The student exchange invitation from Shuchiin Academy.
Kirisu Mafuyu was sowhat curious about Yukima Azuma's thoughts.
Would he want to go to Shuchiin for the exchange program?
Normally, she didn't encourage students in her class to participate in exchange programs.
But if it was Yukima Azuma—
Kirisu Mafuyu felt there was no issue at all.
Even though she always called him a "troubleso student,"
Yukima Azuma was actually the one she trusted the most.
The boy she had summoned to the office on the very first day of school possessed a maturity and capability far beyond his peers.
Even if he went to Shuchiin Academy, a place filled with noble heirs—
Kirisu Mafuyu believed that Yukima Azuma would still shine the brightest.
Moreover, this invitation was from Shuchiin, not Hyakkaou.
There was nothing to worry about.
Yukima Azuma stared at the invitation letter, deep in thought.
Should he go to Shuchiin?
It wasn't impossible.
Going to Shuchiin would be beneficial for expanding connections and scouting talents.
This invitation was undoubtedly sent by Shinomiya Kaguya.
If he went to Shuchiin, most of his ti would be spent strategizing against Shinomiya Kaguya.
But that wasn't necessarily a disadvantage.
Becoming closer with Shinomiya Kaguya would make it easier for her to entrust Hayasaka Ai to him.
Although they were technically in a master-servant relationship,
In reality, the bond between Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai was stronger than that of real sisters.
If Shinomiya Kaguya couldn't feel at ease entrusting Hayasaka Ai to him—
No matter how he managed to take her away,
Hayasaka Ai would never truly be at peace.
As Yukima Azuma was still contemplating,
Kirisu Mafuyu spoke up:
"Go. It's only for one sester, a few months will pass in the blink of an eye."
Since Yukima Azuma didn't reject it imdiately,
Kirisu Mafuyu understood his answer.
Going to Shuchiin would definitely bring benefits to him.
His hesitation was mostly because he didn't want to reduce his ti with those girls.
But they had all moved into his house already.
Even if they had less ti together at school,
They could just make up for it at ho.
Kirisu Mafuyu thought the sa.
And as a teacher—
If sothing was good for her student,
She had to encourage him to do it.
"Sensei is right."
Yukima Azuma smiled, picked up the pen on the desk, and signed his na on the invitation letter.
After all, it was just one sester.
Going to Shuchiin to take a look wouldn't be a bad idea.
Kirisu Mafuyu put away the invitation letter,
Which would then be sent to the school administration.
"Alright, you have three days to prepare for the exchange program. Tomorrow, Shuchiin will likely send over the uniform."
"By Thursday, you can officially go there to register. At that ti, soone will guide you."
"The first day at Shuchiin won't have any classes, just an orientation. When the ti cos, just follow the assigned guide."
Kirisu Mafuyu instructed.
Yukima Azuma nodded.
...
After returning to class,
He told the girls about his invitation to Shuchiin.
Knowing that next sester Yukima Azuma wouldn't be by their side,
Whether it was Eriri, Kato gumi, or Alya, all of them felt a little disappointed.
(｡•́︿•̀｡)
But Eriri and Kato gumi shared the sa thoughts as Kirisu Mafuyu.
Even if they couldn't et at school,
They could just go to Yukima's house after school, the sa for weekends.
The Morning Passed Quickly
Before long, it was already the last period.
The entire 1-E class headed to the cooking practice room.
On the way, the students had already ford their groups in advance.
Grouping in cooking class was decided by the students themselves.
Kunimi Yuuma and Satou Kazuma didn't seek out Yukima Azuma.
After one sester, they were already used to it.
Yukima Azuma always tead up with Kato gumi in cooking class.
If there were additional mbers, they were always girls surrounding him.
Even though they sotis shouted, "Riajuu should just explode,"
ᕙ( ᗒᗣᗕ )ᕗ
Kunimi Yuuma and Satou Kazuma never actually interfered.
"gumi, team up with for this cooking class?"
Yukima Azuma smiled as he invited her.
It was already an unspoken rule.
But Yukima Azuma always made sure to ask first.
Because Kato gumi had once said that since childhood, she had never been invited to form a group.
So every ti, Yukima Azuma would extend the invitation, making up for all those tis Kato gumi had never received one.
"Umu, I agree. Thank you for inviting , Azuma-san."
(*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ
Kato gumi replied gently, radiating a bright and cheerful aura.
Ever since she t Yukima Azuma,
The once quiet girl had started smiling more often.
But if Yukima Azuma participated in the student exchange program,
Cooking classes like these might feel a little lonely.
As Kato gumi was thinking this—
"This is unfair! Two top-tier chefs teaming up is an imbalance in resource distribution!"
Eriri ran over. "Unless you let join too!"
ヾ(｡✪ω✪｡)ｼ
"Can I join as well? I promise I won't get in the way." Alya also asked.
(,,¬﹏¬,,)
Just as Kita Ikuyo arrived, the group had already been ford.
Today's cooking class required groups of four.
"Kita-chan…"
"It's fine, it's fine! I'll find soone else."
Kita Ikuyo cheerfully waved her hand, genuinely unbothered.
After all, she got along well with the entire class.
As the "super extrovert" of 1-E, she was like the class's little sun.
((๑✧ꈊ✧๑))
Sure enough, the mont she stepped away, another girl approached to invite her to a group.
Seeing this, Eriri let out a sigh of relief.
anwhile, Kato gumi looked at the new additions to their group,
Her tuberose-colored eyes blinking.
It seed like she didn't need to worry about feeling "lonely" after all.
Co to think of it, it made sense.
Even after entering high school, her presence remained subtle.
But because of Azuma-san, she was no longer just a background character.
Sawamura-san was a close friend she could live with.
Kita-san was soone she chatted with daily.
Even Kujou-san, whom she had t not long ago, could be considered a friend.
Even if Yukima Azuma wasn't at school,
The impact he left behind ensured that Kato gumi wouldn't have to endure anything alone.
Thinking this, gumi smiled softly.
(❀❛ ֊ ❛„)♡
—
The cooking teacher was a middle-aged woman.
Rumor had it that she was a special instructor hired by Toyogasaki Academy.
She held an advanced chef certification along with a teaching license.
She had once been a chef for Japan's national banquets.
"This sester, we will be learning about kaiseki ryori (note: Kaiseki cuisine)."
Unlike ordinary schools that simply read from a cookbook,
Then rushed students through making sothing simple like curry,
Toyogasaki Academy's cooking course truly taught etiquette in cuisine and the art of hospitality.
The dishes focused mainly on kaiseki ryori, a high-class culinary style originating from the tea ceremony.
What is known as kaiseki ryori was once called kaien ryori—a banquet-style al.
The term "kaiseki" literally ans "breast-pocket stone." These kanji were thought to be incorporated by Sen no Rikyū to symbolize the frugal al served in the austere style of the Japanese tea ceremony.
A typical kaiseki nu follows the "ichiju-sansai" or "ichiju-nisai" format—one soup with three side dishes, or one soup with two side dishes.
Kaiseki ryori places extre importance on refinent, from the choice of tableware to the arrangent of the dishes, all requiring ticulous attention to detail.
Of course, one lesson couldn't possibly cover everything.
For the first session of the sester, the focus would be on agemono and nimono—fried and simred dishes.
Yukima Azuma selected ingredients from the refrigerator
He planned to make tempura, oden, and miso soup.
"gumi, pass that for a sec."
"Mm, here you go~"
"Is that done yet?"
"Just a little more."
"Hand —"
"I already got it, it's right by your hand, Azuma-san."
Once they started cooking, the conversation between Yukima Azuma and Kato gumi felt almost like a coded exchange.
Alya, standing beside them, was slightly astonished.
How could Kato gumi instantly understand what "that" ant?
These two were way too in sync!
Watching them work together so seamlessly, Alya felt an invisible yet undeniable wall between her and them.
As an exceptional student, Alya's cooking skills were by no ans inferior.
At first, she had planned to showcase her talent.
But now, she found herself with no opportunity to step in at all.
After standing there for a while, she eventually sat down next to Eriri, who was lazily munching on potato chips.
"૮₍ ˶•⤙•˶ ₎ა
"Have they always been like this?" Alya asked, her tone difficult to describe.
Eriri, still chewing on a chip, shrugged.
┐(´～｀ˇ)┌
"Well, all of last sester's cooking classes were just like this."
She, too, had once tried to join in.
But eventually, she gave up.
Because their synchronization was downright terrifying.
Eriri held out the open bag of chips to Alya.
Alya silently took one and joined Eriri in eating in the corner.
(๑ᵔ⤙ᵔ๑)
—
Yukima Azuma adjusted the broth for the oden before adding the ingredients to simr.
Then, he prepared to make tempura.
But he soon realized that so ingredients were missing.
Turning around, he spotted Eriri and Alya sitting behind him, munching on sothing.
( ´･ω･)人(・ω・｀ )
"That was for the tempura batter, you two!"
Yukima Azuma laughed.
"Eh? No wonder there were potato chips on the table, ehe." Eriri scratched her head, grinning sheepishly.
Eriri: (๑>•̀๑)
Alya: Σ(°ロ°)!
She had been wondering where Eriri got the chips from.
"I'll go grab another bag."
She stood up, about to head to the ingredients room.
"No need, I already brought another one."
A gentle voice suddenly rang out, startling Alya.
Turning around, she saw Kato gumi, who had sohow slipped away unnoticed.
Now, she was holding a fresh bag of potato chips, just returning from the ingredients room.
With her usual attentiveness, Kato gumi had anticipated this happening the mont she saw potato chips on the ingredient list.
So, she had kept an eye out.
When she saw Eriri take the chips, she hadn't stopped her.
She simply went to get another bag.
Watching this scene unfold, Alya gave up completely.
Forget it. She might as well just act like a salted fish and wait to be fed.
(ಥ‿ಥ)
—
The tempura pieces were dipped in batter and dropped into the hot oil.
A sizzling sound filled the air as an irresistible aroma spread throughout the room.
Even in the cooking classroom, where various dishes were being prepared, this fragrance stood out unmistakably.
Students at the surrounding tables turned their heads, swallowing unconsciously.
( ´ཀ` )
They couldn't take it anymore!
Every ti they had cooking class, they were tornted like this.
Was Yukima Azuma's cooking skill even fair!?
—
The cooking teacher sat at the podium, inhaling the scent, and clicked her tongue in admiration.
Since last sester, she had noticed that there was a student in this class whose cooking skills rivaled those of top-tier chefs.
She herself had once been praised as a natural-born culinary genius by her master.
By the ti she was in high school, she had already undergone ten years of training.
And yet, back then, the dishes she made could only just barely be considered "delicious."
It wasn't until she earned her chef certification that she was already past forty.
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