Chapter 186: Building a Good Relationship with Your Father-in-Law
Once they had seen Erina and Hisako off in a special car provided by Totsuki, the Kasumigaoka couple returned to the kitchen. Chef Kasumigaoka and the assisting chefs exchanged glances, and for a moment, the atmosphere in the kitchen was filled with silence.
Especially Chef Hiroki Kasumigaoka, he had believed that this star rating evaluation would be a failure. However, unexpectedly, things took a positive turn, and they passed the evaluation. This left him somewhat incredulous. "Did we... really succeed?" he muttered, still somewhat disbelieving.
The rest of the team slowly started to realize what had happened and erupted in excitement. "Yes, we did it!" "Yahoo!" "Hahaha, we're officially a star-rated restaurant!" "Let's take a day off tomorrow and start accepting reservations again next week."
Hiroki also approached Hachiman and expressed his gratitude. "This is... Hikigaya-kun, I'm really grateful to you for what you did today."
Chef Kasumigaoka noticed that Hachiman had a good relationship with Erina. Otherwise, she wouldn't have agreed to help so readily just because of a few words from him.
Seeing her father thank Hachiman, Utaha, standing nearby, inwardly rolled her eyes. Oh, Dad, you should really be thanking me more. Do you have any idea how much effort I've put into this? But, of course, she couldn't say that out loud. That would be utterly impossible.
"Yes, Hikigaya-kun, you played a significant role this time," Mrs. Kasumigaoka remarked.
Hachiman modestly replied, "It's my pleasure, Uncle and Aunt. After all, I'm Utaha's boyfriend, so helping out when I can is only natural."
Utaha added, "That's right, Mom, Dad. It's the least he can do."
Unbeknownst to them, she playfully pinched Hachiman's soft waist as she said this.
Hachiman, accustomed to her antics, didn't flinch and continued to smile.
"Yes, it's the least I could do."
Sensing that the conversation had reached an impasse, Hachiman changed the subject.
"By the way, would you like to try the dish I prepared? There's still some left in the pot."
He proceeded to divide the remaining Beef Bourguignon into several portions.
One of the assisting chefs quickly found forks and distributed servings to everyone present.
Everyone picked up a piece of beef and savored it.
"This is... so tender, and the flavors are exquisite."
"Indeed, despite being slow-cooked, the meat's texture is extraordinary. With each bite, the juices burst forth, creating an incredible sensation."
Gulp.
As they savored the succulent meat, smiles of satisfaction graced their faces. Mrs. Kasumigaoka even had a charming blush on her cheeks.
The warmth that enveloped their bodies made them feel as if they were in the midst of a culinary euphoria.
The small bite they took overwhelmed them with happiness.
*Cough, cough.*
At this moment, Hachiman heard two coughs and saw Utaha standing with her arms crossed, sending him a meaningful glance.
Hachiman understood her intention and smiled. He speared a piece of beef and fed it to her with the fork.
"Ah... Mmm..."
As she took a bite, Utaha's face revealed an expression of satisfaction.
Seeing this, the Kasumigaoka couple also smiled. In their eyes, Hachiman's relationship with their daughter was quite good.
"I didn't expect Hikigaya-kun's culinary skills to be this impressive," Mrs. Kasumigaoka praised.
"Yeah, isn't Hikigaya-kun a student at Totsuki Culinary Academy?" Chef Kasumigaoka also spoke with a smile.
In his opinion, with Hachiman's exceptional cooking skills and his close relationship with Erina, there was a good chance he was a Totsuki student.
"I'm not a student at Totsuki, and cooking is just a hobby," Hachiman replied with a shake of his head.
"To be this skilled just as a hobby..."
Hearing this, Chef Kasumigaoka's face showed a tinge of regret.
"Just a hobby, and yet so talented... What does that make my own skills?"
He recalled what his daughter had said before, how Hachiman had also excelled in kendo.
Is this what they call a genius?
With a slight sigh, Chef Kasumigaoka's face showed a wry smile.
Seeing the expression on his face, Hachiman changed the subject.
"Uncle, your culinary skills are impressive as well. After all, you can apply for star-level evaluations. It's just that our approaches are different."
"In fact, the methods are quite simple. You only need to..."
Hachiman explained his cooking methods to Chef Kasumigaoka and his assisting chefs. Building a good relationship with his future father-in-law was essential.
Mrs. Kasumigaoka approached her daughter during this conversation.
"Utaha, how did you meet this Hikigaya-kun?"
"About Hachiman... we met when..."
Utaha paused for a moment and then began to recount her and Hachiman's meeting to her mother.
Hearing about Hachiman's achievements in light novels, Mrs. Kasumigaoka couldn't help but sigh in amazement, much like her husband had.
Utaha naturally didn't reveal the whole situation, especially regarding Hachiman's complicated relationships with the other girls, which she chose to keep secret. While they had already passed the final hurdle in their relationship, based on Hachiman's previous attitude, he wouldn't give up easily on the other girls. Until those issues were resolved, mentioning them might not sit well with her parents.
After all, no father would want their daughter's boyfriend to be a womanizer.
However, as someone with more life experience, Mrs. Kasumigaoka was able to sense something from her daughter's fragmented words.
Exceptional individuals were often more attractive to the opposite sex.
Given Hachiman's abilities, Mrs. Kasumigaoka could easily imagine how many female admirers he had, much to her daughter's chagrin.
Utaha, this girl, must be dealing with a lot in her daily life.
As she watched her smiling daughter, Mrs. Kasumigaoka couldn't help but think.
Time flew by, and it was already past 9 o'clock. During his conversation with Chef Kasumigaoka, Hachiman also learned something new.
It turned out that he had been a student at Totsuki as well, but he didn't manage to graduate successfully. He was expelled in his second year due to a defeat in a Shokugeki with the Elite Ten.
However, he hadn't given up on his culinary dreams and had been persistently pursuing his passion. Compared to others who were expelled from Totsuki and never touched cooking again, Mr. Kasumigaoka dedication was truly admirable.
Talent and ability were important for a chef, no doubt, but effort and perseverance were the essential qualities that allowed a chef to keep progressing.
It was his perseverance that had impressed the young Mrs. Kasumigaoka back then. Now, he not only had a happy family but had also become the head chef of a star-level restaurant.
In a way, his life and career had achieved great success.
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Chapter 187: Argument
Sobu High School, Class 2F.
Lunchtime had arrived, and students gathered in groups to have their meals. However, some chose to eat in the classroom. Yumiko and Hayama led a group of classmates, and after spending over two weeks together, they had become quite familiar with each other.
Yumiko, who had developed a subtle liking for the handsome and sunny Hayama, said, "Today, there's a special offer for buying double scoops of ice cream after school. Will you join me, Hayato?"
Apologetically, Hayama replied, "I'm sorry, Yumiko, but I have a club activity after school today."
Though he maintained his usual friendly smile, Hachiman sensed a hint of refusal in his tone.
Yumiko was determined and said, "Well, missing one day won't hurt, and I really want to have chocolate and caramel today."
Hayama chuckled, "Haha, they're basically the same thing. Besides, you'll regret it if you eat too much, Yumiko."
"And I'm sorry, but I really can't make it today. The club has something important going on," Hayama continued to decline the invitation.
Yumiko replied, "Fine, let's forget about it for today. Besides, I won't gain weight no matter how much I eat."
"Yes, Yumiko has a great figure, especially those legs. Compared to me, I feel..."
Yui chimed in, but she appeared somewhat distracted. She held her lunchbox behind her and occasionally glanced at the classroom door, her expression indecisive.
Before she could say anything, Yumiko continued, "By the way, that girl we met last time, Yukinoshita, is pretty nice, too. She's from our school, isn't she?"
Yui smiled and nodded, "Yukino-chan has a good figure."
"Yukino-chan?" Yumiko looked puzzled upon hearing the name.
Yui tried to change the conversation, saying, "Oh, it's nothing. Yumiko has better taste and a more fashionable style."
Yumiko responded, "Of course, but aren't you going to have your meal, Yui?"
Yumiko had noticed the lunchbox that Yui was hiding behind her back, and she knew her friend well enough to understand that if she didn't speak up, Yui might keep agreeing with her.
Yui happily replied, "Well, I'll go have my meal now."
But before Yui left, Yumiko raised the issue of the drink request again, saying, "Oh, and when you come back, Yui, could you bring me a bottle of drink?"
Yui's face displayed a troubled expression upon hearing Yumiko's request.
"Ah, this... I have to go somewhere during lunch, so I'm afraid I can't bring a drink for you, Yumiko."
"Eh, Yui, where are you going?" Yumiko furrowed her brow.
"Uh, well... I'm sorry, Yumiko, but I really can't bring you a drink." Yui hesitated and didn't want to explain.
"See, you shouldn't just apologize. You should tell me where you're going. We're friends, right?"
"Uh, this... this..."
Yui continued to stammer without revealing her plans.
"Come on, this is just how you are. Can't you be more straightforward? If you have something to say, just say it." Yumiko sighed in disappointment and covered her head.
Yumiko did want to help Yui become more assertive and less accommodating, but her well-intentioned efforts came off as somewhat domineering due to her personality.
"Sorry..."
"I told you not to keep apologizing. Tell me what's going on."
"Hey, Yumiko, your tone is a bit too much," Hachiman stood up and spoke.
Although he understood the girl's good intentions, her tone did seem a bit forceful.
Seeing Hachiman defend her, Yui's face brightened with happiness.
But in the next moment, Yumiko shot Hachiman a glare.
"Hachiman, don't interfere in this matter. We need to make sure Yui changes her personality today."
It has to be said that the empress-like Yumiko has a commanding presence, and the entire classroom fell silent.
"I'm sorry..."
However, in the face of Yumiko's assertiveness, Yui continued to apologize.
Just as the situation became a standstill, someone entered the classroom through the door.
"You're apologizing to the wrong person, Yuigahama."
With her waist-length black hair and exquisitely refined face, it could only be Yukino. The young girl stood with her arms crossed, her tone cool.
"Yuigahama, you invited me to have lunch together, but you never showed up. That's not very considerate. If you had other commitments, you should have at least let me know."
"Sorry, Yukino, I didn't have your phone number, so..."
Upon seeing Yukino's presence, Yui hurried over with a apologetic look on her face.
"Is that so? Well, I can't blame you for that. Let's forget about it this time. We can have lunch together now."
"Hold on, Yui and I haven't finished our conversation yet." Seeing the two about to leave, Yumiko stood up quickly.
However, Yukino interrupted her directly, saying, "Conversation? Do you think what you were doing just now could be called a conversation?"
"In my view, you were just one-sidedly trying to impose your opinions on Yui."
"I apologize for not realizing it earlier."
"Because I'm not very familiar with your ecosystem, I accidentally treated it like a threat from apes."
"Even though it's your right to act like the king of the jungle and puff yourself up, please don't do it outside your territory. Your tiger stripes, just like your makeup, can easily wear off."
The young girl playfully spoke with a rather sharp tongue.
"Pfttt!"
Upon hearing her sharp remarks, Hachiman couldn't help but laugh, but the next moment, Yumiko glared at him, and even Yukino turned her icy gaze in his direction, which made him quickly stifle his laughter.
Hachiman can't be blamed, as in his previous life, watching schoolyard fights and arguments was quite entertaining.
"Haha, what on earth have you been saying, you enigmatic person?" Yumiko was about to respond, but the amiable Hayama stepped in to defuse the situation.
"Alright, alright, Yukinoshita, that's enough," Hayama suggested, trying to maintain the peace.
Yukino turned her head away, seemingly uninterested in engaging further with the conversation. Hayama then turned his attention to Yumiko.
"Yumiko, let's call it a day on this matter," he advised.
Yumiko, albeit reluctantly, made a disapproving sound and returned to her seat. The situation gradually cooled down, and the classroom was filled with an air of normalcy.
Once the tension had dissipated, Yukino turned her gaze to Yui and calmly stated, "Yuigahama, I'll be waiting for you outside."
Yui responded with a warm smile, "Sure, I'll be there in a moment."
With that, Yukino nodded and gracefully exited the classroom. The other students present gradually recognized that it was time to disperse and left the room.
Hachiman, not one to flee from awkward situations like some of his classmates, exited the classroom as well, intending to give Yui the space to express herself.
Now, only Yui and Yumiko remained in the classroom, the atmosphere still somewhat charged.
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