[Task Completed]: Local Fame
[Task Description]: Make a name for yourself on the shopping street, with daily customer traffic reaching 500.
[Task Reward]: Proficient Knife Skills
[Proficient Knife Skills]: Master of roll cutting, slicing techniques; can easily cut even, fine shreds with ease.
As the last customer left, a system notification sounded in Sora's mind. At the same time, he could feel something subtle change within his body.
Without hesitation, Sora grabbed a potato and effortlessly began slicing it into thin chips using the roll cut technique. Each slice was uniformly thick, without a single break or tear.
He then laid the slices out, forming a two-meter-long potato sheet, rolled it up, and performed a horizontal slicing motion. Instantly, he created an unbroken, two-meter-long string of shredded potato—so perfect that he could probably use it as a jump rope.
It was the kind of skill where even a layman would look and say, "That's something!"
Ding-ling-ling—
The bell above the door rang. It was a wind chime Sora had purposely installed so he could accurately tell when someone entered. A small but very practical decoration.
"Sorry, we're closed for today. We're no longer serving customers. Please come earlier tomorrow."
Ako quickly stepped forward to apologize to the two guests at the entrance. She was confused—hadn't they already flipped the "Closed" sign?
It was currently 10 PM. The shop officially closed at 9:30 PM. Of course, they would continue serving anyone already inside, but no new guests were accepted after closing time.
"We missed it, Sis. Looks like we came too late."
"Let's go then. We'll come back tomorrow."
The girl in front had long black hair like a waterfall, trimmed into a perfect princess cut. Her slightly red eyes and dazed expression made her look like a porcelain doll.
"Wait a second. What would you like to eat? We haven't had dinner either. We can make you an extra serving."
Hearing voices, Sora came out of the kitchen and froze the moment he saw the two girls. It was as if lightning had struck him. His mind flashed back to middle school.
Despite not understanding why characters from a fantasy world were appearing in a modern city, he reminded himself: this was the world of anime. Anything could happen.
The reason he wanted to serve them was simple—he wanted to. Akame and Kurome were two of his favorite characters from his past life. Seeing them in real life, how could he not be excited?
And if they were here, maybe Sheele, Bulat, Tatsumi, Leone, Mine... all the members of Night Raid would be okay too!
Damn. Why did this feel like a dream come true in the world of anime?
Gurgle—
"We haven't had dinner yet. We want meat."
"Meat~!"
Hearing their request, Sora frowned. He didn't think he had any dishes that could satisfy their craving. He hadn't bought much meat recently, and all the pork trotters were gone.
Wait!
He rushed back into the kitchen, opened the fridge, and found a box of thick-cut bacon. He had bought it at the market earlier because it looked good, planning to use it for lunch.
But lunch had been so chaotic that they only had time to scarf down some pork trotter rice before returning to work. He'd completely forgotten about the bacon—until now.
At the same time, he remembered a dish Yukihira Soma once made: Gotcha Pork Roast.
Perfect. He had all the ingredients in the fridge.
"Give me a minute. I'll make you something satisfying! Ako-nee, Riko-nee, you two can look forward to it too. It's going to blow your minds!"
Eyes burning with passion, Sora returned to the kitchen and began steaming the potatoes. He diced onions to add sweetness, chopped mushrooms for texture, and because mushrooms absorb oil well, they'd soak up the bacon fat, giving the dish a rich mouthfeel.
Time passed slowly. As Ako and Riko finished cleaning the dining area, they sat down to chat with Akame and Kurome and soon learned their identities.
They were food reviewers.
Specifically, they were food bloggers on social media, sharing outstanding local dishes through personal accounts. Each had hundreds of thousands of followers. Even a single post could get thousands of comments and over 100,000 likes.
"That's amazing! Are you here to promote our shop?"
Eyes sparkling, Ako smelled a business opportunity and eagerly grabbed Akame's hand, her voice full of anticipation. If they liked the food, wouldn't that make them Sora's lucky stars?
"We decide based on taste. If it's good, we'll promote it. Let's see your chef's skills."
Kurome sat beside her sister like a well-behaved kitten, eagerly anticipating the dish Sora promised. The confidence on his face as he entered the kitchen stuck with her—it wasn't something you'd see unless someone was sure of their cooking.
They had rushed over after receiving a private message from a fan recommending a new restaurant near Sanwa Street. Their goal was to evaluate it as quickly as possible.
Now, she would see whether it was worthy of being recommended.
Watching Sora approach with a silver tray, Kurome's eyes followed every step. Even though the lid was still on, she could already smell the aroma of bacon.
Just bacon?
The thought crossed her mind. Sure, bacon was meat, but it wasn't quite what she had imagined. Could bacon alone really make a satisfying meat dish?
She was skeptical—but since they were already seated, it would be rude not to at least try it. So she remained in place, eyes locked on the silver tray in front of her.
"Please enjoy."
With a confident smile, Sora slowly lifted the lid. Instantly, the rich, animal-fat aroma exploded like a bomb. Golden vapors curled through the air like dancing silk, drifting around the shop like mischievous spirits, teasing the hearts of every girl present.
Saliva pooled in their mouths. Their bodies moved on instinct. Blushing slightly, the girls twisted in their seats as they stared at the mashed potatoes wrapped in glistening bacon.
"This is... this is...!"
Voices trembled. Their legs rubbed together uncontrollably as an unspeakable thrill surged through them.
At last, Akame moved. Despite the dish's overwhelming aura, her face remained calm. Only her hair fluttered slightly, as if stirred by an invisible wind.