From the event “Superb Taste * Fiery Cooking Battle”.
Can be found under the “Sub” story tab in Ensemble Girls! Memories.
Written by: Akira
Timeline: April
Prologue
Location: Courtyard
Fumi: “Hello, we’re the Newspaper Club~
We’re distributing the latest papers, so do take one if you’re interested.
It has details about the Cooking Contest that’ll be held in due date,
So you girls who plan to take part should give it a read.”
(…Gosh, I really don’t feel motivated.
The Newspaper Club’s budget got a blow because of the stunt we pulled during the Student Council President Reelection, too.
We have to lay low for a while. If we rile up the teachers or the student council again, our club might get dissolved this time.
Aah, this is frustrating.
Releasing some dull announcements regarding school events? That’s not our job.
This kind of business communication… Well-behaved puff papers? Leave them to the Broadcasting Club instead, can’t you?
Aargh, what a pain!
We in the Newspaper Club are made for more… passionate stuffs!
We release boiling hot news that should pierce through the readers’ hearts and gouge on old wounds!
That’s our mission in the Newspaper Club!
But it’s been really peaceful lately, I guess. Nothing bombastic or sensational to write about, even if we want to.
Can’t some great case occur somewhere? I know it’s inappropriate for a journalist to go wishing for incidents just to write articles, but still.
I wish that transfer student could’ve caused more chaos. I had hopes for him.
I mean, it’s an unreal situation where a lone guy’s been thrown into a space full of girls.
And yet he acts all cool, not causing any stir… Talk about disappointment, that transfer student!
The other girls are all weird, too. How can you accept him so easily?
Soooo boring. Isn’t there some great scoop lying around somewhere?)
Kasumi: “…”
Fumi: “…!?”
(…Eh? What’s that? I was wondering why there are so many birds and animals flocking there, and…!
Eeh, what’s up with that? I smell a scoop!
There’s a girl being swarmed by birds and dogs and cats! It’s getting like one of those sky burials!?
Who’s she again… I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere? Hmm?
Wait, is this the time to space out!? That girl, she’s alive, right? She’s not dead, right?
If she’s dead, that makes a case! A huge scoop!
Even if she’s alive, well, just having so many animals flock on her is already a bizarre phenomenon on its own!
We can still write about her! Hiyono seems to be into that sort of occult stuffs, anyway!
Even if I don’t! But beggars can’t be choosers! I need to take a picture first… Where’s my camera?)
Shion: “Midori-kun.”
Fumi: “Eeek!?
Y-Y-Y-You! Mineyama, don’t suddenly call out to me from my back!
You have absolutely no presence! Are you a ghost!?”
Shion: “Who might you be calling a ghost? Apologies for surprising you.
But still, I’d appreciate if you don’t stand around there. You’re blocking the sunlight, and I can’t read my book.”
Fumi: “Aah… It’s getting dark already, so you’ll just hurt your eyes reading outside.”
Shion: “Oh my, I didn’t notice. The sun is setting, I see. I got a little too immersed…
Midori-kun, what could you be doing in the courtyard?
Me, I arrived at this place in my sought for a quiet reading environment.”
Fumi: “Aah, I was distributing the latest papers. You too, take one if you’d like…
Wait, this isn’t the time to be chatting! Look at that over there! That!”
Kasumi: “…”
Shion: “My, this is a rare sight. It must’ve been a while since I last saw her face.
Fumi: “What, you know her?”
Shion: “I know most things there are about Kimisaki Academy. I’ve had a little entanglement with her…
Her name is Mikage Kasumi. She’s the President of the Cooking Research Club.
Perhaps you’ll get an idea if I say she’s ‘The Fiend of the Cooking Club’?
She’s an interesting woman, who once belonged to the student council and trifled with the Troublemakers.
She seems to have completely retired her post though, and now people call her ‘The Hermit of the Cooking Club’.
I advise you not to get involved with her, Midori-kun. She ‘has no interest in human beings’, and in that sense, she’s dangerous.”
Fumi: “…?”
Kasumi: (…Oh my.
Oh my, oh my.
It’s afterschool already~…
It seems I spaced out again. Oh my~ they’re eating my lunch again.
My lunch always seems to get eaten by the gathering birds and such, before I can even lay my chopsticks on it.
I’ve gotten hungry… Oh my, what could this be?
An article from the Newspaper Club? Hmm, a Cooking Contest?
I think quite a few young girls have joined the Cooking Club,
So perhaps I can randomly pick some of them to send to participate in this contest~…?
It’ll be a good chance to see what the new girls are capable of.
Perhaps they’ll even create cooking beyond their capabilities, by being pitted against competitors~
And it seems I can eat all sorts of dishes with this~ Right, right. I’m right, aren’t I? Let’s do that.
Well, considering they’ll be competing in the name of the Cooking Club…
If they were to present a horrible dish, I’ll mangle them and boil them in a pot and feed them to the pigs~
Kukuku! Cooking~!)
Shocking
Shocking, part 1
Location: Classroom
Himari: “Excuse me!
Midori Fumi! Are you there, Midori Fumi!? Surrender yourself and come with me meekly!”
Sora: “Yun, yun.
Don’t shout, please…”
Himari: “Whoa, you surprised me! I have no business with you, Electrowave Girl! Bring Midori Fumi to me!
I absolutely will not forgive her this time! I won’t suspend her punishment any longer!”
Chizuru: “What’s up, Himari-chan? Do you need something from 3-C, maaaybe?
Ah, are you lost?
That happens to me too! I blank out and mistakenly go to the second year classrooms sometimes.”
Mashiro: “Lost, are you! You poor girl! But fear not, Student Council President! Cheer up!
You may cry into my chest! ‘Cheer up,’ that is the motto that makes the world go ‘round!”
Hibiki: “Ooph! Hey, you two, don’t talk while you’re eating.
You’re spilling your food on me! I’m wearing a swimsuit so I can just wash it away, but still.”
Chizuru: “Hibiki-chan, can I ask why you’re wearing a swimsuit, maaybe?
Gosh, you’re being meaninglessly sexy you’re making my heart race!”
Hibiki: “Well… There’s this energetic first year who joined our Swim Club recently…
It’s troubling how she always comes challenging me into a match during lunch breaks.
Anyway, I managed to beat her up in the match, but there’s no time to change back to my uniform.”
Himari: “Quiet down, you Weirdo Class! Listen to me! Bring Midori Fumi to me!”
Shion: “If it’s Midori-kun you’re looking for, she escaped from the window the moment she heard your footsteps approaching.
Fufufu, she’s always been good at one thing and that’s being quick on her feet to escape, even in the past…
Rather than that, can someone wake Kannazuki-kun up for me?
She’s sleeping on the book I’ve been reading. I’m really curious about the continuation of the story.”
Hotori: “Zzz… Zzz…”
Chizuru: “Actually, are you Library Committee Duo not going to eat lunch, maaybe? The break will be over before you know it!”
Shion: “Aah, now that you’ve mentioned it. When I get too focused in reading, I tend to forget my hunger.
Wake up, Kannazuki-kun. You should take your meals too, once in a while, or you’ll get out of shape.”
Hotori: “Hnngaah, my need for sleep is stronger than my need for food~…”
Hajime: “Umm. No one seems to be up for listening to you, so I’ll represent the rest and ask: what’s wrong?
I can listen to you, if you’re fine with me, student council president.”
Himari: “Urgh. You’re the only sane one in 3-C, Jime-jime. But can you call me Hii-chan instead of Student Council President?”
Hajime: “Ah, right. I’m sorry, I’m not used to nicknames.
Fufu. You’re Hii-chan and I’m Jime-jime~…”
Chizuru: “Himari-chan, want a pudding?
Hibiki-chan gave me a large quantity of pudding the other day, and I’ve gotten a little addicted since then!”
Hibiki: “Aah, back during the Club Destroyer mess…
Feed me a spoonful too, I’m tired from all the swimming.”
Chizuru: “Sure thing! Okay, open your mouth~”
Hajime: “Yakumo-san, is that homemade? How admirable. You can make sweets, huh?”
Chizuru: “Yeah, Mitsuru-chan said she loves making sweets, so I thought I’ll try having the same hobby, maaybe…
And I’ve been working hard on that! A show of my maiden heart, if you will!”
Mashiro: “Kodama-san, you make your lunches on your own too, don’t you?
That’s admirable of you! You’re so feminine, all of you. Unlike me, who can’t even cook or clean or do laundry!”
Hajime: “It’s because I have to make it every day, so I just learned the how-to somewhere along the way.
I make my little sister’s share too, but it’s getting a little bit of a bad rating from her for ‘tasting dry, like health food’~…”
Mashiro: “But health is important! Can I have a bite?”
Hajime: “Yes, of course. H-H-Hii-chan, have a bite too.”
Himari: “Thank you… But uh, in the end even you won’t listen to me.”
Hajime: “There, there. I’m sorry, come over here, I’ll listen~…
Ehehe, Hii-chan~ Did you need something from Midori-san?”
Himari: “Yeah, there’s something I need to ask, regarding the latest paper that should have announced the Cooking Contest.”
Hajime: “Cooking Contest…?”
Himari: “Yep, a school event that’ll be held in the near future.
Usually, the school takes care of it, but this year, we in the student council are managing it.
It’s supposed to be a peaceful event, in which everyone cooks good food and eats together, but…
Thanks to some mistake or whatever, it’s gotten a little tangled…
That accursed Midori Fumi! I’ve let my guard down because she’s been quiet lately!”
Shion: “Aah, I understand now. I read that paper.
What you want to protest, is the part about the Cooking Contest money prize, right?”
Himari: “Yeah. The Cooking Contest rewards money to the victor, but it’s just a humble school event to the end…
The prize is supposed to be a gift certificate worth a thousand yen, just something of that sort.
And yet, on the paper distributed yesterday…
They’ve listed the ridiculous sum of ten million yen as the prize money!”
Shocking, part 2
Mashiro: “The reward for the victor of the Cooking Contest is… ten million yen!?
Eeh, that’s too many zeros for me to comprehend!
How much is ten million yen in Japanese yen!?”
Hajime: “I think it’ll still be ten million yen, Hitaki-san.
Anyway. While Enjouji-san may be capable, preparing such large sum of money is impossible for you, right, Hii-chan?”
Himari: “Yes. I, the student co~ncil prez, am just one of the common people. At worst case, I can borrow it from Reika…
But I’m still a high school girl! I don’t want to be in such huge debt! That’s why I’m in trouble, what should I do!?”
Hajime: “Aww, poor you… There, there. Good girl.
Please don’t cry, Hii-chan. I’ll always be on your side~…”
Himari: “Jime-jime~…”
Shion: “Excuse me for the interruption, but I think it’s still an abnormal sum.
So I don’t believe anyone took the article for granted. Normally, they’ll be able to tell it’s a misprint, or a typo, won’t they?
And it’s coming from that Midori-kun, of the Newspaper Club. They have low reliability rates; though things might be different if this had been during my era.”
Himari: “Your era…? Well, I suppose you’re right.
The students’ trust level for the Newspaper Club is pretty much zero, for all the shams they wrote during the Student Council President Reelection.
And they’ve been producing bland articles lately.
I do review them for censorship first, but I haven’t been able to read to the smallest details in my tight schedule!
I don’t like reading!”
Shion: “Weren’t you supposed to be part of the Literature Club, Tsurumi-kun?”
Himari: “Yes, well… Anyway, that Midori Fumi’s up to no good again, isn’t she?
I was thinking to interrogate her, but she ran away!
Running away from me means she must’ve something bad to hide!
It’s all Midori Fumi’s fault! She’s the one behind the curtains! It’s always like that!”
Shion: “Hmm… As a friend of Midori-kun, I’d like to say in her defense: she may be prone to be misunderstood, but she’s not a villain at her roots.
I think she’s exceedingly sorry for what she’s done during the Student Council President Reelection.
I don’t believe she’ll repeat the same foolish mistake twice.
But still, Cooking Contest, huh? I admit I’m curious of that Fiend’s movements I’ve been catching.”
Himari: “Fiend? Ugh, anyway!
I can’t exactly proclaim that the article was a fake this late!
Midori Fumi already spread the papers so needlessly efficiently throughout the whole school!
It will be soon known to everyone that the prize money for the Cooking Contest is tremendous!
It’s going to be a hot topic throughout the school!
I am grateful to have everyone excited for the event, so I don’t want to pour water on their fun.”
Hajime: “I can see. With that Student Council President Reelection settled,
You’re just finally starting to perform genuinely as the Student Council President, Hii-chan.
I’m sure you won’t want to stumble on the first step.
But, hmm… The student council had been under Enjouji-san’s reign for so long…
If it’s Enjouji-san, she most definitely can give out ten million yen pretty easily.
Won’t the people who had gotten used to Enjouji-san’s era end up believing in it?
Even if a high school student were to get their hands on that much money, I don’t believe they’ll have anything to use it for, though.”
Shocking, part 3
Chizuru: “Hey, you heard that? They said the prize money for the Cooking Contest is ten million yen!
All the hard work that’s gone into learning how to cook will be rewarded! I’ll form my dream harem!
No, no. Maaybe I should gift it to the hospitalized Seira-chan, to cover her hospital expenses?
We’ve gotten placed in the same class, after all! I want her to enjoy youth together with us~”
Hotori: “Hmm. It’s a slightly lacking sum to use to spend the rest of my life playing around.
But I think it’ll still turn my life into easy mode~”
Hibiki: “Ten million yen… I can pay my way to a good school… No, no! I can’t!
My goal isn’t to enter the university! I’ll win through my own power!”
Sora: “Spacewalking requires the cost of five hundred thousand yen per thirty minutes.
If I have ten million yen, I can… Yun, yun~”
Hajime: “Aah…
They’re all falling for it, or more like, they’re getting dreamy from the possibility of winning a lottery.
It’s just the right sum to sound realistic, huh? Ten million yen.
Maybe to say they’ve been blinded by money is a rude way of putting it, but the Cooking Contest is indeed heating up.
The problem is that the student council doesn’t have the capability to reward such money.”
Himari: “Yeah… I don’t know about Reika’s reign, but the present student council doesn’t have such money!
Money, as in the student council budget, should be used for better things too!
That’s why, please! Someone, participate in the Cooking Contest and win!
I can’t give you ten million yen, but I’ll listen to anything you say!”
Hajime: “Aah… There’ll be no problems if someone who understands the circumstances wins, huh.
The clueless students can keep on dreaming and enjoy the event. The student council won’t have to suffer loss.
The Cooking Contest will end with everybody smiling.”
Himari: “Yes, that’s what I meant!
It may be quicker for me to participate myself, but the student council members are all relayed to examiner role!
This, too, was written in the paper!
Myself aside, Mitchy and Yukky are both good cooks!
I could’ve had them participate, but you heard the reason I couldn’t!
That’s why. Someone, please have mercy on my position and participate in the Cooking Contest!
And if at all possible, I’d like you to win!”
Hajime: “I see… Then I’ll join the Cooking Contest.
I don’t know if I can win, but I’ll do my best for you, Hii-chan.”
Himari: “R-Really? Thank you, Jime-jime! I reaaaally like you!”
Hajime: “Thanks, but please don’t expect too much from me. I do cook in my daily life, but…
I’m still an amateur. I’m just doing house chores in place of my busy parents.
If it’s against professionals, people who are specialized in cooking… like someone from the Cooking Club for example, I won’t be able to win.”
Himari: “I’m still happy! I’m grateful you feel that way, Jime-jime! I love you!”
Hajime: “Kyaa… Hii-chan, I’m still in the middle of lunch, so please don’t cling to me.
My lunch box might fall of my desk.”
Himari: “Sorry, sorry. Ehehe, that’s a load off my shoulders~…
But is it really okay, Jime-jime? You’re not fond of people depending on you, right?
Until recently, you’ve been revered as the Living God, and people depended on you for all sorts of stuffs…
Having to shoulder all their burdens, you’ve had a hard time, right?”
Hajime: “No, I love having people depend on me and making them happy.
I just ended up with a little more burden than I could handle… so I was troubled.
But wanting to be of help for a friend is a normal feeling for an ordinary girl to have, right?
I’m not a god. But…
That’s why I feel normally happy… to be able to work hard for my friend’s sake.”
Shocking, part 4
Location: Sports Grounds
Fumi: “Like~ I~ said~!
I don’t know a thing! Give me back my p-p-panties!”
Himari: “No, not a chance.
…Geboku-kun, can you tie her up and hang her somewhere?”
[Geboku-kun: Basically “servant”. Himari’s nickname for the transfer student, originating from when she asked him to become her servant during the Student Council President Reelection arc. Give me time to think about a good translation.]
Fumi: “Stoooop!? You, what do you have against my panties!?
I’ll write about this! I’ll write that The Student Council President Loves Stripping Beautiful Girls Off Their Panties More Than Eating Three Times A Day!
Pervert! Pervert! Pervert!
I wasn’t motivated about the Cooking Contest article at all,
So I left all of it to Hiyono! I know, I made the mistake of printing it without giving it any real check!
I interrogated Hiyono about it earlier, too!
She said she didn’t know anything! And Hiyono would never lie to me!
I really have no idea what’s happening this time around! Us the Newspaper Club are hands-off this! We’re victims, actually!”
Himari: “Hmm…
I don’t think she’ll lie when she’s so close to being hanged without her panties, so Midori Fumi seems to be telling the truth?
Hey, you. If it comes out later that ‘It was all actually the Newspaper Club’s plan! Tee-hee~!’, I seriously won’t forgive you this time, okay?
I’ll strip you off your panties and hang you during the school assembly, okay?”
Fumi: “Ugh, this is unreasonable! I, Midori Fumi, shall make you regret embarrassing me like this!
It’s frustrating! Who the heck messed up with our sacred newspaper!?
I’m the one who wants to know that the most!
Student Council President! Tell me if you find the culprit! I’ll make sure they get a taste of social death!”
Himari: “Hmm… I guess this is how far we go with Midori Fumi.
Geboku*-kun, I’m sorry to say this when you already so skillfully tied her up, but can you release her?”
Fumi: “Boo, boo! Go to hell, idiot! C*nt!
I’ll repay you with a thousand times humiliation! Just you watch!”
(Fumi leaves)
Himari: “…Hmm. But now the truth is just getting blurrier.
Who in the world could have edited the newspaper, and for what purpose? How?
Sorry for calling you all the way here, Geboku-kun.
With the Student Council President Reelection over with, you should have no more duty to help me out.
But if possible, I want you to lend me your strength. This is a grave situation with the student council’s life and death at stake.
The two of us worked hard to survive through the Student Council President Reelection and won.
I’m just about to start my dash. And I don’t want to stumble on the first step.
Yeah. The student council is in charge of the Cooking Contest. I have to be the one to do the preparations, too.
Supplying the ingredients, managing the security, approving the participants’ applications… there’s a lot of other stuffs.
We’re actually short on hands. And I have to investigate the culprit who edited the paper too, now.
I’m sorry to depend on you for everything, but will you help?
…I see. Ehehe, thank you, Geboku-kun! As thanks, the student co~ncil prez shall gwive you a kiss~”
Sora: “Yun, yun.
Are you the one who have been making all these noises?”
Himari: “Whoa, it’s the Electrowave Girl! Why do you always make such sudden entrances!? It’s really bad for the heart so can you stop!?”
Sora: “You’re the one overreacting. Anyway, can you not call me a Electrowave girl…?”
Himari: “Hmph. Only if you stop calling Jime-jime a living god.
Rather than that, Electrowave Girl; you’re in the Occult Club, aren’t you? You know where the twins might be?
They’re supposed to be part of the student council, yet they haven’t been helping with the contest preparations at all.
We’re really short on hands, so I want to make them work too.”
Sora: “Why should I know about the twins? We may be in the same club, but we’re not friends.
…Well, I guess we’ve been sticking a little too much to each other, lately. But in the end, we were born alone and will die alone.
We’re different people, so our paths will always be parallel to each other, never crossing. Yun, yun.”
Himari: “Aargh, jeez, I have no idea what you’re saying! My head hurts whenever I talk with you!”
Sora: “And I feel the same with you. Your voice is so loud, it’s unpleasant.”
Himari: “…Hmm? What’s wrong, Geboku-kun? Do you have something to say to the Electrowave Girl?”
Sora: “Aah, wait, you were here? You really have no presence, do you…?”
Himari: “Oh, is she a friend of yours? It hasn’t been a while since you transferred, and you already know so many people! Great job!”
Sora: “Yun, yun.
I really can’t refuse you… Okay then, I’ll tell you.
The twins are probably over there… at the field beyond the school gate. I can hear their voices from there.”
Himari: “Really? How can you tell? Actually, what could the twins be up to in such place…?”
Sora: “Don’t ask me. It’s probably another of their playing house.
Aah, there’s a voice calling for me… Who is it? Who is it that’s calling for me…?”
Himari: “Argh, she left! Hmm… I seriously don’t get her, as always!
But you communicated pretty well with her, huh, Geboku-kun? When she’s such an incomprehensible electrowave girl…
That’s amazing, you know?
The student co~ncil prez is impressed! Good boy, good boy!
…If you’re close with her, I’d like you to be kind to her.
She always seems so glum; I’m actually a bit worried for her.
We have a pretty perilous relationship due to stuffs, but she’s still a student of Kimisaki Academy.
I wish her to celebrate her youth in happiness.
I can’t be the one to give it to her, but if you can present her happiness and smile in my place…
I’ll be so proud of you!
Okaaay, let’s walk while holding hands! We’ll overcome any difficulty that may threaten the student council, together!
If it’s with you, Geboku-kun… I feel like I can accomplish anything!”
Shocking, part 5
Location: Field
Himari: “All right, we’re here!
But this field is so vaguely wide… I wonder if we can find the twins.
Well, it’s that Electrowave Girl we’re talking about. I don’t know how reliable her info can be…
Nhyaa!? What is it, Geboku-kun? Why are you pressing on the student co~ncil prez’s head!?
Eh, it’s the pressure point to prevent height growth?
Stop! Why are you bullying me like this!? Even though I have a complex about being a shorty!
Ugh. Do you dislike that I’m calling Tokukuni Sora an Electrowave Girl?
Right, I know. I don’t think I have to go out of my way to get friendly with someone I don’t like, but…
I shouldn’t be actively picking a fight, either.
It’ll be nice if I can eventually have friendly enough relations with Tokikuni Sora to call each other by nicknames~
And I’ll have to come up with a nickname for such future. She’s Tokikuni Sora, soo… Kuni-kuni? Soran?
Wahhyo!? What is it this time!? Don’t hug me all of a sudden!
Oh gosh, have you finally found yourself unable to resist the student co~ncil prez’s mature charm!? You naughty boy…!
Ah, a truck passed by. So you were pulling me to the roadside because it was dangerous?
But that seriously surprised me. Stop hugging me out of nowhere, okay?
Yeah. That truck, it’s prepared for the sake of the vegetables and fruits that’ll be used in the nearing Cooking Contest…
It’s supposed to carry the ingredients harvested from this field.
Most of the harvested crops are for the grocers around the neighborhood,
But the leftovers, the crops that are a little out of shape are used for the Cooking Contest.
Or more like, the Cooking Contest is annually held in order to take care of that.
That’s why it’s supposed to be a pretty economic event.
Well, there’s not much you can make with just vegetables, so we do have to use up some money to prepare meat and flavorings.
But the manufacturers take care of the transport and stuffs, and the school pays for the necessities.
If only that ten million yen money prize isn’t a thing, it’s really supposed to be a cheap event.
…Huh. What’s wrong, Geboku-kun? Where are you staring off to?
Did you find something that bothers you?
Weeeell, let’s see… What are you looking at, hmm?”
Kasumi: “…”
Himari: “Oh? That’s… who, again? I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere.
That’s our school’s uniform, and from the color, she should be a third year.
But I don’t think she’s in my class. I don’t usually see her. Who could she be…?”
Kasumi: “Oh my, oh my…”
Mizuki: “So that’s it. I’ll leave it to you.”
Minazuki: “We’re counting on you, Miss ‘Fiend’~”
Kasumi: “Oh my~…”
Himari: “Huh? That’s the twins! What are they up to on the center of the field!?
Ooi, twins! You can’t enter into the field! The Gardening Club’s going to get angry at you!”
Mizuki: “…”
Minazuki: “…
An intruder has arrived, Mizu-chan.”
Mizuki: “It seems someone’s come to disturb, Mina-chan.”
Minazuki: “What do you need from us?”
Mizuki: “When we need nothing from you?”
Himari: “Hey, stop talking interchangeably like that! You’re messing up with my head! This is why I don’t like you Occult Club girls!”
Mizuki: “What, did you come all the way here just to complain about the Occult Club?”
Minazuki: “Or perhaps, did you come to scold us for making a crop circle in the field?”
Himari: “Ah, you’re right!
Don’t make a mess of the field! The student council got swamped with complaints each time you two did something!”
Minazuki: “Is that a problem?
This part of the field seems to be left alone to wait for the soil to recover, since the crops have been harvested for the Cooking Contest.”
Mizuki: “We pulled out the weeds, so shouldn’t the Gardening Club thank us instead?”
Minazuki: “But well, it’s not interesting to just pull weeds normally, right?”
Mizuki: “So we made a crop circle as a plus.
Do you think an UFO will come, Mina-chan?”
Minazuki: “I wonder? Isn’t the established theory for crop circles is that they’re marks UFO left?
Unlike magic circles used to summon devils, I don’t think this is going to call for any UFO.”
Mizuki: “I see~ It’s been a waste of our time and efforts, then.
But you know how wild animals come closer when they spot marks left by their friends? You think aliens work the same way?”
Himari: “Both of you, stop talking weird!
You two are also part of the student council! Help out with the Cooking Contest preparations!
That’s what I came to say! Is this the time to be making crop circles!?”
Minazuki: “Tee-hee, how pitiful. It seems she’s been blinded by the illusion of reality, and now she can’t see the truth.”
Mizuki: “Tee-hee, obviously, the foolish won’t be able to comprehend the value of our sublime actions.”
Himari: “Mggah! I don’t understand but I feel like they’re making a fool out of me!
Anyway, I said what I wanted! I don’t mind if it’s just when you feel like it, please do your student council duties! I’m begging you here!”
Minazuki: “What do we do, Mizu-chan?”
Mizuki: “What do we do indeed, Mina-chan.”
Kasumi: “I think you can just cook it up into a dish~…”
Mizuki: “Whoa!? You’re still sticking around!?”
Minazuki: “You said you were going home because you have something to do. Is that how far you’ve moved since you decided that?
Kasumi-chan, you’re such a slow walker.”
Kasumi: “It’s best to take things slow~
You can discover a lot of things if you walk slowly~ Look, a crop.
Having a bug on it means it’s a delicious crop… Munch, munch~”
Mizuki: “Whoa, she’s eating the crop that’s been left from the harvest. And isn’t she eating the bug along it too!?”
Minazuki: “Uwaaah… Really, you’ve always been one to move to your own beat.”
Himari: “Oi, twins. Is that weirdo a friend of yours?
The student co~ncil prez can’t seem to remember her. Who is she, again?”
Mizuki: “Well, to sum up roughly, she’s someone related to the previous student council that Enjouji led.”
Minazuki: “A warning from us: you shouldn’t get involved with her.
She’s a tough nut to crack, someone even Reika-chan failed to suppress…”
Himari: “…?”
Kasumi: “Munch, munch. This crop is sweet~ And sweet means it’s delicious~…”
(Ah, but I shouldn’t have done this. I can’t digest it properly while it’s still an ingredient.
In the end, it’s better to cook it up into a nice dish~…)
Hunting
Hunting, part 1
Location: Home Economics Room
Chiyo: “It’s finally the day of the Cooking Contest!
…And yet the preparations aren’t nearing the end at all! Someone, save me!
The student council did the decoration for the Home Economics room that’ll become the contest spot, and advertised for it too,
But only a member of the Cooking Club, who has the key to the storage shelves, can be the one to take care of the cookware.
And so many people are participating this year, for some reason.
Just organizing the cookware is such a huge trouble!
There just weren’t enough plates or frying pans, so I borrowed a few from Grandma’s restaurant,
Sterilized and washed them, and prepared the same kind for all participants to ensure fairness!
Ugh, my eyes are spinning! If there’s a problem, it’ll be the Cooking Club’s responsibility too! But I’m just a new member!
Why aren’t any of the seniors helping me!?
This is discouraging me… Aaah, did I mistake the club I decided to join?
Are all the other Cooking Club members not up for club activity…?
I don’t really know who’s in the Cooking Club either, though!
They’re just pushing all the work to me! I’m being slaved around for being the most junior member!
I just love eating delicious food…
And I love being able to make it myself. Cooking has always been a hobby to me, so I often do it. That’s my reason for entering the Cooking Club.
But all I’ve been doing is preparing the cookware! I haven’t been able to cook!
Uwaaah, my arms are getting muscly from carrying all the heavy pots!
They’re getting needlessly toned, and I’m getting heavier!
…Huh? It’s Transfer student-senpai.
I mean, ehehe, it’s Onii-chan-senpai~…
You don’t mind being called that, right? I’ve been in your care during the New Students Welcome Party. Meow, meow~
Ah yes, I am tired. I’m sorry for acting weird all of a sudden.
I’m afraid I don’t have the energy to chat with you, Onii-chan-senpai, but do you need something from the Home Ec room?
Eh, you need something from me? What could it be? This is rare…
Whenever I meet you, it’s always as Hime-chan or Chiaki-chan’s tagalong.
I don’t believe we’ve had any personal relations.
I-It can’t be a love confession, right…?
Is that how you see me, Onii-chan-senpai!? Gosh, you’re aggressive~
Ah, I’m wrong? Figures… What is it? Hmm, you have something to ask me about a document?
Err, what document? Ah, I see. You’re also helping out the student council, huh.
Let’s see…
I think I should’ve already filed all the documents regarding cookware use permissions and such for the Cooking Contest?
But there was a lot, so was there a misprint or something…?
But uh, may I leave it for later?
I need to finish preparing the Home Ec room. The Cooking Contest is going to start anytime soon.
Ah, you’re helping me prepare? Thank you, it’s a help.
I’ll make and feed you some sweets later as thanks!
Right, you can line up the knives and pots in the shelves.
The stuffs over there have finished being washed… Please evenly line them up.
Ehehe, I’m sorry for ordering you around, senpai!
But my Grandma told me once! ‘When it comes to men and cooking wares, you need to make them yield with brute strength!’
Wow, you’re so efficient. Thank you very much. It was so hard to do it by myself.
Yes, yes! None of the Cooking Club seniors are helping me with this.
And it seems I’m the only new member.
They’re making me do all the errands as the most junior member.
There’s nothing I can do about it. This is how it goes in the world of cooking.
I want to cook, but… it seems I’ll be left with dish washing for a little more while!
So, what was it that you needed from me, senpai? If it’s okay to have this talk as we work, I’ll listen.
…Yes? I’m to participate in the Cooking Contest to represent the Cooking Club?
Eh, I didn’t hear anything about that! This is the first I’ve heard of this! Can I take a look at the file?
…You’re right. There’s Cooking Club Representative Team: Ono Chiyo and TBD written over here. What does this mean?
Aah, you have to participate as a duo in the Cooking Contest, huh? Forming a pair…
But I didn’t think I was going to participate. And I don’t have a partner.
Aah, that’s what you came to ask me.
You want me to write the name of my partner, not ‘to be determined’…
If I don’t, I won’t be able to join the Cooking Contest due to unapproved document?
I don’t mind not participating. I’ve been made the representative without my knowledge.
But, it does seem a little fun, the Cooking Contest…
If I can, I want to participate… I want to cook too sometimes, instead of just doing chores!
But the Cooking Contest is going to start anytime soon. It’ll be hard to search for a partner right now.
Maybe I can try giving Chiaki-chan or my other friends a call…?
But do I have the time to call them here and tell them the whole story?
But I don’t think I should write their name without their consent either.
Ugh~ If only Qoo-senpai would come to play like always, I could’ve asked her…
Ah, what about you, Onii-chan-senpai? If you happen to be free, will you become my partner…?
Ah, I see. You’re one of the examiners, so you can’t participate.
That’s a pity… What should I do, seriously?
If we end up losing by default due to document failure, it’ll be an eternal scratch to our name!
The Cooking Club seniors will get angry at me! They’ll simmer me on low heat!
But there’s nothing I can do about it. The seniors are the one at fault, for not explaining the situation to me.
I didn’t do anything wro—uhya!?
Ah, I’m sorry for making a weird voice… Eh, what’s this?
O-O-O-Onii-chan-senpai! Please come over here! Look at this! This!
No, no, it’s not a roach or anything.
Umm, there’s someone… a girl I’ve never seen inside the storage shelf!”
Koharu: “…”
Chiyo: “W-Who is she? Hey, umm? Oooi, are you alive?”
Koharu: “Supii, kyururu… Supisupi, kyururururu…”
Chiyo: “Eh, what? Is that like an animal’s cry? Or is she sleep-talking? She seems to be alive, at least. Ooooi?”
Koharu: “…Gauu?
Gau~ Hmm? Eh, where is this? Did I fall sleep? Who are you!”
Chiyo: “Eh, eeeh? What’s this, is she amnesiac?
Umm, who could you be… wait, someone’s coming!
The Cooking Contest is opening soon! The participants must be starting to gather…
What to do, what to do~? I haven’t gotten a single thing settled!”
Koharu: “Hey, are you troubled?”
Chiyo: “Eh, eeeh? That’s right, I’m troubled! So please don’t give me any more trouble!”
Koharu: “Gau! That so? Then I’ll help you out!”
Chiyo: “Oira*…? What’s up with you? Who are you, seriously?
[Koharu uses the first person pronoun “oira”, a rural, once-common dialect for “ore”, a masculine pronoun, hence Chiyo’s confusion.]
Oh jeez, can things get anymore tangled!?”
Hunting, part 2
Himari: “All right! It’s already the announced time, so let’s begin the Cooking Contest!
The details on the rules should have been disclosed by the Newspaper Club.
We’ve put up a copy of the article just in case, so feel free to take a look if you don’t feel confident!
The reward is ten million yen! This is also as according to the article!
But everyone, I hope you can forget about the prize and just have a friendly match with a smile, okay…?”
(We have a huge crowd, as we expected. They must’ve been baited by the money prize of ten million yen…
If only they can participate in the normal school events as actively…)
“That being said! I am the student co~ncil prez, and the examiner of this Cooking Contest!
I am! Tsurumi! Himari-chaan~!
I’ve emptied my stomach for today, so I hope you’ll feed me your delicious cooking!
I’ll eat until my stomach is full!”
Tomoko: (Goodness, she’s needlessly energetic as always, the President.
In the end, she couldn’t find the culprit that turned the prize money into such ridiculous number…
It was my failing, leaving the investigation to the President because my hands were full from the contest’s preparations.
But well, at least she seemed to have come up with a second best plan… I think she’s grown a little, the President.
With all these troubles surging like waves, there’s no time to feel bored…)
“Anyway! Ahem! I am the student council treasurer, Yuuki Tomoko. I’m also an examiner.
Other than myself there is the vice president, Yomo Mitsuru-senpai; the extra, Transfer student-san…
And lastly the Cooking Research Club president, Mikage Kasumi. That makes five examiners in this contest.
The five of us will grade each team’s dish, and can give the maximum score of twenty each.
Put together, you can get a maximum score of one hundred.
Unlike the President, I won’t be merciful, so please take your cooking seriously.
We expect to be able to taste a dish that will be worth the highest score of one hundred.”
Mitsuru: “Tomoko, don’t take out your sword. No need to be so stiff, let’s just have fun.
Let’s all be calm and self-possessed, so everything will proceed safely.”
Tomoko: “Right… By the way, Vice President. I don’t believe I’ve seen the president of the Cooking Club.
You did ask her to be an examiner, didn’t you?”
Mitsuru: “Ah… Well, Kasumi always takes things slowly…
She should show herself somewhere along the way, probably.
She doesn’t have a smartphone, so it’s hard to contact her.
Depending on the circumstances, we might have to search for her ourselves later.
She’s probably spacing out somewhere, at worst case.”
Tomoko: “I am not familiar with the Cooking Club president.
What sort of personage is she? Is she another of those weirdo-oddball sorts?
Goodness, we wouldn’t have to include such an uncertain factor if the Futaba-senpais would just show up as examiners.
It seems they’ve been blinded by money? They seem to be planning to participate.
They’re a shame to the student council… No, I do not even approve of them as student council members.”
Mitsuru: “Ahaha. Well, let’s settle it with just us, like always. Support our unreliable President for the sake of our ideals, yeah?
That’s our mission, isn’t it, Tomoko?”
Tomoko: “You appear strangely excited, Vice President. Are you fond of food?”
Mitsuru: “Yep, I love making and eating food!
If only we don’t have to worry ourselves over that ten million yen prize money thing, I can enjoy the event a lot more, though.”
Himari: “Yes. I don’t know this’ll end, but…
If Jime-jime, whose cooperation we have asked for, would win, it’ll end A-OK!
If she doesn’t, we’ll come up with something on the spot! It’s okay! It’ll work out somehow!”
Tomoko: “That’s so reckless…
Well, fine, though. When things come to worst, we can just have you prostrate and apologize, President.
If that’s not enough, we’ll just have you form seppuku.”
Himari: “I don’t wanna die, so I’ll pass on the seppuku…
Geboku-kun, come over here! There are seats for the examiners, so can you sit here and standby until tasting time?
If you have other stuffs to do, you can roam the place freely… Just make sure not to get in the way of the girls cooking.
You’re banned from helping out a particular team too. It’ll be unfair.”
Chiyo: “Ah, they’re calling for you, Onii-chan-senpai.
Hmm… Thanks to Onii-chan-senpai’s help, I managed to finish preparing the wares somehow.
But I’m still worried. I didn’t think I’d have to represent the Cooking Club in the Cooking Contest.
I didn’t have any idea about it, so I didn’t prepare any recipe, either.
The rewritten document did get accepted without problems, but… my partner is someone I’ve just met.
But it seems she’s in the Cooking Club, so it should be fine, right?
Umm, you’re Ougi… Koharu-san?”
Koharu: “Gau?”
Chiyo: “Sorry for making you my partner. I had no one else left to ask.
This is the first I’ve ever seen you… But as fellow Cooking Club members, let’s get along.”
Koharu: “Gau, gauu~?”
Chiyo: “What’s wrong, why are you looking around restlessly? What a hyperactive girl…”
Koharu: “Her Highness (Kakka) isn’t here!
Chiyo: “K-Kakka?”
Koharu: “I thought I can meet her if I go to the Home Ec room! Her Highness wouldn’t pay me any mind recently!
I’m lonely! Does Her Highness hate me now?”
Chiyo: “Umm, who’s Her Highness…?”
Koharu: “Her Highness is Her Highness! I think she’s the president of the Cooking Club! Her name is Kasumi, so Kakka (Her Highness)!
And since you’re Chiyo, you’ll be Chicchi!
You’re my fellow Cooking Club member! A wolf from the same pack! I’ll protect you, Chicchi! Mggyuu~”
Chiyo: “Don’t cling to me… There are kitchen knives lined up nearby. It’s dangerous.
But I’m a bit happy to be called by a nickname.
I didn’t know there was another first year girl in the Cooking Club.
I hope we can be friends. Can I call you Koharu-chan?”
Koharu: “You bet, Chicchi! Do as you like, Chicchi! I love you, Chicchi!”
Chiyo: “S-So loud… Ugh? She’s like a feral child, or more like, a real animal, huh?”
Hunting, part 3
Chiyo: “Umm. Koharu-chan, are you good at cooking?”
Koharu: “Of course!
I stand equal to Her Highness, who’s revered as the ‘Ironman of the Cooking World’, and am called ‘Marshmallow Girl of the Cooking World’!”
Chiyo: “Sounds super weak!?”
Koharu: “I’m good at cooking! Though I’m better at hunting!
I can tell edamame apart from soybeans! They’re colored differently, right?!”
Chiyo: “Umm, I really don’t get this, but uh…
Koharu-chan, you seem to be clueless, so I’ll explain.
It seems in this Cooking Contest, we’ll need to gather the ingredients that have been spread throughout the Kimisaki Academy grounds first.
And then we’ll turn those ingredients into a dish.
That seems to be the basics in this Cooking Contest. Do you understand so far?”
Koharu: “Gau, that sounds difficult~ Chicchi, you’re so smart! Chicchi, you’re so admirable!”
Chiyo: “Did I even say anything that difficult…? Anyway, uh, it depends on the teams,
but it seems possible to split the roles of ‘cooking’ and ‘gathering ingredients’ between the two of us.
Basically, a pattern in which one hunts for the ingredients, and the other focuses on the cooking.
Of course, we can also choose to search for the ingredients and cook together.
There are all sorts of tactics. Which do you prefer, Koharu-chan?”
Koharu: “Gau~? I don’t really get it, but it’s more fun to do things together than alone!”
Chiyo: “Of course… You’re right…
We know nothing about the extent of each other’s capabilities, so let’s do this together and get to know one another while we’re at it.
No—let’s get along!
If we’re going to do this, of course we’ll want to win.
We can’t be losing in the Cooking Contest when we’re members of the Cooking Club.”
Koharu: “Gau~ I think you’re right, Chicchi~
I’ll follow your orders, Chicchi! Tell me anything! I’ll become your arms and legs, so use me as you like, Chicchi!
Gau, gau~”
Chiyo: “Like I said, don’t come hugging me… Hmm, will we be really okay partnering up on impromptu?”
Himari: “All right, ladies! The Cooking Contest begins now! Goooo!”
The time is from now, until eight pm!
Exert your best efforts and cook up the best dish! Your student co~ncil prez is cheering for you!”
Chiyo: “Whoa, it’s starting. Then… Let’s start by hunting for the ingredients, Koharu-chan.”
Koharu: “Careful, Chicchi!”
Chiyo: “Whoa, wait! What’s wrong? Don’t embrace me all of a sudden!”
Koharu: “Gauuuu…!”
Hajime: “Wh-what? What’s wrong?”
Chiyo: “Ah, it’s Kodama Hajime-senpai, from the Archery Club. So you’re participating in this Cooking Contest too, senpai…
Come on, Koharu-chan, don’t growl at her. You’re being rude.”
Koharu: “But Chicchi! She’s a scary person! She’s a dangerous person! Gau, gau!”
Chiyo: “Eh, I don’t think so…?
We’re sorry, Kodama-senpai. Now, Koharu-chan, don’t go saying strange things.”
Hajime: “It’s all right. I’m used to being misunderstood. There was a lot between me and Ougi-san in the past…
She seems to be scared of me.”
Chiyo: “Huh? Kodama-senpai, do you and Koharu-chan know each other?”
Hajime: “Yeah. But she’s not a bad girl, so please do get along with her~”
Chiyo: “Ah, of course. We’re both in the Cooking Club, so I was thinking we could be friends.”
Hajime: “Aah, so you ended up entering the Cooking Club…
When I heard you’re enrolling to Kimisaki, I thought you’d join Archery Club with me.
Ougi-san. Have you given up archery?”
Koharu: “…”
Hajime: “Fufu. It seems you really hate me.
Well, that’s fine with me. Ichika, I’m going to get the ingredients.
Think of what dish to make while I’m gone.
If there’s an ingredient you really need, I want you to say it now.”
Ichika: “Eh, whoa? But umm, Onee-chan!
Are you really okay with me as your partner? You want to get a sure win, right?
I don’t want to pull you down, Onee-chan!”
Hajime: “I’m okay. Ichika, you’ve been working hard to learn how to cook, right? This will be a good chance to test your capabilities.
I’m sorry, I didn’t have anyone else who would become my partner.
I don’t have anyone but you, Ichika.”
Ichika: “Aah, me too! I’m the same, Onee-chan!
My world is complete with just ‘Onee-chan’ and ‘myself’!
But I’ll gather the ingredients at least… You’re a better cook than me, Onee-chan.
If we’re going to split the roles, isn’t it better to have you on the kitchen?”
Hajime: “I won’t force you to do what you don’t want, Ichika.
But if possible, I hope you’ll let me go with this plan. I think this is our best strategy towards victory right now.
It’s all right. I intend to win, as well.
I already promised Hii-chan I’d win.”
Ichika: “I see… I trust you, Onee-chan!
Gather the ingredients and come back quick, please! I’ll take care of the preparations!”
Hajime: “Okay… You two, you need to get a move or it’ll be over before you know it.”
Chiyo: “Ah, yes. Let’s hurry, Koharu-chan.”
(I’m so jealous of Kodama-senpai’s team. They’re sisters, right? You can really feel their trust towards each other.
I hope I can be that way with Koharu-chan too.
You can cook by yourself, but it’s much happier to do it together!)
Koharu: “Gauu! Leave it to me, Chicchi! Hunting is my specialty!
I can smell an ingredient! Follow me!”
Chiyo: “Uwah, don’t pull!”
Hunting, part 4
Location: Corridors
Koharu: “Gaauuuuuu!
Hurry, Chicchi! Run, Chicchi! We’ll go anywhere, Chicchi!”
Chiyo: “Wai… Stop…! Huff…
I’m supposed to be in the Cooking Club, so why have I been running so much?
Argh, my legs are getting needlessly hardened!
Not that I mind, I guess! Ehehe, it works as a diet exercise.
But Koharu-chan, the Cooking Contest supposedly extends for one, two…
For around five hours, you know?
We don’t have to be rushing so much.
If we use up all our stamina here, we won’t be able to cook later.”
Koharu: “Gau~? If that’s your judgment, Chicchi, then I’ll follow!
But speed is essential when hunting. If we don’t get the ingredients quick, the other guys will get to them first, you know?”
Chiyo: “Well, I guess you’re right, but…
Even if we get too many ingredients, we won’t know what to do with them. Why don’t we take our time and gather them choosingly?
Koharu-chan, is there any dish you’re particularly good at?
Me, I think I’m best at making sweets.
But, I think I can make most standard dishes.
Especially Japanese dishes! Grandma taught me how to, so I’m pretty confident about it.”
Koharu: “That so! Praise you, Chicchi! Awesome, Chicchi! I love you, Chicchi!”
Chiyo: “Geez, like I said, don’t keep hugging me… You’re making it hard for me to walk…”
Koharu: “Chicchi, I love how soft you are! I’m a bit on the muscly side, you see!”
Chiyo: “Really? I think you have a girlish figure…
But you have a pretty toned build, yeah. Do you do sports?”
Koharu: “Gau~ Mostly hunting! I’m from a hunter tribe!
There’s jungle in Daddy’s native land, and I often played there as a kid!”
Chiyo: “Is your Dad a foreigner, Koharu-chan?
Now that you mentioned it, you have a similar scent to Qoo-senpai… Are you an exchange student, or something?”
Koharu: “Gau~ I go overseas and back a lot!
I’ve been in Japan longer, but people sometimes say my Japanese is weird~”
Chiyo: “Aah… Well, you’re using ‘oira’ as your first person pronoun, too…
I see, I think I get you a bit now. But it’s reliable to know you can hunt! You seem like you’ll be good at gathering ingredients.”
Koharu: “Gau, gau! On that note, I’ll leave the cooking to you, Chicchi!
I’m good at handling preys and finding edible stuffs in the jungle, but…
Complicated cooking is too much for me! I’m not a picky eater, though; I can eat anything!
You can eat most living things if you grill them~”
Chiyo: “Wow, wild… Ah, someone’s approaching. Let’s open the path for them, Koharu-chan.”
Koharu: “Gau~ If you say so, Chicchi~”
Mizuki: “~ ♪
Ah, sorry! Can you move from there?
I’m passing through! I can’t see in front of me well since I’m carrying the mountain of ingredients I’ve piled up. It’ll be a disaster if we crash!”
Chiyo: “Whoa, that is a mountain!
The Cooking Contest has just started, and you’re gathering that many ingredients?”
Koharu: “You look unsteady! It’s because you’re too greedy! You’re gonna fall—should I carry half for you?”
Mizuki: “Huh? That’s what you say, but you’re planning to steal my ingredients, aren’t you?”
Koharu: “Rude! I’d never steal other people’s spoils! That goes against the way of hunters! Gau~!”
Mizuki: “Wait, don’t jolt me around. Stop, I’m seriously gonna fall like that.
Well, whatever. I’m in a good mood today.
So let me tell you something good. Apparently there are lots of ingredients in the sports grounds.
If you dash there, you might be able to get the ingredients too.”
Chiyo: “Wow, is that true? Thank you very much for telling us.”
Mizuki: “Heh. Well, we the Occult Club Representative Team is gonna win the contest, anyway.
I don’t mind extending a helping hand to an enemy. You’ll probably end up with a salty dish from your tears when you lose, anyway.
…Ah, right, right. You girls are in the Cooking Club, right? I think I’ve read it in some student council document.
You know where your president Kasumi is?”
Chiyo: “Our club president…? I’m sorry. I just entered the Cooking Club, so I don’t know the president’s face well.”
Koharu: “You, what business do you have with Her Highness!? You’re suspicious!
If you’re Her Highness’s enemy, it means you’re my enemy!”
Mizuki: “Hmm… Well, never mind then.
But if you do encounter her somewhere, tell her to come to the Home Ec room quick.
Our plan will be fruitless without Kasumi.”
Chiyo: “…?”
Hunting, part 5
Location: By the shoe lockers
Koharu: “Gau~ Let’s go to the sports grounds!
Why? Because there are ingredients there!
That’s what that pipsqueak from before said!
Hurry, Chicchi, hurry! I’m itching to go!
Hurry~ The ingredients are waiting for us!”
Chiyo: “W-Wait for me. Why are you in such rush, Koharu-chan?
You know, I randomly put on a pair of pretty fancy shoes today.
I wasn’t expecting to be participating in the Cooking Contest, after all.
I wish I could’ve worn a pair of sports shoes more appropriate for all the running.
Actually, Koharu-chan. Aren’t you forgetting your shoes?
You’ll get your feet dirty if you go out barefooted.”
Koharu: “Gau? I guess so! Shoes are important!
I forget them sometimes! I think it’s worth praising when I do remember to wear them, actually!
It’s most comfy to go around barefooted~”
Chiyo: “Why are you such wild kid… Ah, Koharu-chan, you’re in 1-C, huh?”
Koharu: “Are you that, Chicchi? 1-A? Your shoe locker has 1-A written on it!”
Chiyo: “I am~ If I’m not mistaken, 1-C often gets called the Zoo Class, right?
I feel the accuracy of that nickname when I look at you, Koharu-chan… Whoa?”
Koharu: “What’s wrong, Chicchi! Is it an enemy! Leave it to me, I’ll beat them up!”
Chiyo: “No, but there’s someone crouching over there…
I wonder what’s wrong? Are they feeling too dizzy to stand up? Umm, excuse me, are you all right?”
Kasumi: “…”
Chiyo: (Huh? Who is this person again? I feel like I’ve seen her before…
From the color of her uniform, is she a third year?)
Koharu: “Your Highness!”
Chiyo: “Hmm? Your Highness, you mean the Cooking Club president? Umm, are you… our club’s president?”
Kasumi: “Oh my, oh my…?”
Koharu: “Your Highness! I missed you, Your Highness! Please embrace me in your arms, Your Highness!”
Kasumi: “Oh my~…”
Chiyo: “Uwa, the President dodged as Koharu-chan went to hug her!
Are you all right, Koharu-chan? Your head totally crashed to the wall, didn’t it!? You’re bleeding!”
Koharu: “I’m fine! Gau~ That’s Her Highness for you! She can dodge my ambush!
But I’m so happy to meet you again! I’ve enrolled to Kimisaki Academy, Your Highness!
I entered the Cooking Club! We can stay together like in the past~”
Kasumi: “…
Pweh!”
Chiyo: “Awful!? Did this person seriously just spat on a girl’s face!?”
Koharu: “Auu…
Why, Your Highness? Why are you looking at me like you’re looking at an insect? Does Her Highness hate me now?
But if it’s by Her Highness, I feel happy to be spat on! It’s a reward… Slurp, slurp~”
Chiyo: “And her reaction is messed up in the head!? Why are you licking on someone’s spit!
W-What sort of relationship do these two have, seriously…?”
Kasumi: “Oh my~…
Chiyo-ya-san?”
Chiyo: “Eh, ‘-ya-san’?
Ah, yes… I’m Ono Chiyo, who recently entered the Cooking Club. You are the Cooking Club president… right?
Umm. The Occult Club was looking for you.
And you’re an examiner for the Cooking Contest, right? Is it all right for you to hang around here?”
Kasumi: “Oh my, oh my~…
Is it already time for that?
I took off for school, arrived at my shoe locker, and while I was changing my shoes… it seems it’s already afterschool~”
Chiyo: “Eeeeh just how slow were you taking things!? Classes are all already over, Prez!”
Kasumi: “It’s best to take things slowly~
All I need is to show up for the Cooking Contest to accomplish my goals for today.
I’m sorry, Chiyo-ya-san. I was the one who put your name as Cooking Club’s representative in the Cooking Contest, you see?”
Chiyo: “Eh, is that how it is? Why did you…
Aren’t I overstepping my boundaries by representing the Cooking Club!?
There are other seniors in the Cooking Club, aren’t there?”
Kasumi: “Kufufu. It’s because you’re a new member, you know?
I haven’t had the chance to taste your cooking~…
I expect great things from you, Chiyo-ya-san~”
Chiyo: “Ah, of course! I’ll try my best, in my own way! Together with Koharu-chan, too!”
Koharu: “Gau! You did well to say that, Chicchi! What she said!
Watch! We’ll definitely cook up a dish that’ll satisfy you, Your Highness!”
Kasumi: “…Pweh!”
Koharu: “Auuu~!?”
Chiyo: “W-Why do you only ever spit on Koharu-chan when faced with her!? Have a conversation, Prez!
Somehow my heart clenches just by watching!”
Kasumi: “I expect nothing from Koharu-ya-san, okay~…?
Cooking Club? You? You can’t even cook, can you~?”
Koharu: “Gau? I-It’s true I still can’t cook up a dish worthy of your tongue, Your Highness! But I’ll learn! I’ll work!
That’s what I entered the Cooking Club for!”
Kasumi: “Oh my, talk about worthless effort~…
Well, you may do your best, I suppose. I’ll wait without expecting anything, okay~…?”
Chiyo: “Ah, she left.
I wonder if the Prez was on a bad mood. She was a little scary, wasn’t she?”
Koharu: “Gau~… That’s how Her Highness typically acts towards me.
Her Highness is only interested in delicious meals.
That’s why she won’t even lay her gaze on a horrible cook like me!
Gauu~ Even though I really like her!
I’m lonely! I’m frustrated! I can’t even have a proper talk with her!
You can only communicate with Her Highness through cooking! But with my level of cooking, I can’t reach for Her Highness’s heart!
It’s frustrating! It’s all so frustrating! Uwaaaaah!”
Chiyo: “D-Don’t cry… I don’t really understand, but the Cooking Contest is a team battle.
I’m fighting with you. Okay?
I’m starting to feel a little angry. I don’t know anything about the Prez yet, but…
Her attitude was awful. Calling your effort worthless was too much.
Let’s work hard, Koharu-chan. Let’s put our power together.
And then we’ll show the Prez off with our cooking!”
Hunting, part 6
Location: Sports grounds
Chiyo: “Uhyaa…?
There’s such large crowd in the sports grounds.
Are they all Cooking Contest participants…?”
Koharu: “I think you’re wrong, Chicchi!
A few of them are participants, but there are others too! I can tell from the smell!”
Chiyo: “What do you even mean by you can tell from the smell…?
Looking closely, I can see the Softball Club, Lacrosse Club, Track Club, Tennis Club…
And other sports club members running around in their club uniforms, huh?
The sports club members are carrying some kind of sack on their shoulders.
And it seems the participants are chasing after them for those sacks?”
Yae: “Attention! The ingredient provided by the Softball Club, meat, is still left!”
Hayate: “Get them before they’re spoiled!
Don’t hold back! Take as much as you like!
Oi, Nagamachi. Stop running around and get more meat.
Actually, what type of meat are these? Where did you get them from?”
Yae: “Hehe. Well, I have a little connection with some ranches and the Biology Club…
Whoa, I got surrounded! Yogiri-senpai, pass!”
Hayate: “Don’t throw them. I don’t mind, but I feel like we’ll get scolded for playing around with food, y’know?”
Mari: “I’m sorry. The Tennis Club’s provided ingredients… the eggs, there are only a few left of them.
We’ve been distributing them generously without running around since the eggs might break while we run.”
Azusa: “It’s an ingredient vital in making sweets! Come here to take some!
Eggs are nutritional food! Eat lots and put bright smiles on your faces, please!”
Himeno: “Captain… Azusa-chan…”
Mari: “Whoa, Himeno-san. I told you not to touch the eggs, didn’t I?
Oh geez, look at you getting sticky from all the broken eggs…”
Runa: “Come ‘ere, y’all! Ya can trade with the Lacrosse Club!
Ya can trade the ingredients ya don’t need fer other ingredients! Or ya can pay us money instead~
Uhyahya~ I’m gonna make a killin’ by takin’ advantage of the situation!
Oi, Qoo! Go get more ingredients and bring them over here!”
Chiaki: “You’re running another funny business…
I thought you’d aim for the money prize of ten million yen instead, Hiiragi-senpai…”
Runa: “Ya dumbass, ya think the student council really has that much money ta give?
They prolly won’t be able ta pay, and we don’t even know if we can win the Cooking Contest, anyway.
That’s where ya go fer the realistic profit makin’ instead! I ain’t a gambler, I’mma trader!”
Qoo: “RUNA! CHIAKI! I MANAGED TO GET THE ingredients! MUNCH, MUNCH!”
Chiaki: “Ah, you’re not supposed to eat them, Qoo-senpai! You’re lowering their value as goods!
And they’re raw! Spit them out, spit them out!”
Hibiki: “Hey, hey. The Swimming Club’s ingredient — fishes — are still over at the pool.
Swim to catch them! We had some garnishes sunk on the sole of the pool, too.”
Ikari: “Ugh, you’re misusing the pool again…
I want the pool back to normal soon! Go get the ingredients out quick, you guys!”
Koharu: “I see! I understand now, Chicchi!
If we can chase after those sports club girls and catch them…
It seems we’ll be able to get the ingredients they have!
Gauuu! Hunting at its finest! I’m itching to go!”
Hunting, part 7
Koharu: “Gau, gau! It seems each sports club provides different ingredient.
Where do we aim first?”
Chiyo: “Ah, so that’s how it is…
It’s a harsher battle of stamina than I thought. Well, I guess cooking has that sort of side to it…
Hmm, what to do?
Maybe it’s fastest to negotiate with the Lacrosse Club that Chiaki-chan and Qoo-senpai are part of to get the ingredients?
We don’t stand much chance in a race with the sports clubs.
We might end up exhausted before we even cook.”
Koharu: “Then you can rest, Chicchi!
I’ll run around to get the ingredients. I’m good at running!”
Chiyo: “Wait. I’m happy you feel that way, but let’s not rush ahead alone, okay?
Let’s fight, together, with the two of us.
Look closely. There are lots of vegetables rolling around the sports grounds, aren’t there?”
Kurumi: “Over here! We have veggies! V-e-g-g-i-e-s! V-e-g-g-i-e-s!
Veggies filled with vitamins! Beta-carotene plus!”
Midori: “You can’t just throw the vegetables, Kurumi-chan. You’re going to spoil them. Treat them more carefully, please?
If you can, I’d like you to bury the vegetables instead of just putting them down.
Then the seeds will grow and we can have the sports grounds filled with crops next year…”
Chiyo: “Ah, it’s Kurumi-chan. Kurumi-chan from the Gardening Club is scattering the vegetables around.
It seems you can get vegetables pretty easily.
You can have them without tiring yourselves chasing after the sports clubs girls.
If we can pick up and gather the vegetables, it seems we can get ingredients without much trouble!”
Koharu: “Gau~ I’ll follow your judgment, Chicchi. But I want meat too, besides vegetables!
I love meat! I wanna eat that~”
Chiyo: “Well, we can kind of trick that, like using soybeans as meat alternative…
But it’s true we’ll have more options if we can gather more varying ingredients.”
Koharu: “Gau? Look, Chicchi! There’s meat falling over here! Ah, there’s fish and egg too!”
Chiyo: “Eh? Ah, you’re right…
There are only vegetables falling at other places, so why is it only around this area that meat and such are rolling around?”
Mutsumi: “Heeey!”
Koharu: “Gau!?”
Mutsumi: “Hands off! Those’re my ingredients!
Don’t just pick them up! Y’can see my name written, right?”
Chiyo: “Ah, you’re right. There’s Sakaki Mutsumi written with marker.
Aren’t you Sakaki-senpai from the Track Club…? I’m sorry, so the ingredients falling around here were yours, huh, Sakaki-senpai?
Koharu-chan, you can’t pick them up.”
Koharu: “Gau~? What does it matter that you’ve written your name! There’s no rule like that!
I picked them up, so they’re mine!
Sure, stealing others’ spoils goes against the way of hunters…
But in this case you failed to carry them with your own hands!
You’ve lost your owner rights the moment you let go of them!
It became everyone’s property! That’s the rule of Mother Nature! Gau, gau!”
Mutsumi: “Oh…? We have a cheeky first year brat here. I do get your logic.
But they’re still ingredients I fought hard to get.
I ain’t kind ‘nuff to give them to you so easily, you know?”
Chiyo: “That’s actually pretty amazing, Sakaki-senpai. You got all these ingredients on your own?
Nothing less from the Track Club! You must be a great runner.”
Mutsumi: “Mufufu! Praise me more! Right, I’m awesome, aren’t I?
Well, anything is a piece of cake to me!
Hear and wonder! See and laugh! Surprise-prise-prise!
I’m the Track Club’s prided miraculous pinch runner, Sakaki Mutsumi!
My leg strength goes beyond the Milky Way! No, even to the Andromeda!
I’ve stood against the other strong members of the Track Club, and attained victory!
I am the Kamikaze, blowing violently! The Skanda Himself! A comet shooting through the sky!
All panic in the face of my greatness, and scream my name! That’s right, I am Sakaki Mutsumi…!
Sakaki Mutsumi! Sakaki Mutsumi! Sakaki Mutsumi, at your service!”
Hunting, part 8
Koharu: “Gau~…?”
Mutsumi: “Ah, hey! You girls, you weren’t listening to me, were you!?
Listen to my tale of greatness! Clap your hands in my name!
And you can’t pick up my ingredients, you naughty girl! Stay, stay!”
Koharu: “Gau~? I’m not interested in who you are. I just want the ingredients!”
Mutsumi: “Hehe, greedy brat~
Oh well. Actually, I did get a little too into it and took too many ingredients.
I probably can’t use up all of them, anyway. I don’t mind splitting a little of them with you?
That being said, I’m not interested in the prize money of ten million yen!
But Aniki asked us to win the Cooking Contest, y’know?
Aniki’s gonna get angry if I play around!
I won’t do bad, so listen to what I say, while I still have a pretty smile on my face!
If not… regardless that you’re a cute underclassman of mine, I’ll have to make you taste a tiny bit of pain, yeah?”
Koharu: “Gau! Sure then, bring it on!
The strong gets the prey, that’s the law of Mother Nature! We live in a world of dog eat dog!”
Chiyo: “Why so bloodthirsty!? Hey, come on, let’s settle this peacefully…
There are still lots of other ingredients. We don’t have to go out of our way taking Sakaki-senpai’s…
I’m sorry, senpai! Please excuse us here!”
Koharu: “Gau~? But, but! We’re so close to getting meat and stuffs!”
Mutsumi: “Ah, wait a sec! I have a call incoming. Hellooo?
Anego? Whassup, things are getting exciting for me over here…
Mufufu, an energetic first year just picked a fight with me~
Haah? You’ve made curry with the already-provided spices?
But everyone complained because the curry had such strong scent and you got kicked out of the Home Ec room?
What the heck, Anego… Huh? You haven’t been made to stand in the corridor since grade school?
You feel like crying? What to do, you say? Don’t ask me!
Aargh geez, okay okay! I managed to get some ingredients, so I’m going back!
Don’t cry! Geez, you’re invincible when it comes to running techniques, but you’re so spacey with everything else, huh?
Okay, stay on your feet! I’ll dash there in lightning speed!
Geez, Anego~… Sorry to keep you waiting, girls.”
Chiyo: “Ah, yes. What was with the call, Sakaki-senpai?”
Mutsumi: “Eh, don’t pay it no mind. It’s our problem.
That said, I’ve got an emergency, so I got no time to play with you, yeah?
And so~ I’ll tie up a meat, fish and egg to this disk made for discus throw, and…
Here, it’s a present for you two.
I try to be nice to my underclassman. That’s the virtue of those who stand at the top!
Still, it’s ridiculously lame to just give out stuff for free, right?
So I’ll do this! Here I gooo~”
Koharu: “I’ll go get it!”
Chiyo: “Where are you going, Koharu-chan!?”
Mutsumi: “Mufufu! You’re free to do anything with the ingredients on the disk I threw.
Do as you like. All I did was throw away the excess ingredients I had, after all.
If you can retrieve the disk safely, I don’t mind you using the ingredients on it.
That’s the extremity of my generosity!
Work your asses off, first year brats!
My condolences if the other girls got to it first!
Acknowledge you have no luck if that happens. That’s how the game goes.
That’s it, then. ‘Scuse me for now!
As rivals striving to win the Cooking Contest, let’s settle the rest with our cooking!”
Chiyo: “Ah, yes! Umm, thank you very much…?”
Mutsumi: “Mufufu! I didn’t do anything to get thanked.
I’m kinda bullying you, actually, so I’m not sure what to say. You’re a good girl, aren’tcha?
But if that’s all you are, you won’t be able to win.
I think you can learn a thing or two from that other girl’s vigor and be more aggressive.
Well, this is where we part! Adios amigos, girls!
Wait for me, Anego! I’ll arrive at your side soon!
Leave it all to me and rest easy, for I am Sakaki Mutsumi! Sakaki Mutsumi! Sakaki Mutsumi, at your service!”
Cooking
Cooking, part 1
Location: Corridors
Chiyo: “This is awesome, Koharu-chan!”
Koharu: “Gau~?”
Chiyo: “Awesome, awesome! We managed to get lots of ingredients thanks to you, Koharu-chan!
Ehehe. You really are a good hunter.
It was amazing when you threw disks and boomerangs at the people running around carrying ingredients on the sports grounds!
And yet, you managed to keep both the ingredients and the people unhurt!
Using the boomerangs to sever just the strings on the sacks, you then caught them without a moment’s delay, before the ingredients could fall to the ground!
You totally got me spellbound! Your movements were straight out of an action movie!
All I did was watch, but my eyes were spinning!”
Koharu: “G-gau… Kyuuun…”
Chiyo: “Err, what. W-What sort of emotion is that cry supposed to express?”
Koharu: “Kyuuun~…
Thanks a lot, Chicchi! I’m so happy to hear you praise me!
When I feel that way, I start making kyun-kyun noises!
Chicchi, I love you! Reaaally love you! Thank youuu~ Mgyu~”
Chiyo: “L-Like I said, don’t hug me… What if I drop the ingredients we took the trouble to get?
Eggs break easily, especially. So we need to take extra care, okay?
But I feel we can make any kind of dish with these!”
Koharu: “Chicchi, I’ll carry the ingredients too! Leave it to me!
I’m great at carrying stuffs! Daddy taught me the proper ways to carrying caught preys!”
Chiyo: “No need to! I’m fine. I depended on you a lot when gathering the ingredients.
Let me be the one to carry them, at least!”
Koharu: “Gau~ But let’s still do it together?
Your arms will get tired carrying such heavy stuffs! You won’t be able to cook. But I’m strong, so I’ll be fine!”
Chiyo: “Really? I see… You’re right. Then let’s split half.”
Koharu: “Gau~”
Chiyo: (Ehehe… I was worried how it would go, but we’re starting to make a great team.
Koharu-chan’s such an honest, energetic, and good girl.
I feel like we can make great friends.)
Koharu: “Kyuuun~ Soft Chicchi, squishy Chicchi! Love you, love you, Chicchi! Chu-chu!”
Chiyo: (Ahaha. She’s so touchy, though. Wish she’d tone it down a bit~…)
Koharu: “Gau. At the entrance, you got angry for me too, Chicchi. You faced against the fearful Her Highness.
Chicchi, you’re so gallant and kind~
I’m the weakest in my pack, so I’m always making troubles, dragging everyone down…
So I was really happy, that you chose me as your partner, Chicchi! That you accepted me!
I want you to know that, Chicchi!”
Chiyo: “I see… That’s good, then.
But I’m a really slow girl too… I’m plain, and it always feels like nothing changes whether I’m there or not, you know?
I’m so happy that you say you like me.
If it’s in the Cooking Club, I wonder… Will we be able to bloom our individualities, our talents, in a way unique to us?”
Koharu: “Gau! I think it’ll go like how you think, Chicchi!
Whatever others may say, I love you, Chicchi! I already know so many of your good points.”
Chiyo: “Thank you…”
Koharu: “Chicchi!?”
Chiyo: “Wahya!? What? What’s wrong? Don’t pin me to the wall!
Y-You mean you loved me that way? I’m sorry, I’m okay with being friends but I don’t swing that way!”
Koharu: “Don’t struggle, Chicchi! Lay low! It’s her! She’s aiming at us!”
Chiyo: “Eh… Who’s ‘her’? What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
Hajime: “…”
Chiyo: “Ah, there’s Kodama-senpai at the turnover!
W-What’s up with that? Is that a bow? Why is she pointing such weapon at us?
When did the Cooking Contest turn into a killing game of life and death between the students!?”
Koharu: “Gauu… I’ll protect you, Chicchi! An eye for an eye and an arrow for an arrow!”
Chiyo: “D-Don’t hold up your boomerang! Don’t join in the battle!
K-Kodama-senpai! It’s scary! Please don’t point your bow at us!”
Hajime: “Fufu. Of course, it’s scary, isn’t it…?
You can run away if you’re scared. But it’s pointless. I’m used to using small bows too.
My range of fire extends all the way to the end of the corridor~”
Cooking, part 2
Koharu: “Gau~ You’ve finally shown your true colors! Like I thought, you’re a dangerous person!
Everything in the school grounds count as ingredients!
So you must be planning to take us down with your arrow and cook us up into a dish and eat us!”
Chiyo: “Eh, really? I don’t think so?”
Koharu: “Gau-gau! Don’t think you can eat us so easily! I’m a hunter, not a prey!
Between the eater and the eaten, I’ll always be the eater!”
Hajime: “Really? That’s quite a big mouth you have… Can you still say that after seeing this…?”
Koharu: “Gau!?”
Chiyo: “No way! She managed to perfectly shot down the ingredients Koharu-chan was carrying, from such a distance!”
Hajime: “Do you get it? I purposefully aimed at the ingredients this time, but I can shoot at you too.
You weren’t even able to react, huh, Ougi-san?”
Koharu: “G-Gau…? Why? It wasn’t a speed my eyes couldn’t follow or anything!
She shot the arrow taking advantage of the split second my concentration was dull?”
Hajime: “Fufu, you sure are energetic. As they say, the weaker the dog, the louder it barks.
I’m sorry. I’m good at reading people, you see.
I can tell what you expect of me, what you want — just like the palm of my hand.
So on the other hand, I can tell what you don’t want, and what you hate to be done to you, too~…
By the way, the arrows of this small bow are laced with poison that will rot the ingredients.
I think it’ll work on human flesh too, so careful not to touch it, if you can.
I’ll use these to rot the ingredients of all the participants of the Cooking Contest.
I still have lots of arrows left to use~
That’s right. In order to win, I’ll need to either take first place myself, or render all my competitors powerless.
And I’ve chosen to do the latter.
I’ll kick out all the other participants besides us. If they drop out, we can win.
I’m sorry. I promised my friend I’d absolutely win for her.
My friend probably has no idea I’d choose this kind of method…
She probably can’t even see it in her dreams, that I’d use such a low, terrible, unpraisable way to win.
Hii-chan’s such a good girl, after all.
That’s why I’m willing to realize her ideals using even the dirtiest of hands.
Even if she were to hate me… Even if she were to stop calling me Jime-jime, I don’t mind.
I’ll be happy, because even for just a moment, I could become a stepping stone to her dream.
She turned me from a ‘Living God’ to a ‘human being’.
So like a human, I’ll cover myself in mud, not choosing methods to realize my goals… I’ll win, with all I have.
I’m… not a god.”
Koharu: “…Chicchi. She’s serious. Those are the eyes of a beast desperate with hunger.
Run away, Chicchi. Even if it’s just you.
I’ll be the decoy. I’ll take on all her arrows, even using my body.
The ingredients I was carrying have been rotted by her. But yours is still fine, Chicchi.
Run away, survive, and reach the Home Ec room.
Make those into a dish, and win.
Her Highness won’t eat my cooking.
But she’ll definitely eat yours, Chicchi. There’s hope.
Make Her Highness say it’s delicious! For my sake, too!”
Chiyo: “I-I can’t… And why in the world has it turned into a battle shounen-like development?
Koharu-chan, Kodama-senpai, you two are being strange!
This is a Cooking Contest! We’re supposed to fight with our cooking! A-Am I saying anything strange!?
Don’t fight! Please!
Grandma said it to me! ‘Kitchen knives are the only type of blade that can make someone smile’!
It’s wrong for someone to get hurt because of cooking!”
Cooking, part 3
Hajime: “……
…Fufu.
Aha, I’m sorry! I can’t take it anymore!
Ahaha, ahahahaha!”
Chiyo: “Eh, eeeh? W-Why are you laughing out loud while holding your stomach? I’m talking about something serious here!”
Hajime: “S-Sorry. I’m sorry, but yeah, I… took it a little too far.
I was just joking, so relax. I’m not a god, but I’m also not a demon or a devil or anything.
Even without me thinking so far and doing such ridiculous things, if it’s Hii-chan…
If it’s that miraculous girl, I know she can make things work out in the end.
So I’m planning to just fight with my cooking, like normal.
I don’t want to win so much I’d kick my competitors out.
Fufu. I ended up telling a lie. I’m human, so I can lie, and I can joke around too.
You know… fufu… ahaha. Of course, my arrows aren’t laced with poison or anything.
I think the ingredients I shot down got a hole on them, but they should still be edible.
I did something bad, didn’t I? It’ll turn into a huge mess were I to miss my aim just a little, so I’m not doing it anymore.
And to think I didn’t want to hurt anyone with my bow anymore, too.”
Chiyo: “Umm…?”
Hajime: “I was a little worried about Ougi-san. She’s a really pure girl, but that’s why she can be hazardous.
Were she to be drenched in malice, she may berserk and end up overstepping many things.
If Mikage-san has been leading her to do something bad… I’ll be the one to give her a warning. I’ll absolutely stop her.
…That’s what I was so determined to do anyway, but it seems she’ll be okay.
Aren’t you glad, Ougi-san? You’ve made such a wonderful friend.
I’ve made a friend too, you know.
…That’s all I wanted to say. I’ll go on ahead. We’ll have to hurry, or the Cooking Contest will end.
Can you see the school building on the other side?
There’s a rare ingredient dangling there. I was aiming at that with my small bow.
It’s not really in apology or anything, but I’ll hand it over to you.
Ougi-san seems to have given up on archery, but from what I see, her hunting skills haven’t dulled.
If you’re interested, why not try aiming at it?
That’s it, then. Let’s all do our best.”
Koharu: “G-Gau~…?”
Chiyo: “Whoa, Koharu-chan. Are you all right? Did you get weak on your knees?”
Koharu: “H-How much of it was a joke? Those eyes didn’t seem to be joking at all, you know?
W-We were just lucky this time. She just overlooked us on a whim.
If I had been a ‘bad guy’… She was seriously going to shoot at me. That’s the sort of eyes she was making.
I’m scared, Chicchi! I’m scared of her, after all!”
Chiyo: “Yeah. I was kind of scared too.
I thought Kodama-senpai was a kind, quiet person. But that doesn’t seem to be all she is.
But it’s all right. If we walk a life we can proudly show to the heavens…
I think she’ll never be our enemy.
Stand up. I’ll lend you my hand. Let’s go, Koharu-chan.
The Cooking Contest isn’t over yet.
Even God doesn’t know who’ll win.”
Cooking, part 4
Location: Home Economics Room
Chiyo: “Aaall right! Now that I’ve worn my apron, I feel great!
It’s finally time to cook…!”
Koharu: “Gau! Chicchi’s all fired up! You’re so dependable, Chicchi! I love you, Chicchi!”
Chiyo: “Koharu-chan, don’t just cheer on me, let’s do our best together.
And wear your apron properly.
Don’t move, I’ll tie the strings properly… Here you go~”
Koharu: “Gau~ It tickles!”
Chiyo: “All right then, let’s wash our hands. We ran all over outside, so we must’ve gotten them dirty.
I’d prefer to take a bath, but we don’t have such a time, obviously.”
(Great, we’re finally starting to get to cooking.
We took things so slowly, and now we’re left with only little time to cook.
After Kodama-senpai taught us the location of the rare ingredient,
We tried to get it, but that took us a lot of time…
I’m glad we got so many vital ingredients, but…
You know, could that have been…
Kodama-senpai’s strategy, to make us lose the time to cook by diverting our attention to something else?
No, no. We were the one who chose what actions to take.
We can’t just blame it on Kodama-senpai. She’s our competitor, too…
Everyone’s desperate to win.
But, I don’t want to just focus on winning…
I want to make a dish that’ll make everyone smile, that’ll let them eat it while saying it’s delicious.
Together, with Koharu-chan. I want to make a wonderful dish.
I’ll work hard! I’m dull with everything else, but just cooking, I have confidence in!
I’ll exert my best efforts! Without retreating a step, with my chest puffed up in pride!
Huh, wait. I feel like I can’t see Prez anywhere?
She’s an examiner, right? But she seems like someone who takes things really slowly…
So I guess she hasn’t arrived?
If she doesn’t show up after riling us up so much like that, I’m going to give her a word of two!
Watch out, Prez!
I don’t know what you had in mind when you chose me as Cooking Club’s representative!
But I’ll definitely make you regret!
Wait, I can’t make her regret that.
Uumm… I’ll make you hold your tongue! Uuuhh… I’ll make you drop your cheeks!
I just can’t come up with the right words.
I wonder what Grandma would say at a time like this?)
Koharu: “Chicchi! I’ve finished my preparations! While I was washing my hands, I also cleaned up all the tools!”
Chiyo: “Wow, I’m grateful. You’re so efficient, Koharu-chan.”
Koharu: “Gau! I’d always been helping Her Highness when she cooked, since I was little!
Though since Her Highness kind of hates me right now… I haven’t cooked in forever too.
I’ll show her the cooking skills I’ve learned from her… no, we’ll show her the Cooking Club’s true strength!”
Chiyo: “Yeah! Let’s work hard. Hip-hip-hurray!
Koharu-chan, can I be the one to choose what dish to make?
While we were gathering the ingredients, I thought up lots of possible dishes we could make!
It’s a pity we won’t have time to cook rice!
But we got the type of rice that can be heated up in microwave oven as one of our ingredients, so I want to use that as the staple food and cook up something Japanese!
We’ll need soup, a main dish, side dishes…
We don’t have time to make stews, and the taste probably won’t permeate well too, so I plan to center our dish on grilled foods and vegetable dressings!
I think there’s supposed to be a way to stew or steam stuffs in a short time… but aah, I can’t remember it!
My inexperience is showing~ But I want to present a complete set somehow!
Also, if possible, I want to make a dessert!
I wish we have rice flour… I think we can make Western confectionary but it won’t go well with the Japanese-style main dish… Ummm~?”
Cooking, part 5
Koharu: “Gau~ I’ll follow your judgment, Chicchi! To be precise, what are we going to make?
We have all the ingredients we want! There are enough vegetables, meats, fishes, and eggs for anything!
We can use all the water we want, but the spices…?”
Chiyo: “Huh? We don’t have that many spices, huh? Since we didn’t have to gather that…
The staffs already prepared lots of them in the Home Ec room firsthand, and the teams are supposed to share them.
I see. We went to gather the ingredients together, but…
There were other teams who split the roles between cooking and hunting.
The teams that started cooking before us already used up most of the spices.
Aah, I didn’t think of that. What do we do? Now we don’t have that many types of spices to choose from.”
Koharu: “It’s all right, Chicchi! We can trick it using the base ingredients and our skills, right?”
Chiyo: “R-Right! You’re so optimistic, Koharu-chan. I’m encouraged being with you.”
Koharu: “Gau-gau! That’s my redeeming feature!
Both cooking and hunting are a fight of speed! The ingredients are going to lose their freshness too, so we should move our hands instead of sitting around!”
Chiyo: “Yeah! Koharu-chan, can I trust you to cut up the vegetables?”
Koharu: “Leave it all to me! It’s my specialty!”
Chiyo: “We managed to retrieve lots of vegetables… So we can choose the good ones, fufufu~
Let’s see… this looks good! Koharu-chan, these ones please!”
Koharu: “I’ll go cut them! How do you want them cut?”
Chiyo: “I don’t mind anything, but at least make the shapes consistent between the same types of vegetables!
I’ll be heating up the water and preparing the other ingredients~”
Hajime: (Fufu. The Cooking Club girls are so lively. What cute smiles~
Because they went out to search for ingredients together, they ended up getting a little late start.
But looking at how they’re doing, they can probably complete a few dishes within the remaining time.
Not that I have the time to concern myself over other teams.)
Ichika: “Chesto…!”
Hajime: “Ichika, you’re cutting the cutting board along the ingredients. I think you should relax the power on your shoulder a bit.
Is cooking hard to do when you’re left-handed, after all?”
Ichika: “I-I’m using both my hands, so it’s all right!
For some reason, I get a little crazy when I’m gripping on a bladed weapon. Have I gotten the bad influence of the Vice-Captain?”
Hajime: “I’ll do the cutting, then. We’ve completed most of the dishes, but let’s make a few more.
The examiners start from the dishes that have been finished first.
The examiners will find the food more delicious if they eat it while still hungry; I think they’ll give good scores.
So let’s finish up as fast as possible.
Because there are lots of participants, there will also be lots of food. The examiners will be full somewhere along the way, that they won’t be able to eat anymore.
Fufu, things get hot when you cook, huh? I’m sweating…”
Ichika: “Eh, does that mean I can lick it? Can I lick your sweat, Onee-chan?
Hurray! That’s the sweetness I’ve always longed for! Oh thank the heavens…!”
Hajime: “Ichika. Instead of my sweat, can you taste this for me?
I burnt my tongue a little in my hurry… I can’t tell how it tastes.
I think it should be delicious, though.”
Ichika: “Got it! So all I need is taste your tongue, right, Onee-chan?
Yeees! I’ll heal your tongue with my French kiss~
Let’s show off our sisterly love to the whole world…!”
Hajime: “You must be tired, Ichika.
You worked so hard today, after all. You surprised your sister with how good you’ve become in cooking.
Come on, just one small step left…”
Cooking, part 6
Location: Home Economics Room
Mutsumi: “Yosshaa!! Orraa!! We finished it just in timeeeee!
It’s finally done! Us Track Club’s masterpiece dish!”
San: “Or shall I name it: ‘The Track Club’s Curry Feast’~…”
Mutsumi: “Ugh, we ended up making curry anyway.
All the ingredients I gathered has been stewed into some stick substance it’s impossible to tell what they originally were…
We could’ve made a more intricate dish…”
San: “Muu-chan…”
Mutsumi: “Aah, I know, Anego! No need to say every and lil’ thing!
Curry’s a great dish too! Not just that, it’s a dish with such a deep mystery, it opens countless restaurants specializing in it through the world!
I was tired from gathering the ingredients though, so I left most of the cooking to you, Anego.
But you’ve shown me the true skills of the daughter of curry resto owners…!”
San: “You know, Muu-chan…
I only ever serve customers in our restaurant…
So I haven’t actually cooked curry that much before…”
Mutsumi: “Eeh!? I don’t know what to say if you tell me that this late!
You were inexperienced!? Then why did you so smugly say you’d do the cooking!?”
San: “Umm…
I thought, maybe even I could make curry…?
How do I put this…
I thought even an amateur can make delicious food, if it’s something like curry, somehow…?”
Mutsumi: “You’re making light of cooking too much! And your family’s supposed to run a resto!?
Eeeh…? You cooked with such naïve thoughts in mind!?
You could’ve told me that faster!
I’m pretty good at cooking. We could’ve had you be the one gathering ingredients instead, Anego…
Argh, we mistook our strategy! This is a lifelong shame!
H-How about we cook up a few dishes from now? It should be a walk in the park…”
San: “Muu-chan, you’re unexpectedly so feminine~…”
Mutsumi: “Anego’s the one too unfeminine!
Not just you, Aniki too! Why does our Track Club feel so much like an all-male household!?”
San: “I think Mii-kun is pretty girlish, despite her looks…”
Mitsuru: “Aa—ahem. If you’ve finished your dish, can I examine it?”
San: “Ah, Mii-kun…”
Mutsumi: “Aniki! Good work on your examiner job!”
Mitsuru: “Yeah. In a little while, we examiners will be too full to eat anything.
Before that, I want to taste your plate.
Fufu. It’s so refreshing to see the Track Club girls cook something.
All we ever do is train together. You could participate in our school events more.”
Mutsumi: “Mufufu! However, Aniki! I have my mission as the Track Club Captain, so…!”
Mitsuru: “No, you’re the Vice-Captain, right, Mutsumi? You haven’t been hiding your ambition since you became a second year…
Not that I mind, though.
Thank you for listening to my request and participating in the Cooking Contest this time.
I often get relied on by lots of people, but you two are the only ones I can rely on~”
San: “You don’t have to thank us… All I want is for you to keep smiling, Mii-kun~…
Well, I don’t know how helpful I can be, though…”
Mitsuru: “I’m expecting things from you. But I’m happy with just the feelings. Did you girls make curry?
I don’t think there was curry roux among the ingredients, though.
Did you compound one from the spices? Hmm, or did you use one of those curry powder packets?”
San: “That’s a trade secret…
Mii-kun, open your mouth…”
Mitsuru: “Wha, stop, Oiwa-chan. You treat me like a kid sometimes, don’t you…?
It’s embarrassing with everyone watching…”
San: “What are you saying, when you like it… Tickle, tickle~”
Mutsumi: “Ah, that’s unfair! I want to feed Aniki too! It seems fun!”
San: “Nope… Mii-kun is mine alone~…”
Mitsuru: “Ahaha. I only have one mouth, so don’t shove your spoons at once, please.
Do it in order, okay? It’s the same curry, anyway, right?”
San: “I made naan too… By imitating my parents…”
Mitsuru: “You’re an amateur, so make it by looking at the recipe.
Why do you always proceed through things by feeling, Oiwa-chan?
Not that I mind. Ehehe. Aaa~”
San: “Mm~…
How, was it…? Mii-kun, is it yummy…?”
Mutsumi: “Obviously! It’s packed with our love, after all!”
Mitsuru: “…
…Ho…”
Mutsumi: “Ho? What?
‘How splendid, this curry curries my favor!’ is what you wanted to say, right? I get you!”
Mitsuru: “Ho… H-ho…?
HOOOOOOOOOT!?”
Cooking, part 7
Hajime: “Okay then, Hii-chan. Open your mouth…”
Himari: “Aaa~n.
Munch munch… It’s great! No complaints here! You got first prize, Jime-jime!
It was right of me to ask you to participate! It’s so yummy!
I can eat endless plates of this!”
Hajime: “Fufu. There’s something on your cheek, Hii-chan~”
Himari: “Ehe~… Right, right; now the winner of the Cooking Contest is definitely the Jime-jime Sisters Team!”
Tomoko: “Don’t go deciding the winner by yourself, President. And just to correct you, they’re called the Kodama Sisters Team.
But really, it’s quite surprising how you can cook up such luxurious dishes in that short time.”
Ichika: “Heh, how about that! Aren’t we awesome?”
Tomoko: “Why are you acting so smug, Ichika-san? This is mostly due to your big sister’s capability.
I saw how you asked your sister to help you while half in tears towards the end, you know?”
Ichika: “I-I worked my best too!
I think I’ve improved a lot. Until a while ago, I still had Onee-chan peel my boiled egg’s shells for me!”
Tomoko: “What are you, a baby? But well, it seems you’ve become a little independent…
Perhaps I can praise you a little.”
Ichika: “Hmph! I don’t need you to praise me, Vice-Captain!
After all, Onee-chan would always spoil me and pat my head like a good girl! Ehehe!
Ah, do you want a bite too, Transfer student-senpai? Go ahead.
I made these rolled omelets by myself~
It’s tasty? Yeeees!
When the stoic Transfer student-senpai smiles so wide, it means I’ve done great, right?”
Hajime: “Fufu. You eat lots, don’t you, Transfer student-kun? You’re a boy, after all… Open your mouth, aa~n…”
Himari: “Jime-jime~? Feed me more too! Stop giving Geboku-kun all your attention!”
Hajime: “I’m sorry, Hii-chan. There’s a lot, so please eat more. Okay, aa~n…”
Ichika: “Hehe. Shall I feed you that way too, Vice-Captain?”
Tomoko: “I’ll behead you, Ichika-san.
As if I’ll ever do such an ill-bred manner of eating. And it’s unnecessarily humiliating.
But this is certainly amazing. You have a rather intricate layered lunchbox…
Just to be sure, this isn’t something you bought from some traditional Japanese restaurant, is it?”
Ichika: “False charges! As if Onee-chan would be so underhanded!
You’re a snake, Vice-Captain! A lunchbox picker! A vile mother-in-law!”
Tomoko: “Who’s a mother-in-law…
Munch-munch… It’s a rather refined taste.”
Hajime: “Fufu. We managed to finish our dishes early, so we made the lunch box with the materials lying around.
Container is important when it comes to food, after all…”
Tomoko: “Wait, even the box itself is handmade?
This isn’t about being intricate anymore…”
Hajime: “Fufu. I’ve always… been relied on for lots of stuffs, and worked hard to answer to them.
As a Living God. Even though I’m no god…
I used the power I’ve exhausted for ‘everyone’s sake’…
This time all for my own sake, for Hii-chan’s sake… I poured it all on cooking.
And then I ended up giving so much of my best, I even surprised myself.”
Tomoko: “Hmm. Then Kodama-senpai’s team can certainly win, without any complaints…
Even while carrying a handicap like Ichika-san, it’s admirable how you managed to perfect such masterpiece.”
Ichika: “I’m not a handicap! I worked hard too!
Look! Even Transfer student-senpai is still eating while saying how delicious it is!”
Tomoko: “That man can eat pretty much anything…
Were you the one who cut the ingredients? It wasn’t a very good work…
This can subtract your score. If you don’t cut them all the same, the taste will dull too.”
Ichika: “Ugh… You meanie! Onee-chaaaan!”
Hajime: “Yes, yes. Your sister knows how hard you’ve worked, Ichika…”
Tomoko: “What a beautiful sisterly love. I am a slightly envious.
…Huh? What’s wrong, Mitsuru-senpai? You don’t look very well.”
Mitsuru: “…! …!”
Tomoko: “What? You were eating the Track Club’s curry, but it was so spicy you can’t open your mouth now?
Ah, you must’ve gotten a burnt… I’ll prepare some water, so please wait.”
Himari: “You all right, Mitchi? Can you work as an examiner in that state?
Eating spicy food can numb your tongue, you know?
Well, rather than that…
The Cooking Club president or whatever person who’s supposed to be the last examiner hasn’t showed up. I’m starting to get worried for real.
There are lots of dishes waiting to be tasted by her.
If she doesn’t taste them soon, the dishes will be cold. And the time for the Cooking Contest is running out.
If possible, I’d like to finish up with the examining quick, so we can count the scores for each team…
And announce the winner without having to make the participants wait.
Hmm… Things really haven’t gone well from the beginning to the end.
We can’t switch up the examiners this late too. What do we do?
Seriously. She should be responsible with the time!”
Hajime: “Ah… Mikage-san is an examiner too, huh?”
Himari: “Hmm? Jime-jime, you sound like you’re acquainted with her.”
Hajime: “Well, we had a little entanglement in the past… By the way, Mikage-san is right over there, you know?”
Himari: “Eh, where? It’s so crowded I can’t tell. You have such good instincts, Jime-jime.”
Hajime: “It’s my redeeming trait. But I wonder why Mikage-san is wearing that…?”
Cooking, part 8
Mizuki: “Aaall right! This should be fine!
Now, if Kasumi would just join up with me quick…
We’ll be the sure winners of this Cooking Contest~!”
Kasumi: “…”
Mizuki: “Ah, Kasumi! You’re late! You worried me, I thought you’re not gonna show up!”
Kasumi: “Oh my~…”
Mizuki: “Oh my~, my foot. Why do you always take things so slow?
But whatever. Now our plans are in order!
Fufufu!
No one definitely notices that my partner in the Occult Club Representative Team is actually the Cooking Club President, Mikage Kasumi!
Even in the participation form,
I wrote down Futaba Mizuki and her Mysterious Partner as the Occult Club Representative Team!
And the approving of the forms was my job as the student council secretary.
So I can push the stamp on such a suspicious document with an innocent look.
Even if there’s someone else in the student council checking the documents…
They’ll probably think my Mysterious Partner is Mina-chan or Tokikuni from the same club.
But what do you know, the true form of that Mysterious Partner is actually… The Fiend of the Cooking Club, Mikage Kasumi!
I got a little worked up when Kasumi was chosen as an examiner…
Since examiners can’t participate in the Cooking Contest, yeah?
But if we use that Evil Spirit costume to cover her face…
No one can guess her true identity, unless it’s someone with incredible intuition!
While no one notices her, I’ll have Kasumi complete our dish!
Once the dish is done, we secretly have Tokikuni or another person change into the Evil Spirit costume to replace her…
And our strategy will be perfect! I’m such a genius I scare myself sometimes! Fufufu!
Well, we’re acting against the rules, though…
They’ll fail us if we get discovered, so hide yourself well, Kasumi.
But it’s not like we’re troubling anyone so much for this, so it should be fine, right?
We’ll win and get the money prize of ten million yen. Well, we’re not so greedy we’re asking for the whole sum, you know?
If the enemy had such an outrageous demand made to them firsthand, and then we compromise, lowering the hurdle a bit…
They won’t be able to refuse the next offer. That’s the basics of negotiation!
Anyway, we’ll excuse ourselves from the money prize of ten million yen.
In return, we’ll ask them to give proper budget to the Occult Research Society.
Our budget keeps getting lowered, apparently because it’s suspicious or something.
We just want the average budget. And this Cooking Contest is a stepping stone to make that negotiation.
I don’t plan to overthrow the studco or anything, anyway.
And… you’re the same, aren’t you… Kasumi?”
Kasumi: “Oh my~…”
Mizuki: “But really, how the heck did you mess with the article?
You’re such a fearsome one… The student council president was so worked up, you know?
Kinda tugged my heartstrings a bit. I didn’t tell you to go so far, did I?
You probably have no idea, but that idiot is giving her all to succeed Enjouji.
She’s making Kimisaki Academy a slightly more fun place than it was in the past.
I actually have her back, kind of. She and I are in the same student council, after all.
She’ll act smug if I tell her, though, so I won’t… Hey, are you listening?”
Kasumi: “…”
Mizuki: “Well, whatever. Rather than that, go do the cooking. Just do the finishing touch.
I cooked it while glaring at the recipe book, but I couldn’t do it well…
Do you think this would work? I made stew and hamburg steak…
Mina-chan and Tokikuni were the ones who gathered the ingredients, by the way.
There’s no rule that stops us from having unrelated cooperators.
Tokikuni’s good at searching things. She promptly gathered up the ingredients and handed them to me quite early.
I got so many ingredients, it was tiring just to carry them all the way to the Home Ec room.
I turned them into a dish somehow, but…
I don’t know what I’m supposed to do after this. This is the limit of my abilities now.
I just need you to make this into something yummy. You can cook from one if you want, but…
Well, just with a touch from you, we can secure our victory!”
Kasumi: “…”
Mizuki: “Ah, where are you going?! Wait, you have to cook! Kasumi~?”
Kasumi: “Oh my, oh my…
I’m sorry, it appears I’ve been figured out~… That Shrine Maiden has good eyes as ever~”
Hajime: “…”
Mizuki: “Ah, Kodama. She’s totally glaring at us. I see… She does have really sharp intuition.
Has she noticed the true identity of Mysterious Partner?
What do we do… My plan is based on the premise that Kasumi will help us out. It’ll all be for nothing if she gets discovered.
I don’t think I can win with my cooking.”
Kasumi: “Kufufu. Don’t make such face~ One’s mood and sense of taste are closely related, you see~…?
A smile makes for a yummier taste, you know~…?
Well, that’s pretty much all smiles and feelings are good for, though~…
Abracadabra~…”
Mizuki: “Whoa, what did you do? It looked like you gave some touch to my cooking…?”
Kasumi: “Just a seasoning~… I’m sorry I can only do this much for you, okay…?
I want to use up the rest of my calories for my job as an examiner~
I’m here for the sake of eating delicious food, you know~…?
Here I go…
This Evil Spirit-something costume was hard to move in, and I couldn’t see in front of me, so my sense of taste is a little blurry…
Okay now. I’ve stripped away the bother, so let’s focus on eating~
Anytime, to live means to eat~…”
Cooking, part 9
Minazuki: “Mizu-chan
How does it look? Did Kasumi-chan help you out?
I’ve been on stand-by at a different room until almost the end of the contest like you instructed… I also brought Sora-chan along.
Should one of us change into the Mysterious Partner costume?”
Sora: “Yun, yun.
Why do I have to join in your weird idea…?”
Minazuki: “Now, don’t say that. Let’s do this together. We’re all Occult Club, aren’t we, Sora-chan?”
Sora: “Even if the Occult Club were to get abolished, I’ll pursue the mysteries of the world by myself…
But well, it’s true it’s convenient to have the Occult Club around…
I was saved by your presence back during flower-viewing too…
I can say goodbye and desert you after I know what you two are worth, I suppose.
It’s lonely to be by myself, too.”
Minazuki: “Ahaha. Well, I always have Mizu-chan by my side…
So I don’t usually think about being lonely.
But I’ve been apart from her all day. It was nice to have you with me, Sora-chan.”
Sora: “I’m not so good at talking, so wasn’t it… boring?”
Minazuki: “Not at all. Ehehe, we’ll always be together from now on!”
Sora: “Always together… I suppose that’s not too bad. You two may be a little irritating, but I don’t hate you.”
Minazuki: “Ahaha. I’ve been the only one getting all cozy with you, Sora-chan. That was what in the plan this time, so it can’t be helped.
But next time, I hope the three of us… Huh?”
Mizuki: “…”
Minazuki: “M-Mizu-chan? What’s wrong, you look dejected?”
Sora: “The foolish older twin’s soul is disappearing… Yun, yun.”
Minazuki: “D-Don’t tell me you failed the cooking? Kasumi-chan didn’t help out?
Maybe I should’ve been the one participating, after all?
You never really cook, Mizu-chan.
And yet you insisted to participate because you’re the club president… Because you wanted to take responsibility if something happened.
Geez, you all shoulder your burdens alone too much! I’m starting to feel alienated~”
Mizuki: “Mina-chan… Sob, sob… Hic, hic, uwaaa…!”
Minazuki: “W-What’s wrong? What happened, seriously? Don’t cry!
When you cry, I start getting sad too, Mizu-chan.”
Mizuki: “I-I’m sorry! Mina-chan, Tokikuni! Our plans failed!
Kasumi gave my cooking a little touch, saying it was seasoning…
And when I gave it a taste, it was so good… I couldn’t help it, I couldn’t stop~
A-And I ended up eating the whole stuff…!”
Minazuki: “Eeeeeh…? Ah, you’re right! The pot and the plates and everything else are empty!
They can’t examine you if there’s no dish! We can’t win the Cooking Contest…”
Mizuki: “That’s how it is… I’m sorry, everyone! I only meant to test-taste it!
But I got so taken in my consciousness just flew somewhere! When I came to, my plate was already all empty!
She’s a fearsome one, that Fiend of the Cooking Club…!
Argh geez! It’s a huge mess!
There’s almost no time left! In a hurry, I made a new dish with the remaining ingredients, but…
We can’t win without Kasumi seasoning it! My cooking skills are below average, after all.
I’m sorry! I’m really sorry! I’m such a failure of a club president!
I didn’t mean this to happen! I thought it was going great! Uwaaaaaah!”
Sora: “Yun, yun. You really are ‘the foolish older twin’.”
Mizuki: “U-Ugh! So frustrating! But I can’t say anything back!
Don’t call me stupid! The one who calls another stupid is the stupid one!”
Sora: “That’s not what I meant. During the Student Council President Reelection mess…
And when we were flower-viewing, you told me off so smugly.
And yet you’re making the same mistake.”
Mizuki: “…?”
Sora: “Magic rituals, contact with aliens, they can’t succeed without going through the correct ways of things.
You and I, we both had something bad in mind when we acted. That’s why we failed.
That’s what I think… The gods won’t smile at bad people. You can’t obtain anything by going against the determined rules.
Even if you do, that success will fade away like foam.
That’s what you two taught me.”
Mizuki: “…”
Minazuki: “Mizu-chan, let’s not give up here. There’s still some time left.
You’re always advancing forward optimistically, without hesitation… That’s the Onee-chan I know.
I’ll help. I’ll be by your side, anytime. So please, don’t cry.
The food is going to get salty~”
Mizuki: “Mina-chan, Tokikuni… I-I was wrong!
I’m really a failure of a club president! To think I wouldn’t notice this without you telling me!
Sniff. But I won’t cry anymore!
Occult Club will be fine no matter what happens! We can do anything together! We can even make miracles!”
Minazuki: “That’s the spirit, Mizu-chan! But still, the Cooking Contest allows only a team of two in the rules, huh?
Only either one of me or Sora-chan can help you cook.”
Sora: “Then I’ll be the tester.
I’ve been moving around searching for the ingredients today, so I’m feeling famished.”
Mizuki: “I see. I’ll feed you something yummy, so forget I cried, okay?
Occult Club will be busy tomorrow! So eat lots and get all the nutrition you need!”
Minazuki: “Ah, I want to eat too. Spoonfeed me, Sora-chan.”
Sora: “I think you two are overfamiliar… not that I hate it. Open your mouth, aa~n…
Feeding from the same plate, through the same spoon… our souls will cross, and we’ll be dyed in the same color.
It’s like a magic ritual… Yun, yun.”
Mizuki: “Ah, then I’ll eat too! I’m in the Occult Club too! Don’t leave me out!”
Minazuki: “Ehehe, I’ll feed you then. Geez, my big sis is such a handful~
Munch, munch. The vegetables and everything else are so messed up and uneven… It’s just like your clumsy self, Mizu-chan.
No, it’s just like us, isn’t it?”
Sora: “But it’s yummy. It’s a lot yummier than I thought.
It’s so mysterious. This world is still filled with so many mysteries…
Don’t you think so, Minazuki-chan, Mizuki-chan?”
Cooking, part 10
Kasumi: “Munch, munch.
Pweh!
Two points.
Munch, munch.
Pweh!
One point.”
Himari: “Excuse me. You’re the Cooking Club president… Mikage Kasumi, aren’t you?
I know you’re eating and tasting them, but don’t spit out the food! You’re being rude to the cook.”
Kasumi: “Oh my, oh my…”
Himari: “Oh my oh my, my foot! Argh geez, are there only people without common sense among the third years of Kimisaki Academy!?
They all worked so hard to make these dishes, you know?
It’s awful of you to just spit those out! Aren’t you in the Cooking Club?
You should understand the feelings of the people who cooked, right?”
Kasumi: “Feelings…?
I know one’s mental state affects their sense of taste…
But it’s not an absolute must in creating a delicious food. Cooking is chemistry, you know~?
As a proper examiner, shouldn’t we instead leave our feelings aside and taste the food with fairness…?”
Himari: “Mggh! You keep quibbling arguments for arguments’ sake! I don’t like you!
I can’t put it well, but you’re wrong!”
Kasumi: “Kufufu. I’d like you to at least argue with reason, you know~…?
No matter the time, to live means to eat. I can’t live on if I don’t eat delicious food.
That’s why I take my cooking seriously, and so is with eating.
I won’t let anyone complain, okay~…?”
Himari: “But but! You’re being terrible! Argh, you’re spitting out another one!”
Kasumi: “Just the smell makes me vomit. Zero points…”
Hajime: “Let her be, Hii-chan. That’s the sort of girl she is. She does have a reason.
Just like how someone with a perfect pitch feels like vomiting when they hear a discordant sound…
Mikage-san has an abnormal, almost sickly sense of taste, that’s preventing her from eating most food.
For her, who was born with a sense of taste so abnormal it goes beyond reason…
Just by eating food that doesn’t taste good, she’ll feel like vomiting, or get an attack of vertigo. She might even faint.
Her brain can’t take it. She kind of gets an eating disorder from that. When I first met her, she was so underweight—
As if she was only skin and bones. No; she was like a moving skeleton.
One’s sense of taste isn’t just defined by the tongue, but also the esophagus, and other senses comprised by the cells…
So even her stomach and everything else are especially sensitive, that her body absolutely can’t accept food that doesn’t taste good.
Her flesh can’t absorb any nutrient from food that isn’t delicious.
Even if she gets an IV vitamin infusion, her body won’t accept it and push it out, so it’s a really grave illness.
It’s like how we can’t eat stones or metals…
How even if we force ourselves to eat them, our bodies won’t be able to absorb them.
For her, most foods are filths she can’t put in her mouth.
But people can’t live on without eating. That’s why Mikage-san is always adjoined with death.
The reason she always takes things slowly is also mostly because she doesn’t have enough calories.
Because she can’t absorb food, her body at least pins down the dissipation of her energy by executing every action slowly.
Even so, she holds her grounds with the will to live.
Searching for a food, for a delicious food even she can eat.
That’s why she’s the president of the Cooking Club.
She’s always so desperately, struggling to death… searching for a delicious dish, day and night.
For her, ‘to live’ truly means ‘to eat’.
Mikage-san.
Would you eat the food I… the food my sister and I made?”
Kasumi: “…”
Hajime: “I can’t save you. You, who are hungry, suffering, and gasping in pain.
…Because I’m, not a god.
But I want you to celebrate your youth together with everyone, with a smile… in this Kimisaki Academy.
It’s Hii-chan’s dream — my friend’s dream.
I want to lend her my strength in order to realize that dream.
No, I… want to make you smile.
You see, I’ve started to smile more lately. It feels so good to smile.
Mood, feelings, they may not be so necessary in making a delicious food.
But they’re good enough spice. So please smile, and eat well…”
Kasumi: “…
Munch, munch.
…Gulp.”
Hajime: “Thank you for eating my food. How was it? Was it delicious?”
Kasumi: “Eight points. No, maybe seven points. Well, it should be around that much~…?
The full score may be twenty points, but know that this is actually a high evaluation from me~…
Thank you for the food. Perhaps it’s been a while since I finally feel like I’m alive.”
Hajime: “I see. I’m pleased to know that. If you’ve found a little bit of energy, please try giving the Cooking Club girls a look.
Frustrating as it may be, it seems your Cooking Club has taken Ougi-san before I can.
So I wish you can watch over her in my place too.
Please do that for your cute underclassmen, as an upperclassman in this Kimisaki Academy.”
Kasumi: “I’m not strong enough to carry someone else on my shoulders, you know~…?
But I’m still alive. I eat, and live on.
I’ve managed to feel the truth of that from eating your food, so I’m feeling good~
For once, even if just a little… Perhaps I can try moving my body for someone’s sake?”
Epilogue
Epilogue 1
Location: Home Economics Room
Chiyo: “Okaaay, we’re done!”
Koharu: “Gau!”
Chiyo: “W-We managed to finish it in time, somehow!
It’s all because you moved around for me, Koharu-chan! Thanks a lot! Mggyu~”
Koharu: “Gau! It’s the first time you’ve come to hug me, Chicchi!
You seem excited! I’m happy too, like it’s about my own self!”
Chiyo: “What do you mean like it’s about your own self… We made this together, so it is about you!
Well, but we can’t be relaxing here. We need to have the examiners taste it for us.
Should we crash on the Prez right off the bat?
We won’t let her dodge us like in the entrance! Let’s go for broke!
Let Prez have a taste of ‘our all’!”
Koharu: “Gau~…?”
Chiyo: “What’s wrong, Koharu-chan? Did you tire yourself, after all?”
Koharu: “I’m fine! But you know, Chicchi? You know, I’m actually…
I’m actually keeping a secret from you…
Even though you’ve made me your partner, become friends with me, and hugged me…
I don’t actually possess the right to stand next to you, Chicchi.”
Chiyo: “Koharu-chan.
I know. We cooked together, so I’ve noticed what you’ve been keeping secret.
But you know. I still think, from the bottom of my heart, that it’s great I have you as my partner, Koharu-chan.
I couldn’t have done anything by myself.
I’m a coward… I’ve always been such a doormat, wearing a forced smile while securing a safe position for myself…
I pretended to be mature, to be composed, even though I’m just a first year.
I was okay even if I failed at anything else. Because at least I have cooking; I’m good at cooking.
I made cooking my escape, withdrawing myself from everything else scary, everything else I don’t like.
But I’ll change. I’ll work hard on everything else, too. I want to live my youthful days with all I have.
If alone, if I’m by myself… I’ll be too dull to do anything.
But with you, Koharu-chan, and everyone else…
With everyone by my side, I don’t feel scared anymore. I don’t dislike it, I can live on proudly.”
Koharu: “Chicchi.”
Chiyo: “…Ahaha. I wonder what I’m saying. I’m really getting too excited… it feels strange.
But it’s so fun, for some reason!
If you find it as fun as me, Koharu-chan, I’ll be full too!”
Kasumi: “Oh my, oh my…
How can the chef let herself be full alone? I’m still hungry, you know~…?”
Chiyo: “President.
Please, taste it for us.”
Kasumi: “Sure thing. Bon appetit~…”
Koharu: “Wait.
Umm, Your Highness. You can’t eat that. It won’t be good.
You’ll vomit. You’ll suffer again, Your Highness.”
Chiyo: “Koharu-chan…?
Why are you saying such thing? The both of us exerted our best efforts to make this dish, didn’t we?”
Koharu: “You didn’t do anything wrong, Chicchi. It’s my fault.
I dirtied your cooking, Chicchi. I made it all a waste. Everything’s my fault.
I’m sorry, Chicchi! I’m really sorry! I can’t apologize enough!”
Chiyo: “Don’t apologize, Koharu-chan.
Say, Koharu-chan. You can’t taste things, right?”
Koharu: “…”
Chiyo: “You can only tell edamame and soybeans apart by their colors. You licked on the spices many times and tilted your head.
You look like the type who doesn’t care for details, yet you measured the spices so precisely.
While doing the pre-cooking and everything, you adhered perfectly to the recipe, perfectly to my instructions.
As if you’re scared of something. So thoroughly, so cautiously, without deviating an inch…
That’s because you couldn’t tell how they tasted with your tongue, right?
Without cooking perfectly like the recipe… The taste will be completely different. It won’t taste good.
That’s what you think, right, Koharu-chan?”
Koharu: “Gau~…”
Kasumi: “That’s right. That’s why Koharu-ya-san can’t cook.
That’s why I said I didn’t expect anything from you, that it’s a waste of effort, right~…?
What a pity. Then I don’t suppose this needs tasting, huh~…?
You already gave up when you made this, thinking it wouldn’t taste good anyway, right?
It’ll taste even plainer than instant foods mass produced in factories, you know~?
But oh well, I’m a little hungry… Can I give this a little seasoning?
With my touch, even any filth can turn into a dish. Anything can become a real dish.
There is a territory you can never reach, even if you use up your entire life;
I’ll teach you about it, as the president of the Cooking Club…”
Chiyo: “Stop. Don’t touch our cooking, please.
If you’ll touch it, do it only when you’re eating it. Don’t go changing the taste, please.
Koharu-chan, Prez. Don’t give up on this dish so easily.
We made this with all we had. I know, even if we packed our feelings, our love into it, that doesn’t change how a food tastes.
But there were people who became great musicians even though their ears couldn’t hear.
I covered for what Koharu-chan lacked. And what I didn’t have, Koharu-chan filled in my place.
That was how we made this dish.
Please eat it. I know you won’t regret it.”
Kasumi: “…
…Bon appetit.”
Chiyo: “Yes, please eat to your fill.”
Epilogue 2
Kasumi: “Munch, munch.
…Oh my? Oh my, oh my?
I wonder why… this is a taste I miss. It feels like I have eaten this, a long time ago?”
Chiyo: “Of course you have. Koharu-chan has always been helping you cook, hasn’t she, Prez?
Your techniques, the way you cook, have all soaked into Koharu-chan’s bones.
This is your flavor.
Your flavor that Koharu-chan loves… Your flavor that exists within her.
I was the one who decided what to make.
So I wanted to at least make the flavor match her ideals.
I’ve only just met Koharu-chan…
So I don’t know anything about her, but I want to be her friend. I want us to understand each other. We’ve become partners like it’s all fate, after all.
I’ve always been so passive. I only ever listen to what people tell me…
I’ve lived so far cautious of how people felt, what they thought, and what expression they had.
Even if just a little, I want to put my sad way of living into use.
I want to at least guide Koharu-chan to cook the flavor of her dreams.
If I can’t, that’s just too lonely. You can cook alone, but it’s happier to do it together.
I wanted to at least put our feelings into one as we cooked.
Believing we’d understand each other, we moved our hands. We made this with all we had.
I’ll say this as many times as you want. This is our dish that we wanted you to eat, Prez.
How did it taste?”
Kasumi: “…
You can try it yourself, you know~…?
You’re feeding it to someone else, so you should’ve test-tasted it, at least…”
Chiyo: “Eh, it wasn’t good? Excuse me for a bit… munch, munch.
Mguh!? Ugh, this… the flavor’s all messed up…
We made it in hurry so the flavor is thin, and it doesn’t have a good texture too…
I-It’s not inedible, but…
U-Uugh! I’m so embarrassed! And I was telling you off so smugly…
I’m not good enough. I’m still so terrible at this. I’m inexperienced as a cook…”
Kasumi: “No.
You shouldn’t have to imitate ‘this part’ too, you know~…?”
Chiyo: “What?”
Kasumi: “In the past, I once ended up unable to eat anything…
So I ventured, in search of a dish, a flavor I could eat.
I traveled through the whole world. There’s someone rich that I know, so I had them support me financially.
In sought for an unknown flavor, I pushed my way through a jungle…
Where I met a girl like a wild ape, who had never even licked a spice before.
At that time, I was such a terrible cook…
After all, my arms were as thin as bones, I couldn’t even lift up a pot. Just cooking for a few minutes made me out of breath.
But that girl waited for me, with sparkling eyes.
She helped me. She ate the food I made, praising how delicious it was.
You made me recall that, a bit…
Memories and feelings, they aren’t necessary in making delicious food.
They’re not… supposed to affect how the food fundamentally tastes.
How strange… Why am I crying…?”
Koharu: “Your Highness.”
Kasumi: “I’m sorry, ‘Koharu-chan’. It was my fault that you lost your sense of taste.
I studied cuisine, started making more and more delicious dishes… and I kept feeding them to you.
I was so happy because you’d look so delighted…
But your sense of taste couldn’t stand my cooking, that was getting more and more extreme in taste and far-reachingly delicious…
I broke you.
Sooner or later, you’d turn just like me…
You wouldn’t be able to eat any kind of food with a smile. Worse yet, you won’t be able to accept them, and just vomit everything.
Unable to eat anything, you’ll starve, dry up and die.
I wanted to part from you before that happens. Why did you have to chase after me, you foolish girl…
You were my first customer ever, that I met deep in the jungle.”
Koharu: “Your Highness…?”
Epilogue 3
Kasumi: “Thank you for the food. Aah, I couldn’t even eat most of it, and I feel so full, somehow. Thank you, both of you.
But I can’t give this dish a score.
It’s mostly a failed dish. If we gather up all the examiners’ scores…
Miss Shrine Maiden would be the winner, I suppose.
We the Cooking Club can’t obtain the money prize of ten million yen.
Well, I suppose that doesn’t matter. Giving up on everything like in the past…
Relying on the power of money, and seeking for a gourmet delicacy in the wide world… I don’t need to do all of that anymore.
It seems like you two… will be able to present me a delicious food in the near future.
Kukuku! Cooking! I’m expecting a lot from you, Chiyo-ya-san, Koharu-ya-san!
Satisfy me, the most selfish and picky customer in the entire world, okay?”
Koharu: “G-Gau! I don’t really get it, but I’ll work hard!
Because I want you to keep smiling, Your Highness! I’ll always love you, Your Highness!
I’m kind of useless, but if it’s with Chicchi, I feel we can make something delicious!
So please wait for us! We’ll definitely fill your stomach soon!”
Chiyo: “I’ll work hard too! Prez, thank you very much for eating our cooking…”
Kasumi: “Kufufu. Make it as fast as possible, okay? Before I die from starvation…
I hope you’ll at least be able to make something of ‘this level’~
Abracadabra~…”
Koharu: “There it is, Her Highness’s seasoning! It’s really like magic! It’s awesome no matter how many times I’ve seen it!”
Chiyo: “Eh, what did you just do? It looked like you just gave our cooking a little touch…?”
Koharu: “You can taste it yourself, Chicchi. Open your mouth, aa~n…”
Chiyo: “Munch… Eh, what in the world?
What the… H-How?
Even though it was just someone heartless and mean like the Prez, giving the dish some random touch…
How did it become so delicious?
It’s yummy, it’s so yummy! It’s turned so good! I’m so frustrated!
Munch, munch… Uuh! Uwaaaah, it’s so goooood!”
Kasumi: “Cooking is about love. Cooking is about chemistry. And lastly, cooking is about magic~…
But you can’t cry. You’ll change how the food tastes with the salt in your tears.
Don’t cry, and keep holding your ground without hesitation… Level up. Grow.
Eat lots, turn them into your sustenance, and get fatter~…”
Chiyo: “I-I don’t want to get fat though!?
But it’s true that eating with tears of frustration is rude towards cooking.
I’ll soak this flavor into my tongue!
I’ll make my brain, my whole body, remember! First of all, I’ll aim for this flavor!
And someday, I’ll overtake it… I’ll show you I can make even tastier food!
Let’s work hard together, Koharu-chan! Wait for us, Prez!
I’ll show you I can make food that’s much more delicious than this!
Bon appetit…!”