Multiverse Gourmet Hunter

Back in the kitchen, Daimidō Fumio finally regained her composure.

She cleared her throat, pretending the previous moment had never happened, then looked at Yukihira Soma with a solemn expression.

"Very well. You pass! You’re officially allowed to move in."

"Glad you enjoyed it!"

Soma grinned and pulled off his headband, revealing a bright, easygoing smile.

He accepted the key from Fumio and immediately rushed out of the kitchen, already planning to carry his luggage into his room, take a long hot shower, and finally get some well-earned sleep.

After saying goodbye to Soma, Haruto returned to Room 101 and picked up a cookbook to pass the time.

The pages rustled softly as the evening wore on.

Then a faint scraping sound came from directly above him.

Haruto lowered the book thoughtfully and looked up.

One of the wooden panels in the ceiling quietly slid aside, revealing a face wearing a warm, friendly smile.

It was Isshiki Satoshi, one of the current Totsuki Elite Ten.

Even among all the eccentric residents of Polar Star, Isshiki stood out as an oddity among oddities.

He enjoyed visiting people through their ceilings and frequently wandered around wearing nothing but a fundoshi or an apron, claiming it helped him "express his true self."

As far as Haruto was concerned, the man was an exhibitionist and a peeping tom rolled into one.

"Hey there, new transfer student," Isshiki said, peering down at him. "Come on over. We’ve prepared a welcome party for you two, so don’t be late."

"Sure."

Haruto nodded calmly, closed his book, and showed no trace of surprise.

His reaction made Isshiki pause.

Even Marui Zenji and the others, who were already used to his unusual entrances, could never remain quite this calm.

Haruto’s response reminded him a little of Ibusaki Shun.

Isshiki studied him for another moment but said nothing.

He slid the ceiling panel back into place, and the sound of his movements gradually faded away.

...

Haruto left his room and soon arrived at Room 205.

The room was already overflowing with noise and activity.

Marui Zenji, his messy hair sticking out in every direction, stared at the crowd filling his room with an expression of utter despair.

"I already told you! I’m trying to study for a written exam!"

"If you want to throw a party, use someone else’s room! Stop making a mess in here!"

This was his bedroom, not a banquet hall.

"We can’t help it. Your room is the biggest, Marui," Yoshino Yuki said lightly, playing with her fingers and completely ignoring his protest.

"And no matter when we come over, it’s always perfectly clean," Sakaki Ryoko added with a gentle smile.

Even the girls could not compete with him in that regard.

Only Tadokoro Megumi looked remotely apologetic, though there was not much she could do to stop the others.

"I only just finished cleaning!"

The thought of having to clean everything again once the party ended filled Zenji with despair.

"Yeah. Until a little while ago, there was a pile of books half as tall as a person covering the floor," Sato Shoji said seriously, affirming all of Zenji’s hard work.

"That was because you two started fighting in my room!"

Zenji whipped around and glared at Shoji and Aoki Daigo, his voice rising sharply.

"You knocked every book onto the floor and got me chewed out by Fumio-san!"

"Couldn’t you at least keep a few more chairs in here?" Daigo complained, rubbing the back of his head as he looked around the crowded room.

"Why would I keep chairs ready for all of you?!"

Zenji clutched his head and wailed.

Off to the side, Ibusaki Shun quietly drank his beverage without saying a single word.

...

"You really do have an impressive collection of culinary books, Marui-san."

Haruto looked over the enormous bookshelf covering one wall, genuine admiration in his voice.

He had collected quite a few culinary texts himself, but his library was nothing compared to this one.

Even a quick glance revealed several rare historical volumes.

"Of course."

Zenji pushed his glasses up his nose, looking rather proud.

He had not personally collected every book on the shelves, but he had read each of them carefully and knew their contents inside and out.

"Would you mind lending me a few sometime?"

Haruto looked at him with interest.

As he recalled, Zenji was the top student of the Miyazato Seminar and specialized in classical culinary literature.

There might be some long-lost historical recipes hidden among all these books.

"Of course not."

Zenji agreed immediately, some of the gloom lifting from his face.

He was genuinely happy to meet someone who appreciated his collection and had no reason to be stingy with it.

While Haruto and Zenji continued discussing the books, Ryoko held out a glass filled with a milky-white drink.

"Here you go, Haruto-kun."

She explained, "It’s a fruit drink fermented from rice. Try some."

"Thanks."

Haruto accepted the glass and took a small sip.

A gentle sweetness filled his mouth, the mellow fragrance of rice blending with a subtle fruity note.

The drink was smooth, rich, and genuinely delicious.

Ryoko then poured a glass for Soma as well.

"Is it really okay to make this much noise so late at night?" Soma asked hesitantly, holding the drink in both hands. "I thought school dormitories usually had strict curfews and quiet hours."

"It’s fine."

Ryoko waved dismissively, completely unconcerned.

"The dorm is surrounded by forest. No matter how loud we get, there’s no one nearby to complain."

"B-but..."

Soma scratched his head, his gaze shifting nervously.

"What about the old lady who manages the place?"

Surely making this much noise was asking to be scolded by her ?

The moment the words left his mouth, Fumio’s powerful voice burst from the speaking tube.

"Hey, you lot!"

Soma jumped, convinced the lecture had finally arrived.

Instead, Fumio continued, "The simmered yellowtail and daikon is ready! Someone come and carry it upstairs!"

Shoji and Daigo immediately sprang to life and raced each other toward the door.

Soma remained rooted to the spot, staring after them in disbelief.

"You two had better come back before Fumio-san starts telling stories about former Elite Ten members!" Yuki shouted after them, her voice filled with resignation.

"Otherwise, she’ll keep going from dusk until dawn!"

Fumio was wonderful in most respects, but she loved reminiscing about the Elite Ten members who had once lived at Polar Star.

Once she started, there was no stopping her!

Soma finally recovered as Shoji and Daigo disappeared through the doorway.

He turned toward Haruto, who remained completely unfazed, with confusion written all over his face.

"Haruto-san, how are you so calm about all this? We both just moved in today! None of this surprises you?"

"This?"

Haruto set down his glass and glanced at him.

"Is any of it really that surprising?"

Admittedly, it would have been surprising at any other school—or even in any other dormitory at Totsuki.

At Polar Star, though, this was perfectly normal.

Everyone else certainly acted as though it were.

"..."

Soma opened his mouth but could not find anything to say.

When he learned he would be living on campus, he had specifically looked up the school’s dormitory rules.

What he had read bore absolutely no resemblance to the scene in front of him.

Soma felt as though his brain were itching from the effort of forming a new thought.

Then again, after thinking about it for a moment, he decided that life at Polar Star might actually be pretty fun.

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