Home Economics Room.
Yukino Yukinoshita, already clad in a kitchen apron, used a rubber band to tie up her black hair, which usually cascaded loosely.
Since cookies required baking time, the four unanimously decided to teach Yui Yuigahama how to make cookies first, and then teach Ren Katsuragi how to make yakisoba.
Neatly arranging the necessary ingredients and cookware on the table, Yukino took an egg from the carton and lightly cracked it against the edge of the bowl. Her skilled movements were pleasing to the eyes of Yui and Hachiman Hikigaya standing beside her.
"Yuigahama-san, after this is done, it's time to whisk. Remember, you must keep whisking in the same direction."
Holding the whisk, Yukino mixed the egg liquid in the bowl while explaining the precautions to Yui.
At this moment, Yui looked at Yukino with admiring eyes, just like a good student listening to a lecture. For every sentence Yukino spoke, she nodded her head once.
As for whether she actually understood, only she knew.
After piping simple shapes of five-pointed stars and small circles for the cookies using a piping bag, she sent the tray into the oven.
While waiting for Yukino's handmade cookies to bake, Yui also began to make her own.
"First, crack the egg into the bowl..."
Yui imitated Yukino, cracking the egg against the bowl's edge. Due to using too much force, the egg cracked directly in half, and the egg whites and yolk slid right out—missing the bowl completely.
What a car crash of a scene.
"Do you need me to do anything?" Hachiman, who had been watching the show from the back, asked.
Dreaming of becoming a househusband in the future didn't mean Hachiman was competent for the position right now. Regarding teaching Yui to bake cookies, he could only stare helplessly from the side.
Shifting his gaze to Ren nearby, Hachiman felt a stir of intention; he knew how to cook noodles. However, just as he was about to make a move, he was intimidated into silence by a look from Ren.
"Hikigaya, do you know how to make yakisoba?"
Standing behind Yui and teaching her hand-in-hand how to crack an egg, Yukino looked at Hachiman and asked.
If Hachiman knew how, then while she was teaching Yui, letting Hachiman teach Ren how to cook noodles wouldn't be a bad idea.
"No."
Hachiman shook his head.
"Then Hikigaya, you can just be a taste tester later. I'll teach Katsuragi-kun myself."
Yukino didn't see Ren narrowing his eyes at Hachiman behind her. Assuming Hachiman genuinely didn't know, she arranged the job of taste tester for him.
"It's okay, Yukinon. I remember the steps after this. You go teach Ren-chan."
Remembering that Ren was a client just like her, Yui looked at the egg liquid she had whisked herself in the bowl, rolled up her sleeves, and spoke with full confidence.
Seeing Yui so confident, Yukino felt assured enough to let her act freely.
"Katsuragi-kun, the most important point of yakisoba is balancing the sauce."
"We can use yakisoba sauce—coat everything evenly at the end, and it'll bring out the aroma."
Heating the wok and oil, once the oil was hot, Yukino added the minced meat and began stir-frying. As soon as the meat loosened and browned, she added the vegetables and continued to toss them together.
When the ingredients were cooked through, she added the noodles and poured in the pre-mixed sauce, quickly stir-frying until everything was evenly coated. A strong, savory aroma filled the air.
Ding—
The cookies in the oven were done. Wearing a pair of thick oven mitts, Yukino took out the cookies she had put in earlier, and similarly put the cookies Yui made into the oven.
The freshly baked cookies were still steaming slightly, and the unique scent of malt reached their noses.
"It looks so delicious."
Yui looked at the tray of cookies with shining eyes. She had a premonition that the tray of cookies she made would look just like this later.
Crunch—
Yukino took one first to taste. The cookie was very crispy and crumbled upon biting; it could be said to be perfect.
"Yuigahama-san, have a taste. And Hikigaya and Katsuragi-kun too." Stepping aside, Yukino signaled everyone to have a taste.
Yui, who had been eyeing them greedily for a long time, was the first to pick one up and put it in her mouth. "So yummy..."
Hachiman was the second to grab one. After eating a cookie, he didn't forget to grab one for Ren as well.
"Delicious."
"Not bad."
Both gave corresponding praise.
Yukino didn't forget her commission because of this and continued teaching Ren how to make yakisoba.
"Katsuragi-kun, remember to loosen the noodles before adding them to the pan, and keep the heat high so they don't turn soggy."
Perhaps Yukino felt Ren was the type of young master who never touched spring water with his ten fingers (never did housework), so she thoughtfully reminded him of the most basic common sense.
"Mn, mn. Okay."
Without any rebuttal, Ren was obedient to an outrageous degree at this moment.
The wok was hot. Just as Yukino was about to put the noodles in, Ren spoke up. "Yukinoshita, could I trouble you to put in a bit more?"
Yukino, who had only set aside a small portion of noodles, paused, then prepared a bit more to add in.
Serving the yakisoba into four bowls, Yukino thoughtfully prepared a portion of yakisoba for everyone present.
"Yukinon, so amazing."
Yui became Yukino's little fangirl.
Hachiman looked at the noodles in his hand, then at Ren; he felt something was wrong.
Ren didn't speak, just slurped noodles.
Not enough after eating, he ran to the pot to add a bit more.
Ding dong—
Yui's tray of cookies was done. Unable to wait, Yui stood up and ran toward the oven.
Stare...
Stare...
Lowering her head and scratching it...
Looking at the pieces of burnt, unidentifiable objects on the baking tray... Yukino and Hachiman were communicating frantically with their eyes. A guilty Yui picked up a "cookie" and looked at it again and again.
She muttered, "I followed the steps Yukinon taught me. Why is it different from what Yukinon made?"
Ren said nothing, still slurping noodles.
"Hikigaya, if you please."
Pointing at the cookies Yui made on the table, Yukino singled Hachiman out.
It was agreed before that Hachiman would be the taste tester; now it was time for him to perform.
"Is this thing really edible?"
Observing the cookie in his hand that didn't look like a cookie, Hachiman asked uncertainly.
"Hikki! What do you mean?"
Yui wasn't happy. Her cookies just looked a little black; why couldn't they be eaten?
Taking a cookie, Yukino put it in her mouth and chewed. After chewing twice, she pulled out a tissue and calmly spat the cookie into the tissue.
Seeing Yukino eat it, Hachiman had to grit his teeth and eat it, but he spat it out as soon as he ate it.
"Ren Katsuragi, have one?"
Thinking he shouldn't be the only one to suffer, Hachiman, filled with malice, picked up a cookie and walked toward Ren, who was still eating noodles.
"Mn, thanks." Taking the cookie, Ren ate it expressionlessly.
"Ren-chan..."
Seeing Ren didn't spit it out immediately, Yui looked expectant.
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