Chapter 38: Yuigahama's Cookies!
And so, having accepted Yuigahama Yui's request, all the members of the Service Club (though only two of them) headed to the home economics classroom.
The almighty Yukinoshita began her preparation procedures—
Yukinoshita Yukino, with practiced ease, took out the necessary ingredients from the refrigerator – eggs, milk, etc., as well as various required kitchen utensils.
"Ooh, so skilled, so amazing," Yuigahama Yui looked at Yukinoshita Yukino with admiration.
Luke also nodded in agreement.
Everything Yukinoshita Yukino did seemed so orderly.
The two kitchen novices could only applaud.
"There's nothing praiseworthy so far," Yukinoshita Yukino said matter-of-factly.
After quickly preparing all the necessary tools, she picked up an apron and put it on neatly.
Seeing this, Yuigahama Yui also hurriedly found a spare apron from the classroom, but she seemed truly unskilled; even putting on the apron looked awkward.
"You didn't tie the back properly," Luke pointed out, looking at Yuigahama Yui's apron which offered practically no protection, only supported by her shoulders.
"Yuigahama-san, you don't even know how to wear an apron?" Yukinoshita Yukino also commented.
"Ah, sorry... I do know how to wear an apron."
"Mm, then put it on properly. If you handle even small things carelessly, the result will become careless just like the person next to you."
Luke ignored her, taking a rare look around the home economics classroom.
A spacious kitchen area, equipped with modern cooking appliances and tools.
The tables and chairs in the classroom were arranged neatly, providing students with ample and comfortable workspace.
He had to admit, this kind of class was much more interesting than learning boring knowledge in a regular classroom.
Unfortunately, he couldn't participate...
Because he himself was a kitchen disaster.
Plus, not being familiar with classmates made teaming up troublesome. So, during these practical classes, he usually chose to skip.
As a result, he was often called to the office by Hiratsuka Shizuka.
After browsing idly, Luke returned to the two aspiring cooks, only to see Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui still stuck on the previous step—
Putting on the apron!
"You still haven't put it on? You actually don't know how, do you... Sigh, come here, I'll help you put it on," Yukinoshita Yukino helplessly beckoned the clumsy Yuigahama Yui.
"...Is that okay? Wouldn't it be inappropriate?" Yuigahama Yui's gaze darted around, unable to settle anywhere, like a lost child.
"Hurry up," Yukinoshita Yukino's icy voice broke Yuigahama Yui's indecision.
This voice sounded somewhat terrifying to Yuigahama Yui.
She quickly apologized and scurried over.
Yukinoshita Yukino stood behind Yuigahama Yui, skillfully untying the tangled knot and retying it tightly.
"Somehow, Yukinoshita feels like my older sister... Ah—!" Yuigahama Yui let out a cry as the tightened straps constricted her.
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at the tied straps and sighed.
"My younger sister wouldn't be as clumsy as you."
"Hmm? Yukinoshita has a younger sister?" Luke asked curiously.
"No," Yukinoshita Yukino replied.
"And this has nothing to do with the request."
Luke wanted to see if her family members had personalities as awful as hers.
"Does Yukinoshita-san make cookies for her family?" Yuigahama Yui asked.
"Yuigahama-san, now is your cooking time. Please don't waste time," Yukinoshita Yukino glared at Luke with eyes that said, 'Interrupt again and I'll kill you.'
This guy, paired with this idiot, always diverts the topic to strange places, more than once.
"Oh oh, sorry," Yuigahama Yui quickly apologized.
They finally moved on to the next stage, starting the main task.
Yuigahama Yui rolled up her sleeves and began her actions.
Luke wasn't good at cooking and didn't know the specific process for making cookies, but even so, he could see from Yuigahama Yui's movements that she was far from simple.
He himself just made things that tasted bad.
But Yuigahama Yui's method couldn't be called making cookies; it was clearly preparing a sacrifice for an evil god.
Although he hadn't seen the baked cookies yet, he already foresaw the result, feeling waves of cold dread from her actions.
Indeed, Yukinoshita Yukino beside them had also turned pale, helplessly massaging her head.
"Next... add sugar," Yuigahama Yui grunted, picking up the sugar bag.
Luke sensed trouble.
Then a mountain of sugar appeared.
"Yu..." Luke didn't have time to warn her and could only shut his mouth helplessly, letting her proceed.
"Would adding some drinks make it sweeter and tastier?" Yuigahama Yui pondered.
And so, Yuigahama Yui, not only lacking cooking skills, also made the classic beginner's mistake: exercising unnecessary creativity.
Soon, the cookies went into the oven.
Luke vaguely seemed to see wisps of black smoke continuously rising.
Alarms blared in his mind.
The culinary disasters he, Mikasa, and Annie had created in the past were likely to reappear today.
Learn from past mistakes.
Reason told him it was best to find an excuse and leave quickly right now.
But Yuigahama Yui had already opened the oven, completing her first cook...
No, this wasn't cooking.
This was the most mysterious ritual since modern times.
These were three evil cultists summoning an evil god...
To protect the Earth, Luke spoke softly, "Stop, Yuigahama-san. Ahead lies hell."
And so, the unbelieving Yuigahama Yui stared dumbfounded at the mysterious dark objects emerging from the oven.
Luke leaned closer to examine the objects.
The smell produced by the high temperature was distant and ancient.
Although they were freshly baked cookies, he felt a sense of terror.
"I cannot comprehend... Didn't you look at the tutorial? Why, following the step-by-step tutorial, could you still make so many mistakes?"
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at the objects that bore no resemblance to cookies, wanting to stay silent but unable to resist speaking out.
Yuigahama Yui placed the objects onto a serving dish with a final shred of hope.
"Uhh... Although the appearance isn't great, you have to taste it to know the flavor."
Silence fell for a moment.
Yukinoshita Yukino, serious about everything she did, agreed, "...That's true. Coincidentally, there's someone idle who can help try it."
Hearing this, Luke turned his gaze towards Yukinoshita Yukino, his eyes showing some confusion, the meaning obvious: Why are you doing this to me? Yukinoshita.
Even the steadfast Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't help but turn her head aside, muttering to herself, "You always have to eat it to know where she went wrong, right?"
Look at me, Yukinoshita.
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't want to look at him.
Speechless, Luke then turned his gaze back to Yuigahama Yui.
"Stop, Yuigahama-san. Someone could die."
"Ah!" Yuigahama Yui cried out loudly, looking uneasy.
"W-will they?"
"Maybe," Luke murmured uncertainly.
"I-it's not poisonous, right~" Yuigahama Yui looked at him anxiously.
Her timid appearance, hands fidgeting restlessly.
As the silent atmosphere among them gradually spread, her gaze dimmed.
Seeing the pitiful Yuigahama Yui standing there twisting her apron, Luke tapped the table with his finger and said speechlessly, "Just one piece. I absolutely won't eat more."
...
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