“What kind of test?” Hideo asked, peering at me through his glasses.
“I’m not sure. But why else would they give us such a basic challenge? There’s got to be more to it.”
Osamu drummed his fingers again before standing. “Still smells like bullshit,” he sang as he walked toward the door. “I’m out of here.”
One by one, the others followed.
Jiro paused near the entrance, his gaze shifting between us. “Better focus on the challenge instead of her, Kenji,” he sneered. “And Akiko, don’t forget who you’re up against. This isn’t a cooking class to impress your friends. See you two lovebirds tomorrow.”
After the door closed behind him, I let out a frustrated sigh. “It’s not about the fish,” I muttered, scanning the shelves. “There’s something else we’re not seeing.”
Kenji nodded, his fingers trailing over the spines of books. “It could be the process, like an ancient technique, or maybe it’s about precision.”
“Presentation might be a factor too,” I added, pulling down a book on plating techniques.
We spent the next hour diving into every possibility, but nothing jumped out. The dish was so simple that anyone with basic skills could prepare it. That simplicity gnawed at me. There had to be something we were missing.
Kenji sighed, closing a book with a soft thud. “I thought coming here would be life changing, like I’d finally be on the path to opening my dream restaurant.”
“What kind of restaurant?” I asked softly.
He smiled, his eyes lighting up. “A place where my friends and family could gather. Where people could taste the love that goes into every dish.”
As he spoke, warmth spread through me. A sense of hope. Kenji’s presence made the hate from Iron Face and the others bearable. Without him, this place might have beaten me down even more.
“What?” I asked, catching him staring at me.
“Nothing,” he said, grinning. “Just thinking about how everyone assumes we’re a couple.”
I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks burned. “Crazy, right?”
He leaned back, balancing his chair on two legs. “I know in real life you have tons of guys chasing after you. You’re just downplaying it.”
“Are you kidding? I’m as single as they come,” I shot back, trying to deflect. “And you act as if you don’t have a roster of women on your phone.”
“Nah,” he said with a shrug. “I’m too much of a nerd.”
For the first time in years, I felt like there was someone besides Miki whom I could let my guard down around. This apprenticeship might have been different from what I had imagined, but having Kenji by my side softened the disappointment.
Later that night, I couldn’t sleep, no matter how hard I tried. I lay in bed wide awake, the soft sound of Kenji’s snoring filtering through the thin walls. I considered waking him but dismissed the idea.
Frustrated, I tested my doorknob and was relieved to find that Iron Face hadn’t returned to lock it. That was enough to spark a plan. I quickly changed into my uniform and did the boldest thing since arriving. I sneaked out of my room.
The compound was eerily quiet as I followed the pebbled pathway to the library. The ishidoros glowed faintly with candlelight, their warm flicker guiding me to the library.
Inside, I switched on a small table lamp and began pulling books off the shelves. I skimmed through them individually, trying to find a clue that might give me an edge in tomorrow’s challenge.
After an hour of reading, I let out a yawn. My legs stretched stiffly under the table, the ache reminding me how long I’d been sitting. None of the books had revealed anything groundbreaking, just basic tips and techniques. Part of me wondered if this whole thing was as simple as Jiro claimed. Maybe the difficulty would increase with each challenge.
The last book I flipped through was on kitchen burns and first aid, completely unrelated to the task. I shook my head, chuckling to myself. I’d officially fallen down the rabbit hole. Deciding I’d had enough, I stood and returned the books to their places, ready to call it a night.
As I walked back toward the dorm, the cool night air shook off my drowsiness, making me aware of movement in the corner of my vision. My eyes snapped toward the rear of the training kitchen, where a thicket of cherry blossom trees stood. I froze mid-step, my heart racing. Was someone there?
I squinted, peering into the darkness. I saw nothing and heard only the trickling water basin a few steps away. My pulse quickened anyway, and before I realized it, my feet were carrying me forward at a much brisker pace.
I stopped abruptly, turning back toward the trees. This was ridiculous. I wasn’t about to let some shadow spook me. If someone was out there, they needed to show themselves. “Come out. I dare you!” I whispered fiercely under my breath.
I stared at the spot, my breath shallow. The candle in an ishidoro crackled softly, easing my nerves. I turned back toward the dorm.
