"We failed, huh."
"I know, we failed. We'll have to think of another way. Got any ideas?"
"Not yet, but there's one thing I'm wondering about."
"What is it?"
"Why am I even discussing this with you?! Are we even that close?!"
Iori kept shaking Shiro, who had been yapping beside him from the start. Everything he was doing was meant to guard against these three idiots!!!
"What are you talking about? We're partners!"
"Who's your partner?! Your partner is that pig head, not me!"
"I won't allow you to insult yourself like that!"
"…You damn troll, you're doing this on purpose."
Looking at Shiro's innocent and sincere expression, Iori had the overwhelming urge to strangle him. This guy's acting non-stop, twenty-four seven!
"Alrighty~ everyone come draw a stick~"
Just then, Azusa appeared holding a bunch of slips. The three upperclassmen had already drawn theirs—two 1s and one 3.
"What's this?"
"Ah, the kitchen's too small, so we decided to split up into teams. Same number means you're a team~"
The two beastly senpai flashed the slips in their hands—they were group 1.
"I see."
"Then we just need to draw one each, right?"
"Me, me! I love drawing lots!"
Hearing the word "draw," Shiro completely forgot about Iori. Time to test his luck!
Smack!
A slender hand swatted away Shiro's piggy hoof. "Not for you."
?!!
"Why?!"
Shiro panicked—this was discrimination!
(｀ー′)
"…You're the one cooking rice. All you need is a rice cooker, so you don't take up any kitchen space~"
Pfft~
Aika and Kohei couldn't hold back their laughter. The mocking look on their faces was priceless.
"Well, it can't be helped. It's Kamishiro, after all."
"Yeah, best if he just waits for dinner."
＼(`Δ')／
Shiro couldn't take it anymore. Their expressions were way too condescending!
"You just wait! There's a master rice chef in Japan too, don't underestimate the power of rice!"
"Pfft, just internet hype."
"Yeah, it's just white rice. Can it even have other flavors?"
"..."
Shiro fell silent, staring at their ugly, smug faces. Hugging his pig head, he headed outside.
(ﾉω<)!
These people have no artisan spirit whatsoever! Just you wait—I will make this pig head dish a success!
Iori witnessed the whole mocking affair from the side. Exactly like that!
If he failed his diving license exam, they'd definitely make those same faces!
The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. He needed a comeback plan—and now that the biggest obstacle (Shiro) had walked off with his pig head, this was his chance!
Draw lots?
Yes, the draw!
Iori began praying fervently.
"Please let me be in the same group as Chisa. Please let me be in the same group as Chisa…"
Only if he got grouped with Chisa could he secretly ask her for a crash course that night!
{{(°△°; "}}!
Chisa, who was eavesdropping, was so startled she took two steps back. She suddenly feared for her life.
"Oh God, please answer me!"
With his prayers done, Iori drew his number.
Number 2!
Same as Chisa!
A golden miracle!
"Ahahahahaha! Look, Chisa! We're a team!"
Iori was overjoyed—happier than if he had won the lottery!
"Aina, let's switch."
"Eh…"
Chisa couldn't take it anymore. Iori's expression was way too creepy!
"Why would you say that, Chisa?! Let's cook together, happily and joyfully!"
Watching Iori bite down on his number slip, Kohei and the others felt a deep urge to throw up. This guy was definitely up to no good!
Shiro, attracted by Iori's loud voice, wandered back looking confused at his creepiness.
"What's going on? Is he having an episode?"
"Ah, I think Iori purposely teamed up with Chisa to make Kohei jealous—but he's going way over the top."
?━=͟͟͞͞ (꒪⌓꒪*)
Shiro looked at Iori and Kohei in disbelief. Did Azusa just casually drop a bombshell?!
Has Iori finally fallen to the Great Rainbow Club?
"By the way, what are you going to do with your pig head?"
Azusa raised her question—she had seen Shiro carry it outside earlier.
"…Can you stop calling it 'your pig head'? That sounds really weird."
"Oh right, pig head, what's your plan?"
(′｀;)?
Why does it still sound weird? Whatever, there's no way she's talking about me!
"Hehehe, just you wait. I found a super amazing braised pig head recipe. I'm going to make the whole thing in one go—it's perfect for drinking!"
Shiro held his head high, absolutely proud. He had even called his mom—whom he hadn't spoken to in years—for the recipe!
Although he got yelled at, that didn't matter—the recipe was what counted!
Well… she did seem like she wanted to say something else, but he decided to put that aside. He often writes letters home even if he doesn't visit much. Everything seemed normal back home. They even added a few new plots of land…
Maybe one day he could build a villa there. That actually sounds pretty comfy~
Azusa eyed him suspiciously. She had seen his attempt at okonomiyaki. And he wanted to braise a whole pig head?
"…Do you even know the first step?"
"Of course I do! First, you sear it with fire! Don't worry, Azusa-nee—I've got this!"
Shiro patted his chest confidently. Don't underestimate a man's culinary genes! Even if he never cooked in his past life, he's got an archive full of master chef videos!
He's watched those cooking videos dozens of times—there's no way he'll mess up!
As for the okonomiyaki?
That's just because it didn't match the style of the videos he watched! That's all!
"…I'll go with you and watch."
Azusa wasn't reassured. The trauma from Shiro's previous cooking attempt still haunted her.
Using normal ingredients to create something from hell… and now he was using a pig head?
What fresh horror awaited?
Seeing Azusa's disbelief, Shiro had no choice. Fine, she could come see it for herself!
"Let's go. I already lit the fire out front."
…
At the fire pit, Azusa stared at the burning pig head with a baffled expression.
"This is your pig head?"
The scorched black head was engulfed in flames—its eyes, mouth, and ears emitting fiery tongues. Azusa was utterly broken inside.
This wasn't the smell of hell.
This was summoning a demon straight from hell.
If they called the cops now, would they uncover some secret underworld force in Japan? Or maybe they should just call a shrine?
"..."
Shiro quietly turned away.
"That's definitely not the pig I bought!"
"Stop denying it!!! You're the only one who even bought a pig head!!!"