"Aah…! It's so spicy! But it's so delicious… This meat is so tender and fragrant…!"
The distinctively textured slices of pork, like meticulously crafted edible sculptures, along with the tender white bean sprouts and crisp greens, made Kani Nayuta's eyes widen the moment they touched her tongue. An involuntary gasp escaped her lips.
The tender meat felt as if it were being gently scorched by flavorful flames, radiating heat. Her tongue tingled as if lightly electrified, going slightly numb, triggering an instinctive rush of saliva.
She took one bite, and the next moment, an intensely savory, complex flavor bloomed in her mouth!
The pork slices were tender, juicy, and bursting with umami, while the bean sprouts offered a crisp, refreshing sweetness. Combined with the penetrating, tongue-tingling mala spice that seemed to seep into her very soul, it was an experience she'd never had before!
It's incredibly spicy, but it's so good!
Kani Nayuta found herself somewhat conquered. She quickly lowered her head to take a large bite of plain rice to soothe the fiery sensation in her mouth.
Once she felt slightly better, she couldn't help but complain, "Is this what Sichuan cuisine calls 'mild' spicy? I've learned something new today! It feels about on par with what we'd call 'extremely spicy' back home… though I've never actually tried anything labeled 'extremely spicy' before."
But it should be roughly the same, right?
"That's a bit of an exaggeration, that's a bit of an exaggeration…" Kasumigaoka Touji chuckled at her remark. He set down his chopsticks, looked over the array of dishes on the table, and exclaimed with genuine appreciation, "But you're right about one thing—the Sichuan food here is incredibly authentic!"
It had been a long time since he'd tasted such genuinely authentic Sichuan flavors outside of a dedicated kitchen!
"Kasumigaoka-san… Fuyuto-kun is quite knowledgeable about this, isn't he? Ah… of course he is!" Kojima Kana caught herself, suddenly remembering his side gig as a culinary YouTuber. She'd asked a rather obvious question.
She glanced at Kani Nayuta and smoothly changed the subject. "Honda-san, are you able to get used to the spice level? If it's too much, please try the other dishes. The Sweet and Sour Pork and the Salt & Pepper Mantis Shrimp aren't spicy at all, and the Twice-Cooked Fish is only mildly so."
"Mmm… Sensei, I like it! It's delicious!" Kani Nayuta replied, using the serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of the golden-red fish. A bright, satisfied smile lit up her face.
Even though the Shuizhu Pork was intensely numbing and spicy, it was genuinely delectable. Kani Nayuta felt she was finally understanding the true meaning of mala—that addictive combination of tongue-numbing and spicy heat!
"You'll get used to it. Utaha-san, what about you?" Kojima Kana nodded, then turned her attention to Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had just scooped a spoonful of Mapo Tofu into her bowl, smiled gracefully. "I'm quite accustomed to it. We sometimes have Sichuan food at home as well."
As she spoke, she glanced subtly at Kasumigaoka Touji. Under the cover of the table, she extended one of her long, shapely legs—sheathed in sheer black stockings—to gently press against his calf, invading his personal space.
Kasumigaoka Touji, who was in the middle of savoring a piece of crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside Sweet and Sour Pork, paused momentarily but didn't make a fuss. Kasumigaoka Utaha did this from time to time; he was used to it by now.
...
As they enjoyed the delicious spread of Sichuan and Cantonese dishes, the conversation flowed easily, and the atmosphere around the table gradually grew warm and lively.
Kasumigaoka Touji peeled a mantis shrimp for Kasumigaoka Utaha, then another for Kani Nayuta. After a brief hesitation, he held up another palm-sized, beautifully fried mantis shrimp and addressed the teacher with a playful, teasing tone.
"Sensei, would you like one? I can peel one for you."
…What is he implying?
Kojima Kana looked at him, her long eyelashes fluttering almost imperceptibly. Did that… special experience the other night give him some peculiar ideas about her?
To be honest, she had noticed him stealing glances at her several times that evening…
But she is his teacher!
Kojima Kana forced her expression to remain perfectly calm. "That won't be necessary. Even if someone needs peeling done, it should be the teacher peeling for the students."
"Sensei is so easy to talk to in private! You seem very gentle!" Kani Nayuta sighed in admiration, holding the half-peeled mantis shrimp Kasumigaoka Touji had given her.
"I… I suppose I am," Kojima Kana replied, looking at Kani Nayuta before quickly averting her gaze.
...
Half an hour later, Kojima Kana stood up with her handbag and went to settle the bill.
When she returned, Kasumigaoka Touji and the others prepared to leave Ryuuki Restaurant together.
Dinner had been thoroughly enjoyable—the food was excellent, and both host and guests were satisfied.
"Kojima-sensei, thank you so much for your hospitality tonight!"
Outside the entrance of Ryuuki Restaurant, Kasumigaoka Touji offered a slight, respectful bow of thanks.
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Kani Nayuta quickly followed suit, expressing their gratitude.
"Not at all, it was my pleasure!" Kojima Kana waved a hand dismissively, then asked casually, "Are you heading home now, or…?"
"We were thinking of doing a bit of clothes shopping," Kasumigaoka Touji replied tactfully.
"Clothes shopping? Whereabouts?"
"Over in Shinjuku."
"In that case, we'll part ways here."
Kojima Kana placed one hand on her hip. She paused for a moment, then added in her official capacity as their homeroom teacher, "Don't stay out too late. Make sure to head home at a reasonable hour."
"Yes, Sensei."
...
With that, the group went their separate ways outside the restaurant. Kojima Kana drove off in her car, while Kasumigaoka Touji and the others hailed a taxi bound for Shinjuku.
It was already the evening rush hour, and with Golden Week in full swing, Tokyo was teeming with tourists. The trains would be packed to unbearable levels.
Buzz—
Kasumigaoka Touji, sitting in the passenger seat of the taxi, felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.
Pulling it out, he saw a LINE notification from Kojima Kana.
[Kojima Kana]: Kasumigaoka-san, I am your teacher. You must not entertain any inappropriate thoughts about your teacher. Do you understand?
"..."
Kasumigaoka Touji stared at the message, his expression a mix of confusion and bewilderment.
What is she suddenly talking about? I don't get it.
Just as he was about to type a reply, he noticed the message had been retracted.
Kasumigaoka Touji: "..."
He waited for two minutes, but no new message appeared.
After a moment's hesitation, Kasumigaoka Touji tapped on the virtual keyboard and sent a message of his own.
[Fuyuto.]: So… does that mean I can have different kinds of thoughts about my teacher now?
[Kojima Kana]: Do you have any idea what you're saying to your teacher right now?!
Kasumigaoka Touji swiftly retracted his own message.
On the other side—
Kojima Kana, clutching her phone: "..."
She was genuinely stunned for a moment…
The audacity!
A short while later, realizing she'd probably been tricked into revealing her flustered state, Kojima Kana gritted her teeth. She put her phone away, vowing to settle this score with him sooner or later. Yet, despite herself, a faint, exasperated laugh escaped her lips…
…