Multiverse Gourmet Hunter

After discussing his plan with Kikuchi Sonoka, Haruto got to work.

He began by selecting several fresh, crisp cucumbers. Once they had been thoroughly washed, he fed them through a juicer and extracted their clean, mildly sweet juice.

Haruto poured the freshly squeezed cucumber juice into an appropriate amount of cake flour, followed by fresh eggs and milk, then began mixing.

Once the ingredients had formed a smooth, silky batter, he set it aside to rest and rise until it became light and airy.

When the batter was ready, Haruto stirred it gently to release the excess air, poured it into a custom mold, and placed it inside a preheated oven.

The moment he opened the oven after baking, the rich fragrance of wheat mingled with the refreshing sweetness of cucumber and spread throughout the kitchen.

The finished sponge was soft and delicate, with a pale-green color.

Haruto set it aside to cool, then selected several perfectly ripe kiwifruit. He peeled them, placed the flesh in a bowl, and mashed it into a smooth purée before folding it into freshly whipped cream.

The result was a light and refreshing kiwi cream with a pleasant balance of sweetness and acidity.

Using a spatula, Haruto spread the cream evenly between the layers of sponge and across its outer surface, carefully controlling the thickness so that every bite would possess a clear balance of textures.

All that remained was the decoration.

Haruto melted white chocolate over a water bath, added dried spinach powder, and stirred until the originally white chocolate turned a vivid shade of grass green.

He spread the green chocolate across a chilled tray.

Once it had partially set, Haruto used a small knife to carve it into remarkably lifelike blades of grass, then arranged them across the cream-covered cake.

The Fresh Meadow Cake was complete.

The green chocolate leaves had been placed in a natural, irregular pattern across the matching sponge, creating a presentation that immediately caught the eye.

Haruto cut a slice, placed it on a dessert plate, and carried it to Sonoka, who had been waiting nearby.

"Chef Kikuchi, please give it a try."

Sonoka accepted the plate as the cake’s refreshing aroma curled around her.

The crisp freshness of cucumber, the sweet acidity of kiwi, the richness of chocolate, and the softness of cream intertwined without becoming heavy.

It was clean without feeling bland and sweet without being cloying, instantly awakening her appetite.

She picked up a small dessert fork, cut off a bite, and placed it in her mouth.

The first sensation came from the thin chocolate leaves.

They broke with a delicate snap before melting smoothly across her tongue. There was no bitterness, only a subtle botanical fragrance wrapped in the mellow sweetness of cocoa.

It felt almost as though she had bitten into a tender blade of grass warmed beneath the spring sun—clean, light, and refreshing.

Then the kiwi cream spread across her palate.

The perfectly whipped cream was as soft as a cloud. Fresh kiwi purée added a bright spark of natural acidity, producing a flawless balance between sweet and tart.

The fruit cut through the cream’s richness while preserving its own lively juiciness, filling every bite with a fresh, radiant aroma.

Beneath it, the sponge slowly unfolded and dissolved on her tongue.

It was wonderfully moist and soft, almost melting the moment she bit down.

The cucumber never overwhelmed the other ingredients. Instead, its fragrance permeated the sponge with remarkable gentleness, leaving behind a clean sweetness and natural freshness.

It made the entire foundation of the cake taste pure and transparent, as though she were consuming the vitality of spring itself.

The richness of chocolate, the smoothness of cream, the acidity of fruit, the freshness of cucumber, and the warm fragrance of wheat developed one after another while blending seamlessly together.

The opening was crisp and refreshing.

The middle was silky, sweet, and tart.

The finish was gentle and mildly sweet, lingering for a long time without becoming rich, heavy, or overpowering.

Every bite felt clean, weightless, and full of life, as though an entire warm and radiant spring day had been condensed into a single small slice of cake.

It matched Shunkatei’s identity perfectly.

Even after finishing the last bite, Sonoka remained immersed in its fresh, natural aftertaste.

When she finally returned to her senses, she looked seriously at Haruto.

"Haruto, the Fresh Meadow Cake will officially be added to Shunkatei’s permanent menu."

With that declaration, Haruto had successfully completed his second Stagiaire placement.

According to the usual procedure, all he needed to do now was finish his final day without incident before packing his things and returning to Totsuki Academy.

Unfortunately, something unexpected happened on the last day.

That afternoon, the doors of Shunkatei opened, and a group of visitors entered.

Leading them was Anne, a First-Class Bookmaster of the WGO.

The organization had apparently decided to conduct an unannounced on-site inspection of Shunkatei.

When the news reached the kitchen, Sonoka’s expression changed slightly as she paused in the middle of organizing ingredients.

WGO inspections followed exceptionally strict standards.

The quality of the cuisine, freshness of the ingredients, cleanliness and procedures of the kitchen, and the restaurant’s entire service system would all be examined in detail.

The complete lack of advance warning left Sonoka with no time to prepare properly.

She could not adjust the menu or refine their procedures. Everything would have to be evaluated exactly as it normally operated.

"They didn’t notify us at all... This could be a problem."

"Why have they come so early?"

Sonoka’s fingers tightened slightly, and unease entered her expression.

If Shunkatei failed the inspection, all the effort she had invested up to this point would be wasted.

She had applied for a new WGO rating, but the assessment was originally supposed to take place much later.

She had not yet finished preparing for it.

Seeing her anxiety, Haruto considered the situation and decided to help.

Sonoka had treated him with sincerity and kindness throughout his placement, openly sharing a great deal of professional kitchen experience.

Whether out of gratitude or simple fairness, he could not stand aside and do nothing.

"Chef Kikuchi, I may be able to help."

Haruto opened the insulated storage case he carried and removed several Almond Cabbages.

The case was merely a disguise. He had actually taken them from the Gourmet Restaurant, though Sonoka naturally failed to notice.

"This is Almond Cabbage, a special ingredient."

"You have special ingredients too, Haruto?"

Sonoka’s eyes widened as she stared at him in delight.

As a Totsuki graduate, she naturally knew about the extraordinary ingredients that had recently begun appearing through the academy.

She had even been fortunate enough to obtain a small amount herself, and dishes prepared with them possessed flavors far beyond anything ordinary produce could achieve.

Unfortunately, those ingredients were so scarce that no one could guarantee a stable supply, much less place them on a permanent menu.

From Sonoka’s surprise, Haruto immediately realized that she did not know the truth behind their origin.

That caused him to adjust his original plan.

"I do have a supply of Almond Cabbage."

"And provided you need it, I can continue supplying Shunkatei with it on a stable, long-term basis."

Haruto was almost certain that the WGO’s sudden inspection was not a coincidence.

There was a good chance that it was connected to internal maneuvering within Totsuki, and Nakiri Azami might even be involved.

That would hardly be surprising.

From the moment Eizan Etsuya began targeting him, Haruto had known that Azami must also have learned who was supplying Totsuki with special ingredients.

Given the value of the ingredients Haruto controlled, there was no possible way Azami could ignore him.

This sudden inspection was most likely an attempt to test his response.

Regardless of its true cause, however, neither Shunkatei nor Sonoka deserved to become casualties of that political struggle.

The Gourmet Restaurant was already cultivating Almond Cabbages on a large scale.

Providing a portion to Shunkatei would require almost no effort from him.

"A stable... long-term supply?"

Sonoka stared at Haruto in shock.

For Shunkatei, gaining reliable access to such scarce special ingredients might prove even more important than earning another star.

Without the slightest hesitation, she nodded.

"Thank you, Haruto! This will be an enormous help to Shunkatei!"

With Almond Cabbage available, every trace of panic vanished from Sonoka’s eyes, replaced by calm confidence.

To Haruto’s surprise, she also decided to include his Fresh Meadow Cake among the dishes presented for the WGO inspection.

Not only that, but Sonoka boldly incorporated Almond Cabbage into the cake itself, blending it perfectly with the cucumber, kiwi, and chocolate.

The already beautiful and refreshing dessert gained another layer of mellow almond sweetness and crisp vegetal freshness, raising its flavor to an entirely new level.

The result was never in doubt.

Shunkatei successfully passed the WGO’s on-site inspection.

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