Chapter 241: Adding More Nutrition (1)
Seeing Hachiman approaching, Erina gave a slight snort. "Hmph, you, how come you're just getting here."
Although it may sound like complaining, the tone strangely resembles the playful banter between couples.
"Haha, sorry, sorry. Just wandered around, took some time," Hachiman apologized with a smile.
"Hmph, I'll forgive you this time. Come on, taste the dish I made." The girl pushed over a plate of Eggs Benedict she had just finished.
While to onlookers Erina maintained her usual air of arrogance, a faint sense of anticipation welled up in her heart.
Finally succumbing to the girl's hopeful gaze, Hachiman cut a piece of Eggs Benedict and put it in his mouth.
As the dish entered his palate, the rich layers unfolded. The gooey yolk, the tang of Hollandaise sauce, the crispiness of bacon, the sweetness of the pancake, and the subtle saltiness from the caviar powder – though the flavors were intricate, they didn't haphazardly blend; instead, they were distinct, showcasing the girl's impressive culinary skills.
Swallowing the bite, Hachiman smiled faintly. "Very good, Erina. The layers in the dish are distinct, and it looks beautifully done."
"Hmph, of course. Because I made it," Erina responded with a snort, wearing a proud expression.
Hearing his praise, Erina snorted softly, her expression turning into one of pride.
Observing the peacock-like girl, Hachiman shook his head, continued speaking.
"But there are a few points that could be improved."
He then proceeded to point out a few areas that needed refinement. Erina, devoid of her previous arrogance, listened attentively, resembling a diligent student in class.
While Hachiman may not possess the "God Tongue," his culinary skills are indeed commendable. Coupled with his discerning palate, pointing out a few minor flaws poses no challenge.
"All right, that's about it. Once you address these points, your dish will become even more perfect," he said, waving towards the girl.
"I'll be going now. Keep up the good work, Erina."
After observing Soma accumulating dozens of servings in a very short time, Hachiman chose not to disturb and silently left the scene.
As he walked away, Erina's gaze flickered, emotions stirring within her. However, she quickly suppressed the ripples in her heart and refocused on her cooking.
Although she had already surpassed the 200-serving requirement, it wasn't enough for her. Her goal was to have the highest overall servings.
Leaving Erina's stall, Hachiman resumed his aimless stroll.
Along the way, he spotted a familiar figure.
With black hair, an angelic face, and a devilish figure, it could only be Kotonoha.
Kotonoha was currently standing in front of a stall, her face displaying a conflicted expression.
Scanning the surroundings and not finding the presence of other girls, a mischievous smile appeared on Hachiman's lips. Silently, he approached Kotonoha from behind, wrapping his arms around her slender waist.
"Yah..."
Feeling someone embrace her, Kotonoha let out a surprised yelp. Before she could resist, she heard a familiar voice.
"Don't worry, it's me."
"Eh... Hachiman-kun."
Turning around, Kotonoha indeed saw the familiar face of Hachiman.
"Seriously, Hachiman-kun, don't scare me like that," the girl, with a gentle and pleasant personality, complained in a hushed voice after being startled.
"Haha, my apologies," Hachiman chuckled and then leaned down to lightly kiss her lips.
With this unexpected kiss, the girl's initial complaints vanished, and she even became a bit shy.
Witnessing this scene, the students at the stall and the customers waiting for their dishes around them felt somewhat uneasy, as if they had unexpectedly taken a bite of dog food.
"Why do I have to experience this just because I'm eating (making) a meal? What did I do to deserve this?" Especially for one student who had previously experienced Hachiman's unconventional methods.
In his view, Hachiman, who was roughly the same age as him, was already a chef comparable to graduates from Totsuki Culinary Academy. Adding to that, he had a beautiful girlfriend like Kotonoha. It seemed like Hachiman was winning at life.
Bitter lemons, oh, bitter lemons.
However, Hachiman paid no attention to their sentiments, keeping his head lowered as he looked at the girl in his arms.
"Is it just you, or where is Kokoro?"
"Kokoro and Komachi went to have breakfast together," Kotonoha spoke.
"I see." Hachiman nodded in understanding.
Ever since that beach trip, Komachi and Kokoro had become good friends. The two young girls exchanged contact information and often chatted, growing closer over time.
In Hachiman's eyes, it was likely because Komachi was initially the youngest among their group. Finally having someone younger around, she eagerly embraced the role of an older sister.
On the other hand, both of them being excellent younger sisters naturally provided many topics for them to chat about.
"By the way, what were you thinking just now?" Thinking about the conflicted expression on the girl's face a moment ago, Hachiman asked with curiosity.
Hearing this question, Kotonoha suddenly became a bit awkward.
"Uh, well... I was thinking about whether or not to eat this dish."
"I've just had some other dishes, and if I eat more, I might gain weight."
Hearing her words, Hachiman laughed.
"Haha, don't worry, Kotonoha. You won't gain weight because all your nutrients are going to the right places." He even shifted his gaze to the girl's prominent chest.
"Supplementing a bit of nutrition is also fine."
"Oh my... Hachiman-kun, you're something else."
Noticing Hachiman's gaze, Kotonoha understood the implication in his words, and a blush appeared on her face.
"I'm just stating facts, so Kotonoha, feel free to indulge in eating," Hachiman shrugged.
"Well... okay."
Hearing his words, the girl ultimately couldn't resist the temptation of the delicious food and took a serving from the stall.
This particular stall offered a dish similar to a silver codfish omelet roll. They lightly pan-fried the silver codfish, rolled it into an omelet skin made from eggs, pan-fried it again, and then cut it into small pieces, drizzling it with a special sauce.
As Kotonoha forked a small piece of the omelet and put it in her mouth, she squinted her eyes; the taste seemed quite good.
Looking at Hachiman beside her, the girl thought for a moment and then forked another piece, offering it to Hachiman's mouth.
"Hachiman-kun, ah..."
Seeing the omelet offered by the girl, Hachiman smiled slightly, opened his mouth, and took a bite.
Hmm, the taste is indeed quite good. The student who prepared this dish could be considered at a Level 3 culinary skill, standing above the average among all the students.
Just as the two were feeding each other, a dignified yet surprised female voice rang in their ears.
"Kotonoha?!"
Chapter 242: Adding More Nutrition (2)
"Kotonoha? Why are you here, and what exactly are you doing..."
Hearing this voice, Kotonoha's hands trembled slightly, and the fork she held almost dropped to the ground.
Turning around, she couldn't help but exclaim.
"Mom... Mom!"
Huh?
The way the girl addressed her mother made Hachiman raise an eyebrow. He turned his head to see a mature woman with slightly curled short hair standing not far from them.
Brown eyes, delicately applied makeup, a necklace adorned with gemstones around her neck, and a white dress – though the low neckline revealed the ample curves and a deep cleavage.
This was Kotonoha's and Kokoro's little friend's mother, Katsura Manami.
[Image]
Looking at the beautiful woman before him, Hachiman nodded inwardly.
Although he knew she was Kotonoha's mother, the pronounced curves on Katsura Manami's chest were undeniably captivating. As a man, his gaze couldn't help but be drawn to it.
After all, ample assets attract attention.
Moreover, in terms of scale, it was the largest Hachiman had ever seen, surpassing even Leonora.
"Kotonoha, what are you doing here?"
Seeing her daughter standing there in a daze without answering her question, Katsura Manami furrowed her brow.
"Uh, Mom... this..."
Faced with her stern mother, Kotonoha felt a bit uneasy for a moment. Fortunately, Hachiman promptly spoke up to diffuse the situation.
"Aunt, hello. I'm Hachiman Hikigaya, Kotonoha's boyfriend."
"Oh? A boyfriend?!"
Hearing this, Katsura Manami shifted her gaze to the young man in front of her.
"Yes," Hachiman nodded.
Having done what needed to be done, he straightforwardly admitted their relationship. After all, he wasn't the kind of guy to eat and run without taking responsibility.
"Why didn't Kotonoha mention this to me?"
Being a strong and assertive woman, Manami wasn't easily fooled. If her daughter had a boyfriend, why hadn't she mentioned it before?
"Perhaps it's because of your busy work schedule, and Kotonoha hasn't found the right time to tell you," Hachiman said with a faint smile. "Also, we only confirmed our relationship not too long ago, so you weren't aware."
From the beach incident until now, it had only been a little over half a year—not a particularly long time.
"I see."
Hearing this explanation, Manami nodded understandingly but couldn't help feeling a bit melancholic. Due to her demanding job, she hadn't been home for a long time. There was a sense of apology in her gaze when she looked at her daughter. However, she still had some concerns.
"Why are you both here? Where's Kokoro? You didn't leave her alone at home, did you?" Unconsciously, Manami's tone became stern.
In her view, if the older daughter left the younger one alone at home and went on a date with her boyfriend, it would be quite irresponsible.
"N-No, we didn't." Feeling a bit frightened by her mother's stern expression, Kotonoha stammered.
Hachiman intervened to ease the situation. "We're here because of my cooking skills. Totsuki invited me to be a guest lecturer for this session, so I invited Kotonoha and other friends to join us at the Totsuki Resort."
"As for Kokoro, she's here too, probably spending time with my sister."
"I see." Manami nodded and then looked a bit surprised. "It seems Hikigaya-kun's cooking skills must be quite exceptional."
Those participating in this breakfast assessment were either employees of Totsuki Resort or its collaborators. Manami's company happened to have a collaboration with Totsuki, so she was invited to participate. She was aware that those invited as guest lecturers were all highly skilled chefs.
So, seeing that Hachiman, a boy of the same age as her daughter, could be invited as a guest lecturer for this assessment, Manami was genuinely surprised.
"Haha, Aunt Manami, you're too kind," Hachiman responded modestly.
"Hehe, Hikigaya-kun is being too modest," Manami smiled in response. However, whether she truly believed him or not remained uncertain.
"Well then, you two enjoy your time together. I won't disturb you further," she said, turning her attention to her daughter.
"Kotonoha, I'll be coming home for a visit in a little while. When that happens, make sure to invite Hikigaya-kun to our house."
"I understand, Mom." Kotonoha nodded quickly in response.
"Great." Manami nodded as well, then turned and left the scene.
As Kotonoha watched her mother depart, she visibly relaxed, and Hachiman couldn't help but find her reaction a bit perplexing.
"What's bothering you, Kotonoha? Are you afraid of your mom?"
After a moment of hesitation, the girl decided to open up, "It's not exactly fear, but my mother has been strict with me since childhood, making me learn a lot, so..."
Understanding her concerns, Hachiman nodded; it seemed the strict upbringing had left an impact on her.
"Take care, Hachiman-kun. My mother is very strict. If you visit our home, it might be..."
Before Kotonoha could finish, Hachiman reassured, "Don't worry, Kotonoha. I'll definitely live up to your mother's expectations."
His confident words eased Kotonoha's unease.
Yes, Hachiman is exceptional; her mother would surely be satisfied.
Thinking this, the girl's gaze toward Hachiman softened.
"Yes, I believe Hachiman-kun can handle it," she said, resting her head on his chest.
Feeling the softness of the girl in his arms, warmth surged in Hachiman's heart.
"If I pass your mother's test, Kotonoha, remember to reward me."
Blushing, Kotonoha lightly pounded his chest with her hand.
Seeing this, Hachiman felt a bit pleased.
Well, it seems there will be a few new unlocked moves.
The two resumed wandering around the venue, trying out any interesting dishes they came across. They also encountered Yui's group, and naturally, the girls joined the team.
As time passed, Dojima announced the names of the qualifiers on the broadcast. However, to the worry of the Polar Star Dormitory members, there was no mention of Soma.
Just as everyone silently prayed, Dojima finally spoke again with only a few seconds left.
"Soma Yukihira, qualified!"
"Assessment complete!"
----------------
"One Punch Man" emerged as the winner for Hachiman's first manga. Apologies to those who recommended other options that weren't chosen.
If you want to read 15 chapters ahead..
Visit my patreon: patrèon/Flaptzy
Vous aimerez peut-être aussi
Commentaire de paragraphe
La fonction de commentaire de paragraphe est maintenant disponible sur le Web ! Déplacez la souris sur n’importe quel paragraphe et cliquez sur l’icône pour ajouter votre commentaire.
De plus, vous pouvez toujours l’activer/désactiver dans les paramètres.
OK