Chinatsu stepped into the home economics classroom just as the class bell rang, sat down, and yawned, immediately feeling two intensely burning gazes.
One came from Itsuka Shido, who had just entered and seemed to have adjusted his mindset.
He had already tied his apron and stood before his cooking station, his eyes no longer evasive but filled with unprecedented focus and fighting spirit.
It was as if he were about to step onto a real battlefield. His gaze briefly met Chinatsu's in the air, sparking invisible flames.
The other gaze came from Tobiichi Origami in the back row. Her eyes were still calm, but the pen in her hand was rapidly recording something in a new notebook, the title of which appeared to be "Target Behavior Observation Report (Part Two)."
As for Yamabuki Ai and others nearby, who were chatting and joking, they were scanning back and forth between Chinatsu and Shido with curious and excited expressions.
Although they didn't know exactly what had happened, the palpable sense of imminent competition in the air was enough to excite them.
Consequently, the atmosphere of the home economics class was already thick with a greater sense of anticipation than usual.
Today's topic was "Ginger Pork Set Meal"—a Japanese main dish that tests one's control over heat and the balance of the sauce.
"Hey, Shido, I guess we get to mooch off your skills again today, huh?" Tonomachi Hiroto grinned cheekily, hooking his arm around Itsuka Shido's neck, interrupting Shido's staring contest with Chinatsu.
"That miso soup last time was absolutely amazing!"
Shido scratched his cheek awkwardly. "It's just home cooking level... I'm glad everyone liked it." He habitually looked toward his cooking station, ready to become the savior of his group's, and even the whole class's, taste buds, just like always.
He could already imagine the exclamations of praise from his classmates after tasting it... but today's target was someone else entirely.
Meanwhile, Phoenix-in Chinatsu slightly lowered her head, carefully pinning up her ice-blue long hair with a simple hairpin, revealing the delicate, graceful lines of her pale nape.
Sunlight fell upon her focused profile, softening her usual coldness. She tied on a pristine white apron, her movements unhurried and carrying a strange sense of ritual.
(Ginger Pork... Hmph, simple.) Chinatsu inwardly scoffed, her gaze unconsciously flicking toward Shido's side.
(Whenever we went out, you were the one showing off, and you were the one making lunch boxes... Tsk, now that I'm operating under the guise of 'little sister,' I have the perfect reason to properly size you up. You always boasted about your cooking skills! Today, I'll show all of you what true'skill' looks like!)
(First, I'll crush their confidence with overwhelming skill, and then, at the last moment, 'generously' concede his 'victory'... The expression of shock mixed with ecstasy on their faces at that time will surely be the best seasoning, won't it?)
(Furthermore, on this stage set up by Kotori and the others, using absolute skill to give Shido a good dressing-down, watching your Fraxinus capture plan sputter out... that would be too much fun! That's the plan!)
The corner of her mouth curved into an arc mixed with mischief and competitiveness; she decided to get serious. This was both a tease for her "bro" and a dazzling performance for the "observers."
It wasn't about fighting for anything; it was just a subtle sense of competitiveness between "bros," coupled with the subconscious urge to "show that she's capable too."
Additionally, the desire to intentionally leak some information to Shido and his group without being detected—colloquially known as throwing a match but making it look real—made her decide to treat this class seriously.
"Understanding Analysis!"
In the depths of her eyes, azure data streams surged at an unprecedented speed. The texture of the pork, the optimal way to extract ginger juice, the golden ratio of mirin, sugar, and soy sauce in the sauce, the thermal conductivity efficiency of the pan... countless pieces of information were disassembled and optimized.
They converged into a broad path leading to "perfection." She even subconsciously simulated the force and angle of the stir-frying several times.
When the bell signaling the start of the lesson rang, she moved.
Her movements were no longer merely skilled; they took on an ineffable artistry.
When slicing the ginger, her knife work was astonishingly fine and uniform, like strands of hair. While marinating the pork, her fingers gently massaged the meat, ensuring every slice was evenly coated in sauce, her expression as focused as if she were tending to a fragile treasure.
She heated the pan, brushed oil, and arranged the pork slices. The moment the meat touched the hot oil—
A pleasant sizzling sound erupted, and the aroma instantly burst forth. Her wrist was steady as a rock, controlling the precise heat, and she tossed the pan at the right moments, ensuring the slices were heated evenly.
Her movements were fluid, precise, and carried an effortless grace; every turn and every seasoning adjustment was like a meticulously choreographed dance.
She even unconsciously hummed a soft, cheerful tune, a nearly imperceptible curve of satisfaction gracing her lips.
She was no longer the icy transfer student but an artist completely absorbed in the joy of creation, radiating a warm and brilliant light.
The entire class, regardless of gender, had stopped what they were doing at some point and watched her with bated breath.
"In-Incredible..."
"Those movements... are more beautiful than a chef on a cooking show..."
"Just watching her feels like an enjoyment..."
"The taste must be..."
"I feel like Classmate Hōōin is literally glowing..."
Gasps and whispers echoed softly throughout the classroom.
All eyes—worshipful, envious, surprised—were focused on her. She had become the absolute center.
Itsuka Shido was completely mesmerized. The work in his hands had long since stopped.
He clearly felt that what the other person was displaying was not just technique, but a state bordering on the "Dao," coupled with an unadulterated devotion and love for cooking itself.
That focused expression, those effortless movements, that tenderness and precision, as if she were conversing with the ingredients... all of it was like a mirror, reflecting the impurities in his own heart.
A rush of heat surged onto his cheeks—it was shame. What had he been thinking just now? His mind was filled with "capture operations," "gathering intelligence," and "completing the mission"... but he had completely forgotten about cooking itself.
He stood there, holding a kitchen knife, yet his thoughts weren't about how to create delicious food, but how to use it as a "weapon" to achieve his goals.
Compared to the other person's pure and dazzling light, this seemed so... base and contemptible. Cooking is cooking.
If he couldn't throw himself into it wholeheartedly, pouring in all his effort and passion, just as she did—
Then he didn't even have the right to stand before her, let alone talk about "winning the bet" or "gathering intelligence."
This intense feeling of shame quickly transformed into an unprecedented, pure, and fierce fighting spirit that burned brightly in his heart.
This wasn't jealousy, nor was it about completing a mission; it was the excitement and resonance that sprung from the depths of his soul upon meeting a truly respectable opponent, and an urge to give his absolute best to show his respect!
He almost instinctively walked toward Chinatsu, who had just placed the perfect Ginger Pork atop the rice and arranged the dish exquisitely. His eyes were no longer just sharp; they gained clarity and determination.
His steps were steady, as if he had shed all distracting thoughts and returned to the boy who simply loved cooking delicious food for his family and friends.
Chinatsu was about to enjoy the fruits of her labor when she felt that pure, burning gaze and approaching aura, stripped of all hesitation and impurity.
She looked up and met the familiar yet strange blue eyes that now held only equal fighting spirit and silent respect.
The instinct of being a "bro" from her previous life instantly overpowered all pretense.
The corner of her mouth unconsciously curved into an arc mixing laziness and provocation. Still holding the spatula in one hand, she slightly lifted her chin, and her cool voice delivered an extremely incongruous line:
"Hoh hoh~? You didn't choose to run away, but instead actively approached me? Classmate Itsuka~"
Silence. A deathly silence blanketed the classroom.
But Shido was completely ignited by this sudden provocation, which felt as if it came from the exact same wavelength!
He abruptly braced his hands on Chinatsu's cooking station, leaned forward, and responded loudly, his voice booming but no longer containing confusion, instead filled with the passion of resolve:
"If I don't approach you, how can I truly grasp the supreme artistry for cooking that is contained within your perfect dish! And how can I respond to and challenge it with my own dish, similarly infused with my whole heart!"
"Classmate Hōōin! Please—let's seriously compete!"