Morning came too early.
Or maybe it just felt early because Tōtsuki's beds were criminally comfortable.
I woke up staring at the unfamiliar ceiling of my new dorm room, still processing everything from yesterday — the entrance exam, the speech, Nakiri Erina's divine arrogance, and Yukihira Sōma being… Yukihira Sōma.
The system window floated above my face like an alarm clock that hated me.
[Daily Mission (23:59 left):100 push-ups 0/100100 sit-ups 0/100100 squats 0/100Run 10 km 0/10Reward: +1 Stat Point]
"…Later," I whispered, slapping the transparent UI like a snooze button.
But today wasn't just any morning.
Today I had to meet the people of the Polar Star Dormitory.
I got dressed, straightened my hair, took a deep breath, and stepped into the hallway.
The smell hit me instantly.
Food.
Lots of it.
Comforting, chaotic, warm — the kind of smell that made you think of childhood breakfasts and anime slice-of-life openings.
I followed it straight to the communal kitchen.
Inside, a tall girl with long fuchsia hair tied in a side braid was stirring a pot big enough to drown in.
Her apron said: "Eat Or Die."
"Good morning!" she chirped, beaming with enough enthusiasm to power Tokyo.
"You must be the new resident! I'm Ryōko Sakaki — but please call me Ryōko!"Yes.
Definitely Ryōko.
"Rin Takamine," I said politely, bowing. "Nice to meet—"
KABOOM.
Something exploded downstairs.
The floor trembled.
Ryōko didn't even flinch.
"Oh, that's just Yūki trying out her 'innovative sausage-grilling technique' again," she said casually.
As if summoned, the tiny energetic girl herself burst into the room, half-covered in soot, holding a skewer like a trophy.
"I DID IT!
The chicken buns survived!!"
"Did the grill survive?" Ryōko asked.
"…No."
I snorted.
Yūki turned to me, eyes shining like she'd found a new Pokémon.
"EH?! A NEW FACE!
You're cute! And tall! And cute!"
"I think you said cute twice."
"BECAUSE YOU'RE TWICE AS CUTE!"
Ryōko giggled.
Yūki sparkled.
I wondered if the entire dorm was going to be like this.
Spoiler: yes.
A sleepy voice drifted in behind me.
"Sakaki… is breakfast… ready…?"
A boy with half-lidded eyes and a permanent "I just woke up" aura entered, dragging his blanket like a ghost.
Satoshi Isshiki.
The legendary upperclassman.
The guy who cooked naked in the garden.
I made direct eye contact.
He smiled warmly.
I broke eye contact.
"Ah, the new first-year," he said, somehow fully awake now. "Welcome to Polar Star. Feel free to treat this place like home."
Then another figure stepped in — tall, confident, elegant.
Shun Ibusaki, the smoky prince himself.
He nodded.
I nodded.
We exchanged the universal male greeting of "silent respect."
A moment later came Zenji — book in hand, muttering about memorizing 2000 spice combinations before lunch.
And then panicking about homework that didn't even exist yet.
At last...
Daigo Aoki and Shōji Satō both they both introduced themselves but started arguing... normal
It was a full cast reunion. Or at lest it should be... 'Where is Megumi Tadokoro?'
Then, finally…
"GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE!!"
The whole dorm vibrated with that voice.
Fumio-dono, the dorm mother, marched in like a tiny war general. Her aura alone could discipline an army.
She eyed me, squinting.
She said. "Hope you're tougher than you look. This dorm eats the weak."
"Good thing I'm hardheaded," I muttered.
Ryōko laughed.
Isshiki smiled.
Fumio sighed like she already regretted letting me live here.
Everyone gathered at the long wooden table.
Bowls clattered, chopsticks clicked, voices overlapped — it was chaotic, noisy, warm.
Isshiki tapped his spoon on a glass.
"Everyone! Since Rin and Soma are officially joining us, shall we welcome them the Polar Star way?"
Yūki jumped up.
"Yes! Let them cook!"
Ryōko nodded.
"That's tradition."
I blinked.
"Wait—"
"Sure." Soma was already taking the knives
Marui pushed a cutting board toward me like a judge preparing a trial.
"No refusing. If you live here, you cook."
Fumio grinned like a wolf.
"And we judge."
I sighed.
"Fine. What do you want?"
Isshiki clasped his hands.
"Anything. As long as it represents you."
Oh.
One of those tests.
[Optional Mission: Challenge Soma Yukihira and win.
Reward: "Cooking" skill will level up.]
I cracked my knuckles and stepped into the kitchen.
"Soma since we have to cook, how about a challenge?"
Soma was already working with his knives, his mind focused on what to prepare, but he pauses when I challenge him. He raises an eyebrow and turns to me, a cocky smile spreading across his face.
"Oh! Sure! Great! First day, and there's already some action here. I knew it wouldn't be as boring as cooking for my dad for the umpteenth time."
Soma points his knife at me, but not in a threatening manner, just out of pure competitive excitement.
"Serves me right, Rin! In fact, that's the first sensible thing I've heard in this dorm. If we're going to cook for this 'welcome test,' we might as well do it in style, right?"
He puts his bandana back on and fixes you with his razor-sharp eyes.
"So, listen carefully. We're using their stuff, their cuisine, and the theme is 'whatever represents us.' I don't care what you plan to do, but I'm the one who's going win, not you."
"We'll see," I replied.
The system chimed softly.
[Passive Skill Activated: Cooking SynchronizationNearby Chefs Detected: 7]
Their cooking rhythms, past movements, and tiny habits floated at the edge of my perception — not intrusive, just enough to inspire.
I grabbed ingredients, butter, eggs, milk…
If they wanted something true to myself, something simple but refined…
A quiet smile tugged at my lips.
"Alright then," I said, heating the pan. "Let's make breakfast unforgettable."