Russell Achir picked up his knife and fork, cut a small piece of perfectly seared foie gras, and slowly brought it to his mouth.
The next second, his pupils suddenly dilated, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved upwards, and a look of astonishment appeared in his eyes.
The rich, fatty aroma of the foie gras perfectly blended with the mellow sweetness of the sauce, while the crisp apple slices cleverly cut through the richness with their refreshing fruity notes…
The original flavor of each ingredient was brought to its peak, yet they complemented each other, creating distinct layers that were astonishingly harmonious.
He chewed carefully for a moment, then slowly swallowed, his face filled with a lingering aftertaste.
Snapping back to reality, he looked up at Haruto and Sakaki Ryoko.
“The doneness of the foie gras is simply perfect, not a hair more, not a hair less, just enough to lock in the rich juices within.”
“The seasoning of the sauce is also spot on, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour, an absolute match for the foie gras.”
“Haruto, Sakaki Ryoko, for this dish, I give you an A grade.”
Hearing this rating, Sakaki Ryoko let out a long sigh of relief, while Haruto showed no surprise.
The process for this French Pan-Seared Foie Gras was not complicated, so an A grade was entirely expected.
In fact, with a few more practice runs and if he were to handle the entire process himself, Haruto was confident he could make the dish even more astonishing.
However, there was no need for that.
The evaluation ended, and the time until the next class began was free activity.
Haruto and Sakaki Ryoko returned to the cooking station together, intending to taste the fruits of their collaboration.
Haruto took one of the plates of French Pan-Seared Foie Gras and gently cut off a small piece.
Before it even reached his mouth, a rich and mellow aroma first wafted into his nostrils—the unique milky scent from pan-frying with butter, mixed with the rich and creamy fat aroma of the foie gras itself.
Just smelling it made his mouth water and his appetite stir.
He placed the foie gras in his mouth; its dense texture practically melted instantly.
Not only was there no hint of fishiness or greasiness, but it also carried a perfectly balanced savory flavor, with a lingering hint of black pepper spice in the finish, offering surprisingly rich layers.
Paired with the crispy pan-fried apple slices, the refreshing crunch balanced the richness of the foie gras, and the sweet and sour fruitiness cut through the richness and enhanced the freshness, instantly awakening his entire palate.
Adding the carrots and potatoes, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, multiple textures bloomed on his tongue, intertwining into a wonderful balance.
Haruto felt that if he could pair it with a glass of red wine at this moment, the flavor would undoubtedly be even richer and more lingering.
Unfortunately, his actual age was sufficient, but his current identity’s age did not permit drinking…
Haruto and Sakaki Ryoko quickly devoured the dishes on their respective plates.
Just then, an intensely pungent odor, without warning, permeated the air.
However, Sakaki Ryoko beside him appeared remarkably calm.
Haruto turned his head, following the stench, and saw Sadatsuka Nao approaching the judging table, carrying a plate of an entirely black, unidentified object.
As she passed, the surrounding students covered their mouths and noses, their faces pale, avoiding her as if she were the plague.
Sadatsuka Nao placed the plate with the black unidentified object in front of Russell Achir and spoke in a low, husky voice.
“Please taste, the Extra Stinky French Pan-Seared Foie Gras.”
However, facing such an unbearable stench, Russell Achir remained calm.
He calmly picked up his knife and fork, cut a piece of the black unidentified object, put it in his mouth, and chewed with the same elegant composure.
This made even Haruto feel a sense of admiration.
Indeed, he truly was a man worthy of being an Instructor at Totsuki Academy.
Although he didn’t mind eating stinky tofu, this, he truly found a bit hard to swallow.
“Using the stench to completely remove the fishiness of the foie gras, and then perfectly blending the stench with the foie gras’s inherent fatty aroma to create a unique flavor…”
Russell Achir put down his knife and fork, looked at Sadatsuka Nao with satisfaction, and then gave his evaluation.
“Sadatsuka Nao, I give you an A grade.”
“Hee hee hee…”
Sadatsuka Nao let out a strange giggle, clearly very pleased with the result.
Then she turned and left the classroom.
Next, she was going to write her thirteenth letter of the day to Miss Erina…
After Instructor Russell Achir’s class, the next was a course combining culinary theory and practice.
At noon, Haruto had a reasonably palatable lunch at the academy cafeteria and also completed his accommodation procedures.
The distance from Totsuki Academy to his house was too far.
Haruto didn’t want to waste a lot of time commuting every day.
As for the Jewel Meat and world gate stored in his house, no one could enter without his permission.
This way, it was naturally more convenient to live at the academy.
What surprised Haruto slightly was that, perhaps at Senzaemon Nakiri’s instruction, the dormitory he was assigned was Polar Star Dormitory.
Haruto was, however, happy about this.
After all, he quite liked the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere of Polar Star Dormitory.
After completing the accommodation application, it was time for afternoon classes.
However, all the afternoon classes were theoretical, covering professional content closely related to cooking, from the origin and characteristics of ingredients to the historical evolution of cuisine and nutritional pairings.
Haruto listened with extreme seriousness.
To go further on the path of cooking, this seemingly dry theoretical knowledge was an indispensable foundation.
Time flew by, and the day’s classes quickly concluded.
The setting sun slanted westward, painting the clouds in the sky a warm orange-red, and the afterglow cast a soft golden edge on Totsuki Academy’s buildings.
Haruto packed his belongings, ready to head to Polar Star Dormitory to check in.
He hadn’t walked many steps when he met Sakaki Ryoko waiting by the roadside.
“You’re going to Polar Star Dormitory to check in, right?”
Sakaki Ryoko lifted her chin, pointing to a bicycle beside her, her tone light.
“I rode my bike here, want to go together?”
They were in the same class for the afternoon theory lesson.
During the break, Haruto casually mentioned that he was moving into Polar Star Dormitory.
Totsuki Academy’s campus was astonishingly large, almost like a small town.
Walking from the teaching building to Polar Star Dormitory would take at least half an hour.
In Sakaki Ryoko’s opinion, Haruto, being new, probably wouldn’t have thought to prepare transportation, which was why she specifically waited for him here.
Haruto was momentarily stunned, then smiled and nodded.
“Thank you.”
He had indeed forgotten about that; without Sakaki Ryoko, he might truly have walked until dark to reach Polar Star Dormitory.
Of course, even though he was getting a ride, Haruto wouldn’t let Sakaki Ryoko carry him.
So Haruto proactively took the handlebars, signaling Sakaki Ryoko to sit on the back seat.
Sakaki Ryoko naturally didn’t hesitate.