About thirty minutes later.
Megumi Tadokoro's dish was complete.
Lifting the lid of the clay pot, a rich and intense aroma rushed forth, and the others leaned their faces closer.
The surface of the chicken was pan-fried to a scorched yellow, the rice grains were plump and fully absorbed with the broth, while shiitake mushrooms and carrots dotted the surface of the rice, making it look exceptionally appetizing.
She picked up a wooden spoon and gently turned the rice to mix the ingredients more evenly, then served it into five small bowls.
"P-Please taste it."
She delivered the cooked rice (Takikomi Gohan) into the hands of the five people respectively. Her face revealed a look of both anticipation and nervousness, her fingers uncontrollably intertwining.
Okabe was the first to accept the bowl.
He looked at the cooked rice, rich with side ingredients, swallowed his saliva, and scooped up a spoonful to send into his mouth.
The first sensation upon entering the mouth was warmth.
Warmth in the physical sense; the cooked rice and side ingredients radiated heat in his mouth, followed closely by a deeper warmth that could reach directly to the bottom of his heart.
The texture of the chicken was fresh and tender; juice overflowed with a single bite, bringing a strong and powerful sense of satisfaction.
The aroma of the shiitake mushrooms had seeped evenly into every grain of rice, the slight sweetness of the carrots balanced the saltiness of the soy sauce, and every side ingredient had a meaning for its existence.
An ordinary but warm dish.
Looking at this bowl of Chicken and Vegetable Takikomi Gohan in front of him, Okabe felt as if he had been transported into the body of a young man.
After working hard and busily outside all day, full of fatigue and returning home with a rumbling stomach, his wife brought out a bowl of steaming hot cooked rice emitting a rich fragrance.
This bowl of rice was made specially for him by his wife, calculating the time of his return so that it came out of the pot exactly at the moment he entered the door, just so he could eat warm food immediately.
As the food entered his mouth, that young man gradually turned into his own appearance.
And that young girl lighting the fire to cook in the kitchen, washing her hands to make soup for him, who else could it be but Megumi Tadokoro? At this moment, she was sitting at the dining table, looking at him with a beaming smile.
"Such a blissful feeling..."
Okabe opened his eyes, feeling the lingering taste in his mouth, and sighed with emotion from the bottom of his heart.
If one were to marry Megumi Tadokoro and take her home, one should really be able to see such a scene every day. The young girl would become his solid backing, responsible for guaranteeing all his logistics.
That seemed quite nice as well.
In this life, a confidant is hard to find; obtaining a virtuous wife is the ultimate goal of who knows how many people.
"Yeah, it feels like getting hungry in the middle of the night and Grandma getting up to make me a meal. Even though I just mentioned it casually, the elder took it to heart."
"This power of warmth is a feeling unique to Megumi's cooking."
"My body feels all warm and fuzzy, so comfortable!"
As the cooked rice entered their mouths, looks of intoxication appeared on all their faces. That faint warmth spreading from the stomach and gradually extending to the whole body made them very comfortable.
This power was not a strong and powerful impact, but a continuous and lingering baptism. When they came back to their senses, the dishes in front of them had already been eaten clean.
"I was wrong. Megumi, just maintain it as is. You don't need to consider a powerful impact; the advantage of your cooking is precisely this feeling that warms people's hearts."
Shun Ibusaki looked at Megumi Tadokoro, his voice carrying a trace of being moved.
The cooked rice made by the other party brought him not only deliciousness but more of that feeling of being cared for and loved by someone.
Such cuisine was not suitable for major changes; proceeding according to its original trajectory was best.
"That's right. It is precisely because it uses ordinary vegetables that can be bought in the supermarket, and uses cooking methods that every household knows, that it is this warm."
Yuki Yoshino nodded, deeply agreeing.
She looked at Megumi Tadokoro with eyes full of appreciation; she was indeed the woman they had set their sights on.
"Indeed, because everyone has eaten it more or less during childhood, there are memories in that regard... This is precisely where Megumi's cooking is powerful."
Ryoko Sakaki gently put down her bowl and spoon, the look in her eyes as she watched her revealing gentleness: "It doesn't need complex techniques, nor does it need rare ingredients. Simply by serving deliciousness using this family style of cooking, one can harvest that touch of emotion when tasting."
"Is... Is it really that good? I just made it according to the method Mom taught me, and there are many details inside that I haven't figured out clearly..."
Megumi Tadokoro's cheeks burned from everyone's praise, subconsciously thinking everyone was just saying nice things. After all, her cooking had never received so much praise before.
"Good is good. The deliciousness of your cooking comes from your earnestness."
"Because you don't understand how to make it more delicious, you do every step very carefully, throwing your heart and soul into it entirely, your brain thinking uninterruptedly, just to let the fellow tasting it eat even more delicious food."
"This feeling is precisely the root of its warmth."
Raising a hand to gently rub Megumi Tadokoro's head, while the other hand put down the already empty bowl, Okabe looked at Megumi Tadokoro and spoke seriously.
"Then, should I continue to make dishes according to this method next..."
Feeling the warmth coming from the top of her head, Megumi Tadokoro raised her head with a slightly flushed face and spoke hesitantly.
"The degree of earnestness in production must not be lowered, but theoretical knowledge needs to be supplemented. Your cooking has love, but it lacks the most basic things for a chef."
"Wait until you issue the challenge and determine the theme; I will use this as a foundation to guide you. For these next few days, just do your best to absorb the theoretical knowledge I tell you."
Okabe's voice rang out.
Although this had the suspicion of cheating, Megumi Tadokoro was his person. Helping a little meant nothing; having resources and not using them, insisting on struggling alone, would be foolish.
"Me too, me too! I want help too!"
And as his voice fell, Yuki Yoshino ran to his side, blinking her big eyes at him, holding a portion of Sesame Chicken Cutlet in her hands.
"Taste it and give me some advice if you can. This is a wild pheasant caught in the back mountain. I heard from Auntie Fumio that it was released by seniors from previous batches. The flavor is super great!"
Yuki Yoshino spoke excitedly.
"Released wild pheasant? If I'm not guessing wrong, you used the chicken breast part, right..."
"That's right, and it's chicken breast with skin, oh. The fat under the chicken skin is the source of the chicken flavor; the combination of the two tastes super great!"
Looking at the Sesame Chicken Cutlet presented by Yuki Yoshino, Okabe picked up a piece with his chopsticks and placed it in front of him.
The chicken surface was fully coated with sesame seeds, the cut surface hanging with grease and meat juices, emitting the unique flavor of chicken meat, so he sent it into his mouth.
The crispy outer skin emitted a subtle "crackling" sound between his teeth, and the rich sesame fragrance bloomed first.
Closely following was the meat texture unique to wild pheasant, firmer and chewier than ordinary chicken. Under the handling of just the right heat control, it retained bountiful meat juices.
Aside from that.
The chicken was marinated beforehand with ginger, garlic, and a little sake, removing its own gamey odor and retaining the base flavor.
The ratio of coating powder, egg wash, and sesame was controlled quite well; not overly heavy to steal the chicken's main stage, properly undertaking its duty as a supporting role.
However...
"How is it, how is it?" Yuki Yoshino asked impatiently, her eyes sparkling.
Okabe swallowed the food in his mouth and considered his wording: "The basic skills are very solid. With one bite, I can tell your heat control for this dish is quite good."
"The texture of the chicken cutlet is firm and juicy, and the aroma of the sesame is also set off very well—present, but not stealing the wild pheasant's own flavor."
Hearing this, just as the corners of Yuki Yoshino's mouth were about to rise, she heard Okabe change the subject.
"But..."
Okabe tapped the remaining Sesame Chicken Cutlet in the plate with his chopsticks: "You are too obsessed with the concept of wild game."
"Eh?"
Yuki Yoshino was stunned, revealing a puzzled expression on her face.
"To highlight the mountain wilderness flavor of this wild pheasant itself, you deliberately reduced the use of spices, only using basic ginger, garlic, and sake to remove the odor and enhance flavor."
Okabe looked into her eyes: "That's not wrong, but sometimes, contrasting is more important than highlighting. The meat texture and flavor of wild pheasant are indeed unique, but it is essentially still chicken meat. The layers are relatively single, lacking depth—what people often call aftertaste."
Ryoko Sakaki stood aside, deep in thought: "Does Okabe-kun mean... Yuki's dish, although highlighting the original taste of the ingredient, appears somewhat plain because of it?"
"You can understand it that way."
Okabe nodded: "Just like a painting. The main scenery is very clear, but the background is too blank, which instead makes the main scenery appear isolated and helpless."
"The taste of cuisine also needs to have a top note, middle note, and base note—ups and downs, and layers."
"Your Sesame Crispy Chicken Cutlet: the entrance is sesame fragrance and crispiness, followed by the chewiness and original taste of the wild pheasant meat, and then... it comes to an abrupt halt."
Shun Ibusaki tasted a piece and spoke slowly: "Indeed... after eating, all that remains in the oral cavity is the fat aroma of fried food and the lingering taste of sesame. The flavor of the wild pheasant, after a brief explosion for an instant, dissipates very quickly."
"It feels a bit... leaving one wishing for more, or rather, not complete enough. It isn't a complete dish."
Yuki Yoshino frowned, staring at her Sesame Chicken Cutlet, murmuring: "Lacking the thing to unify them... the so-called aftertaste..."
"Perhaps a sauce?" Beside them, Megumi Tadokoro suggested in a small voice: "Or... when marinating, could some layers of flavor be added?"
"Okabe-kun likes to add fruit to dishes very much, because the flavor of fruit can set off the deliciousness of the ingredient itself. In fact, the final taste is also very great."
Okabe looked at Megumi Tadokoro approvingly: "Megumi, you hit the nail on the head."
"Yuki, I don't know if you have thought about adding some ingredients that have a high correlation with them while retaining the characteristics of wild game?"
"For example, the things they eat on the mountain? Wild fruits, fungi, seedlings—these things serve as its main food and will also produce an influence on the flavor of the meat. If you add these when processing, maybe it will have a miraculous effect."
"I understand, thank you, Okabe-kun!"
After listening to Okabe's explanation, Yuki Yoshino's eyes instantly lit up. Subsequently, she opened her arms and hugged him, her small feet jumping up and down, looking extremely excited.
And on Okabe's side.
He only felt a wave of fragrance strike him, followed closely by the softness of the young girl's budding development crashing into him.
Because she wasn't wearing much in the summer, the sensation was exceptionally distinct.
Different from Alice Nakiri's impact.
This kind of seemingly absent yet present feeling made one let their imagination run wild even more.
"I'll go to the back mountain to see if there are suitable herbs or wild berries. It's almost autumn immediately; fungi and such should also be mature."
Releasing the hands holding Okabe's waist, Yuki Yoshino was just about to leave the kitchen when she was grabbed by the collar by him and pulled back in the direction of the kitchen.
"It's late at night, you can't see your fingers in front of you outside. The mountain terrain isn't developed; be careful of accidents happening. Go again when the sky is bright tomorrow; this little bit of time doesn't make a difference."
"Okay..."
Seeing Yuki Yoshino with an innocent expression after being grabbed back by him, Okabe couldn't help but exhort her.
Ryoko Sakaki laughed and teased: "Yuki is still such an impatient person."
"Having enthusiasm is a good thing." Shun Ibusaki said indifferently, his gaze turning to Okabe: "Okabe-kun, I just made Smoked Venison. Do you have any suggestions?"
"And mine!"
Ryoko Sakaki also stepped forward upon hearing this, holding a plate of bright red Rice Bran Pickled Meat (Laozhao Braised Meat) in her hand, looking into Okabe's eyes full of anticipation, wanting to receive suggestions.
They really wanted to improve too much.
"Don't rush, let's take it one by one..."
The next day, the sun rose.
Okabe climbed up very early.
He first accompanied Megumi Tadokoro to the Sequence Office to register the challenge, then went for a morning run back to Polaris Dormitory.
The submitted challenge form would receive a reply within 24 hours. Megumi Tadokoro, as the challenger, gave the main ingredient "Chicken" first, and the opponent would complete the theme of the dish upon seeing the main ingredient.
From this point of view, the Sequence Holder had the advantage.
However, this was also normal. After all, under a situation of complete disadvantage, it was hard for anyone to guarantee they would win every battle, so there was balancing to a certain degree.
"So nervous, is the duel time on Sunday..."
Thinking of the strange look the staff member gave her when leaving the Sequence Office, Megumi Tadokoro felt uncomfortable all over her body, and a hesitant look appeared on her face.
Could she really defeat that guy...
If she lost the competition in the end, wouldn't everyone's encouragement and all the things prepared for her go to waste...
Pressure swept over her silently.
"That's right, the duel time is Sunday."
"As long as you can defeat him, other people won't have time to challenge you again. The list for the Residential Training will be set on Sunday night, and then notifications will be delivered by special personnel."
Okabe didn't notice Megumi Tadokoro's unease, and his voice mildly stated the information he knew.
Tōtsuki had been very lively during this period. No fewer than twenty cooking duels occurred every day, with the main battles concentrated after Sequence 50.
There were those confident in their cooking who accepted three challenges in a row in one day, and there were also those not very confident in themselves who extended the three challenges over a week to fight.
As for losing the match in the competition, they weren't discouraged either; they turned around and went to challenge other Sequence Holders.
Those who could maintain total victory in the subsequent three duels after obtaining a Sequence position were few and far between.
Under this kind of atmosphere, Tōtsuki Academy entered a state of comprehensive combat readiness, so much so that when they came out just now, there were still seven or eight people queuing at the door.
"Don't worry, we have three days to prepare."
Okabe slowed his steps, turning his head to look at the uneasy young girl beside him: "Next, I will tell you the optimal processing methods for ingredients when making the dish you want to make. Of course, the recipe still needs to be thought up by you."
"En! I will do my best!"
Megumi Tadokoro took a deep breath. Thinking of Okabe's support for her during this period, she nodded forcefully.
At the same time, she made up her mind in the bottom of her heart.
No matter what, she could not let him down!
When the two returned to Polaris Dormitory, a fragrance was already drifting out of the kitchen.
"Megumi! Okabe-kun! You're back?"
Yuki Yoshino was wearing an apron, busy in front of the stove. Something was stewing in the pot, bubbling with "gudu gudu" sounds. Hearing the movement at the door, she immediately turned around.
After seeing it was Okabe and Megumi Tadokoro.
She stepped forward in surprise and grabbed Okabe's hand, pulling him to the cooking station: "Come look quickly! I tried to improve it last night according to the line of thought you mentioned!"
She lifted the pot lid as if presenting a treasure.
The rich aroma of fungi mixed with the slight tart sweetness of some kind of berry rushed forth.
The soup presented a mellow brownish-red color. One could see chicken cut into chunks and various mountain fungi floating and sinking in the soup, looking exceptionally alluring.
"This is... stewed using wild pheasant, mountain fungi, and wild berries? It's a bit like Chick and Mushroom Stew, but because of the addition of wild berries, there's a considerable difference."
Okabe leaned in to take a look; the layers of aroma were indeed much richer than yesterday.
"Correct!"
"I went to the back mountain early in the morning and found chanterelles and matsutake, and also this kind of fully ripe purple-black wild berry!"
Yuki Yoshino excitedly scooped up chicken mixed with soup using a ladle, blew on it, and handed it to Okabe's mouth with a slightly flushed face, speaking eagerly:
"Taste it!"
Okabe didn't stand on ceremony and swallowed it in one bite.
The umami of the fungi and the just-right fruit acidity of the wild berries perfectly seeped into every fiber of the chicken meat, bringing a composite flavor like the mountain forest wilderness.
He felt as if he had become a pheasant, running constantly in the forest, eating wild fruits and fungi when hungry, drinking morning dew and mountain river water when thirsty.
This free and unfettered feeling wasn't bad either.
"How is it?"
Yuki Yoshino held her breath, her expression expectant.
"Not bad."
Okabe opened his eyes, nodding affirmatively: "After adding fungi and berries, the wild flavor wasn't covered up; instead, it was set off to be even more three-dimensional."
"Great!"
Hearing his explanation, Yuki Yoshino was so happy she almost jumped up. After working hard for so long, she finally obtained Okabe's approval!
Ryoko Sakaki and Shun Ibusaki walked over upon hearing the voice.
Shun Ibusaki held a small saucer containing a few pieces of dark red Smoked Venison. The grain was distinct, and the surface glowed with an oily luster.
"Okabe-kun, I adjusted the proportion of wood used for smoking and added a little applewood. Try it? And the special sauce Ryoko made to coordinate with me."
Hearing this, Ryoko Sakaki handed over a small bowl containing a dipping sauce she had newly mixed. It seemed to have been blended using Miso and some kind of citrus fruit juice; the aroma was unique.
"Hmm, let me taste it..."
The morning at Polaris Dormitory began in this focused and enthusiastic atmosphere of cooking discussion.
For the next few days, excluding class time, Okabe stayed in the kitchen almost the entire time. Erina Nakiri also came a few times and offered them some opinions.
The precision of the dishes produced by the group also rose rapidly during this process.
Thursday noon, Megumi Tadokoro received the theme for this Sequence Battle: "Parent and Child Cuisine" (Oyakoryori), in which the main ingredient to be used was the "Chicken" she had chosen.
Thursday afternoon, Ryoko Sakaki defeated her opponent with "Rice Bran Pickled Meat Rice," obtaining Sequence 94.
Friday morning, Yuki Yoshino obtained victory in the competition relying on "Forest Hundred-Flavor Chicken," guarding the position she had worked hard to obtain.
Friday afternoon, Shun Ibusaki went to participate in the competition, using "Red Wine Smoked Gamey Venison" to defeat his opponent with a score of 2:1.
Saturday morning, Zenji Marui challenged Sequence 89 and was defeated again. He gave up thoroughly, choosing to retreat to the second line to provide a theoretical foundation for Megumi Tadokoro's cooking duel.
Also Saturday morning, Ryoko Sakaki accepted a challenger's challenge and won the match with "Sour Cabbage White Meat Pot," defending her position.
At this point.
Everyone else's matches had ended.
Only Megumi Tadokoro's cooking duel remained unfinished.
Therefore, everyone's attention was concentrated on her. This also caused her pressure to multiply, making frequent mistakes when producing dishes.
"Alright, everyone scatter and go back to rest. The rest depends on Megumi."
Looking at Megumi Tadokoro who made frequent mistakes and finally revealed a cramped expression, Okabe finally reacted, so he turned his head and said to the others.
With them here, Megumi would only feel pressure.
"Okay, happen to be sleepy anyway."
"Megumi, you rest early too. Only by conserving strength and storing up energy can you compete well."
"Good luck, Megumi! We will cheer for you tomorrow. Don't have too much pressure; just trying your best is enough."
Reminded by Okabe, the others obviously realized this point too. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they chose to leave. The huge kitchen very quickly had only Okabe and Megumi Tadokoro remaining.
"Okabe-kun..."
After the kitchen quieted down, Megumi Tadokoro put down the kitchen knife, her hand trembling slightly due to pressure. She looked at the carrots on the cutting board that were cut crookedly because she couldn't hold the knife steadily, her eye sockets becoming a bit red.
Why did she always drop the ball at critical moments?
"I... I'm too useless..."
Her voice carried a bit of choking: "Everyone is improving, only I..."
"Because you are bearing the greatest pressure."
Okabe walked to her side, gently taking the kitchen knife from her hand, his tone gentle yet firm: "Because you are the last one, and also because your opponent isn't simple."
He turned to wash his hands clean, took a fresh chicken leg, a few fresh shiitake mushrooms, and some carrots and onions from the refrigerator, and placed them on the chopping board.
"Megumi, look at me."
Okabe's voice was calm and steady: "Cooking is not a performance, but a transmission."
"Right now, your head is full of 'can't lose, losing will let everyone down,' but you forgot why you want to stand here, forgot what you want."
Megumi Tadokoro raised her head, looking at Okabe through teary eyes. At this moment, he was skillfully deboning the chicken leg, the blade wandering fluently between meat and bone.
"You challenging him was never to prove anything, but to obtain an opportunity, an admission ticket to keep up with everyone's footsteps."
Okabe spread the deboned chicken leg meat flat on the chopping board, gently patting it with the back of the knife: "This determination is more important than any technique."
The chicken meat became soft and even under the patting.
He fetched green onion, ginger, soy sauce, and mirin, mixed them into a sauce according to ratio, and put the chicken meat in to marinate.
"The opponent chose Parent and Child Cuisine as the duel theme. On the surface, it refers to the pairing of chicken and egg, but the reason on a deeper level is probably the parent-child relationship."
Okabe spoke while taking out eggs and beating them with chopsticks: "The emotions of thinking for you from the bottom of the heart when family members make cuisine, those things carried within the taste, are what you need to convey."
Megumi Tadokoro stared blankly at Okabe's movements.
He started the fire to heat the pan, poured in a little peanut oil, and placed the marinated chicken meat into the pan skin-side down.
Amidst the "sizzling" sound.
The aroma of chicken meat gradually permeated the air.
"But... my cooking is really too ordinary..."
Megumi Tadokoro lowered her head, her expression dejected: "I can't utilize mountain ingredients flexibly like Yuki, nor do I have Ryoko's creativity, and even less of Ibusaki's professional smoking technology..."
"What's wrong with ordinary?"
Okabe flipped the chicken in the pan, allowing both sides to heat evenly: "The vast majority of people in this world eat ordinary meals every day. To make ordinary ingredients into a taste that makes people happy is actually the hardest thing."
After the chicken was pan-fried until golden yellow, Okabe took it out and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Leaving the base oil in the pan, he poured in the sliced shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and onions to stir-fry. Wait until the vegetables softened and released fragrance, then added the washed rice to stir-fry together.
"Your advantage has never been those techniques, but lies in that sincere heart."
Okabe transferred the fried rice and vegetables into a clay pot, added a little high stock, and spread the cut chicken meat on top.
"You pour your heart and blood into every step of your cooking, deeply afraid of not doing well enough somewhere. This kind of cautiousness has instead become the most moving part of your cooking."
Covering with the pot lid, he adjusted to low heat to simmer slowly.
Okabe washed his hands clean, then turned to look at Megumi Tadokoro: "Now, forget everything about tomorrow's competition. Forget the Sequence, forget the upcoming Residential Training. You only need to think about one thing—"
Pausing, he continued: "What do you want the person tasting your cooking to feel?"
Megumi Tadokoro gazed blankly at Okabe. In those earth-yellow eyes that always contained unease, at this moment, there was only the young man's serious and certain face.
"I..."
She opened her mouth, a thought subconsciously surfacing in her mind: "I want... want him to be able to feel warmth from the bottom of his heart when eating the food."
"Just like... just like after being busy for a day, finally returning to a place where one can relax. Not long after sitting down, family members serve a bowl of steaming hot rice."
Her voice gradually became firm, those distracting thoughts that had troubled her for a long time seeming to be peeled away bit by bit.
"When I was little, every time Mom made Chicken Takikomi Gohan, it was when the weather turned cool, or when someone in the family was very tired."
"She said, the fragrance of chicken and rice, added with the sweetness of vegetables, boiled into a pot, steaming hot, can chase away the cold air and unhappiness on a person's body."
"What I want to make... is exactly this kind of dish!"
Megumi Tadokoro's expression suddenly became determined, her gaze looking tightly at Okabe.
Okabe's mouth raised upon hearing this. He released the hand pressing on her shoulder and turned to look at the clay pot nearby.
"That's right."
The aroma of rice mixed with the fragrance of chicken and fungi was already drifting out in wisps from the edge of the pot lid; the entire kitchen was lingering with this scent.
He raised his hand to check the time, then turned off the fire.
Lifting the lid, he poured the stirred egg liquid evenly into it, then covered the lid to braise for five minutes.
"Remember this feeling, Megumi."
"Tomorrow when you stand before the cooking station, only hold these words you just said in your heart. Clear the opponent, the competition result, and everything else from your brain."
"You only need to think about how to use the ingredients before your eyes to convey that warmth belonging to family in your heart, exactly as it is, to the judges."
He revealed the pot lid. White steam rose with a "poof," blurring vision for a moment.
After the steam dispersed, the scene in the pot made one's index finger move (stimulated appetite).
The rice had fully absorbed the amber-colored soup, sticking together with golden egg threads, every grain plump and oily.
Golden chicken chunks, brown shiitake mushrooms, orange-red carrots, and a few shredded onions dotted within, looking exceptionally appetizing.
Okabe took a wooden spoon to mix the rice and dishes evenly, scooped out a small bowl, and handed it to Megumi Tadokoro, a faint smile hanging on his face:
"Taste and see how the cooked rice I made tastes."
"Okay." Megumi Tadokoro accepted it. Feeling the warmth coming from the bowl wall, and with the aroma of cooked rice wafting to the tip of her nose, her stomach uncooperatively cried out "gulu gulu."
Without hesitation, she picked up the spoon and scooped a spoonful, gently blew on it, then sent it into her mouth.
Warmth.
As always, warmth that spread from the tip of the tongue to the stomach, then diffused to the limbs and bones.
The chicken was tender and smooth, the shiitake mushrooms soft and glutinous, the clear sweetness of the carrots neutralized the salty freshness of the soy sauce just right, and the rice perfectly carried the essence of all ingredients.
Clearly a simple taste, yet the layers were distinct; every mouthful was solid and satisfying.
But this bowl of "Chicken and Vegetable Takikomi Gohan" reproduced by Okabe seemed slightly different from what she made.
Besides that familiar sense of warmth belonging to "Home," she also tasted an extra kind of firm and steady strength.
That was not a showing off of technique, but more like a silent support and affirmation.
As if there was a person standing behind her, saying gently to her: "Just like this, that's right, you did very well. Just continue to work hard according to your own rhythm."
Tears surged up without warning, falling "patter patter" into the bowl.
"Okabe-kun..." Megumi Tadokoro choked with sobs, forcefully wiping her eyes: "I, I seem to understand."
"It's good that you understand."
Okabe gently patted her head.
"Rest well tonight, don't think about anything."
"I will help you prepare the freshest ingredients for tomorrow. You only need to remember this feeling, then express everything you want to express in the cooking."
Megumi Tadokoro nodded forcefully, holding that bowl of rice, eating it small bite by small bite but firmly until finished.
The warm current coming from her mouth not only warmed her body but further drove away the haze and timidity occupying her heart for many days, making her become brave.
"For real? Isn't that guy a dead last? On what basis can she defeat Fujiwara!"
"Could there be a fix (black curtain)? I was assigned to the same cooking classroom as her before; at that time, her cooking was criticized by the subject teacher for inaccurate grasp of flavor."
"This is too exaggerated..."
"A dead last being able to defeat a Sequence List member—if there isn't a fix in here, I'll eat it!"
In the sky.
The names of Megumi Tadokoro and Takumi Fujiwara appeared on the big screen.
The score of 3:0 appeared exceptionally glaring.
Twenty or thirty spectators sat sparsely offstage; most were guys who came to catch a glimpse of the genius cooking of the Sequence List and wanted to learn techniques from it.
A small portion of Polaris Dormitory members sat in the front row.
"Great, Megumi did it."
Successfully winning this match meant they could continue to participate in the Residential Training together tomorrow!
Yuki Yoshino excitedly grabbed Okabe's arm and shook it, happy for Megumi Tadokoro from the bottom of her heart.
"Indeed, we have company now."
Ryoko Sakaki also revealed a smile. She had always believed Megumi Tadokoro would win, but when truly seeing this scene, she still couldn't help but be happy for her.
It was just that the surrounding voices were really a bit piercing to the ears.
"Really noisy..."
Shun Ibusaki frowned slightly, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd whispering in twos and threes behind him: "A win is a win, a loss is a loss. The result is right before your eyes; do you still want to use past impressions to negate the present?"
Okabe didn't speak, only quietly gazing in the direction of the cooking station.
There, Megumi Tadokoro was lowering her head, carefully tidying up her kitchenware.
She seemed to haven't completely broken away from the taut state of the competition. Her shoulders were shrunk slightly, but her spine was straightened straight, and the corners of her mouth were raised unnaturally.
"Let me taste your cooking. Even if I lose, let me lose understanding clearly."
Looking at the score on the big screen, Takumi Fujiwara's face was somewhat pale. Subsequently, he came before Megumi Tadokoro and looked at the considerable amount of cooked rice remaining in the clay pot.
"Okay, please wait a moment."
Hearing Takumi Fujiwara's request, Megumi Tadokoro hurriedly took a bowl. Not holding it steadily, it fell onto the chopping board, making a crisp sound; this also made her face turn red.
It took a good while before she picked up the bowl again, scooped a bowl of steaming hot cooked rice, and handed it to Takumi Fujiwara with both hands. Subsequently, she hung her head, somewhat afraid to look at him.
"No need to be like this. Raise your head; let me remember who the person that defeated me is. Having lost means I lost; I won't refuse to admit it."
Noticing Megumi Tadokoro's small movements, Takumi Fujiwara revealed a bitter smile. To actually be defeated by this kind of underachiever, he didn't know which link had gone wrong.
He held the bowl, his gaze falling on that plain and unadorned Chicken and Vegetable Takikomi Gohan.
No complex plating, no dazzling decorations. It looked just like a dish that would appear on the dinner table of any ordinary household.
He picked up the spoon, scooping up a spoonful and sending it into his mouth.
In that instant, Takumi Fujiwara's eyes opened slightly wide.
Warmth.
A kind of simple warm current that reached straight to the heart dissolved in his mouth.
The chicken was soft, tender, and flavorful; the aroma of shiitake mushrooms seeped into every grain of rice; the sweetness of carrots and the slight pungency of onions were perfectly balanced; the egg liquid wrapped around the rice grains, bringing a smooth texture.
But this was not merely taste.
With the chewing, a deeper emotion diffused in his chest.
Many scenes seemed to flash before Takumi Fujiwara's eyes.
The back figure of his mother wearing an old apron in the winter night, busy in front of the stove.
After his father passed away, that dining table that always appeared empty and cheerless, and the glint of tears that flashed in his mother's eyes when he first tried to replicate "Vegetarian Braised Pork"...
In this bowl of cooked rice, there was the scent of home.
Not an exquisite and perfect home, but that home with regrets, with cracks, yet still striving to fill them with warmth.
Takumi Fujiwara lowered his head and ate another mouthful.
This time, he ate very slowly, as if he wanted to taste the flavor of every single grain of rice thoroughly.
The surrounding clamor gradually went far away. Only that plain and tough warmth in his mouth was flowing quietly, moistening his heart that had dried up because of his mother's illness.
"I understand." He gently put down the spoon, raised his head, and looked at Megumi Tadokoro with a complex gaze: "What you made... is the taste of support."
Megumi Tadokoro froze for a moment, looking at him at a loss.
"My cooking is made for Mom to eat, wanting to make her happy, wanting her to feel that hard days also have sweetness."
Takumi Fujiwara's voice was very light, carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling: "But your cooking is made for family members. It's the kind where no matter how tired or difficult it is outside, returning home and eating this bowl of rice allows one to have the strength to stand up again and continue working hard."
He paused, revealing a bitter yet relieved smile: "I lost, lost with heartfelt admiration."
"My cooking wants to give warmth, while your cooking is becoming warmth itself. In this portion of Chicken and Vegetable Takikomi Gohan of yours... there is the 'backbone' of a home."
These words made the surrounding whispering voices come to an abrupt halt.
Those few students clamoring about a "fix" looked at each other, speechless for a moment. The few people from Polaris Dormitory looked at each other and smiled, their eyes all carrying gratification.
Megumi Tadokoro's cheeks were red like a fully ripe apple. She waved her hands frantically: "N-No, I'm not as amazing as Student Fujiwara says... I just, just wanted to make a meal that can make people full and feel a bit warmer..."
"That is enough!"
Takumi Fujiwara said seriously: "Really, this is enough. Congratulations, Student Tadokoro; this Sequence position is yours."
He extended his hand.
Megumi Tadokoro hesitated for a moment, then also extended her hand which was still trembling slightly, and shook his gently.
On the big screen.
Megumi Tadokoro's name formally replaced Takumi Fujiwara, ranking at Sequence 98.
____
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