The night was very quiet.
Moonlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the bookshelf by the wall.
Erina was sitting at her desk, intently reading the manga "High School DxD" in her hands.
"Ugh!"
"It's gone again."
"The dog-author only updates once a week; it's really not enough to satisfy me!"
After finishing it, her heart couldn't help but ripple.
After all, the visual presentation of this manga always captivated her; the delicate lines, vibrant colors, and vivid expressions—every detail was meticulously polished by the dog-author.
Although some plots were overly explicit, the story, which simultaneously unfolded love and battle, comedy and fantasy, truly left her greatly shaken!
...
Immediately, she placed the manga back on the bookshelf.
Erina's gaze fell on Hisako, her Secretary, who was wearing glasses and browsing light novels on her computer.
So, she couldn't help but lean closer and ask, "What novel are you reading?"
"Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai!"
Hisako replied.
"That long?"
Erina was momentarily stunned.
"It seems that the longer the novel title, the more information it can contain about the work, allowing readers to roughly know what kind of story it is about just by looking at the title, right?"
Hisako took off her glasses, stretched her slightly sore back, and explained.
"Oh!"
"Then... how is this light novel?"
Erina suddenly understood, then became curious again.
"The quality is quite good; it's about a group of pubescent, oh no, not pubescent, but adolescent syndrome girls who appear one after another around the protagonist, leading to various interesting stories!"
"Adolescent Syndrome?"
"It seems like patients get some kind of supernatural-like illness, right?"
"These illnesses are usually abilities gained due to intense self-awareness during adolescence and excessive pressure from oneself and the outside world."
After speaking, Hisako secretly glanced at Erina a few times, and seeing her thoughtful, she couldn't help but feel very happy. After all, Erina had been staying at the Izakaya during this period, and the two had completely missed out on such opportunities to spend time together.
"My Lady."
"Can... can you tell me about it?"
"I really want to know everything that happened to you at the Izakaya."
Blinking her clear, sparkling eyes, Hisako then asked excitedly.
"Hisako."
"There's nothing much to say about those things, is there?"
"If you're worried that Sosuke might bully me at the Izakaya, then you're overthinking it."
"I've been doing very well there, and I get to taste Sosuke's handmade dishes every day. And in terms of living, he... he's taken care of me a lot."
"To be honest, if it weren't for the Autumn Elections and to recommend you to participate in them, I really wouldn't want to leave!"
"Alas, I can only say that things are unpredictable, right?"
"I wonder if Sosuke has missed me since I left?"
At this moment, Erina rested her hands on the computer desk, propping up her chin, and her eyes held an almost imperceptible hint of affection.
"Hehe, My Lady."
"I think the biggest problem isn't whether he's thinking of you, but that you're thinking of him!"
Seeing the expression on Erina's face, Hisako couldn't help but cover her mouth with her hand and asked with a smile.
"Thinking?"
"Why would I think of him?"
"At the Izakaya, the biggest change was that my God Tongue became more and more dependent on his cooking."
"Hisako, I'm not afraid to tell you and make you disheartened, but now I feel disgusted by any dish I eat, even the medicinal cuisine you made at noon is no exception!"
"Perhaps I've become like my mother; in my heart, I only acknowledge Sosuke, and no other chef can compare to him."
These words were not false; Sosuke had gradually occupied an important place in her heart.
Sometimes.
She would even secretly wonder.
Why is there such an excellent man in this world?
...
"My Lady, I can actually see it, you really are different from before!"
Looking at Erina, Hisako finally sighed deeply.
"Hmm, no matter how much I've changed."
"Hisako, you will always be my best friend."
"My Lady..."
Hisako was quite moved.
For some reason, the current Erina no longer chose to endure or hide many things.
Instead, she was as straightforward as Alice, daring to speak and think.
"My Lady, do you like Sosuke?"
Finally, taking advantage of the warm atmosphere, Hisako threw out this question.
"I like him!"
"I really like him."
"You might not know, but now that Sosuke isn't by my side, I always feel an emptiness in my heart."
"It's as if life can't be complete, or as if I've lost the most important thing."
Erina didn't blush or feel shy; she openly admitted to Hisako that she was indeed deeply entrenched in matters of the heart!
Of course, she also knew that even if she didn't say it, with Hisako's meticulous observation skills, she would eventually find out.
"As expected."
"That Shopkeeper Zhang is truly amazing!"
"My Lady, as your Secretary, I dare not say anything."
"But for you to fall for such a man, I think it must be a very happy thing, after all, Sosuke is indeed excellent in all aspects."
Hisako's smile grew wider.
At this very moment, she was genuinely happy for Erina.
Sosuke's own abilities and charisma were highly recognized by figures like Nakiri Mana, the General, Leonora Nakiri, Kobayashi Rindo, and others.
And as the General's granddaughter, Nakiri Erina was also considered a top-tier talent at Totsuki.
Therefore, these two were quite a good match.
...
"Happy?"
"I truly haven't experienced that word in my life."
"However, Hisako, I heard that recently some students have been secretly writing you love letters?"
Erina, her thoughts a bit scattered, blinked her eyes and then teasingly asked Hisako.
"My Lady, please don't make fun of me, okay?"
"You know what kind of people that bunch are."
"They're not as handsome as Sosuke, their charisma isn't good, and their cooking is even worse. I've never thought highly of them."
"Forget about the heart-pounding, electric-shock-like feeling you get in manga; I can't even be bothered to look at them normally, for fear of dirtying my eyes."
"Actually, I've never even thought about pursuing love or anything like that."
"I just feel that in this life, being able to... being able to serve you like this forever is already very satisfying."
Hearing Hisako Arato's words, Erina almost shed tears, feeling truly touched in her heart.
But she also clearly understood that she ultimately couldn't spend her entire life with Hisako, and she was even less willing to jeopardize Hisako's future happiness because of her own affairs.
"Hisako..."
"Don't even mention you, even I don't think much of those boys."
"So, do you feel the same way I do, that every time you face Sosuke, you have that kind of..."
"No, no, My Lady, how could someone like me have feelings for Sosuke?"
After speaking, Hisako's pretty face flushed, but her wandering eyes remained unfocused, darting around, clearly flustered!
"No feelings?"
Erina was stunned when she saw this.
...
"Forget it, discussing such matters now is indeed a bit too early."
"What should be focused on now is the upcoming Autumn Elections. I have already recommended you and Mito to the Council."
Upon hearing this, Hisako's expression turned serious.
Ever since she learned about the Nakiri Azami incident, she had always been willing to stay by Erina's side.
She was constantly striving to help Erina overcome the shadows in her heart.
At the same time, as the General's granddaughter with the God Tongue ability, Nakiri Erina would most likely take over the position after the General stepped down.
And she would lead the entire Totsuki Culinary Academy in her own way, revolutionizing the entire Japan culinary world.
Therefore, for Hisako, who wanted to always follow in Erina's footsteps, she often felt a great deal of pressure.
This so-called Autumn Elections.
It was a rare opportunity for all participating students, for example:
Alice Nakiri, if she truly wanted to surpass Erina, then she would have to win the championship in this Autumn Elections to have even a little hope!
Otherwise, she would be completely out of luck.
From Hisako's perspective, she also had to win against everyone to be qualified to continue staying by Erina's side.
Then, when Erina successfully became the new General one day, she could legitimately assist her and become the most prestigious General's assistant.
...
"My Lady, please rest assured."
"No matter who I face, I can guarantee you that I will win this championship; I will absolutely not let your arch-rival Alice get it."
Withdrawing her gaze and slightly composing her complex emotions, Hisako's eyes became firm.
"Although the outcome of the competition is very important and also concerns my reputation."
"However, not to mention the strength of people like Hayama Akira, Alice Nakiri, Ryō Kurokiba, and others in this competition, which should not be underestimated."
"Even that underdog, Tadokoro Megumi, has reportedly made rapid progress recently."
"Therefore, I don't expect you to win the championship."
"Hisako, just do your best. No matter what the outcome of this Autumn Elections is, I won't blame you."
After speaking, Erina gently patted her shoulder as a gesture of encouragement.
Hisako's eyes reddened, as if tears were about to fall.
"My Lady."
"Your words are enough."
...
If one were to say.
Chinese people begin to take care of themselves with a simple bowl of egg-fried rice.
Then, the first dish Japan people learn to make is curry. Peeling onions, cutting potatoes—since elementary school, Japan has had home economics classes that teach how to cook curry.
And the spicy yet not hot curry sauce, with soft and delicious stewed potatoes, poured over rice, accompanied by refreshing, salty, and crispy pickles.
This makes a plate of authentic Japan curry rice.
In fact, early curry was introduced to England from India. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan people emulated British-style curry stew and then improved it into Japan curry suitable for themselves.
In other words, it took Japan people a total of 150 years to develop a bowl of curry rice.
First, Yukihira Sōma prepared onions, carrots, ginger, garlic, celery, and wagyu, then peeled, chopped, and diced these ingredients.
Among these ingredients, onions were the main component, required in large quantities.
carrots provided color, celery provided a fresh flavor, wagyu provided a meaty aroma, and ginger provided spiciness.
Next, he added water to cover all the ingredients.
He cooked until all the ingredients were thoroughly stewed, then directly mashed them, meat, vegetables, and the large pot of soup, until it became a yellow paste.
He turned down the heat and continued to cook, adding curry blocks to melt, in order to provide a full Japan curry flavor.
Finally, he stirred continuously over low heat.
Throughout the process, he added one more thing to enhance the flavor:
Tomatoes!
When the time was right, he served it directly.
He scooped the pre-cooked rice onto a plate, then added a spoonful of this richly fragrant, brightly colored curry sauce.
When it was placed in front of Isshiki Satoshi, the aroma emanating from the entire Japan curry rice dish made him slightly satisfied.
Compared to other traditional curry rice, the curry rice Sōma made now had a deeper overall color, presenting a rich reddish hue, thanks to his unique cooking method.
At the same time, the rice grains were distinct, plump, and lustrous.
They formed a particularly striking contrast with the rich curry sauce.
Especially each grain of rice, having absorbed the curry sauce, continuously emitted an enticing aroma under the light.
...
"Senior."
"This is Yukihira Style · Japan Curry Rice · New Version."
"Please have a taste and see how it is?"
Sōma, who had just finished, took a deep breath, then looked at Isshiki Satoshi opposite him, full of anticipation.
"Out of the blue."
"Why would you think of making curry rice?"
Isshiki Satoshi, facing this dish, inevitably felt puzzled.
But tasting it was not a difficult thing, so he gently scooped a spoonful of curry rice and slowly brought it to his mouth.
Initially, he was greeted by the rich aroma of curry.
Indeed, unlike traditional curry rice, the Japan curry rice Sōma made focused more on the delicacy of the texture and the layers of flavor.
With each chew, he could feel the plumpness and elasticity of the rice, perfectly combined with the rich flavor of the curry.
The wagyu, carrots, celery, and other ingredients incorporated into it added more richness to the curry rice; they were carefully stewed, becoming extremely flavorful, adding an even more wonderful taste to the entire dish!
"Hmm!"
"How should I evaluate it?"
"Everyone has a different understanding of curry."
"And from a taste perspective, some people might find this traditional-leaning curry rice to be too rich, or that too many spices were used."
"But for others, it might not be stimulating enough, or the flavor might not be distinct enough."
"But regardless, true gourmet food should be able to transcend cultural and regional boundaries, touching people's hearts and taste buds."
"This, however, I have not experienced in your curry rice dish." (End of Chapter)
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