[Extra Chapter!!]
Yuki spotted the lunch boxes in front of Shun and couldn't hold back. "Shun! What did you make? C'mon, open them up for us!"
Her shout drew everyone's attention.
Even Megumi, shyly tucked in the corner, snuck a glance over.
Shun nodded without a word and slowly lifted the lids.
No blinding glow. No flashy spectacle.
Just a few ordinary dishes…
A plate of stir-fried greens, colors bright and jade-green.
A bowl of red-glossed braised pork, layered with alternating fat and lean.
A platter of thick, pillowy tamagoyaki—golden and inviting.
And a mushroom soup, clear broth dotted with forest caps.
They looked simple. Homestyle. Maybe even too plain.
"Eh? Th-that's… it?" Yuki's voice held the thinnest thread of disappointment; she'd expected something showier.
Soma arched a brow, studying closely. As a cook, he knew the simpler the dish, the harsher the trial—but for now he didn't see any obvious twist.
Ryoko didn't overthink it. She'd already witnessed Shun's skill at noon. "Itadakimasu~ I won't be shy," she said, picking up the stir-fried greens and taking a bite.
A beat later, her eyes widened, disbelief flickering across her face.
"Mm! Th-this… tastes so special."
Only after a moment did Ryoko manage to say that much.
Then Yuki, Daigo, Shoji and the rest reached out with their chopsticks for other dishes.
Suddenly, the room went strangely quiet.
The earlier chatter evaporated, leaving only soft sounds of chewing.
Ryoko hurried back for another bite—this time, a cube of braised pork.
The morsel trembled—fat and lean in perfect harmony—its glossy sauce slowly trailing down.
It touched her tongue; her pupils dilated again, this time hazed with bliss.
"Mmm~~"
A muffled exclamation slipped out as she reflexively covered her mouth.
The heavy, greasy impact she expected never came. In its place was an extraordinarily balanced depth of umami.
The fat melted on contact—never cloying. The lean was tender, saturated with flavor, zero fibrous drag.
Strangest of all, a gentle warmth seemed to bloom from her stomach, ironing out the day's wired excitement and easing it into a wordless calm.
On the other side, Daigo and Shoji practically jostled to pop the tamagoyaki into their mouths.
Silken egg. Delicate dashi sweetness. A perfectly tuned hint of salt.
Every note distinct, yet fused into one warm, embracing whole.
Their usual rowdy energy faded without them noticing, replaced by a quiet, almost happy serenity.
Soma said nothing, the most serious face in the room.
He tasted each dish in turn. The more he ate, the sharper his gaze grew, and the deeper his brow furrowed.
Not out of nitpicking—but from desperate analysis and feeling.
He found flawless doneness. Surgical seasoning. But deeper than that lay a harmony and balance he'd never experienced.
These dishes carried a subtle power—gently unknotting the diner's inner turbulence and leaving a calm, satisfied stillness from the inside out.
It was beyond his old definition of "delicious."
Satoshi's smile had faded as well. He had sampled everything Shun made, and felt much the same as the others… Beyond impeccable taste, there was another flavor—quietude.
Yes—after eating, body and heart… settled.
"What is this?"
Satoshi finally lifted his head to Shun, voice filled with curiosity and disbelief. "Shun-kun… your cooking feels strange—not strange in taste, but in the afterfeel! My whole self just… stilled?"
Ryoko nodded, eyes shining. "It's like all the fatigue and anxiety got washed away—so gently. My body and mind feel peaceful. Comfortable."
Even Megumi, who'd barely spoken since entering, whispered with a blush, "It feels like… I'm wrapped in warmth."
Her face went scarlet the instant she heard herself.
They could feel this because Shun had grasped Shoku-gi… No—basic Shoku-gi alone couldn't reach this effect.
He owed a thanks to Erina today; failing to clear her hidden task had ironically pushed his Shoku-gi to Intermediate.
Of course, Shun had no intention of telling Polar Star that Shoku-gi was the key behind this flavor.
After a moment's thought, he said, "If you quiet your hearts, you can make dishes like this too… and cook with gratitude."
"Gratitude?" everyone echoed, puzzled.
Shun elaborated, "Put simply—thank all things. Cook with a grateful heart."
That was the foundation of Shoku-gi.
But doing it was another matter entirely.
"Thank all things? Whoa, that's super mystical," Yuki said, clearly not getting it.
The others looked just as lost; "gratitude" wasn't exactly a standard kitchen note.
Satoshi repeated softly, tasting Shun's words. "Thank all things, cook with gratitude… Can gratitude alone yield with such presence? Shun-kun, the realm you touched isn't something 'thank you' reaches by itself."
As Seventh Seat of the Elite Ten, Satoshi's eye for cuisine far outpaced most students. He could feel it clearly—the peace in Shun's dishes went beyond technique, straight to the heart. That wasn't something mere proficiency could explain.
"Maybe you'll understand in time," Shun said, closing the topic. Then he pivoted. "Satoshi-senpai, there's something I want to confirm."
"Oh? What is it, Shun-kun?"
"How to become Elite Ten."
(End of Chapter)
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