CHAPTER 86: THE COOKING COMPETITION

Chapter 86: The Cooking Competition

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The academy’s afternoon bell rang, its echo carrying across the courtyard and spilling into the open corridors. The sound usually marked the end of training periods and the beginning of free activity hours, and for most students, that meant club activities. Some joined the duelists’ hall, others went toward the art studios, while some spent their time in the sports grounds. Arios, however, had no real plans.

He walked down the stone steps outside the lecture hall, his hands shoved loosely into his pockets. Liza trailed at his side, arms folded behind her head, her relaxed expression showing she had already decided to skip whatever activity was on the schedule.

Lucy, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with energy as she stepped in front of them and blocked Arios’s path. "You’re coming with me today," she announced, her voice full of determination.

Arios gave her a slow look. "Where?"

"The cooking club," Lucy said without hesitation, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "They’re holding a friendly competition this evening, and I’m joining. You’re not running away from this."

"I don’t remember agreeing," Arios replied flatly.

"You don’t have to remember, because you’re agreeing now," Lucy shot back, grabbing his wrist before he could even think of turning away.

Liza tilted her head, smirking at the sight. "So it’s one of those days. What’s the competition? Who can burn water the slowest?"

Lucy puffed her cheeks at her. "Excuse me, my cooking is amazing. Just because I live off snacks and Arios’s leftovers doesn’t mean you get to mock me."

"Sure, sure," Liza said lazily, though her grin only widened.

Arios let Lucy tug him forward without resistance. "You could’ve just asked."

"I did ask," Lucy said, though she clearly hadn’t. "Come on, it’ll be fun. You don’t always have to act like the world is ending."

"I don’t act like that," Arios replied.

"Yes, you do," both girls said at the same time.

Arios didn’t bother answering that, letting Lucy pull him across the courtyard toward the clubrooms. The academy had an entire wing dedicated to student-run activities, and the cooking club’s space was one of the more popular ones. Large windows spilled sunlight into the room, and the smell of food already drifted into the hallway before they even entered.

When Lucy pushed the door open, the bustling atmosphere hit immediately. Students were moving around with bowls, pans, and ingredients scattered across wide tables. A few were already chopping vegetables, while others compared spice jars and argued over recipes.

"Wow," Liza muttered as she stepped in behind them, her eyes sweeping over the busy room. "This smells like half the cafeteria exploded in here."

Lucy ignored her and went straight to the sign-up table. She wrote her name down quickly, then turned back and pointed directly at Arios. "He’s my helper."

The girl at the desk, clearly one of the club officers, raised a brow but shrugged. "Fine. Helpers are allowed. Just don’t get in the way."

Arios glanced at the form. "I didn’t sign anything."

"You’re already signed," Lucy said firmly, grabbing him by the arm again. "We’re in this together now."

Liza followed them to a free cooking station, her grin mischievous. "This is going to be great. I get a front-row seat to Arios’s hidden chef skills."

"I don’t cook," Arios said.

"Then today you learn," Lucy replied, rolling up her sleeves with determination.

Each group was given a basket of ingredients. Arios scanned the items: chicken, some vegetables, flour, eggs, spices, and rice. It was clearly designed for flexibility, with enough to make several possible dishes.

Lucy clapped her hands together. "Perfect! We’re making chicken rice with sauce."

"That’s basic," Liza commented from the sidelines. She had dragged over a chair and sat down like a spectator. "But sure, go for it. Can’t wait for Arios to chop his fingers off."

"I won’t," Arios said in the same calm tone as always.

Lucy pulled out a cutting board and shoved a knife into his hands. "Then prove it. Chop those onions."

Arios looked at the onion, then at Lucy, then back at the onion. He set it on the board, raised the knife, and began chopping in quick, efficient movements. The cuts were straight, even, and surprisingly fast. Within less than a minute, the onion was diced cleanly.

Both girls stared.

"...Okay," Lucy said slowly. "When I said chop, I didn’t mean ’chop like a trained assassin.’ Where did you even learn that?"

"Kitchen work," Arios replied. "One of my part-time hobbies."

Lucy blinked at him, then shook her head. "Of course. Of course you’d just casually reveal something like that now."

Liza clapped slowly, her grin wide. "Look at him go. Silent, efficient, terrifyingly precise. You’d think he’s dismembering enemies instead of onions."

"Don’t compare food to that!" Lucy shouted at her.

Arios, unfazed, continued to dice the rest of the vegetables without comment. By the time Lucy started on the chicken, he had already prepared most of the side ingredients.

Lucy watched him with narrowed eyes. "You said you don’t cook."

"I don’t," Arios said.

"Liar."

When the whistle blew to mark the start, the room filled with the sound of sizzling pans and clattering utensils. Lucy worked with focused determination, seasoning the chicken and tossing it into a pan, while Arios prepared the rice and sauce base.

At first, Lucy tried to micromanage, but after watching Arios move without hesitation—adjusting the fire, measuring ingredients without needing to double-check—she found herself strangely silent.

"You’re actually good at this," she admitted reluctantly.

"I’m just following basic steps," Arios replied.

Liza leaned against the counter nearby, arms folded. "Basic steps? Please. You’re moving like someone who’s cooked for years. I think Lucy just got demoted from head chef."

"No one’s demoting me," Lucy said quickly, cheeks puffed as she stirred the pan more aggressively than necessary. "This is my dish. He’s just the helper."

"Helper who’s making half the food," Liza teased.

Lucy groaned but didn’t argue further. Instead, she focused harder, determined not to lose face.

The room grew hotter as all the stoves worked at once. Students moved quickly, some in frantic disarray while others calmly plated their meals. The smell of spices and fried food filled the air, thick enough to make stomachs growl.

By the time the competition neared its end, Arios and Lucy had managed to plate a neat dish of chicken rice topped with sauce, garnished lightly with vegetables. It wasn’t flashy, but it looked clean and appetizing.

Lucy wiped sweat from her forehead, a proud smile on her face. "Done. Perfect. We’re definitely winning this."

Arios set the pan aside. "It’s edible."

"More than edible," Lucy said firmly.

The club officers walked around with notebooks, tasting each group’s dish. When they reached Arios and Lucy’s station, the head officer picked up a fork and sampled the food. He chewed thoughtfully, then nodded.

"Good flavor balance. Simple presentation, but solid execution."

Lucy’s grin widened. "See? Told you."

The officer scribbled something down and moved on.

When judging finished, everyone gathered at the front for results. The officers announced third place, then second. When they reached first place, Lucy’s hands clenched tightly in anticipation.

"...First place goes to team number four, with their grilled fish platter!"

Lucy froze, her smile cracking. "...What."

Liza burst into laughter immediately. "Pffft—! Oh, Lucy, your face right now!"

Lucy’s shoulders slumped. "We lost to grilled fish...? How...?"

Arios said nothing, standing beside her calmly.

"You’re supposed to comfort me!" Lucy cried, turning to him.

"It tasted fine," Arios said.

"That’s not comforting!"

Liza leaned in, still laughing. "Look on the bright side—you didn’t burn anything. That’s progress."

Lucy pouted, crossing her arms. "I hate both of you."

****

Despite the loss, the mood lightened as the event wrapped up. Students chatted, shared leftovers, and packed up their things. Lucy sulked for a while before slowly brightening again when some of the other competitors complimented her dish.

By the time they left the clubroom, the sun had dipped low in the sky, painting the courtyard in soft orange light.

Lucy walked ahead, her arms folded but her steps light. "Next time, we’re winning. I don’t care what it takes."

"You said that about the last test," Arios said.

"Shut up," Lucy muttered, her cheeks pink.

Liza stretched lazily, trailing beside Arios. "Honestly, today wasn’t so bad. Watching you cook was way more fun than I expected."

"I wasn’t doing anything special," Arios replied.

"Yeah, yeah," Liza said with a smirk. "Keep pretending you’re not secretly good at everything."

Lucy turned back suddenly, pointing a finger at him. "You’re officially my permanent helper from now on. No excuses."

Arios stared at her for a moment, then shrugged. "Fine."

Lucy blinked. "...Wait, that’s it? No resistance?"

"You’d drag me here anyway," Arios said.

Lucy’s face flushed, and she quickly turned away, muttering something under her breath. Liza chuckled, clearly entertained.

And so, the three of them walked back toward the dorms, the light-hearted atmosphere lingering even after the event had ended.