A youth story of a passerby at the end of the world

Knife skills are an important factor affecting the taste; only fish meat that can be seen through the light can be considered qualified.

Fish bones from which the meat has been removed are used to make soup. After seasoning and filtering, the soup becomes the best broth for cooking fish meat.

Besides... it's troublesome to prepare because there are so many people coming, so we're not just processing one fish at a time.

"Bomb it, bomb it, it's almost done."

The noisy one in the living room was Ichiro, who had somehow found a Wii U and was playing Mario Kart 8 with Rumi.

Although Uesugi Genshin hadn't played it, he had seen it before, and it felt somewhat like a game he had played a long time ago. It seems that cartoon racing games are all similar, just a different style from realistic ones.

"The saltiness is just right, cough cough cough..."

After tasting the soup in the dish, Yukino Yukinoshita nodded, but immediately coughed from the spiciness, her shoulders trembling.

Her culinary skills were second only to one person among them, or perhaps only slightly inferior to one person in Chinese cuisine, so Uesugi Genshin invited her into the kitchen to help.

Although Yumiko also said she could do it, Uesugi Genshin was really worried that her unskilled knife work would cause her to cut her hand. In comparison, Yukino Yukinoshita's self-recommendation seemed much more reliable.

"Are you alright?" Uesugi Genshin, who was standing nearby, quickly asked.

"It's nothing, just a little spicy." It's spicy but tastes great. According to the person next to me, that's its magic, a flavor that can captivate people.

My throat was really sore from choking.

"Yukino-chan, you're so careless. Here, have some water." Yukinoshita Haruno, who was leaning against the island platform, handed her younger sister a glass of cold water.

"Thank you." Taking the water, Yukino Yukinoshita sipped it gently, trying to soothe the burning sensation in her throat.

"Be careful." Holding the hot oil, Uesugi Genshin carefully reminded him, then poured the hot oil mixed with Sichuan peppercorns and small red chilies over the blanched fish.

"This is..." Yukino Yukinoshita looked shocked upon seeing this scene. She had never seen such a spicy dish before.

That expression was something Uesugi Genshin would never forget; he never expected that the ever-elegant second young lady would make such an interesting face.

It was really very interesting.

Chapter 227: Strict Mothers Across Generations Under the Snow

Then Yukino Yukinoshita gently tugged at his sleeve.

"...Add chili peppers? Seriously?"

His face showed an expression that could be described as one of near-fear, because such a dazzling seasoning would never be found in Japanese cuisine.

Even with the range hood on, the air was still filled with a pungent smell, and as it entered my mouth through my nose, I could almost know how spicy it was beforehand.

"You must have never had the spiciest ramen before." Ramen shops love to use this kind of gimmick to attract customers.

"What is that?" She genuinely didn't know there was such a thing as the spiciest ramen.

“That is…” Just as Uesugi Genshin was thinking about how to answer, Yukinoshita Haruno interrupted, shaking her finger and teasing her younger sister in her tone.

"Of course, Yukino-chan has never even eaten ramen at a ramen shop."

In most ramen shops, the majority of customers are men, making it virtually impossible for a single woman to enter.

Glancing sideways at her, Yukino Yukinoshita retorted to her older sister, "You've eaten it, sister?"

She herself had sometimes passed by ramen shops but never gone in, but she couldn't imagine that her sister would go to a place like that.

"Yeah, of course. The first time, Shizuka dragged me there." She emphasized the word "dragged," indicating that she still harbored resentment towards Hiratsuka Shizuka for insisting on taking her to the ramen shop.

"That's a really harsh way to put it, as if I forced you to go." Hiratsuka Shizuka, who was in the living room, immediately put down her beer and turned to shout at the kitchen when she heard Yukino Yukinoshita talking about her.

Yukino Yukinoshita said with a smile, "It's forced, you know. It's more like grease than soup."

For a young girl who has always been focused on maintaining her figure, the thick, sauce-like, milky-white fat is still vivid in her memory.

"I warned you back then that there were also milder options, which you might prefer. But you still insisted on trying the signature dish." Hiratsuka Shizuka spread her hands, indicating that it wasn't her fault. "And it tastes pretty good, doesn't it?"

As she spoke, Hiratsuka Shizuka raised an eyebrow and tilted her head playfully.

"Hmm..." Even Yukinoshita Haruno couldn't refute this point.

"Don't underestimate ordinary people's cooking." He grinned proudly, showing his teeth—only Hiratsuka-sensei could make such an expression.

"Hmm, sometimes a 10 yen kaiseki meal isn't as good as the daikon radish from a roadside oden," Uesugi Genshin remarked as he placed a large bowl of cooked fish on the island counter.

Unexpectedly, Yukinoshita Haruno also nodded as if she deeply understood.

Have you ever tried kaiseki cuisine?

In response to Yukino Yukinoshita's simple question, Genshin Uesugi smiled and said, "I made a reservation online before, but when I went to eat there, almost everyone sitting there was an elderly person."

“After all, we have to keep up with the times,” Yukinoshita Haruno replied with a laugh.

After considering it for a moment, Yukino Yukinoshita slowly opened her mouth and said, "Well, no one would turn down money."

Would elderly people make appointments online? Probably not.

Most established restaurants rely on referrals from regular customers, essentially operating within their own small circles. However, this also means they don't attract as many customers as well-known restaurants with open locations. There will always be people who are focused on making more money, not everyone who is dedicated to improving their culinary skills. In fact, such people are probably a minority.

"Finally done." Uesugi Genshin let out a breath as he wiped the cutting board with a rag.

"I'll serve the rice." With that, Yukino Yukinoshita reached out, trying to reach past Genshin Uesugi to grab the wooden spatula used for serving rice.

"Give."

Unintentionally, their hands touched. Yukino Yukinoshita paused slightly, but immediately continued her actions without any apparent change.

"Hey~" came the drawn-out, playful voice of Yukinoshita Haruna.

Uesugi Genshin and Yukino Yukinoshita remained calm and didn't seem to take it seriously, but out of politeness, he still responded, "What's wrong?"

"Uesugi-kun, it's perfectly fine to ignore her," Yukino Yukinoshita said calmly from the side.

"That's so mean." Pouting, as if she were really hurt, Yukinoshita Haruno rested her chin on her hands and looked at her younger sister.

"Because my older sister always does unnecessary things."

"Yes, yes, I was superfluous."

"Dinner's ready," Uesugi Genshin called out to the living room.

His living room couldn't hold many people, especially since this was a formal meal, so he only invited his neighbors.

Besides the student council members, all the girls from across the hall, including Shiwa, came, as well as Hayasaka and Hiratsuka from Yukinoshita Apartment, and Ebina from Yumiko's apartment.

Meanwhile, Ebina brought Kawasaki Saki along with Kyoka, and Komachi invited Orimoto.

Although Hachiman from the student council came, Hayama had made an appointment early on. He was always very popular and ate with all sorts of boys. Everyone enjoyed being with him... Does that sound a bit strange?

"Wow...it looks terrifying." Isshiki Iroha clicked her tongue as she looked at the bright red fish that her senior had served.

“If you’re this scared, you can’t eat Mapo Tofu.” Uesugi Genshin believed that authentic Mapo Tofu was much spicier than his fish.

"This is Chinese cuisine, right?" Hayasaka Ai asked with great interest as she picked up her chopsticks.

“Yes, home-style cooking,” Uesugi Genshin replied smugly.

"Wow, they actually eat this as a regular dish. The Chinese are really amazing," Isshiki Iroha remarked.

Feeling that she had misunderstood, Uesugi Genshin gently reassured her, "Actually, it tastes even better when it's soaked in the broth."

"Ah, no need. Just looking at it is spicy enough..." Iroha Isshiki shook her head and refused.

"Then I'll give it a try." Yui smiled faintly, her tea-colored hair, styled into a bun, shimmered with a light peach hue and swayed gently.

"It won't be spicy if you put it with rice." Feng Bin across from her shared her experience, a valuable lesson she learned from her first time eating Xuanxin's cooking.

"Didn't you say last time that scrambled eggs with tomatoes and smashed cucumbers are the real home-style dishes?" Yumiko, who was standing closest to him, turned her head and argued with him about what he had just said.

Indeed, if there is one home-cooked dish that is universally recognized throughout China, it must be scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

"If you could conjure up an egg for me."

But this is an unsolvable problem, isn't it? Uesugi Genshin reached out and patted her back, then touched her up and down, which made her gasp softly.

"Idiot, you idiot." Yumiko looked around and breathed a small sigh of relief when she saw that no one had noticed.

In fact, she forgot to look behind her. Yukino Yukinoshita, Haruno, Hachiman, and Shizuka Hiratsuka could see everything clearly from the kitchen behind her, and Ebina next to her also subtly pushed up his glasses.

"When did they become so close?" Hiratsuka nudged Hachiman in the waist with her elbow, never expecting that her student Miura and Uesugi would develop such a relationship.

"Don't, don't ask me." Hachiman shifted his gaze, feeling slightly guilty.

"After all, Hikigaya-kun is no better than you. See? Yukino-chan, that's what men are like." Sitting on a high stool, swinging her long legs leisurely, Yukinoshita Haruno took the opportunity to instill something in her younger sister.

"Ha... Sister, don't gossip about other people's feelings. There's no such thing as love without a reason." Yukino Yukinoshita knows very well that all mutual love is a hard-won and precious miracle.

"It's alright, it's alright." Noticing Hachiman's troubled expression, Hiratsuka Shizuka put a beer in his hand and comforted him.

"When I was little, I saw my father drinking beer that looked really good, so I asked for a sip, but I immediately spat it out." Hachiman twirled the beer in his hand, rubbing the surface with his thumb, and sighed.

“What wonderful childhood memories.” Uesugi Genshin walked over and sat down next to him.

The island platform can seat five people, two in the front and three in the back.

Uesugi Genshin and Hachiman sat at one end, while Yukino Yukinoshita, Haruno, and Hirazuka Shizuka sat at the other end, with their backs to the living room.

They put their hands together and started eating. But then again, it felt a little strange to put your hands together while eating Chinese food.

Shaking the beer in his hand, Hachiman continued, "When I was young, I swore to myself that I would never drink alcohol."

"But now you've gotten used to it, and even start drinking in broad daylight?" Uesugi Genshin chuckled.

"Isn't that you?" Hachiman rolled his eyes and clinked his beer can against Hachiman's. "I've never thought beer tastes good."

However, if you force yourself to keep drinking it, you will feel lightheaded.

People drink alcohol because it feels so comfortable, it can wash away all their burdens, and it can help them temporarily forget the unpleasantness of the day.

“I’ve quit. But you still drank. Congratulations, that means you’re a qualified corporate slave now, Hachiman.” Uesugi Genshin smirked and took a big gulp of sake.

"Ah, after all, my eyes are like a zombie's." Hachiman raised an eyebrow dramatically and said self-deprecatingly.

"No, you have dead fish eyes, you're a salted fish!" Hiratsuka-sensei shook her head, pointed at him, and retorted.

"Thank you, teacher, but your words didn't comfort me at all," Hachiman retorted sharply as he spoke rapidly.

"Try it, you contributed to this too, didn't you?" Seeing Yukinoshita hesitate to eat, Uesugi Genshin handed her a drink. "If you really can't, have an iced Americano."

"Isn't this cola?" Hachiman reached for the cup. "Pour me a cup too."

"Give."

Yukinoshita nervously picked up a piece of fish from the large basin, the translucent red oil sliding down the fish.

I have never eaten this kind of food before, or rather, I have never actually seen it.

"I'm gonna start now"

Yukinoshita gently brushed her long hair behind her ear and fed the fish on her chopsticks to her mouth with a "ham".

Because of the unusually seductive movements of his throat as he swallowed the fish, Uesugi Genshin couldn't bear to look and quickly looked away.

After wiping away the red grease smeared on her lips, Yukino Yukinoshita revealed an extremely serious expression.

"What a ruthless delicacy! So delicious!"

The five of them then quickly began to eat, talking about what had happened after he and Yukinoshita left.

“Since the performance in Toyohama has been moved up, let’s leave the day after tomorrow.” Uesugi Genshin had no objections.

"I'll pass it on to Hayasaka-san as well." Besides, they lived together, and Yukino Yukinoshita thoughtfully considered the girl who was going to Tokyo with them.

"Ah."

"Are you planning to temporarily hand over the student council to Haruno?" Hiratsuka Shizuka asked, taking a sip of beer to cool down her burning sensation.

"Sister, please." Yukino Yukinoshita said to herself without waiting for Haruno's reply.

"Eh~, what should I do?" On the contrary, Yukinoshita Haruno shook her head and said in a nonchalant manner. It was so cute that such a mature and sexy woman would do this.

"Don't worry, she's agreed." Hiratsuka Shizuka laughed and continued eating. It had been a long time since she had such delicious food.

That's impressive, Uesugi.

So that's it. To win someone's heart, you must first win their stomach.

"Ah~~~, Shizuka, that's overinterpreting it." Yukino Yukinoshita sighed reluctantly, as if she disagreed.

"Well, you only become honest when I come to you and beg you." Hiratsuka Shizuka pressed her hands down, signaling her to calm down.

"Shiromaru-senpai?" Yukino Yukinoshita heard the familiar name. She had originally wanted to invite this senior to eat together, but since Shiromaru moved out, she had been busy taking care of her younger children and hadn't had much time. However, she seemed to enjoy it immensely, and she would definitely be a good mother in the future.