I'm in Detective Conan, and the system has assigned me a succubus.

Perhaps this is the kind of obsessive-compulsive disorder that only chefs possess—

We want to receive feedback from diners on the food.

Uesugi Tetsu cooked for Vermouth, Sera Mary, and Sera Masumi.

He has mastered the art of catering to different people, different dishes, and different tastes.

He felt satisfied to hear praise and affirmation of his cooking skills from Eri, whom he was meeting for the first time.

"No... I'm not just being polite." Eri, afraid he'd think she was being dismissive, quickly put down her spoon. "Your cooking is truly excellent; I've never had such delicious porridge before."

“It’s true.” She added, afraid that Uesugi Tetsuya wouldn’t believe her.

“Hmm… I can tell you’re not just being polite.” Uesugi Tetsu raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Eri Kisaki’s eyes. “Your eyes are beautiful; they’re eyes that don’t lie.”

No sooner had she said that than Eri nearly choked on the porridge she had just drunk. She quickly turned to the side, clutching her chest and coughing lightly.

Strangely, these words, which should have sounded somewhat frivolous, came out of Uesugi Tetsuya's mouth without being offensive at all.

It's more like stating a simple fact.

"I apologize for what I said." Uesugi Tetsu immediately stood up, took a tissue from the sideboard, and handed it to her.

Eri shook her head: "No, I'm very happy to hear such praise from you."

The social distance that should have been maintained seemed to have been quietly shortened because of this bowl of porridge.

"Did you move here recently?" Eri Kisaki couldn't help but ask.

What she really wanted to ask was what Uesugi Tetsu did for a living.

Why is it that a young man's home is so tidy, even the kitchen is so well-organized, and even the aromatherapy he chose is so to his liking?

“Yes, I was working as a psychologist in Birmingham, England, and only returned to Japan a few days ago.” Uesugi Tetsu stirred the bowl gently with his spoon.

"I chose this place because I can see Tokyo Tower, and it's quieter when I'm writing at night."

Eri suddenly realized why Toru Uesugi had such a gentle demeanor; it was really easy for people to let their guard down.

She nodded, then felt it was somewhat impolite.

You've already eaten someone's food, and you still haven't asked their name.

"May I ask your surname?"

“Uesugi, Uesugi Tetsu.” Uesugi Tetsu smiled.

But Uesugi Tetsu quickly looked away, focusing intently on Eri Kisaki's eyes: "And you?"

“My surname is Ki, Ki Eri.”

She responded softly, and as she gave her name, her posture unconsciously relaxed a little.

As the two gradually became more familiar with each other, her originally stiff sitting posture gradually relaxed.

Do not look at what is improper, do not look at what is improper, do not look at what is improper...

“Yes, Ms. Kisaki.” Uesugi Tetsu lowered his head and tentatively asked in a gentle tone, “How are you feeling now? Do you feel more relaxed?”

Eri Kisaki was taken aback, wondering why the other person asked that question. Had he noticed something?

Could it be that I said something incoherent while I was unconscious?

For example, complaining about Kogoro Mouri's drinking problem, or feeling relieved that Ran finally gave in?

"Don't worry, you didn't talk in your sleep when you fainted," Uesugi Tetsu said, as if he could read her mind.

"But when you were sleeping, I noticed that you were frowning the whole time, and even the corners of your mouth were pursed. It looked like you weren't sleeping comfortably."

Upon hearing Uesugi Tetsu say that she wasn't talking in her sleep, Eri Kisaki secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems like they've completely figured out my thoughts...

This is practically mind reading, isn't it?

Do all psychological counselors have mind-reading abilities?

Fei Yingli recalled how he had put away the aromatherapy bottle earlier, and then belatedly realized: "So the scent I smelled back then was the calming aromatherapy you put out?"

"Hmm, seeing that you weren't sleeping well, I thought I might be able to help you relax a bit," Uesugi Tetsu said, adding another half bowl of porridge to her bowl.

"But did you really sleep well?"

The long-lost thoughtfulness made Eri's nose sting a little; she never expected that this young man could be so considerate.

They even noticed their own unconscious state at the time.

There's a faint...long-lost...happiness and peace of mind?

After all, she hadn't felt this kind of thoughtfulness from a man in a long time.

Kogoro Mouri never pays attention to these things.

Eri Kisaki couldn't help but frown at the thought of Kogoro Mouri.

Immediately, an image flashed in my mind of him, disheveled, huddled on the sofa, clutching a beer can in one hand and grinning foolishly at Yoko Okino on TV with the other.

After all these years, he hasn't changed at all, and he only disappoints her.

Eri scooped the porridge with a bit more force, as if she wanted to swallow her frustration.

"Ms. Fei, are you alright?"

Uesugi Tetsu looked at her suddenly darkened face and the way she angrily scooped up the porridge, and couldn't help but find it a little funny.

She was so dignified just a moment ago, but now she's like a sulking child.

"Ah... I'm fine." Eri Kisaki took a sip of porridge, and the smooth texture slowly calmed her anger.

She stopped thinking about Kogoro Mouri and focused solely on savoring the sweet taste in her mouth. "I just think this porridge is so delicious that I can't help but want to eat a few more bites."

It's so delicious...

Can I make it this delicious myself?

"Even if it's delicious, please don't eat anymore." Uesugi Tetsu stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

The white cabinet door was gently pulled open, and the soft sound of porcelain bowls clinking could be heard.

Eri's spoon froze in mid-air. She looked down at her bowl, but her view was blocked by the curves of her chest, so she had to lean back slightly.

Under the warm light, there was still a little less than half a bowl of porridge left in the bowl, but she couldn't remember how many bowls this was.

'How many bowls have I eaten now?'

How could you possibly leave a man you're meeting for the first time with the impression of being a glutton?

Did it get to the point that even Uesugi Tetsu felt disgusted by it?

That's terrible.

She felt annoyed and secretly made up her mind—she would definitely stop eating after finishing this bowl!

"Sorry, that's not what I meant." Uesugi Tetsu walked out of the kitchen, holding a thermos bowl in his hand.

"It's already late. If you eat too much, you won't sleep well at night and you'll easily get indigestion."

He placed the insulated bowl on the table and opened the lid: "I'll pack the rest for you; you can take it home for breakfast tomorrow."

"Just heat it up and it's ready to eat; it'll help soothe your stomach."

Eri watched as he picked up a spoon and carefully ladled the remaining porridge from the clay pot into a thermos.

So it turns out that Uesugi Tetsu wasn't complaining about how much he ate, but was actually thinking of him?

The fact that they even thought of details like tomorrow's breakfast made my earlier annoyance at thinking about Kogoro Mouri lessen.

Eri Kisaki looked at Toru Uesugi's profile as he carefully ladled out porridge.

Despite being much older than him, she was being cared for so meticulously by him, like a child. This long-lost tenderness brought tears to her eyes.

"Thank you, Mr. Uesugi."

022-Are you Light Yagami-sensei?

Uesugi Tetsu didn't pay much attention to the panel prompts, focusing only on scooping the last spoonful of yam and lotus seed porridge from the clay pot into the insulated bowl.

He then looked up at Eri: "Alright, take these back for tomorrow's breakfast. When you heat them up, just use medium-low heat. Don't cook them for too long, or they'll burn."

This is already a prepared meal; Eri just needs to avoid adding unnecessary seasonings...

There shouldn't be any problems, right?

After saying that, Uesugi Tetsu turned around and went into the kitchen: "Please don't be shy with me. If you think it's delicious, it makes me happier than anything else."

Eri looked at the gleaming silver insulated bowl on the table and let out a soft "hmm."

Before she could think further, Uesugi Tetsu walked out with a transparent glass jar.

The jar was filled with neatly arranged cookies, the buttery biscuits topped with crushed nuts, their edges toasted to a golden brown, giving them a crispy appearance.

It's clearly not a ready-made product from a store, but rather handmade.

"This is a belated gift." Uesugi Tetsu took another cloth bag and carefully placed the thermos inside.

"I was supposed to deliver it to my neighbors after I moved, but I was jet-lagged and busy organizing things, so I didn't have time."

Looking at the jar of cookies, Eri Kisaki suddenly remembered that this was a custom in Japan called "Shinju no Aiza".

This is a custom passed down from the Edo period; new residents usually give their neighbors small, practical gifts.

Everyday items like towels and snacks are kept to minimize disruption during the move and to foster better neighborly relations.

When Eri Kisaki moved to this building before, she also gave her neighbors yokan (sweet bean jelly), but it was a ready-made product from the store, not something she made herself.

I just didn't expect that Uesugi Tetsu would remember such details, even though he doesn't seem like someone who is bound by formalities.

Eri usually receives things like towels and detergent.

Cookies made by hand like these show extra care and attention.

Although Uesugi Tetsu disliked these formalities, he understood the importance of adapting to local customs.

To integrate into local life, these etiquette rules should be remembered.

At least he must carefully manage his public persona.

"Please don't be disgusted, these are cookies I made myself. I wouldn't dare say they're better than the ones sold in stores, but they shouldn't be bad either, right? Hahahaha..." Uesugi Tetsu made a little joke.

With his current culinary skills, he could easily open a dessert shop or bakery, where the taste and technique would be top-notch.

It could even be said that they will be very popular because of these unique skills.

Upon hearing this, Eri Kisaki quickly shook her head: "No, no, no, you're too modest. These cookies look delicious. Thank you."

She did not refuse the small gift, because it was indeed a ritual that would be performed after a neighbor moved in.

Refusing a neighbor's gift upon greeting can make one seem distant.

And the other person really took good care of me tonight.

"I'm glad you like them." Uesugi Tetsu smiled and put the cookies into his bag. "If you want more after you've finished them, just ask me anytime. I'll make more when I have some free time lately."

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and turned to look for something: "Where did I put the sticky notes...?"

As Eri watched Toru Uesugi's retreating figure, she secretly thought to herself—no matter how delicious it is, I can't really ask him for it, can I?

I've already eaten their porridge and received a gift today. If I keep being greedy, I'll really become a glutton.

Besides, there aren't many people living on this floor. Even if we give one can to each household, we wouldn't need to make this many, right?

As Eri was thinking, she suddenly remembered something and asked with a hint of worry, "Mr. Uesugi, have you adjusted to the time difference? I would be so sorry if I disturbed your rest?"

"I've already been transferred here, don't worry." Uesugi Tetsu pulled a sticky note from a bookshelf drawer, took a pen, and began to write.

The pen tip glides across the paper, making a soft scratching sound.

To make sure Eri felt guilty, Uesugi Tetsu added, "I usually go to bed late at night, and I get a lot of inspiration when I write at this time. You didn't disturb me."

Eri looked down at her bowl; she had just finished the last mouthful of porridge, and there was still a hint of rice flavor on her lips.

Just as she was about to put down her spoon, Uesugi Tetsuya didn't look up, but gently pushed another bowl of shrimp and egg custard towards her.

The steamed egg custard was still steaming, with a sprinkle of chopped green onions on the pale yellow surface. It looked so smooth and tender that you could almost squeeze water out of it.

There were two bowls of steamed egg custard, one small bowl for each person, but she had been so focused on eating porridge that she forgot about the egg custard.