Capítulo 75: [75] Erina's Lofty Ambition
"It seems that young Hachiman has quite an interest in Italian cuisine," General Nakiri commented.
"General Nakiri, you're too kind. I'm merely intrigued by food," Hachiman replied modestly, offering a humble smile.
"Compared to Japan, the country across the coast has an even greater allure when it comes to food," he continued.
"You're absolutely right," General Nakiri nodded in agreement.
"In each country, culinary culture is deeply rooted, with a wide variety of dishes, each region having its unique specialties. Moreover, they constantly innovate and develop new recipes."
Indeed, every country excels in the realm of food. Regardless of whether it flies in the sky, swims in the water, runs on the land, hops in the grass, or crawls in the earth, one can turn anything into a dish.
Not to mention the diverse range of wild vegetables; whether they're palatable or not, they all must be tasted.
"I hope, young Hachiman, you'll always maintain this voracious appetite for cuisine. Such an appetite is the greatest driving force for culinary progress."
"Erina, you too. Remember, there's no end to exploring the art of cooking," General Nakiri concluded.
As the conversation came to an end, Senzaemon Nakiri looked at Hachiman and his granddaughter with a serious expression. These young individuals were the hope of the Japan culinary world.
"Yes, I understand, Grandpa," Erina replied, her tone earnest, taking her grandfather's teachings to heart.
"Don't worry, General Nakiri. I have plenty of opportunities to practice my culinary skills," Hachiman chimed in with a nod, wearing a reassuring smile.
Indeed, that was the case. As one of his most frequently used skills, he prepared dinner every day, steadily improving his culinary proficiency. Combined with the natural growth of his skill level over time, his culinary skill was now approaching level four.
With a level four culinary skill, he was confident in challenging the top seats of the current Elite Ten.
"Haha, excellent. I hope to see your shining presence in the future Japan culinary world," Senzaemon Nakiri laughed heartily.
Just you wait. I'll return and work hard on my culinary skills. Once I've elevated my culinary skills, my first target will be the current tenth seat of the Elite Ten. After that, you'll be the next one I aim to defeat.
With these thoughts in her heart, Erina glanced at Hachiman, who was wearing a smile on his face.
The poor current tenth seat of the Elite Ten had been unknowingly targeted by Erina.
Let's pray for this seat, whose name hasn't even been mentioned. We hope he's okay.
In any case, the showdown between the two of them had come to a close, with Hachiman emerging as the victor.
Having finished their meal, Senzaemon Nakiri took his leave.
After all, as the head of a major conglomerate, he had many responsibilities to attend to.
The fact that he could spare time today to reminisce with old friends was quite remarkable.
Once the three of them left, only Saeko and Hachiman remained.
"Hachiman, let's continue our training," Saeko proposed, both of them having rested enough.
Hachiman didn't refuse the invitation. In no time, their figures were intertwined.
The echoing sound of their strikes resonated once more in the vast kendo hall.
.....
In the car of the Totsuki conglomerate, the three individuals displayed distinct expressions.
Nakiri Senzaemon had his eyes closed, appearing lost in contemplation.
Erina wore a slightly hesitant expression, nibbling on her finger.
Hisako looked at Erina with concern.
"Erina!" Senzaemon's voice suddenly cut through the silence, snapping Erina from her reverie.
"Yes, Grandpa!" Startled by his abrupt address, Erina jumped slightly.
"How does it feel to lose to someone your age for the first time?" Senzaemon inquired, fixing his gaze upon his granddaughter.
Erina had grown up amidst excellence, possessing the "God Tongue," which granted her a significant edge in the culinary world.
With a single taste, she could discern flaws in dishes and then proceed to refine them, resulting in rapid progress.
This led to her being undefeated against her peers, particularly due to her ability to categorize food into levels of quality, a mindset she had adopted from someone influential.
These categorizations were deeply ingrained, and Senzaemon believed it was time for someone to help her break free from this rigid thinking.
"I'm very unwilling," Erina tightened her dainty fist, her expression colored with reluctance.
"Then remember today's defeat and turn this reluctance into motivation."
"Keep in mind, the most crucial aspect of cooking is the taste. There's only a distinction between delicious and not delicious, no categorization as low or high."
"Remember, a true culinary master can excel even with a simple dish like fried rice, surpassing mundane gourmet extravagances." Senzaemon Nakiri imparted his wisdom to his granddaughter.
"Erina, do you wish to become ordinary?" Senzaemon Nakiri took this opportunity to impart some valuable lessons to his granddaughter.
"Of course not," Erina immediately replied, refuting the idea.
"Then pursue the ultimate flavor. Taste is the key determinant of victory, and everything else is just empty talk."
"Today, even though you lost to Hachiman, don't be disheartened. Consider him as your whetstone on the path to success. Only through honing can you shine in your unique way."
Senzaemon Nakiri slowly spoke, also designating Hachiman as Erina's imaginary rival.
"Yes, I understand, Grandpa."
"After I return, I'll diligently practice my culinary skills. Once I've improved further, I'll challenge the Elite Ten."
"As long as I become one of the Elite Ten, I'll surely defeat that guy."
Predictably, when Hachiman's name was mentioned, Erina became highly excited. In her heart, Hachiman had become her most formidable opponent.
"Miss Erina, I support you. You can definitely become one of the Elite Ten," Hisako chimed in, her eyes seemingly transformed into stars.
Hearing those words, Erina's confidence soared.
When I become one of the Elite Ten, I'll surely defeat him. No, merely defeating him won't be enough.
At this moment, Erina set herself an even grander goal—to rule over the culinary world in Japan. She didn't just want to defeat that guy Hachiman; she aimed to conquer many more and become the queen of the global culinary scene.
After setting this goal, the young woman felt incredibly motivated. Moreover, the shadow cast by her father in her heart unconsciously diminished.
"Haha, indeed. I hope you can become the first person in Totsuki's history to join the Elite Ten while still in middle school."
In Senzaemon Nakiri's laughter, the black car slowly headed toward Totsuki.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Leonzky
Leonzky 'Stone'
Capítulo 76: [76] Kendo Inter-High School Championship
A loud *clash* echoed as the wooden swords met, and then the two figures separated once more.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, which showed that it was already past four o'clock, Hachiman looked at the girl across from him and said, "Let's call it a day for today, Saeko. I should head back."
Saeko, however, was reluctant to let him go. "Hachiman, how about practicing a bit more? You can eat dinner here and then go back."
She didn't want him to waste his talent, knowing that once he returned home, he probably wouldn't practice kendo by himself. So she hoped he'd practice a bit longer at her place.
But Hachiman shook his head. "I'd better not. I have a little sister at home."
He had been out all day, and he didn't know how Komachi was doing alone at home.
"I see," Saeko replied, somewhat disappointed. She knew there was no convincing him to stay today.
Seeing the disappointment on her face, Hachiman understood her concern about him not practicing enough and tried to reassure her. "Don't worry, Saeko. I understand your concerns."
"How about this? If I have time every Saturday, I'll come here to practice. What do you think? Are you okay with that?"
"Of course, I'd welcome that," Saeko replied, her eyes gleaming with newfound enthusiasm.
"Alright, it's a deal then. If I'm free next Saturday, I'll come over."
Seeing her agreement, Hachiman felt relieved. In his opinion, Saeko's kendo dojo was an excellent place to practice. It had ample space, and there were no disturbances. Plus, having someone like Saeko around was a pleasant sight.
"Well, I look forward to having you over next week," the girl said with a smile. However, she remembered something else.
"Oh, Hachiman, at the end of July, there's a kendo competition called the Kendo Inter-High School Championship . Do you want to participate?"
"Kendo Inter-High School Championship?" Hachiman's gaze flickered; he had heard of this competition before. It was one of the most prestigious and well-known high school kendo competitions.
If he recalled correctly, someone from his club had mentioned that Saeko had won the women's division of this competition last year.
"That's right, the Kendo Inter-High School Championship. Last year, our school won the women's division because of me"
"However, the men's division lacked strong players, and we only made it to the quarter-finals before being eliminated," Saeko explained.
"If you participate this year, Hachiman, I believe the men's division championship will be within our school's grasp."
Hachiman nodded in understanding, but he still had a question. "Was our school's men's division really that weak? I thought Vice-Captain Fujita was quite skilled."
"Indeed, Vice-Captain Fujita is talented," Saeko acknowledged. "But in the Kendo Inter-High School Championship, it's a single-elimination format. If you lose, you're out, and the winners continue. While Fujita's skills are admirable, the grueling nature of the tournament took its toll, and he eventually succumbed to exhaustion."
"But with you joining us this year, I have no doubt we can secure the championship," she added, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Hachiman hesitated for a moment. Participating in a kendo competition during summer break when he could be catching up on anime or playing games felt like a missed opportunity. However, he couldn't ignore the eager look in Saeko's eyes.
"Alright," he finally agreed. "If I don't have any important commitments at the time, I'll participate. It's just for about a week, right? I can take a break from my usual activities as a way to repay you for teaching me the Busujima-ryu Technique."
Saeko's expression brightened with gratitude. She appreciated Hachiman's willingness to join the team and saw it as a chance for their school's men's division to shine.
"That's great! Thank you, Hachiman," Saeko said with excitement, hugging him tightly. As the daughter of a kendo family, her passion for kendo was undeniable. She wished for her kendo club to achieve great success.
Last year, they had won the women's division championship, but the men's division had fallen short, reaching only the quarter-finals due to their lack of strength. This left her with a lingering sense of regret.
However, this year was different. With Hachiman agreeing to participate, she believed the men's division could secure the championship without a doubt. Her excitement was palpable.
Hachiman found himself somewhat stunned by Saeko's sudden embrace. He was familiar with the sensation of her soft touch, but this intimate contact took him by surprise.
Due to the practice, he had worked up some heat, so his upper body was almost bare under the half-removed kendo uniform. At this moment, he could distinctly feel the soft and delicate sensation of Saeko's chest through her not-so-thick kendo uniform.
Wait, she wasn't wearing a bra?!
He wasn't sure if Saeko had removed it during a shower or if she wasn't wearing one at all. The unexpected sensation was quite stimulating, and he felt a surge of heat rushing to his face and other areas.
He's concerned about his ability to control himself.
To avoid any awkward situations, he quickly spoke up.
"Ahem, Saeko."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Hachiman. I got carried away."
Compared to younger girls, Saeko personality was undoubtedly more mature. She had only blushed slightly and gently pushed Hachiman away, taking a couple of steps back before bowing slightly to apologize.
"Oh, it's... it's okay."
Seeing this scene, Hachiman couldn't help but feel somewhat awkward.
It seems like I took advantage of the situation earlier.
"Hachiman, after practicing for the whole afternoon, you must have worked up quite a sweat. Would you like to take a shower before heading back?"
Listening to her suggestion, Hachiman did indeed feel uncomfortable with the stickiness on his body. Moreover, it was only a little past four o'clock, so taking a shower was a good idea.
"Sure, thanks, Saeko. Could you show me to the bathroom?"
"Not a problem at all. Please follow me, Hachiman." Saeko smiled slightly and turned to lead the way.
Following behind her, they soon arrived at the same bathroom where she had showered earlier.
"This is it, please go ahead," Saeko said.
"Alright, thank you, Saeko." Hachiman expressed his gratitude, then opened the bathroom door and stepped inside.
As she watched him enter the bathroom, Saeko's eyes briefly flickered with an enigmatic expression. Without saying a word, she turned and left the area.
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