Cassius was obviously delighted by Maria's reaction, though he tried not to show it outwardly.
"It's not that big of a deal, Maria."
He shrugged, aiming for modesty.
"We already prepared all the food and made the necessary preparations. All we had to do was arrange the ingredients in a certain order, add a few sauces here and there, and create the pieces."
He gestured toward the dishes.
"It's like making a painting. The only difference is that instead of paint, you're using food to build a certain image."
He looked at her with a slightly hesitant gaze.
"I'm guessing you like it?"
"Oh, I don't just like it..." Maria's voice was bright with enthusiasm. "I love it, Cassius! This is the most adorable thing I have ever seen!"
She pointed excitedly at the orange cat made from shrimp tempura.
"Look at this little guy—his whiskers are perfect, and those tiny eyes make him look so curious!"
Her finger moved to the golden retriever formed from spaghetti and meatballs.
