It felt like sinking into an autumn memory, impossible to escape. It was just a plain salted fish, nothing special, and yet it carried such a flavor. How?
Everyone else had been drawn in by the dish as well. They picked up spoons, sipped the sweet broth, then grabbed some noodles.
Ibusaki Shun: "This taste... how did he make it?"
Marui Zenji: "I don't get it, I just don't. The problem isn't in the broth."
Isshiki: "Exactly, the broth isn't the issue. The real secret lies in the noodles."
Tadokoro Megumi: "Eh? Noodles? But these noodles were just hand-pulled by Hikigaya-kun..."
Ryoko: "Hand-pulled?"
Isshiki shook his head: "They are hand-pulled, yes, but while making them, he added just the right amount of seafood sauce. That made the flavor blend perfectly with the salted fish base. If I'm not mistaken, right?" He showed a gentle smile as he looked at Hikigaya.
Hachiman nodded. At the same time, he noticed this man in front of him. Even though he wasn't there when the noodles were made, he still saw through the method hidden in them. This guy was definitely not ordinary.
Grandma Fumio: "You really are something, kid. Using only these ingredients, you still managed to make something so delicious. This taste... it's so comforting, like being wrapped up from head to toe. With the mix of seafood sauce and salted fish, you created a wonderful ocean flavor."
Hearing Grandma Fumio's words, Tadokoro Megumi's eyes lit up with hope. Her tightly clenched hands finally relaxed as she looked at Hikigaya with joy.
"So that means?!"
Grandma Fumio closed her eyes as if quietly enjoying the flavor of the dish, then gently nodded.
"Alright, I, Fumio, will allow you to move in!"
"This is the key to room 303. From now on, it's your room."
"Well... thank you. Thank you for tasting it." Hachiman carefully accepted the key. Meanwhile, Isshiki-senpai, who had just been standing in front of him, now showed a smile brighter than ever.
"Congratulations! We must hold a grand welcome party. After all, you're the first among us to be accepted by Grandma Fumio right away!" Isshiki's face had no trace of jealousy, only pure happiness for Hikigaya.
To be honest, Hikigaya wanted to turn down this sudden party with some strange excuse, since he really didn't like that kind of event.
But...
There were still many questions in his heart. To find his answers, he had to take a step forward.
After agreeing to meet again after bathing, Hachiman first returned to his new dorm room.
On the other side, when Tadokoro Megumi accidentally learned that Hikigaya was her new neighbor, she felt a strange emotion she had never experienced before, one that made her restless.
Even so, since he was her new neighbor, she was determined to get along with him.
In the bath, Hachiman soaked in the tub. With water drops falling from the ceiling, he felt as if all the dirt inside him had been washed away, leaving him refreshed.
It had only been two days, yet it felt like much longer.
Just two days ago, his life had been plain and ordinary, helping out a little at the Hikigaya Diner and enjoying the simple life that would never return. But in only two days, he had stepped onto the path of a chef.
And today, entering Totsuki Academy completely overturned his idea of what chefs could be. He knew nothing about this school, but since cooking was everything here, its status was obviously unmatched.
Hachiman never thought about aiming for a high position. For him, living a simple life in Totsuki Academy would be enough.
But...
Before parting, Komachi's words echoed in his mind again.
She said he must improve his cooking skills and become a great chef.
She said he must make more friends.
She said... that in the future, she would also come to this school...
'With Komachi's cooking, getting into this school won't be a problem at all... but still, as her brother...'
Suddenly, a new thought popped into Hachiman's mind. If possible, he wanted to open a small restaurant here at the academy called Hikigaya Diner. Then, when Komachi came, they could run it together. That kind of life... might actually be really nice.
He didn't know how long it would take, but for now, he would set this as his dream.
To not use loss as an excuse, he had to be more motivated than usual, acting even more like his ordinary self...
Thinking about it, everyone he met today was strange—whether it was that guy called Nakiri or the people in this dorm... though, to be fair, he wasn't exactly normal either.
As he was drying himself off in the bathroom, still lost in thought, Isshiki-senpai suddenly appeared out of nowhere, smiling brightly at him.
"Transfer student, everyone's waiting for you!"
"Uh... let me put on my clothes first..."
"Okay, I'll wait for you!"
'Next time, I definitely have to lock the door...'
After quickly drying off, Hachiman braced himself and finally headed to room 205, just as promised.
He took a deep breath. It was supposed to be just a normal welcome party, but for some reason, it felt terrifying.
As he gently slid open the door, a bespectacled boy immediately muttered in annoyance:
"I told you, I've been really busy lately! I don't mind new people moving in, but can you at least not mess up my room? Cleaning it later takes a lot of time. Hey, hey, yes, I'm talking about you two."
Everyone acted like they didn't hear his complaint at all, just going about their own business. Clearly, they were already used to this kind of thing.
'Looks like I'll have to start locking my room...'
When Isshiki saw Hikigaya arrive, he gave him a gentle smile:
"Ah... wonderful..."
"Welcome to the Polar Star Dorm. I'm Isshiki Satoshi, a second-year. Just call me Senior Isshiki."
"Oh, oh! I'm Hikigaya, Hikigaya Hachiman." Hachiman gave his most serious and formal reply to this warm upperclassman.