makoto, batting her eyes pleadingly for another round.
Jack Frost materializes in a shimmer of ice, shooting Ryoji a mischievous glance brimming with silent defiance before refilling Koneko's cup again. "Another treat for the Hanged, hee hoo!" the Demon Doll trills with a wide smile, its voice bubbling with glee.
After polishing off five more servings, Koneko finally surrenders, her posture relaxing in complete satisfaction. "Thank you… for everything, Senpai" she murmurs, her voice soft but sincere, a rare warmth softening her kinda collected and apathetic demeanor. "It was perfect, the best thing I've ever tasted" she declares without an hint of a doubt.
"You're welcome anytime, Koneko" Makoto replies warmly, his tone genuine. As he speaks, a flicker of realization lights up his mind.
'Are you thinking about that cat woman, Universe?' Kohryu interjects, tuning into Makoto's train of thought. 'Yes'.
"Koneko, can I ask you something?" begins Makoto as Koneko immediately nods her head. "When we were at the Fuji Q Highland and you felt strange... well, there was this cat woman spying on us. I confronted her and she called you Shirone and-" Koneko immediately stops Makoto after hearing her forename.
"Y-you met Kuroka?" Koneko's eyes widen in panic after saying her sister's name. "She is a bad person... She... Sprry Senpai I don't want to talk about it, please..." begs Koneko her eyes already watering.
'The situation is worse than we imagined' points out Izanagi. 'Something real bad happened between the two of them, hee hoo' comments Jack Frost.
"If you don't want to talk about it that's fine, don't worry" tells Makoto apologizing. "If I remember correctly Rias arranged a party some days ago, could you tell me more about it?" Makoto tries his best to divert Koneko's attention helped by Ryoji. "A party? Why didn't you invite us?" he asks.
"You were nowhere to be seen..." says Koneko.