Chapter 238: Shion: Kirari, you tricked me!
There are simply too many types of sausages in the world. Just in the vast lands of China alone, there are countless varieties to be found. Whether it is traditional, sun-dried pork links bursting with savory fat or innovative creations like delicate fish sausages, humanity possesses astonishing talent and boundless imagination for culinary research.
If we were to discuss the absolute most peculiar among them, the white sausage undeniably deserves a place in the world's top five.
The white sausage, or Weisswurst, is simply too strange.
First and foremost, the translucent casing must be completely removed before eating. However, that isn't even the strangest part. The preparation itself dictates that it must be served completely immersed in a steaming bath of hot water.
Who could possibly understand that at first glance? Someone unfamiliar with the dish might look down at their plate and genuinely believe they have been served a bizarre, chunky bowl of soup.
Corresponding to this highly unorthodox presentation is the utterly bizarre texture and taste of the meat. To the uninitiated palate, it is every bit as peculiar as the intensely aromatic Tom Yum soup enjoyed just prior.
[Akarin's Note: Tom Yum (Tom Yum Goong) is a famous Thai hot and sour soup. The authentic flavor profile relies entirely on 3 essential aromatic herbs: fresh lemongrass, raw galangal (a sharp, citrusy root similar to ginger), and kaffir lime leaves. It is a masterpiece of balancing spicy, sour, savory, and sweet notes in a single, explosive bite.]
Yet similarly, once you finally acclimate to the shocking initial impact, the subsequent deliciousness becomes entirely irresistible.
The very moment the delicate casing is sliced and peeled away, the inside reveals itself to be as breathtakingly soft as dough. It is so incredibly tender that it threatens to crumble at the mere touch of a silver fork.
Made entirely from pure, high-quality minced veal, the sausage strictly avoids artificial nitrites for color preservation. This is precisely why it appears so distinctively pale and white. During its meticulous preparation, various earthy seasonings are folded into the meat, along with a vibrant splash of fresh lemon zest, sharp minced onion, and fragrant parsley.
Because of this intense aromatic profile, most people trying it for the very first time find the overwhelming burst of herbal flavor almost unbearable.
However, the magic happens in the pairing. One might add a little smear of traditional sweet mustard, or perhaps choose the rich black pepper sauce usually reserved for premium steaks.
Sweet, spicy, salty, and intensely fragrant, it creates a completely unique sensation on the tongue. It undeniably tastes like rich meat, but it possesses the impossibly smooth, yielding texture of dough. It is an absolutely excellent, mind-bending sensory experience.
At this exact moment, Eishi Tsukasa sat quietly alone at a polished mahogany dining table. He was fully immersed in enjoying this wonderful texture and taste.
[Akarin's Note: Eishi Tsukasa is a major character from Food Wars! (Shokugeki no Soma). He is the 1st Seat of the Elite Ten Council, known as the 'White Knight of the Table' (Schwertleite) due to his absolute dedication to bringing out the pure, unadulterated essence of his ingredients, completely erasing his own 'ego' from the dish.]
His silver knife glided effortlessly through the delicate meat, cutting off a small, steaming piece of white sausage. With practiced, elegant precision, he placed the soft morsel gently atop a slice of perfectly toasted, golden-brown French toast.
A thousand people, a thousand faces; a thousand people, a thousand tastes. Different people have wildly different preferences. Naturally, everyone's point of culinary enjoyment is uniquely their own.
For Eishi, the thrill lay in the contrast. The buttery, resounding crunch of the French toast perfectly elevated the velvety, crumbling softness of the veal. He closed his eyes, stripping away his own ego to allow the pure, unadulterated voices of the ingredients to echo within his mind.
Eishi Tsukasa appeared exceptionally quiet at this moment.
He didn't make a single sound as he chewed. Not speaking while eating is a universally good habit, but for him, it was a sacred ritual. Quietly enjoying one's feast and paying absolute respect to the ingredients guarantees an elegant end to an elegant beginning.
Meanwhile, miles away in a lavishly decorated private dining room at the World Gourmet Organization headquarters, Nakiri Mana and the other elite Book Masters had received Courage's frantic, glowing message.
[Akarin's Note: Courage and Rantabi are First-Class Book Masters (Inspectors) for the World Gourmet Organization (WGO) from Food Wars!.]
Acting on that passionate recommendation, they had immediately ordered the kitchen to prepare the dish in question. As requested, they were currently eating a masterfully recreated Coconut Chicken Hotpot.
[Akarin's Note: Coconut Chicken Hotpot (椰子鸡) is a famous specialty from Hainan and Shenzhen. The broth is made entirely of fresh, sweet coconut water. The chicken is boiled in this pure water, resulting in an incredibly tender, sweet meat that is then dipped in a special sauce made of soy sauce, calamansi lime, chili, and sand ginger.]
Decora and the others were trying this specific flavor profile for the first time. They carefully lifted the tender pieces of chicken from the gently bubbling, fruit-infused broth before dipping them into the sharp, citrusy soy sauce.
They all nodded in synchronized approval, finding the refreshing, sweet-and-savory balance quite good. However, they couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of confusion. It certainly wasn't as mind-blowingly outrageous as Courage had described in her text.
After all, Courage had emphatically stated that they had greedily drunk absolutely all of the broth, fighting over the very last drop.
Nakiri Mana sat at the head of the table, her exquisite features veiled in a shadow of melancholy. She looked down at the pale, perfectly cooked piece of chicken resting in her porcelain bowl. Slowly, she let out a long, quiet sigh.
Her 'God Tongue' analyzed every single molecule of the dish in a fraction of a second, determining it to be a technically flawless dish prepared by world-class chefs. And yet, it felt utterly hollow. It lacked that transcendent, soul-shaking warmth that only one person could provide.
"Sure enough, Ren-sensei's cooking is still infinitely better," Mana murmured softly, her eyes distant with yearning. "Although this is not bad either... it's just a hollow imitation."
The few other Book Masters at the table silently nodded in solemn agreement.
Without comparison, there is no harm. Some things in this world are simply so extraordinarily excellent that you can profoundly sense their unmatched quality even without seeing them in person. The sheer gap between a master chef and Ren's divine touch was an insurmountable chasm.
However, they knew they couldn't waste food. It was still important to enjoy the present moment, even if their hearts ached for the real thing.
Across the glowing neon skyline of the city, the atmosphere was considerably more relaxed inside the sprawling, ultra-luxurious penthouse belonging to the Sōryūin family.
"Hmm? Akemi? You're still awake?"
Sōryūin Shion sat elegantly on a plush velvet sofa, wearing a set of incredibly sheer, midnight-blue silk pajamas that clung to her mature curves. She held a crystal glass loosely in her hand, having been in the middle of a lively chat with Amou Kirukiru.
[Akarin's Note: Sōryūin Akemi's older sister is Sōryūin Shion, the chairwoman of Kōyō Women's Academy, where the girls attend.]
[Akarin's Note: Amou Kirukiru is a major character from the Armed Girl's Machiavellism series. Known as the "Empress," she is a transcendent, terrifyingly powerful martial artist whose physical presence commands absolute fear and respect from anyone in the room.]
Shion paused mid-sentence, looking toward the heavy mahogany door with a distinctly puzzled expression as Sōryūin Akemi suddenly poked her head into the room.
Akemi was glowing with a light sheen of sweat, her breathing slightly elevated from exertion. She clutched her phone tightly to her chest and looked around nervously before whispering, "Just now, my friend told me they've already returned home safely from Brother Ren's shop..."
Shion blinked, swirling the remaining liquid in her glass. She nodded slowly. "Those Kōyō Women's Academy students, right? What's wrong?"
"Why are you specifically telling me this? If they want to come over to play tomorrow, you really don't need to ask for my permission."
Akemi shook her head vigorously, her long dark hair swaying behind her. She bit her lip, her expression turning slightly conflicted.
"That... Gina just called to say they'd arrived home," Akemi stuttered, her eyes darting toward the imposing figure of Kirukiru lounging nearby. "And then she added... she added... that I should know who to tell Kirari-nee..."
Upon hearing that specific, dreaded name, Sōryūin Shion's posture immediately stiffened. She pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out a deeply exhausted sigh.
"I understand," Shion said, her voice laced with an impending headache. "Akemi, go back and rest."
"You're probably not going to school tomorrow, right? You look completely drained."
"Yes!" Akemi's demeanor instantly brightened at the mention of her physical condition as the fitness fanatic within her took over.
"After finishing the specialized workout plan Brother Ren gave me, I don't feel any negative discomfort at all! Instead, I can actually feel that my muscle fibers have been torn and trained just right."
She flexed her slender arm proudly, admiring her own bicep. "The pump is amazing!"
"So, tomorrow morning, I definitely want to try exercising a completely different muscle group. I'm thinking lats and deltoids!"
Shion smiled warmly at her sister's endless enthusiasm. "Alright, alright."
"Just don't overdo it. Go back to sleep."
"Okay! Good night, Sister! Good night, Kirukiru-jie!"
After cheerfully saying that, Sōryūin Akemi spun on her heel and fled down the hallway as if escaping a predator's den.
Amou Kirukiru stretched her long, powerful legs out across the carpet, a thoroughly amused, predatory smirk playing on her lips. She rested her chin in her hand, her piercing eyes locking onto Shion.
"Well, well," Kirukiru said playfully, her voice a low, teasing purr. "Then you'd better go chat with Kirari~"
"I won't disturb the bloodbath. Do you have any red wine lying around?"
Shion waved a dismissive hand toward the far wall. "In the wine rack by the window. You can look for the decanter and pour it yourself, they should all be right nearby."
Kirukiru chuckled, rising gracefully to her feet. The sheer, overwhelming pressure of her martial aura faded slightly as she turned her back, leaving the room in search of a vintage Pinot Noir.
Only after Amou Kirukiru had completely left earshot did Sōryūin Shion release a heavy, ragged breath. She steeled her nerves, unlocked her phone, and tapped the contact name that always brought trouble: Momobami Kirari.
The other side seemed to be eagerly waiting for her exact move. The call didn't even ring a full second before it was answered instantly.
In the heart of the Momobami Clan's impenetrable estate, the atmosphere inside the grand master bedroom was thick with an intoxicating, heavy tension.
[Akarin's Note: Momobami Kirari is the main antagonist of the Kakegurui series. She is the 105th Student Council President of Hyakkaou Private Academy and the absolute head of the Momobami Clan, a powerful conglomerate of elite families.]
Momobami Kirari sat gracefully on the edge of her massive, silk-sheeted king-sized bed. She was dressed in a pristine, silken nightgown that draped loosely over her lithe frame. Her icy blue eyes sparkled with a dangerous, calculating amusement as she held the phone to her ear.
At the foot of the bed knelt Igarashi Sayaka.
[Akarin's Note: Igarashi Sayaka is Momobami Kirari's fiercely loyal secretary. She is deeply infatuated with Kirari, dedicating her entire existence to serving and protecting the Student Council President.]
Sayaka's breath hitched softly in her throat, her face flushed a deep, feverish crimson. Her slender fingers were coated in warm, fragrant massage oil, trembling slightly with absolute reverence as they glided up the smooth, porcelain expanse of Kirari's bare calves.
Every stroke of Sayaka's hands was agonizingly slow and deeply passionate, her thumbs pressing firmly into the soft muscles of her President's thighs. It was an act of complete, utterly devoted worship. Sayaka's heart pounded violently against her ribs as she desperately mapped every inch of Kirari's flawless skin, entirely submissive to Kirari's silent commands.
Kirari didn't even glance down at the secretary eagerly servicing her legs. She casually swirled a half-empty glass of dark red wine in her free hand, a serene, chillingly beautiful smile gracing her lips.
"Eh? It seems like they've arrived home safely~" Kirari purred into the receiver, her voice dripping with artificial innocence.
On the other end of the line, Sōryūin Shion heard that melodious, utterly remorseless voice and felt a massive headache immediately bloom behind her eyes.
"You really have a lot of leisure and elegance, don't you?" Shion grumbled irritably. "You specifically had Akemi pass a message to tell me to find you."
"Just spit it out. What exactly do you want to say?"
Sayaka's thumbs pressed deeply into the sensitive flesh behind Kirari's knee. Kirari let out a soft, pleased hum, sending a fresh wave of dark scarlet rushing to Sayaka's ears.
Kirari smiled, leaning back against the plush velvet headboard. "Eh? Did little Akemi somehow understand that she was supposed to find you?"
"How strange."
Shion's brow furrowed in deep confusion. She gripped the phone tighter. "Eh? What are you playing at?"
"You specifically had Akemi's friend tell Akemi to pass on a message, and it wasn't to find me? Then who on earth did you want to find?"
Kirari took a slow, deliberate sip of her wine. The corners of her lips curled upward into a terrifying, triumphant crescent.
"Kirukiru~"
The moment she heard that sing-song pronunciation of 'Kirukiru', Sōryūin Shion felt an intense, freezing tingling sensation erupt across her scalp.
Even through the phone, Shion could vividly picture the scene. She seemed to clearly see Kirari casually leaning on her luxurious bed, smiling into her phone while looking down at her perfectly manicured legs. She could imagine Kirari holding that cursed glass of red wine, looking exactly like a beautiful, venomous snake that had just discovered a delicious, trapped mouse.
Shion stood up sharply, pacing the length of the Persian rug as her voice rose defensively. "What Kirukiru are you talking about? Kirukiru isn't here with me right now."
"Ah? Is that really so?" Kirari's voice lowered an octave, practically vibrating with sadistic glee. "Are you absolutely sure about that?"
Sōryūin Shion's forehead broke out in a light, nervous sweat. She swallowed hard, trying to force her voice to remain perfectly steady. "Of course I'm sure!"
"Why in the world would I fool you about something like this? If Kirukiru were actually here, I would have dragged her along and gone to find Ren long ago~"
In fact, Sōryūin Shion's terrified guess about the atmosphere on the other end was entirely correct.
At this exact moment, Sayaka was whimpering softly, fully abandoning herself to the intoxicating sensation of giving Kirari a deeply intimate leg massage. Kirari smiled down at her fiercely loyal pet and swirled her glass of red wine, completely undisturbed by Shion's desperate lies.
Kirari shifted her weight slightly, causing Sayaka to gasp and tightly grip her master's thigh. Kirari smiled sweetly into the speaker.
"Then, Sister Shion~" Kirari drawled out the honorific like a taunt. "Shall we make a little bet?"
"How about we wager a simple cup of coffee?"
Hearing that painfully standard, innocent-sounding 'cup of coffee', Sōryūin Shion's mouth twitched violently.
Although she didn't have much free time to actively participate in their massive group chats, she occasionally lurked and chatted a bit. Because of this, she knew very, very well the terrifying meaning behind Kirari's specific phrasing. Whenever Momobami Kirari suggested betting a 'cup of coffee', it meant she had already calculated every single variable.
It meant she was absolutely, one hundred percent sure to win.
Sōryūin Shion stopped pacing. Her mind raced at lightning speed, desperately analyzing the board.
Think, Shion ordered herself. Anyway, she has absolutely no solid evidence.
She's miles away in her estate, and she couldn't possibly come over here to check. All I have to do is firmly hold my ground and insist Amou Kirukiru isn't here!
This time, she absolutely had to win! Apparently, Shion hadn't lost any less before in these psychological duels, and her pride was on the line...
Sōryūin Shion exhaled a long, heavy breath, finally feeling her racing heart begin to settle. She smiled smugly.
"Okay, you're on. Kirukiru is indeed not at my house..."
"Eh? Sister Shion~" Kirari interrupted sharply, her tone abruptly slicing through the air like a guillotine. "Why did you just sigh in relief?"
Shion froze. Her blood ran instantly cold. She desperately scrambled for an excuse.
"What? Can't I just be exhaling smoke from my cigarette?"
"Oh? Yes, yes, of course," Kirari chuckled darkly, a sound that promised absolute destruction. "By the way... did I happen to tell you that when Akemi went to see you just now in your room, I didn't let her hang up the phone?"
Shion's breath completely stopped.
"So..." Kirari's voice dropped to a terrifying whisper. "Kirukiru-jie. Good night."
Sōryūin Shion instantly got full-body goosebumps. The hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up.
Kirari was simply too dangerous. She was too impossibly good at reading people's minds, tearing apart their mental defenses with just a few carefully placed words. Shion had walked right into the invisible snare.
Defeated, Sōryūin Shion slumped back down onto the velvet sofa, rubbing her temples. She let out a long, depressed sigh of surrender.
"Fine. You win," Shion muttered bitterly. "What do you want to drink...."
"An iced Americano, if you please," Kirari replied brightly, the venomous snake morphing back into a cheerful schoolgirl.
"Oh, right! I completely forgot to mention... I was just fooling you about the phone call."
Shion blinked. "What?"
"I never kept Akemi on the line," Kirari laughed softly, the sound tinkling like shattered glass. "But little Akemi is so painfully honest."
"She would definitely explicitly say 'Good night, Kirukiru-jie' if she happened to see Kirukiru sitting in the room with you."
Sōryūin Shion clutched her chest, feeling like she might actually cough up a massive mouthful of old blood and immediately faint on the carpet.
Sure enough, when Kirari had casually set that linguistic trap just a moment ago, it proved that she never needed the phone on the line. She had merely thrown out a logical bait, and Shion's panicked reaction had handed her the victory. This cup of coffee was truly hers to drink.
However, just as Sonoko had wisely said in the past, losing to the monstrous intellect of Momobami Kirari meant, at the very worst, losing a trivial cup of coffee. For wealthy heiresses of their absolute caliber, their vast financial resources were more than enough to buy the entire coffee shop chain without batting an eyelash.
But the crushing, suffocating feeling of being utterly outsmarted and completely crushed intellectually without the opponent even being in the same zip code... that was just far too humiliating to bear~
Kirari smiled, reaching down to gently stroke Sayaka's hair, earning a breathless, submissive whimper from her secretary. "Hmm. Kirukiru must have gone out of the room to get the red wine, hasn't she?"
"She's truly a young girl who understands the finer things in life, just like me."
Kirari took another slow sip. "Sister Shion, you really should learn more from her."
"Oh, right! I forgot to say..."
The line fell deathly silent for a fraction of a second.
"Change the Americano order to an expensive latte, okay?" Kirari demanded smoothly, her tone leaving zero room for negotiation. "Otherwise, I'll happily give this audio recording of our little chat to our future man."
Shion's heart stopped completely. "What recording?!"
"Can't I just be exhaling smoke?" Kirari flawlessly mimicked Shion's desperate, panicked excuse from moments ago, repeating it back to her verbatim.
Kirari giggled, the sound dripping with pure, unadulterated malice. "How about it, Sister Shion~ Is the playback recording clear enough for Ren to hear how terribly you lie?"
Sōryūin Shion's eyes widened instantly, her pupils shrinking to pinpricks as the sheer magnitude of the blackmail hit her. Her mouth twitched uncontrollably.
After a long while of absolute, stunned silence, she directly shouted into the receiver, "Kirari! You little brat, you tricked me!"
[Akarin's Note:
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