***Shout out to; Danny , Johnathon and Guzman for joining us in our journey, enjoy and I hope you stay***
Alice Nakiri and Ryo Kurokiba were also staying at the Totsuki Resort. This could be considered an early adaptation period—after all, the grueling residential training that followed would all take place here.
During this time, Daiki got a good look at the molecular gastronomy equipment Alice had brought along.
"So the original story wasn't exaggerating at all…" he muttered.
The machinery looked more like a mobile science lab than a kitchen. Daiki was momentarily speechless. Compared to traditional cooking, molecular gastronomy was a different beast altogether.
While some techniques overlapped with traditional cuisine, the full framework and scientific approach of molecular gastronomy had only been formalized in recent decades. It was still a budding field—a sapling next to the towering oak of classical cuisine.
Though more and more chefs around the world were experimenting with molecular methods, the discipline remained too young to truly rival the deep-rooted traditions of conventional cooking.
Alice Nakiri herself was the perfect example. She had made waves at Nakiri International, racking up accolades before she'd even hit puberty. By age nine, she was dominating international molecular gastronomy competitions. By ten, she held forty-five patents, along with a slew of impressive accomplishments.
On paper, her résumé was astounding. But after returning to Totsuki, she found herself struggling to keep pace with the academy's elite. Despite her achievements, she wasn't even considered top-tier among the first-years.
Within the original story, three students stood clearly above her: Soma Yukihira, Ryo Kurokiba, and Akira Hayama.
Daiki respected Alice's accomplishments, even if he found some of the hype exaggerated. More importantly, he was intrigued by the potential of molecular cuisine—not so much the dishes themselves, but the techniques behind them.
Although many molecular recipes required specialized equipment, there were still fundamental skills and concepts worth learning—skills that could elevate any style of cooking.
Daiki wasn't the kind to isolate himself in a culinary bubble. He welcomed inspiration from the outside world and was eager to absorb new methods.
With the help of the Shiyi system—a powerful cheat device he alone possessed—Daiki could master complex techniques at lightning speed. At this point, he was practically a walking plug-in.
"You're interested in molecular cuisine?" Alice asked, genuinely surprised as she watched him examine her equipment with curiosity, occasionally asking thoughtful questions.
She was used to skepticism. Many traditional chefs viewed molecular gastronomy as heresy—nothing more than flashy tricks and pseudo-science. Alice had encountered her share of condescension over the years.
She was well aware that molecular cuisine couldn't yet compare to traditional cuisine. Her own accolades, as dazzling as they were, lacked depth in a traditionalist's eyes. But she believed in the field's future. It was still young—barely decades old. A baby, really.
Comparing it to traditional cooking was like pitting a toddler against a seasoned special forces soldier. Unless the baby was Kryptonian, the result was obvious.
And yet here was Daiki—one of the rare few genuinely interested in her domain. For Alice, it felt like discovering a kindred spirit.
"I'm curious," Daiki said calmly. "Molecular gastronomy branched off from traditional cooking. Naturally, it contains techniques that can be integrated back into it."
Before Alice could respond, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"We can talk later. Daiki, right? Come battle me!"
Ryo Kurokiba approached, his signature flame-patterned headscarf already tied across his forehead. He looked fired up and ready to throw down.
Despite knowing Daiki's skills far outstripped his own, Ryo still wanted to compete. That was just how he was wired—constantly sharpening himself through combat with stronger opponents.
In the original timeline, Ryo had improved rapidly thanks to constant clashes with Yukihira and Hayama. It was through daily battles and mutual growth that they all rose to prominence.
Daiki didn't even hesitate.
"I refuse."
The moment Kurokiba Ryo finished speaking, Daiki flatly refused.
He didn't even hesitate.
Having read the original series, Daiki already knew exactly what Ryo was thinking. And frankly, he had better things to do than indulge some overly intense seafood fanatic with anger management issues.
Why waste time on a match he wouldn't benefit from?
Unlike Yukihira Soma or the others, Daiki didn't rely on endless sparring to improve. His growth came from a different path—an internal one, accelerated by Shiyi. Sure, a worthy rival could push him further, but Ryo Kurokiba? He wasn't it.
The refusal left Ryo momentarily stunned. He'd come in fully fired up, headband tied, eyes blazing—only to be shot down instantly.
"Huh? Why would you refuse?" Ryo growled, baring his teeth, his face contorted in that familiar feral expression.
"Why would I agree?" Daiki shot back without missing a beat. "You want a reason? You should give me one first."
His tone was calm but cold, cutting through the tension like a scalpel.
Kurokiba Ryo's personality might make for good drama in manga or anime, Daiki thought, but in the real world, this guy's a walking red flag.
"Kurokiba-kun, if Daiki doesn't want to, let it go," Alice interjected, trying to smooth things over. She knew Daiki wasn't the type to change his mind once he'd made a decision.
Daiki's firm rebuttal, combined with Alice's gentle persuasion, deflated Ryo's aggressive energy. He stood there, head lowered slightly, fists clenched. He couldn't come up with a compelling reason—at least not one that would justify pushing the issue.
This wasn't the kind of place where you could throw a tantrum and force a battle.
With a bitter expression, Ryo reluctantly pulled off his signature headscarf, his posture slumping. The wild beast vanished, leaving behind an awkward, slightly disheveled teen.
But the way his eyes burned with quiet frustration made it clear he wasn't letting this go anytime soon.
"I'm really sorry about that," Alice said, turning to Daiki. "Ryo's not usually like this… well, unless he's got the headband on. Then it's kind of a whole thing."
"You don't have to apologize," Daiki replied coolly. "I didn't lose anything. But you should tell him to be careful. If he runs into someone with a worse temper than mine, he might end up picking a fight he can't walk away from."
He wasn't joking.
Sure, they were in a prestigious cooking academy, a school with rules and structure. But society outside the kitchen was unpredictable. Not everyone would tolerate Ryo's aggressive posturing.
And not everyone would hold back.
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