I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

That annoying voice, with its irritating laughter, rang in her ears, shattering her hopes and dreams.

"..."

Without turning to look at him, Yukino Yukinoshita froze for a few seconds before slowly putting down her spoon and gently tucking her long hair that fell over her shoulder with her fingers.

After what seemed like a struggle, she sighed in defeat and honestly admitted it:

"It's delicious... I think my sister will like it."

Even she herself didn't know why she added that sentence later.

"……Yeah."

After a subtle silence, Yuu Tenkuji took another bite of Minister Yukima's Mapo Tofu, his expression remaining largely unchanged.

As for this "food battle"...

I can't think of a title for Chapter Seventy-Eight, so I'll just wish everyone a good night's sleep and an early rise.

On the podium, one plate of Mapo Tofu was completely cleaned up, while another plate still had some left over, and could even be said to have been ignored.

It's clear who won and who lost.

"Thank you for the hospitality! I admit, you're stronger now!"

After gracefully conceding defeat, Minister Yukima removed his white headband and stretched out his hand towards Tenkuji Yuu, a spirited smile on his face that showed no discouragement even in defeat: "My Mapo Tofu is still too ordinary. Let alone the color and aroma, in terms of taste alone, it can't beat your Mapo Tofu with its 'magical sixth flavor'..."

"So let's have another showdown at next week's club performance! I'll do everything in my power to beat you, Yu!"

Not disliking his overly friendly and enthusiastic personality, Tenkuji Yu nodded and returned the smile: "Okay, next time I'll choose a dish you're good at. Otherwise you'll say I'm bullying you."

"Wow, that confidence..." He grimaced as if he had a toothache, but Minister Yukima laughed heartily and nudged his chest with the fist on his headband.

"Also, about that thing you mentioned before, I'll remember to cooperate with you... It shouldn't just be our club, right?"

Tenkuji Yu narrowed her eyes, her smile pure and bright: "That's right, you are the first, but not the last... At least I can challenge most of the clubs on campus."

"They all have the same level of cooking skills as you? That's terrifying! Are you a robot manufactured in some factory...?"

"Don't worry, I'm just a normal human." After saying that, he looked down at the fist on his chest and reminded him, "Also, you can take your headband back now."

Minister Yukima tilted his head in confusion: "Hmm? Didn't you want to take something from the winning club as a trophy?"

"I do have that plan... but firstly, that's something I'll only do on the day of the performance."

"It's okay to take it now, right? Just consider it a souvenir from me! Here, accept it!"

For some reason, Minister Yukima persisted, seemingly wanting to force the headband into his hands.

Tenkuji Yu took a step back and said expressionlessly, "Secondly, I don't want to accept a headband stained with male sweat. You can keep it yourself."

"..."

After unhesitatingly hurting the heart of a certain boy, Yuu Tenkuji turned to the location of the girls behind him.

Yukino Yukinoshita covered her mouth slightly, muttering to herself in deep thought: "Using fried soybean paste instead of minced meat, making 'crispy' the finishing touch of the sixth flavor, successfully transforming ordinary Mapo Tofu into something magical... Ah, so this is how it can be done..."

"That's right, but the important part isn't just that; it's also the blending of tofu, fermented bean paste, Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers, cornstarch slurry, and so on—only when the first five flavors are perfectly combined can the magic of the sixth flavor be truly memorable."

Out of kindness, Yuu Tenkuji gave her a few pointers, then smiled and said, "Yukinoshita, what happened to your lips? Did they get swollen from the spiciness?"

Yukinoshita slightly raised her eyes, glared at him angrily, then looked away as if she hadn't seen him. She covered half of her face below her nose with her hand and continued to ponder the experience she had gained from the tasting process.

Tenkuji Yuu shifted her gaze to Yuigahama Yui sitting next to her.

She was obediently holding her water and drinking it when she saw him looking at her. Without any hesitation, she opened her slightly swollen, rosy lips, stuck out her bright red and alluring tongue, and breathed heavily, saying somewhat indistinctly:

"Ugh, it's still so spicy even after drinking water, my tongue feels so numb... Xiaoyou, can't you make it a little sweeter?"

Tenkuji Yu shrugged and said in a flat tone, "Sorry, authentic Mapo Tofu is supposed to be spicy and numbing to taste good. Those who prefer it sweet are heretics... I see you guys are enjoying yours quite a bit."

"Because it's really delicious... I've never had such delicious Mapo Tofu before, it's truly amazing!" After praising it earnestly and lightly, her soft lips pressed against the rim of the cup.

Seemingly thinking of something upsetting, Yui Yuigahama slowly lowered her gaze and gave a wry smile, looking troubled.

"Originally, I wanted to cheer her on in the areas where she was proud... but now the gap is so big that I don't even have the will to try anymore."

Pausing her contemplation of the recipe, Yukino Yukinoshita glanced at her and calmly asked, "So, is your request over here?"

Taking a deep breath, Yui Yuigahama put down her water glass and nodded solemnly to her: "Yes, this way is fine! Yukinoshita-san, thank you so much for teaching me how to make tamagoyaki today!"

Yukino Yukinoshita shook her head: "No need to thank me, this is my duty..."

"And I'm so sorry!"

"……what?"

Looking at the whorl of hair on her head, Yukino Yukinoshita stared wide-eyed in astonishment, clearly not expecting her to suddenly apologize to her.

After bowing her head and apologizing, Yui Yuigahama looked up and stared directly into her eyes, saying without considering her words at all, "Besides Yui, you are the first person who has pointed out my shortcomings so bluntly and reprimanded me severely for my own good..."

"Without you, I might never have been able to stick to something, and I would never have known where my shortcomings were or how to improve myself."

"So besides thank you, I also want to say sorry... I'm sorry for making Yukinoshita worry about me so much."

"..."

Faced with that unexpected sincerity, Yukino Yukinoshita was speechless, as if she didn't know what to say in response.

She couldn't help but look away, pursing her lips and fiddling with her hair, using these unconscious, superfluous movements to cover up her discomfort. Her fair cheeks, already slightly flushed from the spiciness, became even more vibrant.

Out of the corner of her eye, the black-haired girl caught a glimpse of the smile on Tenkuji Yu's face. She immediately frowned, as if she'd found a target to unleash her fury, and said with obvious displeasure, "What are you laughing at? Is there anything funny about it?"

"Yes, I have."

Yuu Tenkuji nodded honestly, his eyes filled with a strange smile.

"I'm laughing. Even Yuihama can recognize her mistakes. When will you ever reach the same level?"

Yukino Yukinoshita was too lazy to react much to that familiar teasing tone.

“Tenkuji-kun, I can say it a thousand times without any problem. I did nothing wrong... Even if I did, it's your problem or the world's problem.”

"Wow~" After exclaiming dramatically, Tenkuji Yu turned to Yuigahama Yui and sneered, "It's not me who's wrong, it's the world—see, that's what she says."

"Ah ha ha……"

Unsure whether to agree or disagree, Yui Yuigahama could only manage a couple of dry laughs.

"...That's enough."

The temperature seemed to be covered in frost and snow, and there was a faint sound of condensation.

Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly stood up, her figure aloof and solitary, and strode toward the door of the Culinary Research Club.

"Yuigahama-san, please write a club application form and hand it to Hiratsuka-sensei tomorrow. As for whether you need to come to the clubroom after school, that's up to you."

"Ah, yes, I understand..."

Yui Yuigahama looked slightly flustered, glancing back and forth between the two whose atmosphere had suddenly turned cold, before hesitantly agreeing.

Yukino Yukinoshita paused, her voice flat, and continued without turning her head: "Tenkuji-kun, I've come to understand your strength. It's truly beyond words... However, this trust is limited to cooking."

"The plan can be implemented by you, but as the president, I still hope that you can provide a written report as soon as possible so that we can have a proper discussion, rather than making decisions on your own based on whatever comes to mind."

"Okay, got it."

The moment the words left her lips, the girl quietly closed the door, leaving only the awkward silence of their unpleasant parting.

Yui Yuigahama hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Yuu Tenkuji didn't seem to care much. After saying goodbye to the members of the Culinary Research Club, he returned to the clubroom, ready to pack his bag and leave the school.

Tonight, I have to go to cram school with Asuna Yuuki.

Chapter 79 is amazing! I'm starting to understand everything!

Yuuki Asuna.

Her long chestnut hair cascaded down her back, and her well-fitting black school uniform accentuated her curves. Her captivating hazel eyes seemed to speak volumes.

"Don't slack off in class, Yu-kun."

"Yu-kun is Yu-kun, why add 'classmate'?"

"Ichiyo Gakujuku".

After finishing her activities in the Service Club, Yuu Tenkuji took a car to this cram school with a heavy atmosphere where everyone seemed to be fighting for their lives for grades.

Asuna Yuuki arrived early and deliberately chose a seat in the back corner. When she saw him enter the classroom, she waved excitedly and urged him to come over quickly.

Completely different from her quiet and well-behaved student demeanor yesterday, the solemn study atmosphere only suppressed her voice, but could not suppress the bright smile on her face.

Sitting next to her, Tenkuji Yu looked at her with amusement: "You said you were going to study hard, so why do you look so happy?"

"Of course!" With her eyebrows slightly furrowed, Asuna raised her slender index finger and said seriously, "Studying alone is tiring, but it's much easier with two people. We can discuss problems with each other and encourage each other to improve—I'm happy because my study efficiency has improved!"

Tenkuji Yu raised an eyebrow, his expression meaningful: "Really not for any other reason?"

He propped his head up with one hand, turned to look into her eyes, and curled the corners of his mouth in a half-smile.

"There's no other reason!"

Asahi turned her head away with a snort, sat up straight, and looked ahead, seemingly trying to appear completely unmoved.

Under his gaze, her swan-like, fair neck gradually turned crimson, the color spreading upwards, her delicate ears becoming pink and tender, and her soft cheeks becoming adorably red.

Not long after, she pulled her chestnut hair aside with her left hand to cover her face, and waved her right hand frantically in front of Tenkuji Yu's eyes, like a shy white fox trying to hide herself, not daring to speak loudly.

"Stop, stop looking! I admit it!"

Before the lesson even started, Yuu Tenkuji displayed her talent for teasing young girls, asking knowingly, "Admit what?"

"Well……"

Asuna pouted, seemingly a little angry, and tried to glare at him with a cold look, but she was driven back by his slightly smiling, bright and gentle eyes. Her gaze wandered slightly, and her whole face turned red as if she had a fever.

"I acknowledge that I am very happy to be able to take classes with you."

Finally, she stammered out those words, then took a deep breath and reached her hand under the table.

She held his hand tightly, a hand that, though in autumn, felt as warm as summer.

“This is what I really want to do, and I’m not going to hide it anymore.”