"You weren't crying in your room just now, were you?"
Looking at the girl's slightly reddened eyes, Hoshino Sora said in a half-joking tone, then entered the room.
"Didn't you say you were bringing food…" Looking at Hoshino Sora's empty hands, Shiina Mahiru seemed a bit confused.
"You believed that nonsense? You're such a little dummy."
As he spoke, he closed the room door again. Hoshino Sora sat down on Shiina Mahiru's bed and lay down. It was soft and comfortable. He had slept on it once before, and it was much better than his hard bed.
"Liar!"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Shiina Mahiru immediately realized she had been tricked. She puffed out her cheeks and said, then stepped forward to stand before him, her gaze flickering.
Hoshino Sora saw her dejection within her eyes.
"Hoshino-kun, why am I so weak? I practice every day, never slacking off for a single day, but everyone else advanced, and only I, only I was eliminated…"
After a long pause, Shiina Mahiru finally spoke. Although her current strength ranked in the upper-middle among Far Moon first-years, and she often received A-grade evaluations in classes.
However, placing her in the larger environment made her seem very incompetent.
She only scored 12 points in the C-block qualifiers, which was considered among the top among the participating first-years, but Tadokoro Megumi's 27 points truly dealt her a considerable blow.
She should have been happy for her, but for some reason, her heart only held envy. No, it wasn't just envy; it was more about disappointment in herself.
Disappointment in why she was so useless, even though she received special training from Hoshino Sora every day, she couldn't perform much when it came to the actual competition.
She might truly have no culinary talent.
"Insufficient accumulation, relatively clumsy techniques and skills, and it feels like you haven't grasped many things. Despite practicing every day, there hasn't been significant progress. Have you noticed this?
However, even so, your skills have already surpassed most of the first-years. This is the result of continuous effort day and night."
At this point, Hoshino Sora paused again: "Actually, I think you're the type who blossoms late. Keep persevering and working hard, and sooner or later, you'll have an epiphany."
"Hmm…"
At this point, Shiina Mahiru still showed little emotion, only lowering her head with a dejected expression, clearly not truly believing Hoshino Sora's comforting words.
"Ahem, in that case, I have another method, but you might not be able to accept it, and I also don't want you to do it because of this…"
Seeing Shiina Mahiru's appearance, Hoshino Sora's words revealed hesitation. He had a way to make Shiina Mahiru stronger, but Gourmet Cell could only be transmitted through intimate physical contact.
If she wasn't willing, then this method would be ineffective.
"You're talking about doing that, aren't you? I know all about it. Xiao Hui once told me." Hearing Hoshino Sora's hesitant words, Shiina Mahiru suddenly said, blushing.
"Is that so? Since you're unwilling to try this method, then I can't do anything either…"
Hearing Shiina Mahiru's words, Hoshino Sora had his answer. Since she knew about it and hadn't actively sought him out, it meant she wasn't willing, so this approach wouldn't work.
No persuasion, no coercion, because no matter what method was used in the end, Shiina Mahiru had the final say. He had no reason to force her.
"No, I… I am willing, of course. I've been willing for a long time, but you've always been so cold towards me, not like someone with romantic feelings, so I…"
Pausing, Shiina Mahiru suddenly spoke with a flushed face. The more she spoke, the softer her voice became, revealing an undeniable joy.
"Really?"
As he spoke, Hoshino Sora looked at her face, seemingly a bit disbelieving. He had already treated Shiina Mahiru as a younger sister, but now she was telling him that she liked him.
Although she didn't say it directly, her words clearly conveyed only that meaning.
Memories of their days of special training in the kitchen flashed through his mind. If he remembered correctly, he had made many hints when teaching her in the kitchen, such as accidentally touching her hand when handing over ingredients, or subtly embracing her from behind when teaching about cooking heat.
But each time, Shiina Mahiru would decisively run away, with a subtle look of disdain on her face. It was because he saw that expression that Hoshino Sora completely gave up on her.
After that, he always treated Shiina Mahiru like a younger sister, maintaining a certain distance and doing nothing out of line.
They had been interacting like this for several months, and in this situation, she was actually telling him, 'She had actually liked him for a long time, but didn't say anything because she thought he was too cold.'
He couldn't figure it out. Hoshino Sora truly couldn't figure out the answer. It might have been small things in daily life, or subtle interactions at work. In short, she seemed to have no ill will towards him.
Realizing this, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but smile wryly.
"Actually, I've always liked you too. I was just worried you wouldn't like my type. I made many hints before but got no response. After that, I always treated you as a younger sister."
"Those were hints? I thought they were accidental…"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Shiina Mahiru immediately recalled the period when they first met, when he would always intentionally or unintentionally create physical contact with her.
At that time, the rules of the world hadn't been changed yet. Whether male or female, having multiple partners would be socially scorned.
Therefore, at that time, Shiina Mahiru's attitude towards Hoshino Sora was not good because she didn't want to be a third party in someone else's relationship.
But now that the worldview had changed, and society could accept capable men and women having harems, she felt that such things were not particularly difficult to accept.
So, during the daily kitchen training, she gradually developed feelings for Hoshino Sora. It was faint at first, but as time went on, this feeling deepened.
This was a process of feelings growing over time.
But Shiina Mahiru had always kept it to herself, because she didn't feel much love from Hoshino Sora. This was easy to understand; it was evident from his attitude towards Alice and the others compared to his attitude towards her.
So, even though she knew Hoshino Sora could give her extraordinary talent and help her become strong quickly, Shiina Mahiru didn't say anything, pretending not to know.
"Well, it's a good thing I tried asking today and learned Miyu's attitude. Otherwise, we might have truly missed out."
As he spoke, Hoshino Sora's face showed an expression of relief.
If he hadn't seen her so dejected today and impulsively revealed his secret, he probably would never have known Shiina Mahiru's feelings in this lifetime.
They were among the first people to meet and interact, and they even had a period of ambiguity, yet their relationship ended up like a joke, unresolved.
The reason was simple: neither of them took the initiative, both keeping their inner thoughts to themselves, which led to this situation.
Getting up and embracing Shiina Mahiru, Hoshino Sora felt no evil thoughts, only a surge of relief in his heart. He had almost lost such a lovely girl.
"Come to my room tonight. I have something to show you…"
Having confirmed Hoshino Sora's feelings, Shiina Mahiru also became braver. She opened her mouth and whispered in his ear. When she uttered the last word, the girl's cheeks were completely flushed.
"Okay!"
Hearing Shiina Mahiru's words, Hoshino Sora's eyes immediately lit up. After a firm "Okay," he prepared to leave. Before leaving, he turned around again: "What do you want to eat tonight? I'll make it for you."
"Anything is fine. I'm very easy to please."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Shiina Mahiru said in a half-joking tone. Her innocent and charming appearance was truly adorable, completely free of the previous gloom.
Although she lost the competition, she gained love.
Although this love needed to be shared with many girls, at this very moment, Shiina Mahiru found that she didn't care much; instead, she felt a bit excited.
And she could be best friends with Xiao Hui forever!
Thinking of this, Shiina Mahiru smiled even more happily.
— — — — — — — — — —
After delivering the meal and leaving Shiina Mahiru's room, Hoshino Sora went upstairs, returned to his room, closed the door, and immediately entered the Gourmet Manor.
With a flash of white light in the air, Hoshino Sora disappeared from his original spot. When he opened his eyes again, he was already in a field full of fruits and vegetables.
At this time, most of the gourds, fruits, and vegetables in the manor had matured. Hoshino Sora ignored them and walked directly towards a distant chili field, where most of the chilies used in Sichuan Cuisine were grown.
Looking at the bright red chilies hanging high on the branches, Hoshino Sora's face showed satisfaction.
Plucking a Er Jing Tiao chili, all the information about this chili immediately appeared in his mind.
Ingredient: Er Jing Tiao
Grade: Bronze
Suitable dishes: Spicy Chicken, Chopped Chili Fish Head...
"The fruit is actually Bronze grade? I remember planting Iron grade seeds, and these too, although they vary in size, they are all Bronze grade ingredients without exception."
As he picked, Hoshino Sora checked the information on the chili peppers, surprised to find that all of them had reached Bronze grade, even though the seeds he planted were Black Iron grade.
A thought flashed through Hoshino Sora's mind, and he began to work.
First, he harvested all the chili peppers from this patch, then selected the larger and better-looking ones for breeding, performing artificial selective breeding.
Since the land here could improve the grade of chili peppers, as long as he kept planting, sooner or later, he could grow ingredients of Silver or even Gold grade and above!
The grade of ingredients and dishes are closely related; at the same same level, dishes made with higher-grade ingredients will have a higher grade and better taste, which is easy to understand.
After dealing with the chili pepper patch, Hoshino Sora came to the adjacent ranch, where the mutated cattle were now accompanied by a group of calves, all emitting a special fragrance.
Smelling this strange aroma, Hoshino Sora instantly understood that biological mutations could be inherited.
A look of ecstasy appeared on his face; Hoshino Sora naturally knew what this meant. Although there was no second type of mutated cattle in the ranch now, he was already looking forward to what new mutated creatures would emerge from the crossbreeding of mutated organisms!
He fed the fodder, then went to the chicken coop to pick two Bronze-grade Small JZ eggs, then returned to the farm, harvested all the ripe vegetables, and then again performed selective breeding.
After finishing these tasks, Hoshino Sora left the Gourmet Manor, and his backpack gained a batch of Bronze-grade ingredients, which he estimated would be useful soon.
Thinking of the upcoming Elite Ten selection, Hoshino Sora mused, leaning against the window and looking at the moon, then pulled out his phone to check the time; it was already eleven o'clock at night.
A smile appeared on his face. Hoshino Sora turned off the light and left the room, quickly went downstairs, and raised his hand to knock on Shiina Mahiru's door.
"Wait here for a moment, I'll go take a shower first."
Opening the door and seeing Hoshino Sora standing there, Shiina Mahiru had already found her change of clothes and was ready to bathe, but he directly stopped her.
"What's wrong?"
Tilting her head in confusion, Shiina Mahiru looked at the tall figure at the door, thinking Hoshino Sora had something to say, so she obediently waited in place, holding her clothes.
"I don't like the smell of shower gel; I like your natural scent, your sweat, all of you."
Uttering incredibly embarrassing words, Hoshino Sora grabbed Shiina Mahiru's shoulders, lowered his head, and whispered in her ear.
With that, he closed the door, directly carried Shiina Mahiru into the room, and then soft, melodious sounds, along with some scolding, came from inside.
"Pervert, don't sniff there!"
"Idiot, I said wait a moment, at least let me get ready..."
All sorts of blushing sounds came from within. When Erina Nakiri passed by on her way to the restroom, she happened to hear them and couldn't help but twitch her eyebrow as she stood at the door.
Having had similar experiences, Erina clearly understood what was happening. Her face instantly turned crimson as she cursed under her breath, her feet frozen mid-air, not leaving. She just stood at the door, eavesdropping.
As her passion deepened, her hand unconsciously moved downwards. By the time Erina Nakiri came to her senses, her face was flushed, her heart pounded, and she fled the scene at a quick trot.
How could she do such a thing at someone else's door? It was too shameful. Fortunately, it was late, and no one was around, otherwise, she really wouldn't be able to explain herself.
She went all the way up to the fourth floor, right next to Hoshino Sora's room. Because her footsteps were hurried as she went upstairs, Yumeko Jabami opened her door, curious to check the situation.
"What happened?"
"N-nothing."
Looking at Yumeko Jabami, who had suddenly opened her door, Erina Nakiri replied with a guilty conscience, then her eyes drifted as she prepared to leave, but she was stopped.
"I have something I want to talk to you about. Is it convenient for you to come in now?"
Looking at the bright and beautiful figure in front of her, Yumeko Jabami suddenly spoke, then stepped forward to block her path.
"Hm? I can..."
Hearing this, Erina Nakiri was also a bit confused, but she still followed her into the room, closing the door behind them.
A faint tension filled the air.
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