"Sister, what did you say?" Toru Kazama asked, unsure if he had heard correctly.
"My name is Asuka Shimizu. If you don't mind, just call me Asuka," she replied calmly.
"Uh, okay," Toru stammered.
Sweat dotted his brow. It's not that we don't mind, it's that you don't mind!
The atmosphere between the two was a little awkward. Just as Toru was about to invite her to rest on the sofa in the living room...
"Bang!" A loud noise echoed from the kitchen.
Asuka and Toru turned their heads simultaneously toward the source of the sound.
Toru's expression turned grim. He knew his mother's cooking skills well enough. She could make soup for a bento, but anything more complicated was... questionable.
He glanced at Asuka sheepishly. "Well, big sister, I'll go check on the kitchen. You can rest on the sofa for now."
"No need," Asuka declined.
"Huh?"
"I'll come with you," she insisted.
It just so happened that she was curious to see the so-called Chinese chef in action.
Seeing that he couldn't dissuade her, Toru resignedly brought out a pair of guest slippers for her. Asuka took off her stylish low-heeled shoes, slipped on the slippers, and followed him into the kitchen.
Black smoke billowed from the kitchen as Mineko Kazama clutched the pot lid in one hand, panicking as she tried to maneuver the scorched pot into the sink. However, the distance made her movements awkward.
"Mom…" Toru's small face showed concern. "Are you okay?"
Mineko turned to glance at her son, only to notice that Asuka had followed him in.
"Toru, Mom's fine! Take your big sister back to the living room. The smoke here is choking," Mineko said urgently.
"No need," Asuka said again, her tone firm.
In that moment, a deep desire surged within her—a need to showcase her culinary prowess. Her cheeks flushed under the force of it.
Asuka strode into the kitchen, took the burnt pot from Mineko's hands, and placed it in the sink. She rinsed it thoroughly, dried it with a clean towel, and returned it to the stovetop.
"You're a guest. Let me handle this," Mineko said, raising a hand to signal Toru to escort Asuka back to the living room.
Asuka paid no attention. She quickly took out beef, tomatoes, and onions from the vegetable basket, washed them, and placed them in separate bowls.
She picked up a tomato, gave her wrist a deft shake, and sliced it into even pieces with remarkable speed. The diced tomatoes went back into the bowl with a splash of water added.
She repeated the process for the onions and beef, dicing the former and marinating the latter.
Toru and Mineko stood rooted to the spot, their eyes wide. Asuka's flawless knife skills and lightning-fast movements left them completely awestruck.
"Mom… Mom! Sister Asuka is amazing!" Toru tugged on Mineko's apron, his voice full of admiration.
Mineko blinked, finally snapping out of her daze. She studied Asuka's poised movements at the stove and a flicker of wonder crossed her face.
"You said her name is Asuka Shimizu?" Mineko asked.
"That's right," Toru confirmed, nodding. "Big sister's name is Asuka Shimizu."
Mineko fell silent, trying to recall if she had heard the name before.
On the stove, the tomato-beef brisket stew began to emit a tantalizing aroma. Asuka glanced at Mineko and asked, "Sister, can I check what ingredients you have in the refrigerator?"
"S-Sister? Of course! Do you need my help, Asuka?" Mineko asked, pleased at the honorific.
"No, sister," Asuka replied with a small smile. "I just want to test my cooking skills."
Test her cooking skills? Mineko thought the phrase sounded odd but shrugged it off. After all, Asuka's earlier knife skills had been nothing short of incredible.
As the enticing smell of the simmering stew filled the kitchen, Toru's stomach growled loudly. "Mom, big sister's soup smells delicious!"
Mineko, however, was focused on the ingredients Asuka pulled from the refrigerator—tofu, pork, garlic, green onions, and red pepper.
With a flash of her knife, Asuka sliced the tofu into perfectly even cubes, placing them into a bowl of water. A piece of pork received similar treatment as Asuka expertly minced it. She quickly prepared the garlic and green onions as well.
Toru watched in awe. "Mom, big sister is way better at cooking than you!"
Mineko stiffened but couldn't muster a rebuttal. He's not wrong…
When Mineko saw Asuka working with tofu, she assumed another soup was on the way. "Asuka, are you making soup with the tofu?"
"No," Asuka replied flatly. She poured cold oil into the wok, heating it until it sizzled before adding Sichuan peppercorns and red chili peppers.
"Zzzzzz!"
The aroma was pungent, filling the air with a spiciness that made Toru and Mineko sneeze.
Asuka remained focused. Since there was no bean paste in the kitchen, she substituted it with a popular Japanese dipping sauce, stirring it into the wok.
After a flurry of precise movements, a plate of Mapo Tofu emerged, vibrant red and mouthwateringly fragrant.
Mineko and Toru couldn't resist stepping closer to inspect the dish.
The sight of the glistening tofu and the aroma made Toru's mouth water. "Big sister, what is this?" Mineko asked, her voice full of curiosity.
"Chinese cuisine. Mapo Tofu. It's a bit spicy and not suitable for children," Asuka explained.
"Aw…" Toru pouted, visibly disappointed.
Sensing his dismay, Asuka added, "Don't worry. I'll make something else—a dish more suitable for children: Coke Chicken Wings."
"Coke Chicken Wings?" Toru's face lit up. "That sounds delicious!"
His voice turned playful. "Big sister, you're amazing at cooking!"