When Chiaki and Rina arrived at the restaurant, Chef Yamada was already waiting outside. He held a bag of fresh market ingredients in one hand, the other absently tapping his thigh as if impatient.
As his gaze fell on Rina, he paused for a moment. The chef's uniform she wore now completely concealed the graceful curves he had accidentally glimpsed yesterday. Thinking back to that moment, Chef Yamada instinctively swallowed and quickly reprimanded himself for having such thoughts.
To cover up his embarrassment, he cleared his throat and forced a casual smile, his tone carrying a hint of approval. "That looks good. Very professional."
Chiaki pushed open the door, and the bell above jingled crisply, its sound especially pleasant in the quiet morning street. She softly said, "Come in. I hope today is a busy but fulfilling day."
Chef Yamada stepped in first, walking directly towards the kitchen with steady, calm steps.
Rina followed closely behind, pausing for a moment as she passed Chiaki, offering a small, confident smile. "Chiaki, today, you'll see what I can do."
Chiaki gave her a supportive smile and gently patted her shoulder. "Good luck, don't let Yamada-san down."
Rina nodded with confidence, watching Chiaki turn to continue her work before stepping into the kitchen. She took a moment to observe the pristine white walls, bright lights, neatly arranged knives, and well-organized ingredient station—everything reflected the professional and orderly nature of this space.
She stood beside Chef Yamada, hands naturally at her sides, eyes filled with some anticipation. Chef Yamada turned to her, his voice steady but with an underlying authority, "Are you ready?"
Rina stood up straighter, answering clearly, "Absolutely."
The kitchen came alive at that moment, the quiet morning giving way to the bustling of a day's work.
Chef Yamada's gaze remained steady, his tone carrying a slight test, "First, familiarize yourself with where each ingredient and tool is placed. If you don't understand something, just ask me."
Rina nodded and answered seriously, "Got it." She immediately began moving through the kitchen, opening the fridge, cold storage, and shelves, mentally noting where everything was stored and categorized.
After a while, she returned to stand before him. "Yamada-san, I've got it all down."
Chef Yamada nodded slightly and handed her two sheets of kombu. "First, make the dashi(stock). Two sheets of kombu, palm-sized, with a large bowl of bonito flakes. Fill the large pot with water to about 70%. Keep the heat low, with just a slight bubbling—don't let it boil. At the same time, prepare eight cups of rice."
Rina nodded, preparing the kombu and bonito flakes, filling the pot with water, and adding the kombu to start the broth. Meanwhile, she expertly washed the rice, added water, and set it to cook.
As the water in the pot began to warm, Rina watched the kombu closely. When small bubbles began to form but the water hadn't yet reached a boil, she quickly removed the kombu, added the bonito flakes, and stirred gently to release the umami. After a short while, the bonito flakes floated to the surface, and she quickly turned off the heat, removing them to prevent the broth from becoming bitter due to overcooking.
Once the dashi had rested a bit, she skillfully strained it through cheesecloth, pouring the clear, aromatic dashi into a clean container to set aside. The entire process was fluid and confident, showing her expertise and professionalism. Even Chef Yamada couldn't help but nod in approval.
Chef Yamada handed her carrots, daikon, and cucumber."Julienne these for today's set meal. Uniform thickness."
Rina accepted the ingredients without a word, placing them on the cutting board.
Rina took up her knife. The blade flashed—paper-thin slices fell away before she gathered them into perfect matchsticks. In less than a minute, the entire carrot had been reduced to uniform strips, fine as hair, and neatly arranged.
Chef Yamada stood by in silence, watching until she set down her knife. Only then did he speak: "Not bad. Your knife skills would put some veterans to shame."
Rina smiled faintly, lifting her head to reply, "Thank you, Yamada-san. It's just basic technique."
Without further delay, she turned to handle the daikon and cucumber, slicing them with smooth, precise movements. She continued working through the ingredients Chef Yamada had assigned, her actions swift and efficient, never wasting a second.
Chef Yamada glanced at the neatly prepared ingredients, then looked at the clock on the wall, nodding. "It's exactly 11 o'clock, right on time."
The kitchen's busy sounds slowly quieted, and everything was ready. Outside, the wind chime rang gently as the sound of customers entering could be heard. Chiaki's soft voice followed, "Welcome."
The lunch rush was about to begin.
"Everything ready? There are customers coming in." Chiaki called through the pass.
Rina adjusted her headband. "Ready."
Soon, Chiaki handed the first order ticket to Chef Yamada.
He gave it a quick glance, then turned to Rina, his tone calm but with a touch of seriousness. "Today, you'll assist me. Get familiar with how we prepare the dishes and how we plate them."
As customers filtered in, Rina stood to the side, assisting and watching every dish being prepared, memorizing every detail of the plating.
The lunch rush picked up, with orders coming in one after another. Rina followed Chef Yamada's lead, her movements steady and focused. Soon, the ticket included a signature dish Chef Yamada had just prepared.
Rina glanced at the ticket, then looked up, saying, "Yamada-san, let me try this one."
Chef Yamada turned his head to look at her, pausing for a moment before nodding. "Alright, it's yours. Just remember, the taste and presentation must be perfect."
Rina responded affirmatively, then moved to the cooking station. She quickly gathered the necessary ingredients, following Chef Yamada's earlier steps with precision. When seasoning, her gestures were precise—no more, no less. Every move reflected her understanding of the dish and her solid foundation in the basics.
Chef Yamada stood quietly beside her, observing each detail. Seeing Rina's smooth and composed movements, a satisfied smile unconsciously appeared on his face.
"Yamada-san, please check," Rina placed the finished dish in front of him, her voice calm but with a hint of expectation.
Chef Yamada examined it closely, took a bite with his chopsticks, then slowly nodded. "Not bad. The taste and presentation are both spot on. With your skill, you could handle this on your own."
Rina gave a faint smile and bowed lightly. "Thank you for your guidance, Yamada-san."
From that point on, whenever the ticket featured a dish they had made before, Rina would proactively offer to make it. Chef Yamada would watch her closely at first, but over time, he grew more and more confident, entrusting her with these tasks.
"This dish is yours today. Don't forget to monitor the heat," Chef Yamada handed her the ticket, his tone now full of trust.
"Yes, Yamada-san," Rina responded shortly, confidently handling the ingredients at hand. The sound of chopping and sizzling filled the kitchen, creating a rhythm of its own.
Rina's performance continued to impress. Each dish she made was a perfect balance of flavor and presentation. Her movements were elegant, and she handled even the more complicated tasks with ease. Chef Yamada occasionally offered reminders but mostly stood by, quietly observing with a sense of satisfaction.
As the afternoon wore on, the flow of customers slowed down. By 2:20 PM, Chiaki peeked into the kitchen with a smile. "The customers are gone. Looks like we can take a break."
Rina set down the spatula in her hand, exhaling softly. She turned to Chef Yamada, "Yamada-san, is there anything to prepare now?"
Chef Yamada took off his apron and waved his hand. "Business ends at 2:30. Since there are no more customers, take a break. We'll prep for dinner at 5."
Rina nodded, neatly hanging up her apron. After three and a half hours of steady work, the kitchen finally settled into calm.