Ichinose's Cooking Lesson

During the first two weeks of the semester, the academic pace at Advanced Nurturing High School was not particularly intense. The school had deliberately eased the pressure of regular classes, giving the new students ample time to adjust, allowing these students from all across Japan, each with vastly different personalities, to gradually figure out the school rules and settle into their class relationships.

Under Ichinose Honami's leadership, Class B's atmosphere was harmonious to an almost absurd degree.

The students spontaneously formed groups to explore the ins and outs of campus life. From reviews of cafeteria dishes and value-for-money comparisons of supermarket products, to dorm living tips and hidden on-campus perks, everyone carefully compiled their experiences and shared them in the class group chat.

This extreme model of information sharing and mutual assistance perfectly avoided the usual pitfalls of entering a new school, while rapidly strengthening the class's cohesion.

And Bai Mu happened to be the biggest beneficiary of this collective welfare.

He did not enjoy gathering around to chat, nor could he be bothered to actively explore the trivial details of daily life. Usually a loner, he had nevertheless effortlessly grasped every aspect of life on campus through the guides shared by the entire class, saving both time and effort.

It was during this leisurely adjustment period that Bai Mu developed a simple, unpretentious little goal—unlocking the cooking skill.

In his previous life, he had spent all year busy with work and deeply immersed in strategic maneuvering. He had gotten by on takeout for years and dealt with his three meals carelessly, leaving himself with a whole host of minor sub-health problems. No matter how mature his mind was, the wear and tear on his body was very real.

Now that he had another chance at life, he was at Advanced Nurturing High School, where the facilities were comprehensive and freedom was at its maximum. His single dorm came with its own small kitchen, fully equipped with cookware, a stove, and refrigeration. With no complicated affairs to deal with, this was the perfect opportunity to make up for his shortcomings and learn reliable cooking skills from scratch.

He did not aspire to rival a top chef. He only wanted to be self-sufficient for his three daily meals, eat healthily, and properly nurse his body back into shape. That would at least do justice to this perfectly honed, disciplined physique.

During some free time in the afternoon, Bai Mu headed straight for the student supermarket on campus with his limited common sense about daily life.

The supermarket's kitchenware section was neatly arranged, with all kinds of affordable pots, utensils, and seasonings on display. Everything could be exchanged for personal points, with transparent pricing and good value suited to students' daily needs.

Quite a few girls from Class B had gathered there, carefully selecting different kitchenware and ingredients while chattering about recipe ratios and ingredient freshness, looking every bit like a professional food review team.

Bai Mu passed by them sideways, his gaze sweeping over the shelves. His expression was calm, but his movements were unfamiliar—the image of a complete kitchen novice.

He repeatedly examined a small frying pan, looking it over from every angle yet unable to decide whether to choose a deep or shallow one. He looked as conflicted as a total beginner, completely unlike his usual image as a master strategist who dominated every situation.

"Bai Mu?"

A gentle, sweet female voice sounded from behind him, breaking his indecision.

Bai Mu turned around and saw Ichinose Honami standing not far away with a bag of fresh ingredients in hand. Her eyes curved with her smile, her expression gentle and soothing. Having just showered and changed into clean casual clothes, she had shed the youthful awkwardness she had shown by the pool, gaining instead the gentle liveliness of a girl next door. She was exceptionally pleasant to look at.

"Are you here to buy kitchenware too?" Ichinose walked quickly over, her gaze falling on the frying pan in Bai Mu's hand. A trace of curiosity flashed in her eyes. "I didn't expect you to cook for yourself."

Bai Mu nodded openly, making no effort to hide his weakness. His tone was casual and straightforward. "I don't know how. I'm starting from zero and planning to learn."

Ichinose froze for a moment at those words, then could not help laughing softly.

In her established impression of him, Bai Mu was simply too capable. His physical ability crushed the entire school, he excelled at every sport, and he had even been the first to uncover the school's core secrets. No matter what he did, he was calm and unhurried, succeeding at everything he tried. He was practically synonymous with being able to do anything.

She had subconsciously assumed that someone with such overwhelming talent would probably be naturally gifted even at an everyday skill like cooking. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected such a top-tier genius to have a genuine blind spot in his knowledge.

The stark contrast was both adorable and real, instantly bringing the two closer together.

"So Bai Mu has things he can't do too!" Ichinose covered her mouth, smiling with crescent eyes, her voice full of genuine surprise. "What a coincidence. I cook often at home, and I'm pretty decent at it!"

Born into an ordinary family, she had developed an independent and capable personality early on. She was proficient at both cooking and housework, a truly capable homemaker.

She looked up at Bai Mu, her eyes full of sincerity, and took the initiative to invite him. "If you don't mind, I can teach you! I happen to be free this afternoon. If your dorm kitchen is convenient, we can give it a try right now."

Bai Mu was slightly taken aback, then the corners of his lips lifted as he accepted frankly. "Then I'll be in your care."

With someone willing to teach him hands-on for free, sparing him from having to fumble around and make mistakes himself, there was naturally no reason for him to refuse such an easy arrangement.

After purchasing basic kitchenware, fresh vegetables, and meat together, the two walked back to the dorm side by side.

They drew an explosive number of glances along the way, becoming a striking sight on campus.

A cool, reserved, exceptionally handsome boy paired with a gentle, kind campus goddess with a soothing aura—the sight of them strolling side by side was both soft and well-matched. Students passing by kept turning to look, unable to resist whispering among themselves.

When they returned to Bai Mu's single dorm, Room 402, it was absurdly tidy.

There was no unnecessary clutter, the desktop was clean and crisp, and every item was arranged neatly and methodically. The minimalist, refreshing setup perfectly suited his disciplined and restrained personality. Though the small built-in kitchen area was compact, it had everything it needed: a stove, range hood, refrigerator, and seasoning storage area, more than enough for one person's daily cooking.

"Your dorm is so neat!" Ichinose said softly in praise as she entered the room, her favorable impression of him quietly rising. People who could keep their daily living space clean and orderly were usually steady and dependable by nature.

She did not waste any time. Skillfully taking the ingredients and kitchenware they had purchased, she naturally switched into teaching mode.

"Beginners don't need to learn overly complicated dishes. We'll start with the simplest home-style meals—tomato scrambled eggs and stir-fried vegetables. They're easy to pick up and hard to mess up."

As Ichinose explained gently, she skillfully rolled up her sleeves, took a clean apron from Bai Mu's shelf, and lightly tied it around her waist.

The simple solid-colored apron made her figure appear even more slender and gentle. Her long hair was casually tucked behind her ear, revealing the clean, delicate line of her neck. The way she worked so earnestly was both tender and domestic, filling the room with a cozy, homey atmosphere.

Bai Mu obediently stood at the side, completely turning into an elementary school student listening to a lesson.

The cool young man who usually looked down on the entire class had completely lost his overwhelming aura when faced with pots and pans. His eyes were focused yet bewildered, and he truly carried himself like a complete novice.

"First, preparation. The ingredients must be washed thoroughly, and when you cut them, try to keep the pieces even so they heat uniformly."

Ichinose was patient and meticulous, demonstrating the proper force for cutting vegetables and the techniques for handling ingredients step by step. Her movements flowed smoothly and cleanly.

By contrast, Bai Mu's grip on the knife was stiff and awkward. The tomatoes he cut varied in size and thickness, while his method of beating eggs was also somewhat clumsy. It created an extreme contrast with his usual precision in controlling situations and mastery of every skill.

Watching his slightly clumsy movements, Ichinose could not help secretly holding back a laugh. But afraid of discouraging his enthusiasm, she could only suppress it and gently correct his technique. "You don't need to grip the knife so tightly. Relax your wrist and let the force flow naturally."

A gentle presence lingered in the small kitchen, and the distance between them seemed to narrow without limit.

The boy's cool profile as he focused on learning, the girl's soft, patient guidance—the small kitchen was filled with warmth, stripped of the tense maneuvering of campus life and brimming with a comforting, healing sense of daily routine.

Whenever she leaned in to guide him at close range, strands of her hair would inadvertently brush lightly against Bai Mu's shoulder, while a faint fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose. The simple cooking lesson gained a subtle, ambiguous atmosphere.

Bai Mu was steady by nature. He deliberately calmed his mind and focused on following the steps.

His learning talent had always been exceptional. Even in cooking, where he had started from zero, once he found the right method and had someone to guide him, his progress was terrifyingly fast. In just over ten minutes, he had quickly grasped the basic logic of preparing ingredients, lighting the stove, controlling the heat, and stir-frying, picking it up far faster than an ordinary person.

The ingredients, unevenly cut at first, gradually became neat and uniform, and his stir-frying went from stiff and clumsy to smooth and natural.

Ichinose watched him improve at an astonishing pace, her eyes full of amazement. She could not help sighing, "You're way too smart! You can cook this well on your first try—I practiced for ages before I got the hang of it."

As expected of a genius outstanding in every respect. Even in everyday little things, he was far better than ordinary people.

Hearing that, Bai Mu's lips curved into a faint smile. His tone was calm, though it carried a trace of barely concealed smugness. "It's just practice making perfect. Do it a few more times and you'll get it."

The two divided the work and worked with remarkable efficiency. Ichinose carefully handled the seasoning and corrected the finer details, while Bai Mu did the actual stir-frying and controlled the heat. Their coordination was flawless.

Before long, two simple home-style dishes were ready.

The tomato scrambled eggs glistened brightly, sweet and tangy and inviting, while the stir-fried vegetables were vivid green and crisp. They were not plated to a master chef's standard, but for a beginner's first time cooking, they were far beyond passing—nothing about them suggested they had been made by a complete novice.

The fresh aroma of the food filled the entire dorm room, brimming with the warmth of everyday life.

They sat across from each other at the dining table, looking at the home-cooked dishes they had made with their own hands. They exchanged smiles, both filled with a sense of accomplishment.

"Try it!" Ichinose's eyes sparkled as she looked at Bai Mu expectantly.

Bai Mu picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. The flavor was light and pleasant, neither greasy nor heavy. Compared to the assembly-line meals in the cafeteria, it carried a little more warmth and homeliness. It was genuinely quite good.

"It's delicious," Bai Mu said seriously, his praise sincere.

Receiving the boy's approval, Ichinose felt sweetness bloom in her heart. Her eyes curved into crescents as she said softly, "If you ever want to learn a new dish, just call me anytime. I'll keep teaching you!"