At the mention of "dark cooking," Tadokoro quickly thought of Marui's suffering from before. Thankfully, Hikigaya didn't share that same twisted hobby. Maybe it was because he hadn't been a chef for very long, so... he hadn't gone down that road yet.
On the contrary, Hachiman himself was also a victim. Now he had plenty of tricks to dodge his dad's dark cooking, but as a child, before he had grown, he too was used as a test subject.
So...
Hachiman: "If you think about it, we're both victims of that idiot dad. I ate his dark cooking every day growing up. I've built up such a resistance that I feel like I could live in a contaminated zone and be fine."
It might sound exaggerated, but only those who had actually tasted Joichiro's dark cooking could understand. It was food more poisonous than poison itself.
Throwing aside his usual quiet nature, Hachiman now joined Shiomi in nonstop complaining...
Tadokoro and Ryoko, watching from the side, were completely speechless. They had always thought Hachiman was bad at dealing with people. But now? What was happening? It felt like these two were spiraling out of control.
...
After a while of venting, the two were finally reminded by Ryoko to get back on track.
Shiomi: "Oh right, Ryoko, why did you come looking for me again?"
'Knew it, she wasn't listening at all...'
Ryoko wasn't impatient at all, she just said lightly:
"Actually, the reason we came here this time was to learn about curry. I know your Shiomi Research Lab has always studied curry, but…"
Her eyes quickly shifted to Hayama Akira. After all, he was also a first-year like them, and Hachiman had noticed his name on that big list. It looked a lot like Hayama Hayato's name, and… in a sense, they were definitely rivals.
Even if they got rejected here, it would be totally reasonable.
But…
Neither Hayama Akira nor Shiomi seemed to care. In fact, Shiomi was already grinning from ear to ear:
"No problem at all! Hachiman and I are really good friends!"
Hayama Akira: "I don't mind either. Since Jun says so, I'll give you all a tour. But I'll tell you upfront — that 'Professor Shiomi' you respect? Aside from mixing spices, she's pretty much useless."
Hearing her assistant belittle her, Shiomi puffed out her cheeks in anger:
"Don't call me Jun! Call me Professor Shiomi! As my assistant, the least you can do is show me some respect!"
But Hayama Akira just said calmly:
"Jun, it's your turn to water the plants today. You forgot."
Like a scolded child, Shiomi instantly lost her earlier bravado, crouching down in front of Hayama with an apologetic look.
'So who's the real assistant here… but still…'
'Even as rivals, they don't seem to care at all? Are they just not taking us seriously, or do they really mean it?'
Thinking this, Hachiman's eyes drifted to Hayama Akira. He disliked the name, but this Hayama was nothing like Hayato. At least he didn't give off that fake "perfect guy" vibe, and because he wasn't pretending, Hachiman didn't dislike him.
Noticing Hachiman's gaze, Hayama Akira didn't force a smile. He just said casually:
"Come with me."
Following Hayama Akira's lead, they entered the Shiomi Research Lab. Inside were shelves of all kinds of spices, most likely used in curry-based dishes. Hachiman and Tadokoro were quickly drawn to the curry with the strongest aroma.
Just a few leaves, yet the scent of curry was so rich…
Hayama Akira: "This is a spice called South Asian pepper, also known as curry leaf."
Tadokoro: "So this is a fresh curry leaf?"
Hachiman: "Eh, you know about this, Tadokoro?"
Tadokoro nodded. This plant also grew often near her hometown, but since curry leaf seedlings couldn't handle the cold, they would wither before winter was over.
Tadokoro placed her hand over the curry leaves and rubbed them gently before saying:
"These are the dried ones, which makes them easier to store."
Hayama Akira nodded and added:
"Fresh curry leaves like these are hard to get. That's actually one of Jun's research topics: finding a way to grow tropical spices locally in a stable way, using freezing techniques to preserve them long-term, and even extracting new spice components."
Shiomi nodded proudly. Hearing her assistant's explanation made her very satisfied. In a blink, she had put on a white lab coat, as if ready to show off. She slowly stepped in front of them.
"Bang!"
"Ow…"
She had tripped and smacked her head on the floor. Maybe only she could pull off something this clumsy. Hachiman could now understand why his dad would go after someone like her…
But without even rubbing her head, Shiomi quickly stood up again and said:
"Spices are made up of three parts: aroma, heat, and color. When mixed together, they create certain effects. Adding more types weakens each individual trait, but mixing too many causes a bad flavor. The limit is about 20 kinds. And when blending spices, oil is always essential."
The whiteboard that was blank just a moment ago was now covered in notes. Once she started on curry, Shiomi turned into a chatterbox, flooding them with knowledge.
For Hachiman, it was manageable — he could listen while processing. But for Ryoko and Tadokoro…
"Professor, please stop already…"
She was completely absorbed, talking to herself as her pace got faster and faster…
"At this point, the oil is in its most delicious emulsified state, which means…"
(20 minutes later…)
Tadokoro and Ryoko did their best to write everything down, but there were too many technical terms. Since neither of them specialized in curry, even if they read it several times later, they might not really understand.
Hayama Akira seemed to notice that Hachiman was fully focused on learning. But after just a glance, he waited until Shiomi finished her long lecture before adding:
"Even though Jun explained so much, I still think trying it myself is faster. Let me show you the true essence of curry."
Hayama casually picked up a curry leaf and led the three of them into another room. It had both a kitchen and a full set of curry ingredients—everything was there.
Without hiding anything, Hayama cooked right in front of them. Just like Tadokoro had guessed, his cooking skills were frightening. In less than ten minutes, he had a dish freshly made and ready.
Of course, Hachiman saw all of this.
"First, this is butter chicken curry, one of the classic dishes of South India. It uses those curry leaves for flavor."
Ryoko: "It looks so good…"
Tadokoro: "Wow, the curry smell is really strong..."
Faced with this golden dish, what puzzled Hachiman more was Hayama himself.
After some hesitation, he asked:
"Hayama, can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Are we enemies?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you helping your enemy?"
That sudden question, far removed from cooking, made the whole room heavy with silence. Not just Hachiman—Ryoko, Tadokoro, even Professor Shiomi had already sensed this issue.
But Hayama just gave a faint smile.
"We are rivals. That will never change."
"But right now, we're here as members of this research lab. Our job is to help visitors, answer questions, and show them the features of curry. It's also a great chance for people to get to know curry better."
"And to be honest, what I really look forward to… is someone who can beat me in curry cooking!"
"So, whatever the question, ask away."
Hearing his answer, Hachiman let out a small sigh.
As expected, though his name was also Hayama, he wasn't the same as Hayama Hayato. Unlike Hayato's fake kindness, this Hayama Akira was just real. And because of that…
Hachiman couldn't dislike him.
[Note: The "Hayama Hayato" here refers to how Hachiman sees him in his own mind.]
After understanding that, Hachiman, Ryoko, and Tadokoro no longer held back. They focused entirely on the curry dishes in front of them.
The moment the curry entered their mouths, the strong aroma of curry leaves hit their noses, followed by the kick of chili and the deep fragrance of spices, spreading quickly through their bodies. This simple yet perfect dish was only Hayama's warm-up.
Yes… with just one bite, Hachiman could already tell that Hayama Akira was a truly powerful chef. In the upcoming Autumn Elections, where curry was the main theme, he would be one of the toughest opponents.
Hachiman had already decided to keep walking this path. Now, facing someone like Hayama Akira didn't make him afraid at all—only excited. Maybe he never thought he would one day change so much because of cooking.
His old weakness was already behind him. Facing such a strong opponent, Hachiman felt like he had glimpsed a piece of the real thing. To drag it all into the open, he had to defeat this rival.
The aura coming off Hachiman was stronger than ever before. If Yukinoshita were here, she would probably be shocked—this guy who once had no will to win was now completely different. Even Hayama Akira seemed to feel the pressure at that moment, his hands speeding up several times faster.
"Alright, next dish!"
Still sticking to curry as the theme, Hayama cooked while Hachiman watched. The others waited to eat. Again, in just about ten minutes, another dish with more complicated steps was finished.
Hayama Akira: "This is a fish curry, made with swordfish, salmon, and other white fish."
Ryoko: "The same curry twice?"
Tadokoro: "Not just that. He even used the same tools and spices."
At first, everyone thought the flavor wouldn't change much. After all, if the ingredients stayed the same, it was hard to change the taste just by cooking it differently. But now\...
Hayama: "Alright then, try them both and see what's different."
Hachiman was the first to pick up the spoon. Just like before, he didn't hesitate at all and put it straight into his mouth. If the first dish had already been enough to shock everyone's taste buds, then this one made them all agree right away.
Tadokoro: "This one tastes better."
Hachiman: "If I'm not wrong, this dish used a pan to roast the red peppers and coriander first, meaning the spices were roasted before being added."
Ryoko: "Just doing that makes such a big difference? The smell alone feels completely different."
Hachiman: "This is what Professor Shiomi said just now—using roasted spices as the base so all the flavors blend together perfectly, right?"
Seeing Hachiman's quick progress, Hayama couldn't help but clap lightly, without holding back his praise.
"You're impressive. It took me a long time to figure this out. I believe you'll be a strong rival. But still—I will win."
If Hachiman was given more time to grow, maybe Hayama wouldn't be so sure. But right now, this was his domain—curry dishes. Against someone who had only just sharpened his skills, there was no way he would lose.
Hikigaya Hachiman. He had heard the name before, the one who made waves during the training camp. But even so, there was no turning back. If he lost in curry, his specialty, then that would be the biggest blow of all.
While those thoughts crossed his mind, the final dish was served.
Compared to the first two curries, this one was clearly richer. At first glance, it looked no different from the thick yellow curry earlier, but the constant fragrance of curry leaves set it apart completely.
In that moment, it felt like the air itself was filled with golden light, with the curry's aroma taking over everyone's senses. Their hands moved on their own, and by the time they realized it, the taste of curry was already spreading down their throats.
Tadokoro: "The spiciness that hits after the first bite is nothing like before. The flavor lingers so strongly."
Ryoko: "It's so good... I can't even judge it properly anymore."
Maybe the only one who could resist the pull of the smell with sheer willpower was Hachiman.
To Hayama's words, Hachiman could only respond silently in his heart.
'I'll win too.'
As the curry burst with flavor in his mouth, Hachiman instinctively began to sort through the ingredients he had just tasted.
But then something surprising struck him.
"Hayama, the ingredients are the same as before, right? The only change is that this time you used water instead of broth when cooking."
He could taste the difference, but he had no idea why it worked.
Shiomi and Hayama, however, were both left speechless at his words.
That result was something they had only just discovered not long ago, after countless sleepless nights of practice. Yet this guy figured it out so quickly...
Hayama: "You asked me a question earlier. Now it's my turn to ask you one. Please, don't lie."
Hachiman nodded. Even without knowing what the question was, lying was never his way.
Hayama: "Hikigaya Hachiman, are you the God Tongue? I can't think of anyone else who could taste the secret of that dish on the very first try."
Tadokoro and Ryoko were stunned. They had suspected it before, but now...
Since finding out he was the son of Saiba Joichiro, the former second seat of the Elite Ten, they no longer doubted it.
But Hachiman shook his head.
"I'm not the God Tongue, and I don't have any special power. All I can do is replay what I saw in my head once. If anything, I just have good memory. That's something you guys could do too."
Hayama thought he meant simply recalling his own cooking, which wasn't too hard. But Ryoko and Tadokoro were dumbfounded, their eyes wide.
Who could just watch a dish once and then play it back perfectly in their head?
At Totsuki, every dish was complicated. Yet Hikigaya Hachiman could almost completely recreate what he saw after only watching once.
Sometimes, if two identical dishes were put side by side, even experienced judges might not be able to tell which one tasted better.
Even if his copies could never fully match the original, the one he had been copying all along was Saiba Joichiro, the legendary alumnus himself...
For Totsuki students, this was already more than enough.
And lately, after meeting Joichiro again, Hachiman had even rekindled a bit of passion. With that drive, as he kept carving out his own style of cooking, it seemed like he no longer had any real weaknesses.
If there was one thing to say… it was simply that he hadn't been a chef for long. Too many of the basics weren't yet polished to perfection. Compared to the elite students of Totsuki, he still wasn't on the same level.
Maybe clumsy hands were just the window life had shut on Hikigaya Hachiman.
Hayama didn't doubt Hachiman's words, he only nodded and continued,
"That's right, this is Jun's research result. Normally, if too many spices are mixed together, their individual flavors weaken. But this method does the opposite—diluting the broth with water actually makes the spices' flavors stand out, creating a curry dish with a strong impact."
Hachiman: "I have to admit, just by slightly changing the way spices are used, the dish can undergo such a huge transformation. And if I'm not wrong, this is only a part of it—the secrets hidden in curry are countless. No doubt, you really have a natural talent for this dish."
"What's more, when you cooked, you never even looked at the pot. You relied completely on the scent of each spice, making quick judgments. Your precision with every spice was perfect, and you even controlled the heat flawlessly. Calling it the 'God Nose' wouldn't be an exaggeration."
"I'm sure you're fully prepared for this curry challenge. You're definitely a strong opponent, but…"
"I will win."
Not for anyone else, but for himself.
This was his first battle to prove his own worth, and also his first battle since parting ways with his father. That was why he couldn't lose.
If Hayama had a godlike nose, Hachiman wasn't completely without a chance either. After all, growing up in a restaurant, he had long since developed sharp senses for every ingredient.
Maybe his knowledge of spices wasn't as deep as Hayama's, but with his insight, his eyes, nose, ears, and every other sense, combined, he might not necessarily lose.
Feeling the pressure from him again, Hayama only gave a small smile. By now, he had no path of retreat either.
"Sorry, Hikigaya Hachiman, you're amazing."
"But when I heard what the preliminary round's theme was, I couldn't help but laugh."
"I admit, you might have had a chance against me. But…"
"With curry as the theme, you have no chance at all."
"On the school trip, your shocking performance overshadowed everyone, and they say even Erina wasn't on your level. So…"
"Since we're both in Group A, Hikigaya Hachiman, I'm looking forward to our match."
"My belief won't change. True cooking is not just about taste or looks. The most important thing is the fragrance—the very first thing that greets you before you even take a bite."
"A chef is also a creator of scents."
"When the time comes, everything will be decided."
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