She adjusted the flame to its maximum, until it perfectly enveloped the iron wok, then added peanut oil, waiting for the temperature in the wok to rise.
"The eggs are actually flying!"
Suddenly, someone covered their mouth and exclaimed, watching Alice Nakiri toss eggs into the air one by one, forming graceful arcs. They looked like they were about to fall to the ground, resulting in a mess of broken eggs.
"Hey!"
Alice Nakiri naturally wouldn't let such a thing happen.
Watching the eggs in the sky, the young girl let out a light cry. Her wok ladle instantly made contact with the eggs, cracking each one open mid-air.
In an instant, the golden egg liquid fell into the wok, contacting the scorching hot oil and releasing an astonishing eggy aroma.
"Wh-what?! If I'm not mistaken, did she just crack the eggs open with the wok ladle? And the eggshells landed precisely in the trash can, while the egg liquid went into the hot oil!"
Such a scene was incredibly visually stunning, especially since the performer was around their age.
"This is just too amazing! It's the first time I've ever seen such a technique!"
Everyone present knew how to crack an egg, but to do it so flamboyantly—apart from Dylan, no one else there could manage it.
"Master, did you see all that?"
Glancing in Dylan's direction, Alice Nakiri quickly added the rice, pressing it down with the wok ladle to allow the egg to integrate with the rice.
She stir-fried fiercely over high heat, rapidly tossing the wok.
Next, she added the diced shiitake mushrooms, Chinese sausage, and other ingredients she had prepared earlier, stir-frying them quickly over high heat until a rich aroma emanated.
"What amazing wok-tossing skills! That rice flew more than two meters high and none of it spilled out!"
"Who is this girl? Why have I never seen her before? Not only are her egg-cracking skills superb, but her wok-tossing technique is also exceptional. With such solid fundamental skills, it's impossible not to have heard of her!"
"Not sure, seems like a new transfer student. I heard her surname is also Nakiri..."
"Surname Nakiri? In that case, it's not entirely incomprehensible that she can do this."
Watching the rice fly high in front of them, a wave of discussion erupted. The students present all showed expressions of admiration for this astounding scene.
Ten minutes on stage takes ten years of practice offstage!
Alice Nakiri's skill was undoubtedly the result of extensive practice.
"As expected of Senior Sister Alice! This heat control, precise to the extreme, has definitely reached the level of a Special-Grade Chef!"
Hojo Miyoko couldn't help but exclaim.
It's said that laymen watch the excitement while experts see the skill. As fellow Chinese cuisine chefs, only she and Dylan present truly understood the caliber of Alice Nakiri's technique.
How terrifying!
A girl her age actually possessed the combat power of a Special-Grade Chef!
One had to know that the current Tōtsuki High School Division didn't even have a single First-Class Chef...
No, wait. In terms of combat power, there was one.
Thinking of this, Hojo Miyoko stole a glance with the corner of her eye at Erina Nakiri, who was not far from her, her expression as usual.
Last year, when she and her senior sister went to Guangzhou for the Second-Class Chef examination, this young lady had gone to take Japan's First-Class Chef examination.
Unfortunately, due to improper ingredient handling, she was eliminated in the second round.
However, after a year of tempering, and with Teacher Dylan's guidance, it shouldn't be a big problem this year.
If one were to say who among the Tōtsuki Junior High students was most likely to contend with Alice Nakiri...
It would have to be Erina Nakiri, who inherited the "God's Tongue" and possessed top-tier culinary talent!
Of course, this would take at least a few years.
After all, the current Alice Nakiri was simply too overpowered; if she wasn't nerfed, it would be impossible to compete. This year's students would most likely live in her shadow...
"Hm?"
On the other side, noticing a gaze on her, Erina Nakiri looked around doubtfully but found nothing amiss.
"What's wrong, Lady Erina?"
Hisako Arato noticed her unusual behavior and looked in the direction Erina was looking, but similarly found nothing out of the ordinary, so she asked in confusion.
"It's nothing, probably just my imagination."
Shaking her head, Erina Nakiri continued to watch Alice Nakiri on the stage, gradually studying each step, a fierce fighting spirit burning in her eyes.
The humiliation she suffered that day, she would repay it sooner or later!
Now, under Dylan's guidance, she already possessed the strength of a First-Class Chef. In the Tōtsuki Junior High Division, she was second only to Alice Nakiri.
But this was far from enough!!
She wanted to become stronger, to surpass Alice Nakiri, to make that girl call her "Big Sis Erina" in humiliation, right in front of Dylan!
This month's training, although it exhausted her to the extreme, her strength was increasing at an astonishing rate.
The most obvious change was her tongue. Its resistance to dishes had greatly improved; she could already withstand the delicious impact of Special-Grade cuisine!
Of course, facing someone of Dylan's level, she still had no resistance whatsoever.
She had even had her clothes burst in front of him several times, at Alice Nakiri's house, with both of them present, causing quite a few awkward moments.
Later, she learned to be smarter. When tasting dishes, she would go to the bathroom and take a shower immediately after eating, feeling clean and refreshed, which was very nice.
"It's done! What a wonderful aroma!"
"What exactly is that flavor? It must be Special-Grade! Without a doubt, this is absolutely Special-Grade cuisine! Heavens, we have such an expert in our year?"
The fire was turned off, and the combination fried rice was plated.
Smelling the astounding aroma wafting through the air, the scene instantly erupted in discussion. Everyone fixed their gazes on the fried rice on the cooking station, their faces showing longing.
"Master, please taste it."
Picking up the fried rice from the table, Alice Nakiri walked straight to Dylan, looking at him fixedly, her face full of expectation.
"What's commendable is that you blanched the green peas in advance and kept them in cold water. You made this mistake with the Sweet and Sour Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish when you first learned to cook."
"Secondly, you diced the shiitake mushrooms only after steaming them. Many chefs dice them directly after soaking them until soft and then stir-fry them. That method doesn't allow the shiitake to release their fragrance. You handled it very well."
Looking at the combination fried rice on the plate, Dylan praised her unreservedly. However, his demeanor made Alice Nakiri's heart race.
"Now that we've talked about the strengths, let's talk about the weaknesses."
"First is the fire. Hot wok, cold oil is the essence of fried rice. With such a large flame, and then heating the oil further, the eggs cook through the moment they hit the wok. Even if the rice is added afterwards, there's no way to integrate their flavors; they can only be considered separate entities."
"The correct order should be to start with low heat, allowing the flavors of the egg and rice to meld. Then, add all the side ingredients, and finally turn to high heat."
"Don't underestimate these detailed differences; the level of a dish sometimes comes down to this!"
He finished all the combination fried rice in front of him.
Dylan stood up from his seat. This was a small assessment he had set for Alice Nakiri, and she had completed it passably.
He walked to the cooking station and heated the wok over low heat.
Quickly, he cracked two eggs into a bowl, added a small amount of salt for basic seasoning, then added oil to lower the wok's temperature, simultaneously adding the beaten egg and rice.
Using the wok ladle, he quickly pressed them together until they were perfectly integrated. Only then did he add the various side ingredients into the wok, continuing to stir-fry over low heat.
"You can add a bit of scallion earlier to enhance the fragrance of the fried rice, but you can't add it all at once, or the wok will be dominated by the familiar taste of scallion."
"I remember explaining the principle of secondary ingredient addition to you before. Go back and practice fried rice a hundred more times until you remember all the details!"
"Eh...?!"
As he spoke, Dylan had already turned off the stove's flame, simultaneously adding the remaining scallions from the cutting board, using the residual heat of the fried rice to cook them.
Scallions added this way would have a particularly distinct flavor, and the overall appearance of the dish would be vibrant, adding considerable color to the fried rice.
And as the dish was plated, a dazzling golden light instantly filled the entire classroom. However, apart from a few people, there were no shocked cheers.
They had seen such scenes too many times; they were somewhat desensitized.
"One spoonful per person."
"This time's class task is also simple. Each person makes a portion of fried rice. Only those whose taste satisfies me will be qualified to eat more!"
Dylan said, picking up one of the two plates of fried rice in front of him, returning to his seat, crossing his legs, and beginning to taste it himself.
He completely ignored Alice Nakiri's slightly resentful gaze from the side.
It was clearly you who asked me to demonstrate, and not only did you criticize her in public, but you're also increasing her practice load when she gets back. Aah, why is her life so hard!
"Alright!"
"Finally, the happiest part of Teacher Dylan's class!"
"I came just for this bite! Even if I get the lowest evaluation in the end, it's worth the price of admission!"
"Okay, I know you can't hold back. Hurry up and line up. If you're too noisy, you might not even get a bite by then!"
Although they were very eager for the dish before them, everyone lined up in a very orderly manner. No matter how much they couldn't control themselves, they had to restrain themselves now.
There was no other reason. Previously, an unruly student, relying on his strong physique, tried to monopolize Teacher Dylan's dish.
Not only was he taught a lesson by everyone united together, but he was also picked up by Dylan with one hand and thrown out of the classroom. The outcome was quite tragic.
After that incident, no one did such a thing again. People who came later, though puzzled, saw that everyone was following the rules and wouldn't be the ones to break them.
"Teacher Dylan, help me."
Holding the fried rice she had just received, Erina Nakiri bit her lower lip slightly, her cheeks flushed red, as she approached Dylan. Only he present could suppress the clothes-bursting power within her body.
However, her appearance like this... those who didn't know might think there was some secret deal between the two...
"Sit next to me first. I really don't know where your family's power comes from. This completely useless clothes-bursting... Why does it inexplicably feel like a curse?"
Patting the seat next to him, Dylan reached out and took Erina Nakiri's hand, their fingers tightly interlaced. This was the result of their many practices.
It's said that the ten fingers are connected to the heart; only in this way could the clothes-bursting power be suppressed to the maximum extent, otherwise, buttons on the chest could easily pop open.
Regarding this, Dylan had always suspected it was because her figure was too good. Slight movements would cause waves, so wouldn't those buttons fly off!
"I don't know either. The female members of our family should have higher tolerance than the male members, but who knew I'd meet you..."
Erina Nakiri's expression was somewhat complicated, unsure for a moment whether to be glad or to complain.
She should probably be more glad; after all, Dylan had allowed her to eat delicious food.
However...
Feeling the warmth from her left palm, Erina Nakiri's face flushed even more. Although it wasn't the first time, she felt shy every time.
She had only seen such scenes in shojo manga; it was something that happened only when the male and female leads' feelings reached a certain level.
Now, Dylan wasn't resisting holding her hand, did that mean...
Erina Nakiri's thoughts were a bit jumbled; for a moment, she even ignored the delicious food in front of her, lost in some kind of fantasy.
"You're still too amateur. Unlike me, I can already control it myself."
Alice Nakiri's disdainful voice came from not far away. Looking at the two sitting together holding hands, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
"Then why did you come over here?"
Her fantasy interrupted, Erina Nakiri didn't hold back, retorting at Alice Nakiri.
"Of course, it's to take Big Bro Dylan's other hand! It would be too cunning if it were just you! Who knows what you'd be thinking."
As she spoke, Alice Nakiri brought over a chair and sat down, taking Dylan's other hand, which was currently tasting food, and also took the spoon.
"Let me feed you, Big Bro Dylan."
Scooping up some combination fried rice from the plate with a spoon, Alice Nakiri said with a slight blush. In front of so many people, even she felt a bit embarrassed.
Fortunately, at this moment, everyone's attention was focused on the plate of combination fried rice on the cooking station, and very few people spared any attention for them.
"Alright, you try some too. There are quite a few problems with your dish; you still need to study a lot more. Those 100 portions I mentioned in class were no joke."
After eating the food Alice Nakiri fed him, Dylan leaned back in his chair, pushed the dish in front of him away, then closed his eyes to rest and think.
There was less than a week until the midterm exam. He had to think of a sufficiently difficult assessment; he absolutely couldn't let these guys pass too easily!
Look at them, not a hint of nervousness. If this continued, even if they could improve, it would be incredibly slow.
His goal was to have all these Tōtsuki students reach Special-Grade by graduation, but right now, probably only a few could achieve it.
However, he had to change his teaching policy!
"I know, I know! Isn't it just 100 portions of fried rice? I'll go set up a stall below Tōtsuki tonight. Forget 100 portions, I can make 200..."
Her voice laced with a hint of displeasure, Alice Nakiri put the combination rice into her mouth. In an instant, an incredibly rich flavor exploded in her mouth.
At the same time, Erina Nakiri, who was also eating the combination fried rice beside her, tightened her grip on Dylan's hand, the temperature of her palm rising at an astonishing speed.
"The shiitake mushrooms carry a natural umami and a faint woody aroma; their flesh is thick, and their texture is smooth. The carrots are sweet with a slight hint of sweetness, and their texture is crisp."
"The unique smoked aroma of the Chinese sausage intertwines with its saltiness; the meat is firm and chewy. The ham sausage has a smooth texture, a mild and slightly sweet taste."
"The green peas are sweet, crisp, and verdantly green. The eggs are golden and inviting, with a delicate and smooth texture. And the rice, having absorbed the essence of all the ingredients, becomes plump and elastic. The various flavors intertwine, making it utterly delicious!"
Alice Nakiri exhaled, her face a picture of enjoyment. The deliciousness woven from various ingredients was truly hard to resist!
"The umami of the shiitake mushrooms and the saltiness of the Chinese sausage intertwine; the sweetness of the carrots and the crispness of the green peas complement each other; the mildness of the ham sausage and the delicacy of the eggs supplement one another, while the spiciness of the chopped scallions adds a finishing touch to the entire fried rice."
"This feeling is like..."
Erina Nakiri chanted inwardly while closing her eyes, her whole being seeming to roam in an ocean of ingredients. At this moment, she shed all restraints, freely moving within it, her body relaxing accordingly...
However, just then! Grains of rice, each bearing Dylan's face, suddenly emerged from the ocean of colorful ingredients, their round, plump textures continuously bombarding various parts of her body.
This taste, this sensation!
Her fingers intertwined, Erina Nakiri couldn't help but tremble. Although under the influence of Dylan's internal energy, her clothes didn't burst...
But, this caused that power to flow elsewhere.
Suddenly, a shiver ran through her entire body.
Erina Nakiri opened her eyes, which were glistening with unshed tears, and a hint of complexity. Her whole body then slumped onto the armchair.
Unfortunately, she had still lost.
Fortunately, she had anticipated it and made preparations beforehand. Even though she couldn't resist in the end, no change could be seen from the outside.
This round, this round was a victory for those who came prepared!
Tōtsuki Academy classes ended at eleven in the morning.
After the bell rang, Dylan said goodbye to Alice Nakiri and headed alone towards the dormitory.
That was where Roland Chapelle's classroom was, and also where Megumi Tadokoro had class today. If nothing unexpected happened, she probably hadn't left yet.
That little girl liked to stay behind after class, savoring what she had learned that day alone in the classroom. He had bumped into Megumi studying alone in the classroom quite a few times.
And his purpose in coming was very simple: he wanted Megumi to fight more for his class. He had a good impression of this simple and honest little girl.
The less one has of something, the more one cherishes it.
Megumi possessed a quality that he lacked—a kindness so pure it warmed even his heart that dwelled deep in darkness. That's why he wanted to show her special care.
If it were anyone else, even Erina Nakiri, Dylan would only say to her: "Learn if you want, scram if you don't!"
"A straggler is still a straggler. Even if you luckily got an A-grade, it doesn't change the fact that you're inherently trash!"
"Being reprimanded like that, if it were me, I probably wouldn't have the face to stay here. I'd apply for expulsion right now."
"Sigh, let's not talk about it. I'm hungry. I got an A-grade today, let's eat something good!"
Just as he reached the top floor, Dylan heard a conversation. Turning his head, he saw a group of two boys and one girl, completely unfamiliar passerby characters.
However...
Hearing what they said, a bad premonition suddenly arose in Dylan's heart.
So he quickened his pace and soon arrived at the classroom where Professor Roland Chapelle taught.
At this moment, most of the students and the teacher had already left.
Only a small girl with blue hair in twin pigtails, her eyes seemingly glistening with tears, stood biting her lip in front of a cooking station, unwilling to leave.
_____
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