The wind was clear, and the moon was bright.
The Izakaya at night was always hard to leave!
"Shopkeeper."
"We should head back now."
Tadokoro Megumi saw that it was getting late, so she could only get up and pay the bill.
She wasn't like Rindo, who came to the Izakaya almost every day, but her two visits here had been incredibly beneficial.
After all, in the realm of cooking, Sosuke was truly far, far superior to her, often possessing very unique insights and understanding.
Sometimes.
Deep down, she admired Sosuke greatly.
She thought if she had his strength, why would she worry about the assessments after school started?
But she also knew that this was an unrealistic and naive idea; the only thing she could do was try her best, and then leave the rest to "Heaven"!
"Alright!"
"Be careful on your way."
Sosuke collected the money and nodded in response.
Finally, the three girls from Polar Star Dormitory left together.
As he watched the figure with the blue twin braids gradually disappear from his sight, Sosuke's heart began to flow like clear water, gently trickling through his mind.
"What's wrong?"
"They've gone quite far, and you're already missing them?"
Just then, Rindo quietly came to his side.
Seeing that his eyes were still fixed on the hazy figures in the distance, she said speechlessly.
"Hmm?"
"Are you jealous?"
Hearing this, Sosuke turned his head slightly and asked with a chuckle.
"Hmph!"
"Would I be jealous over such a small thing?"
Rindo's cheeks were slightly red, and then she deliberately turned her head away, muttering softly, "I mean, an Izakaya generally wouldn't make a French dish that takes 2 hours, right?"
"At first, I was a bit puzzled, but then I thought about Tadokoro Megumi's current predicament and realized that you wanted to use this dish to help her regain confidence?"
After speaking, her sharp eyes fixed intently on Sosuke.
Her intuition told her that this Burgundy Beef Bourguignon, like the toast, tofu dregs, and rice bran made into three Western-style fast foods last time, had the same purpose.
They both wanted to help Erina and Tadokoro Megumi get out of their predicaments.
Sosuke rubbed his nose, sighing that she was indeed the Second Seat of the Elite Ten; her sixth sense was truly terrifying.
"Yes."
"That was one of the purposes."
"But a more important reason is that I know that in her first class after school starts..."
"The assessment she faces is this French dish, Burgundy Beef Bourguignon!"
Finally, Sosuke's eyes flickered a few times, and he said lightly.
"Ah?"
"You can even foretell the future?"
Hearing such a clumsy reason, Rindo rolled her eyes in annoyance, then put on a look that clearly said, "If I believe you, I'm a fool!"
"Believe it or not."
Sosuke shrugged, unconcerned.
...
"But."
"Why?"
"Whether it's Erina or that seemingly naive Tadokoro Megumi, you always help them through cooking?"
"Clearly... they're not worth you doing that!"
Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke.
Rindo couldn't deny that she was deeply attracted to Sosuke because of his gentleness.
This former five-star hotel chef could abandon everything without hesitation and then single-handedly run a small Izakaya.
And when facing those confused and lost diners, he would always use cooking to help and comfort them!
She just couldn't understand why he insisted on doing this?
"Rindo."
"What is your reason for liking the profession of a chef?"
Sosuke lowered his head, looked at Rindo, and then calmly asked in return.
The sudden question made her tremble slightly, and then she stammered in reply, "Nothing, I just purely like it! There's a saying, isn't there, that interest is the best teacher..."
"Hmm!"
"Interest is indeed one thing."
"But I feel that when I'm cooking, I can control everything in the kitchen."
"Then I slowly enjoy the sense of accomplishment when each dish, under my methodical arrangements, becomes a finished product fresh out of the oven."
"Finally, seeing every customer eat the dishes I made completely clean."
"Then, for me, that's the best response. And after having the Izakaya, cooking is even more of an enjoyment for me."
"So."
"In my eyes."
"If cooking cannot bring happiness to people, then what is the meaning of being a chef?"
Listening to Sosuke's words, Rindo was stunned for a long time.
...
"Hmph!"
"Always just talking big."
"Cooking is cooking, why so many grand theories?"
Cooking.
It can express emotions.
In this world, many people can accompany you to a restaurant, but those willing to cook for you are few and far between.
And as a seasoned foodie, Rindo deeply understood this truth.
Whenever she felt down, she would temporarily gain joy and happiness through "eating"!
Therefore, regarding the meaning of a chef, which is the value of making people happy through cooking, she fully agreed.
At the same time.
She seemed to have a deeper understanding of Sosuke.
One must know that in the current era of cooking, although countless geniuses have emerged, driven by greed, it has long become rotten and unbearable.
Otherwise, the WGO Gourmet Organization wouldn't hold the THE BLUE Chef Championship once a year.
They want to select truly hopeful chefs who can lead a new era from the younger generation through this kind of competition and contest.
But it was clear that none of these young chefs who could gain Nagiri Mana's approval existed. In the end, she became especially disappointed with the entire culinary world.
She then turned to place her hopes in the dark culinary world, ultimately sparking the Midnight Chefs incident!
Perhaps.
In this world.
There might or might not be young chefs who can rival Sosuke.
But at this moment, Rindo was firmly convinced.
In this era, which urgently needs a leader to change the culinary world, Sosuke will absolutely be the chef who thoroughly changes the culinary world; he is the light that can illuminate a new era!
"What's wrong?"
"Why are you staring at me again? Have my good looks charmed you again?"
Seeing the dazed Rindo, Sosuke couldn't help but laugh.
"Stop being so conceited."
"I just think your cooking..."
"Even if it can bring happiness to people, what then?"
"In this situation where everyone focuses on profit and desire, your so-called persistence is nothing but a joke!"
"Just like Erina said, you open an Izakaya, and you don't think about making money all day; what's the difference between that and being a fool?"
Rindo's pretty face flushed, then she pouted and snorted coldly.
----------------------------------
I've already uploaded over 40 new chapters on Patreon!
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead, feel free to check it out.
Your support truly means a lot to me!
patreon.com/Kazenova223
Thank you so much for being here!
And if you're having fun with the story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone for me!