Chapter 23
After a long moment, Daimidō Fumio slowly opened her eyes and looked at Haruto with a solemn expression.
"You pass."
Haruto’s Puffed Omelet and Fish Broth Noodles had been executed to an exceptionally high standard, bringing out the natural flavor of every ingredient beautifully.
Even so, Fumio could tell that this was nowhere near the limit of his ability.
His preparation of the fish broth, at least, had been rather casual.
Still, his cooking was more than good enough to pass the dormitory entrance test.
A smile appeared on Haruto’s face at her verdict.
Yoshino Yuki, Sakaki Ryoko, and Tadokoro Megumi also breathed sighs of relief, delighted smiles spreading across their faces.
"Hey, Haruto! We want to try the noodles too," Yuki said.
They could eat them for dinner.
Ryoko and Megumi looked equally eager.
Haruto glanced at the expectation on their faces and nodded.
"No problem. Leave it to me."
He had prepared more ingredients than he needed anyway.
The only shortage was the minced fatback, which was enough for just two more puffed omelets, so each omelet would have to be shared between two people.
Haruto quickly prepared another four bowls of Puffed Omelet and Fish Broth Noodles.
After finishing his own portion, he accepted a brass key engraved with the number 101 from Fumio and carried his luggage into the corresponding room.
He swiftly made the bed and began arranging his belongings.
While Haruto was busy settling in, an exhausted Yukihira Soma pushed open the front door of Polar Star Dormitory.
...
Hearing the commotion, Fumio stepped out of the manager’s room.
She folded her arms and calmly examined the panting boy in the doorway.
"You must be Yukihira Soma, the other transfer student hoping to move in."
Fumio had already learned Haruto’s name.
Since two transfer students had been assigned to Polar Star, the newcomer could only be Soma.
"I’m Daimidō Fumio, the manager of this dormitory, also known as the Maria of Polar Star."
Soma was about to ask about moving in when Fumio spoke again.
"So, what ingredients did you bring?"
Haruto’s noodle dish had left her thoroughly satisfied, so she could not help feeling a little more curious about the other transfer student.
"Huh? Ingredients?" Soma stared at her blankly, his eyes widening. "What ingredients?"
"You have to bring your own food just to move into a Totsuki dorm?"
He clearly had not read Polar Star’s admission instructions properly.
"Isn’t that obvious?"
Fumio stared at him in disbelief, amazed that he did not even know the dormitory’s most basic rule.
With no other choice, she patiently explained.
"Anyone who wants to live at Polar Star has to pass an entrance cooking test."
"In other words, you need to prepare a dish with your own hands. You only get a room if the food satisfies me."
"You’re also expected to provide your own ingredients. What you bring is entirely up to you."
...
Soma’s face fell as he listened.
"Nobody told me that! I didn’t bring any ingredients!"
All he had known was that he had been assigned to Polar Star.
He had paid no attention to the rules, so naturally, he had not prepared anything.
"Then you’ve lost without even competing."
Fumio spread her hands, sounding faintly disappointed.
"You can’t live at Polar Star unless you show me what you can do in the kitchen."
She had been looking forward to testing him, but apparently it would have to wait until tomorrow.
"Huh? So tonight I have to..."
Soma’s stomach dropped as an ominous feeling came over him.
"Sleep outside, of course," Fumio replied as calmly as if she were discussing the weather.
Her answer left Soma feeling as though he had been plunged into freezing water.
"You’ve got to be kidding me!"
He pointed wildly toward the door, his voice climbing several octaves.
"I could die out there! Don’t underestimate how cold April nights get! And I walked for more than an hour to reach this place—I’m exhausted and starving!"
The shouting drew Haruto out of his room.
When he saw Soma on the verge of losing his mind, he could not help laughing.
Soma spotted him a moment later and immediately brightened.
"Haruto—"
"Sorry, I already used all the ingredients I brought," Haruto interrupted before he could finish.
"There’s a little fish broth left. You can use that."
Haruto had actually prepared extra ingredients with Soma in mind, but after making four additional portions, everything was gone.
There was nothing he could do about it.
...
Learning that Haruto had no ingredients either left Soma thoroughly dejected.
He turned to Fumio with a pitiful expression.
"Could you let me stay for just one night?"
"Absolutely not!"
Fumio’s response was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
"The entrance cooking test is an unbreakable rule at Polar Star."
She paused before adding with a sigh, "You don’t necessarily have to use ingredients you brought yourself."
"Unfortunately, the kitchen only has a few scraps and unfinished leftovers right now."
"You really picked a bad day to arrive."
Had Soma come a little earlier, there might still have been something usable left in the kitchen.
His eyes immediately lit up, and his energy returned in an instant.
"So I can still take the test using whatever’s left?"
Even with nothing but scraps, Soma was confident he could create something impressive.
"What?"
Fumio looked at him in surprise. She had not expected him to keep trying!
"I’ll take the test! Where’s the kitchen?"
Soma clenched his fist, determination blazing in his eyes.
He would use every ounce of skill he had if it meant avoiding a freezing night outdoors.
Seeing his sudden enthusiasm, Fumio became interested again.
She nodded and turned toward the kitchen.
"Follow me."
Once inside, Soma surveyed the remaining ingredients. After thinking for only a moment, an idea came to him.
He rolled up his sleeves and immediately got to work.
Before long, a thick mackerel burger steak, a serving of rice, and a bowl of egg-drop soup had been arranged in front of Fumio.
The meal was simple, yet remarkably appetizing.
"Yukihira-Style Instant Mackerel Burger Steak Set. Please, dig in."
Soma looked at Fumio with complete confidence.
She calmly picked up a piece of the mackerel patty and placed it in her mouth.
Its soft yet pleasantly springy texture immediately won over her palate.
The egg-drop soup, made with squid tentacles and the leftover fish broth, was so deeply savory that it sent a tingling sensation across her tongue.
The moment she swallowed a mouthful of soup, Fumio felt as though she had been transported back to her youth.
A summer evening beside the sea.
A gentle breeze.
The boy who had been her first love—and a shy kiss beneath the fading twilight.
Overcome by the memory, Fumio suddenly lifted her head and gazed at Soma through hazy eyes.
Standing in the doorway, Haruto calmly raised his phone.
A picture like this was priceless, once-in-a-lifetime blackmail material!