Chapter 178: Unreliable Cerberus
Tadokoro Megumi stood frozen in place, her hands trembling slightly as they clutched her apron. Her golden eyes were wide, the pupils dilating in a mix of shock and disbelief.
The world seemed to have stopped spinning. The ambient noise of the classroom—the bubbling pots, the clattering knives, the whispers of other students—faded into a dull hum. All she could hear was the echo of the judgment that had just been passed.
An 'A'.
She, the "Dunhil" of the academy, the girl perpetually on the brink of expulsion, had received an 'A'.
"E-Eh?" A strangled sound escaped her throat. "M-Me? An A?"
She looked around frantically, half-expecting to see another student standing behind her, the real recipient of the grade. But there was no one. Just the empty station and the half-eaten rice ball sitting on the plate.
Ren, leaning casually against the counter with his hands in his pockets, smiled gently. The sunlight streaming through the window caught the soft curve of his lips, making him look less like a strict judge and more like a supportive neighbor.
"Of course what I said is true, Tadokoro-san," Ren said, his voice calm and grounding. "You don't need to doubt your ears. I have no intention of showing favoritism, nor do I hand out praise where it isn't due. Your dish earned it."
He turned his head slightly, looking at the blonde girl standing beside him with an air of regal expectation. "Erina, why don't you try it too? Tell us what the God Tongue thinks."
Erina Nakiri, the possessor of the divine palate, crossed her arms. Her expression was one of skepticism, her eyebrows arched high.
"A commoner's rice ball?" Erina scoffed lightly, though there was no malice in her tone, only ingrained elitism. "Although dishes made by students are usually riddled with flaws... very well. Since Ren-san recommends it."
She reached out, her manicured fingers delicately picking up the triangular mound of rice. It was still warm.
Erina took a small bite.
Crunch.
The sound of the crisp nori seaweed breaking gave way to the soft, yielding texture of the rice.
Erina prepared herself to list the faults. The water-to-rice ratio, the uneven salt distribution, the temperature of the filling. But as she chewed, her eyes widened slightly.
It wasn't technically perfect. Far from it. The rice was perhaps a second overcooked. The shaping was a bit loose.
But... it was warm. Not just in temperature, but in feeling. The saltiness wasn't aggressive; it was soothing. The sour plum filling burst with a refreshing tartness that cut through the starch, cleansing the palate and inviting another bite.
It tasted like... care.
"Eh?" Erina murmured, looking at the rice ball in her hand with confusion. "It's... surprisingly good."
She took another bite, chewing thoughtfully. "Although there are more than twenty small technical issues—the grain consistency varies slightly, the nori could be crisper—and a few structural flaws... for a student, it captures the essence of the ingredient. Getting an A is... acceptable."
Tadokoro Megumi stared at the two deities of the culinary world in absolute disbelief. The Shopkeeper from the Dimensional Restaurant and the God Tongue herself had both approved of her cooking.
"You believe it now, right?" Ren asked, noticing Megumi's continued paralysis. He gestured to the remaining rice balls in the bamboo basket. "Just by looking at this rice ball, anyone can tell that you treat your ingredients with respect. You pour your heart into the process. That is a talent that cannot be taught."
He leaned in slightly, his tone serious but kind. "From now on, just cook like this. Don't try to be someone else. Be Tadokoro Megumi."
Megumi felt tears pricking the corners of her eyes. She nodded blankly, her voice lost in her throat.
"I... I will! Thank you, Ren-sensei! Thank you, Erina-sama!"
Ren picked up the bamboo basket and set it aside, saving two wrapped rice balls. "Alright, I've saved two for you. I don't know what the fillings are—maybe salmon or kelp—but they should be just as delicious. Finish your breakfast and go to class. If this was your assessment, you've passed. Go back and rest."
After giving the stunned girl a final encouraging nod, Ren turned and walked toward the exit, with Erina and Hisako following close behind.
It is worth mentioning that Erina, despite her initial critiques, had finished the entire rice ball. Every last grain.
None of the three paid much attention to Tadokoro Megumi's expression as they left. That is simply the way of the world. You can offer a hand to pull someone up, and they may be willing to take it, but there is no need to linger and hold their hand forever. Knowing the result—that she had found her confidence—was enough.
The hallways of Totsuki Culinary Academy were vast, resembling the corridors of a European palace rather than a high school. The floors were polished marble, reflecting the high, arched ceilings.
Ren walked with a relaxed stride, stretching his arms above his head as they moved away from the cooking sector.
"So," Ren began, breaking the comfortable silence. "Erina, do you think that rice ball would have been even better if you had made it?"
Erina flipped her hair, her confidence instantly returning. "Of course! That's a given. No matter what, I certainly wouldn't have made those structural errors with the filling. The balance of acidity in the plum would have been calibrated to the microgram."
"What about the rice?" Ren asked casually.
Erina blinked, stumbling slightly in her step. "The rice? Well, the rice just needs to be steamed normally, right? High-quality grain, proper water ratio, standard cooking time."
Hearing this, Ren smiled and shook his head.
Erina and Hisako exchanged puzzled glances. Their culinary education, elite as it was, focused heavily on the complexity of flavors—the sauces, the proteins, the spices. The starch was often seen as a vessel.
"Whether a rice ball is delicious mainly depends on whether the filling is good, right?" Erina argued, frowning. "That's the centerpiece."
"Is it?" Ren stopped walking and turned to face them. They were now standing in an open-air breezeway connecting the main building to the garden grounds. The wind rustled the nearby trees.
"So, Erina, you still have a long way to go," Ren said softly. "Tell me, what is the name of this dish?"
"It's called an Onigiri... a rice ball!" Erina replied, confused.
Ren didn't say anything immediately. He just looked at her with a gaze that said, 'I've given you the answer, figure it out.'
Erina furrowed her brows, her mind racing through her encyclopedia of culinary knowledge.
Hisako, standing a step behind, suddenly gasped. Her eyes lit up with realization.
"Shopkeeper Ren," Hisako ventured cautiously. "Do you mean that... precisely because this dish is called a 'Rice Ball,' the rice itself is the protagonist? That it is the most important element?"
Ren smiled and nodded approvingly. "Hisako gets full marks."
He looked back at Erina. "This dish is called a rice ball. It is defined by the rice. It is made by pressing rice. The warmth, the air between the grains, the salt on the surface that hits the tongue first—that is the soul of the dish."
Ren gestured with his hand, simulating the shape. "If you really only wanted to eat the filling, then you might as well make a dish composed entirely of the filling. You could make sashimi, or a salad, or a stew. But you didn't. You made a rice ball. If the rice is just a 'standard' vessel, treated as an afterthought, then the first big bite is just... bland starch waiting for the filling."
Erina stood there, stunned.
She imagined biting into a rice ball where the rice was just "standard." Then she imagined a rice ball where the rice had been washed, soaked, and cooked to bring out its maximum natural sweetness, seasoned perfectly with salt while hot.
"If the rice is perfect," Erina murmured, "then even without filling, it would be delicious."
"Exactly," Ren said, resuming his walk. "Don't let the complexity of high-end cuisine blind you to the fundamentals, Erina."
Erina fell silent, deep in thought. Her culinary worldview, built on luxury ingredients and complex techniques, was being gently dismantled and rebuilt by this mysterious shopkeeper.
Hisako walked beside her, acting as a silent guide, ensuring Erina didn't walk into a pillar while she was lost in contemplation.
They exited the building and stepped out into the expansive campus grounds. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of cut grass and distant pine. Totsuki was truly massive; it felt less like a school and more like a small city-state dedicated to food.
As they strolled along a paved path lined with manicured hedges, Ren suddenly paused. He tilted his head, listening to a rhythmic sound echoing in the distance.
Thump... Thump... Thump... Swish.
"Eh?" Ren looked toward the source of the sound. "Hisako, does Totsuki actually have a basketball court?"
Hisako followed his gaze, shielding her eyes from the sun. "Yes! There are several sports facilities near the western dorms. But... well, Miss Erina and I don't play sports, so we've never actually been there."
Ren nodded slowly. He looked down at his clothes—loose trousers and a comfortable shirt. Perfect for movement.
A smile, different from his usual polite shopkeeper smile, spread across his face. It was the grin of someone itching for activity.
"In that case," Ren declared, cracking his knuckles. "I know where I should spend some more time today."
Hisako tilted her head, her ponytail swaying. "Eh? Shopkeeper Ren, are you going to play basketball?"
"That's right," Ren laughed. "It's a good way to pass the time while we wait for the Old Man. And besides, I can also tease those rascals if they show up."
"Eh? Rascals?" Hisako blinked. "Do you mean... Ryota Kise?"
"Hisako is very smart!" Ren gave her a thumbs up. "Want to play together?"
Hisako was clearly tempted. She looked at her own hands, then at Erina. "But... Shopkeeper Ren, we don't know how to play basketball. We've only ever seen it on TV. We can barely bounce the ball..."
Erina also came back to her senses, nodding seriously. "Physical education at Totsuki focuses on endurance for standing in kitchens, not... ball games."
Ren waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry. Everyone starts from zero. It's a small problem. I'll teach you."
Seeing the genuine enthusiasm in Ren's eyes, the two girls didn't refuse. In fact, they were quite interested. They recalled that when they were at Inui Hinako's Restaurant previously, Ren and Ryota Kise—the famous model and basketball player—had spent hours talking about the sport.
Ren, usually so gentle and quiet, became passionate and talkative when discussing basketball. It was a side of him they rarely saw, and they were eager to experience it firsthand.
While Ren was preparing to conquer the court, a tragedy of navigation was unfolding on the other side of the campus.
"Cerberus... who exactly are you looking for?"
Lucifer, the Queen of Hell, was currently being dragged across a gravel path by a triple-bodied demon dog. Her high heels were clicking furiously against the stones, and her pristine white suit was in danger of collecting dust.
Cerberus showed no sign of stopping. Her three bodies moved with chaotic energy, pulling Lucifer along like a kite in a hurricane.
"Nene!" The Left Cerberus shouted.
"Nene!" The Right Cerberus echoed.
"Kinokuni Nene!" The Middle Cerberus finished triumphantly.
"Nene? Kinokuni Nene?" Lucifer frowned, trying to recall the name from their previous visits.
"Mm!" The three heads nodded in unison.
Lucifer remembered the bespectacled female student with the dark braids. She was a very quiet girl, perhaps a bit too serious, radiating an aura of traditional Japanese austerity. She also recalled Cerberus mentioning that Kinokuni Nene had shared some homemade dried fruits with her before—a bribe that had evidently won the gluttonous dog's loyalty.
"Do you know where she is?" Lucifer asked, trying to plant her feet to slow them down.
Cerberus stopped so abruptly that Lucifer nearly bumped into her.
"I know! I know! I know!"
The exclamation rang out in a perfect, chaotic triad. It wasn't just a repetition; it was a chorus of overlapping voices, each head eager to prove its competence.
"Because Nene told me last time that if I came again, I should go straight to the Soba Research Society!" The Middle Cerberus declared proudly.
Lucifer sighed, adjusting her sunglasses. "The problem is... do you actually know where that Research Society is?"
The silence that followed was deafening.
The three heads looked at each other. Then they looked at the sky. Then they looked at a nearby tree.
"I don't know!" The chorus rang out again, this time cheerful and completely unbothered by the failure.
Lucifer stood there, completely stunned.
What?
She had been dragged along for twenty minutes, running resolutely toward a specific direction, assuming this dog had a destination. And now she was being told that they were just running around aimlessly based on vibes?
"You..." Lucifer covered her face with her hand, a groan escaping her lips.
She shouldn't have trusted Cerberus. She should have known better. She should have stayed with Ren. Ren never got lost. Ren always knew where the food was.
Now, she didn't even know where Ren was. The campus was a maze of buildings and forests.
"We are lost," Lucifer muttered, looking at the endless rows of trees. "I am the Queen of Hell, and I am lost in a high school cooking academy."
Just as Lucifer was struggling with the existential dread of navigation, Ren had already taken over the outdoor basketball court.
The court was surrounded by chain-link fences and greenery. It was currently empty, likely because most students were in class or slaving away in kitchens.
Ren had shed his outer formality and was moving with fluid grace.
Thud. Thud. Swish.
The ball left his fingertips, arcing perfectly through the air before snapping the net with a satisfying sound.
"Alright," Ren said, catching the rebound. "That's a jump shot. Now, you two try dribbling."
He handed the ball to Erina.
The God Tongue looked at the orange sphere as if it were an alien artifact. She gingerly bounced it. It hit her foot and rolled away.
"It... it's harder than it looks," Erina admitted, blushing furiously.
"Use your fingertips, not your palm," Ren instructed, walking over to guide her hand. "Control the bounce. Don't slap it."
After teaching Erina and Hisako the basic mechanics—how to stand, how to push the ball down, how to shoot without throwing it like a medicine ball—Ren let them practice on the side hoop.
The two girls really got into it. Although they looked clumsy, moving stiffly in their school uniforms, they were incredibly serious. Hisako was determined to master the dribble, her face a mask of concentration. Erina was trying to calculate the trajectory of a layup using physics equations in her head.
Ren stepped back to the main hoop. He set up his phone on a bench, propping it up to record.
"Time for some warm-ups," he muttered to himself.
He exploded into motion. A crossover dribble, a drive to the paint, and a powerful leap. He slammed the ball through the hoop with a one-handed dunk that shook the backboard.
CLANG!
Erina jumped, startled by the noise, then looked over. Her eyes widened as she watched Ren move. He was fast. Powerful. Completely different from the calm, methodical chef she knew.
She glanced at Hisako, who was also watching with admiration.
"He's... quite athletic," Erina noted, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead.
"Yes," Hisako agreed breathless. "Very."
They continued to play, the sound of laughter and bouncing balls filling the air. It had been a long time since Erina had played like this—freely, without the pressure of being the Director's granddaughter or the God Tongue.
However, the peace didn't last long.
The sound of the dunking and the sight of two beautiful girls playing basketball had begun to attract attention. Students passing by on their break slowed down. Whispers started to spread.
Ren stopped his dribble, sensing the change in atmosphere. He looked toward the entrance of the court.
"Eh?" Ren blinked, holding the ball under his arm. "The basketball court seems to have a lot of people today..."
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]