[94] Stirring Shizuka's Emotions

Not only had his culinary prowess soared, but his physical abilities module was also teetering on the edge of reaching level four, just a hair's breadth away.

Hachiman scooped a few strands of Misua into Kamakura's food bowl before shifting his gaze to Komachi and Shizuka, who were savoring his cooking with great enthusiasm. A faintly helpless expression played on his face.

"Komachi, I won't say much about you, but Shizuka-sensei, are you still a child? How did you manage to get food all over your mouth?"

Hachiman's words brought a blush to Shizuka's face, causing a hint of embarrassment.

"Well, it's simply because your cooking is exceptionally delectable," she replied.

"Yeah, Onii-chan's dishes are unbelievably scrumptious," Komachi chimed in.

Hachiman modestly smiled. Although his culinary skills had reached level four, surpassing most students at Totsuki Culinary Academy and instilling him with the confidence to challenge some of the lower-ranked members of the Ten Elites, he knew he still had a long journey ahead compared to outstanding Totsuki graduates like Shinomiya Kojiro, Mizuhara Fuyumi, and Hinako Inui. Not to mention culinary prodigies like Yukihira Joichiro and Dojima Gin, who stood at the pinnacle of culinary mastery.

"Both of you should sample some of the Bicol Express, shredded cabbage and Ensalada as well, not just the meat," Hachiman suggested.

Upon hearing his words, both Shizuka and Komachi momentarily set aside their skirmish with the asado and redirected their attention to the other three dishes.

Guided by the tantalizing aroma that drifted toward them, Shizuka was the first to dive in. She scooped a spoonful of the Bicol Express, ensuring it was generously coated with the spicy sauce and minced meat before taking her first bite.

The initial taste was searingly hot, but swiftly followed was a stimulating spiciness that tingled across her taste buds, enveloping her entire palate. Her salivary glands went into overdrive.

Second bite, third bite, fourth bite... and then a generous scoop of rice to quench the heat.

"Phew... that's incredible. Bicol Express pairs splendidly with rice," Shizuka exclaimed, a glimmer of sweat on her forehead after swallowing.

"Really? Let me give it a try."

Intrigued by Shizuka's reaction, Komachi mimicked her and scooped a spoonful of Bicol Express with the white sauce into her mouth.

"Ha~~ It's so spicy!" However, she struggled with the spiciness compared to Shizuka. Despite Hachiman having toned down the heat level in this Bicol Express dish, it still prompted her to stick out her tongue in discomfort. She had to take a mouthful of rice to soothe the spice.

Observing Komachi's reaction, Hachiman offered a gentle smile and passed her a glass of water.

"Don't worry, Komachi. If the spiciness is too much for you, there's no need to force it. Give the shredded cabbage a try instead."

"Mmm... I didn't expect it to be this spicy." After sipping from the glass of water, Komachi regarded the Bicol Express with caution. Her attention then shifted to the plate of shredded cabbage.

She selected a forkful and placed it in her mouth. The crisp cabbage leaves carried a subtle sweetness, and the pork slices had been cooked to a delightful crispiness, delivering a mouthful of rich flavors.

"This dish is amazing too! You truly are the best, Onii-chan."

"Haha, if it's to your liking, feel free to have more. In the future, I'll prepare whatever you desire."

"Yay, Onii-chan is the best!"

As Shizuka observed the heartwarming exchange between the siblings, a hint of envy washed over her. In recent times, she often found herself alone after work, either frequenting izakayas or ordering takeout when she returned to her apartment.

Whenever she visited her parents' home, they would persistently inquire about arranged dates. Each time she returned, her parents would subtly bring up marriages and her cousins starting families.

Shizuka felt a growing sense of frustration. It wasn't that she chose to remain single; she simply hadn't encountered the right person yet.

Yet, as she contemplated the idea of finding the right life partner, her gaze inevitably gravitated toward Hachiman. In her eyes, he possessed an admirable personality, cared deeply for his sister, held the status of a renowned light novel author, and, most importantly, exhibited extraordinary culinary skills. If only he were about a decade older, he would be the ideal candidate for a boyfriend.

She indulged in another delightful bite of the scrumptious dish, savoring it with her eyes momentarily closed, a sense of contentment washing over her.

If only she could enjoy such exquisite meals every evening after a long day at work. But alas, he was too young...

A trace of regret tinged Shizuka's gaze as it settled on Hachiman.

"What's troubling you, Shizuka-sensei?" Hachiman noticed her contemplative look and found himself perplexed.

"N-Nothing," Shizuka quickly averted her eyes, choosing to immerse herself in the meal. She inwardly chastised herself for entertaining such thoughts about her student.

Casting an inquisitive glance at Shizuka, Hachiman resumed his dinner. In any case, the evening meal at the Hikigaya household continued as usual...

.......

Tokyo, Kadokawa Bunko Publishing.

Sonoko, who had just concluded her day's work, stretched, displaying her attractively well-proportioned figure.

At that precise moment, a female administrative staff member, bearing a fairly pleasant appearance, entered the room and presented a document to her.

"Editor Machida, these are today's sales figures for 'Sword Art Online'!"

"Thank you, Kyoko." Sonoko expressed her gratitude and accepted the sales report for her perusal.

"Let's see... how many copies did Hachiman's latest volume sell today..." Her eyes widened upon glimpsing the sales figures.

"Over 15,000 copies in a single day!"

Selling over 10,000 copies in a day was already considered legendary in the industry. Even the esteemed author Senju Muramasa, known for "The Legend Of Phantom Blade," only occasionally surpassed that number on her best days. This was nothing short of miraculous.

With the potential for continued success, Sonoko clutched the sales report and rapped on the door of the chief editor's office.

"Knock knock!"

"Come in."

"Here are today's sales figures for 'Sword Art Online,'" Sonoko handed over the sales report and began.

"15,600 copies!" The chief editor was taken aback when he saw the sales numbers, a rare crack in his usually composed demeanor.

"Yes," Sonoko confirmed with a nod.

"I propose we initiate an immediate reprint. The initial batch of 50,000 copies won't last more than ten days."

"Absolutely. I'll notify the printing company to add another 100,000, no, make it 200,000 more copies." Upon hearing her suggestion, the middle-aged chief editor swiftly made a decision.

"Machida, you must monitor the book's sales meticulously. Report to me daily."

"Furthermore, instruct the publicity department to intensify their efforts. I want every teenager in Japan to be acquainted with the name 'Sword Art Online.'"

"I'm on the verge of launching Kadokawa Bunko's 'Deity Creation Plan.'"

Even though he was in his forties, the chief editor seemed to exhibit a touch of chuunibyou in this moment.