ARIFURETA: Cooking to be the Strongest?

The third year of middle school dawned, marking the final stretch of their unremarkable, yet surprisingly comfortable, school lives.

For Hajime Nagumo, the transition was smoother than he might have expected. He hadn't truly noticed the subtle shift at first, attributing his newfound vitality to a good night's sleep or a lucky streak of comfortable chairs.

Lately, even after a long day of classes, he didn't feel the familiar drag.

"Guess I'm just getting used to it," he'd mumbled to himself more than once, popping another one of Shin's onigiri into his mouth at lunch.

Filled with savory ingredients sourced directly from Shin's orphanage garden, these handmade rice balls were a far cry from standard school fare, and Hajime devoured them with immense relish, their invigorating warmth a constant presence in his day.

Even Hajime's parents remarked on his change. One evening at dinner, his mother, Sumire, observed,

"Hajime~, you've been looking much brighter lately. You're not slouching as much, and your complexion seems to have a healthier glow."

His father, Shuuichi, nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. You've certainly perked up since last year."

Hajime just shrugged, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips, unwilling to fully attribute it to his quiet friend's culinary interventions.

____

Life at school continued in its familiar, mundane rhythm. Shin and Hajime still frequented the library, but their interactions extended beyond simple companionship.

During Home Economics, Shin was, predictably, a quiet master. While other students fumbled with ingredients, his movements were fluid, precise, yielding dishes that consistently earned top marks.

In the library, amidst their usual study sessions, Hajime would sometimes sigh over particularly dense textbooks.

"Ugh, these dates are killing me," Hajime grumbled, leaning back in his chair.

"How am I supposed to remember all this?" Shin, without looking up from his own reading, might slide over a small, annotated note card.

"Section three, page 78," it would read,

"common error in formula application." Hajime would invariably find the exact insight he needed.

___

Time seemed to fly by, and soon enough, summer vacation arrived once more, painting the world in vibrant greens and golden light. With the long break, Shin would be joining the Yaegashi dojo for full-time training again.

During the school year, Shin had continued his Saturday visits to the dojo, offering quiet advice and sparring, but his cooking contributions had primarily been focused on Hajime's personal 'nutritional regimen.' His full daily return to the dojo, however, was met with a chorus of eager welcomes.

As Shin stepped through the dojo gates on that first summer morning, Koichi Yaegashi, cleaning the courtyard, grinned.

"Shin-kun! Good to see you back daily! You're Old Man Shuu's been grumbling about your 'sporadic attendance' during school, though I think he just missed your energy."

Inside, Old Man Shuu, despite his gruff exterior, beamed.

"Hmph, finally decided to stop slacking, eh? Good. More work for you." He gave a hearty clap on Shin's back. The dojo trainees, recalling Shin's prowess and occasional bento offerings, chorused,

"Welcome back, Shin-kun!"

Shin invited Hajime to join him for some summer training, but Hajime respectfully declined.

"Thanks, Shin," he'd said, shaking his head.

"But I think I'll stick to helping my Dad at work this summer. Training just isn't my thing, you know? Too much sweat." Shin simply nodded, respecting Hajime's decision without argument, his pragmatic nature understanding that not everyone shared his drive.

With Hajime's decision made, Shin immersed himself fully in his training, sharpening his skills and movements with renewed vigor.

Some days in that summer vacation, Shin, Shizuku, and Kouki could be seen, clad in their pristine dojo clothes, swinging their swords under the watchful eye of Old Man Shuu. Shin, ever the quiet prodigy, further improved his control and technique. His movements were no longer just instinctively efficient; they became a conscious art, his unparalleled instincts now a tool he commanded, rather than merely relied upon. This was the first step towards truly mastering his inner fragmented powers.

After a particularly intense set of drills, Kouki wiped sweat from his brow, his broad wooden sword thudding softly against the mat.

"Man, Shin, your movements are so... quiet now. Like you just appear where you need to be. It's almost creepy!"

Shin tilted his head slightly.

"Efficiency," he stated.

Shizuku, too, found her own training accelerating. The persistent, low-level fatigue that often accompanied her intense kendo practice seemed to dissipate faster. Her improved constitution, subtly boosted by Shin's occasional 'nutritional support' during Shin's dojo visit, allowed her to push harder, executing much faster and more powerful moves, her blade becoming even sharper and more efficient.

"I feel like I could go all day," she panted, a rare smile gracing her lips after a vigorous sparring session with Kouki.

"My body just... recovers faster." Kouki, on the other hand, still not shedding his preference for large, powerful moves, improved even more dramatically on raw strength. Each swing became a more destructive force, his conviction palpable in every heavy blow, making him a formidable, if less refined, presence than Shizuku.

"Did you feel that, Shizuku?!" he boomed, after a swing that nearly knocked her off balance.

"My Hammer of Justice is getting stronger!" Shizuku just rolled her eyes on Kouki's usual antics.

__

Unlike the previous summer, Shin's routine this year was noticeably different.

Most of his morning chores at the orphanage, including the preparation of breakfast and lunch, were now competently handled by Akiha and Amaya.

This allowed Shin to adjust his own schedule. His usual routine now consisted of dedicated dojo training, interspersed with foraging trips once a week and the occasional river fishing expedition.

He still oversaw the kitchen, of course, but his hands were mostly reserved for the evening, cooking dinner with almost no fail for the entire orphanage. It was a testament to the growth and capability of the older orphans under his subtle mentorship.

The dojo became an even more central part of Shin's life. He wasn't the only one who frequented it during the summer months.

Kaori also became a regular visitor, her gentle presence a welcome addition.

She'd often help prepare lunch for the trainees, or simply share quiet conversations with them between practice sessions, her calm demeanor a pleasant contrast to Kouki's boisterous energy.

The summer was also marked by the community's annual festival.

This year, Haru, brimming with an even greater flair for the dramatic, managed to get approval from Sakuya to open a food stand. He enlisted Amaya and the younger orphans as his eager, if sometimes chaotic, crew.

Their stand drew a significant crowd; the customer lines were long, and the food was praised by many.

While they definitely served a lot of customers, it wasn't quite the overwhelming, near-riotous horde that Shin and Haru had inadvertently summoned years ago when Shin was directly at the helm.

Still, it was a respectable and profitable venture, a source of immense pride for the orphans who had organized and executed it largely on their own.

Just as quickly as it arrived, summer flew by, and the familiar rhythm of school life resumed.

____

The remainder of their third year of middle school flew by largely uneventfully.

The bond between Shin and Hajime solidified, growing beyond mere companionship into a deep and easy friendship. They understood each other with unspoken cues, a comfortable silence often punctuated by Hajime's rants about homework or Shin's blunt, insightful observations.

It was also during this period that the ubiquitous growth spurt hit the boys.

Shin now stood at a respectable height of 170 cm. Hajime also grew taller, reaching around the same height as Shin.

This was a direct result of the superior food resources he had been consistently receiving. Though he still lacked the prominent musculature of a dedicated athlete, Hajime's complexion was notably healthier, and his overall constitution was significantly improved.

___

The Christmas break flew by once more, marked by the usual events: a joyful celebration at the orphanage, the familiar gift exchanges, and a quiet sense of contentment.

Before they knew it, the academic year was drawing to a close, signaling the dawning of their high school lives.

After the final exams were done, and the anxious process of finding a high school to attend concluded, Shin and Hajime received their admissions notices.

To their quiet satisfaction, they had both managed to enter the same high school.

The surprises didn't end there, though. When the class assignments were posted, it was revealed that not just them, but all five of them – Shin, Hajime, Kouki, Kaori, and Shizuku – were all assigned to the same class.

Thus, with their future paths aligning in an unexpected twist of fate, this marked the true end of Shin's middle school life.