Nene narrowed her eyes and glanced at Inui, who was holding her chopsticks after finishing the sunflower seeds.
What is this woman trying to accomplish by acting cute around Damian?
Inui took a deep breath, taking in the aroma of the tsuyu, still releasing a delicate fragrance of kombu seaweed and smoked bonito.
"Alright… Thanks for the meal," she said with a smile.
She delicately picked up some soba noodles, dipped them into the chilled sauce, and brought them to her mouth with an elegant motion. The entire room held its breath.
SHUUU...
Inui's eyes widened.
FLASH!
In her mind, Inui was transported to a snowy forest in Kyoto. Snowflakes drifted gently as cherry blossom petals floated in the breeze. She walked barefoot among wet stones, each step accompanied by the soft melody of a shamisen…
"Amazing…" she murmured, slowly returning to reality.
"The first thing you notice is the purity of the buckwheat flour… and then the lightness of the tsuyu. It's not overpowering, it doesn't mask the flavor of the noodles—instead, it enhances it with an earthy base and a deep umami." Inui spoke as she reached for another bite.
"The use of dried bonito and kombu was masterful… the flavor is clean, yet it echoes on the palate like the distant ring of a bell."
Nene stood tall, arms crossed behind her back.
"I used a ratio of 80% buckwheat flour and 20% refined wheat flour to bind the dough. The water was exactly 4°C, which helps maintain the dough's elasticity without overactivating the gluten. That way, the soba stays light and firm," she explained.
"The temperature…" Inui repeated, impressed.
"So that's what gave the noodles such a perfect bite…"
Then she tried the poached shrimp.
TCHAA...
Her eyes widened again.
Now, in her imagination, Inui floated over a lake of crystal-clear water, surrounded by translucent shrimp swimming around her. They danced gracefully, touching the surface as if performing a choreographed ballet.
"The poaching was quick… you didn't use salt or strong seasonings."
"Correct. I only used sake, a few shiso leaves, and a pinch of natural sea salt. The goal wasn't to season the shrimp, but to highlight its natural sweetness and preserve its soft texture."
"And the kakiage…" Inui bit into the crispy fritter of chopped shrimp and red onion.
CRAACK!
An explosion of flavor burst in her mind: now, she was in a traditional kitchen, where the ingredients danced around her, transforming into musical notes—the shiso a vibrant green chord, the sesame a percussive touch, and the shrimp the main solo.
"This is incredible!" she exclaimed, placing a hand on her cheek.
"You didn't just use the shrimp in two different ways—you created a contrast of textures that… dances! The crunchiness of the kakiage highlights the tenderness of the poached shrimp. And the scent of white sesame! It's present, but never steals the spotlight!"
She rested her chopsticks on the bowl and let out a sigh, her cheeks lightly flushed.
"This dish… is a true homage to Japanese tradition. It doesn't shout, and yet its flavor echoes deeply."
A respectful silence fell over the students.
Nene lowered her head slightly and spoke calmly:
"My family has preserved the art of soba for generations. But today, I wanted to show that… even within the limits of tradition, it's still possible to innovate. I wanted the dish to be quiet, but unforgettable."
Inui looked at her with a gentle smile.
"And you did, Kinokuni-san. This soba… is like a handwritten love letter. Steady, elegant, and full of feeling."
All the students let out a collective sigh. Even some of the most competitive ones felt inspired—or intimidated—by Nene's technical performance.
As if having a monster like Damian wasn't enough, now there was another.
Damian, still seated, gave a slight smile.
"Interesting… This is getting more fun than I expected."
Nene pushed her glasses up and said nothing, while Damian simply looked at her with a knowing smile.
"There's been some progress…"
Upon hearing that phrase, Inui and Nene were stunned. Nene looked at Damian, surprised. How did he know?!
Damian stretched, stood up, and said, "Well, you've made a lot of progress since last time."
Nene pursed her lips and remained silent. Damian had always encouraged and uplifted her, always making her feel happy and at ease. Her heart warmed, and her luck felt unusually good.
"Eh? You two seem pretty close!"
Nene blushed, but Damian smiled and said, "She's very cute."
Nene was about to evaporate on the spot, and Inui narrowed her eyes for no apparent reason.
Hmph! Evil Damian! Of course, it didn't take long before he started flirting with other girls.
Nene stared at Damian, frozen, not knowing what to say. Damian shook his head and went straight to his stove. At that moment, everyone watched as he approached.
Damian, the guy who had been relaxed this whole time and even ate more than a pack of sunflower seeds, was finally about to act—causing everyone to grow tense with anticipation.
Damian didn't say a single word. He wore that same smile that said, "I know exactly what I'm doing," as he calmly cleaned his utensils. The sound of the kettle whistling filled the room… and then, suddenly, he turned off the heat and—without gloves, without tongs, without even flinching—grabbed the boiling kettle with his bare hands.
Everyone's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
And then… he made a cup of tea.
"W-WAS THAT IT?!"
Nene froze in place, a visible tic twitching at the corner of her eye.
"Damian-kun… did he… did he seriously just make a cup of tea?!"
Inui, sipping her own tea beside her, nodded as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Considering his style, it's entirely possible… But Kinokuni-san, you seem pretty close to him, huh?"
Nene's cheeks turned a soft red.
"I-I just… He's strong, kind… he's helped me a lot… and he always encourages me… and—"
She began listing compliments like she was reciting a recipe of admiration.
Hinako smiled knowingly.
"Hmmm… This smells like a manga romance. Kinokuni-san, you're totally crushing on him, aren't you?"
"W-WHAT?! OF COURSE NOT!"
Nene exploded, completely red, fiddling nervously with her glasses.
"Don't be ridiculous, Chef Hinako!"
"Pfft… How cute. Look at that face! That's expression #12 in the Tsundere Dictionary," Hinako said, opening an imaginary fan.
Nene crossed her arms, trying to keep her composure.
"Maybe I'm just… maturing…"
Hinako was silent for two seconds… then the corner of her eye twitched.
This brat…!
She snapped back with a forced smile: "Careful, Kinokuni-san. Acting that tsundere is a fast track to being single at forty."
"Hmmm… Is that based on personal experience, Chef Hinako?"
Nene replied with an innocent smile.
"By the way, you've also been pretty close to Damian-kun lately…"
"Oho, someone's sharp today. Neatly combed tsundere!"
"Gentle idiot disguised as a mature woman!"
"GRRR… cute girls are way too dangerous!"
"But… if he likes someone simpler…"
The two fell silent for a moment… until they locked eyes with a competitive glare.
In the back of the kitchen, Damian finished preparing his tea with a nearly zen-like peace, completely unaware of the cold war that had just started because of him.
---
(End of Chapter)
A lot has happened in the last few days, so I ended up being late. I don't even know what time I'm going to schedule the update of these chapters, but I'll let you know that on Friday I won't have time to post anything.
Give me some power stones there you go~😉