Chapter 968: Nakiri Family's Special Constitution, Naginata-ryu Tonkotsu Ramen Skills Get!

"But isn't that you looking down on my cooking first?"

"Hmph, I don't care, Hisako, let's go."

Erina flicked her head, called out to her secretary behind her, and prepared to leave.

But before leaving, she glanced sideways at Broly and casually praised him: "Your fried rice isn't bad; if you used leftover rice, the texture would be even better."

"Thank you for your advice."

Broly thanked her, but didn't rush to contact her further.

"Sigh~"

After Erina and the other left, Soma Yukihira sighed.

"That person looks arrogant at first glance; you directly confronted them—what's the difference from charging into the muzzle?"

"Mm, it's not that your mixed rice tastes bad; I can affirm that."

Broly took the mixed rice from Soma Yukihira's hand, eating while comforting the boy.

"I know that."

"Then what are you doing now?"

"I'm reflecting on my behavior; that person was right; if she were just an ordinary diner, having the food in front of her suddenly taken away while savoring delicious food—I would feel just as unhappy if it were me."

"I trust the taste of my cooking, but I can't deny that disturbing a diner's meal is wrong; as a chef, letting my own nature take over in this regard indeed makes me unqualified."

"Then why not go apologize to her and let her give you another chance?"

The mixed rice was devoured in two or three bites, and Broly gave his advice.

"Hah, I'm not apologizing to that self-righteous bastard."

However, what he got was Soma Yukihira's fierce refusal.

"Uh, then what about graduating from this academy?"

"Hmph, what my bastard father says isn't trustworthy; even if I don't come to this school to learn cooking, I believe my culinary skills will eventually surpass his."

Just as Soma Yukihira was angrily preparing to leave the exam area, an old man wearing a gray kimono walked in.

"It's normal for a skilled chef to have some temper; if you can make another dish just now and guarantee its taste satisfies me, I'll let you pass this transfer student exam."

Senzaemon Nakiri said straightforwardly.

"Uh, old man, who are you?"

Soma Yukihira looked at him with some confusion.

"Transfer student exam, second-round examiner."

The old man stroked his beard on his chin and answered.

", there's a second chance?"

Soma Yukihira reacted and showed a happy expression.

"Indeed, having students examine students is too absurd; turns out there's a second-round examiner teacher, no problem, I'll make you mixed rice right now."

Senzaemon Nakiri smiled, turned to look at Broly standing nearby, and said: "By the way, kid, your fried rice looks good too; make me a portion to taste, and if it satisfies me, I can give you some privileges of an outstanding student."

"What privileges?"

Broly asked curiously.

"That depends on how delicious your fried rice is."

Senzaemon Nakiri answered on the surface, but in his heart thought: 【Azami Nakiri said this kid is a pure imitator, lacking basic cooking knowledge, and these aren't taught in the High School Division; perfect, now I can lay the groundwork for tutoring this kid later.】

"Fine, then I'll fry one for you."

Broly didn't refuse; although he didn't know what the privileges of an outstanding student were, having something was better than nothing.

Maybe that privilege could positively affect his pursuit of new capture targets—then he'd really strike it rich.

And all he needed to pay was making a plate of fried rice for the old man in front of him.

"By the way, kid, besides fried rice, what other cooking can you do?"

While Broly fried rice, Senzaemon Nakiri had already served Soma Yukihira's mixed rice, eating while asking.

"If not pursuing deliciousness, I can make any edible ingredient, just with ordinary taste."

"Then if pursuing deliciousness?"

"Then there's only one dish: scallop seafood stewed lamb."

"Can you make it for me to taste?"

"Hmm?"

"I won't let you make it for nothing; as long as that dish makes me take off my upper garment, as long as it's within my capability, you can propose any condition, even if you want a kitchen exclusively for yourself at Totsuki Culinary Academy."

"Uh, what do I need a kitchen for?"

Broly looked at Senzaemon Nakiri with some confusion.

"Of course to practice cooking and develop dishes."

"Can I change the condition?"

"Suit yourself, the premise is that your cooking makes this old man take off his upper garment."

", wait—"

Broly reacted.

"Using cooking, how could it possibly make someone take off their upper garment?"

He served the fried rice onto a plate and looked at Senzaemon Nakiri with a somewhat speechless gaze.

This old man looked stern and serious on the outside, but was actually someone who teased young people.

"A normal person naturally wouldn't take off their clothes, but I am not a normal person."

The Nakiri Family has a special constitution; when they eat extremely delicious food, their bodies produce a strong reaction, causing clothes to fall off or tear due to the fluctuations surging from their bodies, and this situation has an elegant name, called 【Clothing Rending】 by the outside world.

Of course, Senzaemon Nakiri did not believe a young person could produce cooking that would burst his own clothes open, but as long as the other party's cooking could reach the "imitate monster" level that Azami Nakiri spoke of, he would also personally take off his upper garment to show respect for the cooking.

【No, in this day and age, even people who aren't normal people proudly say it out loud?】

Soma Yukihira thought to himself; when Senzaemon Nakiri was tasting the fried rice, he pulled Broly aside and whispered: "Broly-san, this old man might be senile."

"What is that?"

"An illness."

"You mean that old man said that kind of teasing talk just now because he's ill?"

"Probably that's exactly how it is."

Hearing this, Broly's somewhat uncomfortable mood from being teased became comfortable by a lot at once.

Since the other party is ill, it's a forgivable matter, completely forgivable.

"Hey, you two whispering behind my back, is the scallop-braised lamb dish not being made?"

Senzaemon Nakiri was very satisfied with the fried rice's taste; this was already a dish sufficient for him to personally take off his upper garment to show respect, but he was very curious about the other dish Broly would make, looking at the two people who didn't know what they were whispering about, he couldn't help but call out.

"I heard, when facing old people with this kind of illness, you have to go along with their wishes."

Soma Yukihira reminded in a small voice.

"Good, I know what to do."

Broly nodded, turned his head and replied: "Alright, old man, I'll make it for you."

"Then I'll help as assistant."

Soma Yukihira volunteered.

"Fine, as long as the cooking satisfies me, I'll also give you, the assistant, some rewards."

Senzaemon Nakiri thought it was Azami's son wanting to show off, so he didn't refuse the other party's participation.

Yet he did not discover that Soma Yukihira, currently helping as assistant in the exam kitchen, occasionally glanced his way with a gaze containing some pity.

"Scallop seafood braised lamb, old man, please enjoy slowly."

After about twenty minutes, a plate of delicious braised dish was served before Senzaemon Nakiri.

And this dish, because it added the clear soup stock just simmered, in terms of taste, should be even more thick and heavy than yesterday's braised dish.

"Looks good, smells good too, but how the real taste is, still have to try — then, I'll dig in."

Senzaemon Nakiri picked up the spoon, scooped a mouthful of braised soup, and brought it to his own mouth.

The instant the broth entered his mouth, Broly felt a strange Qi suddenly erupt from the other party's body.

*Rip—* That Qi directly caused the old man's clothes to split open a tear.

"Hey, this old man, your clothes quality seems no good."

Soma Yukihira, unable to sense Qi, only saw the other party's clothes suddenly split open.

Senzaemon Nakiri didn't reply, just his other hand reached over to grab the plate holding the braised dish, immediately after the spoon rapidly scooped soup and dish into his own mouth.

*Slurp slurp* sounds rang out, the other party with a wolfing-down appearance, eliminating the braised dish before him, the posture even seemed like he wanted to eat the plate together.

*Clack—*

Of course, the plate was ultimately not eaten, just the braised dish eaten clean with not a drop of soup left.

After completing all this, Senzaemon Nakiri then raised his head and roared his evaluation of this dish: "Delicious!"

As the sound came out, his clothes split open a few more tears, revealing the muscular body underneath that didn't seem like an elderly person should possess.

"You're really not bad, Soma Yukihira kid, you pass; at enrollment, the transfer student representative's speech will be entrusted to you.

As for Broly kid, what conditions you want to raise, think it over yourself first; when you've decided, come find me at school opening to raise them."

Finished speaking, the somewhat tattered kimono-wearing Senzaemon Nakiri stood up and directly left the exam venue.

"Broly-san, you think that old man's words are useful?"

"Should be useful."

"But he didn't take off his upper garment?"

"But he burst his clothes."

"Forget it, wait till school opening day, come see the situation then."

Soma Yukihira said, and also left the exam venue.

"No, Broly-san, where are you going?"

But he soon discovered that Broly, also leaving the exam venue, walked toward another direction.

"Since I'll be learning cooking here afterwards, I plan to first familiarize myself with the environment here."

Familiarizing environment is false, going to probe the new capture target's situation is true.

"Then I'll accompany you to familiarize?"

"No need, you have an appointment with your childhood girlfriend this afternoon, you go back first, me alone staying here to familiarize is fine."

"Alright, then I'll leave you the restaurant's spare key; after you're done familiarizing, just come back yourself."

"Fine, if I don't go back I'll tell you in advance; right, Soma, what's your phone number?"

"Huh, Broly-san, you don't have a phone?"

"Wait, I plan to go buy a phone."

"Uh, okay, my phone number is ————"

Soma Yukihira recited a string of numbers, bid farewell to Broly, and left Totsuki Academy.

Broly followed the Qi and found Nakiri Erina, currently in a personal kitchen developing trial new dishes, and Arato Hisako serving as the new dish taster.

Nakiri Erina wearing white chef uniform, the appearance of seriously making dishes was very charming, making Broly involuntarily think of Es practicing sword seriously in the Reverse World.

And Arato Hisako, after tasting the girl's trial new dish, involuntarily revealed on her face a somewhat moved faint red expression.

Broly jumped onto a tree, through the window at a distance, peeped at the situation happening in the kitchen, silently stamping the tag 【Yuri (A)】 on Arato Hisako, this newly discovered capture target.

"Strange, Hisako, don't you have a feeling of being watched by someone?"

"My apologies, Erina-sama, I have been gazing at your back as you develop new dishes."

"No, I'm not talking about you, I'm talking about someone else."

Hisako has always been by her side, and Erina has long grown used to her existence.

Even when stared at by her, she would not feel any discomfort whatsoever.

Yet for some unknown reason, she suddenly got a creepy feeling, as if someone was secretly observing her.

"But, Erina-sama, there doesn't seem to be anyone else in this kitchen besides us?"

Hisako Arato stood up, walked to places in the room where someone could hide, and after checking and finding no one, replied.

"Could someone be observing us through the window?"

Nakiri Erina touched her chin, looked toward the window, and speculated.

This room has good lighting, and the windows don't use one-way glass.

"Erina-sama, outside there are only a few trees, no suspicious personnel."

"Is that so, then perhaps I was mistaken."

"Erina-sama, do you need me to find people to come inspect whether something that shouldn't be installed has been installed in the kitchen?"

"Fine, you go find people to inspect later. Also, right now, pull the curtains for me first."

Nakiri Erina nodded.

Outside the window, in the tree, Broly's body was covered in a layer of water film; the film's special light refraction achieved a camouflage invisibility effect.

"Pulling the curtains, looks like my secret gaze was sensed. That girl named Nakiri Erina has quite sharp perception."

"Forget it, watching them cook and eat made me hungry too. I'll stop observing here for today."

Broly rose and flew off, deciding to go back to Yukihira Diner to fill his stomach first.

However, just as he returned to the diner and pushed the door open, he discovered the short-haired girl he had wingmanned for the day before yesterday, holding chopsticks and feeding the boy food.

"Looks like I came back at a bad time."

Broly said a line, then silently pulled the diner door shut again.

"Don't misunderstand, Kurae just came to help me taste-test."

Soma Yukihira reacted rather strongly, rushing over and using his hand to jam the diner's sliding door that was about to close.

"I believe you."

Broly looked at the boy whose face was flushing red with a calm expression, and replied in an unruffled tone.

"It's just being fed by your partner, what's the big deal?"

"Uh, okay, Broly-san, you're right."

Soma Yukihira's embarrassment gradually subsided, and he released the hand stopping the diner door from being pulled up.

"Then I won't disturb you two. Tonight, I'll go stay at a hotel myself."

Broly pulled the door again.

"Wait, what do you mean you're staying at a hotel tonight?"

Soma Yukihira jammed the door again, not letting it close.

"That's naturally to leave you two space to clap for love. Rest assured, I still have the tact not to be a third wheel."

"No no no, Broly-san, Kurae and I only confirmed our relationship the day before yesterday. How come with you, I have to do that, that with her?"

"But aren't you childhood friends? You've known each other a long time, you should understand each other well enough."

"Uh, that's right."

"Since that's the case, that kind of thing should also be a matter of course. So don't be shy, and don't make the girl you like wait. Seize the opportunity, do your best, boy~"

Broly patted Soma Yukihira's shoulder, pulled the boy's door-holding hand off the door, and slammed the diner's front door shut tight.

He couldn't eat at Yukihira Diner tonight. Just as Broly was wondering whether to find a hotel with a kitchen and cook himself a dinner, he suddenly spotted a somewhat familiar ramen cart passing by on the adjacent street.

"Ramen, ramen, authentic Nagahama-style Tonkotsu Ramen!"

On the night street, a Saiyan's hawking voice rang out.

"You've worked hard, young man. Not only pulling the cart and setting up the stall, but also drumming up business."

"Not hard. After all, Boss, you're willing to teach me ramen craftsmanship."

"That's because you gave me a price I couldn't refuse."

One night of stall work, Broly learned the craft of making Nagahama-style Tonkotsu Ramen.