"Cool!"
"This is the final version of Dragon Song Strawberry."
Alice spoke softly as she presented her creation to Ryo Kurokiba, who stood beside her, his ever-present dark circles only adding to his usual air of fatigue.
To the untrained eye, the dish looked like nothing more than an ordinary strawberry.
But Ryo knew better.
The moment he leaned in, he noticed it—the unnatural texture, the smoothness of the outer shell, the faint sheen of sugar-crystal perfection. It was as if someone had sculpted a strawberry from the memory of taste itself.
And in a way, they had.
Dragon Song Strawberry.
The name wasn't just flair—it was earned.
Alice had taken the humble strawberry through dozens of transformations:
The flesh, vacuum-sealed and slow-cooked.
The sweetness extracted and frozen with liquid nitrogen.
The shell, shaped through sugar blowing and temperature shock, thin as spun glass.
The interior, filled with strawberry foam whipped through a siphon bottle and cooled to a delicate mousse.
Traditional craftsmanship met cutting-edge molecular gastronomy.
The result? A single bite that represented both past and future.
Crack.
Ryo lightly tapped the strawberry's shell with the back of his spoon.
A delicate shatter echoed through the lab, like fine porcelain breaking.
Without hesitation, he poured a spoonful of steaming hot strawberry jam over it.
The visual contrast—cold shell meeting warm syrup—created a sensory explosion. The outer casing melted slightly, allowing the heat to seep into the icy core.
It looked like a strawberry singing its final note—a dragon's cry frozen in time.
Clearly, this wasn't Ryo's first time tasting it. His practiced motion, the way he paired the syrup and timing, said it all.
And finally, under Alice's eager gaze… he took a bite.
The taste hit instantly.
It was sweeter than any natural strawberry. The foam inside burst across his tongue like stardust—sweet, sour, cool, then warm.
It was a kaleidoscope of sensations:
Icy cold and burning hot.
Crispy shell and silken interior.
Sharp acidity, mellow sweetness.
Even a faint, tingling pop like candy fizz.
Ryo paused, swallowing carefully, letting the aftertaste linger.
"…It's evolved," he finally said. "This version is far better than before."
But his tone remained calm, detached.
Then, flatly, he added, "Still not enough to impress Erina."
Alice didn't look surprised.
She simply smiled and packed the remaining Dragon Song Strawberries into a sleek, chilled container.
"Of course not."
"She's a monster with the God's Tongue. No matter what dish I make, she'll never be satisfied."
There was no bitterness in her voice—only resolve.
"But I'm not doing this to win her praise."
"I just want her to know… I've changed."
"I'm not the girl who only made cakes and cute snacks anymore."
And with that, Alice swept out of the lab with confident strides, leaving Ryo to watch her go in silence.
He sighed.
"You've grown up, huh, Alice…"
Meanwhile, within the most serene courtyard of Totsuki Academy…
A tranquil scene played out. Stone paths wound through rare flora, and a delicate stream flowed into a koi-filled pond, making the entire garden feel like a secret realm.
Erina Nakiri sat calmly at the center, gold hair gleaming in the sunlight, her expression fixed in focus as she sampled the final dish on her tasting list.
Oyster Congee.
A simple bowl, yet one crafted with care.
It shimmered with green onions and cilantro. Plump oysters floated lazily, their creamy white flesh peeking through the pearly congee.
The aroma of seafood and simmered bone broth hung heavy in the air.
Even the usually stoic Fushiroshi standing beside her looked dazed from the scent.
Grumble.
Erina took a sip.
And instantly, her tongue went to work.
It wasn't just oysters—there were scallops, eels, shrimp, abalone… balanced by carrots, wolfberries, lily bulbs, and walnuts. All of it slow-boiled in a clay pot over four hours until the broth turned thick, white, and rich with marrow.
A symphony of ingredients.
But—
She swallowed.
And frowned.
"…Tasteless."
A judgment like that, coming from the Queen of Totsuki, was devastating.
It could shatter a chef's career.
"Why…" she murmured, rising from her seat. "Why can't they cook like Zane?"
"Just simple ingredients… but his food can move the God's Tongue itself."
She stepped outside, troubled.
Lately, every dish she ate reminded her of him—those Reincarnation Spring Rolls, the Ascending Dragon Dumplings, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall…
She didn't realize it yet, but she'd become hooked. Not just on his food.
On him.
"Hisako."
"Yes, Miss Erina?"
"Do I have any more work today?"
"No. Your schedule is clear."
A rare smile crept across Erina's face.
"A whole day off… how luxurious."
She hesitated—then glanced around to make sure no one was watching.
"…The latest volume of The Stick of Valor: Revenge Saga…"
"Already waiting on your living room sofa, Miss," Hisako replied with a knowing grin.
Erina's eyes lit up like a kid at a candy store.
"Hisako… you're the best!"
"Please enjoy your rest, Miss."
Moments later, Erina burst through the door of her villa, eager to dive into her beloved manga.
But then—
She froze.
There, sprawled comfortably on her sofa, flipping through The Stick of Valor: Revenge Saga, was none other than—
"Alice?!"
Alice looked up with a grin.
"Oh hey, Erina. Where've you been?"
Erina's face flushed bright red.
"Y-You—how did—why are you reading that?!"
Alice raised an eyebrow.
"…You seriously think I wouldn't know about your secret comic stash?"
Erina stood there, speechless… then covered her face with both hands.
Her secret was out.