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When that brief burst of white light faded, Shun and Miyoko's feet were already set upon another land.
The air of the Gourmet World was nothing like that of the Shokugeki world. With a deep breath, it felt as if every cell in the body began to cheer.
"So fresh! I feel like my whole body just woke up!"
Miyoko couldn't help exclaiming. She drank the air in greedily, feeling an indescribable vitality rush through her limbs. Her freshly re-forged body felt like dry fields meeting long-awaited rain—every cell feasting on the thick energy saturating the air.
They had only just set foot in this world, and already its difference was unmistakable.
But when she lifted her gaze to take in their surroundings, the delight on Miyoko's face stilled into confusion.
All around stretched an incredibly dense forest.
Every tree stood at least twenty meters tall, some spearing straight into the clouds. Even on her second visit, Miyoko's breath caught. Between the boughs of the giant trees hung vine-curtains that glimmered faintly; strange mushrooms and unfamiliar blossoms freckled the forest floor; a soothing, fragrant mist laced the air.
Now and then a beast's call echoed far away—then faded quickly, as quiet returned to the woods.
The scene was magnificent and brimming with life, but aside from forest and foliage, there was nothing else to see.
"Shun…"
Tugging Shun's sleeve, Miyoko stared ahead, puzzled. "Why don't I see Shokurin Temple? It's just forest in every direction."
Seeing her confusion, Shun smiled—remembering his first time here, seeing himself in her.
He didn't point toward any one direction. Instead, he explained calmly, "That's what makes Shokurin Temple special. It's also the very first lesson of Shoku-gi—and honestly, its most important premise."
"Special how?" Miyoko asked, still at a loss.
Shun looked over the forest and continued, "Shokurin Temple isn't an ordinary building. It has an awareness. You can take it literally—it's alive, with a will of its own."
"It has exacting standards for a visitor's heart. If your heart lacks gratitude and respect—if you're harboring contempt, greed, or impatience—then you can't see its true form. All that will appear to you is an ordinary forest."
Miyoko blinked, stunned. A temple with self-awareness?
"Then… how do I see it?" she asked.
Shun's voice lowered, focused and reverent. "You have to hold a pure thankfulness. Thank nature's gifts, thank the sacrifice and offering of ingredients… Not just with words, but with gratitude that rises from the soul—real awe and real thanks."
Saying so, Shun gently closed his eyes, syncing breath and heartbeat, hands pressed together.
"Miyoko, this is the foundation of Shoku-gi. Try it with me."
As his Shoku-gi unfolded, the sharpness around Shun settled into a deep calm, as if he were melting into the surroundings.
Miyoko didn't fully understand, but she mirrored him—closing her eyes, hands together before her chest.
She tried to sweep all distractions from her mind.
Gradually, a pure and resonant sense of gratitude welled up from within.
Little by little, she stopped thinking and began truly feeling.
Feeling the world around her. Feeling the forest breathe. Feeling the earth under her feet.
Shun's Shoku-gi was already well-honed; within seconds of entering the state, he opened his eyes and glanced back at Miyoko, nodding to himself.
"First time and she's already touching the threshold of Shoku-gi… Miyoko really is gifted."
He didn't disturb her, letting her explore it on her own. Only after a few minutes did he gently prompt, "Good. Stay right there, Miyoko."
Miyoko didn't know how long had passed. Then Shun's voice came softly by her ear, "You can open your eyes now."
"Hm?"
She opened them—and the sight before her drew a gasp.
The blank, endless forest peeled away like a thin veil, turning translucent—then thin as mist.
A colossal temple complex, impossible to capture in words for its grandeur and strangeness, stood revealed.
It wasn't merely built by hands; it looked grown by nature itself.
Beyond its vastness, it radiated a hush of mystery.
It took Miyoko a long moment to recover. Breathless, she whispered, "Th-this… this is Shokurin Temple? It's incredible! I never imagined a place like this could exist! Is it truly alive—can it really feel what's in our hearts?"
"Mm. Don't get carried away," Shun reminded her gently. "Seeing it doesn't mean it will admit you. Keep gratitude in your heart at all times—otherwise, it can be dangerous…"
"Okay." Miyoko steadied herself and followed Shun, step by step, up toward the temple's stone stair.
He remembered the first time he'd ascended those steps—his heart cluttered, the buildings themselves had lashed out to test him.
Not this time.
Before long, they reached Shokurin Temple's great gate.
Waiting there was a lean young man in a plain gray training robe, a small topknot tied behind his head.
It was none other than Shuu—the one who'd first recognized Shun's Shoku-gi.
Hands clasped behind his back, Shuu looked at Shun and smiled. "Shun, your Shoku-gi has grown even purer, and your way of guiding is just right. Seems your journey was also a time of earnest practice. Very good."
"Shuu-sensei, it's been a while." Shun bowed. "I've brought the person I love most to Shokurin Temple. I hope to receive your guidance again…"
Shuu didn't answer immediately. His gaze shifted to Miyoko—still awestruck by the living temple—and he looked her over with quiet care.
After a moment, a faint glint of surprise—and appreciation—touched his eyes.
"Body and mind, both clear. An unusually swift grasp of gratitude… and a foundation tempered to be remarkably firm… Limitless potential."
Shuu nodded, then said something that genuinely caught Shun off guard: "Shokurin Temple's gates are forever open to the sincere. But, Shun—her foundational training from here on… you'll guide her yourself."
"Eh?"
(End of Chapter)
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