"With that, the general explanation is complete. Are there any questions?"
Sara-san had finished the broad overview of the tools, covering everything from basic knife skills to tips for handling a frying pan. In truth, there were probably a thousand more details to discuss, but we simply didn't have the time for such a granular lecture. Besides, no one was going to master professional techniques in a single afternoon anyway.
The goal today was simple: everyone just needed to become capable of making their assigned dish. Theory and high-level technique took a backseat to one objective—memorizing and following Sara-san's instructions exactly. This cooking class was built entirely around that premise.
As I glanced around at the other students, I noticed that not just the girls, but even the boys were listening with an unusual level of intensity. As far as I could remember, I had never seen my male classmates listen this closely to a teacher during a regular class.
I knew it was only because Sara-san was the one teaching, but still... these guys were opportunists of the highest order.
Moreover, if I looked closely, their eyes were constantly darting between Sara-san's hands and her face. Watching them, I felt a strong urge to interrogate them on whether they were actually absorbing a single word she said.
If the practical portion started and they began whining that they couldn't do it, I’d make every last one of them perform a dogeza in front of Sara-san.
Ultimately, no one raised their hand for a genuine question, but the girls looked strangely restless. If it was about cooking, they should have just asked openly. I had a feeling they were looking for an opening to ask something entirely unnecessary.
"Well then, since there don't seem to be any questions, please split into your groups and return to your tables—"
"Heeere! I have a question!"
Like an elementary school student seeking attention from a teacher, one girl thrust her right hand into the air. Given the blatant smirk on her face, I had nothing but a bad feeling about this.
"Yes, go ahead?"
Sara-san didn't seem particularly bothered and encouraged her to speak.
Even in a casual interaction like this, I could see how much her social skills had improved compared to the old Sara-san. However, because she had become more approachable, the girls were now trying to involve themselves with her at every opportunity.
Of course, that approachability only applied to the girls. There was no need to wonder what would happen if a boy tried the same thing.
"Satsukawa-senpai, do you like cats?"
"Eh? Yes, I certainly like cats... but why do you ask?"
Once again, a question that had absolutely nothing to do with cooking. Sara-san wore a look of genuine confusion. I’d told them we didn't have much time, yet they were already wasting it on trivia.
"Your apron is just so cute, and I thought your cat hair clip was adorable too!"
"Oh, I thought so too! That apron is really something, isn't it?"
And here we went.
The girls began a chorus of "cute," and the commotion started to swell. I understood why they wanted to get along with her since they rarely had the chance to talk, but we were never going to make progress at this rate.
"Fufu... thank you. This apron is my treasure, you see."
That said, Sara-san didn't seem to mind the compliments. She flashed a happy, radiant smile.
Ever since the day I gave it to her as a present, Sara-san had used that apron without fail every time she did housework. While she had others, she absolutely refused to wear them. Her level of dedication was such that she’d wash it at night just so she could wear it again the next morning.
I was glad she liked it that much, but I worried that relying on a single apron would eventually become inconvenient.
I realized then that I should probably get her a new one as a gift. If I did that, I’d have to set up another date... wait, that wasn't the point right now.
"Oh, is that so?"
"Her apron is her treasure... wait!"
"C-Could it be... is that a gift from Takanashi-kun?"
Well, given the direction of the conversation, that conclusion was inevitable.
The girls' gazes shifted toward me, immediately followed by the indescribable, heavy stares of the boys.
"Yes. This apron was the first gift I ever received from Kazunari-san. Besides, that day was the anniversary of our first date, so for me, this apron is a treasure filled with a lifetime of memories."
Sara-san smiled blissfully as she held the hem of the fabric. Since she had turned toward me while speaking, our eyes met perfectly. As our gazes locked, Sara-san looked a little bit embarrassed—just a tiny bit.
She was so cute... it was unfair.
"Gufufufu... I feel it... a tremendous rom-com wave!"
"But Takanashi-kun’s got moves, doesn't he?"
"Picking an apron really earns high points."
"Right? Instead of going for something easy like jewelry, he actually thought about what Satsukawa-senpai would use."
"Is Takanashi-kun surprisingly smooth?"
The awkwardness was becoming unbearable.
What kind of humiliation play was this? I didn't know if they were praising me or mocking me, but the smirks on everyone's faces made me want to crawl into a hole.
"Hey, Takanashi-kun! Was that apron like, a strategic appeal to Satsukawa-senpai?"
"Huh?"
Finally, the target of the interrogation shifted to me. Even if they called it an "appeal," I had bought it purely as a thank-you gift. I didn't have any ulterior motives... at least, I didn't think I did.
"Oh, stop playing dumb!"
"I bet that was it, right? 'Wear this apron and make me miso soup every day!'"
"Hah?! No, wait, that's not—"
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Hey, hey, that's basically a proposal, isn't it?!"
"Takanashi-kun, that’s heavy! That's too heavy for high school!"
They weren't listening to a word I said. The girls were busy spinning their own fantasies, completely ignoring my attempts to clarify. It reminded me of when they misunderstood my relationship with Hanako-san; they just loved to blow things out of proportion.
"D-Date with Satsukawa-senpai... proposal..."
"Ughaaaa! Why is it always stuff like this lately?!"
"Stop it... reality is too harsh..."
What a coincidence. I was thinking the exact same thing—though for very different reasons. I knew that if I left this alone it would be bad, but intervening seemed just as dangerous. Either way, they were just going to keep inventing stories.
I really needed to rein them in, or the cooking class would never actually start.
"Hmm... so you were making moves on your wife even back then?"
And to top it off, even Hanako-san, standing right beside me, joined in. She muttered it grumpily, giving me a scornful look that was actually quite cute.
Wait a second, even Hanako-san was getting sucked into their nonsense?
"No, you're overthinking it—"
"Everyone, please stop bothering Kazunari-san. We're moving on now."
Perhaps sensing my distress, Sara-san suddenly tightened the atmosphere with a sharp, commanding tone.
"""Ye~es!"""
The girls responded with the synchronized energy of elementary schoolers.
Seriously, what was wrong with them?
I had expected I’d only have to worry about the boys during this class, but in a way, the girls were turning out to be more dangerous. If I let my guard down, I was afraid they'd sniff out secrets they weren't supposed to know.
Once the explanation concluded, the classmates moved to their assigned tables. Each group was in charge of a different dish, and our group was handling the Omelet Rice.
In a concept cafe like a Maid & Butler Cafe, Omelet Rice was the quintessential signature menu item. Because of that, our group had more people than the others, and I was among them.
As everyone knew, I would be tied up with Student Council duties on the day of the festival, so I wouldn't be part of the actual workforce. However, I still wanted to help with the preparations for the important parts. That was why I’d chosen this group, and naturally, Hanako-san had requested to be with me.
Technically, Hanako-san's schedule for the day meant she didn't have to be stuck with the Student Council the whole time.
I wondered what her plan was.
"Hey, Hanako-san. What are you going to do on the day of the festival?"
"If Kazunari isn't here, I'm not going to be here either."
That was about as predictable an answer as I could have gotten. Still, it felt like a bit of a waste for her to ignore her own class's stall entirely when she actually had the time to participate.
"I mean, you do have the time to help out here..."
"I know. But I still want to be with Kazunari... with everyone."
"I see."
That was fair. I realized I'd asked a bit of a pointless question. If Hanako-san was happy with that, I wouldn't press her. Sara-san and I had already decided to spend the day together, so it made sense for Hanako-san to just join our circle.
Yuji and Nishikawa-san would be around too. It actually sounded like fun to have our own little independent festival within the school.
"Fufu... Kazunari, are you happy?"
"Hmm? Why?"
"Because you just had a really big smile on your face."
Crap. I was enjoying the thought so much it had leaked out onto my face.
Hanako-san began to giggle, grabbing my left hand and swinging it back and forth. Seeing her show such a pure, joyful smile was rare, and I found myself feeling happy just by extension.
"Are you happy because you're with your big sister?"
"I was just thinking the festival is going to be fun."
"Hmph. Kazunari is never honest. But that's part of why you're cute."
"No... like I said..."
It was embarrassing, so I wished she'd stop saying things like that out of the blue.
Still, it was rare for Hanako-san to be this giddy. It showed just how much she was looking forward to the time we’d all spend together.
"...Uhyohoho, they’re getting along great over here too..."
"...Man, the atmosphere is so thick I can practically smell it."
"...It’s a shame Hanazaki-san isn't participating in the stall, though."
"...Yeah. But she looks so happy, it’d be a crime to get in the way."
"...I was really looking forward to Hanazaki-san in a maid outfit..."
"...A Tsundere Loli Maid... my dream is dead..."
"...Takanashi again, huh..."
Crap. I’d inadvertently given them more fuel.
"Yes, just be careful with that part. As long as you follow that rule, the rest can be a little loose."
Just as I was trying to focus, I heard Sara-san's voice from behind me.
That's right. Sara-san was taking this seriously, so I couldn't afford to be distracted. I snapped myself back into focus and addressed the rest of the group.
"Sorry for the chatter. Let's get to work."
"Oh, right."
"Let's start on the vegetables then."
"What are we starting with?"
"Let's just divide the tasks for now."
Everyone else had heard Sara-san as well, and they responded to my lead. The idle talk stopped as they reached for the potatoes, carrots, and onions, moving them to their respective cutting boards.
After confirming the points Sara-san had mentioned, they picked up their knives and began to work slowly.
Alright, I’d better get started too.
Be careful of the grip... hand placement like this... hold the knife like this...
I visualized Sara-san's movements in my head, confirming each step. I worked slowly to avoid rushing, being careful and hesitant—though I couldn't help that last part. The only time I’d ever used a kitchen knife was for a few minutes in a middle school Home Economics class.
I tried to slice through the potato in front of me, but...
Wait. This is harder than it looks. The knife isn't moving at all.
That's weird. Let me remember what Sara-san said...
"Kazunari, you can't just press down from the top. For vegetables, you have to push, like this—"
Slice!
As Hanako-san explained, she moved her knife, and the carrot on her board was cut cleanly with a satisfying sound.
"Whoa."
Right. Sara-san definitely had that pushing motion.
"You're good at this, Hanako-san."
"Heh... I'm your big sister, so this is easy. Now you try, Kazunari."
"O-Okay..."
Watching Hanako-san's smug expression with a bit of amusement, I braced myself and set the knife against the potato. I applied pressure, pushing the blade forward—
Slice!
"Oh! It cut!"
The potato that had been so stubborn before gave way easily without much force. It was incredible how much of a difference a slight change in technique made.
"That was very well done, Kazunari-san."
I jumped slightly as a voice came from right beside me. I hadn't even noticed Sara-san approaching.
Had she heard me just now?
"S-Sara-san, that was..."
"Fufu... Kazunari-san, you're so cute. I'll give you a 'there, there' later, so keep up the good work."
Ah. So she’d heard everything and realized I was embarrassed. Well, Sara-san reading me like a book was nothing new, so I shouldn't have been surprised.
But still, a "there, there"... even though I’d asked her not to give me special treatment. (Though deep down, I was thrilled).
"...Haa haa... Satsukawa-senpai is being so sweet... ghurk!"
"...Unbelievable... what was that? She’s like a different person..."
"...Gufufufu, what a glorious sight..."
"Alright! I got a perfect cut!"
"S-Satsukawa-senpai! Look at this! When I do it like you taught us, it's so much faster!"
"You're too slow! Senpai, look at mine!"
And there it was. Predictably, the idiots were getting carried away. To think they’d have the nerve to try and flirt with Sara-san while she was working...
"I told you to work slowly. If you cannot follow simple instructions, then go to the other table and do as you please."
"Ah..."
"U-Um..."
"S-Satsukawa-senpai..."
"And those two! If you continue to play around, you can leave!"
"Hieee!"
"W-We're sorry!"
Yep. I knew that was coming.
The current Sara-san had no trace of the gentle smile she saved for me. But everything she said was right. They were the ones who had asked for her help, yet they weren't taking it seriously. They deserved the scolding.
Fortunately, we had plenty of other people in the group, so it wouldn't be a problem if those guys were kicked out.
"S-Scary..."
"I guess Satsukawa-senpai hasn't changed after all."
"I mean, the gap between her treatment of Takanashi and the rest of us is just extreme."
"Exactly. That just shows how special he is to her."
"Whew, I'm glad I didn't say anything stupid..."
"Dammit, the difference in treatment is so bad it makes me want to cry..."
"A 'there, there'... I can't believe she said that to him..."
"Uoooooh! Why only Takanashi?!"
"Sigh. Those guys are idiots."
"Tell me something I don't know," Kawamura muttered. "There's no medicine for fools who don't realize that if Takanashi weren't here, she wouldn't even give them the time of day."
"...Kawamura is as blunt as ever."
Kawamura was right. Anyone who thought Sara-san had become more approachable for men in general was severely mistaken.
Still, the incident had effectively tightened the atmosphere. People were finally focusing. I could work in peace now.
I just felt bad that Sara-san had to get angry, so I decided I’d have to make it up to her when we got home. It definitely wasn't because I wanted to be pampered.
As expected, that scolding was the turning point. Everyone finally began working in earnest. The guys who got yelled at managed to avoid being kicked out, but they were now under silent pressure from the rest of the class—especially the girls. They were effectively on probation.
However...
"S-Satsukawa-senpai, what should I do next?"
"Senpai, could you look at this for a second?"
The boys were now using their "serious work" as an excuse to call her over for every little thing. It was starting to get on my nerves.
But since they were actually doing the work, I couldn't really complain without looking petty.
Slice... Slice...
I knew it was just jealousy. Sara-san was just doing her job as an instructor. If I made a scene, it would just be me being selfish.
Slice... Slice...
"Kazunari, you need to focus or it's going to be dangerous—"
Huh? Did Hanako-san just say something?
"Hanako-san, did you just—ack?!"
A sharp, stinging pain shot through my fingertip. I looked down immediately.
I'd done it. My finger was bleeding.
Despite Sara-san's warnings to focus, I’d let my mind wander, and this was the result. I’d forgotten to keep my fingertips curled. It didn't actually hurt that much, so I didn't think it was a big deal, but—
"Kazunari?! Wife!!!"
"Kazunari-san?!"
I was the only one who thought it wasn't a big deal. Hanako-san called out to Sara-san in a panic, and Sara-san came rushing back, her face pale with shock.
I really was going to have to apologize for this.