"Haha, I didn't expect you to misunderstand like this. If I'd known, I would have explained it clearly beforehand. It's not entirely my fault, though. After all, you didn't give me a chance to explain; the moment the match ended, you just ran off. I thought you were going to back out of the bet."
Looking at Ikumi Mito, who sat beside Yuki Yoshino, restless and visibly embarrassed, Okabe couldn't resist teasing her.
Both were at fault here. His wording had certainly caused a misunderstanding, but Ikumi had also been a bit careless. After losing the match, she immediately changed into a maid outfit. By the time she came to her senses, he was already standing in front of her, calling her 'Master.'
He had to admit, that reluctant, yet helpless, expression, as if she had no choice but to comply, was indeed exciting.
"What do you mean? It's clearly your way of speaking that's too misleading, alright!"
'Saying things like "let me become your person," anyone would think in that direction. It's all my fault for being too honest. If I had known, I would have delayed for a while to see how things played out!'
Ikumi said, her face flushed.
The maid outfit from just now had drained all her courage, and that hard-earned courage was so mercilessly rejected by Okabe, which left her utterly devastated.
"It's my problem. If you insist on being a maid, I can actually accept it."
"No way! Since it's not part of the bet, and I don't have that kind of hobby! So what exactly does "follow" mean?"
As soon as Okabe finished speaking, Ikumi immediately shook her head, refusing.
'She wouldn't fall into the same trap twice.'
The maid outfit just now was already something she wore after mustering every ounce of her courage. Now that she knew it was a misunderstanding, asking her to wear it a second time was utterly out of the question!
"For now, I haven't thought about what to have you do. After all, the word 'follow' is a bit too vague. I hope that in your future school life, you will take me as your main focus. That's probably the gist of it."
Ikumi's question truly stumped Okabe.
Although he said he wanted to build a faction, he didn't actually know how to go about building one, or what to do once it was established. This had clearly gone completely beyond his expertise, and he needed a professional to help him handle it.
The figure of Hisako Arato, unbidden, floated into his mind. Unfortunately, she was utterly devoted to Erina Nakiri. To secure her loyalty, the most important thing was to first win over Erina.
'Haven't thought about what to do…'
Hearing Okabe's words, Ikumi fell silent, taken aback.
"Simply put, just continue as you have been. When we have time, we can practice cooking together. After all, culinary skills only improve with practice."
After thinking for a moment, Okabe looked at Ikumi and said.
Although her cooking was somewhat obsessive, her understanding of 'meat' as an ingredient was formidable. As long as he corrected her singular focus on high-end ingredients, she would definitely grow quickly.
'Continue as I have been…'
Hearing Okabe's words, a sense of 'disappointment' inexplicably welled up in Ikumi's heart.
'But soon she realized something was wrong. What was happening to her? Wasn't it a good thing that he wasn't doing anything to her? Why did she feel this way…'
'[Ah, ah, ah!]'
'[I can't keep thinking about this! Eat!]'
Ikumi's face turned slightly red as she picked up the rice bowl in front of her and started shoveling mouthfuls of rice into her mouth with her chopsticks, as if only this way could she maintain inner peace.
Seeing her eating like this, Okabe and Yuki exchanged a look and smiled, then picked up their bowls and started eating heartily.
And in spots they hadn't noticed.
Several pairs of eyes were covertly observing them from the corners of their eyes.
[GNT_PBREAK]
In the evening, inside Polaris Dormitory.
Megumi Tadokoro lowered her head, her hands carefully, slowly kneading the dough in front of her.
Okabe watched for a long time and sighed lightly, suddenly reaching out his hand and gently pressing on the newly formed dough.
"Not elastic enough." He withdrew his hand and looked at Megumi, his voice tinged with helplessness: "You're kneading a bit too cautiously. You've been paying attention to the details of the technique, but you've neglected the essence of dough formation."
"Sorry, Okabe-kun. Where exactly did I go wrong?"
Megumi nervously raised her head.
"Kneading dough isn't embroidery; you don't need to make every step meticulous. When kneading, your strength should be heavy, your wrist relaxed, using the weight of your whole body to push and pull, not just the strength of one arm, or even just one palm."
As he spoke, Okabe stepped up to the cutting board and placed his hand on the dough.
He saw his palm move with gentle precision, and the dough seemed to spring to life, becoming smooth in just a few movements, resilient enough to spring back when poked.
"You're paying too much attention to the small, superficial things, which prevents the gluten in the dough from fully stretching. It's like painting without sketching, starting with the details of the eyes; it will end up being nothing in the end.
The liveliness of the dough is awakened by this uniform, rhythmic compression. It's like human breathing; there must be inhalation and exhalation, tension and relaxation."
"You try it. Don't be afraid of ruining it. Dough is a very durable ingredient!"
After placing the kneaded dough in the iron basin on the side to rest and rise, Okabe scooped a spoonful of flour onto the board and urged Megumi, who was still kneading her own dough, to continue.
'Yes, in simple terms, it means using all your strength on the dough…'
Pondering the key points he had just mentioned, Megumi returned to her cooking counter and resumed kneading according to the technique he had just described.
Okabe nodded slightly and turned to prepare the ingredients on the side. The aroma of beef bone broth wafted through the kitchen, along with the rich scent of braised dishes.
Braised beef, braised tofu, and braised eggs.
These were the side dishes he had prepared for the noodles.
"What a fragrant smell. You even made such a big pot of beef bone broth. Are we having ramen for dinner?"
Just as Okabe was about to taste the beef bone broth to check the heat, Rindo Kobayashi's voice drifted from the kitchen doorway.
Turning his head, he saw her leaning against the door, her eyes half-closed, her nose twitching, greedily savoring the rich aroma in the kitchen.
"That's right. Rindo-senpai, would you like a bowl?"
"Yes!"
"Okay, then wait a moment. I'll prepare the noodles."
Looking at Rindo sitting down at the dining table, Okabe smiled playfully, then walked over and picked up the long strip of dough that had been kneaded and rested.
Then he took three portions from it and placed them on the cutting board, using a rolling pin to roll them out, pressing down the middle with chopsticks, then pinching the two ends of the dough to stretch it long.
He boiled water in the pot and pulled the elongated dough sheet, thin in the middle where it had been pressed with chopsticks, putting it into the pot.
"Are these pulled noodles?"
Looking at Okabe's movements, Rindo had quietly appeared at his side and asked curiously.
"Yes, I've been craving noodles with some chewiness lately. Pulled noodles, whether made into soup noodles or oil-splashed noodles, taste great, but I prefer oil-splashed noodles."
For oil-splashed noodles, adding chili powder, Sichuan peppercorns, and minced garlic to the noodles, then splashing with boiling hot oil three times, paired with braised dishes as side toppings, makes for an incredibly delicious bite!
Okabe said this, swallowing, a hint of anticipation in his voice, and quickened his movements.
He threw the pulled noodles into the pot, letting them sink and float in the boiling water, then scooped in a ladle of cold water. After it boiled again, he poured in cold water again.
After the third boil, he fished out the noodles.
He poured minced garlic, chopped scallions, chili powder, and Sichuan peppercorn powder into it, spreading them evenly over the noodles.
He heated the oil in the pot until it was slightly smoking, then poured it over the noodles.
"Sizzle~"
The rich aroma instantly spread in all directions.
Even Megumi, who was still kneading dough beside him, couldn't help but swallow her saliva.
This step is also called the Phoenix Nods Three Times. Splashing the oil three times ensures the oil penetrates thoroughly, making the noodles even more fragrant. This is also the most crucial part of oil-splashed noodles.
Once finished, Okabe didn't immediately serve them.
He first ladled a bowl of beef bone broth, then cut a plate of braised platter, then called Megumi, who was still kneading dough, to join them. The three of them gathered at the dining table and began their small meal.
"Are these the oil-splashed noodles you mentioned? Although the ingredients are simple, they look very appetizing!"
Picking up a bowl of the oil-splashed noodles, Rindo carefully examined them, smelling the incredibly rich aroma in the air, her face showing an expectant expression.
"Try them. The taste is even better than they look."
One bite, and the spicy aroma of chili powder, the numbing spice of Sichuan peppercorns, and the pungent aroma of minced garlic perfectly infuse every strand of noodles. You will absolutely fall in love with this flavor!
Okabe picked up his own bowl and said with a smile.
In his previous life, he had worked in the Shaanxi region for two years in takeout, and he had a particular fondness for the oil-splashed noodles there.
Because the ingredients are simple, oil-splashed noodles are usually quite inexpensive, yet they are incredibly filling and burst with flavor.
There was a period when he ate oil-splashed noodles for a month straight without getting tired of them. If it weren't for the fact that a noodle-only diet left him somewhat malnourished, he could probably eat them for a lifetime.
"I'm starting!"
Megumi couldn't hold back any longer, picking up her chopsticks and sending the wide, flat noodles into her mouth.
"Mmm—!"
The moment the noodles entered her mouth, her eyes widened instantly.
First, the complex aroma brought out by the scalding oil aggressively assailed her senses.
The slightly burnt, nose-tickling, intense aroma of chili flakes brought out by the hot oil, mixed with the sweet piquancy of instantly cooked garlic, and the faint numbing tingle of Sichuan peppercorns, burst open by the high temperature, all bloomed in her mouth at once.
And this was only the prelude.
When her teeth bit down, the main melody truly began to play.
The noodles had an oily sheen on the outside due to the oil splash, but inside they retained the inherent chewiness and rich wheat aroma of pulled noodles.
They weren't soft and easily broken; instead, they offered a lively elasticity with every chew.
During the chewing process, it was as if she could feel the subtle energy accumulated when the dough was repeatedly pulled and rested.
Every time she chewed, the sweetness of the wheat itself seeped out little by little, forming a stark contrast with the rich aroma attached to the surface.
'What a rich flavor!'
Megumi mumbled in awe, her chopsticks not pausing for a moment, hurriedly scooping up another mouthful of noodles and stuffing them into her mouth.
Salty, fragrant, spicy, numbing, fresh, and the deep and unyielding sweetness from the wheat.
The seemingly simple oil-splashed noodles had flavors that were not haphazardly piled together, but harmoniously unified, with the noodles serving as an excellent carrier!
"Huh… This bite is truly satisfying!"
Beside her, Rindo was already eating with sweat beading on her forehead and flushed cheeks, yet she paid it no mind, even letting out a refreshing sigh.
"These noodles are really chewy, and the more you chew, the richer the aroma becomes. The chili oil is fragrant without bitterness, the Sichuan peppercorns are numbing without being woody, and the scallion and garlic aromas are also brought out. To achieve this, the temperature of the oil poured at the end must be key, right?"
"You're correct."
"The oil must be hot enough to instantly release the aromas, but not so hot that the spices burn. Pouring the oil three times allows the heat to penetrate layer by layer, letting the flavors seep in more thoroughly."
Okabe nodded, eating heartily as well.
The heat rose from his stomach, making his forehead break into a light sweat, his lips and tongue stimulated by the spiciness and numbness, yet there was an indescribable clarity and refreshment.
"I wondered where that delicious smell was coming from. Turns out you guys were cooking up a storm in the kitchen!"
Just then, there was a stir at the kitchen door.
Soma Yukihira appeared at the doorway, looking at the three of them secretly eating, he couldn't help but exclaim, and upon smelling the aroma in the air, an intoxicated expression spread across his face.
"Give me a bowl too, I'm starving!"
"Ahem, we were just testing the taste of dinner. After all, it's been a while since we made noodles, and serving half-finished dishes to everyone isn't quite right. Speaking of which, didn't you have two classes this afternoon? How did you get back so quickly?"
As if remembering something, he hurriedly diverted his attention.
Given that he had two classes in the afternoon, it should have been dark by his return to Polaris Dormitory. He must have finished his classes early.
"I finished cooking early and came back. After all, there's nothing to do at school. I heard you had a cooking duel with Ikumi Mito in the classroom this morning?"
Soma's expression turned serious.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Remember the uproar a couple of days ago, where someone took over the Vegetarian Research Society through a Shokugeki?"
"I do remember, but why bring him up suddenly?"
His confusion deepened.
"After you defeated that challenger today, that monk took advantage of the class to spread the rumor, claiming your skills were nothing special and you were unworthy of the number one spot on the sequence list. Then, amid the crowd's cheers, he publicly declared war in the teaching building's central plaza, proposing a Shokugeki with you, with the Vegetarian Research Society's venue and an exchange of sequence titles as stakes."
Soma relayed the news he received in the afternoon. He had been present when Shun Ibusaki made those remarks. This was the real reason he'd finished cooking early and rushed back.
He didn't want him to be caught off guard.
"It seems some people don't want you to have it so easy."
Rindo teased, slurping her oil-splashed noodles.
"Finally couldn't hold back? I'm surprised they lasted this long. If it were me, I would have challenged you on the first day."
Okabe didn't react much to her comment.
Being challenged by someone high on the sequence list was completely within his expectations.
After all, no one wants to remain beneath others.
But this guy took so long to finally challenge him to a Shokugeki and put all his chips on the table. He couldn't tell if it was confidence or a lack thereof.
'Monk Shun Ibusaki.'
'I hope your cooking can bring me some surprises.'
The image of the bald man he encountered in the hallway a few days ago flashed through his mind. Okabe picked up a mouthful of noodles with his chopsticks, showing an interested expression.
"But it's a shame. You had a match with Ikumi Mito this morning. I heard the news and went right away, but by the time I got there, you two had already finished."
Soma sat down beside Rindo. Thinking of what he had heard from other students earlier, a look of regret crossed his face.
Because the sequence list is issued by Tōtsuki, it carries immense authority. He also wanted to see how strong Ikumi, who was ranked above him, truly was.
"There's nothing to regret. Before they realize I'm not to be trifled with, there won't be many matches involving me. You can come watch when the time comes."
Hearing Soma's words, Okabe shook his head with a smile and began to think about how to deal with Shun Ibusaki.
From the last Shokugeki, he seemed particularly skilled at vegetarian dishes. According to Hisako Arato, the key to his final victory had apparently been a dried mushroom.
"Do you know anything about Shun Ibusaki?"
Since the information he had was limited, Okabe looked at Soma, Rindo, and Megumi, hoping to get useful information from them.
"This guy has been quite popular at Tōtsuki lately. I heard he defeated the leaders of the Vegetarian Research Society and took over their territory."
"I know the same as Senior Kobayashi."
"I took a class with that guy. His vegetarian cooking skills are quite good. The teacher at the time praised him, calling him the "Revolutionary of Vegetarian Cuisine"!"
At that moment, Megumi weakly raised her hand.
"Without knowing the details, avoiding the battle for now is the best choice. But I know you're not that kind of person. If you want to take action, go ahead. Let those lurking in the shadows see your strength."
As soon as Okabe finished speaking, Erina Nakiri's voice drifted from the doorway.
At the same time, Hisako and Ikaros came in, carrying large and small bags. Erina was also wearing sunglasses, looking like she had just finished shopping.
"You're back from shopping?"
"Mmm, we just strolled around the mall below Tōtsuki and then watched a movie. I don't understand why they would film a scene where the female lead gives up everything for the male lead. Clearly, shining in their respective fields would be a better ending."
Thinking about the content of the movie she watched in the afternoon, Erina placed the things in her hands on the dining table and started complaining to Okabe.
That movie was a very famous romance film that had recently been released, telling the story of a female lead who gives up the opportunity to join a major foreign company for the male lead, choosing instead to live with him.
Although the ending of the story was good, the male lead got everything he wanted through his efforts, eventually opening a company even larger than the foreign company the female lead had been poised to join, and the female lead also gained wealth that would have been difficult to obtain even had she joined that foreign company.
But after watching the movie, she always felt something was amiss.
"What you said is indeed a choice – the best choice for you. But for the female lead in the movie, she might prefer to be a housewife and teach children at home. This is a matter of personal choice."
"You dislike other people's choices only because you want to interfere with them, so don't be sad about the plot in the movie. The characters in it may not necessarily be miserable."
Facing Erina's sudden complaint, Okabe thought for a moment before answering.
"In the end, everyone's definition of happiness is different."
Rindo slurped her noodles and vaguely interjected: "Like this bowl of noodles, some people think that oil-splashed chili is exciting and delicious, while others prefer clear soup. Erina, you are the kind of person who wants to take the path to the extreme, so naturally you can't stand others taking a detour."
Erina was silent for a moment, didn't say more, put down the shopping bag and looked at Okabe: "The other party has declared war in the teaching building, what do you plan to do?"
"Of course, I'll accept his Shokugeki. After all, my purpose in coming to Tōtsuki is to duel with various strong opponents. Avoiding it now would be putting the cart before the horse."
"I knew you would make that choice."
Hearing Okabe's words, Erina showed an expected expression, then wrinkled her nose: "What are you eating? Give me a bowl too."
"Me too!"
Soma also raised his hand at the same time. When he arrived, he'd said he was hungry, but Okabe hadn't moved. Now, seeing Erina speak up, he couldn't help but remind him.
"Wait, I'll make some for you."
"Did you hear? Okabe accepted that demon monk's challenge! The theme is ramen! Ramen? Who proposed the theme?"
"It's said that it was Okabe. When he got the news, he happened to be eating noodles, so he set the theme as ramen."
"..."
"So casual?"
"Normally, the challenged party is at a disadvantage and tends to choose a theme they are good at to increase their chances of winning. But looking at his attitude, it seems he doesn't care much about this Shokugeki, or perhaps he doesn't take this challenger seriously at all…"
The crowd discussed, all abuzz about Okabe and Shun Ibusaki's battle.
The Shokugeki was scheduled for the weekend, roughly three days away. The Shokugeki between the number one and number ten on the sequence list has already become the biggest news at Tōtsuki.
Not only ordinary students, but some high-ranking experts on the sequence list also couldn't help but be curious, deciding to attend and observe the event.
As long as one of them performs poorly, their status will be subject to fierce challenges from others. The law of the jungle is the most fundamental survival rule at Tōtsuki.
"Master, Okabe has accepted the challenge."
Holding the letter in both hands, he ran back to the Vegetarian Research Society. The young monk bowed respectfully before him, placing the letter within his master's reach.
"The theme is ramen?"
Reading the formal Shokugeki document on the letter, it stipulated a Shokugeki duel on Saturday at the Starry Sky, with the Vegetarian Research Society and their sequence list positions as stakes, and signatures below.
"Originally, I was worried about encountering a difficult theme. Since you are actively moving towards my advantage, I will gladly accept the victory of this match."
Picking up a steel pen, he signed his name in the designated section of the Shokugeki document. Shun Ibusaki put his hands together and began to chant, fingers working his Buddhist beads.
For him, who grew up in a temple, noodles were their staple food. Among the dishes he was good at, noodle-related dishes ranked second. Not vegetarian noodles, but genuine meat noodles. After all, his favorite thing in life was to eat meat. Pork, beef, mutton—he accepted them all. The dish he was best at was special roasted meat.
The temple was a solemn place, and he wasn't generally allowed to cook meat in the kitchen, so he could only secretly roast meat in the mountains and forests. Thus, his skill in roasting meat had flourished. The meat he roasted was widely praised among his fellow monks of the same generation.
"Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart!"
"Well said."
________
New Story: Bleach: Dominating Soul Society in One Sting
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