As Lady Erina's assistant who had always been by her side, Hisako naturally knew just how terrifying her strength was. Deep inside, she believed that no matter who the opponent was, no matter how skilled or refined their cooking might be, Erina could always win with something new. Step by step, that's how she had risen to the position of Totsuki's Elite Ten, and perhaps one day she would go even further, until she stood at the top of the world.
But... this time was different. For the first time, Hisako's heart wavered. When she saw Hikigaya's unwavering gaze, she found herself feeling genuine worry for the almighty Lady Erina.
What kind of power did this man have?
One minute passed quickly, and in Erina's confident smile it was clear she had high expectations for her dish. Maybe she was hoping to see that look of shock appear on Hikigaya's face, and that was why she was so eager.
From beginning to end, Hachiman watched her every move carefully. He had to admit, his dad really had sent him to an incredible place. Just from her technique alone, this girl named Erina was clearly a born chef.
"Now then, Hikigaya Hachiman! I'll let you have the honor of tasting my dish!"
The tender Eggs Benedict, the moment it was brought out, seemed like a gift from nature itself. It shone with a dazzling golden light, cutting through all obstacles and arriving before Hachiman.
Even when gently placed on the table, the impact was enough to make it jiggle and bounce in a way that pulled at the heart.
Just from its appearance alone, it could easily earn full marks. Compared to Hachiman's earlier dish, it was like heaven and earth. But Hachiman wasn't someone who could be fooled by appearances. For him, what really mattered in cooking was the inside.
"Go ahead, I want to hear you say the words 'delicious' with my own ears!"
Erina handed him a spoon, her face full of pride.
"Um... can I change to another spoon?" Hachiman asked a little awkwardly.
Maybe she hadn't realized at first, but Erina immediately blurted out, "Why?"
Hachiman: "Well... you..."
Prompted by his words, Erina glanced at the spoon in her hand, and suddenly the memory rushed back...
She had just used this same spoon to eat his egg pancake. If he were to use it now, wouldn't that mean... an indirect kiss?
And just now, before she even realized what she was doing, she had actually handed him the used spoon herself.
Her mind went completely blank, like it had shut down. All the pride she had just a moment ago vanished from her face, leaving only embarrassment and shyness.
At that moment, powerless to fight back, Erina snapped again:
"You're so annoying! Idiot! Jerk! Hikigaya!"
Hachiman could only feel a kind of frustration he couldn't put into words, while Hisako, standing nearby, was already seeing this side of Erina for the third time that day.
It really didn't match the image she had in her head... To her, Lady Erina was supposed to be like an untouchable goddess, not like this.
Quietly, she took out another spoon and handed it to Hikigaya, her eyes showing a trace of helplessness.
Ah, so Lady Erina is also this troublesome after all...
"Thanks..." Nodding in thanks, Hachiman quickly took the spoon from Hisako's hand. Noticing that Erina looked like she was about to cry, he didn't have the heart to say anything more.
Erina slapped the table again, maybe to cover up her embarrassment, and declared with a sharp voice: "Idiot! After you finish, you must give the most honest review! No... No, my Eggs Benedict will definitely make you admit it!"
Hachiman answered calmly, "I'll give the most honest feedback."
He gently placed the spoon on the omelet. The crispy bacon and slightly sweet muffin immediately came into view.
As he put it into his mouth, the flavors blended together on his tongue. If that was all, then... it was just a simple dish.
Hachiman stirred it lightly, and the golden powder sprinkled over the omelet revealed itself. If he remembered correctly...
"Karasumi."
Sprinkling the mullet roe over the muffin, the rich taste of the roe, its refined saltiness, and the smooth egg yolk combined perfectly to create a deep and layered flavor.
From its looks to its taste, this dish had no flaws. And yet...
To call it perfect would still be too much.
Having grown up tasting all kinds of food, Hachiman was no stranger to everyday ingredients at his family diner, but that didn't mean he hadn't experienced other kinds of cooking. After all, his father Joichiro could only be described as a monster in the kitchen.
After one simple taste, Hachiman quietly put down the spoon.
"Tasty."
Hearing his praise, Erina proudly crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and said with a smug tone, "Of course it is."
But... as time passed with no further reaction, Erina felt something was wrong. She snapped her eyes open, only to see Hisako frozen in shock and Hikigaya already setting down his utensils.
The file slipped from Hisako's hand as she covered her mouth, her eyes full of disbelief.
"No way... Lady Erina... He only took one bite and stopped."
"What!" Erina was stunned. She didn't have time to think about anything else. For a chef, to have someone eat only a single bite and then stop was a huge disgrace. She couldn't believe her cooking could make him stop so easily.
Hachiman, however, wasn't thinking too much about it. He simply glanced at the omelet again, and in his mind replayed each step of how Erina had prepared the dish.
"Not bad, it tastes really good. Right now, there's no way I could make something like this."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" To Erina, it was only natural that Hikigaya couldn't make something like this. Forget the fact that it was only his second day as a chef—the main point was... she was the one with the so-called God Tongue, the one who had been called a genius since she was a child!