Kamisaka Yuto decided to make fish head tofu soup.
Considering that soone who has just exercised needs to replenish protein, water, and salt, it was the perfect choice.
The broth rendered from the fish head is savory, and the tofu enhances its flavor even further.
Both fish soup and tofu are high in protein and easily digestible, making them a gentler option for post-exercise recovery compared to sothing heavy like beef.
Yuto selected a silver carp, one of the best fish for this dish.
He had expected the already-dead fish to be less than fresh, but to his surprise, the flesh was tender and of excellent quality.
Hayasaka's explanation clarified why.
Every day, all the ingredients in the large walk-in freezer were replaced, and only the finest varieties from various regions were selected.
Freshness was never an issue here.
This explanation made Yuto sigh.
'Perhaps this is what life is like for the truly wealthy.'
He scaled the silver carp, then butchered it, discarding the innards. He separated the head and tail, slicing the at from the middle section into fillets.
He couldn't help but marvel—the knives in this kitchen were unbelievably sharp
Even the large central bone of the fish was sliced through with ease.
Previously, when Yuto handled it, he'd always had to chop it open.
When had he ever cut through it so effortlessly?
'This is the power of money,' he thought. 'With money, you can even slice through bones.'
He squeezed so olive oil into a pan and began to sear the fish head.
After searing one side, he flipped it to the other.
Sizzle, sizzle.
As the oil crackled, a fragrant aroma filled the air, the pure scent occupying half the kitchen.
Even Hayasaka, watching from the side, wore a captivated expression.
She hadn't left yet since Kaguya hadn't returned, so she was free for the mont.
Yuto's cooking movents were as fluid as flowing water, possessing a unique, captivating rhythm that held her attention.
After searing the fish head, Yuto switched to a new pot. He placed the fish head inside and added a generous amount of water, stopping only when it was well subrged.
He turned on the heat.
Now, all he had to do was wait for it to boil. The tofu and fresh mushrooms had already been prepared, leaving him with a mont of free ti.
Yuto took a shallow breath and turned to Hayasaka.
"Hayasaka-san, why was I specifically chosen to cook for Kaguya-san?"
This question had been on his mind for so ti. N
ow that they were alone with ti to spare, it was the perfect opportunity to ask.
Hayasaka seed conflicted by Yuto's question. Her expression betrayed nothing, but inwardly she was struggling and hesitating.
Finally, she let out a soft sigh.
"Because Kaguya-sama really wanted to eat your cooking."
Yuto was surprised that Hayasaka had answered at all. When she'd fallen silent, he'd assud she wasn't going to tell him the reason.
After all, she hadn't been truthful with him on the way here either.
Hearing Hayasaka's words, Yuto was at a loss for what to say.
'Should I feel proud? Or maybe a little smug?'
A flicker of pleasure ward his heart. Though he maintained a gentle deanor, he had always been confident in his cooking.
Even Senzaemon Nakiri had wanted him to beco an instructor at Totsuki Academy.
There was a reason for that, of course.
But this answer only brought Yuto back to his original question.
"Then... why not just co to the restaurant?" he asked once more.
Hayasaka sighed inwardly.
Was she supposed to tell him the real reason was that her young mistress had such an awkward personality?
The last ti Kaguya left the small restaurant, her departure had been decisive yet baffling.
After such a sudden exit, she had been agonizing over it!
She desperately wanted to eat at the restaurant again, but she was too embarrassed by her abrupt, unannounced departure.
Kaguya was trapped in a cycle of regret and indecision. She worried about the awkwardness of returning and feared that others would laugh at her.
Though she appeared cold and aloof, her inner world was always a whirlwind of activity.
Hayasaka witnessed this conflicted state every day.
Only in front of Hayasaka would Kaguya ever reveal such expressions. Having been by Kaguya's side for a long ti, Hayasaka could guess her thoughts.
She knew her mistress was proud and found it difficult to admit her true feelings.
So, she ca up with the idea of inviting Yuto to cook at their ho.
As a maid, it was her duty to proactively resolve her mistress's troubles and fulfill her wishes. But beyond that, Hayasaka genuinely hoped to see a different side of Kaguya.
Their two visits to the restaurant had shown Hayasaka a side of Kaguya that was completely different from the usual cold "Princess Kaguya."
The change left Hayasaka thrilled and astonished.
The perpetually cold Kaguya was finally showing signs of being a normal girl!
This was the very change Hayasaka had always prayed for.
She had stayed by Kaguya's side, hoping that one day Kaguya would smile like a normal girl.
But over the years she had spent by Kaguya's side, that wish had grown distant.
She had witnessed the Shinomiya family's cold indifference toward Kaguya and heard the cruel taunts from others.
It was as if snowflakes, one by one, had blanketed Kaguya in winter's chill. Buried beneath the snow, Kaguya had grown even colder.
Hayasaka, who had tried to help Kaguya change, finally felt a sense of powerlessness.
In those frigid years, she was Kaguya's only support and friend. But all she could do was be a friend.
She had given up hope of truly changing her.
In this bleak mont, Yuto's appearance reignited Hayasaka's hope.
She had seen with her own eyes how Kaguya's expression shifted as she ate his food. For the first ti, a flicker of sothing called "happiness" appeared in her eyes.
Even if it was just for a fleeting mont, it was enough for Hayasaka to see a chance to change Kaguya.
'Perhaps Yuto's cooking can change Kaguya!'
It was just a guess on Hayasaka's part.
But even if it was only a guess, she was willing to try.
Because she and Kaguya were more than just mistress and servant—they were friends.
...
Yuto watched as Hayasaka fall silent again, feeling a little helpless.
'Is it really that hard to answer that question?'
"Oh, I see."
Seemingly sensing Yuto's helpless gaze, Hayasaka snapped out of her reminiscence.
She first apologized to him, then explained the reason.
She didn't reveal her own thoughts, only ntioning that Kaguya was too worried about potential awkwardness to visit the restaurant.
Although this slightly undermined her mistress's dignity, the mory of the incident with Shinomiya Un'ei still filled Hayasaka with guilt.
Yuto sighed helplessly upon hearing Hayasaka's explanation. He had been wondering what the problem was.
He had guessed that Kaguya might not want to eat at his restaurant because it wasn't high-class enough or for so similar reason.
That was his own assumption. He never expected it to be sothing so trivial.
"Yes, Kaguya-sama tends to overthink things sotis," Hayasaka replied.
"It's really not a big deal. No one would even care," Yuto said with a sigh.
Even though Kaguya had left so abruptly last ti, no one in the restaurant had paid it any mind.
It wasn't as if they were children.
Even if Kaguya ca back, no one would mock her.
Hayasaka's words added another layer to Yuto's perception of Kaguya.
'She really is a sensitive person.'
Gurgle, gurgle...
Just then, Yuto heard the water in the pot co to a boil.
He lifted the lid.
The broth had already turned a milky white, and a rich, savory aroma filled the air. And this was just from simring a single fish head.
He added a few slices of ginger. Ginger enhances the flavor of at, and adding it directly to the soup would make the broth even more fragrant and llow.
Next, he placed the pre-sliced tofu cubes into the pot.
He continued simring the soup, planning to check it again in about eight minutes. Yuto turned the heat to dium and began preparing the remaining fish body.
Wasting so much fish at just to make soup seed like a real sha. Instead, he decided to make sothing special with the fish body.
Since the fish head tofu soup was light and refreshing, the fish body deserved a more substantial treatnt.
After adding the fish head to the pot, Yuto started marinating the fish body. He stuffed the cavity with ginger, scallions, and a splash of cooking wine.
Raw fish can be quite fishy, and this flavor needed to be eliminated.
The marinating ti was just right. With the fishy sll gone, Yuto removed the ginger and scallions from the cavity.
He then arranged the fish on a steaming plate. A drizzle of soy sauce and a sprinkle of fernted soybeans completed the seasoning.
Finally, he placed the plate in the stear and began steaming the fish.
Stead fish is always simple.
So simple that it often requires no additional seasoning. Fish is synonymous with freshness, and extra seasonings would only mask its natural flavor.
While Yuto was busy with the fish, Hayasaka had already left.
She checked the ti
It was about ti Kaguya would be returning as she went to the entrance to greet her.
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