Chapter-16: New acquaintances.

Chapter-16: New acquaintances.

Making his way along the long route, Soma finally comes across a run-down Western-style mansion that has been embraced by the roots of the "North Star Dorm".

When he opened the door, he saw that there was a recent acquaintance of his who had defeated him in a culinary duel.

- Hiro! Hey, so you're going to be living in this dorm, too? I just didn't see you on the way here! - Soma asked excitedly.

- Yes, but I'm also surprised to see you here, Soma. - Hiro replied.

Hearing a commotion in the hall, Fumio came out of the kitchen and saw a new person.

- You must be Yukihira Soma, another translation student who was going to stay here. I'm Daimido Fumio, the caretaker of this dorm.

- Nice to meet you, you already know me, but I'll introduce myself anyway. My name is Yukihira Soma! - After saying that, Soma was about to go with Hiro to his room when the caretaker stopped him.

- Not so fast, all the people who want to stay here have to cook to get through. - Fumio interrupted their little reunion.

- Can't you just let me pass, since you already have something to eat? - Soma asked, pointing to the cookies.

- No, that's the rule here. If you can't do that, set up camp outside.

- Oh, very well. In any case, I'm hungry, so I can cook something to eat. - Soma said and went to the kitchen to collect the ingredients.

As in the canon, the Soma uses canned mackerel, as it is the only thing that can be used as meat. He mixes it with onions, peppers and other vegetables, then makes small cutlets and fries. Then he starts making the sauce while the cutlet is being cooked.

- Here are some snacks for you, since you've already eaten.

Soma served the dorm hostess his dish - a small fish pie with yellow dipping sauce.

- Let's see what you can do, new boy. - Fumio said, and tasted the pie.

And then the hot taste of the pie hits her like a whip, sensually and pleasantly.

Wanting to experience it again, she takes another bite. The taste of the pie hit her like a sharp whip every time she bit into it.

- Yes, more!

Fumio walked towards Soma with an ecstatic expression on her face.

- What?!... - Soma shouted, which brought Fumio to his senses. - Try it with the sauce, it's made of egg, milk, and sugar. - Soma said.

After doing as Soma said, Fumio ate the pie along with the sauce.

The pie tasted completely different. With the sweet sauce softening the pungency, it was like relaxing in a hot spring bath after the excitement the four of them were experiencing.

When she turns to face Soma and Hiro. She suddenly looks younger, all her wrinkles are gone, and she looks like she's almost glowing.

- Whoo... that was good! - she takes a deep breath, feeling as if she's been repainted.

- Anyway, you're coming through, here you go! - Fumio said, handing over the keys to room 303.

- Thank you, Fumio-san! - Soma says, taking another bite of the pie he made for himself and leaving the kitchen, followed by Hiro.

- You want some?

- I'm not going to be like her, am I? - Hiro asked.

- Just try it! - Soma shouted, remembering the recent attack.

Hiro shrugged and left the kitchen. He went up the stairs and searched for his room number for a while. His room was quite neat and clean, with a full set of furniture inside.

After sorting out the luggage, Hiro grabbed a towel and left the room. At the Polar Star, the rooms didn't have a private bath, except for the one in Fumio's room. All the inhabitants here share 3 bathrooms together, as Fumio just said.

Hiro went to the nearest bathroom and found it locked. Realizing that it was occupied, he went to another bathroom, but also found that it was locked. In desperation, he could go to the last one and hope that there is no one there. Finding the third bath unlocked, he immediately opened the door.

Hiro's eyes suddenly widened as he saw the beautiful view in front of him. He opened his mouth and found that he really had nothing to say.

--- Kyayaya ---

Hearing the scream, Hiro quickly closed the door before anyone else could hear him. Fortunately, the bathroom was sound-proofed enough that the moment he closed the door, nothing could be heard from outside.

Hiro wanted to go back to his room to avoid embarrassment, but he decided to act like a real man, not a coward!

Five minutes later, the bathroom door opened again, revealing a blue-haired girl.

- I'm sorry! I didn't know if anyone was inside! - Hiro said with a confused face as he had nothing more to say.

- Ah...ah.. well, it's not your fault. It's my fault I didn't lock the door. - the blue-haired girl said. Her entire face was completely red, which made Hiro worry if steam would come out of the top of her head. - Y-you're new, aren't you?

- Yes, I'm Hiroto Ichijou, you can just call me Hiro.

- Nice to meet you, I-I'm Todokoro Megumi – she said, still blushing.

- I'm sorry again, but would you like to try the dishes I made for Miss Fumio? - Hiro quickly changed the subject to avoid further embarrassment.

Megumi nodded slowly and quickly ran away, covering her face with a towel. Hiro at the thought of what he had just seen, some part of his body started to worry again…

Hiro quickly went into the bathroom and locked it. There are still many pleasant flavors left. Just as he was about to put down his towel, he suddenly saw the underwear lying there.

Hiro didn't know what to do. Just ignore it? Yes, of course, he wasn't a pervert…

Just as Hiro was wondering if the hostess would return to pick up what she had forgotten, there was a sudden, hurried knock on the door.

Hiro sighed as he opened the door. Sure enough, it was Megumi, standing there with a worried red face.

- It's...here...I forgot something inside! - Megumi said hurriedly.

Hiro, without saying anything, made way for Megumi, who entered at the speed of light, took a white set of underwear and hid it from Hiro's view. after that, she quickly left the bathroom.

Hiro shook his head and closed the bathroom door again.

…

After finishing dinner with Megumi, Hiro returned to his room to rest. When he was lying on the bed, trying to sleep, when suddenly one of the tiles on the ceiling moved away, and a guy appeared in it.

- Hello! - he said with a smile.

Hiro immediately got up from the bed.

- Hello! May I ask who you are? - although Hiro already knew the man's identity.

- Come to room 205 if you want to know. - after these words, the guy closed the ceiling again.

Hiro sighed, as his plan to sleep had definitely failed. It looks like he needs to meet with the other residents of the Polar Star Dorm tonight.

As soon as Hiro opened the door of Room 205, he immediately saw the lively atmosphere inside. There were many familiar people inside, including Soma, Ryoko, and Megumi.

Sitting next to Ryouko was Yoshino Yuki, who was currently checking her nails. Yuki is a petite young girl with turquoise eyes and amber hair neatly arranged in two buns on the sides of her head.

Next to Yuki, two people were fighting, Aoki Daigo and Shoji Sato. Daigo has spiky black hair with long sideburns. He has tanned skin and a well-built body. At the same time, Sato has dark blond hair, cut in a semi-Mohawk style, with the edges having a darker color.

Then there's Marui Zenji, who is currently fighting with the brawler, Daigo, and Sato. Marui has short black hair and black eyes. He wears glasses.

Next to Soma is a recent acquaintance of Hiro-Tadokoro Megumi, who is depressed. Megumi has long dark blue hair with two braids, and a flower clip on the right side of her hair. She has yellow eyes and a tiny figure

Sitting next to Megumi was Ibusaki Shun. Shun has medium, shaggy brown hair. His bangs are particularly long and hide his eyes. They then turned their attention to Hiro, who was currently looking at them.

- Welcome to the party. Hiroto Ichijo, isn't it? I'm Satoshi Ishiki, your senpai. I'm sorry about what just happened, but it's necessary. - the man who had called him here introduced himself.

- Hi everyone, my name is Hiroto Ichijou, you can just call me Hiro, please take care of me! - Hiro formally introduced himself.

- Good to see you here! - Ryoko said with a smile.

After a few more performances, the party officially started.

...

- Here, Yukihira, Hiro, take this! - as she poured the cloudy white drink into the glasses, she continued. - I never thought that someone could pass the Fumio-san test so easily.

- Nothing special. - Soma replied, holding the plastic cup Ryoko had given him.

- What caused your problems? - Hiro asked with a cheeky smile.

- ...it's just that not everyone passes the first time, which is why it's amazing. - Ryoko said with a sad smile.

- By the way, is it okay that we walk in the middle of the night? Hiro asked, changing the subject.

- Nothing, since the hostel is located in the forest. Ryoko replied.

- Hey, guys, I made a stew! Somebody get down here and get it! - Suddenly, Fumio's voice came from the old radio tube.

- Daigo, Shoji, go get the stew! Be sure to come back before she starts talking about the Elite Ten again.

- And what is this Elite Ten? - Soma asked curiously.

- Ha, you seriously don't know about this? - Ryouko asked back.

- The Elite Ten Council is a committee made up of the academy's top students. They are the highest decision-making body in Totsuki. It consists of 10 students. - Ishiki explained.

Hiro and Soma just listened from the sidelines. While Hiro wasn't interested since he already knew them, Soma still listened enthusiastically.

Hiro was still listening from time to time, sipping the drink Ryouko had made. At this time, Daigo and Shoji finally returned with the Dishes that Fumio had prepared.

At the same time, everyone else brings their own meals. Daigo and Shoji with their tempura, Yuki with her animal dishes, and so on.

…

Because of Ryoko's Sake, everyone inevitably got drunk. Not everyone went back to their rooms. Instead, they were just lying all over the floor.

Hiro suddenly woke up, smelling a pleasant aroma. When he opened his eyes, he saw Ishiki naked in an apron, who was currently having a cooking match. Curious, Hiro walked over to Ibusaki, who was leaning back against a bookshelf.

- Hey, Ibusaki-san, what are they doing there? - Hiro asked Ibusaki, even though he already knew what they were both doing because he had seen this scene in the manga and anime.

- The two of them are having a cooking match, as well as Hiro, you don't need to speak formally, just call me Ibusaki. - Ibusaki said, and Hiro just nodded in agreement.

- Wait, are they having a fight? Why? - Yuki asked excitedly. Ibusaki just shook his head, all the while the four of them were looking intently at the two guys who were giving off an aura of struggle.

After a long wait, Soma finally brought his dish. Hiro then examined the dish Soma had prepared and ignored the other conversations.

- As expected from Soma, he always makes mixed dishes. - Hiro thought.

Then he tasted the dish, and felt the taste of green tea, which warms his body, the combination of fish and rice, merged with the taste of green tea, has a soft texture.

- Delicious! - Hiro said in amazement.

But the taste of the food still doesn't compete with mine! Hiro thought confidently. When they were done, they went to their rooms.

As for Marui's promise of "I'll help you clean up your room", they all decided to forget it.