For now, Shirokumo had adopted a hands-off approach with田所惠 (Tadokoro Megumi). Her mentality still needed tempering, and远月 (Tōtsuki) was the perfect place for her to hone her skills. For the time being, he simply listed her as one of the candidates in his personal chef roster.
The culinary arts were vast and all-encompassing. Even Shirokumo, with all his talent, couldn't possibly master every single dish across all cuisines. That's why he believed assembling a team of skilled chefs was the logical next step.
Take Polar Star Dormitory, for example. Each resident had their own specialty:
榊凉子 (Sakurai Ryōko) excelled in fermented dishes.
吉野悠姬 (Yoshino Yūki) was a master of wild game cuisine, maintaining close ties with hunters and even raising her own livestock for ingredients.
伊武崎峻 (Ibusaki Shun) specialized in smoked foods.
新户绯沙子 (Arato Hisako) was adept at medicinal cuisine.
叶山亮 (Hayama Akira) had an unparalleled grasp of spices.
黑木场凉 (Kurokiba Ryō) dominated seafood.
水户郁魅 (Mito Ikumi) reigned supreme in meat dishes.
And the list went on.
While Shirokumo had the luxury of time to study various cuisines, mastering even just the eight major culinary traditions of东煌 (Donghua/China), not to mention its countless sub-styles, would consume most of his energy. Add in interdimensional adventures and ingredient hunts, and it became clear—building his own culinary team was a necessity.
Given their shared history (and that bathhouse encounter),田所惠 naturally became his first candidate.
As for what dish she'd present in three days, Shirokumo didn't ask. This was her test.
After parting ways with the still slightly dazed田所惠, Shirokumo didn't return to Polar Star. Instead, he hopped on his bike and headed to Shinjuku.
Today was Friday—his part-time shift at the late-night diner.
By the time he arrived, the owner,小林熏 (Kobayashi Kaoru), was already wiping down tables and prepping for the evening.
"You're here. Tonight's miso soup is on you," Kobayashi said, handing over more responsibilities as Shirokumo's skills grew.
Shirokumo didn't mind. Honestly, Kobayashi was around the same age as his grandfather—well into his sixties. If not for his attachment to this 27-year-old diner and its regulars, he'd have retired long ago.
Shirokumo never pushed him to quit. After all, everyone needed purpose.
And now, with Shirokumo around, health and mortality were no longer concerns.
Pulling a meat slab from his motorcycle's insulated box, Shirokumo grinned. "Mind if I tweak your recipe tonight?"
Kobayashi blinked, then shrugged. "If you think you can, go for it."
The diner's pork miso soup was a simple, homestyle dish. But after watching田所惠's草食龙 (herbivore dragon) meat miso soup earlier, Shirokumo had some ideas.
"First, stir-fry the pork belly until it changes color, then add mushrooms, radish, carrot, and fried tofu—" Kobayashi began reciting the steps.
Shirokumo interrupted, pulling out his own ingredient. "Skip the pork. Let's use this instead."
He unwrapped the package, revealing marbled腹肉 (belly meat) from a herbivore dragon—similar to pork belly but far superior.
Kobayashi eyed it. "This the same stuff you supplied Tōtsuki with?"
"Yep. Fully tested—safe, nutritious, even slows aging and boosts vitality. You should eat more."
"I'm not that old yet."
"Sure, sure. Though I did see you getting cozy with that lady last—"
Cough cough. "Opening time's soon. I'll go light the sign."
As Kobayashi fled, Shirokumo chuckled. The old man had more spirit than he let on.
Once alone, Shirokumo sliced the dragon belly into thin strips, rendering the fat first for oil. Once hot, he stir-fried the meat until fragrant.
The aroma alone made Kobayashi reappear in the kitchen. "You sure you didn't add something illegal?"
"Of course not! Tōtsuki's using this too. No shady stuff here."
After browning the meat, Shirokumo added radish, carrot, and fried tofu strips. Instead of mushrooms, though, he tossed in fresh松茸 (matsutake) from his stash.
Kobayashi sighed. "At this point, are we still a diner or a three-star restaurant?"
"Relax. Consider it a treat for the regulars. Newcomers? Lucky them."
"You're still charging 600 yen?"
"...Okay, that might be too cheap."
Dragon meat and matsutake for the price of two sodas?
"Fine. Call it a surprise menu," Kobayashi conceded.
Once the ingredients simmered, Shirokumo lifted the lid—releasing an intoxicating aroma.
"Good, but the broth could be richer. Beef, pork bones, and whole chicken would elevate it."
Kobayashi rolled his eyes. "Oh, so now my bonito broth isn't good enough? Price matters! This isn't a high-end ramen joint."
Unfazed, Shirokumo stirred in miso paste, then added shrimp, baby bok choy, and green onions for the final simmer.
Before serving customers, though, they tasted it themselves.
The moment the soup touched his tongue, Kobayashi's expression turned solemn. After sampling the glowing meat slices, he shook his head.
"Shirokumo, your skills are ready. I've got nothing left to teach you."
But Shirokumo disagreed. "This dish leans too much on premium ingredients. There are flaws, and the taste… it's missing the essence of a true diner's miso soup."
Kobayashi smiled. "Then do you want to know why?"
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T/N:
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