Chapter 88

As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother. In the activity report, I have revealed the character designs, so please take a look if you like.

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The cheerful sound of "tot-tot-tot-tot" echoed. The source was Yūri. What was he doing? He was tirelessly making shredded cabbage. The shredded cabbage filled the bowl in large quantities. Watching this with admiring eyes were Yack and, for some reason, Kuresh, who were both grating yams. ...By the way, Yack was on cooking duty, and Kuresh, having nothing to do, had volunteered to help. It seems he had become idle after finishing his tasks.

By the way, the shredded cabbage Yūri was making today was not as fine as usual. When he made it for salads or side dishes, he would shred it very finely, but not today. It was neither too fine nor too thick, but just right to enjoy the texture. Of course, there was a reason for this.

It was because Yūri was making okonomiyaki for dinner today. The cabbage in okonomiyaki should not be too fine, as it would lose its presence. However, if it's too thick, it won't hold together well. Therefore, Yūri was mass-producing shredded cabbage with just the right thickness. Since he had to make such a large amount, he had Yack grate the yams and was making the cabbage alone. His knife skills were so fast that they were a blur. His cooking skills were truly impressive.

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"Yūri's knife movements are invisible."

"The sound is incredible."

"Amazing."

"Huh? Did you both say something?"

"Nothing."

Yūri, who was producing a large amount of shredded cabbage at an unbelievable speed, tilted his head at their whispers. They shook their heads and replied that it was nothing. Yūri's cooking skills were known to be excellent, but seeing the difference in such basic tasks made their greatness even more apparent. After all, they could also shred cabbage, but it wouldn't turn out as well as Yūri's, nor could they do it as quickly. This is why they could truly appreciate his skill.

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"Look at this, I don't think anyone would think it's food."

"It's still in the preparation stage, and it's something you cook and eat."

"No, I just think Yūri's hometown cuisine is unique."

"Is it? I think cooking is like that everywhere. It's mostly about getting used to it."

"Is that so?"

Yūri laughed at Kuresh's response. Yes, cooking is mostly about getting used to it. In different countries, regions, and cultures, you often encounter dishes you've never seen before. Even within Japan, you often come across dishes that make you think, "Do people really eat that?" Local specialties can be confusing to outsiders.

Anyway, Yūri didn't mind Kuresh's comment. After making a large amount of shredded cabbage, he divided it into several bowls. Similarly, he divided the large amount of pre-washed bean sprouts. The bowls were filled with cabbage and bean sprouts. On their own, they were just a pile of vegetables, but Yūri added the yams grated by Yack and Kuresh evenly.

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"I don't think anyone would think this is food."

"It's still in the preparation stage, and it's something you cook and eat."

"Still, I think Yūri's hometown cuisine is unique."

"Is it? I think cooking is like that everywhere. It's mostly about getting used to it."

"Is that so?"

Kuresh's response made Yūri laugh. Yes, cooking is mostly about getting used to it. In different countries, regions, and cultures, you often encounter dishes you've never seen before. Even within Japan, you often come across dishes that make you think, "Do people really eat that?" Local specialties can be confusing to outsiders.

Anyway, Yūri didn't mind Kuresh's comment. After making a large amount of shredded cabbage, he divided it into several bowls. Similarly, he divided the large amount of pre-washed bean sprouts. The bowls were filled with cabbage and bean sprouts. On their own, they were just a pile of vegetables, but Yūri added the yams grated by Yack and Kuresh evenly.

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"Once it's mixed, what do we do next?"

"Before eating, we cook it, so just leave it as is."

"Got it."

"Then, toppings, right?"

"Toppings?"

Yūri smiled at their puzzled expressions. Okonomiyaki is a versatile dish that can vary greatly depending on the ingredients. The necessary ingredients were already gathered. Yūri, being a meticulous young man, had prepared everything. His dedication to making delicious meals showed his love for food. In Yūri's case, it was more about wanting to eat something delicious and wanting others to enjoy it as well.

After finishing the preparations with the two of them, it was time for dinner. That day was a bit different from usual. Normally, all the food would be served. However, today, only drinks and miso soup were prepared on the tables. The reason for everyone's confusion was the portable stoves and iron griddles placed in the center of each table, along with mysterious bowls.

"Tonight's dinner is okonomiyaki, so please cook as much as you want and enjoy it."

Yūri declared with a smile and demonstrated by cooking a sample. He made a simple pork and egg okonomiyaki, using oak meat instead of pork. The okonomiyaki mix was made without any main ingredients to allow for personal customization. First, he lightly seasoned the oak meat with salt and pepper and placed it on the iron griddle, then added the okonomiyaki mix on top. Once it was partially cooked and could be moved, he flipped it. That's all there was to it.

The condiments to be added to the cooked okonomiyaki were also left to personal preference. Yūri chose mayonnaise and soy sauce, sprinkled some bonito flakes, and it was complete. The bonito flakes danced on the hot okonomiyaki, making it incredibly appetizing.

He took a bite-sized piece with his chopsticks and brought it to his mouth. The freshly cooked okonomiyaki was hot, so he had to blow on it before eating. The oak meat, lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, was crispy on the outside but soft on the inside where it touched the okonomiyaki. It was incredibly delicious. The okonomiyaki, made with cabbage, bean sprouts, and yams without any binding flour, was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, making it even more delicious.

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"So, please cook as you like. The main ingredients are over there. Of course, it's delicious even without any main ingredients."

At Yūri's words, everyone responded by taking the main ingredients they wanted from the plates prepared separately. The main ingredients Yūri had prepared included various meats and seafood. The meats were oak and bison, thinly sliced and raw. The viper and big frog, which were cut thicker, were already stir-fried with salt and pepper. The seafood included shrimp, scallops, and squid. Since seafood cooks quickly, they were prepared raw. Yūri wanted everyone to cook according to their preferences.

By the way, squid is a food that not everyone likes, but when it's chopped up like a seafood mix, most people can eat it. Maybe it's the appearance that's off-putting. Yūri didn't understand this, but he didn't mind because squid okonomiyaki is delicious. If someone doesn't like it, they don't have to eat it. Today, in particular, it was a style where everyone chose their own ingredients.

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"Mug, wait. I'll cook it for you, so just sit down."

"…?"

"Your height makes it hard to reach the iron griddle, right?"

"…Thank you."

Rihito took the bowl from Mug, who was trying to pour the okonomiyaki mix onto the iron griddle in the center of the table, and offered to take over, patting his head with a large hand. The reliable senior was as kind as ever. Mug, being honest, bowed his head in gratitude. It was a heartwarming scene, almost like a brother and a younger brother. ...By the way, if it were Ulug or Kamille, Mug would have pushed the bowl to them and told them to cook it, but it was better left unsaid. It's normal to act differently with seniors and colleagues.

By the way, Mug didn't choose any main ingredients. The reason was that he heard the okonomiyaki mix already contained plenty of broth, so he wanted to enjoy it first. He planned to decide on additional ingredients after tasting it. The broth enthusiast was as happy as ever.

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"Look at all this meat!"

"Can you flip it?"

"I'll show you!"

"Would you bet 100 gold that it'll break in half halfway through?"

"That's not a fair bet. I'll take that side too."

"Well, that's true."

"Hey, Hermine! Arlo!"

"It's going to burn!"

"My meat!"

Leroy was covering a large amount of meat with okonomiyaki mix, and Kuresh was worriedly asking if he could flip it. Leroy, who wasn't clumsy, was probably worried about cooking it for the first time. Hermine and Arlo, sitting at the same table, were pretending to make a bet, teasing Leroy. But it didn't feel wrong. When the meat started to burn, Leroy frantically flipped it, and as predicted, the okonomiyaki broke in half. Although it was broken, it wasn't on the ground, so it was still edible. Leroy puffed out his cheeks, but the three of them just looked at him with a "told you so" expression as they waited for it to cook.

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"Yack, that's squid. Are you okay with it?"

"I'm fine. Yūri let me taste it, and it was delicious."

"Okay, then."

Yack, who was arranging the squid cut into bite-sized pieces, was asked by Brook, and he replied with a smile. Tasting the food is a privilege of the cook. By the way, Kuresh was also quietly enjoying the benefits today, but he was careful not to mention it. If it were known that he had already tasted all the varieties, he would face a future of being shaken by Leroy.

After cooking the squid okonomiyaki, Yack poured the sauce from a glass container onto the okonomiyaki with a spoon. The sauce had a sweet and soy-like aroma. When asked what it was, Yack smiled and answered the people at his table, Brook, Kamille, and Frau.

"This is a special okonomiyaki sauce Yūri made. It's delicious."

"Then, I'll have some too."

"Yack, let me taste a bite."

"Sure."

Brook silently poured the sauce onto his okonomiyaki (his main ingredient was bison meat). Frau followed suit and poured it onto her shrimp okonomiyaki. Kamille, after tasting a bite from Yack's okonomiyaki, poured the sauce onto her oak meat okonomiyaki.

The sauce, which everyone praised as exquisite, was made by Yūri. It was no mistake. Yūri had recreated the okonomiyaki sauce from this world. It was a mix of sweet, spicy, and soy-like flavors, with a savory aroma, just like the sauce from okonomiyaki restaurants. ...By now, you probably understand. The method of making it was, as usual, the alchemy cauldron. The laid-back young man was having fun as usual.

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"...Yūri."

"Yes?"

"That sauce."

"I made it in the alchemy cauldron."

"Y-You did?"

"Um, Alie, would you like to try a bite? It's delicious."

"...Remember this."

"...Yes."

Perhaps feeling that it was inappropriate to lecture during a meal that everyone was enjoying, Alie sighed and said it in a low voice. Yūri, who had thought he might be scolded if caught, nodded. By the way, Alie thought it was too late to be surprised by Yūri using the alchemy cauldron to make seasonings