After parting ways, the two headed towards their respective classrooms.
And so, a full day of classes came to an end.
Lexon felt as though he were experiencing campus life again after a very long time.
He had to admit, there was plenty of novelty and leisure to be found in it.
After all, having gone through two story worlds, it had been over a decade since he last stepped foot in a school.
Feeling this way was unavoidable.
However, the gazes of the students in class seemed somewhat unfriendly due to the morning's entrance ceremony.
They were laced with malice...
During the culinary practice session, some students even seemed unable to restrain themselves, clearly planning something...
But after witnessing Lexon smiling as he effortlessly left five deep finger imprints on a stainless steel basin...
All sounds vanished in an instant.
Any lingering malice dissipated along with those deep marks on the steel.
Thus, it turned out to be a simple, relaxed day where no one dared to cause trouble.
As the sun began to set.
Lexon and Soma Yukihira met up again. After grabbing their luggage, they followed the map toward the Polar Star Dormitory.
"This place is a bit remote... and compared to the luxury buildings we saw on the way, it feels like it belongs to another world entirely!" Soma Yukihira grumbled as he looked at the old building covered in tangled vines and overgrown branches.
"Let's just go inside first," Lexon said nonchalantly.
Pushing the doors open, the two entered the Polar Star Dormitory.
Despite its weathered exterior, the inside didn't seem old or dilapidated; it even looked somewhat grand in a subtle way.
The lights in the lobby weren't on, and the dim interior made it difficult to see clearly.
"Are there newcomers...?" A voice suddenly drifted from a dark corner.
"Who's there?" Soma Yukihira was a bit startled, shouting toward the shadows while staring intently.
"I am the dorm warden of the Polar Star Dormitory, Fumio Daimido." A small, white-haired elderly woman with her hands on her hips gradually emerged from the gloom. Her aging voice carried a hint of arrogance. "Otherwise known as the Maria of Polar Star... Lady Fumio... that is how you shall address me!"
"This person seems a little strange..." Soma Yukihira whispered to Lexon.
Lexon just shrugged.
"So you're the two transfer students moving in... Lexon and Soma Yukihira?" Fumio Daimido asked.
"Yeah," they both replied.
"Then you both must undergo the move-in exam! What ingredients have you prepared?"
"A move-in exam? And we had to prepare ingredients? I never heard about this!" Soma Yukihira looked completely bewildered.
"You prepared nothing?" Fumio Daimido asked skeptically.
"Who knew such a thing existed? Why would I have brought ingredients!" Soma replied loudly.
"Then you've lost without even putting up a fight... You can't stay at Polar Star without showing off your skills; it's tradition," Fumio Daimido explained. She then added, "You'll just have to sleep outside tonight."
"You've gotta be kidding me! The cold wind in April is unbearable! I'm exhausted and starving right now!" Soma Yukihira protested.
"The test is mandatory. The kitchen only has some scraps and semi-finished ingredients left..."
"Can we use those leftover ingredients?" Soma asked hopefully.
"I suppose that's fine..."
"Then we accept the test! Where's the kitchen?" Soma asked confidently.
Even scraps were enough for him and Lexon to demonstrate their culinary prowess! The Yukihira style was built for this!
Since Soma Yukihira believed Lexon's cooking skills were learned from him, he naturally categorized Lexon under the Yukihira banner.
The two followed Fumio Daimido into a brightly lit kitchen.
Then, they began their cooking.
Lexon's cooking speed far exceeded Soma's.
His speed in prep work wasn't even in the same league.
Watching from the side, Fumio Daimido's expression grew serious as she observed his knife work and prep speed.
'This is completely on the level of a top-tier chef...'
She thought to herself.
Soon, a fragrant plate of braised beef was placed before Fumio Daimido.
"Eh? Lexon, you're done already?" Soma Yukihira, focused on his own prep, couldn't help but look up at the dish Lexon had presented.
Then, his face went blank.
He rubbed his eyes...
He looked at the scraps in front of him.
Onions... eggs... breadcrumbs...
Then he looked back at the whole slab of beef on Lexon's side.
"Aaaaah!!!!"
Soma Yukihira let out a scream like a startled groundhog.
"Lexon, why on earth do you have ingredients like that??!!"
He shouted at Lexon.
"Because I knew there was an exam, so I brought them," Lexon replied flatly.
"Then why didn't you say anything earlier!"
"You didn't ask."
"..." Soma Yukihira looked at Lexon, whose face practically screamed the word 'innocent,' and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.
'Why do I feel like you're a bit devious... Lexon...'
'I get the feeling you're getting back at me for dragging you into that mess this morning...'
Soma's thoughts raced.
"So, got any extra?" Soma looked at Lexon with hopeful eyes.
Although he was confident he could make something delicious out of scraps, he preferred a safer bet if possible.
After all, he didn't want to sleep out in the cold April night.
He especially didn't want Lexon, who came with him, to be sleeping soundly in a warm dorm while he was outside shivering in the freezing wind...
"Nope," Lexon replied with a smile.
'He's definitely doing this on purpose! Definitely!'
Soma screamed inwardly as he looked at Lexon's smile.
"Just kidding, I actually have more," Lexon said a moment later.
"Really? I love you—" Soma's face lit up with joy.
"Actually, it seems I forgot to bring it." Hearing Soma's words, Lexon dropped another piece of bad news.
"Huh?"
...
In the end, Lexon handed the ingredients over to Soma Yukihira, even though he knew Soma could pass the move-in exam even with just the scraps.
But since he had been mooching off the guy for so long, he figured he might as well give him a hand...
Besides, Soma was hungry... he could make something for himself too.
After all, Soma Yukihira had massive potential... Once he improved, Lexon could continue to reap the benefits... It was an investment in the future.
Given their exceptional culinary skills, Fumio Daimido naturally found herself lost in the exquisite flavors of their dishes, unable to pull herself away.
They successfully passed the move-in exam and officially became members of the Polar Star Dormitory.
The Polar Star Dorm...
'I remember there's someone I absolutely need to sign in with...'
Sitting on the bed in his room, Lexon's thoughts drifted.
The Seventh Seat of the Council of Ten... Satoshi Isshiki.