"?"
That was Karl's response to the emoji Hanako had sent him early in the morning.
He'd just gotten out of bed and was about to make breakfast while waiting for Wilton Holt to confirm the press conference date for Lucius Lane when Hanako's ssage ca through.
He glanced at the ti.
7:55 a.m.
Karl: Up this early?
Hanako: Maki stayed over last night. She left this morning, so I got up too.
Karl: Sounds good. Had breakfast yet?
Hanako: Chidoko's on it.
Karl: I'm just about to make mine. I'll send you a pic later.
Hanako: Is it good?
Karl: It's decent. Better than street food for sure—I use real ingredients. But I doubt it compares to what you're having.
Hanako: I wanna try it.
Karl: Next ti I visit, let borrow your kitchen. I'll cook sothing for you.
While casually chatting with Hanako, the oil in Karl's frying pan had already heated up.
Still replying with his left hand, he grabbed so eggs with his right and cracked one into each corner of the pan—smooth one-handed moves.
"Tssss."
As the eggs hit the hot oil, they sizzled sharply. The whites quickly began to set from the heat, and thanks to Karl's steady hand, the yolks stayed intact, sitting perfectly in place.
He tossed the last eggshell into the compost bag, then gripped the pan's handle, gently tilting it so the eggs would slide slightly in the oil, making sure they were evenly spread out.
Once he saw the yolks starting to set as well, he steadied the pan and laid out four plates on the side.
Using a long-handled, pointed spoon, he scored the eggs with a clean vertical and horizontal cut—dividing the round egg sheet into four even pieces centered on the yolks. Then, carefully sliding the spoon beneath each portion, he lifted them onto the plates one by one.
T-BUG stayed up late again yesterday. Four servings should be enough today.
Thinking that, Karl kept texting Hanako while keeping an eye on the remaining oil in the pan—just enough to fry bacon and sausage.
Today's breakfast, as always, was a classic: bacon, sausage, fried eggs, toast, and milk.
He stuck to this every day because it was simple, quick, and nutritious. If he ever needed extra vitamins, he'd swap the milk for orange juice. No need to go fancy—convenience was king. For soone like Karl, who always cooked breakfast for everyone, it didn't get easier than this.
Truth be told, Karl actually preferred traditional Chinese breakfasts—youtiao, soy milk, xiaolongbao—but making those from scratch, kneading dough and grinding soybeans, was way too much of a hassle. If he really wanted sothing warm and Chinese, he'd settle for a pot of plain congee.
"Yo, Karl. You're the first one up, huh?"
While he was still busy, Karl heard Oliver's voice coming from the second floor. He looked up to see a half-asleep Oliver rubbing his eyes and greeting him.
"Help out—bring the food to the table and go wake up V and Jackie. Tell them to eat while it's hot. First one done does the dishes."
"Alright, alright, I'm on it."
Oliver, already used to Karl ordering people around whenever there was a chance to slack off, didn't mind. He knew it was worth it for a hot breakfast. Yawning, he went to knock on doors. If there was work to do, better rope in the others—no point suffering alone.
Once V and Jackie were dragged out of bed, also yawning, breakfast prep sped up. A few minutes later, all four were seated at the table.
"T-BUG still out?"
V looked around and didn't see her. "Should we wake her?"
"You do it if you want. She was up late again. If you wake her now, she'll flip."
Oliver was chewing on a fried egg as he waved dismissively. Last ti he interrupted her sleep, she'd gotten revenge by casting his childhood photos on the living room TV. He wasn't eager for a repeat.
"Yeah, forget that."
V rembered that incident too and wisely decided not to ss with T-BUG's beauty sleep. He fell back on an old nomad habit: sandwiching bacon, sausage, and fried egg between slices of toast.
That's when he noticed Karl, eating while still glued to his phone.
"You texting soone?"
"Yeah."
Karl replied briefly and glanced at V. Seeing his signature sandwich move, Karl pushed his plate over. "Make one for too. Can't free up my hands."
"You can't do it one-handed?"
V rolled his eyes but still helped. While assembling Karl's sandwich, he heard Karl say:
"I think yours tastes better."
"Don't give that crap. It's the sa stuff. I've seen enough braindances with so-called culinary gods—you're not about to convince you've got so artisan's soul."
"Maybe food made by a choomba just hits different?"
Karl chuckled and looked at his phone—right as Hanako ssaged again:
Hanako: Maki made so mini cakes yesterday. They were really good. So... Christmas is coming up. Are you excited for Christmas cake?
Karl: Maki made them? I wanna try. As for Christmas cake...
He rembered the one Mrs. Wells had ordered last year. The flavor was... well...
Karl: It was alright. I'm not super into Christmas, but hey—it's once a year. Cake's still cake.
Hanako: Then... would you like to try one I make?
Did he want to?
Could Hanako even cook? Hopefully not the sa way she made tea...
Karl: We talking dark cuisine here?
Hanako: I learn fast!
Karl didn't argue.
He squinted a bit, ntally counting the days until Christmas. If Hanako started practicing now, and Chidoko suffered just a little each day, then by Christmas, he might actually end up with a decent cake.
Karl: Yeah, I'd love to.
Hanako: Great! Then let's spend Christmas together, okay?
…?
Didn't I just say I wanted cake? Weren't you gonna bring it to ? Why do I have to go over there?
Karl thought of the Christmas dinner Mrs. Wells would definitely host. That gave him pause.
She'd always treated them like her own kids. Telling her he wasn't coming for Christmas dinner... that'd feel like telling your mom you're not coming ho for the holidays. No way he could say that.
After a mont of hesitation, Karl sent a new ssage:
Karl: How about this—why don't you co spend Christmas at El Coyote Cojo with us?
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