Teriyaki.
A cooking method in Japan cuisine.
The method is simple, using a soy sauce-based, sweet sauce.
The sugar in the sauce gives the surface of the ingredients a glaze, which is the "teri" (shine), and because it has a shine, it is named "Teriyaki."
And a plate of teriyaki mushrooms in front of her, seemingly having absorbed the essence of heaven and earth, only needed a small bite to feel the fragrance of the fields.
That taste of the wild, just like that, fell into her mouth, wonderfully unforgettable.
Especially when she took a bite, the juice inside the mushrooms instantly burst in her mouth, incredibly delicious!
Although they were just cheap ingredients like mushrooms, carrots, and onions.
But the earthy aroma of the mushrooms, combined with the rich flavor of the teriyaki sauce, powerfully stimulated Hinata-ko's taste buds and nostrils, making her feel that every bite was incredibly delicious.
"Just mushrooms, paired with teriyaki sauce brewed from carrots, onions, and soy sauce."
"You're truly remarkable to be able to create such delicious local cuisine with just a simple stir-fry!"
Finally, Hinata-ko, having finished eating, exclaimed.
...
This dish was somewhat ordinary.
But to dare to present such a dish to prove one's strength at such an important Practical Training event.
For this alone, in Hinata-ko's heart, Megumi was truly courageous.
"Are you interested?"
"My Kiriya Restaurant needs gentle Far Moon students like you right now."
Then, Hinata-ko, coming back to her senses, tightly grasped Megumi's hands, and a hint of longing seemed to be visible in her eyes.
"Eh?"
"Wh... what do you mean?"
Megumi had never seen such a scene and was instantly flustered.
"I understand everything about Shinomiya-senpai's matter."
"He intentionally put in withered ingredients, intending to use this method to further eliminate students."
"In that situation, anyone would be a bit timid, but you, with your tenacious spirit, made the most sincere dish and successfully moved him."
"And today, you once again showed me that true cuisine should possess gentleness."
"Therefore, I think highly of you and want to invite you to Kiriya Restaurant."
Hinata-ko, seeing Megumi's flustered expression, quickly explained the reason to her.
Ostensibly, the purpose of the Practical Training activity was to train students' practical abilities, but if students had excellent grades and performance, they could also gain the favor of the evaluators.
After all, these Totsuki graduates, they all had quite good achievements in the culinary world, but most of them had also reached a bottleneck.
Their role as evaluators, on one hand, was indeed to continue to rely on Totsuki Culinary Academy.
On the other hand, they also wanted to use this opportunity to discover those gifted students and then extend an olive branch to them.
...
"No, no, Hinata-ko-senpai."
"I'm just a low-achieving student, how... how could I be so highly regarded by you?"
Megumi had never dreamed that a poor student like her could one day gain the favor of an evaluator, and she was inevitably a little overwhelmed.
But she quickly came to her senses and repeatedly refused.
"What? Do you really think so little of my Kiriya Restaurant?"
Seeing her refusal, Hinata-ko wasn't too disappointed, as if she had already anticipated this outcome.
Then, she released her hands and asked playfully.
"Nothing of the sort."
"Senpai, me... for me to be able to work at your Kiriya Restaurant, that would absolutely be the honor of my life, Tadokoro Megumi!"
"However, in my heart, there is one place I want to go the most."
Megumi clenched her fists tightly, remembering Sosuke, who had always been willing to extend a hand to help her during the most lost and helpless times of her life!
"Oh?"
"I'm a bit curious now."
"What kind of place is it that you are willing to dedicate yourself to?"
Upon hearing this, Hinata-ko slightly narrowed her eyes and asked with a smile.
"Senpai, the place I want to go most is an Izakaya."
"Although with my current ability, I'm not enough to be of much help there, but... but I believe that my ultimate destination, Tadokoro Megumi, will definitely be that Izakaya!"
Megumi paused, then her eyes filled with determination, and she answered softly.
"Izakaya?"
"It's an Izakaya?"
Hearing this, Hinata-ko immediately showed a surprised expression.
...
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