"Worlds like 'One Piece', 'Pokémon', and 'One Punch Man' all have fantasy ingredients," the system explained.
Sui's forehead creased. "Pokémon..." He imagined the absurdity of catching creatures just to cook them. Am I really supposed to hunt down Pokémon and eat them? he thought with a shudder.
"So, how do I open the door to another anime world?" Sui asked, trying to focus.
"Once the host completes the ultimate quest in the world of 'Food Wars', the host will obtain a key to another anime world. The current world, 'Food Wars', is classified as a B-rank world. Successfully completing this quest may allow access to higher-level worlds," the system explained.
"World ranking? What does that even mean?" Sui asked, puzzled.
"There are four ranks for anime worlds: C, B, A, and S. C-rank worlds are normal and resemble reality. B-rank worlds feature abilities that slightly exceed common sense. A-rank worlds have extraordinary powers, and S-rank worlds possess universe-destroying capabilities."
Sui nodded in understanding. The world of 'Food Wars' seemed mostly normal but had elements that defied reality, like Erina's God's Tongue and other abilities.
"What kind of world am I in now?" Sui inquired again.
"You're in a mixed world, meaning characters from various anime universes may appear," the system responded, but it didn't provide further specifics about the exact world level.
Sui thought for a moment. While this world didn't seem to include things like 'Dragon Ball's' Super Saiyans or 'One Punch Man's' monsters, it still had its quirks. "Forget it, I'll just focus on completing the current task," he muttered, shaking off the thought.
Heading toward the refrigerator to prepare a dish, Sui's optimism quickly faded. Opening the fridge, he found... nothing. Only a few eggs and some cold rice.
Sui sighed, reaching into his empty pockets. No money either.
How am I supposed to cook something impressive enough to satisfy Erina Nakiri, the God's Tongue, with just eggs and cold rice? Sui thought, feeling the pressure. After a moment of deliberation, he decided.
"I guess omelette rice is my only option."
With no other choice, he set to work.
Sui had an unexpected advantage: every time he opened the door to another world, he could acquire a random ability. This time, he had gained the God's Tongue, along with a boost to his cooking skills—now upgraded to level 20. In his previous life, as an orphan, Sui had learned to cook out of necessity, and he wasn't half bad. Adding this new skill set, he was now quite the capable chef.
"I wonder if level 20 cooking is comparable to the average students at Totsuki Culinary Academy?" Sui thought while preparing the dish. As he worked, he was surprised at how naturally the process came to him. In no time, two perfectly crafted servings of omelet rice were ready, their aroma filling the small apartment.
One of the plates was his own dinner, but he had made a second portion just in case.
"Huh? Are you... cooking?"
A surprised voice rang out from behind him. Sui turned to see Erina Nakiri standing there, now dressed in her Totsuki school uniform. Her slender legs were clad in black stockings, and her ample figure seemed to strain against the fabric of her uniform. She looked every bit the regal young lady she was.
In that moment, Sui couldn't help but recall how Erina had kissed him earlier, much to his embarrassment.
"You look like you're thinking something inappropriate," Erina remarked, her brow furrowing with suspicion.
"Ahem! Nothing like that!" Sui quickly coughed, trying to clear his head.
"Hmph." Erina's expression turned colder. "I don't know why your apartment is somehow linked to my bathroom, but I came to tell you that I'll be demolishing my mansion tomorrow and rebuilding it. After that, you and I will never meet again."
"What?! You're blowing up your mansion?" Sui was shocked. He glanced around at his small, dingy apartment and suddenly felt a pang of bitterness. She's just going to blow up a mansion like it's nothing? That place is probably bigger than my entire building! He hadn't seen Erina's room, but judging from her bathroom alone, it must be incredibly luxurious.
"Of course. I can't tolerate the idea of some strange man being able to appear in my room whenever he pleases," Erina said dismissively.
Sui sighed. "What a missed opportunity..." He lamented the fact that he wouldn't get to live near such a beautiful girl anymore.
"Hey, do you want to try the omelet rice I made? There's an extra portion," Sui offered.
Erina glanced at the dish, her eyes filled with disdain. "Do you know how many high-end restaurants beg me to taste their food? This commoner dish doesn't deserve my God's Tongue."
"Your tongue did taste pretty sweet, though," Sui muttered absentmindedly.
"What did you just say?!" Erina's face turned red with fury, her eyebrows knitting together in anger. The memory of their accidental kiss was still a sore spot for her.
"Uh, nothing." Sui realized his slip and quickly tried to change the subject. "Are you sure you don't want to try it?"
"Hmph! I have no interest in low-grade cuisine." Erina's voice dripped with arrogance. As the heir to a culinary empire and possessing the God's Tongue, she had no reason to bother with something so simple.
Sui was starting to feel frustrated. If she doesn't even taste the dish, how am I supposed to complete the mission?
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Sui hurried to answer it, and there stood Kasumigaoka Utaha, his next-door neighbor. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she seemed a bit shy.
"Um... were you cooking just now?" Utaha asked hesitantly.
"Yes, I was. Is something wrong?" Sui replied.
Utaha blushed, embarrassed. "Could I... buy a serving of what you made?"
It turned out that while Utaha had been writing her novel next door, the delicious aroma had wafted through the walls. She suddenly realized she hadn't eaten dinner yet, and thought she could have gone out, but the scent from Sui's apartment was too tempting to resist.
Sui smiled. "You don't have to pay me. I made an extra portion."