Chapter 27
By the time Yukihira Soma finished serving his dish, Haruto had completed his own as well.
Before presenting it, however, he first tried Soma’s Spanish Mackerel Rice Ball Ochazuke.
The tender, springy flesh of the mackerel contrasted beautifully with its crisp skin, while the clean saltiness and mellow aroma of the kombu tea spread across his tongue.
For a moment, Haruto felt as though he were standing in a spring meadow, watching the last snow melt as the world awakened around him.
It was an excellent dish.
"The mackerel is so plump and juicy, but the crisp skin is the best part!"
"Every time you chew, another burst of flavor spreads through your mouth. This is amazing!"
Yuki could not help praising it.
"There’s no way ordinary pan-frying could create this texture," Ryoko said, setting down her chopsticks and looking at Soma with open curiosity.
"How did you do it?"
"You used the arrosé technique," Isshiki stated with certainty.
"The mackerel was cooked by repeatedly basting it in the pan."
Haruto quietly finished the last of his rice.
The technique Isshiki mentioned was, of course, a method used in French cuisine.
"Arrosé?"
Yuki, Ryoko, and Soma exclaimed at the same time, identical confusion on their faces.
"Wait, Yukihira, why do you look surprised too?" Yuki asked, turning toward him in disbelief.
He was the one who had made the dish.
"Well... I was wondering what arrosé meant," Soma admitted, scratching his head.
Although he had used the technique himself, this was the first time he had learned its proper name.
"..."
Yuki stared at him, momentarily lost for words.
So Soma did not even know the name of the technique he had just used?
"..."
"Arrosé is a technique commonly used in French cuisine," Isshiki explained patiently.
"As the ingredient cooks, you repeatedly spoon the hot oil or fat over its surface. This allows it to heat evenly and develops a beautiful, uniform color and crisp texture."
After explaining, Isshiki looked at Soma with growing curiosity.
"Soma-kun, could you tell me how you learned a French cooking technique without knowing what it was called?"
The fact that Soma knew how to use it but had never heard its name was certainly unusual.
"My dad taught me," Soma replied casually.
"It’s the best way to get fish skin really crisp."
"Fish cooked like this goes perfectly with rice. Once it soaks up a little of the kombu tea, the flavor changes again. It makes the whole dish more interesting."
Isshiki nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Did your father train in French cuisine?"
Soma tilted his head and thought for a moment.
"I’m not sure. I know he cooked in a lot of different countries, though."
Come to think of it, Soma knew very little about his father’s past.
"I see."
Isshiki looked down at the remaining ochazuke, admiration flickering through his eyes.
Soma had used a French cooking technique to prepare a topping for a Japanese dish, ignoring the boundaries between countries and culinary traditions to create whatever flavor he wanted.
It was a wonderfully free-spirited dish.
...
Once Isshiki had finished his bowl, he set down his chopsticks and walked over to Soma.
"That was a magnificent vision of melting snow, Soma-kun."
Isshiki was genuinely pleased that Polar Star had gained such a talented new resident.
"Yours was just as good, Senpai."
Soma rubbed the tip of his nose, his expression sincere.
"The numbing fragrance of the sansho mixed with the sweetness of the vegetables in that grilled mackerel dish. It felt as refreshing as a spring breeze."
Isshiki’s dish had been every bit as impressive as his Spanish Mackerel Rice Ball Ochazuke.
As the two exchanged smiles, Haruto’s voice came from beside them.
"Now that you’ve finished, please try mine as well—Clear Fish Ball Soup."
Haruto carried his dish over and set the bowls in front of them.
Everyone studied it curiously.
Several pearly-white fish balls rested in crystal-clear broth.
Compared to the previous dishes, it looked almost excessively plain.
Soma had complete confidence in Haruto’s cooking, so he was the first to lift a bowl. He scooped up a fish ball with his spoon and placed it in his mouth.
The others quickly followed.
The moment their teeth touched the surface, they heard an almost imperceptible snap.
Then the fish ball’s firm, springy texture burst across their tongues.
The hand-pounded fish was dense without being tough, with just the right amount of savory seasoning and not the slightest trace of fishiness.
A sip of the clear broth followed.
Despite its deceptively plain appearance, the liquid was infused with the fish’s purest natural sweetness.
As it slid down their throats, warmth spread from their stomachs and flowed throughout their bodies.
Their muscles seemed to relax beneath that gentle heat, leaving them indescribably comfortable.
For a fleeting moment, they could almost see the vibrant energy of spring, with new life bursting forth everywhere.
...
Yuki’s eyes suddenly widened, and the spoon nearly slipped from her hand.
She stared at Haruto in amazement, her voice filled with admiration.
"These fish balls are almost as springy as hand-pounded beef balls! How did you even do that?"
The others nodded in agreement.
Fish was naturally soft and delicate, so ordinary fish balls tended to be tender and somewhat loose.
Achieving this kind of crisp, elastic bite seemed almost impossible.
A faint smile appeared on Haruto’s lips.
"I’m simply a little ’stronger’ than most people."
An ordinary person could pound fish until their arms went numb and still fail to develop this much elasticity.
Haruto, however, could now lift a car without much difficulty.
With his raw strength, it had been easy to pound the fish fibers until they bound tightly together.
That was the secret behind the fish balls’ exceptional springiness.
"Precise control over that strength, combined with perfectly balanced ingredients."
Isshiki lowered his bowl and regarded Haruto with a more serious appreciation.
"It may look like a simple bowl of fish ball soup, but it reveals an incredibly solid foundation."
"Sometimes the purest flavors come from stripping a dish back to its essentials."
To elevate such an ordinary-looking dish to this level meant Haruto’s true ability was likely far deeper than he allowed anyone to see.
That realization only made Isshiki happier.
"Thank you, both of you."
"This cooking challenge has been a rare feast."
Isshiki extended his hands toward Haruto and Soma.
Tadokoro Megumi woke at that exact moment.
The first thing she saw was Isshiki-senpai wearing nothing but an apron, staring tearfully at two boys from her year while all three of them clasped hands tightly.
Megumi froze.
Her entire body began trembling as her mind went completely blank.
’W-what exactly is happening here?’
’What did I miss?’