Premium fish from the deep sea is best enjoyed in a way that preserves its natural flavor.
The most common method is sashimi.
Hayato knew his limits. He didn't want to ruin a piece of fish worth 10,000 Poké Dollars.
Sashimi was undoubtedly the most suitable choice for him.
The preparation itself was simple. Once the surface moisture was wiped away, you could technically even bite straight into it.
But the real key to sashimi lay in knife skills. The slices couldn't be too thick or too thin; every piece had to be evenly cut.
A truly skilled chef would never have poor knife work.
As the saying goes, when an expert makes a move, you immediately know whether they have the skill or not.
The person involved might not notice anything unusual, but Siebold, watching from the side, quickly sensed something different.
If he weren't worried about disturbing Hayato , Siebold would have already started applauding.
A competitive spark rose within him.
He quickly moved to the other side to process the remaining half of the fish. Like Hayato , he also chose to make sashimi.
Hayato , focused on his work, didn't notice Siebold's reaction at all. He was completely absorbed in slicing the fish.
For some reason—whether talent or something else—even though this was his first time handling the ingredient, everything felt natural in his hands. There wasn't the slightest sense of awkwardness.
"Phew!"
Wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead, Hayato sighed.
"Finally finished. That wasn't easy."
Inside a white porcelain bowl lay a layer of crushed ice.
Resting atop the ice were neatly arranged slices of fish, each perfectly even in thickness.
The translucent white flesh, glistening like snow, was carefully plated, quietly waiting to be enjoyed.
Eating raw fish alone would be too plain, so Hayato added garnishes around the edges—shiso leaves, lemon slices, and finely shredded white radish.
He even prepared dipping sauce.
Nothing complicated: soy sauce with a little wasabi.
Picking up a slice of fish, Hayato dipped it lightly and tasted it first.
"Mmm… perfect."
The fish practically melted in his mouth. It required almost no chewing, and there were no unpleasant flavors.
Instead, the taste of the ocean itself filled his palate.
Soon, information about the dish appeared before his eyes.
Veluza Sashimi (A Rank)
Special Cuisine
Made from the trimmed excess flesh of the rare Pokémon Veluza, this dish was prepared by a somewhat amateur chef. Yet it perfectly preserves the fish's natural fragrance, making it a delicacy no ocean lover should miss.
Cooking Effect – Purified Mind
A mysterious power born from Veluza's relentless self-training. After consumption, the eater temporarily gains a state of mental clarity.
The duration depends on the eater—the purer the mind, the longer the effect lasts.
"Hayato , may I try some?" Siebold asked.
"Of course," Hayato replied casually.
"This… this…!"
As the slice entered his mouth, Siebold murmured in shock.
The flavor was unlike anything he had experienced.
It felt as though he had become a Veluza himself, drifting through ocean currents, using the forces of nature to shed unnecessary weight—tempering his spirit through such harsh training.
At that moment, Siebold felt as if he were truly there.
Despite using the same ingredients and the same steps, the final result was completely different.
When Siebold looked at Hayato again, his gaze had changed. A powerful thirst for knowledge rose in his heart.
He simply couldn't understand it.
"Hayato … with the same ingredients, why is your dish so different?"
"Well… this…"
Hayato was momentarily speechless.
He obviously couldn't say it was because of his cheat-like system ability.
But his hesitation gave Siebold a completely different impression.
To Siebold, it seemed like a private culinary secret—something not to be casually shared.
"Mr. Hayato , please allow me to stay by your side and learn from you. Arigatou."
Siebold bowed deeply, his face full of sincerity.
This relentless pursuit of culinary excellence was exactly why he had always continued improving.
For a moment, Hayato panicked.
How did cooking a meal turn into taking on a disciple?!
He knew his own limits. If they spent too much time together, the truth would definitely come out.
He couldn't exactly split his cheat ability in half and give some of it away.
His eyes darted around before he finally came up with a solution.
Stepping forward, he quickly helped Siebold up.
"Mr. Siebold, I'm only a beginner. Taking disciples is out of the question."
"The reason I hesitated earlier wasn't because I wanted to refuse you. I was just thinking about how to explain it in a way you'd understand."
"Mm-hmm! Mm-hmm!" Siebold nodded rapidly like a pecking chicken. "Please enlighten me, Sensei."
"Cook with your heart."
Hayato pointed to his chest.
"Turn your emotions into an ingredient and blend them into your cooking."
"I see!"
Siebold suddenly looked enlightened.
His serious expression instead made Hayato feel a little uneasy.
Because everything he had just said was basically empty nonsense. He was only trying to cover up his system ability.
In reality, he simply possessed a special power that influenced his cooking.
That was why his dishes produced unique effects.
As for cooking with heart—would that really change anything?
Maybe the food would taste better if someone cooked carefully and sincerely.
But other than that, nothing special should happen.
Unless…
Glowing dishes existed.
Hayato suddenly slapped his forehead, looking alarmed.
"Mr. Siebold, let's stop here for today. Cinccino and the others are still waiting outside—I shouldn't make them worry."
Picking up the sashimi, Hayato hurried off.
Meanwhile, Siebold remained standing there, deep in thought.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration passed through his mind.
His thoughts were clearer than ever, free of distractions.
"I understand!"
Siebold's eyes seemed to shine with golden light.
"The love between humans and Pokémon… that must be the greatest ingredient in the world!"
"When Teacher Hayato cooked earlier, he must have been thinking about Cinccino and the others, wanting them to taste the most delicious meal possible."
"Teacher Hayato is truly unfathomable. His culinary skill deserves the title of the greatest chef of this era!"
"Teacher is modest. As his disciple, it's my duty to spread his name!"
If Hayato knew about the storm of thoughts raging in Siebold's head, he would probably be shocked.
Siebold had completely overanalyzed everything.
Sure enough—imagination could be terrifying.
But Hayato had no time to think about that now.
He looked nervously at Cinccino and Kangaskhan .
He resembled a student who had just been called on in class, anxiously waiting to hear the teacher say, "You may sit down."
"Cinccino~"
"Graaah!"
Both Kangaskhan and Cinccino nodded at the same time, their eyes curving into crescent moons.
This was the best fish they had ever eaten.
To them, being able to eat food made by their Trainer was already happiness.
Every dish carried the strong, unmistakable love he had for them.
Kangaskhan and Cinccino loved Hayato the most!
"Haha… as long as you like it."
Hayato smiled warmly.
Nothing felt happier than having his Pokémon praise the food he had personally cooked.
"Graah~"
"Cin!"
The little ones urged Hayato to eat as well.
Kangaskhan pushed the sashimi toward him, along with freshly delivered sizzling seafood barbecue.
"Alright, alright."
Hayato gently stopped them and patted them softly.
"Let's eat together."
"Let's celebrate the completion of our new home."
"Cheers."
Three cups of fruit juice clinked together with a crisp sound.
Carrying their wishes for a bright future, Hayato finished his drink in one gulp.