[71] A Cooking Challenge with Erina

"I do have some culinary skills, and if you don't mind, I can help."

"You?"

Erina raised an exquisitely arched eyebrow upon hearing his words.

"Never mind, having Hisako assist me is sufficient."

While she might not excel in things like kendo, when it came to her culinary skills, Erina was a perfectionist who allowed no room for imperfections.

"Don't worry. If Miss Erina thinks my cooking skills are lacking, she can kick me out at any time." Hachiman persisted, his main goal being to challenge Erina.

As of now, Erina hadn't become one of the Elite Ten, and Hachiman wanted to see if he could surpass her in a culinary showdown.

"Hmph, I..." Just as Erina was about to continue, Senzaemon Nakiri intervened.

"Enough, Erina. Since young Hachiman has confidence in his cooking skills, you two can each prepare a few dishes."

"Yes, Grandpa..." Erina reluctantly bit her lip, not entirely happy with her grandfather's decision.

"Hmph, Hisako, let's go."

With a disdainful snort, Erina didn't spare Hachiman a second glance as she called Hisako and left the room. It seemed they were off to gather the ingredients needed for today's lunch.

Seeing Erina's reaction, Hachiman shrugged and turned to face Saeko.

"Well then, Saeko, I'll go buy the ingredients we need."

Upon hearing this, Saeko stood up as well.

"Hachiman, you can't let our guest go shopping for ingredients. I'll go instead. Just tell me what we need."

"It's alright, I can handle it."

Observing this back-and-forth between the two, Senzaemon, with his sharp eye for relationships, found their interaction a bit unusual. He chuckled.

"Haha, since it's like this, why don't you both go together? I'll be going to spend some time in my brother's room alone."

"As one gets older, nostalgia tends to kick in." With that, he left the living room.

Left alone in the room, the remaining two exchanged glances.

"Well, Saeko, shall we go together?" Hachiman, being a gentleman, spoke up first.

"Sure." Saeko nodded with a gentle smile on her face.

They headed to a nearby supermarket and entered it together.

Hachiman picked up a shopping basket, and the two walked side by side through the store, resembling a newlywed couple picking out ingredients for dinner.

Watching Hachiman carefully select ingredients, Saeko couldn't help but express her concern. "Hachiman, you shouldn't be so impulsive today. You should know that Erina's culinary skills are beyond what an ordinary person can compare to."

Hearing her words, Hachiman, while inspecting a box of seafood, smiled.

"I'm well aware that Erina, coming from the Totsuki Group, possesses culinary skills that are far beyond the reach of most people. But don't worry, Saeko, when it comes to cooking, I'm quite confident."

As one of the skills he used most frequently, his culinary skill level was nearing Level 4, and he was confident enough to challenge some of the lower-ranking Elite Ten members. Against Erina, he estimated it to be a fifty-fifty chance.

"Erina is the top chef of the junior high section, with abilities that rival the Totsuki Elite Ten, the ten strongest culinary talents in the entire Totsuki Academy. Can you really win against her, Hachiman?" Saeko expressed her lingering worries.

"Haha, don't worry, Saeko. Even if I don't win, I won't lose too badly."

Placing the box of pork into the shopping basket, Hachiman smiled confidently.

"Well, alright." Since Hachiman was so sure, Saeko had no choice but to trust him.

"Wait and see, Saeko. My culinary skills won't disappoint you," Hachiman said confidently, his mouth curving into a mysterious smile as he had already decided what dish to prepare.

With their ingredients procured, the two of them returned to the Busujima residence. At the front door, they coincidentally encountered Hisako and Erina, who had just taken the ingredients off a truck from the Totsuki Group.

"Hmph."

As soon as Erina saw Hachiman, she gave a tsundere-like snort and walked into the house, with Hisako following, carrying the ingredients.

Hachiman paid no mind to Erina's tsundere attitude, simply shrugged, and turned to look at Saeko beside him.

"Saeko, could you please lead me to the kitchen?"

"No problem, follow me," the girl nodded and led the way.

Arriving in the kitchen, Hachiman saw Erina and Hisako, both already changed into chef uniforms, and his eyes brightened.

Erina had tied her luscious golden hair into a long ponytail, and her figure was perfectly accentuated by the form-fitting white chef uniform. The buttons on the uniform were almost bursting from her generous bust.

On the other hand, Hisako's figure wasn't as curvaceous as Erina's, but it was still quite eye-catching, with a well-rounded front and back.

Since this kitchen was also used to prepare lunch for the kendo students at the dojo, it had a reasonably spacious layout, allowing them to work comfortably without crowding.

Approaching one of the stoves, Hachiman placed the purchased ingredients down and turned to Saeko.

"All right, Saeko, you can leave the rest to me."

"Hachiman, I can stay and assist you. I know a thing or two about cooking, and helping you wouldn't be a problem," said Saeko, who, as a refined lady, had undergone traditional training that included culinary skills.

"Don't worry, Saeko. I can handle this on my own. You should go keep General Nakiri company," Hachiman gently declined her offer.

"Well, if you insist. Hachiman, do your best," Saeko conceded and left the kitchen to accompany Senzaemon.

Observing this, Erina, who had been silent, couldn't resist a taunting remark.

"Hmph, you're really quite arrogant, aren't you? Perhaps with Saeko's help, you might have a tiny chance of winning."

"But for now, just get ready to lose to me."

Hearing her words, Hachiman merely smiled.

"Thanks for your concern, Miss Erina. I'm confident in my culinary skills."

"You self-absorbed fool. Let's see if you'll still be so confident when you lose."

With a disdainful glance at Hachiman's self-assured demeanor, Erina turned away and began her own cooking preparations.

Seeing her like this, Hachiman shrugged and began to prepare his own dish.

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Chapter 72: Three Dishes

Chapter 73: Hachiman Turn