Chapter 45: Surpass the God's Tongue
Advancement Exam.
A major event held in Hokkaido at the end of the second term for first-year high-school students. It was literally an examination to determine whether they could advance to the second year.
Last year—meaning the current second-years—had seen one hundred and ninety participants, yet more than seventy students were expelled. Hearing stories like that really drove home just how low Totsuki's graduation rate was. No wonder there were so few third-years.
However, the advancement exam for our 92nd generation would not produce nearly as many expulsions as in previous years.
Ever since Nakiri Azami had taken over as headmaster, the competitive education system had been eliminated from Totsuki. Everyone now followed completed recipes; no one was required to imagine or create their own dishes. They simply prepared the approved "correct" answer according to predetermined steps. With that kind of educational method, expelling students had become far more difficult.
At least, that was true for those who obeyed Azami.
In other words, those who obeyed the Central Gastronomy Agency.
Anyone who refused to follow Azami's regime would be expelled. If they didn't like it, they had to submit.
That was the gist of the announcement we had seen on the Polar Star Dorm's television. The "remnant hunt" had apparently encountered more resistance from the rebels than expected, so Azami might have been a little irritated. He probably wanted to eradicate every last rebel factor, even if it meant using somewhat forceful methods.
Almost every member of Polar Star Dorm—including Yoshino Yuuki, who specialized in game and beast cuisine—was in despair over the very real possibility of expulsion. Tadokoro had even started writing a letter to her family. The dorm was currently in a state of mourning.
But to me, none of that mattered.
Whether the exam was unfair or the conditions were disadvantageous, it had nothing to do with me. I had far more important things to worry about than some toxic father's harassment.
In fact, this was probably the first time since coming to this academy that I felt genuinely nervous.
Tonight, in the room I had specially borrowed in Polar Star Dorm.
It was only meant for sleeping, so of course there was no fancy furniture. As expected of a Totsuki dorm, the only notable feature was the well-equipped kitchen.
And into that simple room came an unexpected visitor.
With a timid knock knock, a single girl entered hesitantly—Nakiri Erina had come to see me.
"Hey, Nakiri-san. Welcome."
"G-Good evening… Santoku-kun…"
I already knew why she had come to my room, thanks to my knowledge of the original story.
She had interacted with the Polar Star members and remembered that cooking could be fun. But she still couldn't break free from her father's brainwashing. So she wanted to confirm something. That was why she had visited my room.
Knowing this event would happen, I had decided to stay at Polar Star Dorm tonight. I wanted to ensure the success of this crucial moment—the moment when the chef known as Nakiri Erina could reclaim her true self.
"I'll make some tea. Make yourself comfortable… though there's really only a cushion."
"N-No, please don't trouble yourself…"
I had her sit down—she was wearing light-green pajamas—and began preparing the tea.
Even a simple low table and cushion looked elegant when someone as refined as Erina was sitting on it. …Although, that pajama top was showing a bit of cleavage, wasn't it? Coming to a boy's room dressed like that really showed how little caution she had. No wonder her father Azami was so worried.
"So? What brings you here? I'd be happy if you just came to chat… but that's not the only reason, is it?"
"…As expected, I can't hide anything from you."
Of course not. I'm a reincarnator, after all.
"If there's something you want to talk about, I'm listening. You're an important friend to me, Nakiri-san."
"…Thank you, Santoku-kun."
Her shoulders seemed to relax a little, and her expression softened.
What's wrong? Want to talk? was one of my specialties. First I had to create an atmosphere where she felt comfortable speaking, or the conversation wouldn't flow smoothly.
"…I've become lost. I no longer know why I cook."
Erina spoke with a serious face. I felt relieved that it matched what I had expected, and I listened carefully to her next words.
"Until a certain day, I felt no passion for cooking at all… As someone who possesses the God's Tongue, I think I had resigned myself to the idea that endlessly despairing over flavor was simply unavoidable."
From what I had heard, even Erina's baby food had been prepared exclusively by a personal chef. If she had been tormented by such an overly delicate sense of taste since infancy, it was no wonder she had come to despair over flavor. In the end, normal really is best.
"—But after tasting Saiba-sama's cooking, I realized that cooking could be something wonderful. …Was it the same for you?"
Come to think of it, on the way back from the training camp, in the taxi, I had told her I admired Saiba Joichiro. I had said it to get closer to her, but the fact that she remembered it meant it had made her quite happy. That kind of thing was genuinely cute about her.
"…Yeah. …You're right. The same as you, Nakiri-san."
"—! I-I see… I'm glad."
Seeing her smile with what looked like relief made me feel warm inside. No, no—stay focused. I couldn't let this end with just listening to her talk.
"…But about half a year after meeting Saiba-sama, my father's 'education' began."
"…'Education'."
Erina's expression changed completely. Her shoulders trembled slightly as she spoke.
Never tolerate an imperfect dish. Anything Azami did not approve of was trash, garbage, nothing more than inferior feed for livestock. That was the indoctrination she had received.
In short, Azami was scum.
There was really nothing more to say. No matter what excuse he used about sharpening the God's Tongue, it was not something you did to a young daughter. The original story even had scenes where Erina was made to throw imperfect dishes into the trash with her own hands. It was honestly disgusting. Don't waste food. I may be self-aware enough to admit I'm scum, but I never waste food. In this world, someone worse than me would actually be pretty rare.
"I think what my father says is wrong… But at the same time, I can also understand the correctness of his philosophy. The world is overflowing with hopelessly imperfect dishes, and I had been shown that reality long before I even had the awareness to understand it."
Geniuses have their own kind of suffering.
I'm probably considered a genius by most people around me, but in my case I'm just a cheat-dependent fraud who keeps winning thanks to reincarnation perks. …Though honestly, calling it a "cheat" feels a bit generous given how limited it can be.
Still, the chefs in this world really do live complicated lives.
Whether something is delicious or disgusting, good or bad—surely that differs from person to person.
Leave only the restaurants that serve gourmet food and shut down all the rest. I think that was the ultimate goal of the Central Gastronomy Agency.
Seriously, what idiots. A grade-schooler dreaming of world domination has more charm. Leaving only less than ten percent of the restaurants and shutting down ninety percent of the dining industry—have they even considered what kind of impact that would have on a country like Japan? How out of touch with reality can they be?
"…And so you became lost about what you should do?"
"…"
Erina nodded weakly. She had basically confessed why she had come to my room. She probably knew it was a rather spoiled thing to do. Even so, she had come to me. This was a very good sign. All the preparation I had done was paying off.
"—Then you should try remembering again. Why you cook, Nakiri-san."
"…Eh?"
"Whether it's because it's fun, because your father told you to… or for some other reason. If you want help remembering, I think I can do that for you."
"Help…? H-How…?"
Erina looked up at me as I stood up from the cushion, her eyes seeking salvation. She looked like she would obediently follow any order I gave. It was a tempting expression, but I had to stick to the proper approach here.
"That's obvious. If you want to remember why you cook… you can only remember through cooking itself."
"Through… cooking?"
"I'll make something for you. A dish that will help you find your answer, Nakiri-san."
I moved to the kitchen and picked up my favorite knife.
After confirming the ingredients and tools, I began cooking.
"Please wait a moment. Nakiri Erina-sama."
What I imagined was a flavor that would subjugate the God's Tongue.
An overwhelming deliciousness that would shatter the countless chains wrapped around Erina's heart.
My body moved on its own. Optimal, supreme, the best and the strongest. The way I cut, the way I applied heat, the way I seasoned—every technique was on another level. I had no idea what combinations I was using or how the flavor was evolving. Even watching myself, I couldn't tell.
But there was still one thing I knew for certain.
This dish would definitely surpass the God's Tongue.
***
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