Work Text:
Awning up? Check.
Table set up? Check.
Portable kitchen ready? Check.
Beans playing with Mona? Check.
Makoto watching? Check.
Ren smiled to himself as he cracked his knuckles and began making lunch for the day. The kids had requested some Leblanc curry for their camping trip and who was he to deny them? So, despite this being a vacation away from managing the café, he’d still be cooking the same old same old.
Well, it’s not like he ever turned down an opportunity to feed people his favorite dish. Sojiro would be proud.
He got the process started by placing the beef cubes into his pot. Ren took the chance to gaze over to where Makoto, Morgana, and the kiddos were having fun. The Niijima family was taking some rare time off to enjoy a camping trip in the mountains and stopped for lunch by a lake to enjoy the scenery while dining. Hikari and Takahiro were splashing in the shallow water with Mona, the younger boy following his sister as they chased the not-cat around.
Makoto was sitting in a lawn chair nearby reading a novel and occasionally glancing up at the beans to make sure they weren’t doing anything dangerous. She caught Ren’s eye and he gave her a wink, earning a chuckle and an eyeroll for his troubles.
Satisfied, he returned his full attention to his cooking. The beef was a beautiful pink in the center, all ready to be removed from the pot to begin making the roux. Finely chopped onions slid into the pot to start cooking. Next, garlic, ginger, and apple, to get the flavor developing. He returned his eyes over to the shore once again, where now Hikari was messing with poor Mona by holding him just out of the water. Takahiro, of course, found this hilarious. Makoto finally had enough of Mona’s yowls and told their daughter to let him go. Hikari moped a bit before relenting and Morgana splashed down, fur standing on edge.
Ren chuckled and turned back to the pot. The stock was coming together quite nicely! He begin to smell the familiar notes of home. Next came the flour, to gel the roux together and provide the viscosity it needed. He began humming a song he’d often put on in Leblanc, providing a relaxing, jazzy atmosphere. It reminded him of that year, two decades ago. How much had changed since then, yet how little had at the same time.
In go the vegetables.
Ren still made Leblanc’s famous curry and coffee daily. He and Makoto were still together. The group of former Phantom Thieves still chatted regularly.
Spices next.
Hikari and Takahiro would be in school together soon - Hikari in second year, Taka in kindergarten. Makoto was well on her way to becoming police commissioner. The Thieves were spread worldwide, with Ann modeling, Yusuke studying, Sumire touring, and Haru running her business.
Ren’s humming continued as he stirred the pot, sniffing the bold flavor as it wafted into the air. Morgana, tired of being the beans’ playmate, wandered over to the table, where he found a nice, sunny spot and tucked himself in for a pre-lunch nap. Makoto had placed her favorite Buchimaru-kun bookmark in her novel and went to join Hikari and Takahiro in skipping stones across the lake.
Next in was the tomato paste. It was time to bring it all to a boil then throw in the last few ingredients before it just needed to simmer. Taking a sip from a wooden spoon, Ren smiled to himself. Perfect. He added in just a touch more sugar than Sojiro’s recipe usually called for (for the kids, of course) and some soy sauce and water.
Last thing to add is the beef once it all starts boiling again.
Takahiro had walked over to where Ren was and was watching the chef’s process intently. Sensing someone behind him, Ren glanced back to see Taka sitting at the table.
“Hey, kiddo! Done playing in the water for now?” Ren asked his son, who nodded his head.
“I wanted to read my book. Mommy told me you can get it for me?” Takahiro requested.
“Sure thing! I just need one second to make sure I add the beef in at the right time…” Focusing with his Third Eye, Ren slid the beef cubes into the pot perfectly, then turned the heat down to let it simmer. He set a timer on his phone then turned back to Taka. Mona, who had woken up and was lazily lounging, swishing his tail, yawned and rolled over.
“Hey Mona, can you keep an eye on the pot and let me know if it starts boiling over?” The non-cat nodded in a faux salute.
“You got it, Joker!” With Morgana overseeing the curry, Ren gestured for Taka to follow him over to the car. The young boy’s newest obsession was pandas, much to Makoto’s delight.
His current favorite book on the subject was one on red pandas, an old tome from Ren‘s childhood. Its pages were already worn by the time the Niijimas received it from Ren’s parents looking to clear out attic space and now Takahiro was pouring over it regularly, absorbing everything he can.
The Treasure retrieved, the pair went back to the makeshift kitchen to await the curry, the tantalizing fragrance tempting their stomachs.
Eventually Hikari also tired of the water and the girls joined Ren, Takahiro, and Morgana at the table. A peaceful atmosphere spread through the group as they made small talk or read, Ren occasionally leaving the table to stir the curry a little more.
Finally, it was ready. The curry was simmered to perfection and it was ready to be served. The beans’ eyes shone with excitement, ready for a plate of their dad’s specialty. As expected, it was devoured quickly and Ren got to enjoy his favorite part of food service - the satisfied look on diners’ faces after a hearty, refreshing meal.
In fact, it was so delicious, Hikari and Taka soon fell victim to Sandman and slipped into an afternoon slumber. Ren and Makoto exchanged soft smiles with each other as they gazed lovingly at their two children.
“Hey, Treasure?” Ren asked Makoto. “What’s that saying about the spice of life?”
“Variety is the spice of life,” she quoted. Ah, he loved it when she knew things. “Why?”
The former leader of the Phantom Thieves turned his view to the sky. It was the same sky they had seen turn blood-red twenty years ago. He looked back to his kids and beamed.
“No reason.”