The entire kitchen fell silent at Mita's words.
"Manager, are you sure about this? You're going to let him cook on his own?" Alpho asked, his voice thick with disbelief.
The other chefs were equally stunned.
Miss Sakai's eyes sparkled with a mix of surprise and admiration as she patted Sui on the shoulder, smiling. "Well, well. Seems like you're quite impressive after all, little brother."
Even Sui was caught off guard. "Shouldn't I start with chores, like washing dishes?" he asked, confused.
"That won't be necessary," Manager Mita replied with a smile. "After a year of internship, Miss Yuzuki has already begun preparing dishes on her own. I tasted your food this morning and, to be honest, I think you're even more skilled at handling ingredients than she is. You're ready to take charge in the kitchen."
"What?!" came the collective gasp from the chefs, unable to hide their shock.
Alpho and several chefs stared at Sui in disbelief.
Having worked with Yuzuki for a year, they were well aware of her talent. While her cooking skills hadn't yet surpassed theirs, they knew she was rapidly improving and would soon be on their level. The fact that she had such potential already surprised them. But now, someone was telling them that Sui was even better than her?
"By the way, Sui, tell me all the dishes you excel at," Manager Mita asked. "According to our policy, you'll earn a commission for every dish sold."
Sui nodded. "Sinangag fried rice," he answered simply.
Manager Mita jotted it down and asked, "Anything else?"
"Anything else? No, that's it for now," Sui replied. Though he could prepare other dishes, Sinangag fried rice was currently his best option.
"Just one dish?" Mita was taken aback.
"Yes, is there a problem?" Sui asked, sensing the manager's surprise.
"Oh, no, nothing," Mita quickly responded, though he couldn't hide his disappointment. Could I have misjudged him? he thought to himself. He had been convinced that Sui had incredible potential, but could he really only cook one dish?
If that were true, it would be hard for him to survive in the culinary industry. No matter how good a dish is, diners will eventually grow tired of it if it's the only thing on offer.
Even Yuzuki was puzzled. She had seen Sui demonstrate his skills when he prepared his dish. She had thought he was on par with her level, but now it turned out he only specialized in one dish?
Miss Sakai was equally surprised. It was highly unusual for a chef to be proficient in just a single dish.
Alpho let out a laugh. "I told you, it's not so easy for students to take charge here. They're still just students after all."
Miss Sakai nodded in agreement. "You've mastered too few dishes. To become a high-level chef, you need a deep understanding of ingredients and various cuisines. Your knowledge is still far too narrow."
Sui nodded, fully aware of this truth. However, with the help of his God Tongue, he believed he could quickly make up for this gap.
"Well, let's give it a try today and see how the customers respond," Manager Mita said after a brief hesitation.
"If I'm not cooking, I'll start with some chores," Sui suggested, sensing the manager's hesitation and trying to ease the tension.
——
Sui's Apartment
The bathroom door creaked open slightly. After confirming the room was dark and empty, a figure stealthily emerged and switched on the light. It was Erina, and she had slipped into Sui's apartment.
"Phew, he's still not back," she sighed in relief before remembering her purpose. Hurriedly, she went over to Sui's wardrobe and began rummaging through it.
"What size does this annoying guy wear? I forgot to ask earlier," she muttered to herself. As she searched, her hand suddenly grasped something, and her face turned crimson in an instant—it was one of Sui's underwear.
With a startled gasp, Erina threw it aside as if it had shocked her. "Gross! Ugh! Where do people even put the size on clothes?!"
She wanted to cry in frustration. She had little experience with everyday chores—most of her personal tasks had always been taken care of by her aide, Hisako Arato. She had never even had to check clothing sizes before.
——
Meanwhile, Sui was completely unaware that someone had broken into his apartment.
Back in the bustling Kagura Sakaya restaurant, it was peak dining time, and the kitchen staff, including Sui, were all busy handling the rush. However, none of Sui's dishes had been ordered.
Part of the reason was his lack of reputation—he was new, and in high-end restaurants, patrons are picky, not just about the food, but also the chef behind it. Why would anyone pay a premium price to try a dish from a chef they didn't know?
The other issue was Sui's limited repertoire. He only had one dish to offer.
"Hey, new kid! We're out of bowls—hurry up and wash the ones we just used!" one chef barked.
"We're out of steaks too. Go fetch some more from storage," another instructed.
"Someone spilled soup here! New guy, mop up this mess!"
Naturally, Sui found himself relegated to doing menial tasks. He was often scolded and ordered around, but he didn't mind. The kitchen followed harsh rules—respect was earned through skill, and he hadn't proven his yet.
At Tōtsuki Culinary Academy, even top students who were destined to become world-renowned chefs had to start at the bottom during their internships.
Sui had no complaints; after all, this was part-time work for him. Meanwhile, Yuzuki, who was also an intern, was treated much better. Thanks to her charm and status as a student, she was quite popular with customers. A month earlier, Manager Mita had already given her the opportunity to cook independently, and her dishes had received glowing reviews.
"If no one's ordering your food, you might as well start washing dishes. The kitchen is a cruel place," Alpho remarked dismissively.
"If you only know how to cook one dish, you're not cut out to be a chef," another chef added, mockingly.
"Don't worry, Sui," Yuzuki said kindly. "With your talent, you'll be able to prepare dishes soon enough."
Sui smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Yuzuki."
Just then...
"Oh no, Miss Hanaya has arrived!" someone called out, causing a stir in the kitchen.