Anime Collector: Starting With the Malevolent Shrine

"Damn it! He claimed he didn't know cooking, but this is mastery! His skills even surpass Dad's!"

A mouthwatering aroma flooded their nostrils like a surging stream. Even those without culinary expertise could perceive the obvious difference.

Soma's eyes were serious, a heavy pressure weighing on his mind. Despite knowing he had lost, he chose to give his all.

All customers at Restaurant Yukihira waited in eager anticipation. The aroma of Daiki's fried rice dominated the scene. A rich egg fragrance intertwined with the deep scent of oil. The golden rice, paired with vibrant side ingredients, resembled a treasure.

It looked like an exquisitely carved golden mountain resting on a snowy field.

'To think W.G.O. Two-Star Culinary Skills could be this extraordinary. The harmony of color, aroma, and taste is nearly perfect. Even a simple bowl of fried rice seems priceless.' Daiki gained a clearer understanding of this world's Culinary Arts.

He placed the plate on the counter, concluding this round of cooking.

"This... this cooking level is unbelievable..." The lingering aroma made Iroha swallow repeatedly. Every cell in her body seemed to cry out in hunger.

Joichiro smiled helplessly; the answer was already clear.

"Let's have a customer act as the judge." He suggested.

Even knowing the outcome, he didn't announce it directly. Instead, he followed the old custom of letting a restaurant's customer be the judge — their traditional way of determining a winner.

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Yukihira Restaurant erupted with excitement. The aroma alone was irresistible; tasting it would surely be mind-blowing.

"Me, me, me, me... Let me do it!"

"Out of my way! I've been a loyal customer for ten years — I should go first!"

"Ten years? That's nothing! I've been eating at Yukihira for twenty years!"

"How shameless! Yukihira's only been open for a little over ten years. Where'd you get twenty from? You fake customer, get out!"

"…" The surging crowd made Joichiro helplessly hold his forehead.

Daiki's culinary skills far exceeded his expectations. The color, aroma, and taste alone were enough to tell.

'I'm afraid most of the Totsuki Elite Ten after graduation wouldn't be his match.' Joichiro mused, watching Daiki as the commotion in the restaurant continued.

Meanwhile, Soma remained fully focused on his cooking. Sweat gathered and rolled down his forehead, betraying his tension. To date, this was the strongest peer he had encountered.

"Let me do it, Senpai!" Seeing the diner in an uproar, Iroha couldn't hold back anymore.

Although she was on a diet to maintain her figure, she reasoned, 'Dieting can continue tomorrow, but this bowl of fried rice is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'

"Alright, let this junior be the judge." Joichiro decided, snapping out of his thoughts.

At that moment, Soma's dish finally made its appearance.

"Phew—This is my utmost limit. But... the chances of winning are practically zero. Daiki is my age, right? Yet his cooking skills..." He brought out his plate, feeling a mix of excitement and dejection.

It was rare to meet a peer in cooking, but they clearly weren't on the same level.

"Wow... This is what real fried rice is... My whole body feels tingly... I'm completely immersed in the deliciousness..."

With just a light taste, an electrifying sensation spread throughout her body. Waves of intense aroma cascaded into Iroha's taste buds and nostrils. Wordlessly, she buried her head and finished the entire bowl of fried rice.

Then she took a spoonful of Soma's fried rice.

Comparing the two, the huge gap instantly became apparent.

"Sen... Senpai wins!" Iroha struggled to swallow, carefully wiped the corners of her mouth, and finally announced Daiki's victory to everyone.

"As expected... The gap is too big..." Soma laughed carefreely, scratching his head.

Seeing this, Joichiro burst into laughter, and others followed suit.

"Soma, you need to practice more. Look, even a random guy can beat you."

"Luckily, Daiki doesn't know cooking, otherwise I can't imagine how badly you'd lose."

"I say, starting tomorrow, Soma should do 300 weightlifting reps daily, aiming to reach Daiki's level. Great strength creates miracles."

"..."

Soma immediately shouted, "Just wait, I'll definitely win next time!"

"Yeah, yeah, we all believe you." They chimed in sarcastically.

Everyone burst into laughter — after all, this wasn't Soma's first defeat. The fleeting sense of disappointment quickly gave way to a lively atmosphere.

"Daiki, come back often! I'll definitely beat you next time!" Soma called out as Daiki paid and prepared to leave.

"Got it." Daiki replied, waving as he exited Restaurant Yukihira.

The moment he stepped outside, the world seemed to grow quieter. The other shops lining the street appeared somewhat desolate and run-down in comparison.

"Senpai! Wait for me!" Iroha called out, jogging to catch up with him.

Daiki slowed his pace, and the two walked along the quiet street. As it happened, they were heading in the same direction, both bound for the nearby bus stop.

"By the way, Senpai, did you go out with Miku-senpai today?"

"Hm? How did you figure that out?" Daiki asked, surprised.

"Because of the charm hanging at your waist — I've never seen it before."

The charm swayed gently in the breeze, complementing perfectly the outfit Miku had carefully selected for him.

Daiki nodded with a smile as they lapsed into a comfortable silence. Neither felt compelled to fill the quiet moment with unnecessary chatter.

"See you tomorrow, Senpai!" Iroha said softly.

"See you tomorrow."

With a final exchange of goodbyes, they went their separate ways.

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Back home, Daiki found himself in his bedroom, his mind awash with thoughts.

The Great Collector System... Sukuna's Finger... the Malevolent Shrine... W.G.O. Two-Star Culinary Skills... The events of a single day had been more extraordinary than his entire seventeen years of life combined.

"Valuable collectibles..." He mused, "Could there be anything unusual in my surroundings?"

Daiki's mind raced as he tried to recall any overlooked details from his past.

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