Bai Mo's dish, Sumeru Butter Chicken, instantly made a name for himself at Totsuki. However, it wasn't his culinary skills that garnered attention but rather the rare ingredients he used. Everyone was curious about the Sumeru Spice Fruits in his possession and wanted to buy them from him. Unfortunately, after the morning opening ceremony, Bai Mo disappeared from the venue.
Since he had the rare opportunity to visit Totsuki, it was only natural to make the most of it. Working at Midnight Diner had taught Bai Mo some cooking skills, but as Kobayashi Kaoru had said, systematic learning was more effectively achieved at Totsuki Culinary Academy. Therefore, with the approval of Director Nakiri Senzaemon, Bai Mo immediately followed a basic skills instructor to begin his training.
The foundational skills of cooking are divided into eight categories: knife skills, ingredient preparation, marinating, battering, heat control, thickening, seasoning, flipping, plating, and ingredient processing. Bai Mo didn't need much practice with knife skills—his blade techniques for combat and dissection weren't vastly different, requiring only slight refinement. As for the other basic skills, under the instructor's guidance and with Bai Mo's innate talent and heightened senses, he made rapid progress.
After an afternoon of training, Bai Mo had a preliminary grasp of these systematic techniques. The rest would come down to practice and mastery through experience. Following half a day of practice, Bai Mo headed toward a building within Totsuki Culinary Academy.
The Polar Star Dormitory was the only lodging facility at Totsuki Academy, managed by the dorm supervisor, Fumio Daimidō. It operated on an independent accounting system, with all expenses handled by the dormitory itself. Since Bai Mo was a commuting student with irregular hours and might occasionally stay overnight, Nakiri Senzaemon had arranged a room for him at Polar Star as a courtesy. Though it might not see frequent use, having it prepared in advance was a matter of principle.
After parking his motorcycle in front of Polar Star, Bai Mo rang the doorbell.
"Coming, coming~ Is this the new tenant?"
The door opened to reveal a stern-looking elderly woman with a spiky hairstyle held back by a hairband.
"I'm Fumio Daimidō, the supervisor of Polar Star Dormitory. Are you the new tenant moving in today? Do you know the rules?"
Bai Mo was well aware of Polar Star's rule: every new resident had to impress Fumio Daimidō with their cooking to gain entry. However, Bai Mo had no intention of going through that process.
"Ah, sorry about that. I'm Bai Mo, a commuting student recommended by the Director. He said a room has already been arranged for me here. I'm just here to take a look."
"A commuting student!" Fumio Daimidō scrutinized Bai Mo closely. "To have Totsuki break its long-standing rules and create a commuting student system just for you—what kind of magic do you possess? I'm quite curious!"
"You'll find out in due time."
"I've been practicing at the stove all afternoon and am covered in sweat. Would it be alright if I took a bath first?"
"Of course." Fumio Daimidō, already briefed by Nakiri Senzaemon about Bai Mo, didn't make things difficult for him. She pulled a key from her pocket. "Your room is 301. The bath is on the first floor, inside."
After thanking her, Bai Mo took the key, checked out his room on the third floor, and headed straight for the bath. The sticky feeling of sweat on his skin was unbearable. Since his martial arts training hadn't yet reached the level of internal energy control, he still sweated like an ordinary person, making bathing a necessity.
However, Japanese culture heavily favored soaking in baths, and relaxing in a hot bath was a rare luxury. Bai Mo quite enjoyed it.
And sometimes, there might even be unexpected benefits—like right now.
Pushing open the door, Bai Mo was greeted by the sight of a girl in the bath, her figure obscured by a radiant glow. His little brother couldn't help but stand up and say hello.
A piercing scream followed. On instinct, Bai Mo caught the rubber duck thrown at him and promptly closed the bathroom door.
By the time the girl, wrapped in a towel, emerged from the bath, Bai Mo had already vanished, leaving only the rubber duck at the door. Seeing it, Tōsoko Megumi's face turned crimson again.
When Megumi, now dressed, arrived in the common room, Bai Mo was standing casually by the kitchen door, seemingly observing something.
"Oh, you're here," Bai Mo greeted her before turning his attention back to the kitchen, where the protagonist of the original story was undergoing his dorm entry test.
"U-um…" Megumi stammered, her face flushed. "Earlier, did you… see…?"
"Yep, saw everything."
Megumi's face turned so red it seemed about to drip blood. Shouldn't the proper response have been "I didn't see anything"?
"Since you're out, I'll go take my bath now."
"Ah! Wait—"
Megumi opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing as Bai Mo walked away.
Mom… I think I might never be able to get married now…
By the time Bai Mo finished his bath, the Polar Star residents had gathered for a welcome party. Their shock was palpable when they saw him—two of the most talked-about transfer students from the opening ceremony were now living in their dorm! What incredible luck!
And compared to Yukihira Sōma, everyone at Polar Star was far more curious about the rare ingredients Bai Mo possessed.
However, before they could invite him, Bai Mo took the initiative to decline. "Sorry, I won't be able to join the welcome party tonight. I have a little sister at home, so I need to head back."
"As an apology, here are two fruits to substitute for my contribution to tonight's feast."
With that, Bai Mo pulled two Spice Fruits from his backpack, tossing one to Isshiki Satoshi and placing the other in Megumi's hands.
"Then, until next time. I hope you'll treat me to even more delicious dishes in the future."
Though the Polar Star residents were disappointed by Bai Mo's abrupt departure, they didn't stop him. After all, he'd given such valuable gifts as an apology, and they couldn't very well prevent him from going home to care for his sister.
Besides, everyone was far more intrigued by the wonders of the Spice Fruits!
----------
T/N:
Access 30 chapters in advance on my Patreon:patreon.com/multiversalfeast [Images Included]
You'll also get 5 extra chapters just for being a free member!