Kamisaka Yuto decided to make fish head tofu soup.
Considering that someone who has just exercised needs to replenish protein, water, and salt, it was the perfect choice.
The broth rendered from the fish head is savory, and the tofu enhances its flavor even further.
Both fish soup and tofu are high in protein and easily digestible, making them a gentler option for post-exercise recovery compared to something heavy like beef.
Yuto selected a silver carp, one of the best fish for this dish.
He had expected the already-dead fish to be less than fresh, but to his surprise, the flesh was tender and of excellent quality.
Hayasaka's explanation clarified why.
Every day, all the ingredients in the large walk-in freezer were replaced, and only the finest varieties from various regions were selected.
Freshness was never an issue here.
This explanation made Yuto sigh.
'Perhaps this is what life is like for the truly wealthy.'
He scaled the silver carp, then butchered it, discarding the innards. He separated the head and tail, slicing the meat from the middle section into fillets.
He couldn't help but marvel—the knives in this kitchen were unbelievably sharp
Even the large central bone of the fish was sliced through with ease.
Previously, when Yuto handled it, he'd always had to chop it open.
When had he ever cut through it so effortlessly?
'This is the power of money,' he thought. 'With money, you can even slice through bones.'
He squeezed some olive oil into a pan and began to sear the fish head.
After searing one side, he flipped it to the other.
Sizzle, sizzle.
As the oil crackled, a fragrant aroma filled the air, the pure scent occupying half the kitchen.
Even Hayasaka, watching from the side, wore a captivated expression.
She hadn't left yet since Kaguya hadn't returned, so she was free for the moment.
Yuto's cooking movements were as fluid as flowing water, possessing a unique, captivating rhythm that held her attention.
After searing the fish head, Yuto switched to a new pot. He placed the fish head inside and added a generous amount of water, stopping only when it was well submerged.
He turned on the heat.
Now, all he had to do was wait for it to boil. The tofu and fresh mushrooms had already been prepared, leaving him with a moment of free time.
Yuto took a shallow breath and turned to Hayasaka.
"Hayasaka-san, why was I specifically chosen to cook for Kaguya-san?"
This question had been on his mind for some time. N
ow that they were alone with time to spare, it was the perfect opportunity to ask.
Hayasaka seemed conflicted by Yuto's question. Her expression betrayed nothing, but inwardly she was struggling and hesitating.
Finally, she let out a soft sigh.
"Because Kaguya-sama really wanted to eat your cooking."
Yuto was surprised that Hayasaka had answered at all. When she'd fallen silent, he'd assumed she wasn't going to tell him the reason.
After all, she hadn't been truthful with him on the way here either.
Hearing Hayasaka's words, Yuto was at a loss for what to say.
'Should I feel proud? Or maybe a little smug?'
A flicker of pleasure warmed his heart. Though he maintained a gentle demeanor, he had always been confident in his cooking.
Even Senzaemon Nakiri had wanted him to become an instructor at Totsuki Academy.
There was a reason for that, of course.
But this answer only brought Yuto back to his original question.
"Then... why not just come to the restaurant?" he asked once more.
Hayasaka sighed inwardly.
Was she supposed to tell him the real reason was that her young mistress had such an awkward personality?
The last time Kaguya left the small restaurant, her departure had been decisive yet baffling.
After such a sudden exit, she had been agonizing over it!
She desperately wanted to eat at the restaurant again, but she was too embarrassed by her abrupt, unannounced departure.
Kaguya was trapped in a cycle of regret and indecision. She worried about the awkwardness of returning and feared that others would laugh at her.
Though she appeared cold and aloof, her inner world was always a whirlwind of activity.
Hayasaka witnessed this conflicted state every day.
Only in front of Hayasaka would Kaguya ever reveal such expressions. Having been by Kaguya's side for a long time, Hayasaka could guess her thoughts.
She knew her mistress was proud and found it difficult to admit her true feelings.
So, she came up with the idea of inviting Yuto to cook at their home.
As a maid, it was her duty to proactively resolve her mistress's troubles and fulfill her wishes. But beyond that, Hayasaka genuinely hoped to see a different side of Kaguya.
Their two visits to the restaurant had shown Hayasaka a side of Kaguya that was completely different from the usual cold "Princess Kaguya."
The change left Hayasaka thrilled and astonished.
The perpetually cold Kaguya was finally showing signs of being a normal girl!
This was the very change Hayasaka had always prayed for.
She had stayed by Kaguya's side, hoping that one day Kaguya would smile like a normal girl.
But over the years she had spent by Kaguya's side, that wish had grown distant.
She had witnessed the Shinomiya family's cold indifference toward Kaguya and heard the cruel taunts from others.
It was as if snowflakes, one by one, had blanketed Kaguya in winter's chill. Buried beneath the snow, Kaguya had grown even colder.
Hayasaka, who had tried to help Kaguya change, finally felt a sense of powerlessness.
In those frigid years, she was Kaguya's only support and friend. But all she could do was be a friend.
She had given up hope of truly changing her.
In this bleak moment, Yuto's appearance reignited Hayasaka's hope.
She had seen with her own eyes how Kaguya's expression shifted as she ate his food. For the first time, a flicker of something called "happiness" appeared in her eyes.
Even if it was just for a fleeting moment, it was enough for Hayasaka to see a chance to change Kaguya.
'Perhaps Yuto's cooking can change Kaguya!'
It was just a guess on Hayasaka's part.
But even if it was only a guess, she was willing to try.
Because she and Kaguya were more than just mistress and servant—they were friends.
...
Yuto watched as Hayasaka fall silent again, feeling a little helpless.
'Is it really that hard to answer that question?'
"Oh, I see."
Seemingly sensing Yuto's helpless gaze, Hayasaka snapped out of her reminiscence.
She first apologized to him, then explained the reason.
She didn't reveal her own thoughts, only mentioning that Kaguya was too worried about potential awkwardness to visit the restaurant.
Although this slightly undermined her mistress's dignity, the memory of the incident with Shinomiya Un'ei still filled Hayasaka with guilt.
Yuto sighed helplessly upon hearing Hayasaka's explanation. He had been wondering what the problem was.
He had guessed that Kaguya might not want to eat at his restaurant because it wasn't high-class enough or for some similar reason.
That was his own assumption. He never expected it to be something so trivial.
"Yes, Kaguya-sama tends to overthink things sometimes," Hayasaka replied.
"It's really not a big deal. No one would even care," Yuto said with a sigh.
Even though Kaguya had left so abruptly last time, no one in the restaurant had paid it any mind.
It wasn't as if they were children.
Even if Kaguya came back, no one would mock her.
Hayasaka's words added another layer to Yuto's perception of Kaguya.
'She really is a sensitive person.'
Gurgle, gurgle...
Just then, Yuto heard the water in the pot come to a boil.
He lifted the lid.
The broth had already turned a milky white, and a rich, savory aroma filled the air. And this was just from simmering a single fish head.
He added a few slices of ginger. Ginger enhances the flavor of meat, and adding it directly to the soup would make the broth even more fragrant and mellow.
Next, he placed the pre-sliced tofu cubes into the pot.
He continued simmering the soup, planning to check it again in about eight minutes. Yuto turned the heat to medium and began preparing the remaining fish body.
Wasting so much fish meat just to make soup seemed like a real shame. Instead, he decided to make something special with the fish body.
Since the fish head tofu soup was light and refreshing, the fish body deserved a more substantial treatment.
After adding the fish head to the pot, Yuto started marinating the fish body. He stuffed the cavity with ginger, scallions, and a splash of cooking wine.
Raw fish can be quite fishy, and this flavor needed to be eliminated.
The marinating time was just right. With the fishy smell gone, Yuto removed the ginger and scallions from the cavity.
He then arranged the fish on a steaming plate. A drizzle of soy sauce and a sprinkle of fermented soybeans completed the seasoning.
Finally, he placed the plate in the steamer and began steaming the fish.
Steamed fish is always simple.
So simple that it often requires no additional seasoning. Fish is synonymous with freshness, and extra seasonings would only mask its natural flavor.
While Yuto was busy with the fish, Hayasaka had already left.
She checked the time
It was about time Kaguya would be returning as she went to the entrance to greet her.
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