On the table, one plate of Mapo Tofu was completely devoured, while the other still had some left—barely touched, even. The winner and loser were clear.
"Thanks for the meal! I admit, you're stronger for now!"
Graciously accepting defeat, Soma untied his white headband and offered it to Yuu, his spirited smile undeterred despite the loss. "My Mapo Tofu is still too ordinary. Forget color and aroma—its taste couldn't even beat your Mapo Tofu with that sixth fantasy flavor…"
"So, at next week's club exhibition, let's have a rematch! I'll throw everything I've got at you to beat you, Yuu!"
Yuu didn't dislike his friendly, enthusiastic nature. He nodded, returning a smile. "Sure, next time pick a dish you're good at. So you can't say I cheated."
"Wow, that confidence…" Soma grimaced as if he had a toothache, but he laughed heartily, swinging his fist holding the headband toward Yuu's chest.
"Oh, by the way, about what you mentioned earlier—I'll remember to cooperate… It's not just our club, right?"
Yuu narrowed his eyes, his smile innocent and bright. "Exactly. You're the first, but not the last… I can try challenging at least most of the clubs in school."
"All with cooking standards like yours? That's terrifying. What kind of robot are you from which factory…?"
"Relax, I'm just a regular human." Then, Yuu glanced down at the fist on his chest, reminding him, "Also, you can take your headband back."
Soma tilted his head in confusion. "Huh? Don't you want to take something as a prize from the club you defeated?"
"I do have that intention… But first, that's something to be done on the exhibition day."
"No problem taking it now, right? Consider it a souvenir from me! Come on, take it!"
For some reason, Soma was insistent, as if trying to force the headband into Yuu's hands.
Yuu stepped back, saying expressionlessly, "Second, I don't want a sweaty, smelly guy's headband. Keep it yourself."
"…"
After mercilessly wounding a young man's pride, Yuu turned to the girls behind him.
Yukino slightly covered her mouth, muttering in reflection, "Replacing minced meat with fried soybean paste, making crispiness the perfect sixth flavor, turning ordinary Mapo Tofu into something fantastical… Hmph, so it can be done like that…"
"Right, but the key isn't just that. It's also the combination of tofu, doubanjiang, Sichuan pepper, thick sauce, and more—only by perfectly blending the first five flavors can that fantastical sixth flavor impress."
Out of goodwill, Yuu gave her a few pointers, then smiled again. "Yukinoshita, what's with your lips? Don't tell me they're swollen from the spice?"
Yukino slightly raised her gaze, glaring at him angrily before turning away as if he didn't exist. Her hand covered half her face below her nose, continuing to reflect on the tasting experience.
Yuu shifted his gaze to Yuigahama, who was sitting beside him.
Yuigahama was obediently holding a glass of water. Seeing him look at her, she unhesitatingly opened her small, red, slightly swollen mouth, stuck out her enticingly red tongue, exhaled, and said somewhat unclearly, "Ugh, even after drinking water, it's still spicy. My tongue's numb… Yuu-kun, couldn't you make it a bit sweeter?"
Yuu shrugged, saying flatly, "Sorry, authentic Mapo Tofu has to be spicy and numbing to be delicious. Sweetness is heresy… I think you all ate it happily."
"Because it was really delicious… I've never had Mapo Tofu that good. No wonder, Yuu-kun!" After praising him sincerely and cheerfully, her soft lips touched the rim of the glass.
As if recalling something painful, Yuigahama slowly lowered her gaze, giving a wry smile as if struggling.
"I originally wanted to work hard in an area women take pride in… But now, the gap's too big. I don't even have the motivation to try anymore."
Pausing her thoughts on the recipe, Yukino glanced at her, saying calmly, "So, your request ends here?"
Taking a deep breath, Yuigahama set down her glass, nodding firmly at her with seriousness. "Yes, it ends here! Yukinoshita-san, thank you so much for today, for working so hard to teach me how to make tamagoyaki!"
Yukino shook her head. "No need to thank me. It's my duty…"
"And I'm really sorry!"
"…Huh?"
Seeing her bow deeply, Yukino widened her eyes in surprise, clearly not expecting the sudden apology.
After bowing and apologizing, Yuigahama raised her gaze to meet Yukino's eyes directly, speaking from the heart without choosing her words carefully. "Besides Yuu-kun, you're the first person to point out my flaws so bluntly, scolding me harshly for my own good…"
"Without you two, I might never have stuck with something or realized where my shortcomings are and how to improve myself."
"So, besides thanking you, I also want to apologize… I'm sorry for making you worry so much about me, Yukinoshita-san."
"…"
Faced with such unexpected sincerity, Yukino fell silent, as if unsure what to say. She couldn't help but look away, pursing her lips and adjusting her hair, using the unnecessary motion to mask her current awkwardness. Her fair cheeks, already flushed from the spice, grew even redder.
The corner of her eye suddenly caught the smile on Yuu's face beside her. Yukino immediately frowned, as if finding a target to vent her frustration, saying with an unhappy expression, "What are you laughing at? What's so funny?"
"There is something."
Yuu nodded honestly, his eyes full of an inexplicable smile.
"I'm laughing because even Yuigahama can recognize her mistakes. When will you reach that same standard?"
Faced with that familiar mocking tone, Yukino was too tired to overreact.
"Tenkuji-kun, I can say it a thousand times without issue—I haven't made any mistakes. If there's any fault, it's with you or the world itself."
"Wow~" After an exaggerated sigh, Yuu turned to Yuigahama, smirking. "See? She says it's not her fault—it's the world's fault."
"Haha…"
Unsure whether to agree or disagree, Yuigahama could only laugh awkwardly.
"…That's enough."
The air seemed to frost over, a faint sound of freezing echoing.
Yukino suddenly stood, her figure cold and aloof, striding toward the Culinary Research Club's main door.
"Yuigahama-san, please write an application letter tomorrow and submit it to Hiratsuka-sensei. Whether you come to the clubroom after school is up to you."
"Ah, yes, I understand…"
Yuigahama, slightly confused, glanced back and forth between the two as the atmosphere turned cold, hesitantly agreeing.
Yukino paused briefly, her voice toneless, continuing without looking back. "Tenkuji-kun, I've seen your abilities, and I'm truly speechless… But this confidence is limited to cooking."
"You can carry out that plan, but as president, I still hope you'll submit a written report soon so we can discuss it properly, rather than you acting recklessly on your own."
"Got it, understood."
As her words ended, the girl gently closed the large door, leaving only the awkward gunpowder scent of an unpleasant parting.
Yuigahama wanted to say something but held back.
Yuu didn't care much. After saying goodbye to the Culinary Research Club members, he returned to the clubroom to grab his school bag and left the school. Tonight, he had to attend tutoring with Asuna.