After asking Nao-baasan if he could use the ingredients, Hoshino Sora went into the kitchen and put on an apron.
He didn't rush to cook, but first checked the kitchen facilities.
After confirming that the equipment was complete, Hoshino Sora then prepared to start cooking.
First, for the diving club's meal, peanuts would probably be suitable as a snack with drinks.
This was also the first snack Hoshino Sora thought of, so he decided to make a pot of bizarre-flavored peanuts.
After all, how could drinking be considered drinking without snacks?
And the method for bizarre-flavored peanuts is very simple: scoop a spoonful of water into the pot, then add an equal amount of sugar to the water, letting them dissolve in the water.
Once the water evaporates, a thin layer of sugar frosting will form on the surface of the ingredients.
Reduce the sugar water until it becomes sticky and forms fish-eye bubbles, then remove it from the heat, add a spoonful of salt, a spoonful of chili powder, a spoonful of Sichuan peppercorn powder, and a spoonful of sweet bean paste.
Watching intently inside the pot, Hoshino Sora suddenly felt a sense of ease and naturalness when adding the seasonings, and his control over the proportions became extremely precise.
Scooping a spoonful of sugar, one gram was one gram, with no deviation whatsoever.
Presumably, this was also the Spice Equation at work.
Once all the seasonings were mixed well, the peanuts could be added to the pot.
After a few stirs to mix them evenly, immediately remove the pot from the stove and continue to stir-fry with the spatula, allowing them to rub against each other.
The temperature was sufficient here.
The peanuts continued to rub after being removed from the heat, sugar rubbing against sugar, so that the exterior formed a white powdery state, known as frosting.
As the temperature cooled, the frosting adhered evenly to the peanuts, which was called "setting threads."
Looking at the amber-colored bizarre-flavored peanuts, Hoshino Sora tasted a bit.
Upon entry, there was a rich savory sauce flavor—spicy, sweet, and salty.
One bite made him want another; it was truly excellent for pairing with drinks!
He put the bizarre-flavored peanuts into plates, exactly two large plates, no more, no less.
Afterward, Hoshino Sora carried them to the dining area and had Chisa Kotesugawa, who happened to be passing by, take them to the room for the diving club members who were having their team building.
He himself returned to the kitchen and began to think about what dishes could be added for dinner.
Meanwhile, Chisa Kotesugawa, who had only stepped out to use the restroom, was roped in by Hoshino Sora.
Although unwilling, she didn't say anything, simply took the two plates of bizarre-flavored peanuts, and walked towards the diving club's new team-building room.
The freshly made bizarre-flavored peanuts still had residual warmth and emitted a rich aroma, which made Chisa Kotesugawa's expression subtle.
She glanced left and right, found no one around, then secretly tasted one, and then couldn't stop herself.
— — — — — — — — — —
"Why is one plate half empty?"
Looking at the two plates with clearly different amounts, with one plate directly half empty, Iori Kitahara, who had received the bizarre-flavored peanuts, was somewhat puzzled.
"I don't know.
Maybe the fried peanuts couldn't be divided into two equal plates, so one plate has more and one has less."
"Eh, is that really the reason?"
Seeing the sugar frosting at Chisa Kotesugawa's mouth, Iori Kitahara revealed a smile of unclear meaning, and it was this smile that made Chisa's face quickly turn red.
She stomped her foot in great displeasure.
"Otherwise what!
I'm going back to rest first.
Don't drink too much tonight; we still have to dive tomorrow."
As she spoke, Chisa Kotesugawa left the team-building room, then spread her palm and continued to eat the bizarre-flavored peanuts, thinking to herself how fragrant this stuff was and how she simply couldn't stop.
"How come one plate is half empty?
Did you sneak a bite, Iori?"
"I ate two just now."
"That's not two, that's half a plate already!
First, three penalty drinks for yourself!"
"Alright, alright, alright."
For a moment, the team-building room was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
"This is delicious! Nao-baasan's cooking is truly amazing.
I feel like this is even better than the seafood feast just now!"
"Are you exaggerating that much?
It's just a few peanuts.
Better than a seafood feast?
Let me try."
"Alright, several flavors in there actually blend together.
The chef who made this dish is a formidable character!"
"Drink, drink!
With such amazing snacks, no one is getting away tonight!"
"Hmph, tonight I'll definitely show you my Big Cannon!"
"I think it's a small toothpick."
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