With the help of the family and Lacus, the meal was quickly prepared.
When she saw the freshly cooked East Asian-style dishes steaming on the table, Lacus realized that Fred's mother hadn't been joking earlier—Fred truly was skilled even in cooking.
The stir-fried dishes on the table not only looked appealing but also smelled incredible. The heat carried the aroma of wok-fried flavors, first a caramelized scent of oil, followed by the rich fragrance of sauces—a combination Lacus had never experienced before.
Though compared to his other skills, Fred's cooking might seem less remarkable, upon reflection, Lacus couldn't find any shortcomings in him.
Her astonishment was evident on her face.
"Brother Fred is amazing."
"Haha, Fred inherited that from me."
George was delighted by Lacus's praise and her surprised expression, laughing heartily.
"Come on, it's clearly from me."
Watching the two banter back and forth, sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft golden glow over the already warm home.
Lacus couldn't help but cover her mouth with a light chuckle.
Unlike the vast and somewhat rigid home she was used to, this place felt refreshingly new.
Even though her own home was larger, it carried an air of antiquity and formality.
From a young age, Lacus had shouldered immense responsibility and worked hard.
But here, it was different—different from the outside world and different from her own home.
Although her father loved her deeply, that love had taken on a different flavor in the face of greater responsibilities.
At the very least, in the home she shared with her father, there was no such playful bickering.
"Sorry."
Just as Lacus was lost in thought, feeling a surge of envy, Fred's voice sounded beside her.
"Not at all~"
Lacus shook her head.
If she had initially come to test Fred, she now found herself looking forward to the next few days.
"By the way, will you be attending classes these days, Brother?"
"Classes with Athrun and the others?"
Fred asked in response.
"Yes, I'd like to sit in~"
"...Alright."
After a moment of thought, Fred agreed.
They were taking combat classes, which might be a bit challenging for Lacus, and teaching her himself would be inappropriate due to their genders.
However, sitting in shouldn't be a problem.
If needed, Flay could step in and teach her instead.
But since he wasn't sure how their relationship would develop by then, Fred kept his thoughts to himself.
As for whether Lacus would meet the others besides Athrun early on—well, the plot had already veered off course, so it hardly mattered whether they met or not.
"Thank you~"
Lacus smiled.
"No problem."
Fred replied before turning his attention to the couple across the table, who seemed to be either arguing or showing off their affection.
"Alright, Mom, Dad, let's eat before the food gets cold."
Just as Fred finished speaking, the sound of a news report began playing on the television.
[Yesterday, the neutral scientific research space colony Mendel, located at L4, suffered a brutal and horrific attack.]
[This colony not only housed many top researchers, including Coordinators, but its research itself was a beacon of human wisdom. Yet, this light was nearly extinguished by the violence of hatred!]
The first thing to reach Fred's ears was the host's strong condemnation of the attack.
Even if Blue Cosmos had not claimed responsibility for the assault on Mendel, pinning the blame was certainly the first step.
However, PLANT's reaction was entirely understandable.
First, Mendel and the company behind it had PLANT connections. Moreover, this was a good opportunity to attack Blue Cosmos and the Atlantic Federation on the public opinion front, and they certainly wouldn't let it slip by.
"It's truly terrifying. Blue Cosmos is becoming more and more rampant these days."
Hearing the television, Heather snapped back to attention, the smile on her face fading.
"Indeed, but that mysterious force is even more intriguing."
As George spoke, his gaze drifted subtly toward Fred.
Fred hadn't told them anything about the matter, but the timing of the boy's departure was too close to the attack. Coupled with their understanding of their son, the two had harbored suspicions as soon as they saw the breaking news.
Though they were suspicious, what mattered most to them was Fred's safe return.
Even without knowing what Fred and that mysterious force had done on Mendel, they trusted him unconditionally.
Without waiting for Fred to respond, the voice on the television continued.
[Regarding the latest investigation into the Mendel attack, multiple anonymous sources have revealed that an armed force of unknown identity and affiliation intervened approximately twenty-five minutes after the assault began.]
[However, Mendel authorities have yet to find further evidence related to the attack.]
[It is reported that the attack resulted in one death and fifteen injuries.]
[No organization or individual has claimed responsibility for the incident thus far.]
"Brother…"
After seeing the devastated state of Mendel on the television screen, Flay, still shaken, grabbed the boy's hand.
She didn't know if Fred had been there.
Yet, she couldn't help but feel a lingering fear. Even if her brother hadn't gone to Mendel, she believed he had faced many dangers over the past three days.
Perhaps it was the bond between siblings, but it stirred a sense of urgency in the girl's still-youthful heart.
She guessed that her brother must have acted for their safety, and precisely because of that, she didn't want him to bear it all alone.
"It's fine. Everything's been resolved."
Fred didn't elaborate, offering only a vague response.
Hearing this, Lacus kept her eyes fixed on the boy.
From Fred's reaction, it was clear he had acted for the safety of his family.
For her, understanding this was enough.
Fred's care for his family was sufficient proof that his words were genuine.
Thinking this, Lacus quietly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.
Fred was someone she could trust. That was good.
There were too many secrets about him, making it nearly impossible to uncover everything, but at the very least, she could be certain that Fred posed no threat to this world.
As for whether he would harm PLANT...
Lacus had no answer in her heart at that moment.
"Lacus, you should eat too."
While Lacus was lost in thought, Heather had already placed a piece of beef, perfectly stir-fried by Fred, into Lacus's bowl.
The steaming aroma, carrying just the right amount of savory sauce and a faint, sharp hint of ginger and garlic, rushed all at once into Lacus's delicate nose.
It made the young girl's throat twitch involuntarily.
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