"Cooking in the central courtyard?"
Yuigahama showed a surprised expression, looking at Yuu, who, after finishing his discussion with Yukihira Soma, rolled up his sleeves and began preparing to move items.
"Yeah. I expected a lot of spectators, but not this many."
Folding a table and easily carrying it on his shoulder, Yuu explained, "To avoid causing trouble for people visiting other clubs, Soma requested a space from the school so we could hold the cooking competition in the central courtyard."
Glancing at the overflowing crowd outside, Yukino crossed her arms. "Your influence is much greater than I expected."
"Isn't that our goal? The bigger the influence, the higher the popularity, the more votes we get."
"Winning first place in both competitions… Hmm." Pressing her lips together and thinking for a moment, Yukino gave a bright smile, nodding in satisfaction. "Good. This style of doing everything perfectly—I quite like it."
Stunned for a moment, Yuu bowed to her seriously. "Sorry, I can't accept your love confession."
Yukino's cold, beautiful face instantly darkened. "Who's confessing to you? Please don't have such disgusting delusions."
Beside them, Haruno nudged Yuigahama's shoulder, lowering her voice excitedly. "Hey, are they always like this?"
"Uh… Yeah, they start bickering after just a few sentences." Yuigahama gave a wry smile and nodded, her tone a bit complex. "But don't let the tense atmosphere fool you—their relationship is better than it seems. It's like playful arguing."
"Hmm, I see~" Rubbing her chin, Haruno glanced at her with interest.
At that moment, Yuu displayed the demeanor of a club president, shouting to the watching crowd, "Don't just stand there gawking, come help carry stuff! Spices, ingredients, and other things aren't heavy—everyone grab at least one!"
Before Yuigahama could speak, Haruno stepped forward with a cheerful smile, pretending to be obedient. "Yes, Mr. President~"
"Sister, I'm the club president!" Yukino pursed her lips in protest, her sharp gaze turning back to Yuu.
"I'm the club advisor, and he's still bossing me around." Hiratsuka scratched her head, sighing in resignation as she picked up a heavy-looking plastic bag. Lifting it, her eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa, what's this? It's so heavy."
"Overnight cold rice, today's ingredients."
"Do we need this much?"
"Since we have the chance, might as well hold a mass tasting session."
After speaking, Yuu lifted a second table with his other hand and said to Yuigahama, who was still hesitating over what to carry, "Yuigahama, go ahead and clear the way. Tell the people who want to watch to wait in the central courtyard—don't block the corridor."
"Oh, right!"
Yuigahama quickly raised her hand in a salute, then dashed toward the door as if wagging a tail, mustering her courage and shouting, "E-Everyone, those who want to watch the cooking competition, please gather in the central courtyard first—"
The Culinary Research Club and Service Club members sprang into action.
"So obedient~" Haruno walked beside Yuu, muttering for some reason, her smile full of meaning.
Yuu looked at her oddly, thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "Haruno-san, take two steps forward?"
"Hm? Like this?" Still holding an item, Haruno took two steps and looked at him, puzzled.
Without answering, Yuu passed her, muttering as if nothing happened:
"So obedient~"
Haruno: "…"
She stood frozen, giving him a strange look as she watched the young man casually carrying two tables, the corner of her mouth twitching as if unsure whether to laugh.
(Tch, hitting back so quickly—did he know what I was going to say and do this on purpose?)
Though it was their first meeting, the way he handled her was so adept, and the fleeting sense of familiarity he exuded was keenly caught by Haruno.
"Very interesting…"
The scene before leaving the Service Club flashed in her mind, and the corner of her soft lips couldn't help but curve into a pleasant arc. "It's been a while since I was this excited about a puzzle game, hasn't it?"
Chuckling, Haruno followed his steps, walking out of the Culinary Research Club room.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Approaching noon, the overcast sky seemed to clear up, suggesting no rain anytime soon.
This was the basis for the Culinary Research Club and Service Club's confidence in holding this cooking duel in the open, uncovered central courtyard.
There was no judge or host, and the atmosphere wasn't overly formal. Just two long tables faced each other, each equipped with a portable gas stove, ingredients, pots, pans, and so on.
A third long table was for placing the finished dishes; disposable plates and chopsticks were neatly arranged, with a trash bin nearby. Beyond this open space was the overflowing crowd of spectators.
Once preparations were complete, Yuu sought out Soma.
"The theme is fried rice, no time limit, no ingredient restrictions, just make equal portions."
This was a duel of knights, after all—no need for too many rules. Once the dishes were done, it'd be clear who won or lost.
"Alright, this time I won't lose to you!"
Tying a white cloth from his arm to his head, Soma returned to his temporary kitchen table with burning enthusiasm.
Neither used assistants. The Culinary Research Club members maintained order and explained the situation to the audience, while the Service Club…
"We'll just watch from the side if you don't need help."
Having seen his cooking skills, which could be described as almost poisonous, Yukino, despite confidence in her own cooking, wisely chose not to interfere.
Though this was a Service Club challenge, at Yuu's insistence, she, as the club president, and Yuigahama were mere sidekicks. Initially, she felt a bit dissatisfied, but now Yukino was slightly curious about how far he could go.
"Of course, you guys just stay on the side and wait to eat."
After wiping his long, fair fingers, Yuu smiled at them. Just as he turned to grab ingredients from the bag, he suddenly noticed something in the crowd.
He dried his hands, pulled out his phone, and made a call.
"Yeah, I see you… You coming over? My friends and teacher are here… Yeah, your mom's kind of a hassle, I'm just being honest… Alright, find a good spot to watch. I'll bring you a bowl when it's done so you can see my cooking skills!"
Smiling as he finished the call, Yuu put his phone away, only to notice the women around him staring. He tilted his head, puzzled.
"What's up?"
"Um…"
Yuigahama hesitated, but Haruno didn't overthink, asking with a slightly teasing expression, "Talking to your girlfriend? That tone was awfully familiar~"
Hiratsuka examined her fist, her expression serious and profound. "Anyone who feeds me dog food will die… Yes, with this Romantic Creature Slayer Punch."
"You guys are too nosy." Yuu rolled his eyes, explaining casually, "Let's just say that. She came here with her mom, so it's not a good time to introduce her to you."
"Don't worry, I'm not interested in your personal life, and you don't need to introduce her." Raising her elegant chin, Yukino pointed to the opposite kitchen table, where a fire had already started. "You should start too. You're falling behind."
"No rush, it'll be done soon." Scanning the surroundings, Yuu spotted a Chinese-style wok and a long-handled ladle on the stove, then flicked his wrist.
As expected, Yuigahama's expression wasn't great, while Haruno seemed very interested in his personal life. Regardless, Yuu didn't care about their reactions.
Once the mission was complete, no one would remember he ever had a girlfriend. Even if he introduced Asuna to them today, they might become strangers again tomorrow.
No need for pointless actions like that. Yuu focused on the cooking duel ahead. Though his opponent was someone he'd beaten before, this duel was like an exhibition match, and he had no intention of going easy.
The dish would be simple, not overly complex, since it'd be shared with the audience, and large quantities were hard to perfect. Thus, a chef's fundamental skills were crucial, with a difficulty level no less than the Six-Flavor Fantasy Mapo Tofu he'd made before.
"Well-made Golden Fried Rice can glow."
The corner of his mouth curved into a smile as he extended his clean, strong arm, pulling over a basket full of eggs.
In an instant, with hand speed invisible to anyone, he cracked the eggs, letting the yolks fly into a large bowl beside him, separated from the whites.
"That's the guy who played the piano on stage earlier…"
"Our school has someone this talented, and I had no idea…"
"Handsome, can play the piano, and seems to cook too… How come I've never heard of this guy before?"
"I know him! Tenkuji from Class F. A friend of mine sent him a love letter because he's kinda good-looking, but he rejected her… Who knew he was such a treasure."
Hearing the students' praise around her, Asuna smiled with satisfaction. When she saw some eyeing Yuu, she puffed out her cheeks, glancing unhappily but couldn't help raising her chin proudly, showing an expression of "what you want, I already have."
Kyouko had no interest in her daughter's silly, lovesick antics. After finding a good vantage point without obstruction, she stared at the young man standing tall at the long table, her gaze attentive.
"Not just the piano, but cooking too? Splitting his focus on so many things at a young age—careful he doesn't fail at everything."
Her mother's murmur reached her ears, and Asuna instinctively retorted, "There are plenty of versatile people out there. Isn't that better than being a bookworm? Thinking like that shows how narrow-minded you are, Mom!"
"That's why I said be careful, not jumping to conclusions." Kyouko glanced at her, speaking irritably. "Tch, not even married yet, and you're already defending him so fiercely. What happens when you take his name? Will your mom and dad cease to exist?"
"No way! You're overthinking, Mom!" Asuna blushed, clearing her throat before quickly changing the topic. "Oh, the match hasn't started yet. Want to go say hi to Yuu-kun?"
"If you want to go, go. I'll watch from here." Kyouko had her own considerations and maintained her stance as a spectator.
Asuna glanced at her mother, choosing not to leave to find Yuu and chat. Instead, she stood at the edge of the crowd, eagerly waiting to see him showcase his skills.
Suddenly, her gaze met Yuu's at the long table, and soon after, her phone rang.
After a brief conversation, Asuna put her phone away.
"Why not ask about the girls around him?" On Kyouko's usually cold and serious face, a rare mocking smile appeared.
"He already told me before, so there's nothing to worry about." Brushing her beautiful hair behind her ear, Asuna showed a relaxed expression, faintly smug.
"The black-haired girl with straight hair is his club president, and they don't get along. The girl with a bun is his junior high friend, sometimes the third, less prominent club member. The one in the white lab coat is a teacher who loves reading shonen manga… Aside from the mature-looking woman, who I'm meeting for the first time, I already know them."
When a boyfriend is honest to this extent, even if he's very popular, his girlfriend won't worry about him cheating.
This sense of security made Asuna like Yuu even more.
"That's why you trust him so much…" Kyouko sighed, crossing her arms over her chest, questioning sharply, "Are you sure he's 100% honest with you? The best lies are those that don't reveal the truth. With his brain, he must understand this principle."
"You don't need to worry about that, Mom." Asuna huffed, rejecting her mother's attempt to shake her feelings.
Kyouko sneered, scoffing, "At such a young age, he's already so skilled at playing with women. No wonder you're head over heels for him."
"I'm not head over heels! It's just basic trust between a couple. You wouldn't understand, Mom."
"How would I not understand? If I didn't, how could I have married your father?"
"A blind date… Ugh, even if it wasn't, your era and ours are totally different. You can't compare them!"
"Tch, it's been less than twenty years…"
Kyouko's temple twitched as she glared at her increasingly rebellious, smug daughter.
As if too lazy to argue further, she shifted her gaze forward.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Soon after, the hostless competition officially began in front of everyone.
The signal was the flames of the stoves igniting, the hot air seemingly evaporating the overcast clouds above.
Both sides started their cooking. Their first step was cracking eggs.
As the Culinary Research Club president and son of a diner owner, Soma, with a white towel tied around his head, expertly cracked eggs—one every half-second into a bowl, his smooth movements a feast for the eyes.
As for the other side…
Kyouko frowned, then her eyes gradually widened in shock.
Not just her—most of the spectators, upon seeing the scene, showed expressions of disbelief, as if doubting their own eyes.
Yuu's hands moved so fast they were a blur, yet his motions were more precise than a machine.
It was as if the egg yolks leapt out of their shells and flew into the bowl on their own. In the blink of an eye, half the bowl was filled, while the whites and shells were nowhere to be seen.
Shifting their gaze, they noticed two bags below—one with egg whites, one with shells, both neatly sorted like marbles.
In less than ten seconds, while his opponent had only cracked half the eggs, Yuu had methodically finished the egg portion, then started heating the wok and adding rice.
Someone muttered softly, "Is this acrobatics or magic…"
The atmosphere inexplicably quieted, with only the sound of flames and the clinking of ladles against woks echoing, as the aroma gradually spread.
Not long after.
Two large plates were placed on the long table—one with fried rice, the other also with fried rice.
Except one was covered with a large, hemispherical wok lid, mysteriously hiding its appearance and aroma.
Everyone saw them prepare the dishes, but no one could understand why Yuu did something so unnecessary, covering a simple egg fried rice with a wok lid that seemed entirely mismatched with his extraordinary skill.
"For this dish, skipping this step would be a waste."
He only explained cryptically, then told Soma to start distributing the food for tasting.
With help from the Culinary Research Club members, most of the spectators, along with some Service Club members, received small disposable plates, each with a spoonful of warm fried rice, complete with color, aroma, and flavor.
"This is my mixed fried rice. Please try it!"
The portion was just enough for one bite. Some poured it all into their mouths, and after chewing twice, their eyes widened, their faces flushing oddly.
"E-Even though it's mixed fried rice, why does it taste so refreshing?! It's so appetizing!"
Soma chuckled, picking up a bottle of dark red seasoning beside him, speaking proudly, "Because I added plum sauce!"
"It's the time when breakfast is almost digested, just before lunch—perfect for using fresh, sweet seasoning like this to stimulate the appetite! It also tones down the heavy taste of mixed fried rice, making it easier to swallow!"
Many nodded in agreement. After eating a bite of the fried rice, the sound of swallowing echoed one after another.
"So delicious…"
"Can I eat my bento now? I could eat two portions!"
"Is there any fried rice left? I'll buy the rest with cash!"
The continuous praise made Soma untie his white towel, saying enthusiastically, "Service isn't perfect yet! Alright, Yuu, it's your dish's turn."
Yuu set down his small plate, walked behind his dish, and placed his palm on the wok lid.
"Soma, your cooking skills have improved since last time. Even I want to keep eating."
"Hmph, of course—facing my destined rival, how could I stay stagnant!"
Soma rubbed his nose, smiling energetically, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at him. "And… from your tone, it seems you're not worried about losing to me at all."
"Of course, I'm very confident in my cooking skills." Yuu's smile widened. As all the spectators focused on his hand, he slowly lifted the wok lid.
"Though it's just simple egg fried rice, it's no joke."
As his words ended.
As if the overcast clouds parted for a moment, a strong golden light suddenly shone from under the wok lid.
Illuminating the widened eyes of all the spectators, it was like a half-circle sun fallen onto the plate, quietly radiating light and warmth.