In the following days, Hoshino Sora would demonstrate every day. At the same time, he also had the snack workshop increase the cooking area of the kitchen counter, making it easier for them to operate multiple lines.
The steak was also upgraded to a steak set, accompanied by delicious egg snacks. This area even saw diners who skipped dinner just to come and stake out a spot.
For three days, Shiina Mahiru and Tadokoro Megumi followed Hoshino Sora's instructions completely. Shiina Mahiru, in particular, could clearly feel herself improving.
Visible progress!
She went from being able to cook only 41 servings of steak in 40 minutes at the beginning to now being able to cook 55 servings of steak sets in 40 minutes. The progress was very significant.
After this special training, she could clearly feel a significant increase in her concentration and control over the pan. It was just that this training was a bit draining; her arms, legs, and body were all sore, and her condition, to be honest, wasn't very good.
"That's good. You've completed all the tasks I assigned very well, and your progress each day is very noticeable. Get a good rest tonight; these past two days have really worn you out."
Even when Hoshino Sora encouraged her at the very end, Shiina Mahiru's gaze towards him held a hint of admiration. His guidance over the past two days was more effective than her efforts over the past one or two months.
Although it was high-pressure every day, she truly gained a lot.
Perhaps she had been too lenient with herself before, which led to her appearing diligent but not making much progress.
Now, although she was exhausted every day, with sore arms and legs, she gained a lot, and she could feel it.
"Xiao Hui, your ability is actually very strong. Your handling of ingredients is better than most people. I just don't know why you're so lacking in confidence. It would be great if you could be a bit more confident."
"I'm not as amazing as you think..."
"Do you not trust my judgment? Lacking confidence won't make your cooking taste better. It's better to be confident; you can make wonderful dishes."
Heading west, after depositing the stall equipment at the snack workshop, the three boarded the bus bound for Far Moon. Hoshino Sora sat between the two of them; it was already dusk.
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Tadokoro Megumi lowered her head and began to ponder. She didn't have much confidence in the accommodation training, but he was right; a lack of confidence wouldn't guarantee her passing the assessment.
"I understand, Hoshino-kun."
Although a single sentence couldn't change her lack of confidence immediately, it planted a seed of self-confidence in Tadokoro Megumi, and after experiencing certain events, this seed would eventually take root and sprout.
Stealing a glance at Hoshino Sora, who wore a gentle smile, the girl gently exhaled, placing her hand over her chest. It felt so good to be cared for; her heart felt warm.
"Miyu, you too, be more confident. With your abilities, as long as you perform normally, you can definitely pass the accommodation training smoothly."
Hoshino Sora said with a smile. Most of Far Moon's graduates were quite amiable, except for a few individuals with extreme personalities.
Thinking of this, Hoshino Sora's expression darkened slightly. In the original novel, Tadokoro Megumi was indeed troubled by Kojiro Shinomiya. Although the ending was good, he didn't like it.
However, he didn't have a good solution right now; he could only take it one step at a time.
While he was pondering, the bus slowly came to a stop. After the three got off, they started climbing the slope, parting ways at the intersection of the two dormitories.
"Thank you for these two days, Hoshino-kun. I'll do my best in the accommodation training, and you should too. You must pass the assessment."
"Mm, I will. I'll be looking forward to your performance then."
Hoshino Sora encouraged her with a smile.
Then they parted ways.
"My arms are so sore, and my legs are so sore..."
While alone with Hoshino Sora, Shiina Mahiru couldn't help but complain softly, moving her arms and legs. Compared to Tadokoro Megumi, whose dormitory was right next to fields and who did agricultural labor every day, her physical fitness was clearly much worse.
"Alright, stop complaining. I'll give you a massage when we get back, okay?"
Hearing the girl's wail beside him, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but gently rub his forehead and comfort her. The training intensity over the past two days was indeed a bit much, really wearing out the young girl.
"Massage..."
Upon hearing the word "massage," a hint of wariness appeared in Shiina Mahiru's eyes. Then she turned her head and met Hoshino Sora's gaze for two seconds, only relaxing when she saw his clear eyes.
"Don't misunderstand, it's just to help you relax your body. If you go to the accommodation training with such a tired body, you'll probably be eliminated in the first round."
Hoshino Sora admitted he had some ulterior motives—after all, she was so beautiful and had a good figure—but his main purpose was still to help Shiina Mahiru relax her body and relieve fatigue.
"Okay, then I'll leave it to you."
Looking at Hoshino Sora's clear eyes and thinking of how she had just doubted him, Shiina Mahiru couldn't help but feel a rush of shame. He clearly didn't mean it that way; she was just being overly sensitive.
"Mm, by the way, it's best not to shower an hour before or after a massage; it's not good for your body."
"Is that true?"
"Of course."
Thus, the two returned to Yōbi Dormitory.
Shiina Mahiru first took a shower, then ate dinner, and it wasn't until past nine in the evening that she stealthily emerged from her room, tiptoeing upstairs like a thief.
"Hmm?"
What Shiina Mahiru didn't notice was that as she was sneaking upstairs, Shiina Mashiro came out of her room. She had only intended to use the restroom but discovered her sneaking upstairs.
She was curious but remained composed.
On the other side, Shiina Mahiru arrived at Hoshino Sora's room door. Just as she was about to knock, he opened the door first. Their eyes met, and looking at the man a head taller than herself, the girl's cheeks flushed slightly.
"I'm here. Sorry to bother you."
With her head slightly bowed, Shiina Mahiru's voice was very soft and tinged with a faint shame. Clearly, coming over late at night was the result of much deliberation on her part.
"No bother at all. Lie down over there. There might be some physical contact later. I'll try my best not to touch your... *cough cough*, private parts. Just tell me if you feel uncomfortable."
"Okay, is this alright?"
A pleasant scent wafted to his nose. Looking at the petite and shy Shiina Mahiru in front of him, Hoshino Sora's heart rate also quickened a bit. Thinking that he could soon do whatever he wanted with her delicate body, his heart raced with excitement.
No! The main purpose was to help her relax; taking advantage was secondary.
But then again, he didn't know any proper massage techniques. Helping her stretch her shoulders a bit, then massaging her legs and kneading her feet, was already his limit.
Fortunately, through experimentation, he discovered that the Gourmet Cell (modified) could release an unknown energy that had great benefits for the human body, acting to relieve fatigue.
He had discovered this when he and Kitagawa were having fun a while ago. At the time, it effectively relieved her lower back soreness, though it did increase sensitivity, which was a minor side effect.
"Phew, a little higher..."
As Shiina Mahiru lay on the bed, Hoshino Sora began to work. First, he had her unbutton her clothes to expose her shoulders, then began to apply pressure with a relatively professional technique.
As he massaged, a faint melancholy appeared in his eyes.
Speaking of which, he had learned this set of massage techniques specifically for Haruno. He wondered how she was doing now. If he could do it again, he would never choose to break up.
The scene of their breakup that day flashed in his mind. She walked very slowly, and he watched her leave until she was out of sight. If he had rushed after her back then, perhaps the outcome would have been different.
Her reason for breaking up was that she didn't want to hold him back.
She said she couldn't decide her future marriage partner and didn't have the courage to elope with him, so it was better to end it there, for both their sakes, to avoid more pain if they became too attached.
At that time, he just stood there blankly. Perhaps the feeling of being abandoned left him with some resentment, so he didn't chase after her.
But now, he undoubtedly regretted it. So, if he had the chance, he would definitely try to win her back, for his first love, for that innocent feeling.
If he had been a bit braver that day, the outcome might have been completely different...
"Pain..."
Hearing Shiina Mahiru's cry, Hoshino Sora instantly snapped out of his reverie, apologizing and adjusting his angle, continuing the massage with moderate pressure.
"You know, my arms really do feel a lot lighter."
After a while, Shiina Mahiru said with emotion, her eyes comfortably narrowed, her calves tensed, and her toes slightly curled. She just wondered why her lower abdomen felt a bit warm.
Did massage have this effect?
Shiina Mahiru was a bit confused, but Hoshino Sora's hands were indeed very well-behaved; he hadn't touched anywhere else besides her shoulders.
"Next are your legs and feet. You're wearing a nightgown, so just lift your skirt up a bit to expose your calves."
He reached out to lift Shiina Mahiru's skirt but then felt it wasn't very polite. Hoshino Sora gentleman retracted his hand, letting her do it herself, to avoid startling her.
"Mm."
Because her shoulders were massaged so comfortably, Shiina Shinohiru naturally lifted her skirt, only to pull it back down halfway, realizing she had pulled it too high and her panties would be visible.
In fact, they had already been seen, but Hoshino Sora held back from saying anything.
"Is this okay?"
"It's fine."
Her voice was shy, and her legs wiggled slightly on the bed. Seeing Hoshino Sora's somewhat direct gaze, a faint unease emerged in her heart, but she still chose to trust him.
Hoshino Sora did not disappoint her. He did nothing but perform proper massage movements. However, due to the very proper nature of the massage, when he massaged her feet, Shiina Shinohiru let out an incredibly embarrassed sound.
The waves of pain radiating from her feet, followed by an indescribable comfort, were like instantly going from hell to heaven. The huge contrast made her face flush.
"Mission accomplished!"
After a long while, Hoshino Sora finally let out a breath, and by this time, Shiina Shinohiru had already fallen asleep from his massage. It was clear she had been very tired these past two days, and once she relaxed, she directly entered dreamland.
"Tsk... You've taken my bed, where am I supposed to sleep?"
Looking at Shiina Shinohiru, who had a cute sleeping posture and her chest rising and falling rhythmically, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but swallow. This girl truly had no defenses against him.
"Sigh..."
After a soft sigh and covering her with a blanket, Hoshino Sora left the room and went downstairs.
Since she had taken his room, it should be reasonable for him to go to her room, right?
That being said, why was there a soft girl under the covers? Turning on the light and seeing Shiina Mashiro looking at him with confusion, Hoshino Sora suddenly didn't know what to say.
"Shinohiru fell asleep in my room, so I came to her room. If you want to sleep with her, you can go upstairs to my room."
Scratching his head, Hoshino Sora said awkwardly. Just now, because the lights were off, he hadn't realized there was someone in the bed until he hugged her and found her lying under the covers.
"It's fine, Sora is fine too. Let's sleep together."
"I taught you for nothing these past few days, didn't I? Didn't I tell you that you shouldn't sleep with anyone of the opposite sex unless they're your boyfriend or girlfriend? It's very dangerous."
"You also said that there shouldn't be intimate contact unless we're boyfriend and girlfriend, but aren't you still doing all sorts of things to me..."
"Cough, cough, that's enough. Let's sleep together."
He reached out and covered Shiina Mashiro's mouth. If she kept talking, it would be unusable. Besides, why not take advantage of an opportunity that presented itself? Who wouldn't like to sleep next to a beautiful girl?
Only...
"Although I agreed to sleep together, I didn't say you could hug me while we sleep."
"Can't I?"
Blinking her innocent big eyes, Shiina Mashiro said confusedly, because when she used to sleep with Shiina Shinohiru, she always snuggled up close like this.
"You two sisters are truly enchanting succubi."
Seeing this, Hoshino Sora could no longer resist getting handsy. She had already gone this far; if he remained as steadfast as a monk, it would be unreasonable.
However, even though he was getting handsy, he still held his bottom line and never took the final step, because this was Shiina Shinohiru's bed, and he didn't want to be socially dead in Yōbi Dormitory.
Nevertheless, he successfully claimed Shiina Mashiro's first kiss, and it was she who wrapped her arms around his neck and offered it willingly. As for why? It was probably just a simple surge of feeling.
The next morning, Hoshino Sora deliberately set his alarm an hour earlier, then left Shiina Shinohiru's room ahead of time. Before leaving, he carefully helped Shiina Mashiro get dressed.
After all, the two of them had been playing around last night and accidentally messed up their pajamas.
The sky outside was very dark at this time, and the outside was peaceful and quiet, as it was only four in the morning.
"Master Pingzuka, haven't you rested yet?"
Looking at Hiratsuka Shizuka sitting on the sofa, smoking and drinking, Hoshino Sora walked up to her with some confusion and sat down opposite her.
"You're up early, Hoshino. Are you nervous about the lodging training?"
Looking at Hoshino Sora who sat opposite her, Hiratsuka Shizuka couldn't help but tease him, then took a deep drag from her cigarette and said, "You don't mind, do you?"
"If possible, please put it out."
"What an unlikable child."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Hiratsuka Shizuka smiled helplessly, then put out the cigarette in her hand, picked up the wine bottle, and drank by herself, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Speaking of which, you're not sleeping in the middle of the night and drinking here. Do you have something on your mind?"
"Don't pry into a girl's business. Aren't you still going to lodging training? Have you packed everything?"
"Mostly, there's not much I need to bring. But Master Pingzuka, it's better to talk about things. Drinking alone late at night is bad for your health. I'll go make you some snacks to go with your drink."
Hearing Hiratsuka Shizuka's words, Hoshino Sora gently got up and walked towards the kitchen, leaving her alone in a daze.
"Burp..."
Because of the gas in her stomach, Hiratsuka Shizuka burped, then a sudden urge to urinate came over her, so she got up and went to the restroom. When she returned, Hoshino Sora had already come out of the kitchen with two plates of snacks.
One plate of strange-flavored peanuts, and one plate of crispy pork belly and diced potatoes, both were very tasty and quick to make snacks to go with drinks.
"Your efficiency is so high, and the taste is amazing."
Looking at the two steaming hot snacks in front of her, Hiratsuka Shizuka picked up her chopsticks and tasted them, then a look of happiness appeared on her face, and she patted Hoshino Sora's arm, praising him.
"Just so-so."
"You're so uncooperative. When I praise you, just accept it nicely."
"Okay."
"Actually, it's nothing big. It's just that I went on a blind date a while ago, and I was criticized for being like an old man and having a bad personality. Someone like me probably won't be liked by anyone."
After eating the delicious food, Hiratsuka Shizuka finally opened up a little, took a sip of wine, and talked about her recent encounter. As she spoke, her tone became a little aggrieved.
This wasn't her first failed blind date. The reason was that her personality was too much like an old man, and Japanese men all preferred women like Yamato Nadeshiko. It was truly annoying!
She was almost thirty years old and had never even held a boy's hand, although by chance she had seen...
At this thought, Hiratsuka Shizuka's face instantly flushed, and her gaze darted towards Sora, her heart rate slightly increasing. However, she still maintained a calm demeanor, as she could always explain her blushing by saying she was drunk.
"That's not true. Master Pingzuka is quite pretty, and isn't an 'old man' personality also quite cute? Many men actually like that, you just haven't met the right one yet."
"Then Hoshino? Do you like girls with an 'old man' type of personality?"
As if possessed, Hiratsuka Shizuka suddenly asked, emboldened by the alcohol.
"I like them. At least they're much better than those unreasonable girls. What? Is Master Pingzuka confessing to me? If it's Shizuka, I'm not unable to accept it, you know."
"Dream on! I'm going to catch up on sleep. Good luck with the lodging training."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's half-joking, half-serious words, Hiratsuka Shizuka said with a glare, then got up and left.
"Tsk, I was actually quite serious."
Shrugging his shoulders, Hoshino Sora muttered to himself.
Opening the door of Yōbi Dormitory and glancing at the scenery outside, Hoshino Sora shrunk his neck. He first went to the kitchen to make breakfast for everyone, then returned to his own room.
Gradually, Mito Ikumi and Yumeko Jabami both got out of bed. It was now five in the morning. Hoshino Sora walked to his room and opened the door.
He saw Shiina Shinohiru, half-asleep, taking off her clothes to change.
The air, slightly solidified.
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