Enjoying the rush of riding his motorcycle, Hojou Kyousuke pulled up outside Okudera Miki's apartment.
After parking, the two of them headed upstairs together.
"Actually, I've made some improvements to the sauce from last time. I've come up with a new version specifically for tempura."
Inside the elevator, Okudera shared this exciting news with her investor.
"Tempura?"
Kyousuke never quite understood why people in the Kanto region of Japan liked to dip tempura in sauce.
The crispy, golden batter, one of the best parts of tempura would inevitably turn soggy.
Personally, he either ate it plain or followed the Kansai style, using dry seasonings like sesame salt or sansho pepper.
"Yes, just like how sauces are essential in Western cuisine. For Japanese people who appreciate the natural flavors of ingredients, a good tempura sauce is just as important."
"Well, when you put it that way, I can see your point."
Even though he wasn't a fan of tempura sauce himself, Kyousuke wasn't about to criticize other people's preferences.
If Okudera could perfect a signature sauce, it could become a selling point for her soon-to-open restaurant.
"Speaking of which, my cousin told me that thanks to your sauce recipe, her restaurant's business has been booming. Even the orders for Tokyo beef have increased."
"Is that so? I'm glad I could help."
Hearing the excitement in her voice, Kyousuke turned to look at her.
Their eyes met, and under the soft glow of the elevator's lights, her fair, porcelain-like face was lit up with genuine happiness.
"What's the matter? Are you still feeling bad about not getting me a better deal last time?"
"A little, yeah. That's why I turned down your cousin's offer to thank me."
"That's a shame. If you'd accepted, you could've invested even more in my restaurant."
Kyousuke knew she wasn't talking about money, she simply wanted to ease his sense of regret.
"Actually, I've started working on a manga. If it gets serialized, I should be able to earn enough to properly invest in your restaurant soon."
"A manga?" Okudera's amber eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Yeah, I'm aiming to get it published in a magazine. I'll show it to you when we get inside."
Besides satisfying his own appetite, another major motivation for making money was Okudera's restaurant.
Like he had said before, a place in Meguro didn't do her skills justice.
If she was going to open a restaurant, it had to be in one of the prime districts of Tokyo.
Upon entering the familiar apartment, Okudera handed him a pair of blue slippers.
"I bought these for you. I estimated your size—I hope they fit."
Kyousuke was surprised but took the slippers and put them on.
They fit perfectly.
"You've got a great eye."
"Glad to hear it. Make yourself comfortable—I'll start cooking."
Smiling, Okudera took the jacket he had draped over her earlier and hung it in the bathroom to wash later.
Kyousuke sat on the couch and picked up a few books on the table that weren't there last time.
Each one was filled with notes, and a loose sheet of paper with what looked like a recipe caught his eye.
He instinctively reached for it but hesitated, recipes were usually kept secret.
Then again, he was about to let her read his unpublished manga.
They were beyond keeping small secrets from each other.
Indeed, it was a recipe.
The top part contained the basic tempura sauce formula he had learned before, using mirin, soy sauce, sugar, and grated daikon radish.
But beneath it was a detailed chart, each row tracking different ingredient adjustments, what was added or removed, how it affected the taste, and whether it improved or worsened the flavor.
There were even notes on potential refinements.
"She works so hard," Kyousuke murmured, even though he couldn't fully decipher the chart.
Hearing him, Okudera looked up from the cutting board.
Pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear with the back of her hand, she smiled.
"Well, I can't let my investor's money go to waste, can I?"
"Then I'd better start making money fast. Can't have my entrepreneur running out of funds."
"That was never a concern for me."
"Same here."
Hearing that, Okudera's smile turned even sweeter.
In less than thirty minutes, she had prepared three side dishes, tempura, sashimi, and a plate of vibrant, crisp pickles.
"And now, the official tasting session for Tempura Sauce #1 begins! Investor, please do the honors."
She handed him a pair of chopsticks with a playful grin.
"Ahem, well then, I won't hold back."
Amused by her teasing tone, Kyousuke picked up a piece of classic shrimp tempura, dipped it briefly into the dark brown sauce, and took a bite.
Chewing for a few moments, he swallowed eagerly.
"This is amazing! You should start using it right away."
He wasn't just being polite.
Because he had dipped it quickly, the batter hadn't absorbed too much liquid and remained crispy.
The umami-packed sauce complemented the natural sweetness of the shrimp, bringing out its best flavors.
"Hehe, can you guess the special ingredient?" Okudera asked, covering her mouth as she chuckled.
"Hmm…"
Kyousuke's gaze drifted toward the recipe sheet.
"No cheating."
She wagged a slender finger at him, playfully scolding him.
"I'd say it's something green. There's a slight vegetal taste, along with a unique fragrance." He carefully savored the lingering flavors.
"That's as much as I can guess."
"Wow! Kyousuke-kun, do you have the 'God Tongue' from those food manga?" she teased, clapping her hands in amusement.
"Haha, did I get it right? Oh, and I almost forgot to send you the manga I mentioned earlier."
Saying this, Kyousuke pulled out his phone and sent the manga file to Okudera.
"You know, I wasn't reminding you just so you'd send me the manga," she said with a slight pout.
But despite her words, she immediately pulled out her phone to check it.
"You got it completely right! It's made with juice extracted from ground perilla leaves."
"You actually used perilla leaves as a seasoning instead of a main ingredient? That's such a creative twist." Kyousuke clapped his hands in admiration.
"Haha, it took countless trials before I discovered that adding perilla leaf juice to the sauce worked surprisingly well. There's still room for improvement, though. The plant-based taste you mentioned is one example—some people love it, but others find it unfamiliar. Also..."
As she spoke, her amber eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
Watching her get so engrossed in the topic of cooking, Kyousuke picked up a piece of tempura, some kind of fish this time and took a bite.
Time passed, and before he knew it, most of the tempura on the plate had disappeared.
Eventually, Okudera's cheeks flushed, and she trailed off mid-sentence.
"Ah, sorry, Kyousuke. I just keep rambling when it comes to cooking. You probably don't find this interesting, right?"
Kyousuke shook his head immediately. "Not at all. Even if I don't understand everything, just watching you talk so passionately about it makes the food taste even better."
"Haha, you're exaggerating."
Hearing his words, her smile grew even sweeter, her soft pink lips shimmering under the light.
Her rosy cheeks gave her an even more radiant charm.
"I'm not exaggerating. Just look at this plate, I've nearly finished everything!" Kyousuke gestured to the table.
'Come to think of it, didn't Kyousuke say something similar on the first day he visited Garden of Words? '
'Could watching someone eat really make the food taste better? '
'That's impossible... Haha, he really knows how to make a girl happy.'
"Aren't you going to eat too, Okudera-senpai?"
"I made it for you, so just enjoy it. Besides, I want to read your manga." She lifted her phone as if to prove her point.
"Well then, I won't hold back."
As he resumed eating with gusto, Okudera lowered her gaze and focused on the manga.
'I wonder... will the story feel even more interesting while watching him?'
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"Ahh, I'm stuffed." Kyousuke set down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth.
"Kyousuke, no matter how many times I see it, your appetite is still impressive."
Okudera stared in awe at the empty plates, even the sauce completely gone.
"Hahaha," Kyousuke chuckled.
Times like this called for nothing more than a knowing smile , though in truth, his extraordinary appetite was thanks to that pesky system.
"Should I make you some more?"
"No, no, I think I've already eaten too much. I'm worried I might not even digest it properly." He could eat more, but that didn't mean he should.
"In that case, how about a walk? I can tell you what I think about the manga while we're out."
Kyousuke glanced at the wall clock. A little past nine.
"Sounds good."
Not that the time really mattered, who in their right mind would turn down the chance to walk with such a beautiful girl?
"Then, can I trouble you to wait outside for a moment? My clothes smell like oil from cooking, so I'd like to change into something fresh," Okudera said, a hint of shyness in her voice.
"Of course."
Even though the bed was hidden behind a curtain, it still didn't seem appropriate to stay inside while she changed.
Stepping outside, Kyousuke leaned against the railing of the apartment corridor and looked out at the view.
This building was mostly rented out to students since it was close to the university.
From here, he could see the campus, with some classroom lights still glowing and a few people walking around the grounds.
Maybe I should try enrolling in a women's university?
Wait, no, those don't admit male students.
But who knows?
Maybe one day they'll open admissions for experimental purposes...
"Kyousuke, I'm ready. Let's go."
Okudera's voice called from behind him.
That was fast—he had to give her credit for her efficiency.
As he turned around, he was stunned once again.
She was wearing a soft pink, long-sleeved blouse with puffed sleeves, neatly tucked into a deep red, over-the-knee skirt.
On her feet were round-toed red leather shoes, and her hair, which was normally tied in a simple ponytail, was now styled into an elegant updo, with a few loose strands framing her face.
Under the corridor's warm yellow light, it almost seemed as if she was glowing.
"Let's go."
Looks like the time spent on makeup and dressing up isn't always proportional to the result, he thought.
Looking at the beautiful girl gazing up at him, he felt a sudden urge to offer his arm for her to take.
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