The next day.
Okabe and Alice Nakiri packed lightly, and with three or four suitcases in tow, they boarded the subway to Ryōzanpaku with Ikaros.
In less than an hour, the three of them arrived at Ryōzanpaku.
"Erina, what are you doing here?!"
Alice Nakiri then saw Erina Nakiri, who had been waiting at the gate for some time.
Hisako Arato stood quietly beside her, a bright smile on her face when she saw them arrive.
"You're here, so why can't I be? In fact, I'd like to ask why you're here!"
Seeing Alice Nakiri's surprised expression, Erina Nakiri rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"So, does that mean you'll be training in martial arts at Ryōzanpaku for the time being, too?"
As if a sudden thought struck her, Alice Nakiri's expression darkened. She had originally planned to have some time alone with Okabe to practice martial arts at Ryōzanpaku, but she hadn't expected Erina Nakiri to be so persistent.
"Not just for the time being. Until we complete the enrollment procedures for Totsuki Junior High, Hisako and I will be studying both martial arts and cooking at Ryōzanpaku!"
Catching a glimpse of Alice Nakiri's suddenly sour face, Erina Nakiri immediately guessed her thoughts. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and with the air of a victor, she delivered this "finishing blow."
She knew that Alice would be leaving in a month at most, and when that time came, Ryōzanpaku would become a world for just the two of them—her and Okabe.
Wait, a world for just the two of us?!
How did that phrase just pop into my head? Could it be... that I'm secretly looking forward to being alone with Okabe?
The thought made her face turn crimson in an instant.
At this thought, Erina Nakiri shot an annoyed glance at Okabe and stepped aside. "We've been waiting for you for a while. Go on and open the gate."
She had wanted to surprise Okabe, so she and Hisako Arato had arrived early, only to be stumped by a heavy gate. The two of them tried everything, but the gate wouldn't budge. In the end, they had no choice but to give up and were just staring at each other at the entrance, about to knock, when the others arrived.
"There's actually a smaller gate over there for convenience," Okabe said, pointing nearby. Then he considered that it was Erina and Hisako's first visit, and it would be a bit rude to make guests use the small gate, so he thought for a moment and said, "But since it's your first time, you really should enter through the main gate."
As he spoke, he walked up to the heavy gate and, with a simple push, it swung open. This effortless display left the others behind him with looks of utter shock.
"How did you open that?"
"The two of us used all our strength just now, and this gate didn't move an inch... Could it be that your martial arts have already reached such a level?"
Erina Nakiri's voice was filled with disbelief.
As she spoke, she went forward and pushed it again, but the gate remained motionless.
"Not really, I'm still at the disciple level."
"As for this gate, you just need to master a little trick to open it easily. You'll be able to do it too after training here for a month or two. Don't just stand there, please come in."
Hearing this, Okabe gestured for them to enter while explaining with a smile.
"Okay."
Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri glanced at each other instinctively.
The next moment, the two stepped into Ryōzanpaku one after the other. Hisako Arato and Ikaros followed quietly behind them. Okabe was at the back of the group and closed the gate as he came in.
"Okabe-boy, and Erina and Hisako too."
"And is this white-haired little girl I haven't seen before a friend of yours? It's the first time I've seen her."
The noise at the entrance quickly drew the attention of those inside. Kensei Ma, who was practicing his punches in the training yard, looked at the group entering, especially Alice Nakiri, and his voice was inquisitive.
"Yes! Hello, Grandpa. My name is Alice Nakiri, and I'm Okabe's very, very best friend!"
To emphasize how close her relationship with Okabe was, she deliberately added an extra "very."
"Hello, Master Ma."
Erina Nakiri bowed slightly.
"Good morning, Master Ma."
Hisako Arato also greeted him, though her form of address was different from Erina Nakiri's.
"They've come to study at Ryōzanpaku for a while."
"Come with me to register your home addresses and ages, and then we'll discuss the matter of 'tuition fees'."
Because Ryōzanpaku was in a state of extreme financial distress, Kensei Ma beamed upon seeing new members and immediately prepared to take them to register their information. Before leaving, he gave Hisako Arato a pointed look.
She was the descendant of his old friend, so now that she had chosen to join Ryōzanpaku, he would naturally look after her.
With that said, the group headed towards the reception hall.
"It's that little girl from last time."
As they passed through a wooded corridor, a few leaves happened to fall from the trees.
Without even looking, Shigure Kōsaka waved her hand, sending out several flashes of silver light. The next moment, the leaves were split in half down the middle, every single one of them.
And when she saw Okabe's group passing by, she noticed Erina Nakiri.
"Master Shigure."
Seeing Shigure Kōsaka greet her first, Erina Nakiri immediately returned the bow respectfully.
Shigure Kōsaka asked expressionlessly.
Thinking about how Erina Nakiri had lost to Okabe a few days ago, she figured that since the girl was here again, she was most likely unwilling to accept defeat and wanted a rematch for revenge.
"No, I'm here to become a disciple."
Hearing Erina Nakiri state her purpose, and confirming that she posed no threat, Shigure Kōsaka nodded slightly, looked her in the eyes, and said, "In that case, learn well."
"Yes, I will."
Hearing Shigure Kōsaka's words, Erina Nakiri nodded earnestly.
"Then we'll be going."
Noticing the somewhat subtle atmosphere between the two, Okabe stepped forward to bid farewell to Shigure Kōsaka, then took Erina Nakiri's wrist and led her away.
Before long, the group arrived at the reception hall.
At that moment, Akisame Koetsuji and Hayato Fūrinji were drinking tea at a table. Hearing a sound at the door, they both turned around and saw Okabe.
Behind him were the two Nakiri sisters, Ikaros, and Hisako Arato.
And behind them were their suitcases.
"What's the situation with these young ladies...?"
There was a hint of confusion in Akisame Koetsuji's voice.
"They're planning to study at our Ryōzanpaku for a while, mainly for physical conditioning."
Hearing the question, Okabe answered first.
"I see. In that case, little Okabe, why don't you take them to their rooms first? I remember the few rooms next to yours are still empty. Let them put their luggage inside for now. I'll have Miu clean them up later."
Looking at the group standing behind Okabe, Hayato Fūrinji smiled.
"Okay, so I'll take them to drop off their luggage, and then we'll come back and train together?"
As he spoke, Okabe looked at Akisame Koetsuji, the master who taught him the most.
"You take them over first."
"As for training, you will teach them some of the basics. I will watch from the side."
"Huh? Me, teach? How can I do that? I won't be able to teach them well."
Hearing Akisame Koetsuji's words, Okabe pointed to his own nose in disbelief.
"That's right, you."
"You are the senior disciple of our Ryōzanpaku. You have a duty to teach the junior disciples who come after you. Moreover, teaching is a form of learning. While teaching others, you are also clarifying things for yourself. It will be of great help to you as well."
Taking a sip from his teacup, Akisame Koetsuji looked at Okabe.
"But..."
Okabe was still hesitant.
He knew his own situation best. It was one thing to practice what he had learned by himself—after all, he had the system to back him up, and even if his form wasn't perfect, his martial arts value would still increase.
But others didn't have a system. If a problem occurred while they were training, he most likely wouldn't be able to spot it.
"Say no more."
"Your fundamentals are solid, in both martial arts and cooking. Teaching others won't be much of a problem."
Akisame Koetsuji put down his teacup and fixed his gaze on Okabe.
This was a test for him, a test to see if he had truly integrated what he had learned before.
And even if he hadn't, he should be able to after this teaching experience.
"Yes, I understand."
Hearing Akisame Koetsuji put it that way, Okabe, despite his hesitation, couldn't really object.
So he nodded to show he understood and then turned to look at Erina Nakiri and the others.
"Then we'll be in your care, Senior Brother Okabe."
He had expected to see disappointed eyes, but what Okabe saw instead was a sly smile on the girl's face.
"Right, let me take you to your rooms first."
After nodding towards Akisame Koetsuji and Hayato Fūrinji, Okabe left the reception room.
"I want a room closer to you."
As he led the way, Alice Nakiri's somewhat excited voice reached his ears.
It felt like being on a camping trip, and the various novel experiences made her feel unusually exhilarated.
"I'd like to be close to Lady Erina."
Seeing Alice Nakiri make a request, Hisako Arato also spoke up boldly.
"I'm fine with anything, but it would be better if the room is close to you."
"Don't get the wrong idea! We're here to learn, after all. Since you'll be teaching the fundamentals of both martial arts and cooking, living closer would definitely be more convenient. If I run into something I don't understand, I can come find you!"
Seeing Okabe look her way, Erina Nakiri hurriedly explained, telling him not to misunderstand.
"I know. Then let's make me the center, with Erina and Alice as the left and right guardians, and Hisako next to Erina. How about that?"
Hearing their respective requests, Okabe quickly assigned the rooms.
Before long, they arrived at the dormitory area and saw the place where they would be living.
"It's so plain..."
Looking at the room she was assigned, Alice Nakiri couldn't help but mutter under her breath.
The room had very little furniture and looked much like a cheap inn.
"We're here to learn cooking, why care so much about the living environment?"
In contrast, Erina Nakiri seemed much more nonchalant, though the slight frown on her brow still showed that she did care about the environment. Being a tsundere young lady, she just liked to say nice-sounding things.
"[Let's go shopping on our day off. At least decorate the room to look a bit more presentable.]"
Such a thought surfaced in her mind.
"Alright, put your luggage down, and then we'll start training."
After leading Erina Nakiri and the others to their respective rooms and letting them drop off their luggage, Okabe stood at the door waiting.
Once they had put their luggage down, he clapped his hands and spoke.
"Are we starting right now?"
Hearing Okabe's words, the girls' expressions were startled.
"That's right. This is a tradition here at our Ryōzanpaku."
Seeing the surprised looks on Erina Nakiri and the others, the corners of Okabe's mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.
He remembered being quite startled himself when he first arrived.
"A tradition?!"
...
The three girls lowered their heads slightly, their voices filled with obvious confusion.
...
Under the warm sun, the three girls changed into Okabe's old, smaller-sized training uniforms and assumed the horse stance.
"By the way, why is the first training session the horse stance?! This is too..."
Alice Nakiri couldn't help but complain, but before she could finish, Okabe tapped her on the head with a tree branch.
"No complaining during training. The horse stance might be conventional, but it's the easiest part for beginners to get started with. I started with the horse stance too, and the intensity was much higher than what you're doing now!"
Okabe's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, encouraging them to persist.
"You look, quite the part."
Shigure Kōsaka's figure appeared behind Okabe at some point.
Okabe was startled, and only after recovering did he greet her.
But in his heart, he was amazed at Shigure Kōsaka's incredible stealth ability; he hadn't noticed at all when she had approached.
"Yes. I came, to see."
Shigure Kōsaka calmly watched the three in front of her, explaining her reason for being there.
"Apa, apa, Apachai is also very curious about little Okabe's training methods."
Apachai Hopachai had also appeared in a corner of the building at some point, seemingly peeking.
Seeing Shigure Kōsaka reveal herself, he also walked out from behind a pillar.
"The horse stance, is the foundation."
"Sink your knees a little lower."
After carefully observing the postures of the three, Shigure Kōsaka walked over to Erina Nakiri.
Erina Nakiri clenched her jaw, fine beads of sweat already forming on her forehead.
But she still adjusted her posture according to Shigure Kōsaka's instructions. The moment her knees dropped, a wave of soreness and numbness shot through her legs, nearly causing her to collapse.
"So tired..."
Nearby, Alice Nakiri whimpered, her voice already tinged with tears.
"My legs are shaking..."
"Being tired means it's working. If you're not tired, then what's the point of training?"
"Also, your center of gravity is a bit too far forward. Imagine you're sitting on an invisible chair and hold that posture."
Hearing Shigure Kōsaka's guidance, Okabe refocused his attention.
The next moment, he used the tree branch to tap the outside of Alice Nakiri's thigh to adjust her posture.
Seeing Shigure Kōsaka and Okabe instructing Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri, Apachai Hopachai bounced over to Hisako Arato. He flashed a brilliant smile: "Apa apa, Hisako, very good! But, breathing, pay attention to your breathing!"
With that, he took a demonstrative deep breath, his chest puffing out dramatically.
...
Hisako Arato, intimidated by Apachai Hopachai's presence, hastily adjusted her breathing rhythm.
...
Time passed quickly during the instruction.
The three went from being able to hold the stance for a few minutes at the start to nearly ten minutes later on.
The price was that after the training ended, the three of them lay ungracefully on the dirt ground of the courtyard, their chests heaving violently, looking utterly exhausted.
Shigure Kōsaka and Apachai Hopachai had left during the latter part of the training because they had other matters to attend to.
"That's it for today. Pull yourselves together for a bit, then go take a hot bath. I'm going to prepare dinner. When it's ready, I'll have Miu come and get you."
Looking at the three who were completely drained, Okabe walked over and squatted down in front of them.
"Okay."
Hisako Arato responded weakly.
"I can't... Just let me lie here a little longer..."
Due to extreme fatigue, Erina Nakiri's eyes were nearly losing focus.
"It's really so tiring. Is martial arts training always this painful?"
Placing an arm over her face to feel its warmth, Alice Nakiri couldn't help but ask this soul-searching question.
"It's always like this at the beginning. You'll get used to it. By the way, your performance was quite good. It's hard for ordinary people to last a whole afternoon. This is thanks to your daily dedication to cooking."
Looking at the three pained faces, a strange sense of schadenfreude welled up in Okabe's heart.
He remembered being just like them back then, trained by Master Akisame until he was like a dead dog.
It was fine at the start, and then with physical abilities exceeding his peers, he felt it was very easy. But soon, seeing that he never got tired and realizing his high stamina, his master constantly increased the intensity.
Although the final results were significant, that period was truly like hell for him.
If it weren't for Master Ma's superb skills, he honestly wondered if he would have been trained to death by Master Akisame.
"Alright, you guys rest up. I'll make you something delicious tonight."
Shaking his head to clear the unnecessary thoughts, Okabe stood up and headed towards the kitchen.
"Okabe-kun, let me help you."
Seeing Okabe finally finish his teaching session, Miu Fūrinji immediately came forward and offered.
So many girls Okabe's age suddenly appearing at Ryōzanpaku gave her a subtle sense of crisis.
"Okay, thank you then, Miu-san."
Hearing Miu Fūrinji's words, Okabe nodded and didn't refuse.
"Are they all going to be training at Ryōzanpaku from now on?"
On the way to the kitchen, Miu Fūrinji asked, as if casually.
"Yeah. Erina and Hisako will probably be here for quite a while. Alice will likely leave in a month or two. I need to teach her the basic body strengthening techniques during this time, so she can continue to train on her own even after returning to Denmark."
Okabe thought Miu Fūrinji was concerned about the Nakiri sisters' training progress, so he answered truthfully.
"I see... But even though Master Akisame asked you to teach them, you can't neglect your own training, or else you'll be putting the cart before the horse. How about I teach them for you on a regular basis?"
Miu Fūrinji lowered her head with a hesitant expression, but in the end, she made the suggestion.
After all, Okabe's time was limited, and spending it all on teaching new disciples was something of a waste.
And since she was idle anyway, and he had taken over the cooking duties for Ryōzanpaku, it seemed only fair for her to take over teaching the new disciples for him...
"Is that okay?"
Hearing Miu Fūrinji's words, Okabe was stunned for a moment, then his expression turned to one of pleasant surprise.
He actually didn't want to spend too much time on this either.
Today's training had indeed helped him identify many of his past mistakes, but he had discovered those issues shortly after training began. The rest of the time was just a tedious, repetitive process.
"Of course, if you're willing."
"I'm more than willing! In that case, I'll check in on them once in the morning, afternoon, and evening, for about half an hour each time to spot any problems. After all, it's a task assigned by Master Akisame, so it would be a bit shameless to ignore it completely. Besides, training them really does help me see some of my own shortcomings."
"Let's do that."
Looking at Miu Fūrinji's smile and thinking about what a huge favor she was doing for him, it felt wrong not to show his appreciation. So, Okabe looked around, leaned close to her ear, and whispered something.
"Really? That's great! I love your red bean and fruit jelly, Okabe-kun!"
Feeling the warm sensation near her ear, Miu Fūrinji felt her body go weak in an unusual way.
To hide this strange feeling, she forced herself to act energetic, putting on a very exaggerated display.
"I'm glad you like it."
Okabe didn't notice anything amiss and thought he had hit the nail on the head with his gift, so he smiled as well.
...
After dinner, Okabe went to the door of Shigure Kōsaka's room.
"Why are you standing outside? Not coming in?"
Just as he was hesitating whether to go in or not, Shigure Kōsaka suddenly opened the door from inside. Seeing him standing there hesitantly, her eyes showed a hint of confusion.
"Master Shigure, there's something I need to talk to you about."
Okabe was startled by Shigure Kōsaka suddenly opening the door, then called out to her softly.
"Come in and talk."
Seeing him like this, Shigure Kōsaka stepped aside and invited him in.
Okabe took a deep breath, then entered the room and sat down across from her.
"Master Shigure, I wonder if you know someone named Li Wuque?"
Getting straight to the point, Okabe asked directly.
"Li Wuque? The famous Blade God of the Chinese culinary world. His Qingdie Dao skills were superb, capable of processing ingredients for over a hundred dishes in an instant, with each piece cut to the same specification. He was a formidable man.
Why do you bring him up all of a sudden? Did you run into him at the banquet? But didn't he die twenty years ago?"
Hearing Okabe's words, Shigure Kōsaka thought for a moment before sharing the information she knew.
He was a renowned figure in the world of weaponry, and she had heard legends about him to some extent.
"That's right, I met him. He seems to be a friend of your father's and asked me to pass a message to you."
"What message?"
"He said that if you ever encounter a problem you can't solve, you can go find him. His address is engraved on the tachi you inherited."
After relaying the message Li Wuque had entrusted to him, Okabe breathed a sigh of relief.
Because he didn't know the true relationship between Li Wuque and Shigure Kōsaka's father, and the man was a member of the Dark Culinary World, Okabe had been very hesitant about whether to tell Shigure Kōsaka about him.
But after some hesitation, he decided to explain the situation.
She had the right to know the truth.
____
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