"Finally done…"
Hearing those words, Yukino couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. During the earlier lesson, Yuigahama's attention had wandered several times, distracted by the two people engaged in a cooking duel nearby.
Though still somewhat displeased, Yukino could somewhat understand the other party—if it weren't for her strong self-control, she herself might not have been able to resist constantly looking over there.
After all, that guy's cooking technique was so polished it was pleasing to watch. From adding ingredients to stir-frying and thickening the sauce, every movement of his hands exuded confidence and a unique aura. The undeniable charisma of a skilled person was arguably more captivating than the aroma of the dish itself.
This was also the second main reason Yukino found this time so torturous: not only did she have to ignore the overpowering aroma of the Mapo Tofu, but she also had to force herself to disregard his cooking movements and snap Yuigahama, who kept staring blankly, back to focusing on the tamagoyaki in front of her.
…Since the Service Club was founded, there had never been a request this difficult.
Wiping her hands, Yukino couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"Come try my Fantasy Mapo Tofu."
Serving the finished dish on a plate, Yuu turned, looking at the two who were supposed to be engaged in a cooking lesson. But he noticed the atmosphere between them was slightly awkward and strange.
Yuigahama showed a guilty expression, as if reflecting on something, while Yukino remained unchanged, calm and indifferent as usual. The slight unease from hurting someone else had long been skillfully hidden deep in her eyes.
With just a few glances, Yuu smirked with a helpless expression. "Well, I can guess what happened."
Thanks to his sharp senses, even while focused on cooking, he could still overhear the conversation between the two girls, like a strict older sister scolding a useless younger one. Perhaps in the end, Yuigahama had been scolded by Yukino until she was speechless, right?
"Fantasy Mapo Tofu?" Ignoring Yuu's expression, Yukino looked at the vibrant red dish on the plate with confusion. "Why the 'Fantasy' prefix?"
It didn't look much different from regular Mapo Tofu, except that each tofu piece was more angular and perfectly intact, emitting a clear white sheen. The green of the scallions, red of the chili, and white of the tofu blended harmoniously, making one's mouth water—the color combination was beautiful, but it didn't quite match the word "Fantasy."
Without immediately answering her question, Yuu walked to the front table, placing the plates alongside Soma on the teacher's desk. While helping fetch bowls and plates, he began explaining in a voice neither too loud nor too soft, audible to everyone.
"The six unities—that's what sets it apart from regular Mapo Tofu. You could say that's where the fantasy lies."
"If I explained it in detail, you wouldn't understand anyway, so just try it… And while you're at it, judge which plate of Mapo Tofu is better."
After speaking, Yuu glanced at Yuigahama, who stood frozen with a less-than-bright expression, and suddenly sighed. "You silly dumpling, if you want to sulk, do it later. Try it first."
Like a well-trained pet dog, Yuigahama reflexively raised her head, blinking her large, bright eyes at him.
"Right! Got it!"
Her eyebrows slightly raised, Yukino walked to Yuu's side and asked casually, "You two get along quite well."
Yuu smiled back. "Of course, my relationships with everyone except you are pretty good."
"…"
Yukino took a deep breath, deciding for her own mental health not to argue with him. She shifted her gaze to the two plates of Mapo Tofu on the table, pausing briefly in surprise before glancing covertly at Yuu.
Though she hadn't tasted it yet, just looking at them, the difference in quality was glaringly obvious. In terms of color, aroma, and flavor, President Soma could be said to have lost completely.
"Ah~~ How did you make the colors so harmonious!" Soma himself scratched his head, letting out a frustrated sound as if admitting defeat. "It doesn't even look deliberately arranged… Damn, the Mapo Tofu at teishoku restaurants can't be made this beautiful!"
"Just practice a lot, and you'll get there sooner or later," Yuu said nonchalantly, picking up a spoon to taste Soma's Mapo Tofu.
Meanwhile, the others simultaneously reached for Yuu's Mapo Tofu, including the Culinary Research Club members.
The clear clinking of porcelain sounded one after another.
As the spoons dipped into the thick, glossy sauce, lifting tofu, scallions, and chili from within—
The intense aroma, previously thought to have been carried away by the breeze, surged back, assaulting everyone's noses and tongues, even richer and stronger than during the cooking process!
Everyone holding a spoon felt their breathing grow heavy, as if it had suddenly become difficult to breathe. The pungent, spicy aroma was like a giant red dragon breaking free from its chains, coiling upward and dominating the room, its sharp claws gripping everyone's senses of taste and smell.
A faint hot breath brushed against their cheeks, uncontrollable sweat beaded on their foreheads, yet saliva kept pooling in their mouths. Just from the aroma alone, their hearts couldn't help but race, as if facing a daunting trial—
"…Gulp."
Her fair throat moved slightly, Yukino quietly swallowed, mustering the courage to open her small mouth and take a spoonful of the Mapo Tofu. She hadn't even chewed the tofu—or rather, this dish didn't need chewing. The tofu pieces and thick sauce spread widely to every corner of her mouth, filling her senses and consciousness.
Her eyes suddenly widened, expanding and contracting as if breathing—she couldn't even speak.
First came the heat, a burning temperature that seemed to sear her nerves, yet she was reluctant to spit it out.
Second was the numbness; though her tongue was numb, she could taste the dish's deliciousness more clearly than usual.
Third was the spice, a sharp pain that made sweat continuously bead on her forehead. Covering her small mouth and exhaling softly, a strange pleasure crept from deep within, urging her to take another bite.
It was as if her mouth was tightly wrapped in a hot, sticky layer, extending to her throat, nasal cavity, and esophagus, creating a strong choking sensation without chewing.
Enduring the pain, Yukino's throat moved, swallowing the Mapo Tofu in her mouth.
"Hah… hah…"
Her flat chest heaved dramatically, her lips red and full as if just attacked. Panting with a flushed face, she unconsciously tilted her head back and closed her eyes, savoring the heat that transformed into pure deliciousness, warming her entire stomach.
Then, Yukino suddenly snapped back to reality, hurriedly hiding her strange, embarrassing reaction, as if afraid others would notice her slip. She covertly glanced left and right. Fortunately, everyone else's reactions were no better than hers, and no one paid attention to each other…
"Delicious?"
That annoying voice, with an annoying smile, rang in her ears, shattering her fleeting, beautiful hope.
"…"
Without looking at him, Yukino froze for a few seconds, slowly setting down her spoon, her fingers gently curling the long hair draped over her shoulder.
As if she'd gone through an internal struggle, she finally sighed in resignation and admitted honestly:
"It's very delicious… My big sister would definitely love it."
Even Yukino herself didn't know why she added that last sentence.
"…Is that so."
After a brief pause, Yuu tasted Soma's Mapo Tofu again, his expression barely changing.
As for this shokugeki…