Under the circumstances, Kazuo had no choice but to temporarily agree. After all, a 'consultant' was just a nominal position.
He didn't need to manage anything. With this thought, Kazuo let them have their way.
After receiving Kazuo's resigned reply, Eishin Flash nodded with great satisfaction.
"Then, to celebrate our Food Research Club welcoming its new advisor, I'll reward you a little now."
Saying this, she turned to the girl who had been sitting there, helplessly watching the scene, and requested:
"Sun Hat, could you please bring over the cookies we made earlier?"
Though a bit reluctant, Sun Hat stood up. "Where are they?"
"They're in the cabinet over there. I've put them on a tray. It's the one on the top shelf."
Following Eishin Flash's instructions, Sun Hat brought over the tray. The cookies on it looked golden and crispy, all uniform in shape, and coated with powdered sugar and dried berries.
"This is the first creation of our newly established Food Research Club. I'd really like to hear your thoughts, Teacher."
Since Eishin Flash had said so, Kazuo picked up a cookie and put it in his mouth.
"Hmm, why is it so crispy... and the filling... it's so delicious!!"
With that bite, Kazuo's eyes immediately lit up.
The taste was truly surprising: the crispy cookie, the aroma of baking, and the sugary texture that lingered on his lips and teeth... it was the kind of taste that made him want a second bite after the first.
"Hehe... I made these myself, so the taste is definitely guaranteed."
Seeing Kazuo's reaction, she was also very happy. After all, the pleasure of having one's work recognized is, for a creator, an enjoyment in itself.
Fine Motion and Sun Hat also each took a cookie and put it in their mouths, their expressions instantly mirroring Kazuo's.
"These cookies are really delicious..."
This level of quality was not like the cookies baked for class activities during a school festival. This was truly a level that could be sold in a store.
Eishin Flash's cooking and baking skills were no joke—
"How should I put it... it feels... like it's been precisely cut, with no differences at all. The taste is consistent, and the ingredients seem to be very carefully selected..."
Kazuo subconsciously exclaimed, but he wasn't a professional food critic; he was just expressing his relative thoughts.
But Eishin Flash, as if electrocuted, grabbed his hand and said:
"Really!? You can taste that!?"
At this moment, she completely abandoned her previous composed demeanor, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she looked at Kazuo.
Kazuo hadn't expected her to suddenly lean in so close and was startled by her uncharacteristic attitude.
"Uh... I was just saying how I felt... there shouldn't be any problem, right?"
"No! Absolutely no problem. It seems Teacher Asama, your sense of taste is excellent. Ahem, you're right, although this is a very simple cranberry cookie, just as you said, the process involved is actually strictly quantitative from beginning to end!"
"For example, for the flour, we choose 130g of low-gluten flour, then 70g of powdered sugar, 80g of butter, and precisely 20ml of egg liquid. These amounts must be strictly controlled, precisely measured by weight. After quantifying these ingredients with a baking scale, and following the process, 70g of dried berries are added during the mixing. The risen dough is cut according to its height, placed in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius, and baked for precisely 18 minutes and 30 seconds."
"This way, this relatively simple cookie is complete!"
The girl suddenly rattled off a string of measurements like a machine gun, not only remembering the production process clearly but also controlling the quantities with an almost obsessive precision.
This couldn't help but surprise Kazuo. If one were to make cookies according to the girl's method, it was understandable why these cookies tasted completely consistent and had a texture as if they were cut to exact proportions.
"This... is too amazing."
The girl's professional skill was in no way inferior to those pastry chefs. Just one cookie had so many intricacies.
Compared to the cookies he made in high school, it was like heaven and earth.
"Originally, I just thought you looked easy to trick, which is why I chose you as an advisor. But I didn't expect you to have a tongue that can discern deliciousness... Maybe we've really found a treasure."
"Eishin Flash, did you just say something very offensive..."
"In any case, by eating this cookie, Teacher, you are officially our advisor! And here's the confirmation form, so you can't go back on your word~"
Although she was smiling, Kazuo now realized a problem.
This beautiful girl in front of him was a complete and utter black-bellied little devil—
.
However, he was already caught in the trap. Knowing he couldn't escape, Kazuo could only choose to accept.
As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Dwelling on it further was useless, so he might as well lie flat and accept everything. At least there was delicious food...
There was still some time left before lunch break ended. Kazuo ate dessert and drank the black tea prepared by Fine Motion, naturally settling down with the other three for a leisurely tea party.
"Speaking of which... Fine Motion and Eishin Flash are both international students, right? So, what are your plans for the upcoming Golden Week holiday? And you, Sun Hat, you're local, aren't you?"
Sun Hat, still lacking energy, took a small sip of tea and lazily replied, "I'll go home and play video games. Staying at home is enough."
It was a very realistic answer, perfectly aligning with how most young people wished to spend a long holiday.
Not going anywhere, just staying at home, catching up on shows, and playing games.
As for Fine Motion and Eishin Flash...
Fine Motion put down her black tea. "Actually, Eishin and I both plan to stay at a friend's house for seven days during this holiday. In my case, my father contacted a friend he knows here in Japan and arranged for me to stay at her family's estate for a few days."
"An estate..."
"Mm..." Fine Motion tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, "If I remember correctly, it should be called... Mejiro, right?"
"Mejiro, isn't that a famous aristocratic family here?"
Eishin Flash had clearly heard of the name, and Sun Hat also showed a subtly clicking tongue expression, clearly indicating this was a topic beyond her reach.
As for Kazuo—
How could someone from a remote island possibly know such things?
But it certainly sounded impressive.
"As for me, I'll be staying at my roommate's house."
Eishin Flash's answer was quite concise, not revealing too much information.
However, Fine Motion then changed the subject and asked Kazuo:
"Then, Asama-sensei, what about you? What are your plans for this period?"
Kazuo scratched his head and said, "No, I haven't thought about it yet... I haven't found a good place to go either..."
Although he had asked Daijin earlier, it seemed that plan had fallen through, so he was currently still troubled about what to do next.
"Oh, if you don't mind, how about I speak to my father and ask if Sensei can come stay with me at the Mejiro Family for a few days?"
Fine Motion seemed to have come up with a great idea, clapping her hands as she made her decision.
The other two immediately looked at them with a strange gaze. Although they knew Fine Motion was only acting out of kindness, Kazuo still declined her suggestion with a smile.
"I'll handle this matter myself, but rather than me, isn't there still a problem with the club right now?"
Not wanting to dwell on the issue, Kazuo skillfully changed the subject.
"A club needs at least five members, right? So you're still short of people, aren't you?"
Although it was just a casual mention,
"Since Sensei says so, then the last member will be decided by Sensei!"
"...Ah!?"
When leaving the club building, Kazuo still felt a sense of unreality, as if he hadn't fully recovered... A club member...?
Who did he even know?
By the way—
He found Xiao Hai Wan and tentatively brought it up: "Um, Xiao Hai Wan, there's something I'd like to ask of you. It's just—"
"Okay."
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Hai Wan had already readily agreed.
[The fifth member of the Food Research Club was successfully "persuaded" in this manner]
[Congratulations, congratulations]
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