Chapter 103: The Deliciousness of Oil, Gasai Yuno's Bold Idea
After feeling that sudden, piercing gaze burning into his back, Ren turned his head to look.
He scanned the small restaurant.
Shinomiya was busy inspecting his terrine. That left only one person.
Gasai Yuno.
The pink-haired girl was looking up at him. Her face was a mask of innocence.
She blinked, then gave him a shy, grateful smile—the kind a student gives a favorite teacher. Then, she lowered her head to look at her phone, her fingers tapping away at something.
Strange, Ren thought, furrowing his brow. I was certain that gaze felt... heavier.
Ren was a man of sharp instincts. He had survived deathmatches in the Kengan arena. He knew what killing intent felt like. But he also knew what obsession felt like.
However, looking at the frail girl sipping water, he couldn't connect the feeling to her.
Maybe I'm just tired, he reasoned. Dealing with multiple worlds and supernatural beings takes a toll.
He shook his head, dismissing the paranoia, and walked back into the kitchen to finish the orders.
Back at his table, Kojiro Shinomiya adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses.
He didn't have the supernatural intuition to sense the yandere vibes radiating from the girl across the room. He was focused entirely on the plate in front of him.
With a hint of anticipation rare for the "Legumes Magician," he picked up his fork.
The Vegetable Terrine.
It sat on the white porcelain like a jewel.
"This... this..." Shinomiya muttered, leaning closer. "Is this food, or is this marble?"
The cross-section of the terrine was stunning.
Layers of vibrant orange carrots, emerald green broccoli, pale cauliflower, and deep green asparagus were pressed together in a mosaic pattern. The consommé jelly binding them was crystal clear, catching the warm restaurant light.
It looked less like a dish and more like a slice of polished, edible gemstone.
Vegetable terrine is a classic French dish, often dismissed as outdated or simple. But to a master like Shinomiya, simplicity was where true skill hid.
The temperature was crucial.
If it's too cold, the gelatin turns hard and rubbery, and the flavor is locked away like an ice pop. If it's too warm, the structure collapses into a messy salad.
It has to be perfect.
Shinomiya picked up his knife. He didn't saw at the terrine; he pressed down.
Slice.
The knife went through cleanly. No crumbling. No separation.
Perfect binding, he noted.
He forked a piece—a combination of carrot, okra, and jelly—and placed it in his mouth.
Crunch.
First came the texture. The vegetables were blanched to perfection—al dente, retaining a satisfying snap. The jelly melted instantly upon contact with his tongue, releasing the rich, savory umami of the beef consommé.
Then came the flavor.
It was refreshing. Sweet from the carrots. Earthy from the asparagus. All tied together by the delicate vinaigrette.
"Lettuce, okra, carrots... and a hint of tarragon in the jelly?" Shinomiya whispered, analyzing the components. "A perfect vegetable terrine... It's like walking through a vegetable garden after the rain. Truly amazing..."
Hearing the man's high praise, Gasai Yuno looked up for a moment.
She smiled faintly, happy that "her" shopkeeper was being praised, then continued to look down at her phone.
Her screen showed a search engine.
[Search Query: How to eliminate rivals legally?]
[Search Query: Can a chef marry a customer?]
[Search Query: Shinonono Tabane weakness]
Just as the atmosphere in the restaurant was settling into a harmonious silence, a sound shattered it.
Sizzle.
It came from the kitchen.
It was the sound of something hitting a hot pan. The sound of fat rendering.
Both Shinomiya and Yuno looked up.
The aroma wafted out seconds later.
It wasn't the floral scent of the terrine or the medicinal comfort of the soup.
This was primal.
It was the smell of hot duck fat.
In the culinary world, fat is flavor. And duck fat is liquid gold.
When combined with the sizzling sound, the smell triggered a Pavlovian response. Saliva flooded Shinomiya's mouth.
A rich flavor following a light one is a classic progression. It excites the palate.
Finally, the sizzling stopped.
Ren emerged from the kitchen.
He carried a plate with a flourish.
When he saw the intense, almost hungry looks in Shinomiya's and Yuno's eyes, he chuckled.
"I can only say, sir," Ren said as he approached Shinomiya's table, "you are extremely lucky tonight."
Shinomiya blinked, shaken from his trance. "Me? Why?"
Ren placed the plate in front of the man.
On it sat a single duck leg. Its skin was a deep, golden brown, glistening with oil. It was surrounded by roasted potatoes cooked in the same fat.
"Because there's a girl who loves to eat this," Ren explained helplessly. "Her name is Kobayashi Rindou. She demands it so often that I always keep a batch prepared."
He gestured to the duck.
"Confit de Canard needs to be cured in salt and herbs for 24 hours, then slow-cooked in its own fat for several hours, and finally aged in the fridge for at least two weeks to develop flavor. You can't make this on demand. You're lucky she has good taste."
Shinomiya nodded slowly. He knew the process well. It was the definition of "Slow Food."
He had assumed he would get a "quick" version tonight. He didn't expect authentic, aged Confit.
He looked at the duck leg.
The skin was crackling. The meat underneath looked ready to fall off the bone.
Everyone says fried foods are unhealthy. Doctors warn about cholesterol.
But when you see that glistening, golden skin... when you smell that intoxicating aroma of roasted meat and herbs...
Who cares about health?
Shinomiya picked up his knife and fork.
Unlike the man, Gasai Yuno's beautiful eyes widened slightly when she heard the phrase.
"Because there's a girl who loves to eat it."
Her grip on her phone tightened.
A girl?
Kobayashi Rindou? Who is she? Does she come here often? Does she love him?
Does HE love her?
A dark shadow passed over Yuno's face, unnoticed by the two men discussing French cuisine.
Shinomiya cut into the duck.
Crunch.
The sound of the crispy skin breaking was audible in the quiet room.
The meat inside was pink and moist.
He took a bite.
Oh.
It was a revelation.
The skin was shatteringly crisp, devoid of any greasiness because the fat had been rendered out perfectly during the final pan-sear.
But the meat... the meat was like butter.
It had been poached gently in fat for hours, breaking down all the collagen. It was incredibly tender, savory, and infused with the flavors of thyme, garlic, and bay leaf from the curing process.
"Tender. Crispy. Fragrant," Shinomiya muttered.
The three pillars of a perfect Confit.
The rich, gamey flavor of the duck was balanced perfectly by the glass of white wine Ren had poured.
"Senior Saiba and Senior Dojima were right," Shinomiya sighed, putting down his fork for a moment to savor the aftertaste. "You really are terrifyingly good at cooking. You respect the classics, but your execution is flawless."
"I'm just making food that my customers enjoy," Ren replied humbly.
"No wonder..." Shinomiya glanced at Ren. "It's not surprising that a personality like yours—and skills like these—is liked by so many girls. You must have them lining up around the block."
Ren scratched his cheek awkwardly. "When you say that, I don't know whether to be proud or troubled. It can get... chaotic."
Shinomiya smirked. "There's no legal limit on the number of admirers, anyway. It really depends on you. Just be responsible. Don't break too many hearts, or they might stop eating."
Ren laughed nervously. "I'll keep that in mind."
Shinomiya continued to chat with Ren while eating, discussing techniques and sourcing. He was genuinely impressed.
However, in the corner, Gasai Yuno was processing the conversation differently.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Shinomiya say, "There's no legal limit on the number."
Her clenched fists relaxed.
No limit?
So... having rivals isn't a problem?
I don't have to eliminate them?
She tapped her chin, her eyes losing focus as she spiraled into her own logic.
Wait. If there's no limit... then I just need to be the BEST one. The most useful one. The one he can't live without.
She recalled the names Ren had mentioned. Student Council President. Female CEO. Kobayashi Rindou.
They sound powerful. Rich.
I am just a middle school student. I have nothing.
Yuno looked at her reflection in the dark window glass.
But... I have skills. I can clean. I can protect him. I can remove "obstacles."
A bold, terrifying idea began to form in her mind.
If I can't be the only one... I will be the LAST one standing by his side.
She smiled. It was a sweet, broken smile.
She looked at Ren's back as he returned to the kitchen.
Ren-kun... I've decided.
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