"That's a pretty good dish, but if this is all you've got, you probably won't be able to beat even me. Next time you're out, try to be a bit more humble, and don't spout off like you did this morning. There are at least ten people at Totsuki stronger than me."
Looking at the mackerel hamburger steak on the plate, which wafted a rich aroma, Yūki Yoshino, still holding her chopsticks, snapped out of her blissful enjoyment. She then looked at Soma Yukihira and said very seriously.
After over half a year of intense training under Dylan, her culinary skills had undergone earth-shattering changes. If this was all he could do, he really might not be able to beat her. Of course, she didn't find this embarrassing at all. After all, she was considered a strong chef even within Totsuki.
"But he only used scraps and didn't necessarily cook a dish he specialized in. It's hard to tell his true strength just yet..."
Ryōko Sakaki wiped the grease from the corner of her mouth, calmly stating the facts, then turned to Soma Yukihira:
"To be able to make such a dish using only scraps is truly incredible!"
"What I mean is, using these scraps, our skill levels aren't that far apart. The true difference will only be clear after we actually compete."
Even though they were roommates in the Polar Star Dorm, Yūki Yoshino was still very displeased with what Soma Yukihira had said at the entrance ceremony. She hadn't said anything on the way back simply because she didn't know his true capabilities. She was worried he actually had some serious skills, and a rash remark from her would only make her look foolish.
But now, she felt she was ready.
It wasn't that she was upset about Soma Yukihira looking down on Totsuki, but rather that she was furious at him for disrespecting Dylan. That was her most beloved and revered teacher. Under Dylan's guidance, even though a large number of Totsuki students had been eliminated, those who remained were absolute elites. Their strength had increased immeasurably compared to before, a testament to their teacher's formidable power.
But this kid, who clearly understood nothing, had just arrived and already belittled all the Totsuki students, calling them a bunch of ignorant chefs. This was undoubtedly a direct slap in the face to Teacher Dylan!
If this guy's skills truly surpassed hers, then fine, he'd have reason to be arrogant. But with this level of skill, he really had no right to mock the current Totsuki Academy.
Her calm composure was gone. Now that she realized his strength was roughly on par with hers, it was time to put him in his place, lest he become overly arrogant and complacent.
Chefs who are overly proud won't get very far on this path.
"Only know after competing, huh..."
Soma Yukihira mumbled softly. He had clearly made a dish that even Fumio Daimidō found incredibly satisfying, earning him a spot in the dorm. Yet, it hadn't intimidated anyone. Instead, it had just made them intensely eager to challenge him.
"Then let's have a match."
He understood deep down that these people weren't as friendly as he'd first thought. The reason, he figured, was probably those outrageous remarks he'd made at the entrance ceremony. If they weren't convinced, then a cooking battle it was.
"Let's make duck the theme."
"Alright, no problem at all!"
As if she'd been waiting for that exact phrase, Yūki Yoshino replied after a moment's thought. She then turned to Megumi Tadokoro and Ryōko Sakaki, a victorious smirk on her face.
"Oh, you two..."
Yūki Yoshino was getting carried away, and Soma Yukihira was actually egging her on! Ryōko Sakaki immediately wore a helpless expression, at a loss for words.
"This sounds quite interesting. In that case, I, Fumio, shall once again serve as your examiner."
Fumio Daimidō looked at Soma Yukihira, who had just surprised her, then at Yūki Yoshino, whose skills had rapidly advanced during this period. A slight smile played on her lips. It had been a long time since anything this interesting had happened.
An internal showdown at Polar Star Dorm!
Her mind drifted back to over a decade ago. Back then, there was also a group of students who would hold cooking duels in the Polar Star Dorm every day after classes, with her acting as their examiner. This, too, was Totsuki Academy's long-standing motto: Competition.
"The match is set for tomorrow evening. Before then, you two should head back and rest. And you, red-haired kid, your room is 303."
As she spoke, a key was already tossed into Soma Yukihira's hands. She had no idea where this kid had popped up from, but to be able to make such a delicious dish using only scraps was truly astounding.
Taking the key Fumio Daimidō had tossed him, Soma Yukihira nodded. No matter what, he was officially staying. At least he wouldn't have to sleep on the streets.
And to be challenged repeatedly by strong, capable chefs right after enrolling was truly exhilarating!
"Let's head back and rest too. I'm really looking forward to our match tomorrow, Yukihira-kun."
Yūki Yoshino pulled her gaze away from the man in front of her. After learning from Dylan for so long, it was high time she showed the world her claws.
A cheerful voice echoed from the doorway, but it received no reply.
Alice Nakiri wore a puzzled expression before placing her shopping bags down in the entryway.
Turning to close the door, she then slipped off the shoes she'd worn all day. Slowly, sensuously, she peeled the tight black thigh-high stockings from her legs, setting them neatly aside.
Moments later, her delicate, jade-like feet were exposed to the air, wiggling nimbly a couple of times. Then, as if a sudden thought struck her, Alice Nakiri's face flushed crimson, and she quickly slipped on her house slippers.
Standing up, she walked into the living room. The lights were on, meaning someone was home, but no one answered her. This left Alice Nakiri feeling quite perplexed.
But soon, as her gaze drifted towards the courtyard, her confusion was immediately cleared.
There, she saw Dylan and Erina Nakiri standing one behind the other: Dylan was behind, and Erina Nakiri was in front, with Dylan guiding her hand-in-hand, teaching her a technique.
This wasn't an unfamiliar sight to her. To be precise, this was exactly how she had begun her own physical training, with Dylan meticulously guiding her through each basic movement, hand-in-hand.
Don't be fooled by the sheer number of movements now; what he was actually teaching were the absolute fundamentals. What was most crucial was the girl's persistence; only after at least a year would she begin to see real results.
In other words, she would have to witness this scene at least a few hundred more times.
Of course, what bothered her even more was that if Dylan was training Erina Nakiri in these physical techniques, it meant he was truly taking her on as a disciple.
"Hmph, but he clearly said I was his only disciple..."
Alice Nakiri puffed out her cheeks, knowing she had no right to object. She placed her shopping bags on the table and then, like a lovelorn statue, watched the two in front of her, who seemed to be intimately fused into one.
"Maintain this movement for an hour. That way, your muscles will be fully worked out, and then you can proceed to the next one."
Feeling the softness of her body against his, and the faint, sweet fragrance of the girl drifting into his nostrils, Dylan felt his heart immediately go wild. So much so that the girl actually noticed the strange feeling behind her.
However, she didn't pay it much mind. She just thought there must be something in Dylan's pocket that he hadn't taken out yet, making things feel a little cramped, but it was nothing harmful.
"I understand. I'll definitely keep at it."
Watching Dylan quickly leave, for some reason, Erina Nakiri felt a slight emptiness. But she quickly steeled her resolve and focused intently on the movement.
Even though the movement made her arms ache, it was precisely because of that discomfort that she felt a distinct sense of improvement, even if the pose itself was rather odd.
Spotting Alice Nakiri standing in the living room, staring intently into the courtyard at him, Dylan approached with a warm smile, his voice gentle.
"Oh, you're back."
"What's wrong? You seem a little down... Or rather, quite glum..."
When he approached Alice Nakiri, she didn't greet him with her usual cheerful embrace. Instead, she just mumbled a low greeting.
This instantly put Dylan on high alert. He racked his brain, trying to figure out if he'd upset her in some way, but he couldn't come up with anything. He then cast a puzzled look towards Erina Nakiri, and a faint answer began to form.
Dylan asked tentatively.
"No!"
Who would have thought Alice Nakiri's reaction would be so vehement? She turned her head, snapping the word out quickly.
"Ah, I see. Don't worry, you're my one and only disciple. There's no doubt about it. You don't need to be jealous of anyone else."
A little thought was all it took to understand where Alice Nakiri's discontent came from. Dylan was a little speechless for a moment, but he still stroked her head and gently reassured her.
Her reply was brief and quick once more, but this time, her voice held a playful lilt. Clearly, she was quite pleased.
After all, as long as he was willing to comfort her, she felt she could accept anything.
"You'll just have to believe me."
Dylan naturally caught onto that. He then pulled Alice Nakiri into a tight embrace, letting his own warm, beating heart resonate with hers.
Many problems, in fact, can be solved with just a hug. Because when people don't truly love each other, even an embrace won't quicken their hearts.
But those who are truly in love will find that, in such an embrace, all their worries and unhappiness simply melt away.
Alice Nakiri naturally felt Dylan's love. Her somewhat conflicted heart quieted, and she wrapped her arms tighter around him, unwilling to let go for a long, long time.
In the courtyard, Erina Nakiri witnessed the entire scene. A mix of understanding and confusion flickered in her hazy eyes, and a faint pink blush spread across her cheeks.
Those two! How could they be so sickeningly sweet right in front of her?! It was absolutely revolting!
Watching the scene unfold before her, countless thoughts swirled in Erina Nakiri's mind. Most prominent among them were the words Alice Nakiri had spoken to her that night.
"Erina, do you understand your own feelings?"
She realized that, indeed, just as Alice Nakiri had said, she did harbor some rather inappropriate thoughts about Dylan.
"Take me back to our room. I need some compensation."
Seemingly noticing Erina Nakiri's gaze, and while he might have intended to subtly encourage their relationship, at this very moment, Alice Nakiri only wanted to assert her dominance.
After all, witnessing that scene just now had truly dealt a significant blow to her heart. She absolutely had to make it clear who the mistress of this house was!
She could be generous, but sometimes she could also be incredibly petty.
"Now?"
Hearing Alice Nakiri's words, Dylan couldn't help but stiffen. He lifted his gaze, glancing at Erina Nakiri in the courtyard.
"Is that a problem?"
Seeing Dylan's reaction, Alice Nakiri deliberately put on a crestfallen expression, murmuring at a volume she both wanted him to hear and simultaneously feared him hearing.
"Alright, then let's go to our room."
After glancing at Erina Nakiri in the courtyard, Dylan was silent for two seconds. He finally made up his mind, walked to the edge of the courtyard, whispered a few words to her, then returned to the living room, princess-carried Alice Nakiri, and strode towards their room.
"What the heck?! You two were just being all lovey-dovey, so why am I suddenly stuck here standing for an extra hour?!"
Unfortunately, no one paid her any mind at that moment.
She didn't dare disobey Dylan's words, so she continued to stand in the courtyard in her training posture, looking for all the world like a big, wronged puppy.
The next day, the weather was beautiful.
After morning classes, neither Yūki Yoshino nor Soma Yukihira returned to the Polar Star Dorm. Instead, with a shared, unspoken understanding, they headed down the mountain in different directions.
"Please tell Teacher Dylan that I'll be a little late this afternoon."
Standing in front of the academic building, bidding farewell to Megumi Tadokoro and Ryōko Sakaki, Yūki Yoshino gave a few simple instructions. After all, this was her battle against Soma Yukihira, and she didn't want anyone else meddling, so she decided to go down the mountain on her own.
But even if she was going down the mountain, she still needed to inform Teacher Dylan. So, Yūki Yoshino entrusted Megumi Tadokoro and Ryōko Sakaki with the message.
"Got it. Good luck!"
While they might have found Yūki Yoshino a bit impulsive, for someone who dedicated most of her time and poured her very soul into cooking... Soma Yukihira's words yesterday had truly been too disrespectful, making it hard not to want to teach him a lesson. So, they could perfectly understand Yūki Yoshino's feelings.
"Mhm, after learning under Teacher Dylan for so long, I'm certainly not here just to mess around!"
Yūki Yoshino proudly lifted her chin, then strode down the mountain.
She would win. All the accumulation from the past half-year would transform into countless sharp blades, striking down Soma Yukihira, and forcing him to retract every word he'd spoken.
On the other hand, Soma Yukihira had no one to bid farewell to. As soon as class ended, he immediately left Totsuki, rushing non-stop towards the market down the mountain.
Since he was cooking duck for a competition, the ingredients had to be the absolute best. It definitely needed to be a live duck to ensure maximum freshness.
With that thought in mind, Soma Yukihira ventured into the local livestock market.
However, before he even stepped inside, just standing at the entrance, the unique, pungent stench of livestock instantly assaulted him. Looking around, he saw all sorts of livestock and poultry within.
Enduring the odor, his gaze wandered, observing every corner. Soon, Soma Yukihira found a proud, chest-out male duck that seemed absolutely bursting with vitality.
His heart stirred slightly, and Soma Yukihira stepped forward to inquire about the price.
"This one's imported, see? Just look at its majestic, proud posture—the vitality and meat quality are simply beyond compare. It's absolutely top-tier, a real premium product. If you're serious about buying, I'll let you have it for five thousand yen."
"Five thousand yen?! Can't you make it a bit cheaper?"
Hearing the price, Soma Yukihira gasped, practically sucking in all the air around him. "What kind of outrageous pricing is this?! A single duck can actually sell for five thousand yen?!"
Back home, the most expensive live duck was only fifteen hundred yen. This price was more than triple that!
"After deducting my cost, I'm barely making a profit. There's no way I can go lower. If you want it, pay up. If not, go find another vendor."
Looking at the student-dressed young man in front of her, the vendor—wearing an apron and clutching a butcher's knife—clearly didn't think he had much money, and obviously had no interest in negotiating further. After stating her price, she turned to attend to other customers.
"I mean, I could buy it, but then I'd be super tight on cash for a while. There's really no need. I'll just head to the supermarket and grab some discounted duck meat instead."
The exorbitant price forced Soma Yukihira to face reality. Watching the vendor turn to attend to other customers, he couldn't help but sigh, then headed for the supermarket he'd noticed on his way here.
What he failed to notice was that not far ahead of him, Yūki Yoshino had also arrived. At that very moment, she was haggling with the vendor, her target a wild duck freshly caught from the mountains.
Strictly speaking, calling it a wild duck wasn't quite accurate. That mountain was privately owned, with many animals raised there, but without excessive intervention, allowing them to live by natural selection.
Such ingredients also commanded extremely high prices, considered genuinely pure and legitimate wild game.
"So expensive! Ten thousand yen?! The Polar Star Dorm's backyard has some empty land... Maybe I should raise a batch of ducks myself, then drag them here to sell when they're ready. I'd be rich!"
With a slight pang of heartache, she handed over a large bill, then took the wild duck from the vendor's hand.
Although its wings and feet were tightly bound, the wild duck seemed to know its fate. It struggled vigorously in Yūki Yoshino's hands, its tiny, beady eyes filled with a desperate longing for life.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure your passing is painless, and I'll perfectly bring out your value!"
As an expert in hunting wild game, Yūki Yoshino naturally wouldn't let it escape. She gripped its wing roots tightly with both hands, lifting it up.
Watching the wildly struggling duck, she patted its head with her other hand, as if talking to herself, yet also as if making a silent vow to the duck.
With that said, Yūki Yoshino picked up her small shoulder bag, which contained the ingredients she'd purchased for her outing. It was time to head back.
"Teacher Dylan, I won't disappoint you!"
Thinking of what was about to happen, Yūki Yoshino's lips curled into a slight smile, and she strode briskly towards the Polar Star Dorm.
"300 yen. This'll do."
Looking at the discounted duck meat in his hand, a satisfied expression spread across Soma Yukihira's face. This was the kind of pricing he was familiar with!
Coincidentally, right next to the discounted duck meat was the pickled plum section. This made him subconsciously pick some up, a thoughtful expression dawning on his face.
"Alright, then I'll make that dish!"
A flash of inspiration ignited in his mind, and he immediately tossed out the dish he'd been planning last night. Soma Yukihira, his face alight with excitement, dropped the pickled plums into his shopping cart.
"The Polar Star Dorm has all the seasonings. I saw plenty of green onions, ginger, and garlic yesterday. It's time to head back."
Gazing at the ingredients in his shopping cart, Soma Yukihira let out a long sigh. He then went to the checkout counter, paid, and returned to Totsuki laden with bags.
"Yūki's going to have a match with that new transfer student."
Closing the cookbook he was reading, Dylan lifted his gaze, looking with mild curiosity at Megumi Tadokoro and Ryōko Sakaki, who had come to deliver the news.
"Yes, because that guy said incredibly disrespectful things yesterday, Yūki felt he insulted you, so she wants to teach him a lesson."
Megumi Tadokoro voiced her conjecture. Since she shared similar sentiments, her words came out very naturally.
"The reason isn't really important. But with Yūki's current skill, in a battle against that transfer student, the odds are probably around 30-70."
As she was his student and cooked by his side every day, Dylan had a precise assessment of Yūki Yoshino's true capabilities.
Although she had been learning by his side for half a year, she hadn't been particularly strong when she first arrived—perhaps only mid-to-upper tier at Totsuki, nowhere near the top.
Although half a year of his intensive training had brought about earth-shattering changes in Yūki Yoshino's skills, it would still be difficult for her to surpass Soma Yukihira, who had been cooking for twelve years. Soma Yukihira's skill level was probably comparable to Hisako Arato's after her secret special training.
This was quite normal, actually. After all, while these Totsuki students had his guidance, Soma Yukihira also had his father's teaching.
That newly appointed Five-Star Special Grade Chef, the 'Heavenly Judge' from the original world's lore—he was, putting everything else aside, a pretty good teacher.
Thinking of this, Dylan couldn't help but feel a little emotional. If Soma Yukihira had arrived at Totsuki just one year later, he probably would have been stomped on by literally everyone.
"Is that transfer student that strong?"
Ryōko Sakaki was a little surprised. As roommates in the same dorm, they'd sparred plenty of times, and she knew Yūki Yoshino's current skill level intimately.
But she would never doubt Dylan's judgment. If he said that transfer student was stronger, then that transfer student was definitely stronger. There was absolutely no room for doubt about that.
Hearing Dylan's words, a hint of worry flickered across Megumi Tadokoro's face.
She had originally assumed Yūki Yoshino was a guaranteed win, but now that there was uncertainty, her heart immediately felt like it was being clawed by a cat, making her quite anxious.
"Opportunities like this are rare. Let's go watch."
Noticing their distracted expressions, Dylan stood up, patted their shoulders, and spoke.
When his own students competed against others, what kind of teacher wouldn't go to watch? Besides, this match would be a perfect opportunity to let Yūki Yoshino understand her own shortcomings.
"Really? No more class...?"
"It's not too late to discuss it when we get back. We have all the time in the world, after all, a little detour won't hurt."
Glancing at Ryōko Sakaki's slightly surprised expression, Dylan walked towards the door.
Cooking, you see, is all about balancing work and rest. Blindly practicing hard can easily lead one astray.
With that thought, Dylan had already left the kitchen. Megumi Tadokoro and Ryōko Sakaki exchanged a quick glance and hurried after him.
At this point, none of the other students had arrived yet.
He arrived at the Polar Star Dorm with the two of them. Come to think of it, this was his first time here.
Gazing at the ancient, decaying villa before him, overgrown with winding vines, Dylan felt no disgust. On the contrary, he felt a profound sense of familiarity.
Because when he was in the Dark Cooking Society, he had lived in a house of a very similar style.
While the exterior was dilapidated, the interior was incredibly cozy, offering a true sense of home. It was a shame he was too young back then. And it was such a pity; he'd just managed to carve out a massive name for himself in the Dark Cooking Society, only to inexplicably transmigrate a second time to this place.
If he ever got the chance, he definitely had to go back and see.
As for how he might return, Dylan had a faint suspicion. Both worlds possessed the Legendary Kitchen Utensils. Surely, that couldn't be a mere coincidence, could it?
"They should be in the kitchen now."
Pushing open the heavy front door of the Polar Star Dorm villa, Megumi Tadokoro simply offered that, then darted ahead to lead the way. Soon, the trio passed through the main hall and reached the kitchen door.
-
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