When it came to using the system to overpower ordinary students, Yuu did feel a slight pang of guilt. However, that wasn't reason enough for him to hold back.
Unless absolutely necessary, Yuu wasn't one to restrain himself. If he was going to do something, he wanted to do it to the best of his ability, earning everyone's admiration—because he had the skill, the corresponding confidence came naturally, enough to see others' awe as a matter of course.
Even if it was a skill granted by the system, as long as he could wield it, it was his weapon. So, without hesitation, he had to swing it straight at his opponent.
Moreover, the Culinary Research Club's president, Soma, was no novice. On the contrary, his cooking techniques and speed were highly skilled. By these standards, he could easily be a head chef at a small restaurant, far surpassing the level of an ordinary student. Out of respect for such a worthy opponent, Yuu naturally intended to go all out.
Fantasy Mapo Tofu—this dish should be enough to win this battle.
"Alright, let's get started."
Letting Yukino return to teaching Yuigahama how to cook, Yuu, with high spirits and a slight gleeful smile, opened the paste provided by the Culinary Research Club and poured most of it into the heated wok.
*SSTT—*
White smoke billowed upward. In the pitch-black wok, the bright red sauce, upon hitting the pan, suddenly produced a beautiful melody of sizzling flames. His face reflecting the fire's glow, Yuu moved continuously, stir-frying minced garlic, mixing it with doubanjiang paste, then sequentially adding dou chi, cooking wine, sugar, hot water…
The spoon danced with an astonishing rhythm, all ingredients swiftly and orderly blending together. The intense spicy aroma seemed to form a red dragon, slowly coiling around the rising smoke, gathering strength, ready to be unleashed.
Soma, also preparing the base for his Mapo, unconsciously looked up, his eyes drawn to the movements at the neighboring counter, his nose faintly catching the scent.
"This…"
He couldn't help but widen his eyes, his throat seemingly blocked, unable to speak.
Harmonious, unified, yet brimming with aggression… It clung tightly to the air, inescapable as long as one was breathing!
The cooker hood was useless. The other two club members quickly covered their mouths and noses, coughing lightly as they opened the windows, letting the cool September breeze dispel the spicy smoke swirling in the clubroom.
Snapping back to reality, Soma glanced at the Mapo sauce in his own wok, his expression a bit strange. Like a kitten facing a leopard, his sauce simmered quietly, its aroma mild, barely noticeable unless sniffed closely.
"Both are Mapo Tofu, so why…"
The difference was stark.
Was it a gap in cooking technique? Or was the Mapo recipe he used different from his opponent's?
(This guy, what restaurant is he from to be such an incredible chef…)
A faint sweat appeared on his forehead. Soma took a deep breath, slapped his cheeks twice, gritted his teeth, and smiled.
"Hey, it's just the aroma that's a bit weak—what matters most is the taste!"
In cooking, color, aroma, and flavor are inseparable. Until the dish is actually tasted, who wins and who loses remains unknown!
Pushing aside unnecessary thoughts, Soma gripped the wok handle tightly, his paused movements becoming nimble again. In his serious, focused eyes burned a fiery desire to win.
In contrast, Yuu confidently and joyfully stirred his sauce, fully immersed in crafting the equation of deliciousness, oblivious to the reactions around him.
The heated duel, amidst the silent cooking of both sides, was gradually approaching its final moments.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Honestly, in her 17 years of life, Yukino had never experienced such torment as she did now.
First, Yuigahama was utterly hopeless at cooking—
If asked to sprinkle a pinch of sugar, she'd dump a lethal amount of salt.
If told to add a bit of soy sauce, she'd pour half the bottle.
If instructed to make tamagoyaki, it wasn't just that the eggs were half-burnt and half-raw—she'd even add all sorts of unrelated ingredients to "enrich the flavor."
Yukino nearly exhausted all her energy, talking until her throat was dry, before Yuigahama finally managed to make a barely edible, non-lethal tamagoyaki according to a standard recipe.
But a normal bento needed at least three side dishes… That meant Yukino had to teach Yuigahama at least two more dishes to fulfill this request.
Thinking of this, Yukino couldn't help but feel despair, clutching her temples with a pale face.
"Yuigahama-san, if no one's guiding you, please don't cook on your own… For your sake and the safety of anyone who might eat your food."
Yuigahama gave an awkward smile, hiding a hint of disappointment in her eyes, and scratched her cheek.
"You're right, I really don't have any talent for cooking—"
*CRACK!*
Before she could finish, slender knuckles tapped the table, producing a crisp, icy sound. Yukino stared at her, her voice calm but laced with sharp, cold intensity.
"It has nothing to do with talent, Yuigahama-san."
"It's because you're not focused, not careful, and have no intention of curbing your carelessness, letting yourself sink deeper into mistakes, leading to all these failures."
"Before blaming everything on talent or fate and pretending to accept failure, why not first examine what mistakes you've made and how you should work to fix them?"
"…"
Yuigahama fell silent, clutching the hem of her clothes, lowering her head quietly.
Yukino didn't let her off, continuing to speak sharply and aggressively:
"Being careless is your own business, but now, you've entrusted me to guide you, yet you're indifferent to the results of my efforts. That's truly unpleasant."
"As your guide, I need to tell you—immediately fix this foolish, useless mindset and work diligently step by step. Otherwise, you'll always struggle with cooking!"
After speaking, Yukino exhaled, slowly retracting the prickly aura surrounding her. She calmly turned away, tidying the used kitchen tools, no longer looking at Yuigahama's expression.
"If you still want to continue this request, then reorganize your mindset. I'll fulfill my responsibility and teach you a few more bento side dishes."
Her voice faded, and the air around them, as she expected, froze and grew heavy.
After being scolded so harshly, a normal person would either storm off angrily or stand frozen in confusion, facing her with that annoying wry smile.
Yukino didn't care. She acted only for her own sense of justice. Whatever others thought or how they reacted had nothing to do with her—
In other words, even if Yuigahama voluntarily canceled the request, it was because she couldn't handle it. Yukino had fulfilled her duty, and no one could blame her.
Cold water flowed through her fingers, rinsing off the remaining suds. After cleaning the kitchen tools, Yukino turned, preparing to confirm with the now-silent Yuigahama.
At that moment, in the Culinary Research Club room, two voices, silent for a while, suddenly rang out.
"My dish is done!"