At Tōtsuki Culinary Academy, securing a spot in the Elite Ten was no easy feat.
It demanded exceptional skill, discipline, and relentless dedication.
Thus, individuals like Sonoka Kikuchi, the second seat of the 89th generation, and Rindō Kobayashi, the second seat of the 91st generation, were widely recognized as the best of the best.
Even Nakiri Erina, with her prestigious lineage and the God Tongue, held a deep respect for them.
She didn't mind acknowledging them as seniors—a rare courtesy from someone of her status.
Yet now, both Sonoka and Rindō had praised a mere tavern.
Not just with casual approval—but with genuine admiration.
That alone sparked a sense of anticipation within her.
But at the same time, she couldn't help but wonder—
If there truly existed a tavern where commoner cuisine could surpass gourmet food, then everything she had believed in… would crumble.
Still—since she was already here—
She might as well taste it herself.
ACloseObservation
After a brief moment of thought, Erina took a seat beside Rindō and turned her attention toward the tavern's owner.
Her first impression?
He had a confident, upright posture.
His height—well over 1.8 meters—gave him a striking presence, and his lean, well-proportioned physique hinted at both agility and strength.
Under the soft lighting, his features appeared refined, his deep-set eyes carrying an occasional glint of intelligence.
But the most distinctive thing about him—
Was his smile.
It was warm. Inviting.
As if it could effortlessly put people at ease.
…
For a moment, Erina found herself stunned.
"Um."
She quickly regained her composure.
"You're the owner, right? Can you… recommend a dish?"
Her voice carried a hint of reluctance.
After all, she had never set foot in a place like this before.
Taverns, in her mind, were nothing more than rowdy, unrefined establishments—certainly not places known for exquisite cuisine.
Since she had no clue what was on the menu, she had no choice but to ask for a recommendation.
Zane, the tavern owner, looked slightly surprised by her presence.
But he quickly masked it, as if he had expected her to show up.
After a brief moment of thought, he smiled and said—
"Hamburger."
"Fries."
"Chocolate brownie."
AShockingSuggestion
"…What?"
Erina's eyes widened in disbelief.
"This is a tavern!"
"Why on earth are you serving a random assortment of Western fast food?"
A tavern was meant to be a place centered around alcohol, with food as a complement—not the main attraction.
And yet, Zane was recommending…
Hamburgers? Fries? Brownies?
Her mind struggled to process it.
Sure, different regions had their own styles—
• Tokyo taverns specialized in fresh seafood and yakitori.
• Osaka taverns were known for rich hotpots and tempura.
But fast food?
That was unheard of!
Zane, however, remained unfazed.
"Why?"
He met her gaze calmly.
"Is there a rule that taverns can't serve Western fast food?"
"It's not about rules!" Erina snapped.
"But fast food is about convenience and affordability—"
"Exactly," Zane interrupted, his expression unreadable.
"Affordability is the key."
Erina frowned.
"Do you seriously think that by serving cheap fast food, you can impress my God Tongue?"
Her voice carried an edge of challenge.
She leaned slightly forward, narrowing her eyes.
"I'm warning you—if you don't serve me something exceptional, this place might not be open tomorrow."
Her words were calm, but the threat beneath them was unmistakable.
Zane simply smiled.
"I'm not worried."
"Because a mere God Tongue isn't enough to make me change my menu."
"Hmph."
Erina scoffed, crossing her arms.
"Fine. But don't regret it later."
Inwardly, she was fuming.
No matter what kind of dish he served, she had already made up her mind—
She would give it a bad review.
She would destroy his reputation.
Zane, however, didn't respond further.
Instead, he simply rolled up his sleeves and turned back toward the kitchen.
Without hesitation, he began preparing—
Hamburgers, fries, and chocolate brownies.
Rindō'sDoubts
Watching from the sidelines, Rindō couldn't help but frown.
"Zane, why these dishes?"
She lazily sipped on her yuzu liquor, her expression puzzled.
"Hamburgers and fries are kid's food."
"For students at Tōtsuki, they don't exactly hold much appeal."
"And… chocolate brownies?"
She shook her head.
"Eating something that sweet this late at night? It just doesn't make sense."
Yet, despite her confusion, she had a strange feeling.
Zane wasn't just serving regular fast food.
No—
He was doing something different.
Something unexpected.
"Maybe… he's planning to elevate them."
The thought crossed her mind.
After all, to impress the God Tongue, ordinary methods wouldn't work.
He had to transform them into something extraordinary.
Lifting her gaze, she exhaled and muttered—
"Alright, then."
"I hope you shock us all."
TheCookingBegins
Zane started with the bread.
Taking fresh white bread, he placed it in a blender, grinding it down into coarse breadcrumbs.
Then—
He tossed them into a frying pan and began toasting them.
As the heat intensified, the breadcrumbs darkened, turning a rich, meaty brown.
Erina watched closely.
Her brows furrowed.
"Wait…"
"Why are you frying breadcrumbs?"
"This is supposed to be a hamburger, isn't it?"
She was perplexed.
Frying bread would dehydrate it, forming a film on the surface that could negatively impact texture.
Had she misjudged him?
Was he really making such a careless mistake?
But then—
Zane smirked.
"You're right."
"White bread isn't for making hamburger buns."
He looked up, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"What I'm making… is a beef patty."
Erina froze.
Her breath hitched slightly.
"…What?"
"You're using bread… to make the patty?"
For the first time—
Her skepticism wavered.
Because if he could really pull that off…
It would be something she had never imagined before.