Chapter 143: Inui Hinako and the Tastes of Perfection
"Ryota, you've improved a lot."
Ren stood on the court, holding the orange basketball easily in one hand. He looked down at Ryota Kise, who was currently sprawled on the asphalt, his chest heaving as he tried to suck in enough oxygen to reinflate his lungs.
Ren tossed the ball gently. It bounced once and rolled to a stop beside Kise.
Kise waved a hand weakly, his face glistening with sweat. "No more... no more. Playing with Brother Ren is no fun at all. It's like playing against a wall that hits back."
Ren smiled, offering a hand to pull the younger man up. "That's because your physical fitness is still lacking compared to your talent. You rely too much on explosive bursts. You need to train your endurance harder. Among you five... well, six guys, you seem to have the worst stamina, right?"
Kise groaned as he got to his feet, wiping his face with his jersey. "I don't know about the worst... but Aomine is lazy, so maybe I can beat him in a marathon. Let's play and see."
"Maybe that's why you and Shintaro don't have much to talk about," Ren teased lightly. "He is all about consistency."
Kise's mouth twitched. He looked away, clearly not wanting to discuss the eccentric shooter of the Generation of Miracles.
Ren checked the time. "Let's go. Change clothes, shower, and then eat. Cerberus has been waiting patiently."
He turned to the bench where the white-haired girl was kicking her legs. "Cerberus, what do you want to eat?"
"Meat!"
The answer was immediate and enthusiastic.
"Okay," Ren nodded. "Just a moment. It'll be quick."
"Mm!"
Just as Ren promised, men shower quickly. Within fifteen minutes, the two of them emerged from the locker rooms, fresh and changed back into their street clothes.
When they walked out, they found Cerberus staring intently at another court nearby. A group of middle schoolers were playing a messy game, but her eyes were locked onto the ball as it arced through the air.
Ren watched her gaze follow the moving orange sphere. It was the look of a cat tracking a bird.
"Cerberus," Ren called out softly. "Snap out of it. Let's go eat."
Hearing his voice, Cerberus turned her head instantly. The trance broke. She ran over and grabbed Ren's hand, lacing her fingers through his.
"Food!" she chirped.
Ryota Kise watched them from the side, shaking his head with a mixture of admiration and envy. "What a pro," he muttered to himself. "Brother Ren really has it all figured out."
Walking down the street, the trio attracted a fair amount of attention. Two handsome men—one cool and refined, the other sunny and model-like—flanking a striking, exotic beauty. It looked like a scene from a trendy drama.
However, Kise didn't feel like a main character. He felt like a third wheel. A very hungry third wheel.
Cerberus was clinging to Ren's arm, and Ren was listening to her chatter with a gentle smile. Kise felt a phantom stomachache that had nothing to do with basketball.
I feel like I'm eating dog food, Kise thought, using the slang for public displays of affection. And I haven't even had lunch yet.
"Ren, Ren, Ren!" Cerberus asked, tugging his sleeve. "What are we going to eat?"
Ren tapped his chin, thinking. "If Cerberus wants to eat meat, and I remember Ryota, you seem to like Gratin Onion Soup, right?"
Kise perked up. "Yes! You remembered!"
"Then we can't go to an ordinary small shop," Ren mused. "We need somewhere with a bit more... finesse."
After a moment of thought, a memory surfaced. He had seen a feature in a culinary magazine recently about a traditional Japanese restaurant that was experimenting with fusion dishes.
"Hmm! I got it," Ren smiled. "Let's go to that Restaurant. Rumor has it that it's very impressive. It's nearby."
"Ren's cooking is the best!" Cerberus declared loyally.
"I agree with what Sister Cerberus said," Kise chimed in. "But if Brother Ren recommends it, I'll try it."
"Sister Cerberus?" Ren raised an eyebrow, looking at Kise.
Kise just gave Ren a strange, knowing smile and a thumbs up. "Don't worry about it."
Ren was stunned for a moment, then gave Kise an annoyed look. He decided he didn't have the time or energy to explain the complex dynamics of his household to the basketball player.
[Location: Misty House (Kiri-no-Ya)]
The restaurant was a beautiful example of traditional Japanese architecture, set slightly apart from the bustle of the main street. It was quiet, serene, and currently, devoid of customers.
In the main dining hall, Nakiri Erina sat at the table closest to the entrance. The "God Tongue" was in her element. Three distinct dishes were placed before her, awaiting judgment.
Hisako Arato, her loyal secretary, stood silently beside her, holding a clipboard and a pen, ready to record every syllable.
Standing in front of Erina was a beautiful woman with long dark hair tied back in a ponytail. She wore a traditional kimono apron and had a gentle, slightly air-headed demeanor that belied her terrifying culinary skills.
Inui Hinako.
"Thank you so much, Erina," Hinako said, clasping her hands together and smiling warmly. "But is it really okay for Erina to come here this early? Don't you have school?"
Erina shook her head, her golden hair swaying. "Senior Inui, you worry too much. Compared to those ordinary restaurants, your place has a higher priority. After all, if it's too late, the ingredients won't be fresh. This also happens to be the last tasting for today."
Hinako breathed a sigh of relief. "Mm, then thank you, Erina. Later, make sure to note down all the shortcomings. The God Tongue's evaluation is very important! I need to crush—I mean, surpass—my competitors."
Erina ignored the slip of the tongue. "Then, the tasting of the three new dishes begins. Let's start with this Housho Yaki..."
The waiter next to Hinako immediately picked up a pen. Hisako prepared to write.
Erina picked up her chopsticks and took a small, precise bite of the fish wrapped in paper. She chewed slowly, her eyes closing in concentration.
"Hmm," Erina began, her tone professional. "The heat is controlled very precisely. However, there's one gram too much salt. And a bit too much black pepper; white pepper would be much better for this delicate fish. The meat was marinated five minutes too long, and the flavor is a bit too heavy, overpowering its original taste."
She pointed with her chopstick.
"The sauce is fine, but next time you could use green lemon. Yellow lemon is a mistake here; it's too sweet. Besides that, the vegetables are not up to standard. Seasonal vegetables would be best!"
"Senior Inui, you made this dish, right?" Erina asked, opening her eyes. "It's excellent, no major problems. It can definitely be a new signature dish."
Hinako nodded vigorously. "I thought about this sauce for a long time. However, there are still quite a few problems to iron out. So next up is this Lotus Steamed Dish. This was made by the sous chef."
Erina looked at the Lotus Steamed Dish. It was a beautiful mound of white, garnished with colorful vegetables, steaming gently. In terms of presentation, it could get a perfect score. The plating and appearance were both very refined.
She took a bite.
"Hmm?"
Erina froze. She didn't swallow. She didn't speak. She just sat there, maintaining her posture, her expression unreadable.
The sous chef, standing nervously in the background, puffed out his chest. "It seems she's impressed by the lily root I meticulously prepared..."
Erina suddenly looked up. Her violet eyes were sharp, dangerous.
Just as she was about to speak, a gentle male voice drifted from the entrance of the restaurant.
"The lily root was processed too much and became too tough. Besides that, the fish paste was too mushy, allowing ingredients like shredded wood ear mushrooms to overpower the main texture."
Everyone froze. They turned towards the door.
"And..." the voice continued calmly, "the taste of that last dish... it should be bitter, right?"
At the door stood Ren, flanked by a tall blonde man and a white-haired girl. Ren was looking at the dish on Erina's table with a calm, analytical gaze.
The sous chef frowned, his pride stung. He marched forward. "Sir! Do you know what's going on here?! Also, this place is closed for business this morning!"
Because it looked like they were there to cause trouble, Inui Hinako also frowned slightly. "Sir, I'm sorry, but we're not open this morning. And we already have a taster here. If you want to dine, please come in the afternoon."
Cerberus growled low in her throat. Seeing someone dare to be rude to Ren triggered her guard dog instincts. She stepped forward, her eyes flashing.
Ren placed a hand on her head, calming her instantly. He smiled at Erina.
"Erina, be careful not to cry from the bitterness later~"
Erina's eyes widened. She grabbed a napkin and spat the food out elegantly but urgently. "Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!"
She glared at the sous chef. "That gentleman is right! Why did you arbitrarily dry ginkgo and lily root into powder?!"
Inui Hinako was stunned. She looked at the sous chef, who had just realized his mistake.
"After drying, it becomes very bitter," Hinako scolded. "A little is fine, but how much did you put in?"
"He put in the normal amount," Ren answered for him, walking closer. "But dried powder concentrates the flavor. Erina, is your tongue okay?"
Erina drank a glass of water quickly to wash away the taste. Then she stood up, her face lighting up with surprise.
"Shopkeeper Ren! How did you come here! Oh! And Cerberus!"
"Erina! Hisako!" Ren waved.
Inui Hinako and the others were stunned. Hinako paused slightly and asked doubtfully, "Eh? Erina, do you know this gentleman?"
Erina nodded, somewhat excitedly. "Of course! Shopkeeper Ren is a very amazing chef. His dishes are flawless and have an addictive magic. My grandfather is also a regular customer of his~"
Inui Hinako was slightly surprised. She looked at Ren with new respect. To be praised by the God Tongue...
"I apologize for my rude attitude just now, Mr. Ren," Hinako bowed slightly. "But... how do you know the problem with this dish without tasting it?"
"It's nothing," Ren shrugged modestly. "You look with your eyes, smell with your nose. Cooking emphasizes color, aroma, and taste. You can tell a lot from the appearance and smell before eating. Taste is just verification and enjoyment."
He looked at Erina with a teasing smile. "Erina, you still have a lot to learn."
"Yes!" Erina responded automatically, like a student scolding by a favorite teacher.
Inui Hinako looked between them, intrigued. "Then Mr. Ren... this dish..."
"The creativity of this dish is very good," Ren admitted. "It can save ingredients. After solving the problems I mentioned, just change the type of fish. This fish is not suitable for making into fish paste. If you change it to Flying Fish, it would be better. It can definitely be a signature dish."
The sous chef put away his arrogance, nodding repeatedly and letting out a long sigh of relief. He had been saved from a harsher critique.
Ren looked at Erina and smiled. "I didn't expect such a coincidence. I originally saw this place in a magazine and wanted to come for lunch with my friends. But since there's a private tasting going on, we'll leave first. Sorry to interrupt."
He turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Inui Hinako's voice stopped him.
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