"Erina-sama, don't be angry. How about you stick the paper strips on my face instead?"
Looking at Erina Nakiri, whose face was covered in paper strips and who appeared furious, Hisako Arato stood beside her with a hesitant expression, then asked in a low voice.
"It's not about the paper strips. Why is that guy so good? Logically, isn't luck supposed to be about the same? Why are his cards always so good? Every time, he just happens to beat me."
"Uh, Erina-sama, this actually requires a bit of skill and cooperation…"
Thinking about how Erina Nakiri always tried to be the landlord regardless of her cards, and how she would play bombs without considering the situation, it was only natural that she lost so much.
"Of course, I know that! It's just that seeing his arrogant face is so annoying! Every time I try to be patient, that guy provokes me. Now that I think about it carefully, it was all a strategy!"
Sighing softly, Erina Nakiri lowered her head in frustration. Hoshino Sora's ability to manipulate people's emotions was too strong, so much so that she always felt a bit impulsive when playing cards. Cards she didn't intend to play would just come out with a little provocation from him.
"Let's walk faster. It's embarrassing to be seen with all these paper strips on my face."
Hearing movement behind her, Erina Nakiri quickened her pace, guessing someone had opened a door and come out. She didn't want to be seen in such a disheveled state.
She wouldn't be a gentleman if she didn't avenge this. She had to find a way to win it back!
Her cheeks subtly puffed out. She would never forget Hoshino Sora's arrogant face when she left just now.
Annoying!
Super annoying!
——————
"Great! It's Inui-senpai! I remember that senpai really liked you, didn't she? Today, we'll definitely pass smoothly."
The next morning, looking at the stick in his hand, Hoshino Sora's expression was subtle. Then he turned to look at Tadokoro Megumi, finding that she had fortunately drawn Inui Hinako's group, while he had drawn the most troublesome Kojiro Shinomiya's group.
The Hell Kitchen with a pass rate of less than 5%.
Forget it, it's better that he drew it than Tadokoro Megumi. At least Inui Hinako liked Xiao Hui, and with Xiao Hui's solid basic skills, the pass rate would be at least a hundred times higher than Shinomiya's side. It was a win-win situation no matter how he looked at it.
"Hoshino-kun, are you alright? Shinomiya-senpai's place is said to have a pass rate of less than 5%, and yesterday only two people passed his assessment…"
While breathing a sigh of relief herself, Tadokoro Megumi began to worry about Hoshino Sora again. That was Kojiro Shinomiya's kitchen! The place with the most wails yesterday was there!
"It's fine. Cooking according to a recipe is my forte."
Hoshino Sora said with a smile. If Kojiro Shinomiya's place was hell for others, then for him, Shinomiya's place was simply heaven. Cooking strictly according to a recipe, what kind of simple assessment was this? Don't underestimate him!
"Mhm, you must pass smoothly, Hoshino-kun."
"Definitely."
Hoshino Sora said with a smile. He seemed to be in a good mood. As they talked, Shiina Mahiru appeared before them from the staircase.
"I'm in Inui-senpai's group. How about you two?"
"Me too!"
Hearing Shiina Mahiru's words, Tadokoro Megumi's face lit up with surprise, and she stepped forward to grasp her hand. The meaning couldn't have been more obvious.
"Then let's move together later, too."
"Okay!"
With a companion, her confidence grew a few points. It was clear that after several joint actions, Tadokoro Megumi and Shiina Mahiru's relationship had visibly grown closer, appearing like good friends. Watching their intimacy, Hoshino Sora felt only gratification.
After all, he was the one who brought these two together.
"Then let's go have breakfast first, and then depart."
"Mhm!"
——————
After breakfast, Hoshino Sora took the last empty seat on the bus and leaned against the window, closing his eyes to rest. There was no one familiar on the bus, and everyone's faces were gloomy and lifeless, clearly feeling very anxious about drawing Shinomiya's group.
"It's Erina Nakiri."
"Why is she here?"
"Do the Elite Ten also have to participate in the lodging training?"
The discussions from the front made Hoshino Sora open his eyes. Then, he saw Erina Nakiri walking straight towards him.
Doesn't this guy have a private car? Why did she come squeezed in with them on the bus?
Such a question arose in Hoshino Sora's mind.
"Hoshino-kun, we meet again."
Erina Nakiri's eyes lit up when she saw Hoshino Sora sitting at the very back of the car with an empty seat beside him. Compared to sitting with those men who didn't dare to look at her, she still preferred to sit with someone familiar, even if she didn't particularly like that person.
"Hey, it's really crowded here for me."
Feeling Erina Nakiri's black, fleshy leg pressing against him, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but complain. This guy was really rude, taking up half the seat as soon as she arrived and constantly pushing him inward, as if one seat wasn't enough for her.
"Hmph, I just like sitting here. What, do you want to move?"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Erina Nakiri let out an arrogant hmph, then shifted her body, pushing him further in. Her mind was filled with the memory of losing last night.
"But if you do that, won't others see it as you constantly throwing yourself at me? And very actively at that. Does it not matter if you're misunderstood?"
Looking at Erina Nakiri's slightly smug expression, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but point to the side. This guy really had no shame, daring to do something so intimate on the bus.
"Huh? You wait!"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's reminder, Erina Nakiri finally reacted. She glanced around the bus, feeling the confused stares from those nearby. Her cheeks visibly reddened, and a layer of shy moisture clouded her eyes.
"Do you not pay attention to your surroundings before doing things?"
Looking at Erina Nakiri's embarrassed appearance, Hoshino Sora boldly leaned his head onto her shoulder, as a response to her earlier action of leaning on him. Such a move would naturally draw more suspicion from others.
"Snuggle."
"Who wants to snuggle with you?! Get off!"
Feeling the gazes from those around them gradually turn strange, Erina Nakiri grabbed Hoshino Sora's head with both hands, trying to move him away. However, as a small, weak woman, how could her strength compare to a man's? With that push and pull, Hoshino Sora didn't want to leave, and he accidentally used too much force.
His head landed directly on an incredibly soft place.
"Cough, cough, there was a small accident. Don't mind it."
Quickly lifting his head, pretending nothing had happened, Hoshino Sora leaned back in his seat by the window, recalling the softness he had just felt, and a faint milky scent. His heart immediately burned with desire; if only they were on a bed instead of a bus.
Then he would definitely do something.
"Pervert."
Feeling the piercing stares from around them, Erina Nakiri couldn't make a scene. In the end, she could only whisper a word into his ear, then lowered her head, her face crimson, not daring to look at the faces of those around her, no longer bearing her initial proud peacock demeanor.
"What's their relationship?"
"I don't know, but aren't they overly intimate? I'm so envious; his head must have touched something just now."
"What would it feel like? It must be very soft."
"I wish I could be his head!"
The discussions around them made Erina Nakiri so ashamed that she wanted to find a hole to hide in. She immediately reached out and pinched Hoshino Sora's thigh with considerable force, but it caused no actual harm, as Hoshino Sora's leg muscles were quite developed, and he was wearing pants.
"How about we play poker in my room again tonight? Honestly, I've never seen an opponent as easy to beat as Erina."
"Bring it on, who's afraid of whom! This time, I'll definitely make you lose big time."
Afterward, the two quietly competed in their seats. Erina Nakiri kept making small movements, but Hoshino Sora didn't pay much attention, only looking at her with a hint of indulgence. To others, this looked like a young couple having a minor quarrel, with the girl throwing a small tantrum and the boy being doting.
It was a bit... ship-worthy.
What Erina Nakiri didn't know was that her reputation was completely ruined after this bus incident. Although no rumors would spread now, the seeds of gossip had already been sown, and some people even secretly pulled out their phones to take candid photos, documenting everything.
That was Erina Nakiri! One of the Totsuki Ten Elite, the undisputed star of the academy, now actually involved with some outsider punk, and openly flirting at that! This was definitely the most explosive news in recent years!
What great black stockings, I really want to touch them...
But if he touched them now, he'd be socially dead.
Hoshino Sora looked at Erina Nakiri's black-stockinged feet, his heart burning. Fleshy legs plus black stockings were simply a perfect match. If he wasn't in the car right now, he would definitely initiate some physical contact.
"We've arrived."
As the vehicle swayed, Erina Nakiri fell into Hoshino Sora's arms. People around them began to disembark one after another. The girl, her breathing somewhat rapid and her cheeks flushed, remained in her seat without speaking. Only after everyone else had left did she finally get off the bus.
Hoshino Sora silently followed behind her. Soon, they both followed the crowd to the kitchen for the assessment. This time, Erina Nakiri did not stand with him again, but chose a spot far away from him.
Noticing this, Hoshino Sora felt subtly displeased.
"Good morning."
Holding a sheet of paper in one hand and his other hand on his hip, Kojiro Shinomiya looked down at the crowd with contempt, then began his self-introduction:
"I am Shinomiya, a graduate of the 79th generation. This time, your task is to prepare the dish I specify. Have you all received the recipe?"
"How unlucky, it's actually Master Chef Shinomiya."
"I heard only two people passed his assessment here yesterday."
"And the topic is even a recipe Master Chef Shinomiya came up with."
Listening to the discussions around him, Hoshino Sora calmly looked at the recipe. It clearly detailed information such as seasoning, heat, and timing, which could almost be called a nanny-level instruction.
Nine-Treasure Vegetable Aspic. Although the colorful vegetables give a beautiful and luxurious impression, each of the nine vegetables requires different processing methods and cooking temperatures. No single vegetable can be too prominent or too bland; making their flavors complement each other is the most difficult part of this dish.
"This is a relatively simple one chosen from my recipes. Or do you want to challenge a more difficult recipe?"
Waving the recipe in his hand, Kojiro Shinomiya said arrogantly. His smug demeanor immediately caused the students at the front to show expressions of dissatisfaction.
"Damn it."
"I really want to go up there and punch him."
A recipe level of Silver (Medium)? So, does that mean it has to be at least Silver (Low) to be considered qualified? And no improvements are allowed. For ordinary students, this is indeed a very difficult challenge.
Trigger Quest: Pass the Themed Assessment with Flair.
Quest Description: Through a draw, you have been assigned Kojiro Shinomiya's themed assessment. This is known as the 'Hell Gate' of the Lodging Training, leaving countless students disheartened.
Quest Requirements: Be the first to complete the dish and pass the assessment with flair.
Quest Reward: 300 Reputation Points.
"Also, this assignment will not be done in teams. Each of you will make one dish. No communication or giving opinions while cooking. Ingredients can be freely chosen from the vegetable piles behind the kitchen."
Pointing to the vegetable racks at the very back of the kitchen, Kojiro Shinomiya's words were slow but exceptionally intimidating, each word making the examinees present tremble.
"Let me give you another piece of advice: treat everyone around you as an enemy."
"It's wiser that way."
"The time limit is three hours. Now, begin!"
Raising his hand and then lowering it, as Kojiro Shinomiya's words fell, Hoshino Sora appeared at the ingredient selection area and began choosing at the fastest speed.
The first choice was broccoli, because it is more susceptible to oxidation, then cucumber...
Hoshino Sora was very fast at selecting ingredients. Because of his great strength, he could easily push his way to the front, so much so that he had finished selecting while some people had only managed to get two or three vegetables, including Erina Nakiri. Without Hisako's care, she was undoubtedly at a great disadvantage against a crowd of big men aggressively pushing.
Noticing this, Hoshino Sora's expression was helpless. He silently 'accidentally' dropped his broccoli to Erina Nakiri, then returned to the broccoli area to choose again.
Erina Nakiri naturally noticed this, but she didn't say much, just looking at the broccoli on the plate with a hint of emotion in her eyes.
Hmph, at least he did something decent.
As soon as the emotion arose, the memory of his actions in the car just now flashed through her mind. Her face immediately flushed, and she grabbed ingredients with even more effort. She didn't want his help!
Seeing Erina Nakiri suddenly look as if she had a shot of adrenaline, Hoshino Sora finally relaxed. He carried his ingredients to his cooking station and then began cooking.
Because the recipe was written very clearly, his Ideas was also particularly clear, and his technique was even more precise. He cooked extremely quickly, without any unnecessary movements.
"Shinomiya-sensei, please taste. My name is Hoshino Sora."
Looking at Kojiro Shinomiya, who was sitting idly on the stage, he must have seen Hoshino Sora give the broccoli to Erina Nakiri, but he didn't say anything, and his expression didn't even change. He probably didn't want to offend Erina.
A guy who bullies the weak and fears the strong.
This was Hoshino Sora's evaluation of Kojiro Shinomiya, but on the surface, he still greeted him with a smile, while also presenting his dish.
"Hoshino Sora, pass."
After tasting a bite of the dish on the plate, a hint of surprise flashed in Kojiro Shinomiya's eyes. Even he, making this dish, would probably achieve this taste. He then gave it a passing evaluation; there was simply nothing to criticize about the dish in front of him.
The dish was completed. All that was left was to exit with flair. To be flamboyant, one must attract attention.
Walking to the door, the quest notification was slow to appear. Hoshino Sora couldn't help but wonder if he wasn't being flamboyant enough, so he turned around again.
"Erina, I'll wait for you outside. Hurry up a bit. This kind of assessment shouldn't take so long."
Quest Completed: Pass the Themed Assessment with Flair.
Quest Reward: 300 Reputation Points.
Hoshino Sora said and then left the assessment area, and his performance further confirmed Kojiro Shinomiya's suspicion that those two really had something going on. However, the words he spoke before leaving made him subtly annoyed.
What does he mean, "this level of cooking"?
Today, I'll make an exception, otherwise, it won't be easy to get by in the culinary world in the future.
Kojiro Shinomiya was very smart. He knew who he could offend without consequences and who he shouldn't offend. For someone like Erina Nakiri, who had both potential and influence, he had always been very lenient.
"Who wants to walk with you…"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's call and feeling the gazes gathering around her, Erina Nakiri said with a slight blush. Who was this guy talking to, so loudly?
"Silence in the examination room! Just because others pass smoothly doesn't mean you can too. If you keep making noise, all of you will fail!"
As Hoshino Sora's words came out, a commotion immediately erupted in the room. Seeing this, Kojiro Shinomiya immediately slammed the table, stood up, and spoke with highly threatening words. In an instant, the examination room returned to a deathly silence.
"Oh, you're quite fast, aren't you?"
Ten minutes later, seeing Erina Nakiri, who was the second to come out, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but tease her. Then, his gaze searched the estate: "Do you want to go get something to eat? There are ingredients everywhere in here."
"Wouldn't that be bad…"
"As the Far Moon's Young Miss, aren't you a bit too unpromising if you don't even dare to touch the Far Moon's internal property?"
Seeing Erina Nakiri's slightly hesitant appearance, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but say with some exasperation. This resort all belonged to Far Moon. Did this girl not even dare to take something from her own home?
"Who said I don't dare? Take it, you can take all of it! But I cooked yesterday, so today I want you to cook for me. If it's not delicious, I'll tell them you broke the rules by taking ingredients indiscriminately and have you expelled."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, a look of dissatisfaction immediately appeared on Erina Nakiri's face. Was this guy provoking her?
"Deal. Then I'll go find the main ingredients. You help me find these side dishes. I remember seeing them in that area behind the mountain…"
"Eh?"
Hoshino Sora finished speaking with a smile on his face and handed Erina Nakiri a slip of paper. Clearly, he had been planning this for a long time, so much so that before the girl could react, the boy had already disappeared.
"You really know how to make trouble for me."
Glancing at the ingredient list in her hand, and then at the already vanished Hoshino Sora, Erina Nakiri couldn't help but sigh, but she still obediently went to look for them.
For no other reason, she wanted to see what level Hoshino Sora was at now.
She wanted to taste his cooking!
--+--
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!
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If you guys wanna check it out.