Chapter 28: The Grand Barbecue
Around midday, the group, still clad in their swimwear, enjoyed lunch at the Beach House's open-air seaside restaurant. The wooden dining table was laden with an assortment of seafood: translucent slices of sashimi were arranged neatly over a bed of crushed ice, the grains of rice beneath the nigiri sushi were plump and tightly packed, and various freshly prepared raw seafood platters exuded the subtle, crisp aroma of the ocean.
Hikaru Hoshino quietly ordered several portions of shrimp tempura, their golden, crispy batter gleaming enticingly under the sunlight.
"Does Hikaru-kun not like seafood?" Ai asked curiously, using her chopsticks to lift a slice of salmon sashimi whose tender, pink flesh looked exceptionally fresh.
Hikaru shook his head. "It's not so much that I dislike seafood, but rather that I'm not quite used to eating raw food."
"Are you afraid of parasites?" Aqua set down his chopsticks, stating with a serious demeanor, "There is indeed a legitimate risk of that."
Ichigo Saitou ate a slice of sashimi dipped heavily in wasabi, tears instantly welling up in his eyes from the pungent kick, yet he pushed through to insist, "You're overthinking it. Japan's raw-grade food processing is highly mature, with strict low-temperature cold chain management enforced from harvest all the way to transportation. You really don't need to worry about that aspect."
"That concern is part of it, but the bigger reason boils down to the texture," Hikaru countered, taking a bite of his shrimp tempura. "My palate prefers much heavier flavors. My favorite way to eat is having food thoroughly grilled and seasoned with a ton of spices."
Miyako turned it over in her mind before chiming in, "That sounds like the barbecue culture over in China, doesn't it? Around here, people usually just sprinkle a bit of salt and soy sauce."
Ai cut in, "Come to think of it, Hikaru-kun has cooked Chinese cuisine before too. When exactly did your tastes start changing like that?"
*I'll just have to lie here,* Hikaru thought. *Transmigration is way too absurd; there's absolutely no way I can voice the truth.*
"After losing my memory, I traveled around China for a period of time, and my tastes changed during that trip," Hikaru explained, keeping his tone as natural as possible.
"Hmm, I feel like you've mentioned that before." Ai tried to recall, but the memory eluded her.
Aqua instinctively sensed that something was amiss, a profound wave of cognitive dissonance washing over him. *Come to think of it, when exactly did this guy, Hikaru Hoshino, lose his memory?*
The announcement regarding his amnesia had been made public by the agency around the time of the Tokyo Dome concert. As for the specific phrasing used, Aqua possessed an exceptional memory and could still recall it clearly even now: "The renowned actor Hikaru Kamiki accidentally fell from a cliff while traveling to Miyazaki for a retreat. Following emergency resuscitation, his life is no longer in danger; however, he has exhibited symptoms of amnesia and schizophrenia. He has now taken the name 'Hikaru Hoshino' and has temporarily suspended his entertainment activities."
Back when the Ishie incident occurred, Aqua had personally confronted him. At that time, Hikaru Hoshino had claimed he wasn't entirely clear on his own past, spitting out a barrage of lies that had left Aqua thoroughly infuriated.
*So, this guy first went to Miyazaki, immediately tumbled off a cliff, subsequently bolted off to China, and finally returned to Japan to have the agency publicize his amnesia?*
Aqua furrowed his brows, staring intently at Hikaru. *If that's the literal truth, this guy is actually quite a survivor. To lose your memory from a cliff fall, travel to a completely foreign country where you don't know a soul, and somehow make it back alive.*
However, he noticed another detail that warranted attention–the specific diagnosis.
Having attended medical school in his past life, Aqua was quite knowledgeable on these matters. Amnesia was a memory impairment typically triggered by physical trauma, disease, or psychological shock. Schizophrenia, on the other hand, was a chronic mental disorder primarily characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking. These were two entirely distinct medical conditions; why would they be conflated so vaguely and ambiguously?
It was almost as if...
The guy himself had no clue what was actually wrong with him, nor had he ever sought a professional diagnosis from a qualified physician.
*No way.* Aqua was startled by his own line of reasoning.
While Aqua was trapped in his web of suspicion, Hikaru rapidly polished off his tempura and immediately declared, "It's settled then! Tonight, we're having a barbecue!"
"I mean, the beach and a barbecue are the ultimate combination, right? Does anyone second the motion?"
"I want to eat!" Ai immediately raised her hand.
"Me too!" Ruby echoed with equal excitement.
Hikaru quickly jogged over to consult the staff of the Beach House. The older gentleman running the place enthusiastically informed him that grilling equipment was available for rent, and that they could supply charcoal and basic seasonings as well.
"The rest of you keep playing this afternoon; I'll head out to source some ingredients," Hikaru said, returning to the table.
Miyako raised her hand. "Can I tag along too?"
Following their afternoon rest, Ichigo Saitou took Ai and the twins to play beach volleyball, while Miyako and Hikaru changed back into their casual clothes, heading into the small town to hunt for ingredients. The sea breeze brushed softly against their cheeks, the streets filled with a blended aroma of sea salt and blooming flowers.
"I'm guessing you intend to make Chinese-style barbecue?" Miyako probed tentatively as they walked.
"Incredibly sharp of you," Hikaru laughed.
"Since that's the case, I can't afford to hold back either." Miyako halted her steps, turning around to face Hikaru as a formidable aura radiated from her. "I can't just let you steal the spotlight all by yourself."
"Let's split up here to procure our ingredients and sauces individually. When evening comes, I challenge you to a duel to see whether your Chinese barbecue is superior, or if my traditional Japanese grilling reigns supreme."
Hikaru's competitive drive was instantly sparked. "Fine, it's a wager."
When a person is driven by a definitive goal, their perception of time tends to warp. By the time Hikaru finalized his shopping and rushed back to the beach lugging massive bags of ingredients, he realized that evening had already arrived. The setting sun dipped low, painting the entire beach in a rich golden hue as the waves lapped gently against the shore.
Two grilling stations had already been set up alongside long wooden tables, with a bonfire crackling nearby, its orange-red flames dancing in the sea breeze. Miyako had already beaten him back and was actively prepping her ingredients.
Having learned of the impending culinary battle between Miyako and Hikaru, the rest of the group expressed immense interest.
"Ai, whose cooking are you looking forward to more?" Miyako asked casually.
Ai hesitated for a brief moment before murmuring softly, "Hikaru-kun's."
After all, she had tasted Hikaru's cooking before; leaving his main dishes aside, his fried rice was truly spectacular.
"What about Aqua and Ruby then?" Miyako pressed on, a trace of reluctance in her voice.
"Miyako's." "I'm excited for both!"
Aqua and Ruby offered their respective verdicts.
Before long, Hikaru finished setting up his station; everything was locked and loaded. His seasoning section resembled a miniature spice market: salt, cumin, five-spice powder, chili powder, Sichuan peppercorn powder, oyster sauce, and authentic barbecue rubs imported from China–various jars and bottles arranged in pristine order.
The adjacent ingredient station was even more diverse: marinated lamb skewers, sliced pork belly, chicken wings, sausages, Chinese chives, enoki mushrooms, eggplants, corn, tofu skin skewers, rice cakes, and even a few live, flopping squids.
In contrast, Miyako's setup was more streamlined. Her sauces consisted of traditional teriyaki glaze, miso paste, and shio-tare (salt sauce), while her ingredients featured an array of chicken cuts for yakitori: chicken thigh, breast, skin, hearts, and gizzards, alongside onions, mushrooms, and a selection of seafood she had specially selected.
The moment Ichigo gave the command, the two chefs simultaneously commenced cooking. Illuminated by the bonfire, the other four sat around the table, placing orders based on the available spreads.
The moment anyone raised a hand to request a specific item along with their preferred flavor profile, the two cooks would rapidly grill it to completion.
Because Hikaru's selection was more varied and carried a sense of novelty, his station received a significantly higher frequency of orders; after all, people are inherently eager to try things they've never encountered before.
Hikaru's movements possessed a rhythmic cadence–his left hand flipping the skewers while his right hand dusted them with spices. The cumin and chili powder sizzled loudly against the red-hot charcoal, instantly throwing off an incredible aroma. One moment he was using a brush to glaze oyster sauce onto the meats, and the next he was throwing down a handful of peppercorn powder, his technique as seasoned as that of a veteran street vendor.
Miyako's execution, meanwhile, was far more elegant. She gently rotated her chicken skewers, meticulously painting each piece with teriyaki sauce using a small brush, occasionally dusting them with flakes of sea salt. Her heat control was absolutely immaculate, lending each cut of meat an alluring, caramelized sheen.
Before long, the bulk of the ingredients had been thoroughly consumed, leaving the four diners stuffed to the brim as they reclined against their chairs, gazing up at the starlit sky.
"I ate way too much," Ai patted her flat little stomach, letting out a satisfied sigh.
"This is absolute bliss," Ruby murmured, rubbing her rounded belly.
"Thank you for the feast," Aqua stated politely.
Ichigo let out a hearty burp. "This Hikaru Hoshino fellow uses some incredibly heavy seasonings. So this is what Chinese barbecue is like?"
Hikaru answered immediately, "No, Chinese barbecue actually encompasses a massive variety of regional styles. Not every area leans toward heavy flavors; there are plenty of regions where the profile is relatively light and clean."
Hearing this, Aqua thought to himself: *He really must have spent a legitimate amount of time in China; he seems incredibly knowledgeable about the place.*
Miyako and Hikaru stood behind their respective grills, waiting for the final verdict. The sea breeze tugged at the corners of their clothes as the bonfire danced against the dark backdrop of the night.
Ichigo cleared his throat. "Alright, the final results are officially in. Let's find out who the ultimate victor is. We invite our judges to voice their thoughts."
Ai cast an apologetic glance toward Miyako. "Miyako, I'm sorry. As expected, I still prefer Hikaru-kun's barbecue more."
Ruby reminisced about the flavor of the squid. "Me too! The variety of ingredients was just so amazing!"
Aqua glanced at Miyako, formulating his words carefully. "I actually preferred Miyako's. The yakitori selections were extensive, and the meat was incredibly tender."
Ichigo sat up straight. "Without a shadow of a doubt, Miyako's was the superior culinary experience. True gastronomy is all about highlighting the natural flavor of the ingredients themselves!"
Miyako, however, let out a soft sigh. "No, because of exactly that, I lost today. The ingredients I purchased weren't of exceptional quality, which left a noticeable earthiness in the seafood."
"Whereas Hikaru's method relied on a complex blend of spices, completely masking those flaws with sheer aroma. It's my loss."
"It seems luck was simply on my side today," Hikaru said with a gentle smile.
The nighttime beach was profoundly quiet, the ocean waves lapping against the shore in a rhythmic, soothing cadence as the bonfire cast jumping, orange-red reflections across the sand.
Amidst the serene stillness, Ai spoke up softly, "Let's definitely come out to the beach to play again sometime."
Hikaru looked up at the night sky, offering a warm, steady nod.
"We will definitely have the chance."
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