Regardless of what the Uma Musume who had specifically come to observe her were thinking, Nearl was meticulously following the old master's steps to prepare the dishes.
Washing, draining, chopping, then into the pan—a few quick stirs, adding seasonings as the situation required, every movement precisely replicating the steps demonstrated by the chefs earlier.
"Though I figured that since you dared to come straight to me for lessons, little Nearl, you must have some basic cooking skills. I never expected you to replicate the entire process so flawlessly after just one watch—even the seasoning measurements were almost spot-on. That kind of talent is rare."
The old master nearby tugged at his thin beard in amazement. In all his years of learning and working as a chef, he had never seen anyone who could flawlessly recreate a dish after just one demonstration.
But he noticed that Nearl didn't seem content with simply copying the method. Even though her first attempt had already produced a perfect result, she began altering the steps on her second try.
Not one to hold back his curiosity, he straightforwardly asked Nearl:
"Little Nearl, why change the method? The result from the previous approach was already excellent."
"Instructor, while I can force myself to replicate a dish step-by-step, that's ultimately just imitation. It doesn't mean I've truly learned how to make it."
Nearl responded to the cafeteria director's question while carefully stirring the ingredients in the soup pot, allowing the flavors to meld more deeply.
"To truly master this dish, I need to cook with my own understanding. The demonstrated method is only a reference—I must internalize and make it my own."
Hearing Nearl's perspective, the old master felt immensely gratified. He believed that with such an attitude, her path in learning culinary arts would be smooth and promising.
"Excellent! Your way of thinking is absolutely right, little Nearl! Relying solely on imitation will never make you a great chef."
"I originally planned to have you imitate first, build some foundation, and then discuss these deeper aspects with you. I never imagined you'd come to this realization on your own. With this mindset, all you lack now is experience to create exceptional dishes."
The cafeteria director watched Nearl, fully absorbed in her cooking, and found himself thinking about her future.
If Nearl struggled after retirement, he decided he would swallow his pride and plead with that old woman—maybe he could secure a position for her in the Central Tracen Academy cafeteria.
'After all, this child is so endearing—it's hard not to want to help her whenever possible.' The old man gazed at Nearl with a warm, fatherly smile, his eyes full of kindness.
The lunch hour soon passed, and crowds of Uma Musume left the cafeteria with all sorts of thoughts on their minds. Nearl, too, prepared to take off her chef's uniform.
She had intentionally set aside a portion of side dishes she made, planning to bring them when visiting Fujimasa March. These were light, flavorful snacks—perfect for tasting and not too heavy, making them ideal as a small treat.
Just as Nearl finished thanking the kitchen staff and was about to leave, the old master stopped her for a moment.
"Little Nearl, you're very clever. Learning culinary arts poses no real obstacle for you—all you need is plenty of practice. I originally thought I'd have to teach you hands-on, but now I see that's completely unnecessary."
The old man patted Nearl's arm and spoke with satisfaction.
"From now on, come help out during lunch hours. The more you do, the better you'll become. As for the rest, leave it to me to arrange."
Nearl understood this was the old master's way of looking out for her. She thanked him and accepted the offer.
"Hehehe, good child, good child!"
The cafeteria director watched Nearl leave with a cheerful smile.
--+--
After leaving the cafeteria, Nearl first headed to the Kasamatsu Tracen Affiliated Uma Musume Hospital where Fujimasa March was staying, intending to check on her.
Entering the hospital gates, she was met by a solemn, pristine white building. As the affiliated hospital of Kasamatsu Tracen, its orthopedics department was exceptionally renowned, staffed by top-tier orthopedic specialists.
After all, for Uma Musume, their legs were their second life—absolutely not something to be neglected.
Yet racing inevitably inflicted some degree of strain on their legs, which meant Uma Musume were practically VIP clients at orthopedic hospitals.
The doctors here had it tough—almost all of them had chosen to become Uma Musume doctors out of genuine love for the sport. This choice came with significant sacrifices.
It was well-known that Uma Musume's physical capabilities far surpassed those of humans, and racing Uma Musume were even more exceptional. Their muscle tissue and bone structure were fundamentally different from ordinary humans.
So, becoming a doctor capable of treating Uma Musume required several times more knowledge and posed far greater difficulty than becoming a regular doctor—often demanding the best thirty-plus years of one's youth.
And the reward?
Their salaries weren't significantly higher than those of regular doctors—in fact, the returns hardly matched the effort invested. What's more, many struggled to even start families.
A significant number of women were hesitant to date men who frequently interacted with Uma Musume, lacking the confidence to keep their boyfriends' hearts from being swayed by those charming horse girls. So they simply avoided men in Uma Musume-related professions.
As for dating an Uma Musume?
Sure, some doctors did end up with Uma Musume as partners, but the likelihood was low even among professions that involved regular contact with them, for various reasons.
First, they were doctors. Under what circumstances did they meet Uma Musume? When they were injured. In those moments, their focus was solely on their duty, leaving no room for romantic distractions.
Second, which Uma Musume frequently visited doctors? Only racing Uma Musume, whose training and competitions often led to injuries. So the Uma Musume doctors saw were mostly racers, typically aged between sixteen and twenty—a significant age gap with most doctors.
Third, mature and resilient Uma Musume were in the minority. Most Uma Musume's reactions upon seeing doctors… well, without being disrespectful, just take Tokai Teio as a reference.
In summary, those who committed to becoming Uma Musume doctors were undoubtedly driven by a heartfelt love for Uma Musume.
Back to the main topic—after inquiring at the hospital lobby's nursing station, Nearl learned the room number for Fujimasa March. Thanking the nurse, she made her way to a room on the second floor.
Knock, knock, knock…
Nearl gently rapped on the door three times, and a response came quickly from inside.
"Coming! Who is it?"
The voice was a deep male one—it seemed Trainer Shibasaki was keeping Fujimasa March company.
Sure enough, as the door opened, Trainer Shibasaki's handsome but now slightly weary face appeared.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.