"Alright!"
The moment we stepped back onto the ship, I let out a shout that came from the very back of my throat.
Startled by the sudden, spirited outburst, Mina and Emalgand—who were walking right behind me—nearly jumped out of their skins.
"Wha—!?" Mina yelped.
"M-my goodness, what is it-u!?" Emalgand added, her shoulders twitching.
"What’s wrong, Akito? Shouting like that all of a sudden..."
"Nothing, really. I just felt the sudden, desperate urge to overwrite that soapy aftertaste right this second."
I turned toward the galley counter and immediately threw myself into the preparations.
First, I pulled out a slab of Star Tuna red meat from the freshness-preserving freezer.
The cut required no thawing; it emerged with its deep crimson luster and succulent elasticity perfectly intact. The more I used this ship’s technology, the more I truly appreciated how incredible it was.
Next, I brought out the Potato Starch we had refined from the Pseudo-Potatoes with Lucia and Mina’s help.
"Akito, is that...? What are you making with it today!?"
Mina followed her nose, leaning over the counter with her eyes sparkling in anticipation. Even Emalgand let out a quiet, hungry gulp.
"Today, we’re having Tatsuta-age."
I sliced the Star Tuna into thick, generous pieces.
I tossed them into a bowl and massaged in a mixture of Pseudo-Soy Sauce, grated Pseudo-Ginger, and a bottle of sake so remarkably fresh it felt like a miracle. I let the meat marinate for a while, allowing the flavors to penetrate deep into the fibers.
While the tuna soaked, I spread a liberal amount of Potato Starch across a tray.
The grains were slightly coarse, possessing a unique texture that made a distinct kyu-kyu squeaking sound when pressed between the fingers.
Then, I moved the seasoned tuna into the sea of white powder.
I dredged each piece carefully, coating them one by one. Once the starch had absorbed the surface moisture and taken on a powdery white bloom, the prep work was done.
The synthetic oil filling the wok began to crackle, signaling the rising heat.
"Temperature is at 180 degrees. Convection patterns are stable," Lucia reported, her voice acting as my green light.
I dropped the meat into the oil.
—Shuwaaaaaaaa!!
The frying sound was a rhythmic, pleasant popping.
The Potato Starch reacted instantly with the oil, forming tiny bubbles across the surface as it deepened into a pale golden hue. The savory, aromatic blend of heated soy sauce and ginger wafted through the kitchen.
"Whoa... it smells amazing! It’s totally different from the potatoes we did before!"
"This scent... it already smells wonderful-u."
A few minutes later, I pulled them out. My timing had to be perfect to ensure the residual heat didn't overcook the centers. I piled the pieces high on a plate.
The Star Tuna Tatsuta-age was complete.
"Alright, eat it while it’s hot."
Before the words had even left my mouth, two pairs of hands darted forward. Even Lucia, for all her clinical composure, moved her chopsticks with practiced speed.
Crunch!
A crisp, rhythmic sound of chewing echoed through the quiet kitchen.
"...!!"
Mina’s eyes went wide, and she froze as her ears stood straight up to their absolute limit.
Emalgand cradled her cheeks as if overcome with emotion, her mouth full of the piping-hot tuna.
"It's... so crispy. No, it’s crunchy-u! This coating is so light, yet it has such a satisfying bite...! And the tuna inside is unbelievably tender. It’s so juicy, the flavors are just overflowing-u...!"
"The texture is a result of the porous structure created by the starch reacting to the heat and subsequent dehydration," Lucia explained, though even she narrowed her eyes contentedly as she chewed on a golden fragment. "Master, this is an exceptionally satisfying result."
I popped one into my own mouth.
Immediately following the initial crunch of the coating, the saltiness of the Pseudo-Soy Sauce and the sharp fragrance of the Pseudo-Ginger hit my palate. Then, from deep within, the concentrated umami of the sealed-in tuna exploded.
Freshly fried food was a feast beyond compare. It didn't even belong in the same category as the "Premium" cubes at Zenit Pardua. This was the "real" flavor we had been craving.
"Yeah... a meal’s got to be like this."
In the sterile, inorganic atmosphere of Zenit Pardua, this single dish allowed us to reclaim our sense of self.
As we basked in the afterglow of a good meal, a notification from Lucia—who had returned to the bridge—chimed through the ship.
"Master. The cargo unloading and the replenishment of all supplies at Zenit Pardua are complete. Departure protocols are ready."
"Got it. ...You know, Zenit Pardua wasn't a half-bad port."
I stared at the empty plate and stood up, feeling a profound sense of fulfillment.
That "Premium" lingering aftertaste was gone, scrubbed entirely from my tongue. The golden-brown coating and the almost overwhelming umami of the Star Tuna had completely overwritten my spirit.
"Set the destination. Via Rugora Gateway, destination: Ocean Planet Azurite Prime. ...Let’s go, Sperm Whale!"
At my command, the hull vibrated with a comfortable hum.
The massive transport ship turned its bow once again toward the pitch-black void of the cosmos.