After a long while, Fumio Daimidō slowly opened her eyes, looked at Haruto, and said in a serious tone.
“You have passed.”
Haruto’s Puffed Egg Fish Soup Noodles were highly complete, bringing out the deliciousness of the ingredients to the fullest.
However, Fumio Daimidō knew that this was not yet Haruto’s limit.
At the very least, Haruto was a bit perfunctory in the preparation of the fish soup.
Still, this level was indeed enough to pass the dormitory entrance cooking test.
Hearing this, Haruto revealed a faint smile.
Beside him, Yoshino Yuki and the other two breathed a sigh of relief, happy smiles appearing on their faces.
“Hey, Haruto, we want to try the Puffed Egg Fish Soup Noodles too.”
Yoshino Yuki said, looking at Haruto.
It would serve perfectly as dinner.
Sakaki Ryoko and Tadokoro Megumi also showed expectant expressions.
Seeing the expectant looks of Yoshino Yuki and the others, Haruto nodded and agreed.
“No problem, leave the rest to me.”
Actually, he had prepared a bit more ingredients to begin with.
It was just that the minced fatty pork was only enough to make two Puffed Eggs, so they would have to share one Puffed Egg between two people.
He quickly made four more servings of Puffed Egg Fish Soup Noodles.
Haruto quickly finished his own portion.
Then, he took the brass key engraved with number 101 from Fumio Daimidō, picked up his luggage, and walked into the corresponding room.
He nimbly laid out his bedding and organized his belongings.
While Haruto was busy in his room, a panting Yukihira Soma pushed open the doors of the Polar Star Dormitory…
Hearing the commotion, Fumio Daimidō stepped out of the administrator’s room.
With her arms crossed, she calmly sized up Yukihira Soma at the door and asked.
“You must be Yukihira Soma, who wants to move in, right?”
After all, Fumio Daimidō already knew Haruto’s name.
Two transfer students had been assigned to the Polar Star Dormitory; besides Haruto, the other was naturally Yukihira Soma.
“I am the administrator here, ‘Maria of Polaris’, Fumio Daimidō.”
Just as Yukihira Soma was about to ask about moving in, he heard Fumio Daimidō ask.
“Tell me, what ingredients have you prepared?”
Haruto’s Puffed Egg Fish Soup Noodles from earlier had left her quite satisfied.
Therefore, Fumio Daimidō couldn’t help but have some expectations for Yukihira Soma, who was also a transfer student.
“Huh? Ingredients? What ingredients?”
Yukihira Soma looked at Fumio Daimidō blankly, his eyes wide and round.
Clearly, Yukihira Soma hadn’t read the Polar Star Dormitory’s move-in notice carefully at all.
“Do you even need to ask?”
Fumio Daimidō’s eyes widened; she hadn’t expected Yukihira Soma to be unaware of even the basic rules for staying at the Polar Star Dormitory.
She could only patiently explain.
“To stay at the Polar Star Dormitory, you need to pass an entrance cooking test.”
“In other words, whoever wants to move in must personally cook a dish. Only if I’m satisfied can you stay.”
“And the ingredients are self-provided; you can bring whatever you want.”
…After hearing Fumio Daimidō’s explanation, Yukihira Soma’s face instantly slumped, looking utterly helpless.
“I’ve never heard of this! And I didn’t prepare any ingredients at all!”
He only knew he was moving into the Polar Star Dormitory and hadn’t paid attention to the rules, so how could he have prepared ingredients in advance?
“Then you’ve lost without a fight.”
Fumio Daimidō shrugged, her tone carrying a hint of regret.
“If you don’t show off your skills, you can’t live in the Polar Star Dormitory.”
She had been quite looking forward to it, but it seemed she would have to wait until tomorrow.
“Huh? You mean, tonight I have to…”
Yukihira Soma’s heart skipped a beat, a strong sense of foreboding rising within him.
“Sleep outside, of course.”
Fumio Daimidō looked calm and unruffled, but her words made Yukihira Soma feel like he had fallen into an ice cellar.
“Stop joking!”
Yukihira Soma was in a total Flail, pointing outside with his voice rising an octave.
“It’ll be the death of me! Don’t underestimate an April night! Besides, I walked for over an hour to get here, and now I’m tired and hungry!”
Hearing the noise, Haruto walked out of his room.
Seeing the flailing Yukihira Soma, he couldn’t help but laugh.
At that moment, Yukihira Soma also saw Haruto and was overjoyed.
“Haruto…”
But before Yukihira Soma could finish, Haruto interrupted him.
“Sorry, I’ve used up all the ingredients I brought.”
“There is, however, a little fish soup left that you can use.”
Actually, Haruto had thought of Yukihira Soma earlier and prepared a bit more ingredients.
But after making four extra servings, they were all gone.
He was also quite helpless!
…Hearing that Haruto had no ingredients either, Yukihira Soma became very dejected and looked piteously at Fumio Daimidō.
“Absolutely not.”
Fumio Daimidō’s attitude was resolute, with no room for compromise.
“The rules of the Polar Star Dormitory state that an entrance cooking test is mandatory.”
Pausing, she said with a hint of helplessness in her tone.
“Of course, you don’t necessarily have to use your own ingredients.”
“Unfortunately… the kitchen only has some scraps and unfinished semi-prepared ingredients left.”
“Your luck today is indeed not very good.”
If Yukihira Soma had arrived a little earlier, the kitchen might have had some usable ingredients left for him.
Yukihira Soma’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately perked up.
“You mean, I can take the test using those leftover materials?”
Even if there were only scraps, Yukihira Soma believed he could create an amazing delicacy.
“What?”
Fumio Daimidō looked at Yukihira Soma with some surprise; she clearly hadn’t expected him to still be so persistent.
“I accept the test! Where’s the kitchen?”
Yukihira Soma clenched his fists, his eyes filled with the light of high fighting spirit.
To avoid sleeping outside in the cold wind!
He had to give it his all.
Seeing Yukihira Soma’s energetic appearance, Fumio Daimidō also became interested.
She nodded and turned toward the kitchen.
“Follow me.”
Entering the kitchen, Yukihira Soma glanced at the remaining ingredients, thought for a moment, and quickly came up with an idea.
Rolling up his sleeves, he got to work without a word.
Before long, a thick hamburger steak, a portion of rice, and a bowl of egg drop soup were placed before Fumio Daimidō.
Simple, yet looking exceptionally tempting.
“Yukihira Style Instant Mackerel Hamburger Steak Set, please enjoy.”
Yukihira Soma said, looking confidently at Fumio Daimidō.
Looking at the dish before her, Fumio Daimidō calmly picked up a piece of mackerel hamburger steak and put it in her mouth.
The soft yet chewy texture instantly conquered her taste buds.
The egg soup made with squid tentacles and fish soup was so delicious it made her tongue tingle.
With one sip of the soup, Fumio Daimidō seemed to instantly travel back to her teenage years.
A summer seaside, a gentle evening breeze, a first love, and a shy kiss in the twilight.
Deep in emotion, Fumio Daimidō suddenly looked up, her eyes glazed as she looked at Yukihira Soma…
Standing at the door, Haruto calmly raised his phone.
This kind of photo was an out-of-print material that money couldn’t buy.