"Three people it is, then." If you don't mind it being crowded, I have nothing to say.
Looking at Alice Nakiri's nonchalant expression, Erina Nakiri felt a bit annoyed. After a moment's hesitation, she finally decided to stay.
On one hand, there were three of them, so it wasn't like they would be alone together. On the other hand, she was worried that Alice Nakiri would get along even better with Okabe behind her back.
That was something she absolutely could not accept.
"Then it'll be the three of us."
Seeing Erina Nakiri give in, Alice Nakiri clapped her hands and made the final decision. "I want to sleep on the inside."
"Suit yourself."
The voices of the two Nakiri sisters, having finished their discussion, came from inside the room, leaving Okabe outside utterly bewildered. "How come...
...didn't anyone ask for his opinion?!
For a moment, Okabe didn't know whether he should enter the room or not.
Maybe I should go to their room instead?!
Suddenly, this thought popped into Okabe's mind, and his eyes lit up. He turned and headed towards the sisters' room.
Since those two had taken over his room without his permission, it was only fair for him to go sleep in theirs. Plus, he wouldn't be disturbed by them.
With that in mind, Okabe turned and headed for Erina Nakiri's room next door.
But he hadn't taken more than two steps.
When the door behind him was opened from the inside.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Alice Nakiri stood there with her arms crossed. The silky fabric of her pajamas outlined the budding curves of a young woman, and her eyes held a hint of resentment.
Erina stood beside her, her violet eyes shimmering with displeasure in the moonlight.
The two sisters had argued inside for so long and had finally reached a decision, and now Okabe, the main party involved, was trying to run away. It was un-for-givable!
"Ah! I was just thinking... the moon is lovely tonight. I was going to admire it in the courtyard for a bit. Want to join me?"
Okabe paused, turning around awkwardly. He scratched his head, his gaze shifting, unable to meet theirs. "Liar."
"You were clearly planning to go sleep in my room."
Erina Nakiri snorted coldly, glancing in the direction Okabe had been heading, seeing right through his plan.
"We caught you, didn't we?"
"Trying to ditch the two of us and sneak off? No way! It's not like we're monsters. We used to sleep together all the time when we were little, so why are you leaving now?"
Beside her, Alice Nakiri voiced her confusion as she walked towards Okabe, blocking his path. She stood with her hands on her hips, her expression exceptionally firm.
"You're the ones who decided on your own to sleep in my room, without even asking me."
"Then I'm asking you now."
"Can we... sleep together? Just like when we were little. I kind of miss how that felt."
Hearing Okabe's words, Erina Nakiri turned her face away slightly, the tips of her ears turning red, but she had indeed come over because she missed the feeling of their childhood.
Having been apart for so long, their bond had faded to some extent, something she could sense from their chat the other day. That's why she wanted to take this chance to mend their relationship.
At that moment, the moonlight spilled over the two girls, coating them in a layer of pristine light.
Okabe looked at the two childhood friends he had grown up with, at their pure, flawless eyes. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded and said, "Just this once. You two aren't little anymore. If you keep sleeping with me, sooner or later, people will start to gossip."
To be fair,
both sisters were very cute, and if they slept together, he would be the one getting the better end of the deal.
But boys and girls are different. At nine, it could be explained away as children being close, but in another three to five years, when their bodies had fully developed and they hit puberty, the situation would be quite different.
Currently, Okabe's attitude towards them was more like that of an elder towards his juniors.
After all, his mental age was what it was. It was unlikely he would develop romantic feelings for two little girls; only a pervert would.
"Okay!"
"Hooray!"
Hearing Okabe's words, Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri looked at each other, both seeing the excitement in the other's eyes, then raised their hands for a high-five.
"Ikaros, you can rest in Erina's room tonight. When we go back to Ryōzanpaku, I'll pay you back double for today."
Noticing Ikaros's disappointment, Okabe immediately spoke to comfort her.
"Yes, Master."
Hearing Okabe's words, Ikaros, who had been looking down, immediately lifted her head.
Although her expression remained blank, Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri could clearly sense a trace of happiness in her words.
"What do you mean, 'pay you back double'? Did you two have some kind of arrangement for tonight...?"
Watching Ikaros walk away, Erina Nakiri looked at Okabe in confusion.
"It's nothing. Let's hurry inside."
Okabe had no intention of answering that question directly.
If he told them he was still sleeping with Ikaros, everything he had just said would be for nothing.
"It's still early. How about I tell you about my experiences in Denmark these past few years!"
The door closed, and Alice Nakiri was the first to start a topic, ready to share her knowledge of molecular gastronomy with them.
"Let me tell you, molecular gastronomy is an amazing thing! Can you imagine deconstructing a lemon and then tasting the reconstructed version?
The reconstructed lemon tastes infinitely better than the original!"
Alice Nakiri's voice was filled with excitement as she spoke, climbing onto the bed.
She had spent the last few years researching molecular gastronomy techniques, and it could be said she had truly mastered it in creative ways.
Today, she had already dominated the most prestigious international competition in molecular gastronomy held in Northern Europe, hailed by the world as a genius in the field.
Of course, because molecular gastronomy is a relatively niche field, most people wouldn't know her name unless they paid close attention, so the true weight of her title was yet to be determined.
"Deconstructing and reconstructing a lemon to make it taste many times better than the original... that sounds like something out of a fantasy..."
Hearing Alice Nakiri's words, Erina Nakiri was filled with astonishment, her eyes showing disbelief, thinking her cousin was exaggerating.
"It's true. With current molecular gastronomy techniques, it's entirely possible. In theory, it works not just for lemons, but for fruits like strawberries and pineapples too."
Alice Nakiri spoke eloquently and at length. Since this was her area of expertise, she went into great detail, opening the eyes of the two beside her.
"Does that mean you can completely change the form of food too?"
Okabe leaned against the headboard, asking with great interest.
Alice Nakiri wriggled her feet smugly, tracing an arc in the air. "Exactly! For example, making mango into the shape of caviar, but when you eat it, it bursts with rich mango flavor. Or flash-freezing rose petals with liquid nitrogen, crushing them, and sprinkling them over ice cream..."
She spoke ceaselessly, a light shining in her eyes that was completely different from her usual self, making the two listeners involuntarily believe her and think she was amazing.
"The most classic example should be tofu, right? Grinding soybeans into soy milk, then adding a coagulant to make it curdle, and then pressing it to set the shape."
Erina Nakiri held up a finger. When she was traveling in Italy, she had a black truffle tofu dish. Because its flavor was unique and novel, and she had eaten plenty of it growing up, she had specifically looked into how tofu was made.
Now, hearing Alice Nakiri talk about molecular gastronomy, she naturally thought of tofu.
"Exactly! Molecular gastronomy originated in China, and tofu is its ancestor, as well as the most successful molecular dish to date. It truly transforms one ingredient into another."
When talking about tofu, Alice Nakiri's voice involuntarily rose a few pitches.
The ultimate research goal of molecular gastronomy is to create new ingredients—ingredients that remain delicious even when cooked using ordinary methods.
"You should make some for me to try sometime. It sounds really interesting."
Seeing the light shining in the girl's eyes, Okabe said with a smile. This desire to explore the essence of cuisine itself is the foundation of a chef's progress.
He had been honing his fundamentals for so long; perhaps it was time for him to try and understand the essence of cooking. Only then could he go further.
"How about tomorrow? I'll be on stage cooking for everyone then. You have to cheer for me, okay? As a reward, I'll present a dish that will blow you away."
Alice Nakiri said, turning to look at Okabe with eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"I'll be on stage then too. If you dare not cheer for me, you're dead!"
Erina Nakiri's slightly tsundere voice followed close behind. Seeing Okabe look at her, she let out a light hmph, then turned her head away, not daring to meet his gaze.
"Don't worry, I'll cheer for both of you."
Hearing their requests, Okabe nodded slightly without refusing. He would have done so even if they hadn't asked; after all, they were good friends.
"Speaking of which, what are you planning to make?"
Having talked about herself, Alice Nakiri looked at Okabe curiously. Come to think of it, three years had passed, and she still hadn't tasted his cooking.
She wondered what his cooking level was like now.
"Oh, that's right. We still don't know what you plan to make."
Following Alice Nakiri's question, Erina Nakiri also looked over, her large eyes filled with curiosity.
"I'm not planning to go on stage."
Feeling the two sisters' eager gazes, Okabe gave a slight shrug. He had no intention of making a public appearance at this kind of event.
The tallest tree in the forest is the one the wind will surely fell. Knowing that members of the Dark Culinary World were lurking in the shadows, ready to make a move, he had decided to lay low for a while.
"You're not going on stage? This is a great opportunity to showcase your cooking in front of the media. You might even be hailed as a genius."
"Exactly! Many chefs travel thousands of miles from all over the world just for this chance."
Hearing Okabe's words, both Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri were taken aback. They quickly recovered and tried to persuade him, saying it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"I don't really care about things like fame."
Hearing them, Okabe shook his head slightly. "It's not that I'm being modest or pretending to be above it all. I just feel really uncomfortable being on stage with people staring at me like I'm a monkey in a show."
"Now that you mention it, it does feel a bit like that."
After hearing Okabe's words, Alice Nakiri wore a thoughtful expression.
"I don't see it that way. For me, enjoying everyone's respectful and admiring gazes, shining brightly on stage, is something that makes me very happy."
Erina Nakiri was silent for a moment before looking at Okabe and speaking seriously.
She loved the feeling of being the center of attention. It made her feel like a monarch reigning over the world, a top-tier existence among humans.
With this mindset, she wouldn't allow herself to make a single poor dish, and her culinary skills would constantly improve under its influence.
"It really is a matter of mindset. Different people see things from different perspectives. If you can find happiness in it, then it's a worthwhile thing for you."
On this point, Okabe had a very clear understanding.
Different people, due to their personalities and abilities, have different levels of resistance to performing on stage. Some people love to shine in front of everyone, while others prefer to stay out of the limelight. It's perfectly normal.
And he happened to be one of the more reserved types.
Unless absolutely necessary, he didn't really want to show off his skills on stage and let others critique him.
"Well, I think you'll come to like this feeling one day. You have the ability, after all. When that time comes, it'll be my turn to cheer for you from the audience."
The innocent and sweet voice came from Erina Nakiri's lips, causing a small ripple in Okabe's heart. He then replied, "I look forward to that day."
The next morning.
The three were awakened by the sound of a cannon blast.
After getting up, Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri returned to their own rooms, quickly changed, and left early to prepare, since they were going to cook at the birthday banquet.
Okabe, however, lazed in bed for a while longer, only getting up when Ikaros came to wake him.
The procedures for the birthday banquet were complex, especially for such a large family. They liked to emphasize prestige and rules to prove their long-standing heritage.
However, these rules and etiquette mostly applied to the adults. As a child, and one specially invited by the Nakiri family, Okabe could completely ignore them.
He leisurely washed up and strolled out to the banquet venue, which was already bustling with a noisy crowd.
The huge open-air venue was divided into several areas, with the most eye-catching feature being the temporary cooking stations set up in the center.
Many of the invited young chefs had already begun to warm up. All sorts of ingredients were laid out beside the cooking stations, and the air was filled with the aroma of various delicacies.
"Whoa, for real?"
"No way, it must be fake. How could anyone stick their hand into iron sand that hot and come out unscathed!"
He twitched his nose as a sweet scent drifted through the air. He could hear the astonished cries of young men and women nearby; they seemed to have seen something incredible.
"Sugar-fried chestnuts?"
The aroma of caramel mixed with the rich scent of nuts. Okabe twitched his nose again, squeezed through the crowd, and walked quickly towards the source of the smell.
There he saw a lean, powerfully built young man in a red training uniform, standing in a solid horse stance before a giant iron wok.
The wok was several times larger than a normal one and was filled not with sand or pebbles, but with shiny, jet-black iron sand that glinted coldly in the sunlight.
At that moment, the iron sand was being heated by the fire below until it was scorching hot. Steam rose from it, and the waves of heat could be clearly felt even from several meters away.
However, the man showed no fear. He took a deep breath, let out a sharp cry, and plunged both of his bare hands directly into the searing hot iron sand!
"Holy crap, that's insane!"
A cry of disbelief erupted from the crowd.
They watched as his palms flew through the iron sand, stirring and mixing with fierce, powerful movements.
Every turn of his hands sent up a spray of black sand with a clanging sound, as if it weren't a scorching substance that could burn flesh, but gentle, flowing water.
Gradually, the skin of his palms took on an unusual bronze color, and under the high heat, it seemed to glow with a faint, dark red luster. It was clear he had cultivated the Iron Sand Palm to an extremely high level.
"Iron Sand Palm? To think it could be incorporated into making sugar-fried chestnuts. But what's the difference between chestnuts fried with bare hands and those tossed with a spatula?"
The layman watches the spectacle, but the expert sees the technique.
In Okabe's eyes, his movements were not just simple stirring. Pushing, patting, kneading, rubbing, plucking... a variety of techniques were being executed within the iron sand.
The chestnuts at the bottom were lifted up while those at the top fell, a method that ensured every single chestnut was heated evenly, preventing any inconsistency in flavor.
Beyond that...
"Could this be the legendary Qigong? His palms are covered by a thin layer of 'qi,' insulating his hands from the caramelized syrup. This allows the syrup to coat the chestnuts evenly without harming his hands in the slightest."
Okabe muttered to himself. The technique this man was displaying was most likely a combination of Iron Sand Palm and Qigong.
Only this could allow his hands to move freely within the iron sand without being hindered by the syrup. It was a perfect example of applying martial arts to cooking!
"Up!"
A moment later, the man in red, seeing the time was right, gave a low shout.
The next instant, the chestnuts in the iron sand flew into the air. With his other hand, he caught them skillfully in an iron dustpan, then tossed them into the sky again.
The contact between the cold air and the hot chestnuts rapidly cooled their surfaces.
After repeating this several times, he picked one up and gave it a light squeeze. The shell cracked open with a "kaka" sound, revealing the plump, golden, steaming chestnut meat inside.
"Please, everyone, have some sugar-fried chestnuts!"
As soon as he finished speaking, countless people swarmed forward. Okabe was among them. He quickly grabbed a few chestnuts and then retreated from the crowd.
He peeled one and put it in Ikaros's mouth before having one himself. Okabe closed his eyes to carefully savor the nuances of the flavor.
The aroma of the sugar-fried chestnut exploded in his mouth, carrying the characteristic bittersweetness of caramel.
The chestnut meat was dense and smooth, the temperature just right. Even more miraculously, every single chestnut was evenly coated in a thin layer of sugar glaze, which wasn't overly sweet and perfectly locked in the chestnut's natural fragrance.
"This level of evenness..."
Okabe opened his eyes, looking at the man in red with some surprise.
"This is an effect that can only be achieved by stir-frying directly with one's hands. Because the iron sand is so heavy, even the most skilled wok-tossing master would find it difficult to coat the chestnuts with syrup this evenly."
As for using a spatula, that would only produce ordinary sugar-fried chestnuts. Some chestnuts might be fully coated in syrup while others might not be coated at all. The quality would be very inconsistent, and due to temperature differences, the chestnuts at the top and bottom would cook to different degrees.
Okabe muttered to himself. Even a machine with constant temperature and rotation speed would produce variations in taste due to the different sizes of the chestnuts.
Yet, with these sugar-fried chestnuts, whether large or small, the flavor was perfectly uniform, and even their internal doneness was consistent.
This was a perfect example of a chef achieving unity of skill and heart. To think that such a great master would come to perform at a simple birthday banquet!
He felt like he was beginning to understand what Erina had said.
____
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