Another Miss of the Nakiri Family

Life and death are the natural endpoints of existence. But for a foodie like Rindo, the ultimate test might just be whether she's willing to risk her life in pursuit of culinary excellence. And among all ingredients, the poisonous fugu stands as the most alluring challenge.

Yet before she could dig in, Zane naturally had to take the first bite. Under Rindo's sharp gaze, he casually picked up a delicate slice of fugu sashimi with his chopsticks and placed it in his mouth, chewing leisurely.

"Owner, do we really need a taste-test session for the fugu?" Rindo asked.

Zane smirked. "Heh, I'm not testing for poison. I'm demonstrating the confidence and skill a true chef should have."

"Tch, acting all high and mighty," Rindo huffed. "But I'm not a coward. Do you think a little fugu sashimi would scare me?" She shot him a glance, then clasped her hands together in a brief prayer.

Despite her love for adventure and exotic ingredients, she did have a soft spot for adorable creatures—like the fugu, for example. But sentimentality had no place at the dinner table. When it was time to eat, she ate.

So, without further hesitation, Rindo eagerly picked up a thin slice of fugu and placed it in her mouth.

The fugu sashimi required no dipping sauce—its flavor stood on its own. The firm, springy flesh filled her mouth the moment she took a bite, stimulating her taste buds with its subtle yet intense freshness. The texture was exquisite, possessing a satisfying chewiness that made her want to savor it even longer.

In one word: refreshing.

In an era of heavily seasoned fast food, lighter, purer flavors had become a rarity. Perhaps "the taste of no taste" wasn't something the general public pursued, but Rindo could appreciate the simplicity. The fugu's umami, packed with glutamic acid, inosinic acid, and guanylic acid, was delicate yet profound.

"The texture is insane!" Rindo exclaimed. "So bouncy and fresh, totally different from other sashimi."

The more she ate, the more she was drawn in, unable to stop herself.

It was fresh.

It was elastic.

There was something almost magical about its mouthfeel. It reminded her of the tenderness of fatty tuna, yet with an entirely unique sensation. As soon as it touched her tongue, the fugu seemed to come alive—supple, juicy, and carrying an elusive moisture that made it incredibly satisfying.

Before she even realized it, she had devoured the entire plate, finishing it off like a storm.

"Owner, why does the fugu taste so good without any seasoning?" she asked, still in awe.

"Sashimi is about showcasing the ingredient's natural flavor, so ingredient quality is key," Zane replied casually. "Then there's the knife work. The thickness, size, and shape of each slice all affect how it's perceived. The thinner the fugu is sliced, the more its texture stands out."

His explanation was simple, but it carried weight. Sashimi wasn't just about flavor—it was an art form.

Of course, coming from a Chinese culinary background, Zane had his own opinions on Japan's obsession with "natural flavor."

Wouldn't a golden-eye snapper be even more delicious steamed with scallion oil? Or a bluefin tuna belly, salted and braised with eggplant and Sichuan pepper? Even fugu could be transformed into something greater—braised, fried, or simmered in a rich broth.

Yet the Japanese insisted on eating it raw.

Gurgle!

A soft rumbling interrupted the conversation.

Rindo blinked, patting her stomach. She had just eaten an entire plate of sashimi, yet she barely felt one or two-tenths full.

She hesitated, then awkwardly asked, "Uh… can I have more fugu sashimi?"

Zane nearly laughed. "Still hungry?"

Rindo nodded shamelessly and pointed at the aquarium. "You still have nine left, right?"

Zane sighed, shaking his head. "Since we have extra, I might as well prepare a full fugu banquet for you—hot pot, risotto, fried fugu, braised fugu…"

Before Rindo could get too excited, Zane quickly added, "But don't even think about touching the rest of them yourself."

"Fine, fine! Just hurry up and make it!" Rindo grinned, already anticipating her next course.

Zane smirked and turned back toward the kitchen.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of Totsuki Academy—

A sleek black car rolled to a stop, its presence like that of a lurking beast.

Two students stepped out.

One was a tall young man with perpetual dark circles under his eyes, his posture lazy—Ryo Kurokiba. The other was a strikingly beautiful girl with fair skin and sharp, foreign features—Alice Nakiri.

"Miss, this is Totsuki?" Ryo Kurokiba glanced up at the grand gates of the academy. The sheer scale of the campus and the towering buildings in the distance seemed to impress even him.

Alice Nakiri simply nodded. "Yes. This is Grandfather's Totsuki Academy."

Unlike her cousin Erina, who had been raised at Totsuki, Alice had spent most of her life in Northern Europe with her mother. But now, at the start of a new school year, she was making her long-awaited entrance.

Had Erina expected this? Or had she never even considered the possibility that her cousin from across the world would soon be standing on her turf?

One thing was certain—Totsuki was about to get a lot more interesting.