Extra chapter for reaching 100 Power Stones.
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Haruya followed the two men out of the kitchen, carrying the large platter of yakitori. The smell was incredible.
A mix of savory soy sauce, sweet mirin, and the smoky aroma of grilled chicken.
It was a scent that was completely different from the usual smell of bread and pastries that would linger in the Sumeragi household.
As they put the skewers on a large platter, Haruya felt a sense of accomplishment, a new kind of satisfaction that was different from the one he got from baking.
He followed the two men back to the living room, ready to share the fruits of their labor. As soon as they entered the room, the women's conversation stopped, their eyes widening as they took in the sight and the smell of the food.
Akari and Leonora had been deep in conversation, but the delicious aroma was impossible to ignore. Alice, who had been listening to them with a pout, suddenly perked up.
"What is that smell?" she asked, her eyes sparkling. "It smells amazing!"
Senzaemon let out a boisterous laugh. "This is the taste of a true chef's spirit, Alice! It seems young Haruya here has a natural talent for more than just pastries."
Haruya scratched his head shyly.
He felt a bit embarrased to get compliments for such an easy dish.
They all gathered around the low table in the center of the living room. Soe expertly placed the platter in the middle, and everyone reached for a skewer.
Haruya watched nervously as Alice took the first bite. Her eyes, those striking red eyes, widened in shock.
Her expression shifted from playful pouting to pure, unadulterated awe. She wasn't just impressed; she was blown away.
Almost quite literally. Her dress seemed to flutter from a sudden gale that came from nowhere.
"This is... this is so good!" she exclaimed, her voice full of genuine surprise. "The chicken is so juicy, and the sauce... It's sweet, but not too sweet, and it has this deep, savory flavor. The skin is crispy, and the meat is cooked perfectly!"
Leonora took a bite, and a serene smile spread across her face. "My goodness," she said softly, her eyes closed in contemplation. "The flavor is so clean, so pure. It tastes like home." She looked at Haruya with an expression of deep warmth. "You have such a special touch, my dear. It's like you can taste the soul of the ingredients."
Akari tasted one of the skewers and her eyes, just like Alice's, widened in pure shock. "Haruya... did you... Did you make this?" she asked, her voice barely hiding her surprise.
She knew her son was a talented patissier, but for him to pick up conventional cooking with such ease was something she had never expected.
She knew what this talent meant. It meant a whole new world of expectations.
Haruya just shrugged, a little embarrassed. "I just followed their instructions, Mom."
Senzaemon let out another hearty laugh. "That's not true, boy! He made his own tare! The base was from my recipe, but he added his own twist to it. This taste... it has his personality. Your legacy of sweet flavors, combined with the savory heart of a true chef. It is a harmonious marriage of two culinary worlds!"
Soe Nakiri, the quiet one, finally spoke up again, his voice calm but firm. "It is truly a rare talent. The ability to instinctively understand the balance of flavors and to execute it with such precision... it is the mark of a culinary genius."
Haruya felt a rush of pride.
Getting compliments from his mom or friends was cool, but hearing it from supposed culinary legends felt a bit surreal.
It was a feeling of validation, a confirmation that his skills weren't just limited to one type of cooking.
It was a meaningful experience that opened up a gate to a larger culinary world.
He had always thought of baking as a hobby, a way to connect with his mom and the world, but this... this felt different. It was a challenge, a new frontier to conquer.
He couldn't help but steal a glance at Alice, who was still devouring the yakitori with a look of pure bliss on her face.
Seeing her so immersed in the food he had helped create made him feel incredibly happy. Even though they had just "met" her, she was such a bubbly, energetic person, and seeing her get so serious and focused on something was a new experience.
After they had all finished eating, the mood became even more relaxed and informal.
Senzaemon and Soe started to tell more stories about their time at Totsuki.
Haruya learned the true extent of his mother, Akari, and how much of a legend she was at the academy for her baking skills, which were considered revolutionary at that time.
Leonora was also a talented chef, known for her ability to create unique dishes from unexpected ingredients. Soe and Senzaemon's voices were full of nostalgia as they spoke about their past with Akari and Leonora, filling in the blanks of a past Haruya had no memory of.
Suddenly, Alice spoke up, her voice full of a child's competitive adoration. "Haruya, this is really good... but you're still quite far from me and Erina's level!"
Haruya, who had been listening quietly, tilted his head. "Who's Erina?"
Alice's eyes widened in surprise, as if it were a silly question. "Don't tell me you forgot Erina, too! We all used to hang out when we were little. You, me, and her! She's my cousin! She can taste everything perfectly because she has the God's Tongue!" She stuck her tongue out playfully. "Your memory is even worse than I remember!"
Haruya felt a helpless pang of embarrassment. Alice was right.
His memory had been a mess before he gained his Adaptability ability, with most of his early childhood being a confusing, fuzzy blur.
He now knew he was friends with Alice and they had hung out, but he had no memory of a third person.
He looked at Soe and Senzaemon, who just gave him a knowing smile. He then looked at Senzaemon. "A God's Tongue? What is that?"
Senzaemon looked at him, his gaze piercing. "The God's Tongue is a special gift, a blessing that allows a person to taste and analyze flavors with superhuman precision. It is a very rare and powerful ability, one that only a chosen few are born with. It allows the wielder to create dishes that are beyond the realm of normal human comprehension. But... it is also a heavy burden."
"A burden?" Haruya asked, intrigued. "How so?"
"A person with the God's Tongue finds it difficult to enjoy ordinary food," Senzaemon explained, his voice low. "Most things taste like a bland, tasteless sludge to them. They can only truly enjoy a dish that is cooked to perfection, a dish that can move a person to their very core. It is a lonely existence, a life of endless perfection, with no room for error or mediocrity."
Haruya's mind was jolted. The way Senzaemon spoke about it, it sounded so familiar, like a blessing and a curse.
With his own Adaptability, he knew what it was like to be both gifted and burdened by a unique talent. Although the burden to him was just somewhat of a feeling of invincibility at the top, his own little delusion.
He looked at the older man with newfound understanding, a curious gleam in his eyes.
Senzaemon gave him a strong, approving pat on the back. "Young Haruya, you have a talent, a special one. You should not waste it. Consider my offer. I want you to attend Totsuki."
Soe nodded in agreement. "We look forward to seeing you again, Haruya. We can talk more about your future then."
Haruya's mind, however, was no longer on Totsuki. It was on this "God's Tongue" and the girl who possessed it. He looked at the three Nakiris in front of him, a plan already forming in his head.
"Senzaemon-san," Haruya started, his voice firm and filled with newfound resolve. "Thank you for the offer. I will think about it. But... if it's not too much trouble, can I come and visit you at your household sometime? I would like to learn more about cooking from you. And... well, I want to see this God's Tongue for myself."
Senzaemon's eyes lit up, a proud smile on his face. He looked at Akari for a moment, a silent question passing between them. Akari simply smiled and nodded. "Of course, boy!" Senzaemon boomed. "I would be honored to teach a student with such an excellent palate. Akari, you agree to this, do you not?"
Akari walked over and ruffled Haruya's hair affectionately. "I think it's wonderful, dear. It makes me so happy to see you finding new passions. The Nakiri family is more than welcome to teach you, and perhaps Erina will be happy to see an old friend."
Alice, who had been listening in, suddenly perked up. "Yay! That means I get to see you again, Haruya!"
Haruya just laughed and smiled. "Yeah. You do, Alice."
With that, the Nakiri family started to gather their things.
There was a lot of hugging and laughing, and soon they were at the door, saying their goodbyes.
Alice, before getting into the car, turned to Haruya and gave him a mischievous grin. "Don't forget to come visit us, Haruya!" she called out, waving at him.
Haruya just laughed and waved back. He watched as the black car drove off, its engine fading into the quiet night. He turned to his mom, his mind still reeling.
"Mom," he started, his voice soft. "Tell me more about Totsuki... and about my future."
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A/N: No, he will not be attending Totsuki for middle school, nor high school. One reason is that I feel like my skills in writing are not good enough to fully embody the art of cooking in such a complex way as Food Wars. Two, is because I already have an outline in my mind of how things will develop in middle school and high school. Three is because of the plot limitations that attending Totsuki would bring. There would not be much time for other series to bloom if Haruya attends a culinary school. It's not like I can just turn this all of a sudden into mainly a cooking fanfic.
Although yes, Haruya's pastries and baking seem to be a big part of the story, it is mainly just to win the ladies. After all, who doesn't love good pastry? Also, because I guess it's a way to give his family a good background that connects to different series. His mom with Food Wars, Kimura grandparents with Anohana, Sumeragi grandpa with Kaguya-sama and Sakamoto Days, dad with... who knows. Keep reading to find out. Most of the original characters I write are always part of a bigger picture. That includes Hiroki and Rina too, for Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity. Anyway, sorry for making you read allat. Hope you enjoyed.
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POWER STONE GOAL - 1 EXTRA CHAPTER WHEN REACHED:
100 POWER STONES (✔)
200 POWER STONES (X)
300 POWER STONES (X)
400 POWER STONES (X)
500 POWER STONES (X)
600 POWER STONES (X)