Purchasing two sushi sets for 500,000 yen, totaling 100 pieces of sushi and 20 appetizers, was definitely a challenge for a sushi Master.
However, Saito Somei's expression showed no panic. At this moment, he was staring at the menu, seemingly contemplating pairings, clearly not expecting the other party to order all the sushi on the menu.
And two portions.
Based on an average person's appetite, 15-20 pieces of sushi are usually enough to fill one up, not to mention the appetizers. He wondered if this guy was just messing with him, or if he could really eat all this sushi.
"The first appetizer, Hokkaido fresh sujiko."
He placed the first dish on the counter, then pressed a hidden button under the counter. The people in the sushi kitchen immediately left the shop to get ingredients after receiving the signal.
Hoshino Sora, meanwhile, focused his gaze on the ceramic bowl in front of him.
This was the only sake dish present. Looking at the orange-yellow sujiko in the bowl, sprinkled with grated green yuzu peel, Hoshino Sora picked up a spoon and tasted it.
"Chuu——"
"Chuu?"
Sweet and juicy, bursting with flavor, the unique refreshing aroma of yuzu was doubled. Swallowing it in one bite was like eating a yuzu full of salmon roe! A unique satisfaction.
Kitagawa Marin also let out a cute nasal sound, clearly experiencing a considerable shock. Fortunately, this was just an appetizer. She merely twisted her body sensitively and then returned to normal.
Of course, the main reason was that Hoshino Sora was beside her, so she could only keep her voice down and try her best not to appear too embarrassing. She looked at the sake dish in front of her with vigilance.
Fortunately, she had eaten a lot of Hoshino Sora's cooking before, so she had a certain immunity to high-level dishes, which was why she didn't show too embarrassing a posture.
However, a considerable number of people were defeated by the Gourmet Cell in Saito Somei's sushi restaurant; they often came in standing tall and left lying down, because the dishes were so delicious and impactful that they fainted.
The freshest ingredients, combined with top-notch techniques and a certain degree of creativity, created the fifth seat of the Totsuki Ten Elite.
"Sake-steamed Nagasaki abalone."
He nodded, placing two freshly sliced abalone pieces on a plate and handing them over. The first thing one tasted was the rich abalone liver sauce, followed by the plump abalone. A slight chew revealed a Q-Soft and fragrant! (chewy, soft, and fragrant!)
"Did you add light cream to the abalone liver sauce? It has a faint milky aroma."
"That's right. This dish tastes even better with sake. Would you like me to get some?"
"No, thank you."
After a few simple exchanges, the bowl in front of them was empty. Hoshino Sora grabbed Kitagawa Marin's arm, the incredible impact of the Gourmet Cell making her face flush red.
Her legs under the table subtly twisted and rubbed. The fresh abalone had an exquisite texture, and when mixed with the abalone liver sauce, it was truly exceptional. Her tongue intertwined with it as if static electricity could be generated!
This was a taste she couldn't find in any other sushi restaurant.
This restaurant was indeed extraordinary!
"Sesame squid."
"Sea urchin and jellyfish salad."
"Grilled saury."
...
"Monkfish liver."
After eating a total of ten appetizers, Kitagawa Marin's lower abdomen was slightly distended. She was already half-full just from these, and the taste of each dish exceeded her imagination.
Is the average level lower silver?
Listening to the occasional prompts in his mind, Hoshino Sora's expression didn't change much, because most of these appetizers were pre-made dishes, simply processed when served, so their quality wasn't very high. Only two out of the ten reached mid-silver.
One of them was the monkfish liver he was currently eating, accompanied by a small, unknown red slice. Eating both together eliminated the oiliness of the fish liver, leaving only its rich fragrance.
This should be the grand finale of the appetizers, and also the dish that evoked the strongest reaction from Kitagawa Marin.
Her silk-stockinged legs under the table subtly straightened, and her entire body leaned against Hoshino Sora, as if she were acting coquettishly, but in reality, she was simply out of strength at this point.
And this was just the appetizers.
Reaching out to support Kitagawa Marin's waist, the soft touch was very pleasant. Hoshino Sora tried his best to keep his expression natural, even though Kitagawa Marin's hair occasionally brushed his face, a pleasant scent wafted from her nose, and looking down slightly, he could even see a deep cleavage.
"Next is the main course. Please wipe your hands."
Picking up two hot towels with a hook and placing them in front of Hoshino Sora and Kitagawa Marin, then washing his hands with the cold water nearby, Saito Somei's expression changed.
If he was a samurai standing before a storm earlier, now he had clearly entered a battle state. As the kitchen bell rang, several people dressed as waiters emerged from within.
They held plates of fresh ingredients: aged tuna, golden king crab meat, clearly segmented Arctic shrimp, wagyu beef, ink squid, and dozens of other ingredients in total.
They were neatly arranged beside Saito Somei, and then these people retreated.
Hoshino Sora could even see the beef twitching, a sign of its freshness, clearly having been recently removed from the cow. Is there a slaughterhouse nearby?
"A bit gross..."
Looking at the still-twitching meat, Kitagawa Marin's face subtly showed a hint of disgust, her lips slightly pressed. However, because they were in someone else's restaurant, she could only whisper her complaints to Hoshino Sora.
"Your relationship is truly good. Is this one also a student from Far Moon? I haven't seen her around."
With this complaint, Kitagawa Marin's mouth pressed close again. To outsiders, they looked like a loving young couple, not missing any time to be affectionate.
Seeing this, Saito Somei politely inquired.
"No, she's a student from a nearby school."
Hoshino Sora explained softly, then focused his attention on Saito Somei's hands. At this moment, the other party was processing fish, while his other hand grabbed a ball of rice from a bowl. Pinch, lift, turn, lift, turn, pinch—in a few practiced motions, he formed it into a ball, then placed the sliced leatherjacket flounder from the cutting board on top.
"Hokkaido leatherjacket flounder."
The knife cuts were precise, and the fish was light and tender, perfectly suited as a warm-up dish.
It's worth noting that the skill level of these sushi pieces was extremely high, far exceeding the previous few appetizers.
In all aspects.
Stealthily glancing at Kitagawa Marin beside him, whose face was slightly flushed, eyes slightly closed, and breathing long and deep as she savored the deliciousness of the dish, Hoshino Sora quietly exhaled. Although this sushi didn't have a strong impact, it had a gentle, flowing warmth.
"Grouper sushi."
"Arctic shrimp sushi."
"Ink squid sushi."
As the first piece of sushi entered, the second and third pieces were successively placed in front of them. Saito Somei's speed was fast, and his technique was exquisite, truly an art!
They enjoyed the performance while savoring the Gourmet Cell, but compared to the enormous appetite of Hoshino Sora, Kitagawa Marin was too full to eat anymore after ten pieces of sushi.
At this moment, she was resting on the table with a flushed face, her gaze never leaving Hoshino Sora's face, watching his chewing and swallowing motions, and admiring his handsome features.
However, what she didn't know was that Hoshino Sora and Saito Somei were secretly competing. Seeing a customer calmly finish the dish was undoubtedly a provocation for a chef!
He was very satisfied with Kitagawa Marin's reaction, but Hoshino Sora, why did this man show no reaction at all? Could it be that his dishes simply couldn't move him?
In a trance, the scene shifted.
On the battlefield, facing Saito Somei's storm-like offensive, Hoshino Sora easily raised his knife to counter. After several evolutions of his Gourmet Cell, he became indifferent to these low-level dishes.
He couldn't explain why this was the case, but simply, the dish in front of him didn't give him that feeling of excitement. Although the taste was very good and the skill level was high.
But, he always felt something was missing.
Since that was the case, it seemed he could only use his ultimate move.
Hoshino Sora's disregard made Saito Somei's gaze grow sharper, like a drawn sword. The speed of his hands also changed from fast to slow, pouring all his attention into the sushi in front of him.
"The last piece, tuna top meat sushi, please enjoy!"
After making this last piece of sushi, Saito Somei's forehead was already covered in sweat. Continuously concentrating on making so much sushi, even he felt a bit strained.
Staring intently at Hoshino Sora's face, observing his reaction, Saito Somei's eyes were full of seriousness. At this moment, the other party was no longer a customer in his eyes, but a discerning examiner.
From beginning to end, the other party hadn't smiled, or even shown much reaction. At this point, it was no longer a simple matter of entertaining a diner.
"Top meat, is it the meat from the top of the tuna's head?"
"That's right, that part of the meat is very soft, the tendons are also soft, and it's rich in fat. I usually save it for myself, but today I specially made it for you to try."
Picking up the sushi, Hoshino Sora examined it carefully. Tuna top meat, also called head meat or brain meat in some places, accounts for 0.5% of the entire tuna, making it very rare.
And also very delicious.
"Such a strong visual impact..."
The rice grains were distinct, with a subtly fermented aroma. When mixed with the fat of the tuna top meat, this aroma became even richer. Upon tasting, it was fresh, crisp, refreshing, smooth, and not greasy.
To be honest, there was nothing particularly special. If asked for a review, there was only one: the ultimate expression of freshness. The skillful technique fully brought out the umami of the tuna.
Many types of fish can be used to make sushi, but each type requires a different molding technique to perfectly blend with the rice, which truly tests the chef's skill.
Even small differences can lead to significant changes in the entire sushi, such as the cutting patterns on the fish. These all have their specific principles.
And Saito Somei, he was such a craftsman, bringing these principles to their utmost, ultimately creating this sushi dish that looked simple but was meticulously crafted in every detail!
"It seems I didn't come in vain today."
As the sushi entered his mouth, Hoshino Sora's face broke into a blissful smile, then he very contentedly gave a thumbs up. Just for this piece of sushi in front of him, his trip today was not in vain!
"After all this time, what you ate earlier should have been digested, right? Come and try this."
As he spoke, Hoshino Sora picked up another piece of tuna top meat sushi, which had reached upper silver grade, and brought it to Kitagawa Marin's mouth. The rich aroma made her swallow.
She lightly parted her crimson lips and swallowed it whole. The rich, fatty aroma spread throughout her mouth as she chewed. Kitagawa Marin's previously calm expression once again became animated.
"Ah, mm, hmm, ooh..."
The warm current flowing within her made her involuntarily rub her legs, and sounds that shouldn't have been made escaped her lips. She wanted to stop, but the impact of the top-tier sushi made her completely lose control.
Hoshino Sora just watched with a smile, while turning on his phone's recording function. After three or four minutes, he finally pressed the shutter button, looking at her broken expression.
"Ah! Delete it, delete it for me!"
Seeing that Hoshino Sora had taken an unflattering photo of her, even though she was out of strength, Kitagawa Marin still struggled to get up and rushed over, wanting to delete this embarrassing black history.
However, as she stood up, she accidentally tripped, which ended up as an embrace, allowing Hoshino Sora to fully enjoy the feeling of a beauty falling into his arms.
"No way."
"Bad store manager!"
Looking at Kitagawa Marin's helpless little expression after being 'teased,' Hoshino Sora's expression was somewhat excited. Her charming appearance inexplicably hit his soft spot.
And so...
----------
Kitagawa Marin walked with puffed cheeks on her way to the comic convention, looking at the fleeting screensaver on Hoshino Sora's phone, not knowing whether to be happy or sad in her heart, though perhaps more happy now.
Although it was an unflattering photo, it was indeed on Hoshino Sora's screen. Thinking that she would be seen by him every day, a hint of secret joy was unavoidable deep down.
If only it wasn't an unflattering photo. She had countless pictures in her album that were more suitable as a screensaver.
"Don't make a long face. If someone comes over to take your picture later, they might think you dislike them."
Seeing Kitagawa Marin constantly frowning, seemingly sulking, Hoshino Sora awkwardly scratched his head, then leaned in and boldly pinched her cheek, wanting to help her relax.
"Hmph, it's all because of you. Who likes to collect unflattering photos of others? Luckily you met me; anyone else would have smashed your phone already."
Pushing Hoshino Sora's hand away, and putting her hands on her hips, Kitagawa Marin puffed out her cheeks again. However, it was clear she wasn't angry, otherwise she wouldn't have spoken in such a playful tone.
"Then I should thank you for sparing my phone's life."
"Excuse me, may I take a picture?"
As the two talked, a small, cute high school girl suddenly ran over, holding a camera with excitement in her eyes.
"Of course! As many as you want!"
Seeing the girl with the camera, Kitagawa Marin's eyes filled with surprise and excitement. She then reached out and hooked Hoshino Sora's arm, their intimate demeanor showing no sign that they had just been arguing.
"Um... about that, when it's Black Prince-sama, could you please put your hand on the Corrupted Princess's waist, and preferably have a deep, loving gaze?"
Is hugging the waist because of this?
Hearing the little girl's request, Hoshino Sora finally understood why Kitagawa Marin had said that a few days ago, about giving him the benefit of hugging her waist. However, this was slightly different from what he understood.
He had originally thought it meant hugging her waist while strolling around the comic convention, but now it seemed he could only hug her during photos.
What a pity!
However, if he used 'character accuracy' as an excuse, hugging her waist during the comic convention shouldn't be too much of a problem.
As they spoke, Hoshino Sora turned his head, his gaze meeting Kitagawa Marin's cherry-pink eyes. With just one look, he felt her shyness, but she still tried hard to stare back at him.
That feeling of bashfulness was instantly expressed to the fullest. The girl holding the camera seized this moment, pressed the shutter, and took the most satisfying photo of the year.
"Okay, that's good. Can I add you on LINE? I'll send you the photos later."
As the girl's voice came, Hoshino Sora and Kitagawa Marin finally broke eye contact. She shyly stepped half a pace to the left, while grabbing her left arm with her right hand, appearing a bit flustered.
"Okay, here's my LINE!"
After a brief exchange, the two said goodbye to the girl. However, not long after they parted, Hoshino Sora stealthily reached for Kitagawa Marin's waist. This sudden movement made her flinch.
"What are you doing?"
Thinking Hoshino Sora had done it unintentionally, Kitagawa Marin turned sideways, her cheeks flushed, wanting to say something, but then she saw his very serious gaze.
"Kitagawa, I remember you said that when cosplaying a character, one should completely embody them, right?"
"That's right, what about it?"
Kitagawa Marin tilted her head, seemingly curious why Hoshino Sora suddenly asked this.
"Now that you've changed into this outfit, your inner self should have transformed into the Corrupted Princess Letona. Letona doesn't have a personality like yours; you're acting too much like Kitagawa.
Letona is a more aggressive character. When facing Tres's embrace, she should forcefully grab his clothes and meet his gaze, instead of reacting so cutely."
After eating sushi, to understand the setting, Hoshino Sora specifically played the game for three or four hours. Now, he could say he understood Princess Letona very well.
She was a woman who, after being abandoned by her father, was particularly bold in love and hate. Even her first time with the prince was initiated by her, completely different from the easily shy Kitagawa Marin.
But speaking of which, is this girl's frequency of shyness a bit high recently? She wasn't like this at first; back then, Kitagawa Marin was more like a goofy girl.
Kitagawa Marin couldn't explain it. It wasn't like she could say she was too concerned about Hoshino Sora, and with their bodies having touched so much, that's why she felt shy.
"Sorry, I'm not in character yet."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Kitagawa suddenly realized, 'Ah, she's at a comic convention now, wearing Princess Letona's clothes. She is Letona!'
If you're going to role-play, and you can't do things that fit the character's persona, then it's better not to play the character at all!
And so.
"Come closer, let me see your handsome face, my Prince!"
She grabbed Hoshino Sora's collar and pulled him very close. Despite her inner shame, Kitagawa still moved for the sake of the character's complete persona, then kissed him on the cheek.
In the original work, it was a kiss on the lips here, but she was too shy. Ultimately, she was still a bit reserved.
Of course, the most fundamental issue was the relationship between the two of them.
They weren't a couple; they were a store manager and an employee. But that was before; now...
They should be considered friends, right?
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you guys wanna check it out.