"Special training? How… Temporarily trying to improve won't boost much strength."
At the dinner table, hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Eri Nai's expression was somewhat puzzled. It was clearly unrealistic to improve strength in just one week. Cooking had always been a process of accumulation.
Cooking emphasizes a process of accumulating a lot and then releasing it. When young, one practices washing vegetables and tasting; a little older, one practices cutting vegetables; and even older, one learns various professional knowledge.
Far Moon students accumulated knowledge before entering the high school division, which is the fundamental reason for their solid foundation. Once in the high school division, various training, competitions, and internships are the key to transforming this foundation into skill.
Students who cannot complete this transformation are not needed by Far Moon, and the only result is expulsion.
"You'll have to let me think about that. Wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll tell you how to do it."
Challenged, Hoshino Sora laughed awkwardly. Training methods, if he really tried to think, he couldn't come up with anything at the moment.
He said he wanted to conduct special training, but his experience was also extremely limited. Special training like this still needed an old master to guide, like Soma Yukihira's father, or… his father.
Thinking of his father, who had been on various honeymoons after getting married, Hoshino Sora's expression was subtle. At this point in time, he didn't know if he could find him in Neon.
However, he might as well try.
Although Parkinson's would affect cooking to a certain extent, Hoshino Tani Ren's experience as a Master Chef for state banquets was undeniably there. His understanding of cooking was something Hoshino Sora couldn't even come close to.
For example, a Master Chef in a large restaurant usually doesn't cook personally, but only guides other chefs, yet every dish must be tasted by him before being served.
If anything was slightly off, it would be sent back to be redone. It could be said that the Master Chef is the foundation of a restaurant's taste, the soul of the restaurant, and a crucial leader!
Hoshino Tani Ren undoubtedly reached this level.
This was also the real reason why Hoshino Tani Ren was still eagerly invited by various wealthy families and conglomerates after getting Parkinson's. Compared to his cooking skills, his experience and understanding of taste were the truly valuable assets!
"Hey, Dad."
Understanding this, Hoshino Sora directly left the dinner table and went aside to call Hoshino Tani Ren.
On the other end of the phone, Hoshino Tani Ren's tone carried a hint of jest. After all, it was a rare call from his son.
"Yes and no. Are you in Neon right now?"
Getting straight to the point, Hoshino Sora never liked beating around the bush.
"I'm home now. Don't worry, tell me what happened?" Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Hoshino Tani Ren, who had been somewhat lazy, immediately became serious.
"It's good that you're home. Tomorrow, I'll bring some friends over. I need you to lead us in a 7-day special training. We need to enhance our strength in a short period of time."
"Hmm?"
"It's like this…"
Hearing Hoshino Tani Ren's slightly puzzled hum, Hoshino Sora immediately explained. This matter wasn't complicated, and less than ten minutes was enough for him to explain it clearly.
"Speaking of which, I even defeated that Elite Ten Ninth Seat. That combat power was really weak, I don't know how he got up there. He was hyped up so much, I was even a little worried when I challenged him."
Towards the end, Hoshino Sora's voice carried a hint of pride. For him, defeating an Elite Ten member was a small achievement, and the system also gave him three thousand prestige points as encouragement.
"Defeating the Elite Ten Ninth Seat, huh? That's indeed quite impressive. But your old man here became the First Seat when I was a first-year, with countless fangirls chasing me before and after…"
"I know, you've said all this countless times—"
Holding the phone away, Hoshino Sora had heard these words so many times his ears were almost calloused. His father had no hobbies, he just liked to boast about his glorious deeds.
Since he was a child, he had heard it countless times.
"Alright, alright, let's talk about serious matters.
You all gather at our house tomorrow, and then I'll take you to a good place suitable for special training.
By the way, how have you been doing lately? Are you used to staying at Far Moon? Have you found a girlfriend? If you have, remember to send me a picture, so I can see what my future daughter-in-law looks like~"
His voice carried a hint of teasing. Because he hadn't heard Hoshino Sora's voice for a long time, Hoshino Tani Ren missed him very much.
"Gotta go, see you tomorrow."
Hoshino Sora said and then hung up the phone. On the other side, Hoshino Tani Ren looked at his son's disconnected call on his phone and smiled wryly, shaking his head. Then he looked up and gazed out the window. The weather was quite nice.
Azami Nakiri, huh? That little brat actually became the Far Moon Director, it's truly unbelievable. But how could Old Man Nakitiri, such a shrewd fellow, be ambushed…
No, perhaps it wasn't an ambush.
With the Nakitiri Family's influence, it's impossible that they didn't know Azami Nakiri had contacted the Elite Ten beforehand. Since they knew and still allowed him to usurp the position, it's clear that Nakitiri Senzaemon did it on purpose.
It's probably to train the younger generation, the so-called "Jewel" era.
Thinking of what Hoshino Sora had just told him, Hoshino Tani Ren fell into deep thought. Holding a competition to select new Elite Ten members? He couldn't recall anything like that happening before.
At Far Moon, the best way to obtain an elite ten seats was to wait for the previous batch of seniors to retire.
At that time, the academy would recommend Elite Ten candidates based on the students' abilities, and the Elite Ten Council would vote. The minority would obey the majority, and if the majority agreed, the student would become the Elite Ten's last seat.
Thereafter, whenever an Elite Ten member graduated, their seat would move up.
This was the most stable method, but also the most uninteresting. Few Elite Ten members were willing to do this.
The correct way for the Elite Ten to operate was through competition! Constantly engaging in culinary shokugeki, seizing each other's seats to climb up, while also being wary of those below trying to pull them down.
This method was mostly used within the Elite Ten, with seat-betting shokugeki occurring at most once a month.
Of course, if your strength was indeed strong enough, you could also challenge an Elite Ten member after paying a huge price, but the price for a seat-betting challenge was not something an ordinary person could bear.
He himself became the last seat of the Elite Ten after a third-year senior retired and he emerged from the Elite Ten preliminary candidates.
After that, it took him half a year, through continuous challenges, to forcefully defeat all the Elite Ten members at that time and firmly hold the First Seat.
Although that particular Elite Ten generation was somewhat in a transitional period and not particularly high in quality, his ability to secure the First Seat as a first-year was enough to prove his strength and potential.
After that, he was sent to China as an exchange student.
Looking at the moonlight, memories flooded his mind, and Hoshino Tani Ren's mouth curved slightly. At the same time, the door opened, and a woman wrapped in a bath towel approached with a cat-like stride.
Turning around, looking at his beautiful wife who had just come out of the bathroom, Hoshino Tani Ren's face showed joy.
— — — — — — — — — —
"The matter has been settled. The special training location and teacher have been found. Just follow me tomorrow. The special training will last for one week. If you have any reason not to go, you can say so in advance."
After hanging up the phone, Hoshino Sora returned to the Yōbi Dormitory dining room. After sitting down again, he began to tell the others who were eating about the plan for the next few days.
"I have no problem."
"Me too."
"Me too…"
One after another, affirmative voices came from the girls. They were not against special training; on the contrary, they were very much looking forward to it.
After all, for a chef, nothing was more important than improving their craft!
"Then I'll prepare the car." Alice, sitting next to Hoshino Sora, said naturally.
"Please," Hoshino Sora nodded.
"I'll stay tonight. It's too much trouble to go back and forth tomorrow, and I don't really want to wake up early."
"Alright, then you can stay in my room."
Hearing Alice Nakiri's words, Hoshino Sora nodded in agreement. Even if she didn't offer to stay, he would have made her.
As for the reason…
It was obviously to help Alice get stronger, to inject her with a bit of Gourmet Cell genes.
After being strengthened by Gourmet Cell, the body's five senses would be significantly enhanced, which was a huge benefit for a chef, as their cooking skills could directly rise a notch.
Hoshino Sora felt this the most, after all, he was the first man in this world to possess Gourmet Cell.
"Mm! I definitely have to stay in your room~"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Alice enthusiastically responded, her face full of joyful smiles. As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently drifted to Erina, who was sitting directly opposite her.
A bold idea emerged in her mind.
"Erina, do you want to come over tonight? It feels like it's been a long time since we slept together."
Looking at Erina, whose face was slightly red and silent after hearing their conversation, Alice Nakiri spoke casually, rising and coming to stand behind her.
Her hand naturally rested on her.
"Alice, you… do you know what you're saying?"
Her voice revealed a hint of unspeakable difficulty. Hearing Alice's words, Erina's heart rate suddenly accelerated. Does this girl even know what she's saying!?
"Lady Alice, please don't make such jokes."
Hisako Arato, listening nearby, also felt her heart race, her cheeks flushed. As she spoke, she glared at Hoshino Sora, who was enjoying the drama, her tone a little urgent.
"Well, just kidding. So, do you want to go take a bath together later?"
Glancing around, Alice Nakiri immediately 'understood' the situation. It must be that there were too many people here, and Erina felt a bit constrained. So, she would find an opportunity to talk alone.
"Okay."
"Then it's settled, hehehe~"
After hearing Alice's words, Erina Nakiri nodded. If it was just bathing together, that was fine. Although it was a bit embarrassing, it was still within her acceptable range.
The key was that Alice's previous statement was too shocking. Although she did have a good impression of Hoshino Sora, for two sisters to be together… how could such a thing be allowed!?
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and various images flashed through her mind. Thinking about it, her whole body trembled, and then she quickly shook her head to stop herself from overthinking.
At this moment, Alice had returned to her seat. Hisako, who was next to her, stood up after eating her fill: "Lady Erina, I'm going back first. I'll come find you tomorrow after reporting the situation to my family."
"Be careful on your way."
Hearing Hisako Arato's words, Erina Nakiri replied distractedly, her mind filled with unbroadcastable images. It was all Alice's fault, making her heart feel so strange!
——————————
"Ahhh~ So comfortable~"
Her voice revealed a hint of laziness and allure, enjoying the feeling of hot water soaking her body, Alice let out an incredibly satisfied sound.
"Why are you wrapped in a bath towel? You were completely exposed when you were little, but now you're making extra work."
"Childhood was childhood, now we've grown up!"
"Hmph, you've already seen all of me, but you won't let me see all of you, that's not fair!"
"It's not like I made you…"
Looking at Erina Nakiri, who was still wrapped in a bath towel even in the bathtub, Alice couldn't help but complain, then stepped forward to try and snatch the bath towel from her.
Erina naturally refused, but Alice, being barefoot, wasn't afraid of those with shoes. Determined to attack, she quickly disarmed Erina, and then the two truly bared themselves to each other.
Erina, having lost her protection, simply decided to give up and no longer concealed herself. She happily engaged in a water fight with Alice in the bathtub. With each splash, a smile appeared on the girl's face.
This was the first step to opening her heart.
On the other side, Hoshino Sora had just returned to his room.
Closing the door, he went to his desk and, as usual, studied recipes daily, then reviewed the cooking notes Xiang Ling had given him, which contained over a hundred classic Sichuan Cuisine dishes.
Sichuan Cuisine is very complex, divided into twenty-four flavor profiles, each of which is very particular and difficult to prepare. Beyond that, there are even more complex compound flavor profiles, which Hoshino Sora was currently studying.
Learning a little bit every day, striving to improve every day.
"So this dish can also be made like this…"
His voice was filled with admiration. As he was engrossed in his reading, there was suddenly movement at the door. Hoshino Sora put down his notes and then saw Alice pulling Erina into his room.
Both girls were wearing lace nightgowns.
"Help us blow-dry our hair."
The girls' hair looked a bit wet. Alice held a hairdryer in her hand and handed it to Hoshino Sora as she spoke, then forcefully pulled Erina onto the bed to sit and rest.
"Wait."
Hoshino Sora responded, taking the hairdryer. After plugging it in, he tested the temperature, then looked at the two with gentle eyes: "Who wants to go first?"
"Erina, her hair is a bit longer, it won't dry as quickly."
"Normally, shouldn't the short hair go first? But I also want to blow-dry Erina's first."
Hoshino Sora complained while using his hand to comb Erina's long golden hair. She hadn't spoken since entering the room, just kept her head down, her face slightly flushed.
"Mmm…"
It wasn't until Hoshino Sora's hand touched her hair that she unconsciously let out a sound, her eyes looking a bit dazed.
"Hehehe~"
Seeing this, Alice Nakiri just watched from the side, a joyful and excited expression on her face.
Hoshino Sora's hair-drying technique was very skilled, because every time he had intimate interactions with girls, he would blow-dry their hair after they showered.
Over time, his skills had soared. His technique was more professional and effective than some barbers.
His broad hand gently kneaded her small head, his five fingers combing along the direction of her hair, and the warm breeze gently blew. Erina comfortably narrowed her eyes.
Alice hadn't lied to her, Hoshino Sora's technique was truly excellent, no less skilled than Hisako's. Enjoying the warmth, neither of them spoke.
She wished this feeling could last forever.
Such a thought emerged in the girl's mind, and then she was startled. How could she have such a thought? How strange…
After drying Erina's hair, he dried Alice's. When Hoshino Sora's hand left her head, Erina felt a slight sense of loss, then looked at Alice beside her.
So that's what her expression looked like just now?
That look of enjoyment was from the heart, not faked.
"Next up is the foot massage, Sora-kun. Show Erina what you can do. Don't you love giving girls foot massages, and your technique is amazing?"
Noticing Erina Nakiri's 'eager' gaze, Alice nudged Hoshino Sora's arm with her elbow, signaling him to act.
This guy was usually so proactive with her, what was wrong today? He looked like a block of wood. For some reason, she felt a little annoyed.
"Ahem, then I won't be polite!"
Hearing Alice's voice, Hoshino Sora, who had been a bit dazed, immediately reacted, then revealed a 'perverted' smile. He had never had the pleasure of experiencing Erina's small feet before!
At Hisako Arato's house.
Hisako, who had just returned to her room, shivered, an inexplicable bad feeling welling up in her heart.
"Massage… I don't think a massage is necessary."
Looking at Hoshino Sora's 'sinful' hand reaching towards her foot, Erina couldn't help but retract her foot, speaking timidly, her eyes darting around as if in fear.
That arrogant young lady, who was usually so unyielding, actually showed such an interesting expression. It had to be said, the contrast was quite large.
But it was precisely this gap moe that made Hoshino Sora even more excited. He reached out and caught her small foot, which hadn't retreated in time, and a warm, jade-like sensation immediately spread through him.
Erina's small feet were a bit plumper than Alice's, feeling very fleshy all over, with round and full toe pads, looking like large pearls one after another.
At this moment, Erina, due to shyness, was slightly curling her toes, and her leg couldn't stop retreating, but how could her strength as a young girl compare to Hoshino Sora's?
"It's a shame you've already bathed. It would feel even better if you hadn't."
At this, a faint hint of regret appeared on Hoshino Sora's face, Erina subtly showed disgust, while Alice was all smiles.
Because the Hoshino Sora she knew was back!
"Hoshino-kun, why do you like girls' feet?"
"I can't really say, but I just like them. It's an impulse from deep within."
Hearing Erina's slightly hesitant question, Hoshino Sora slowly began to speak.
Why did he like girls' feet? He didn't know the reason either; it was an impulse from his very bones. Perhaps this was what it meant to be a pervert.
He didn't deny being a pervert, because being a pervert was much easier than being a gentleman.
"Just close your eyes and enjoy it to the fullest. By the way, it will hurt a little at first, but it will quickly become very comfortable."
"Huh?"
Listening to Hoshino Sora's somewhat misleading description, Erina Nakiri's expression was slightly startled, looking a bit confused.
But soon, she understood what Hoshino Sora meant.
The sudden pain made her cry out. Just as she was about to struggle free, Alice Nakiri, who had been sitting next to her, had somehow moved behind her and embraced her with open arms.
Her violent struggles turned into useless effort, leaving only her chest heaving violently, which gave Hoshino Sora a good feast for his eyes.
Fortunately, the pain only lasted for less than thirty seconds, then it turned into a bone-deep tingling comfort. Her previously tense body instantly relaxed, leaving only satisfaction on her face.
This was the charm of foot massage.
Seeing Erina Nakiri's change, Alice nodded in satisfaction, then released her embrace, but the other party seemed to cling to her, pressing against her body and refusing to leave.
Helplessly, Alice could only continue to hold Erina.
Their posture became a bit strange.
Time flew by, and in a blink of an eye, Erina had been in Hoshino Sora's room for two hours. In these two hours, the three of them did nothing but blow-dry hair and massage, which was quite enjoyable.
However…
This wouldn't do.
Her gaze swept back and forth between Erina Nakiri and Hoshino Sora. Although these two seemed to be developing well, there was no breakthrough in their relationship.
The breakthrough needed was, of course, a romantic relationship.
As cousins, Alice very much hoped that Erina could also join Hoshino Sora's harem. Her idea was very simple: once Erina and Hoshino Sora got together, she could always be with her.
However, she would never say such a thing to Erina.
There was no particular reason, just a strange sense of shame that girls had.
"It's getting late, we should rest."
Alice Nakiri said, reaching for her nightgown. Erina's eyes widened at the sight, and her cheeks, already red from the massage, became even redder.
"You… what are you doing?!"
"Isn't it obvious? Sleeping. Erina, you come too. Although it hurts a little at first, it will quickly become very comfortable.
Just experience it once, and you'll love that feeling for the rest of your life, I promise!"
"What are you saying?! I'm going back."
Erina Nakiri said, scrambling off the bed in a panic, almost falling to the ground. Fortunately, Hoshino Sora caught her in time, but because of this, their bodies collided slightly.
Erina Nakiri's body began to warm up slightly.
"Come on, trust me."
Embracing Erina from behind, Alice's movements were light and her voice soft, but it was like Pandora's Box, constantly tempting the girl.
Open it, open that magic box…
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