[clum! '95 #20] Battle in the Kitchen

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The training camp kitchen is filled with heat and the scent of spices.

I retie the strings of my apron.

Curry for twenty people.

Of course, I've made curry before.

But this is my first time cooking for so many people.

What if I mess up...?

But everyone is looking forward to it.

I, Rei Okamoto, wearing my apron and triangular headscarf, was taking charge with my whole body.

“Alright, the 20 cups of rice are cooked. Next is the vegetables! Hayasaka-kun, could you peel the potatoes, and Oritachi-kun, could you cut the meat into bite-sized pieces?”

“Yes! Leave it to me, Okamoto-senpai!”

“Mm, got it.”

Jin Oritachi-kun and first-year Kazuyori Hayasaka-kun stood in the kitchen without showing any signs of fatigue from practice.

“Okay, I'll cut the carrots too. ...But before that.”

The moment Rei gripped the kitchen knife, a white shadow crept up from behind.

“Wait!! Stop, Rei!”

It's my brother, Tatsuki, wearing a lab coat and safety goggles. For some reason, he's holding a protractor and a caliper.

“...What is it, brother? Don't get in the way.”

“It's about how to cut the carrots! In curry, the basic way to cut root vegetables is the 'rangiri' (rolling cut) to maximize surface area while preventing them from falling apart, but the paper says 37.5 degrees relative to the diagonal is the most beautiful!”

“I don't know any such paper!”

Tatsuki turned to face Hayasaka-kun, who was peeling potatoes next to him.

“Hey Hayasaka-kun! Your way of removing potato eyes is sloppy! You shouldn't underestimate the toxicity of solanine. The correct way is to gouge it out in a cone shape with a 3mm radius and 5mm depth.”

“Ehh!? S-so precise!?”

Hayasaka-kun falls into a panic while still holding the peeler.

Tatsuki then went to Oritachi-kun, who was cutting the meat.

“Oritachi-kun! The direction of the muscle fiber cutting is...”

“...You're noisy.”

Without even looking at Tatsuki, Oritachi-kun continued to cut the pork silently, but at an incredible speed.

I was surprised by how skillful he was, like a professional butcher. Does he cook at home, I wonder?

“I'm hungry. I don't care about angles.”

“Wha... you barbarian! Cooking is science!”

I have to do something about my brother.

I hit the empty pot with a ladle. Clang!

“Brother. ...If you don't move from there right now, for dinner today, you'll only get 'deep-fried carrots (37.5-degree cut)'!”

“!! ...A-alright, I get it. I'll move, okay?”

Yielding to the fear of me and having no dinner, Tatsuki retreated dejectedly to the corner of the kitchen.

“Hmph, I'll just monitor the 'Maillard reaction' from here...”

“Alright, start simmering!”

I put the ingredients into the giant stockpot.

Along with the sound of boiling, an appetizing aroma wafted up.

“Mmm, smells so good...! I can't wait anymore!”

Lured by the smell, Rikka Sano-chan in her jersey poked her head through the kitchen window.

“Okamoto-san! Is it ready yet? Don't you need a taste tester?”

“Ahaha, Sano-san, you have a good nose. ...Yeah, the roux has melted too, let's try tasting it.”

I scooped a little bit of curry onto a small plate, then scooped it up with a spoon.

Sano-san was waiting with her mouth open saying 'ahhh', so I hesitated a little.

But.

Oritachi-kun,

had been stirring the pot longer than anyone else.

That's why.

I wanted him to eat it first.

“Oritachi-kun, since you were stirring it the whole time. ...How is it?”

“!?”

Oritachi-kun seemed surprised by the sudden move, but he looked like he had no choice and took the spoon into his mouth.

“...Mm.”

“H-how is it?”

“...Delicious. Is it a bit soy sauce-y?”

“I'm glad! I added oden broth as a secret ingredient!”

Hearing Oritachi-kun say 'delicious' made me feel very relieved and happy.

Hayasaka-kun and Sano-san, who were watching, started making a fuss.

“That's unfair, Oritachi-kun! Me too!”

“I-I also peeled the potatoes! I removed the toxins!”

“Yes, yes, there's enough for everyone.”

I let everyone taste it one after another with new spoons.

In the corner of the kitchen, only Tatsuki was biting his handkerchief in frustration.

“Y-you guys... Rei's 'ahhh'...! And Oritachi, isn't that an indirect kiss! (Note: The spoons are changed)”

“Brother, you're noisy too! Here, taste it!”

“Mmph! ...U-un, delicious! It's frustrating, but the Japanese-style broth and the pork fat have a wonderful harmony...!”

In the end, even Tatsuki couldn't beat my cooking.

“Curry is finished!”

When the large pot was carried to the cafeteria, cheers erupted from the club members.

Everyone was eagerly stuffing their faces with the curry I served.

“Okamoto-senpai, you could seriously open a restaurant with this!”

“Can I have seconds!”

I was filled with a sense of fulfillment while busily serving seconds.

Next to me, Oritachi-kun, who had finished his portion, stood quietly.

“...Okamoto.”

“Ah, Oritachi-kun. Seconds?”

“No. ...It was heavy, wasn't it, the pot.”

Oritachi-kun looked down at my reddened wrists (because I kept turning the heavy ladle).

“Eh? No, not at all!”

“...I'll do the cleanup later. Okamoto, go sit and eat.”

“Eh, but...”

“It's fine. ...Thanks for the meal.”

A weight rests softly on my head.

When I look up in surprise,

Oritachi-kun was already heading to the sink.

Only where he touched,

I feel like it's getting hot.

...He's unfair.

It's the same with his usual whispering,

he does things like that quite naturally.

...But.

I'm happy to be useful to Oritachi-kun and everyone like this.

I'm really glad I came to the training camp.

Tomorrow too.

The day after tomorrow too.

Until this summer ends.

I hope I can hear everyone say 'delicious'.

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