ARIFURETA: Cooking to be the Strongest?

The new school term settled into a familiar rhythm, and with it, the peculiar friendship between Shin and Hajime continued to blossom.

They spent most breaks together in the library, Hajime concentrated in reading his light novels, and Shin, as usual, deep in his cookbooks or agricultural texts.

One afternoon, Shin glanced over from his volume on exotic mushroom cultivation to where Hajime was intently reading an action-packed fantasy.

"Hajime," Shin said, his voice as flat and unconcerned as ever.

"If you want to be strong, why don't you train?"

Hajime, startled, looked up.

"Huh? Train? Like, physically?" He gestured vaguely at his modest build.

"I'm not really the athletic type, Shin."

Shin simply blinked, his unreadable gaze fixed on Hajime.

"But you read about heroes who overcome challenges. Don't you want to be able to do that?"

Hajime chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Well, yeah, in my dreams, maybe. But I'm fine just being a normal guy. Plus, I bet it takes a lot of energy to get strong. I barely have enough just getting through the day."

"Your usual meals," Shin said, shifting topics abruptly,

"what are they?"

Hajime paused, taken aback by the sudden question.

"Um, just whatever my mom makes, I guess. Standard home-cooked stuff."

Shin nodded slowly, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Understood."

The next day, during lunch break, Shin appeared with an extra, perfectly wrapped bento box. He set it down on Hajime's desk.

"Here," Shin said, sliding it across.

"Eat this."

Hajime stared at the box, bewildered.

"What's this for?"

"If you don't want to train," Shin replied, matter-of-fact,

"at least eat more on quality and quantity. You'll need it."

Hesitantly, Hajime opened the bento. Inside were several large, perfectly formed onigiri's, speckled with a mix of herbs and something that smelled incredibly savory and inviting. He picked one up, the warmth seeping into his fingers.

Taking a bite, his eyes widened instantly. The flavor exploded on his tongue – rich, complex, utterly delicious, unlike anything he'd ever tasted. It was more than just food; it felt... invigorating. A warmth spread through his chest, chasing away the usual midday slump.

"This is incredible, Shin!" Hajime exclaimed, genuinely stunned.

Shin just watched him eat, a rare, faint curve to his lips.

"It's just an Onigiri."

But Hajime knew it was far more than that. From then on, Shin often made extra rice balls or small dishes specifically for Hajime, ensuring his friend received the "quality and quantity" he deemed necessary. Their time at school continued in this comfortable, unspoken routine, with Shin subtly looking out for his friend in his own unique way.

______

Christmas season arrived faster than anyone expected, heralded by crisp winter air and the scent of pine.

During the break, Shin decided to forgo his usual dojo training sessions. It wasn't out of disinterest; he still visited the Yaegashi family often, but his dojo focus shifted from personal training to quieter interactions.

His monthly foraging trips were also cancelled, a pragmatic decision rooted in his understanding of nature: winter was coming, and he wouldn't compete for resources with the local biodiversity.

This gave him more time at the orphanage. It was during this period that Shin, ever the culinary explorer, delved into a new, potentially deadly skill: dessert making.

His first batch, a delicate-looking confection, was offered to the discerning palates of Amaya, Akiha, and Haru, along with the orphanage manager. The moment they tasted it, their eyes glazed over, expressions blissed out.

Haru, slumped dramatically against a counter, muttered,

"I… I think my soul just ascended. Seriously, Shin, what is this?"

Akiha, eyes wide, whispered,

"It's like happiness, but… edible."

Amaya simply stared at the empty plate, then at Shin.

"You're a menace, dear boy. A delicious menace."

It was terrifyingly delicious. What was even more baffling was that, somehow, these rich, flavorful desserts didn't seem to cause any easy weight gain.

Shin, observing their almost catatonic reactions, decided to tone down the flavor significantly before letting the other orphanage residents try his new creations. He wanted them to enjoy it, not be "shocked to death."

______

A few days before Christmas Eve, the spirit of giving bloomed. Shin, true to his nature, gifted food and his new, toned-down desserts to Hajime and his family, and also to the Yaegashi dojo.

At the Yaegashi household, Koichi accepted the food with a grin.

"Oh, more of Shin-kun's stuff! Old Man Shuu's been practically vibrating with anticipation."

Old Man Shuu, already taking a discreet peek into a bento, scoffed good-naturedly.

"Hmph. Just simple sustenance. Nothing to get excited about. Now, if you'll excuse me…" He shuffled off, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Kirino rolled her eyes.

"Don't mind him, Shin-kun. He's been drooling since you arrived. Thank you for always bringing such wonderful food."

"It's no trouble," Shin replied simply.

For his three closest friends outside the orphanage, he carefully selected gifts: Kouki received a beautifully crafted wooden sword, perfectly balanced and smooth to the touch.

"Whoa! This is awesome, Shin!" Kouki exclaimed, taking practice swings.

"It feels even better than the dojo's! Is this a special grade weapon of justice?"

Shin tilted his head slightly.

"It's just wood. Good quality."

Kaori was given a large, soft white scarf, chosen for its warmth and comforting feel.

"Oh, Shin-kun, it's so soft! Thank you! It's perfect for winter." she beamed, wrapping it around her neck.

And for Shizuku, a new, much larger, fluffy pink teddy bear. Shizuku's eyes widened in surprise, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.

"Shin-kun, another one? This one's huge!"

"It's similar to the one you liked at the festival," he stated, holding it out.

"This one is bigger."

She took it gently, hugging it.

"It is! Thank you so much, Shin-kun. I'll treasure it too."

In return, Shin received thoughtful presents: a sturdy hat from Kouki, embroidered with a stylized symbol and the word "JUSTICE" boldly emblazoned on the front.

"This will shield you from the sun during your… less than heroic foraging trips!" Kouki declared with a grin.

A practical pair of gloves from Kaori.

"So your hands don't get cold when you're gardening!" she explained softly.

And sturdy, high-quality foraging boots from Shizuku.

"For your monthly trips," she said, a small smile playing on her lips.

"They're durable. Thought you might need them in the sometimes rough terrain around the mountains."

"Thank you," Shin said, genuinely appreciating the practicality of each gift. He tried on the hat, the "JUSTICE" logo feeling somewhat conspicuous.

Shin received gifts also from Hajime. Shin received a stack of light novels focusing specifically on cooking in fantasy worlds and monster ecology, complete with detailed illustrations of mythical creatures.

At the orphanage, Shin spread his generosity among his younger culinary protégés, gifting them useful cooking tools.

"Wow! A real chef's knife!" one of the younger boys, Kenji, gasped, holding it with awe.

"Thank you, Shin-nii!" the younger girls chorused, clutching their new whisks and spatulas.

For the other orphans, there were practical items like cozy sweaters, gloves, and scarves, ensuring everyone was warm for the winter. In turn, he was showered with gifts: new clothes, a durable fishing rod, delicious homemade cookies (which Shin critiqued internally but accepted graciously), and even a collection of hand-tied fishing lures.

On Christmas Eve, the orphanage director made a special visit, joining them for dinner. Noticing that Shin and the other orphans his age didn't yet have mobile phones, the director, with a generous heart, presented them all with brand-new smartphones, even covering the first three weeks of their mobile plans.

"Merry Christmas, everyone!" the director boomed, handing out the sleek devices.

"Consider this a little something to help you all stay connected!"

Shin took his phone, tilting his head.

"This is… for communication?"

Haru snatched his own, grinning.

"Yeah, Shin! Now we can finally contact each other! And you can look up new recipes on the go!"

Christmas at the orphanage became a truly lively and joyful affair, filled with warmth, gifts, and shared laughter. Time seemed to fly by in this happy bubble until the new school term inevitably started again.

____

In the familiar quiet of the library, school having resumed its regular rhythm, Shin and Hajime settled into their usual spots. Shin, as always, was engrossed in one of Hajime's light novels, this particular one titled Campfire Cooking. Hajime, on the other hand, was diligently poring over his curriculum books, looking entirely consumed by preparations for the upcoming end-of-term exams.

Hajime glanced over at Shin, noting his friend's remarkably lax and aloof expression as he read.

"Shin," Hajime questioned, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

"Seriously? Don't you need to review or study for the end-of-term exams? You look like you're on vacation."

Shin didn't even look up from his book.

"I already know what will come out in the exam," he replied, his tone as flat as ever.

"Besides, there's no point in excelling. I only care about passing, except in cooking or home economics."

"Must be nice," Hajime muttered, rubbing his temples.

"My brain feels like it's going to melt. All these dates and formulas..." He sighed dramatically.

Hajime laughed dryly, a wave of envy washing over him at Shin's utterly carefree attitude. He wished he could be so unbothered by academic pressure.

Just then, Shin tossed a notepad onto Hajime's desk. It contained neat, concise notes, mostly outlining exactly what the exam would cover.

"What's this?" Hajime asked, picking it up curiously. His eyes widened as he scanned the content.

"Are these... prediction notes? How did you even know what to focus on?"

"Observation," Shin stated simply, turning a page in his novel.

"The teachers' patterns on choosing topics is barely even a challenge to me."

Time passed quickly until the exams arrived. As always, Shin's results were just average, squarely in the middle of the class. Hajime, however, achieved slightly higher scores in all subjects, a quiet testament to Shin's timely notes.

The second year of middle school ended peacefully, following its usual course. After the spring break, both Shin and Hajime entered their third year, the final stretch of their middle school lives.