"Sigh..." Yuto let out a soft breath.
He glanced once more at the clock hanging on the wall.
The timer was up.
He stood up straight and adjusted his apron. He walked over to the stove, reached out, and lifted the heavy iron lid.
Bubble, bubble...
Inside the pot, a thick, dark-amber broth bubbled continuously.
The heavy, rolling bubbles burst around the tender chunks of beef, soft potatoes, and cauliflower.
The gentle, rolling boil acted like a lever, gently swaying the heavy meat chunks back and forth in the rich sauce.
The cauliflower had already softened perfectly, absorbing the dark broth.
The potatoes had taken on a deep, golden-yellow hue, their edges slightly melted to naturally thicken the stew.
Yuto grabbed a pair of cooking chopsticks and gently poked a thick piece of beef.
It was springy, yet incredibly tender. The chopstick sank in with just the right amount of resistance. Such a perfect texture meant the braising time was flawless.
The meat was cooked all the way through while retaining its natural, juicy elasticity.
For the taste buds, this specific texture was an exquisite, heavy delight.
Yuto turned off the gas flame.
He took down a wide ceramic bowl. He used a slotted spoon to scoop a generous mountain of tender beef into the center.
Then, he ladled the soft, golden potatoes and arranged them neatly atop the meat.
Next, he picked up the dark, flavor-soaked cauliflower florets and arranged them in a clean ring around the edge of the bowl.
Finally, he grabbed a ladle and poured a massive scoop of the thick, rich, bubbling gravy over everything, letting it cascade down the mountain of food.
Yuto could confidently guarantee that this single bowl was far heavier and more substantial than any stew served in a high-end commercial restaurant.
He was a chef with a conscience after all, he didn't skimp on portions!
Carrying the heavy steaming bowl, he walked out of the kitchen and over to the girl who was still fast asleep.
'She really is a heavy sleeper,' he mused.
Yuto reached out and gently patted her elbow.
"Wake up. The stew is ready."
Asuna slowly opened her amber eyes, blinking away the heavy haze of sleep.
Still somewhat dazed, she sat up and stretched her arms high over her head, letting out a soft yawn.
The heavy stretch inadvertently pressed her uniform tight against her chest, showcasing her figure in a very alluring way.
Fortunately, Yuto was accustomed to dealing with all sorts of chaotic beauty.
Even faced with such unguarded sight, he managed to keep his expression perfectly calm and respectful.
"Yuuki-san?" he called out softly, trying to ground her.
Hearing her name, the girl's sleepy expression vanished instantly.
Her brain rebooted, and she suddenly became aware of her current situation and the position she was in.
She abruptly dropped her arms, her posture snapping rigid.
She shot an incredibly panicked awkward glance at Yuto.
A heavy, dark blush rapidly crawled up her neck and painted her adorable face red, looking like an intoxicating autumn sunset.
At this exact moment, she resembled a startled kitten that had just been caught doing something incredibly embarrassing.
Yuto just shook his head slightly, an amused smile on his lips.
He placed the heavy, steaming bowl of stew gently on the counter in front of her.
"Here is your stew. Careful, it's very hot. Taste it," Yuto offered gently.
The girl nodded instinctively, her eyes glued to the food.
Feeling too embarrassed by her unguarded stretching, she firmly averted her gaze, refusing to look Yuto in the eye.
Thinking back to what had just happened, her racing heart found it incredibly difficult to settle down!
"Just now..." Asuna began to speak, but hesitated.
Her expression shifted like gathering clouds, uncertain and guarded.
She wanted to ask but didn't dare. The turmoil in her heart mirrored a tangled ball of yarn.
"It won't taste as good once it cools down." Yuto chuckled softly, watching the conflicted girl.
His words made Asuna pause her inner debate.
She shifted her attention to the small bowl of stew before her. Potatoes and meat chunks rested in a scattered pattern, with cauliflower adorning the sides.
The rich broth reflected tiny glimmers of light.
Asuna twitched her nose. In that instant, it felt like stepping into a warm, spring breeze.
The shyness she felt moments ago faded away in the presence of the aroma, leaving behind pure admiration.
She loved cooking too, even though her upbringing didn't allow her to indulge in it often.
Because she cherished it so deeply, she could easily distinguish between exceptional and ordinary dishes.
The bowl of stewed meat before her was a realm she hadn't encountered before. People who haven't seen towering mountains don't realize their own insignificance.
At this moment, Asuna felt a deep, humbling sense of disparity.
She gently picked up a spoon and took a bite, as the food hit her tongue, her eyes widened.
Seeing this, Yuto's lips curved into a faint smile.
He always enjoyed seeing this reaction from people tasting his cooking.
"Is it delicious?" he asked softly.
Asuna hadn't even swallowed yet, but her eyes sparkled with delight as she nodded.
"It's a pity there's no rice right now, or it would taste even better," Yuto smiled helplessly.
It was only noon.
Usually, he'd be resting right now and wouldn't start steaming rice until the afternoon.
At this hour, the restaurant only had leftover cold rice from the previous night sitting in the refrigerator.
He guessed the young lady wouldn't want to eat that.
Hearing Yuto's words, Asuna looked a bit disappointed, but it didn't stop her from enjoying the meal.
In no time, she emptied the bowl.
Yuto was slightly surprised, he thought Asuna would eat more slowly, but she finished it fast.
"Thank you very much." The girl clasped her hands together, looking adorable.
Yuto let out a soft chuckle.
"Kamisaka-kun, with such great skills, why do you run your restaurant here?" Asuna asked, her expression puzzled.
Yuto sighed lightly, feeling like he'd answered this question a dozen times.
Looking into the girl's eyes, he felt a strong sense of déjà vu.
"This place is just fine; I don't plan to go anywhere else." He didn't feel like explaining much and gave a brief reply.
Asuna tactfully didn't press further.
Instead, she let her imagination run wild.
'Running a secluded little restaurant deep in the red-light district... he must have been through a lot,' she thought.
As she pondered, her expression shifted, and her gaze toward Yuto filled with sympathy and sorrow.
This made Yuto want to complain.
'Don't just imagine all sorts of messy things!'
"When does Kamisaka-kun's restaurant officially open for business?" Asuna seemed to realize she shouldn't show her feelings so openly and quickly changed the subject.
Yuto didn't care much about what she was thinking anymore and calmly answered.
Learning that the restaurant only officially opened at 7 p.m., Asuna nodded, though a hint of confusion lingered on her brow.
"Why don't you open during the day?" she asked curiously.
"During the day, I sometimes have other things to do. Operating at night ensures I won't be disturbed much," Yuto explained.
Asuna's expression grew concerned. "Then, Kamisaka-kun, don't you rest at all?"
"No, I don't need rest."
Yuto was telling the truth.
Ever since his physical enhancements, his mental fortitude had grown strong.
Right now, he still felt full of energy!
The girl took his words as a joke, covering her mouth with a light laugh.
"So Kamisaka-kun is a superhuman who doesn't need sleep."
Yuto knew she wouldn't believe him, so he simply smiled along with her teasing.
"Then, Kamisaka-kun, don't you go to school either?"
Hearing her words, Yuto felt a wave of emotion.
'School? That was so many years ago...' He shook his head.
This gesture made Asuna's imagination run even wilder.
'A young boy who doesn't go to school, running a secluded little restaurant all alone deep in the red-light district.'
These elements instantly wove together into a tragic backstory in Asuna's mind.
Her gaze toward Yuto grew heavy with sorrow!
Yuto was baffled by her expression.
'What on earth are you thinking?'
"Sorry, I asked too much," she apologized, looking remorseful.
She seemed to feel she'd overstepped.
Yuto felt helpless, but explaining would be too troublesome.
He'd just let her misunderstand, It isn't like there's much to lose.
"Did you teach yourself how to cook?" After a moment of reflection, Asuna asked another question.
Yuto shook his head.
His culinary skills were something he'd formally studied in his previous life.
Back then, he abandoned his academic studies to specialize in cooking. His current achievements were earned through solid, hard work and suffering.
"It must be because I truly loved cooking that I chose to learn it."
Looking back, Yuto felt that without that initial passion, he'd never have endured it all.
Seeing Yuto nod, traces of gloom flickered in the girl's eyes.
"I really envy you. Being able to freely pursue the culinary path you love must be so joyful." Her tone carried a deep sense of melancholy and helplessness.
Yuto could roughly guess her situation from her expression.
"In the end, you have to walk your own path," Yuto said quietly.
This was the lesson he'd learned from living two lifetimes.
No one else's advice could bring as much joy as the path you carve out for yourself through trial and error.
Hearing Yuto's words, Asuna's eyes brightened for a moment but quickly dimmed again.
She'd heard such reasoning countless times before.
She pushed aside her frustration and turned her gaze back to Yuto.
"Kamisaka-kun, would you like to try my cooking?"
It was a sudden whim.
They were both the same age, and after their conversation, they'd become familiar with each other.
That was why she felt so at ease.
Besides, she was, by nature, a generous and cheerful girl!
Hearing this, Yuto was taken aback, but he nodded gently.
Since he had nothing to do at the moment, trying her cooking seemed like a good idea.
"Alright! Then I'll have to ask for your guidance later!" Asuna stood up.
Her tone was cheerful, and her eyes were bright.
Yuto inexplicably felt she looked much more beautiful at this moment.
Perhaps it was because she truly loved cooking.
That was why she shone so brightly!
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