…
With the first item on the party checklist completed, it was time for the second:
PaB-Style Takoyaki!
Now entering his area of expertise, "Chef God" Shiro volunteered for the kitchen!
Too bad he didn't even make it to the kitchen before Iori and Kohei blocked him.
"You are NOT going near that kitchen!"
After last time, Iori no longer trusted anything made by Shiro.
That stuff was an insult to ingredients!
"Why not?! I'm the Chef God!"
Clearly, Shiro had once again retrieved his culinary dreams from the trash.
"Well then, Mr. Chef God, do you even know what PaB-style takoyaki is?"
"..."
Faced with Kohei's sharp question, Shiro was stumped. He looked toward Tokita-senpai and Glasses-senpai for help.
He really didn't know!
"Haha, just like usual will do," said Tokita-senpai, pulling out the ingredients.
It really was the usual stuff:
Cake flour, eggs, water— Aqua Vitae.
Wait a second!!!
"I object! I strongly object to that bottle of water!"
"So that's what PaB means!!!"
"You bastards, it's already evaporating!!!"
Splash splash~
Faced with the younger members' protests, the senpais remained calm and smiled as they poured the Aqua Vitae into the flour.
Shiro could almost see the alcohol evaporating!
At that moment—
Iori and Kohei silently let go of Shiro. No matter who made it, this was going to be a disaster!
[Shiro's PaB-Style Cooking Class Begins!]
First, the ingredients:
Cake flour — as needed
Eggs — as needed
Water (Aqua Vitae) — a lot! (This is important!)
Step 1: Add lots of "water" to the flour. Do it fast! Or the "water" will evaporate!
Step 2: Quickly pour it into the molds. Do it fast! Or the layers will separate!
Step 3: Griddle time must be short — because this stuff ignites the moment it touches fire~
Finally—
Thanks to Shiro's god-like, yet demonic, culinary skills, the PaB members successfully created a plate of…
"..."
Upon seeing the final product, everyone instinctively took a step back—the takoyaki on the table was emitting a purple aura!
Seeing their reactions, Shiro let out a sigh. "As I thought, the ingredients are the problem. Even my cooking skills can't save this."
???
Everyone stared at Shiro in horror.
Did this man have zero self-awareness?!
Your cooking skills?
You mean the "cooking" that involved cranking the heat to max and blindly stir-frying everything?
Just now, Iori and Kohei had to stand nearby with fire extinguishers in hand, afraid he'd blow up the kitchen!
"Haha, guess I'll take over."
Unable to accept the disaster before him, Senior Tokita stepped into the kitchen alone.
There was no way his PaB-style takoyaki should turn out like that!
—A few minutes later—
Another plate of dry, shriveled objects appeared on the table.
Well… to be fair, it was definitely better than what Shiro made!
At least this time it wasn't black…
This proved one thing clearly:
It really wasn't all Shiro's fault.
"This stuff… probably isn't edible."
"It's bone-dry, no moisture at all."
"Not really any better than my batch."
"..."
"You can't even call it takoyaki anymore."
The five of them stared at the contents on the plate, criticizing their own handiwork. Not a single person believed it was edible.
But their senior members had different opinions.
"No worries, it's probably fine."
"Just a little alcohol evaporated when heated. Want to try it?"
"How about a bite, Chi-chan?"
{{(°△°; "}}!
Everyone frantically shook their heads.
This was clearly a test subject trial in disguise!
If it were truly edible, why weren't they eating it themselves?!
Watching the juniors stay firm in refusal, Tokita scratched his head awkwardly.
Did they really have to try it themselves?
As everyone silently struggled with the dilemma, store manager Uncle Kotegawa came strolling in, having just finished his work outside.
He immediately noticed the shriveled objects on the table.
"Oh? Takoyaki?"
A man of the world indeed—he actually recognized the dish!
Before anyone could react, the store manager picked up a "takoyaki" with a toothpick.
Well, technically, it wasn't a "ball" at all. It had completely collapsed into a puddle.
"I'll have one."
Chomp~
Thud!
He went down just as fast as he ate it—barely lasted a second before the taste hit him like a freight train.
How to describe it?
Like a stinky sock soaked in high-proof alcohol for a month.
Σ_(???」∠)vomit
Thankfully, being the store manager, he had strong alcohol tolerance and didn't pass out—just needed a moment to recover.
Still lying on the floor, clutching his mouth, he groaned:
"Why… What did I ever do to deserve this…?"
"..."
"No, really, it was just a normal accident," someone muttered.
"Anyway, it proves that thing really isn't edible."
Seeing the manager's tragic state, Shiro and the others became even more resolved never to touch PaB-style takoyaki again.
But…
"If no one eats it, it's not just going to disappear on its own."
"That's right! We can't waste food!"
They stared fearfully at the remaining plate of takoyaki.
Wasting two plates of food felt too sinful!
That's right.
Shiro's first batch had already been returned to where it belonged—
The trash can.
No one had the guts to try that one.
Just then, Chisa walked up to the cursed takoyaki plate.
And—picked one up!
"Chisa?!"
"Are you really going to eat that?!"
"That's basically HELL!"
Everyone looked at her like she was a fearless warrior walking into certain death.
But contrary to their expectations, Chisa didn't eat it.
Instead, she brought it over and held it in front of Iori.
"Ah~"
She was trying to feed him!
Shiro's face twisted into a pervy grin as he whipped out his precious camera.
Beside him, Aina stared at the scene, completely unable to accept what was happening.
Weren't they supposed to be just pretending to be a couple?!
Why was she feeding him now?! What happened while she wasn't around?!
At that moment—
The two main parties were locked in a physical struggle.
Iori was gripping Chisa's wrist tightly, trying to keep the takoyaki away from his face.
"Quit it, Chisa!"
"Come on, just one bite~"
"No no no, I absolutely refuse your kindness."
Seeing Iori desperately resisting, Chisa smiled sweetly.
"I mean, I'm supposed to be your girlfriend in public, right? If I don't act like it, I'll feel bad~"
!!!
"Can't you show your affection in some other way?!"
Veins bulged on Iori's forehead. If he ate that thing, he'd be scarred for life.
"So…"
"No no, really, this is not okay…"
Click!
Click!
As they kept arguing, the sound of a shutter echoed.
They turned around to see Kohei with his phone and Shiro with his camera, both busy documenting this golden moment.
?_?
"What the hell are you guys doing?!"
Faced with the accusation, Kohei said shamelessly:
"To use as leverage in times of crisis."
Shiro gave him an approving look.
Very good.
This guy had finally learned the essence of what it meant to be like Shiro.
After all, Kohei was second only to him in terms of looks.
"I advise you not to mess with us… unless you want this photo posted on the forum~"
（λ?_??）
"If I get beaten up because of this photo, wouldn't that be tragic beyond reason?!"
Iori roared.
Those degenerates wouldn't care what food he was being fed—even if it was duck neck, they'd still beat him up!
"You eat it!"
"No, you eat it!"
"Open wide, will you?!"
"Iori, ah~"
"Wait! Iori, I didn't do anything, okay?!"
Amid the chaos, even poor Aina, still heartbroken, got dragged into the mess.
She nearly got smacked by Iori by accident.
Why?
Because Shiro used her as a human shield…
Once Aina snapped out of her daze, she joined Iori's side and began helping with the counterattack.
The two seniors watched the unfolding scene without surprise.
"You guys…"
"We told you—no fighting in the club."
They sighed like tired preschool teachers.
PaB Preschool, huh?
"It's all this guy's fault!" ×4
"I'm the victim here!!!"
Iori was about to lose it.
He was clearly the victim, right?!
"Alright, alright~"
"In times like this, we settle things the PaB way—with a game!"
A traditional PaB ritual!
"A game?"
The five juniors looked at the three seniors in confusion.
So… what game exactly?