Chapter 97: Stirring Up a Frenzy to Go to Tokyo!
Being a fan. The concept was distant and strange to Touka Kirishima. She could never understand why humans would so fervently worship people who had no connection to their own lives.
But at this moment—no, from the moment she had first tasted Ryohei's cooking—Touka had become his most devoted fan.
And now, seeing this unbelievable spectacle before her, Touka felt the small heart in her chest begin to beat uncontrollably, a powerful, wild rhythm.
Thump-thump—!
She could hear her own heartbeat, like a drum pounding in her ears, clear and strong. Her left eye, the one not covered by her bangs, was as deep and blue as the ocean. She looked up at the figure in the pure white chef's uniform, and her eye began to shine with a light as brilliant and hot as a star.
A powerful, soul-shaking tremor ran through her. This had nothing to do with romantic love. It was another, purer emotion. If she had to give it a name, it would be… faith.
Ryohei was already a ray of light in her life, her only salvation. And now, that light, that salvation, had shaken her to her very core in this incredible way.
In that instant, Touka understood what it meant to be a fervent fan. And in that same instant, she surpassed them all.
Yamada Tarō was a gourmet, and a popular food vlogger. He was passionate about all kinds of cuisine and loved exploring unique restaurants to enrich his palate. For the past few weeks, he had been filming in Kyushu. But when he heard that the newly famous "Cooking Immortal" was opening a restaurant, he had immediately dropped everything and rushed to Tokyo.
Today was his second day in the city. After a quick lunch, he had come straight to the restaurant to wait in line. And now, he had finally made it inside as one of the very first customers.
After a quick trip to the restroom, Yamada returned to his prime seat at the counter, right in front of the kitchen. He took out his phone and a small tripod, adjusted it to the perfect angle, and pressed record. With everything ready, he picked up the high-quality menu with great anticipation. Since takeout wasn't allowed tonight, he carefully selected a few key dishes, though he desperately wanted to order one of everything.
Once he had ordered, his gaze fell upon the jaw-droppingly beautiful Miracle Comet Fried Rice.
"A fried rice that glows with a green, jade-like light…" he murmured to his camera. "It's simply too beautiful. And now, I shall taste this beautiful miracle!"
He put his hands together, his expression as solemn as if he were performing a sacred ritual. "Itadakimasu," he whispered. He then opened his eyes, took his spoon, and lifted a scoop of the jade-green fried rice to his mouth.
The moment it touched his tongue, Yamada felt as if he had been struck by an invisible force. His entire body went rigid. His eyes shot open, his pupils dilating with pure shock.
A melodious tune, full of an ancient, rustic charm, seemed to drift from a great distance. It was as if he had passed through a barrier of time and space and arrived in a beautiful forest. Every leaf shone in the sunlight, rustling softly in the breeze. Birds chirped from the branches, their clear calls mingling with the gentle music.
"So fresh, so revitalizing!" Yamada murmured, feeling as if his entire being was being cleansed by nature itself.
Back in the real world.
"Ah…" he sighed, a blissful expression on his face. "This verdant fragrance… it's as if it has transported me to the heart of nature! My chest feels like it's filled with the very breath of the earth!" He then snapped out of it, looking down at the fried rice in shock. So this is… the 'magical experience' everyone was talking about. It really is incredible!
"And now," he said to his camera, "I will taste it again, and savor every single flavor."
The softness of the spinach and the crispness of the bok choy intertwined on his tongue. The savory flavor of the egg and the fragrance of the rice were perfectly fused, each grain coated and fluffy. The shiitake mushrooms added a deep umami, which was perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the corn and the crunch of the carrots. A hint of salty dried shrimp was like an invisible magic, enhancing the flavor of every corner of the dish.
Yamada felt that this one plate of fried rice had just stunned his entire career as a gourmet. Maybe I should just move here and become a regular, he thought.
While Ryohei's restaurant was enjoying a booming opening night, the Miracle Comet Fried Rice was kicking up an unprecedented storm online. Videos and screenshots flooded the internet. At first, people were skeptical. But as more and more people who were there in person began to swear it was real, and as more videos, screenshots, and stream recordings from different angles appeared, and after several technical experts came forward to confirm the videos were not edited, the internet completely and utterly exploded.
'EHHHHHH? That's not a special effect?!'
'Σヽ(ﾟД ﾟ; )ﾉ!'
'Masaka?! This is too absurd!'
'This completely defies all logic!'
'I'm in Fukuoka, just got off work, and my brain is broken!'
'I just want to know, if it's real, how did the Cooking Immortal do it? A helicopter? An airplane airdrop?'
'Impossible! If it was an airdrop, the rice would have spilled everywhere, and a normal plate could never withstand the impact from that height!'
'He's right!'
'With magic like this, maybe the 'Cooking Immortal' name isn't an exaggeration. Is he a real-life wizard?'
'Whatever! I've already booked my flight to Tokyo!'
'Tokyo, here I come!'
'Haha! I'm already in my car on the way!'
'Someone report that guy for texting and driving!'
A massive "Let's go to Tokyo!" craze was sweeping the nation.
Airi, the streamer, was so engrossed in her food that she had almost forgotten she was live. On her table was the Miracle Comet Fried Rice, a half-eaten Glowing Katsu Sando, and a Molten Chocolate Treasure Chest waiting for dessert. The flavors were so incredible she was in a world of her own. She happened to glance at her phone screen and saw the viewer count. Her jaw dropped.
"One… one hundred thousand plus!"
~~~
Get early access to 20+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter