Chapter 205

This level of strength is worlds apart from what she was just now.

"Bocchi-chan is amazing!" Even Yuihama Yui, who knows nothing about music, could tell how skilled the person in the video was.

"No, it's not that amazing, hehehe~~~" Gotou Hitori hearing their praise.

A floral aura emanated from her body, and her expression flowed like waves. The feelings of inferiority and humiliation that had just been twisted to the point of death were instantly swept away, replaced by an undisguised smugness.

"You really only have two modes, timid and smug, little Bocchi."

Ichiji Nijika was speechless at her personality. She gently shook her Hidemi forehead with her small hand, not knowing what to say.

Sakurakoji Talent continued the conversation, drawing Yukino Shita Yukino's attention back. "How about it? Don't you find it quite challenging?"

"If successful, it will allow a promising guitarist to walk confidently on the path of society, shining brightly and contributing to building a better world."

"You might even be able to create a band that will later become famous. The sense of accomplishment you get from that is something you can't compare to no matter how many commissions you do at school, right?"

"Most importantly," he smiled confidently, clenching his fist, "This commission perfectly aligns with your original intention in establishing the Service Club, doesn't it?"

Yukino Shita Yukino silent; just as he had said, she truly had no reason not to accept the commission.

Whether for her own spiritual pursuits or the immense sense of accomplishment that would follow, this was a perfect task she could never find at school.

Is this why he told her to broaden her horizons? She glanced sideways at Sakurakoji Talent.

Although I still felt like I was being used, as he had said before, things that benefit both parties cannot be considered exploitation, and there is no need to deliberately avoid them.

Although we don't know how difficult this will be, we already have several types of compensation that are clear at the moment.

First, it tests my ability to influence other people's personalities and ways of thinking; second, it helps me gain the favor of the Kessoku Band members; third, it provides psychological satisfaction upon completion; and fourth, it helps me improve my guitar skills.

Fifth, it would make Sakurakoji Talent owe him a favor—if he had any shame.

If he insists that this was a request from Ichiji Nijika and had nothing to do with him, then there's nothing she can do about it.

However, the Service Club itself is not a place to seek rewards, so these things are irrelevant.

But spending so much time with him, her thinking seemed to be unconsciously shifting towards a more pragmatic direction, even though it had only been two days...

"I understand. We'll accept this request!" As the Club President head, Yukino Shita Yukino tossed her long, lead-black hair and made a decisive move.

"Then it's a pleasure to cooperate with you."

Sakurakoji Talent's undisguised, cunning smile, as if his scheme had succeeded, almost made Yukino Shita Yukino immediately change her mind and cancel her decision.

The next day, Saturday.

Around 8 a. m., Sakurakoji Talent, along with his younger sister Sakurakoji Ashiri and his older sister Okura Rumin, returned to the Sakura Mansion by car.

That's right, today is the day that Okura Iyo is visiting.

Although the approximate arrival time is before lunch, he is the head chef today, so he must arrive earlier.

He was somewhat curious about the identity of the mysterious guest that Okura Iyo had brought.

However, logically speaking, he was 99% sure he didn't know them, so he wasn't too concerned, which is why he hadn't asked anything these past few days.

Upon arriving at the mansion, Okura Rumin chatted briefly with them before heading to the reception room to begin her daily practice on the Piano.

Ashiri followed him into the kitchen of the mansion to help him.

She usually wouldn't miss such an opportunity to learn from someone.

Compared to simple verbal instructions, this opportunity to see him practice is much rarer and more valuable.

However, before the guests arrive, all they can do is wash, chop, and prepare the vegetables, and at most, they can prepare some cold dishes.

He used his spare time to give Ashiri and Kuyachiyo extra tutoring, guiding and standardizing every detail of their lives, and pointing out areas for improvement.

For example, the knife skills are not very proficient, and the vegetables are cut into too large pieces; the ingredients are not of good quality, and the remaining parts are not removed completely except for the essential parts; the dough is not pounded for long enough or evenly; the proportions are not perfect, and the baking time is not accurate to the second, etc.

The reason he can make food that tastes far better than others using the same ingredients and recipes is because he is much more sensitive to these details than the average person.

What ordinary people might overlook as superfluous ingredients are, in his eyes, destabilizing taste bombs that will trigger a series of chemical reactions.

To him, the size and shape of side dishes that seem similar to others are works of art with millimeter-level precision; even a little more or less makes him uncomfortable.

He would first test the oven's heat on a test piece for a few minutes to determine the optimal setting, and then control it with precision down to the second.

What others might consider a dough that's been pounded just right, in his hands, even a few extra or fewer poundings make a noticeable difference...

There's also the amount of yeast and water, the seasonings to add depending on the quantity of ingredients, and the flexibility to adapt during frying...

Only by doing every step perfectly can one reach his level, but needless to say, that is an extremely difficult thing.

His ability to do so stems not only from his innate sensitivity to subtle details, but also from his continuous practice day after day.

Although he doesn't cook often, his meticulous training in details never stops.

For example, the keen grasp of numbers and quantities is trained through sewing and cutting fabrics and clothing. Without reaching that level, it is impossible to make top-quality garments where even millimeter-level errors are not allowed.

He deeply understood this from a young age at home.

For example, when playing music, unless it's for improvisation, you need to have millisecond-level control over the score. Because in just one second, you can play dozens of notes.

To become a professional performer, one cannot afford to make a single mistake, not even for a beat or a single note, in a piece that lasts several minutes or even a concert that lasts one or two hours.

In fact, almost all fields in the world are interconnected in the end; they all require the ultimate control over details and the accumulation and nurturing of talent and hard work.

However, some differences in the pathways prevent other geniuses from easily transferring experience from one field to another, just as he could.

That's what makes him stand out from the rest.

While others cultivate a single field, they focus on that field; but he, in his cultivation, seeks something more fundamental.

In a way, he also owes a debt of gratitude to this body that suffered from hardship from a young age, which allowed him to see perspectives that others could not and to feel things (pain) in a more subtle way.

Because I don't have any particular preference for anything, I can actually appreciate everything with a calm and balanced mindset.

Things in this world are sometimes truly mysterious and unpredictable.

Chapter 261 A Man Freer Than the Pirate King

"Young Master, Lord Iyo has contacted us, saying they will arrive in half an hour."

Around eleven o'clock, head maid Yashiro Ichiyo approached Sakurakoji Talent, who was enjoying the rare feeling of guiding his younger sister, and reported the itinerary she had just received.

Sakurakoji Talent nodded slightly. "I understand. Please go and tell Rumin-jie this news as well."

"Yes." Yashiro Ichiyo bowed and then slowly left the kitchen.

He wiggled his knuckles and gave the instruction. "Alright, practice time is over! Ashiri, let's begin the formal ceremony!"

"Yes, elder brother!" Ashiri stopped what he was doing, smiled and clasped his hands together in front of him.

The two abandoned all their practice materials and quickly began preparing.

The once quiet and spacious kitchen was immediately filled with the loud, sizzling sound of boiling oil.

The interplay and collision of flames and ironware create a visually and olfactorily stunning feast for the senses.

He only stopped what he was doing when he received a message that the other party would arrive in five minutes—he had been the only one left here since then.

On the one hand, his skills are superior, making him more suitable for entertaining guests;

On the other hand, his higher level of skill allows him to handle several dishes simultaneously, greatly reducing preparation time.

As for Ashiri and Kuyachiyo, they were just called back to change their clothes.

Out of courtesy, it wouldn't be appropriate for the Sakurakoji Family's owners to be greeted with the lingering smell of kitchen fumes that could be detected from two meters away.

He placed the food trays that needed to be kept warm into the insulated box, untied his apron in a second and tossed it aside, then ran back to his room at top speed.

Naturally, he was the same.

After returning to his room, he took off all his clothes in ten seconds, went into the bathroom, rinsed his body and face briefly with water, and checked for any oil residue.

Then, use the warm air from the hairdryer to evenly blow on the hair strands to remove the odor, a step he had also instructed Ashiri and the others to take.

No matter what you're doing, if you want to do it, you must pay attention to the details.

Feeling that was enough, he went back to his bedroom and casually picked out some clothes to put on. Anyway, it didn't matter what he wore; it wouldn't affect his handsomeness.

He glanced at the time; there were 30 seconds left.

She walked out of the room at a leisurely pace, followed the staircase to the foyer, where Okura Rumin and Ashiri were already waiting.

Logically speaking, as a guest and elder Okura Rumin shouldn't have come to greet the guests, but being a serious person by nature, she probably didn't want to be treated as an outsider or an elder, so she came along too.

"Rumin-jie, did you know anything beforehand?" He asked casually after hearing the maid announce the arrival of a car.

"You mean the guest's identity?" Okura Rumin looked at him with gentle eyes.

"Hmm, have you asked?"

Why would you think that?

"No, I just felt you would have informed Uncle Iyo in advance, wouldn't you?"

"Hmph--Yes." She rolled her eyes at him, both bored and pleased.

Knowing someone too well can sometimes be quite boring.

"So, did you ask about the other party's identity?"

"Hmm... let's leave it at that." Okura Rumin's expression was mysterious and complicated. "By the way, Talent-kun will find out soon, right?"

"I didn't really want to know either, I was just trying to keep you company."

"I see," she said flatly, her tone devoid of emotion. "I heard she's the daughter of Mr. Iyo's business partner, who is also a world-class Fashion Designer."

"I own a high-end, well-known brand company in France, and I currently serve as its CEO. Because Mr. Iyo are in the same industry and from the same hometown, and our activities overlap, we have quite a lot of contact."

Sakurakoji Talent multiplying, chimed in, "Hey~ I see~"

"It's a bit like my family. I think I understand why Uncle Iyo introduced us."

"You don't seem to care much at all."

"So, as I said, I'm not interested in who the other person is, and I don't really want to get involved in these kinds of social interactions."

Social skills are very useful for those in power and influence. But ultimately, they are simply a product of a lack of self-confidence, unfulfilled desires, and the need for mutual support.

He had little interest in power and wealth; enough was enough for him. He also had ample confidence in his own abilities, knowing that he would never have to worry about food and clothing in his lifetime.

Even if you threw him out on the street now, penniless, and wiped out all his connections...

He was confident he could hook up with a beautiful, Rich Lady Sister in Ginza that afternoon, have dinner at a high-end restaurant that evening, wake up the next day in a tiny bed at the Imperial Hotel, have her crying and begging to marry him a few days later, and then get half of her assets a week later...

Of course, this is a relatively simple strategy that relies heavily on modeling and emotional control; there are also more difficult modes.

For example, they could borrow a musical instrument from a high school girl on the street to busk and raise a few thousand yen to cover their living expenses for the day.

Then, go to a live music venue or bar and volunteer for a temporary job to scrape together enough money to buy a musical instrument.

Later on, forming a band, releasing a few albums, and making a grand debut... that's also a viable way to make a living.

Or you could go back to your old profession, make and sell clothes to make money, apply for a chef position at a famous hotel, continue writing Light Novel and selling illustrations, travel the world as an interpreter, become a model or idol and sell your looks, or invest the money you earn in finance...

In short, there are countless ways to do this; one will never end up working as a customer service representative or selling newspapers.

It's no exaggeration to say that once he recovers from his illness, he will be the freest man in the world! Without a doubt! Even the Pirate King isn't as free as him!

"Really? But I heard her daughter is about our age and started modeling at a young age. She's quite well-known and a very beautiful woman~" Okura Rumin closed her beautiful eyes slightly, looking at him teasingly.

"So what? Is she prettier than Rumin-jie?" He still wasn't very enthusiastic. "Besides, in terms of achievements, there aren't many people in the world who have achieved what you have at your age Rumin-jie."

"You... you really can say things like that so easily..." Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her gaze shyly darted away.

Sakurakoji Talent stood there somewhat lazily, thinking, "She's just a female designer from Japan who owns a clothing company in France, and her daughter is a JK model. What's so special about that...?"

"..." A sudden thought flashed through his mind, and a bad premonition welled up in his heart.

"Um, Rumin-jie, by the way, did you also find out the other person's surname?"

As the maid waiting outside slowly opened the mansion gate, a few drops of cold sweat appeared on his fair, jade-like forehead.

"Yes, I inquired about it. Because the surname is a bit unusual, I made a slight note of it. I think it's... Ouka?"