Chapter 74
"A woman's intuition really is something else!"
Mineo felt a genuine sense of admiration after hearing Utaha's answer. He then said to her:
"Well, the Q&A session is over. Next, it's time for the main event!"
"Today is your birthday, after all. It has to be celebrated properly!"
"I've prepared a birthday cake as well. I'll bring it out after we finish dinner."
"For now, let's eat. Give my cooking a try."
"To be able to taste a dish personally prepared by a god-level being like Mineo-sensei... I suppose I am the happiest and luckiest girl in the world."
"In that case, I am deeply grateful for Sensei's hospitality!"
"Itadakimasu!"
Utaha pressed her hands together in front of her chest, offered a brief prayer, and picked up her utensils.
She took a piece of the beef and placed it in her mouth. Closing her eyes, she focused entirely on the flavors blooming on her palate.
The moment her teeth sank into the beef, it felt as though it melted instantly. As it gave way under her bite, an explosion of savory juices flooded her tongue.
The deliciousness felt like a vast ocean, surging with massive waves at that very moment. Utaha suddenly felt that under this overwhelming tide of flavor, the very blood in her veins began to boil.
The aroma—a perfect blend of black pepper and cheese—rushed through her senses. The hints of basil and parsley felt like a cool, pure spring.
The pea purée spread a clean, natural fragrance throughout her mouth. With just one bite, Utaha felt her entire body and soul had been completely conquered by this dish!
Beneath the table, Utaha's stocking-clad legs continued to rub against each other. Her body seemed to tremble with pure delight.
The food Mineo-sensei made seemed to possess a special kind of magic. Her deepest instincts for seeking out gourmet flavors had been fully awakened.
Having finished the first beef dish, Utaha subconsciously reached for the second. Slices of fresh raw salmon had always been one of her favorites. And now, what would be the texture of this "Wasabi Frost Salmon" Mineo-sensei had prepared?
She took a slice and let it rest on her tongue. A few seconds later, the flavor transformed into a three-layered symphony. The cascading impact nearly left her entire body numb with pleasure!
How could a simple slice of raw salmon provide three distinct sensations of bliss? It was as if the deliciousness had turned into three tiers of waves, continuously crashing against her taste buds.
Utaha was a novelist, not a professional food critic who could deeply analyze a dish's secrets.
However, deliciousness is a universal language! The instinctive joy bubbling up within her told her exactly how high the quality of this meal was.
The eight dishes Mineo had meticulously prepared were soon finished by Utaha. Once she was done, she felt as if her soul was floating! As a writer who worked with words for a living, she felt that even language itself wasn't enough to describe her current feelings.
Mineo's cooking had made her want to drown in it! This was the level of culinary skill he possessed.
While she was being conquered by the flavors, a sense of wariness also began to sprout in Utaha's heart. It was bad enough that Mineo-sensei was handsome! But his cooking skills were also this incredible! Most importantly, his background was beyond extraordinary.
If Mineo-sensei were to live in the outside world for any length of time, just how many girls would be drawn to him? Before, she hadn't seen him in person, but now that they had met, she felt she truly couldn't help herself.
The more Utaha thought about it, the more burdened she felt. Her future rivals would likely be the most exceptional girls from various other worlds.
But... even so, I, Utaha, won't give up that easily!
Utaha clenched her fists slightly, then stole a glance at Mineo. It just so happened that Mineo was looking back at her at that exact moment.
"The plates are empty. Are you full, Utaha? If not, I can whip up a few more portions!"
"Eh???"
Utaha was stunned for a moment, but she quickly smoothed it over with a gentle smile.
"I'm quite full, actually. Your skills are truly amazing, Sensei. This is the first time I've been so completely conquered by a meal that I didn't leave a single scrap! Didn't you say there was still a birthday cake you made specifically for me? I have to save some room, or I'll be too stuffed. If I can't eat the cake later, it would be a waste of your kindness."
"Oh, right! I almost forgot about the cake! Wait here a moment, Utaha. I'll go to the kitchen to get it. There's some fruit juice here if you're thirsty. I'll be right back!"
Mineo told her as he stood up and walked toward the kitchen. Watching his retreating back, Utaha bit her lower lip softly, lost in thought. However, in her heart, she had subtly made a very important decision!
Mineo returned with the cake surprisingly fast—it hadn't even been two minutes. He placed a gorgeous cake that gave off a sweet, tempting aroma onto the table. After placing the candles, he lit them.
"Alright, the cake is ready! I'm going to turn off the lights now!"
"Utaha, get ready to make a wish!"
"I hope that in the future, you can realize whatever wish you make today..."
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