Chapter 108 - Can't Reach That Far!

Rindo dragged Alexander and Alice inside. After entering the castle-like restaurant, the trio was met with a man in a suit.

"Welcome, Tonight's theme is a symphony of autumn delights." He said with a bright smile "You will find your table down this hall..." He gestured behind him "Tsukasa-sama has already begun cooking."

"So quiet..." Alice whispered to Alexander who just shrugged his shoulders at that.

The trio made their advance to the dining area and went into shock, there were only three tables, two tables occupied with 2 people at each one and one still empty which should be their table.

The dining room was mildly decorated, there was no expensive furniture and in one corner, Tsukasa was standing alone in his small kitchen preparing food. He seemed distant from the world around him as if there is a wall of glass separating him from the rest of the world. His eyes only traveled around his tools and did not wander around for no reason.

"So this is why he is getting knocked out of the top 10 ranks" Alice sighed.

Alexander took a seat with Rindo followed by Alice "And that explains why we are in the 2nd rank and soon to be 1st, if the others did the same, then that explains a lot of things." Alexander opened the menu the guy they met first gave them and felt like coughing blood.

"UGH...!!" Alice and Rindo looked at their man " 540 Dollars for the Sakura Shrimp beans dish!!" Alexander couldn't believe his own eyes, that was one of the most expensive dishes he had ever seen. That explains why with only three tables he is still in the high ranks.

And he even supposed to be serving a nine-course meal, if you add the numbers, at least its 3 thousand for each table. 'This is highway robbery!' He thought.

Rindo burst out laughing while holding her stomach while Alice had the same reaction as Alexander "Don't be surprised, Some people come from across the world following Tsukasa to get a taste of his cooking, even if that means paying with their blood."

"Whatever man." Alexander closed the menu and waited for the food to arrive.

In his kitchen, Tsukasa finished his Sakura shrimp beans and presented it on a plate "This may be served." He said. The waiters took the plate and prepared to serve it "Ah! wait! don't rush! make sure you don't shake it! wait! let me see if it is alright!" Tsukasa's anxiety surfaced making himself imagine a lot of impossible to happen scenarios, the staff couldn't help but feel lost "Y-yeah."

"Just serve us the damn thing already," Rindo said making Tsukasa squeal in shock. Alexander couldn't help but feel strange about someone like him being the first seat. 'Just can he manage the work given to him with such personality.'

The food was served and Rindo chuckled "You need to loosen up a bit, Tsukasa..." Rindo took her fork and stapped the shrimp with it "Let us eat." She said.

Alexander and Alice sighed seeing Tsukasa's behavior and just decided to dig in the food. Immediately, as if the world around them stopped, Alice shifted her eyes to her dish, and she could swear that the shrimp was coming back to life. Her hands trembled as she reached for another bite from the dish, the taste kept on going strong with each new bite. Alice felt admiration for this dish like never before.

As for Alexander 'hoo~ this boy is a talent!' he thought. 'He can make a dish that ill.u.s.trates itself for the customer.' Alexander was amazed, in this life, as far as he knows, there are only five people that Alexander knows they can do as such ' Should I invite him after his graduation to open his restaurant at my tower?' Alexander already started planning for a way to get Tsukasa under his wing.

"Are you guys alright?! are the chairs too hard or too soft?! are the AC not good?!" Tsukasa started bombarding the trio with questions again, but he never asked about the taste of his food. That's how confident he is in his dishes.

"Get a grip Tsukasa!!" Rindo slapped Tsukasa on his back making the poor boy squeal in pain "But you know, I would've liked to taste a dish that has more of you in it." She said, giving Tsukasa a side look.

Tsukasa shook his head with a light smile "That is no good for me." he said. Tsukasa's few words peaked Alexander's interest, he wanted to speak but Alice beat him to that.

"Why wouldn't that be good for you?" she asked.

Rindo continued to eat her food as she already knows the answer "You see, my cooking doesn't need any of [me] in it..." Tsukasa said. Alice raised an eyebrow in confusion while Alexander facepalmed himself as he already can guess what the rest of the answer can be.

"When I cook, I believe it is my job to completely areas myself from the dish. All that is important is the goodness of the food." Tsukasa looked at his reflection in the silver plate "I concentrate on nothing but that, honing until it's perfect. But paradoxically, erasing myself like that, in fact, it is just another way of expressing myself." Tsukasa looked at the two first years in front of him and smiled genuinely "That all wrapped together is the essence of Eishi Tsukasa's cooking."

There was a long moment of silence as Alice was just speechless.

But that silence was bound to be broken "But isn't that like building a wall in front of you?" Alexander said. His words shocked Tsukasa and Rindo. Rindo froze her hand near her open mouth while her eyes were locked on Alexander who had his hands locked behind his head.

Tsukasa smiled "What might you be talking about?" He asked kindly.

"I mean, you completely remove your presence from your dish that you yourself made, with your own hands, with your own dedication and passion...There is only a certain level you can reach with that kind of mindset." Alexander said, making Rindo, Alice, and Tsukasa open their eyes in shock.

"It seems to me you don't unde--" Tsukasa tried to defend himself but was cut off by Alexander.

He stood up with the screeching sound of the chair being dragged on the floor "You're the one who seems to not understand...No matter how much you hone that dish, if you let it be alone, it will never reach the level you think it can. Your dishes need [you] no matter what!"

" This may be a powerful skill you're using in school for now, but once you step outside, you won't reach that far, I can assure you of that." Alexander cleaned his lips and turned to leave.

"Let's go, Alice" Alexander called for his girl.

"Y-Yes!" Alice stood up and ran behind Alexander, leaving Rindo and Tsukasa frozen in their place as his words kept on echoing in their heads like a cave.

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