Chapter 256: Eight Immortals Paella and the White-Haired Tsundere
Ren glanced at Lucifer, who wore a self-satisfied expression that screamed, 'As expected of me,' after hanging up the phone. His gaze then shifted to Kasugano Sora, who was clutching her plush rabbit and had turned her back to them, the very picture of a withdrawn child.
"Eh? What's going on with you two?" Ren asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.
Lucifer's smile was bright. "Sora's body has fully recovered, hasn't it? But she was complaining about her old school, Katagiri, which got me thinking about Shion, and well..."
Ren nodded in understanding, his eyes settling on the still-reclusive Sora. "So she's transferring to Koyo Academy? Hmm, that's a very suitable choice. Akemi and the others are there, it's an all-girls school, and the atmosphere is excellent."
Hugging her rabbit tighter, Kasugano Sora mumbled, her voice barely a whisper, "Ugh... Koyo Academy seems really far... I'll have to wake up early again... So annoying..."
Hearing her faint complaints, both Ren and Lucifer couldn't help but smile. In a way, her current demeanor was undeniably cute; it was easy to see why some might find her standoffish attitude endearing.
"It's not that far," Ren said gently, "just a little further than Katagiri. But seriously, Sora, when you and Akemi go to school tomorrow, try to be friendly, alright?"
Kasugano Sora nodded slightly. "I know. I'm not that aloof... It's just... I feel like those people are too childish." She turned her head just enough to peek at him. "Ren-gege, do I really have to go to school...?"
"Of course," Ren replied without a moment's hesitation. "But in return, after you move in, you can do whatever you want online, though you can't stay up too late. Also, Sora, if you can manage to take first place in your class in the final exams, you can still have that wish you asked for before."
Sora's eyes instantly brightened, a flicker of genuine excitement crossing her face before she quickly suppressed it, schooling her features back into a mask of reluctance. "Since Ren-gege insists, I suppose I'll reluctantly give school a try..."
"You two are so similar," Lucifer mused aloud.
"Similar to what?" Ren asked, looking at her playfully.
"You and her," he said, gesturing between them. "You both have white hair, and you're both tsundere. Is that a common trait for your type?"
"I'm not tsundere!" they both snapped in perfect unison.
"Uh..." they both trailed off, a mirror of awkwardness.
Ren just smiled and shook his head, choosing not to press the matter. He didn't bother telling Kasugano Sora to get some rest. She never went to bed this early anyway. Besides, having just recovered her health and learned about the existence of another world, she was undoubtedly far too excited to sleep. He decided to let her be.
"Oh! Ren! This paella is incredible!"
Just as Ren was about to pick up a book, Tony's booming voice cut through the air. Ren turned to see him holding a plate, his face alight with excitement.
"If you like it, then eat more," Ren said with a smile. "And don't let the champagne get too warm."
"Oh! Right! I almost forgot about this guy! Pepper, you should try some of this non-alcoholic champagne... You..."
Tony's words died in his throat. He had stopped because Pepper Potts was completely ignoring him, her entire focus narrowed down to the plate in front of her. As for the champagne, she was already drinking it—a delicate sip of sparkling wine followed by a hearty mouthful of paella, her expression one of pure, unadulterated bliss.
Paella. The status of this dish was formidable. In the culinary world, baked rice, pizza, and pasta were often cited as the three great main courses. Paella, however, stood alongside French escargots and, once again, pasta, as one of the three most famous dishes in all of Western cuisine. This just went to show how outrageously versatile pasta was, claiming a spot on both prestigious lists. Who could argue with that?
One's first impression of paella could be summed up in a single word: lavish. Not merely rich, but a true feast for the eyes. The dish was a vibrant mix of ingredients. A glance revealed a treasure trove: tender pieces of chicken, blush-pink Arctic shrimp, plump clams with their shells agape, delicate fillets of sole, and pearlescent cuts of cuttlefish and squid. A few bright wedges of lemon were artfully placed on top, resting on a bed of beautiful, golden-hued rice that had soaked up every last drop of flavor from the bounty above.
Lavish. Absolutely lavish. And every single bite delivered one overwhelming sensation: freshness. A deep, savory freshness. This dish was the ultimate proof of why seafood was named as such—it was the very essence of the ocean's deliciousness, a name it wore with pride.
It was as if the dish were a grand celebration of the word 'fresh.' The tender, springy bite of the clam meat; the firm, succulent snap of the shrimp; the smooth, palate-cleansing sole fillet, plump and bursting with flavor; the crisp, resilient chew of the cuttlefish; and the chicken, which remained impossibly moist and tender amidst it all.
This mountain of ingredients pushed the concept of 'fresh' to its absolute limit. And then there was the fascinating culinary science at play. The dish contained both lemon and tomato and was served with champagne. Conventionally, fruit is a major taboo with seafood, often risking food poisoning. But there are always exceptions. Lemon is the great heretic among fruits, a perfect partner for the treasures of the sea. A small squeeze of its bright, sweet-and-sour juice instantly elevated the dish's aroma by several degrees while also preventing any digestive trouble.
Likewise, drinking alcohol with seafood is often discouraged due to the risk of gout. But champagne, of all things, stands apart. It forms another perfect union. A common saying captured it perfectly: 'You don't drink liquor with seafood because you fear gout; you don't drink champagne with it because it's too expensive.' Yet for a dish like this, a bottle of champagne was not an expense but a necessity. That alone spoke volumes of its perfect cooperation.
The clean, exquisite taste of the seafood, the elegant and subtle fragrance of the champagne—that faint, unique perfume paired with a mouthful of oceanic flavor—was the very definition of perfection.
The perfection of lemon and seafood. The perfection of seafood and rice. The perfection of seafood and champagne. Three layers of perfection intertwined to create an absolute taste experience, an unmatched sense of satisfaction, a display of savory umami.
Seafood is a noble ingredient, delicious enough even when simply steamed. But here, infused with the rich flavors of saffron and chicken broth, and complemented by the unique aroma and texture of bell peppers, onions, and black olives, the dish became something more. It was a culinary epic, truly deserving of the name 'Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea,' where each ingredient showcased its unique power in perfect harmony.
Eating it in great, greedy spoonfuls, one didn't need to distinguish which piece of seafood they were getting. Regardless of the texture, the overwhelming freshness melted into a flawless savory profile on the tongue. A hint of lemon juice cut through the richness, stimulating a complex, satisfying aroma.
A single bite of paella seemed to captivate the entire night, body, and soul. In that moment of pure indulgence, you understood exactly why this dish was counted among the three greatest in the Western world.
Watching Tony and Pepper eat with such unrestrained delight, Lucifer sighed. "I feel like no matter how much self-control a person has, they could never resist your cooking."
"Mhm," Sora added quietly. "Ren-gege's cooking is amazing..."
Ren smiled. "Do you two want a late-night snack?"
"Okay!" Sora chirped immediately.
Lucifer, however, looked concerned. "But won't eating so much at night be bad for your health?"
"Don't worry," Ren reassured them, turning to Sora. "Your body is fine now. If you're afraid of getting fat, you can just try walking to school tomorrow."
"Eh!? No way! It's too far!"
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