[Beelzebub] A Teacher's Incredible Life at Ishiyama High School
Chapter 03: Do NOT let Kanzaki and his boys cook.
-Hajime Kanzaki-
Sluuuurrrrp
Slurr…ppp
"Ah…I'm done with this one already?" said Kanzaki as he began to shake the empty milk box. He scratched his head and looked at Shiroyama without wasting a single beat. This delinquent with dull blond hair, a slight brown tinge, and a place face is Hajime Kanzaki, a second-year student in Ishiyama.
"Shiroyama! Grab me another one in the mini-fridge!"
"Yes, Kanzaki!" shouted Shiroyama at the top of his lungs as he quickly went toward the mini-fridge and fetched another drink for his boss. This tall student with tanned skin and dark eyes is Shiroyama Takeshi and is very loyal to Kanzaki.
"Here, Kanzaki," said Shiroyama as he handed a new drink to Kanzaki, to which the latter smiled widely.
"Hahaha! Good job, Shiroyama!" giggled Kanzaki as he patted his shoulder, making Shiroyama happy and accomplished.
At the same time, the last student inside the empty classroom looked at Kanzaki, which he noticed as he frowned. He glanced at Natsume and rudely asked. "What's up, Natsume? Do you have something to ask when I drink this divine milk?"
Natsume Shintaro is a tall, mildly muscular guy with uniquely coloured purplish hair above his shoulders and brown eyes. Natsume smiled as he effortlessly brushed his rude tone. "So, Kanzaki. There's something I would like to ask you."
"Mhm?" Kanzaki raised a single eyebrow in response.
"When are we going to recruit more people to join us? I thought you wanted to conquer this school, and it's been a while since we became second-year students, yet we didn't recruit more students in our group." Asked Natsume curiously since Kanzaki wasn't actively working toward his goal in Ishiyama.
Kanzaki grinned as he crushed the empty milk box. "Heh, so that's what you were worried about? Don't worry too much, Natsume. As you say, it's only a few weeks since the term started. There's no rush, and we can keep observing for more talented guys."
"Another one, Shiroyama!"
"Yes, Kanzaki!"
Natsume, who heard the reason, tapped his chin in thought. "…I don't think it would work, Kanzaki."
Kanzaki narrowed his eyes as his attention was ultimately captured. "Oh? Explain, Natsume. Why would you think that my masterful plan won't work?"
As Natsume was going to explain his thoughts, he was quickly interrupted by a nervous Shiroyama. "KANZAKI!" shouted Shiroyama as he interrupted the conversation, making them stop momentarily and look at him with various emotions. Kanzaki rubbed his head in annoyance. "What are you shouting for? I can hear you already!"
Shiroyama immediately bowed, feeling guilty for his action. "There's no more Yogurty left in the mini-fridge!"
"You IDIOT! Just go by more outside!" shouted Kanzaki as he slapped Shiroyama's head, which the latter endured as he felt he deserved.
"…I don't have any more money on me since I bought the last stock. I'm sorry for failing you, KANZAKI!" cried Shiroyama as he fell on the floor.
"Here, Shiro-chan~" Natsume casually pulled out his wallet and tossed it to Shiroyama, who caught it easily. He instinctively opened it, and his eyes widened at the bulging cash inside.
"You've got so much money, Natsume! How did you do that? I'm always broke," Shiroyama exclaimed in awe. Slumped in his chair, Kanzaki glanced over with a flicker of curiosity.
"Oh, this?" Natsume replied nonchalantly. "Don't worry about it. I just found a few wallets lying around the school. You know, lucky day and all that."
Shiroyama's eyes sparkled with admiration. "You're so lucky, Natsume! I never find wallets on the ground! Anyway, thanks for the cash! I'll pay you back soon!" Shiroyama ran off toward the nearest vending machines, leaving Kanzaki and Natsume alone inside their base.
Kanzaki let out a heavy sigh as he slumped further into his chair. "So? What were you saying before you got interrupted?
Natsume chuckled as he regained his focus. "Right, right. As I was saying, I've been gathering intel all around the school since we started school again, and I've come across some interesting information that could be dangerous for us."
Kanzaki's eyes narrowed. "Get out of Ishiyama, Riddler. Just spill it already."
"Aiyah, don't be too angry, boss~ I'm simply building up our conversation! It would be best if you had more patience!" Natsume teased, earning an annoyed glare from Kanzaki. The tension between them was apparent as Kanzaki slowly stood from his chair, making Natsume raise his hands in playful surrender.
"You are playing too much, Natsume," Kanzaki growled as he rolled his sleeves.
"Okay, okay, no need to go all 'big boss' on me," Natsume laughed, backing off a bit. "As you already know. You're not the only one with ambitions to conquer Ishiyama. There are a lot of strong guys here at the school, and even more so this year with the additional students. Many groups are forming or changing around the school as we speak." Natsume finished as he wanted to observe Kanzaki's face.
And he wasn't let down since Kanzaki's face suddenly hardened as he began to understand the current dynamics of the school. "Damn… I didn't expect that in my three-year big-brain plan to fall short. What else did you find, Natsume?" asked Kanzaki, annoyed.
"Mmmh, let's see…" Natsume muttered as he carefully pulled a small notepad from his back pocket, flipping through the pages.
"We should start with the most troublesome rival for us—undoubtedly, it's Himekawa Tatsuya, as you probably already know him."
"Himekawa, who?" Kanzaki asked, his face blank, which made Natsume pause. "Seriously, Kanzaki? You've never heard of him? Some people in our group had a few scuffles with his group."
Kanzaki shrugged nonchalantly. "Should I have?"
"…You know the guy with the big pompadour—"
"OH! That goofy-looking guy! He is Himekawa?" shouted Kanzaki, dumbfounded.
Natsume sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Well, let's see... Himekawa Tatsuya's group is very ambitious currently. I also heard that his family has much power and money, and he's not shy about using his wealth to make people join under his banner."
Kanzaki's expression soured rapidly. As the son of a yakuza boss, he had no patience for rich kids. They were usually weak and constantly flaunting their parent's money. "Why would a rich brat like him willingly join a dump like Ishiyama?"
"Oh, that's easy," Natsume replied, barely missing a beat. "He's got the same shitty personality as most delinquents here. But unlike most, he's shrewd, pretty strong, and doesn't hesitate to play dirty when it suits him."
Kanzaki grunted, his interest piqued. "So, a rich kid willing to get his hands dirty? That's interesting…"
"Exactly," Natsume confirmed with a nod. "He's someone we need to keep a close eye on. As I mentioned, he's ambitious, and he's already built a decent-sized gang with his money. If no one keeps Himekawa in check, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up controlling all the students by his third year."
Kanzaki scratched his head, a hint of annoyance creeping into his expression. "Yeah, I get it. We'll have to deal with him sooner rather than later. We can't have him thinking he can buy his way to the top at Ishiyama…!"
"Exactly," Natsume agreed. "We just need to ensure we're ready before we declare war on his group as you lead us to victory."
Kanzaki smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Don't worry, I'll beat that shitty rich kid."
Natsume nodded, his eyes glinting as he scanned through his notepad. "As I mentioned earlier, with more students coming in, it's only natural that new key figures will emerge. However, unlike the usual rowdy delinquents, the next person can be easily ignored."
Kanzaki raised an eyebrow as he was curious about Natsume's evaluation.
Natsume smirked, flipping to the next page. "This first-year girl, Aoi Kunieda, is the third-generation leader of the Red Tail group. They're a gang of girls known for protecting female students at Ishiyama. Now, before you dismiss her as irrelevant, let me tell you, she's no pushover. Like the previous leaders, she's not interested in ruling the school, but she'll draw her sword without hesitation if it means defending the girls."
Kanzaki snorted, stretching his arms lazily. "Red Tail? Protecting girls? Sounds like a joke. I need real intel, Natsume, not some group of weaklings. They're not worth my time or effort."
Natsume's grin widened. "Ah, Kanzaki, you're underestimating them. That's pretty sexist, don't you think? Aoi Kunieda's the real deal. She might surprise you."
Kanzaki waved off the warning dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. I don't believe a chick could take me in a fight. Are you done, or is there anyone else we actually need to worry about?"
Natsume flipped a few more pages in his notebook, pondering. "Well, there had been some change with the MK5s as they got a new leader, Killer Machine Abe, and there's Shimokawa… The Sanada brothers are new additions, but they're not that much trouble… Oh, wait, this one might interest you."
"You've definitely heard of him—Tojo Hidetora. They call him the 'Next Dragon of Ishiyama' or 'The Closest to the Dragon.'"
Kanzaki's relaxed demeanour vanished instantly, his expression darkening. The mention of Tojo brought back a bad memory for him. "Tojo, huh… So he's back."
"Kanzaki, do you know him?" asked Natsume curiously by his familiar tone, which made Kanzaki bitter. "…I challenged Tojo in the last month of our first year, and as much as I hate to admit it… I didn't last much against him…! However, this time, it will be different."
Kanzaki's eyes burned with determination as he nodded. "Oh, I'll be ready. Tojo or anyone else who stands in my way… they'll regret it, and I'll make sure everyone knows that only I deserve to be the next Dragon of Ishiyama."
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
"Finally! I thought Shiroyama got lost inside the school!" Kanzaki grumbled, standing up from his seat. He had been waiting far too long for Shiroyama to return with his Yogurty, and his throat was beginning to feel parched from talking with Natsume.
He walked to the door, expecting to see his loyal right-hand man with Yogurty in his hands. But when he yanked the door open, he soon became speechless and terrified.
Standing menacingly in the doorway was not just Shiroyama, as the latter was slung over someone's shoulder like a sack of potatoes. And that someone was none other than Ryuga-sensei, the infamous teacher who no delinquent wanted to cross the most. He was the only teacher who didn't play by the rules and wouldn't hesitate to throw hands if needed.
They stared silently at each other for a few seconds, but those few seconds felt like an eternity for Kanzaki. Then Kanzaki decisively closed the door without a word on autopilot mode. Kanzaki turned back to Natsume, his face pale and his movements robotic. "W-Was that… Ryuga-sensei?" he stammered nervously.
Natsume, who had both eyes open wide—something Kanzaki had never seen before—nodded stiffly. "Y-Yeah, that was him… And if I'm not mistaken, we've got a class with him next." He scratched his head, clearly shaken by this encounter.
Kanzaki's hands trembled as he asked the following question, though he wasn't sure he wanted the answer. "A-And… that was Shiroyama… on his shoulder?"
Natsume nodded again. "No doubt about it… That was undoubtedly Shiro-chan."
They both stared at the door for a long moment, the reality of the situation sinking in.
Kanzaki swallowed hard. "So… what do we do now?"
"…"
They soon found themselves in silence, but it didn't last long.
"Hajime Kanzaki, open the door for me." Said a voice on the other side of the room, yet it managed to scare Kanzaki shitless. As much as Kanzaki praised himself as a hardcore delinquent, even he could recognize a lost battle with no chance of winning.
And this was one of the cases.
Kanzaki suddenly slapped both cheeks with his hands to get himself into the zone.
"I'm Hajime Kanzaki! The strongest delinquent at Ishiyama High School and the next Dragon! How can I be scared of a teacher? Yes! I'm the best and will rule this school one day!" Kanzaki declared, psyching himself up before confronting the behemoth.
Natsume stood silent as he looked at Kanzaki with interest. He never expected Kanzaki to calm himself down so fast, even when the current infamous teacher stared at them from the other side of the door. Kanzaki took a deep breath and opened the door without fear inside his bones. Ryuga raised an eyebrow at the fearless Kanzaki in front of him.
"W-What's wrong, Ryuga-sensei?" asked Kanzaki with a shaky voice while Ryuga snorted in amusement.
"You are late for class, and I'm here to collect you and Shintaro Natsume." Stated Ryuga as he glanced at Natsume behind him, who waved at Ryuga.
Kanzaki took another breath, fully aware that Ryuga was hunting them. "I-I-I REFUSE!" he declared, his voice shaking with defiance.
Ryuga stared at Kanzaki deeply as the corner of his mouth curved slightly. "Ooooh?"
"Oh my, Kanzaki!" muttered Natsume in surprise.
"I-I'm a hardcore delinquent! You cannot force me to class!" shouted Kanzaki as he threw away his school jacket toward Natsume, who quickly caught it.
"I will FIGHT YOU AND WIN!" Kanzaki shouted, launching a surprise attack with a punch aimed at Ryuga, who effortlessly caught it even with Shiroyama on his shoulder.
"Good try. I can respect that, but you will attend my class. So grit your teeth." Said Ryuga as he quickly made an uppercut to Kanzaki's chin. As his mind blurred, he could hear Natsume's voice before losing consciousness.
"Ah, I surrender." Said Natsume as he raised his arms decisively.
'N-Natsume! That bastard!' thought Kanzaki as he lost consciousness.
***
-Shintaro Natsume-
"Ah, I surrender," said Natsume as he immediately raised his arms and felt Ryuga's fiery eyes on him. There was no way he would fight against such a monster, and Natsume was clear about his chance against Ryuga, which was zero.
Natsume looked at Kanzaki, who collapsed on the floor and shook his head. 'Ah… as expected, the teacher easily defeated Kanzaki.' It was honestly a shame, too, since Kanzaki looked cool at this moment when he refused Ryuga and decided to fight against his fate.
It was one thing to know about Ryuga from the rumour, yet to personally witness his aura… It was indeed something else.
"Pick him up and follow me to the classroom." Said Ryuga lightly as he slowly walked out the door with Shiroyama on his shoulder.
"Yes, sensei!" said Natsume, reluctantly picking up Kanzaki on his shoulder like Ryuga, silently following behind.
With a teacher like that, there was simply no way it wouldn't be an exciting school year.
***
-Hajime Kanzaki-
Kanzaki rubbed his aching jaw, glaring fiercely at his sensei. Yet, whenever Ryuga glanced in his direction, Kanzaki would immediately avert his gaze. Despite his pride and arrogance, he could admit he was scared of this man.
Frustrated, Kanzaki looked around the classroom. He was infuriated at being forced to attend classes, especially home economics. No respectable delinquent like himself ever participated in such a class! It was a humiliation of the highest order. At least he wasn't the only one forced to endure this joke.
He hadn't expected to be caught by the infamous violent teacher so early in the morning, alongside Shiroyama and Natsume. Glancing to his side, he saw his most loyal underling, Shiroyama, still knocked out from their sensei.
"What do you think we'll be cooking, Kanzaki?" hummed Natsume as he carefully put on his apron. Kanzaki instantly became enraged by his carefree attitude.
"Bastard! How can you act like that after your boss gets defeated?! Shouldn't you fight back for his honour?!" roared Kanzaki, grabbing Natsume by his collar.
"Don't be like that, Kanzaki! I'd just get destroyed like Shiro-chan and you. Ryuga-sensei is simply a monster!" explained Natsume, still smiling broadly.
"W-Who got his ass destroyed?! Shiroyama, maybe, but certainly not me, okay?! And you, you bastard, surrendered the moment he appeared! How can you call yourself a delinquent, NATSUME?!" shouted Kanzaki, mostly furious that Natsume hadn't received a beating like them. His chin ached so severely that he just wanted to leave and sleep, but unfortunately, he was in a class with Ryuga in charge. It was simply impossible for him to ditch this class.
"Ah, I don't think you should shout." Natsume reminded Kanzaki kindly, which the latter immediately ignored without a second thought.
"What the fuck are you talking about Nat—"
"You're too loud, Hajime. Keep your voice down," said Ryuga, staring fiercely at Kanzaki from across the classroom. Kanzaki immediately released Natsume's collar.
"YES, SENSEI! I'M VERY SORRY!" shouted Kanzaki in panic.
"Hajime…" Ryuga said warningly in an icy tone.
"I'm sorry for raising my voice again," Kanzaki apologized, bowing a perfect 90 degrees. At the same time, Shiroyama woke up from the dreamland because of the loud noise. He rubbed his chin in pain. "What… happened to me?" muttered Shiroyama as he struggled to stand up. Natsume helped him, patting his shoulder.
"Oya? Good morning, Shi-chan~," Natsume greeted with a cheerful smile. "Tsk, he is finally up," muttered Kanzaki, seeing his loyal subordinate wake up.
Shiroyama blinked a few times, trying to gather his senses. "Morning… Natsume. Did I miss something?" he asked groggily.
"Oh, nothing much, just Kanzaki getting scolded by Ryuga-sensei," Natsume replied with a grin, immediately making Shiroyama extremely furious.
"WHAT! HOW DARE HE ATTACK KANZAKI! I'LL—" Shiroyama shouted at the top of his lungs, making Kanzaki panic.
"Oi! You idiot, keep your voice down!" whispered Kanzaki as he forcefully covered Shiroyama's mouth with his hand. Kanzaki took a peek from the corner of his eye and saw Ryuga glaring at them from across the room. He held his breath for a few seconds, sweating bullets. Fortunately, Ryuga then ignored them, busy with something else. Only then did Kanzaki calm down and exhale.
He glared at Shiroyama with irritation. "Don't shout anymore! I don't want to fight that monster," Kanzaki whispered fiercely.
Shiroyama nodded, eyes wide. "Got it, Kanzaki. Sorry," he muttered, still rubbing his chin.
Natsume, the carefree man, chuckled softly. "Let's focus on completing this class in one piece, right? Who knows, we might have fun." Shiroyama reluctantly nodded in agreement as he started wearing the spare apron Natsume gave him. Then Natsume also handed Kanzaki a cute apron with kittens.
Kanzaki scoffed. "Yeah, right. That's not happening. I can't take this shit seriously! How much is he going to humiliate us, real hardcore delinquent?!"
At the same time, Ryuga returned to the classroom with a cart full of ingredients. Ryuga looked around, examining every student, then nodded at them. "Today, we will be making crepe for this economics class," Ryuga announced, taking the baking ingredients out of the cart.
Kanzaki, frowning and sulking in his corner, suddenly froze as he heard Ryuga. He licked his dry lips, imagining the crepe taste in his mouth. The corner of his mouth started to drool in anticipation.
"Oh my… aren't crepes your favourite, Kanzaki? It's a shame you don't want to—" Natsume began, shaking his head, but stopped mid-sentence when he saw Kanzaki already wearing his apron with his sleeves rolled up, ready to bake.
"Ara…?" Natsume said with a grin. Kanzaki glanced at him cooly. "Of course, I just remembered that delinquents also eat food like everyone else. So, I don't think broadening my knowledge and learning to make delicious crepes is a waste."
Shiroyama clapped on the side of Kanzaki as his eyes shined. "Kanzaki is right! As expected of the boss! We delinquent also have to eat!" Natsume covered his mouth from laughing out loud as expected of his boss, who was a yogurt maniac! He was glad to follow such an exciting and funny person as a boss. He didn't regret his decision a single bit.
***
"Attention, everyone! I've written the recipe on the blackboard behind me. I'll also be cooking my crepes, but I'll be walking around to ensure each of you knows what you're doing. Am I understood?" Ryuga's voice boomed, instantly silencing all chatter in the room.
"Yes, Ryuga-sensei!" the students shouted in unison.
"Good. Begin cooking!" Ryuga commanded, his arms crossed as he surveyed the room sternly.
Meanwhile, Natsume read the recipe aloud on the blackboard for Kanzaki and Shiroyama. "All right, so we'll need three eggs for three people. That's straightforward enough."
"Ara? Where are the rest of the eggs?" Natsume asked, puzzled, as he noticed only one egg in the carton. His inquiry was quickly answered when he saw Kanzaki and Shiroyama each holding an egg.
Natsume suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart…
"Hmph! Break three eggs, right? Watch and learn—I'll do it with one hand!" Kanzaki boasted, his usual cocky grin on his face as he positioned one hand over the metal bowl.
Natsume's concern proved real as he watched Kanzaki pinch the egg with too much force as the egg yolk, whites, and shell sprayed into the bowl and across the table, making a big mess. Kanzaki's confident expression quickly turned to panic. "OH, CRAP!"
Shiroyama scratched his head in confusion. "Uh, boss, I don't think it's meant to be done with one hand. Maybe we should use both—like this." He attempted to crack the egg using both hands, but with too much pressure, it shattered as messily as Kanzaki's attempt. "AH, MAN!"
Natsume sighed, watching his teammates fumble with such a simple task. They both looked away, embarrassed. "Well, let's clean this up. We don't have any more eggs to waste, " he said as he grabbed a pair of chopsticks and began fishing out the broken shells from the bowl. Kanzaki and Shiroyama quickly followed Natsume's action in silence.
After a few minutes, Kanzaki wiped the sweat from his forehead and grinned. "All right, we got all the pieces of shell out."
"We made a mess, but we'll be okay," Shiroyama added, smiling confidently as he turned to the blackboard for the next step. "The recipe says we need to add some flour… but how much is 'some'?" he asked, his voice rising with nervousness as he looked to Kanzaki for an answer.
Kanzaki blinked, troubled by the sudden question from his loyal subordinate. "Uh… I don't know… How about three pinches of flour?" Natsume's eyes widened in disbelief at Kanzaki's suggestion. 'Three pinches? Seriously? Be bolder, boss!' he thought, stifling a sigh. But Shiroyama eagerly accepted the answer. "I think you're right, boss! You're so smart!"
Kanzaki, though bewildered at first, quickly embraced the unexpected praise. "Hmph! Of course! Such a simple question is an insult to my intelligence! I just needed a moment to use my big brain, and voilà, problem solved!"
"As expected of the boss! Now, let's see what's next," Shiroyama said as he and Kanzaki returned to the blackboard. Meanwhile, Natsume quietly added more flour behind their backs, feeling like he was carrying two noobs, but at least they weren't doing it intentionally.
"So… 'some' sugar again, huh?" Shiroyama muttered to himself, snapping his fingers in sudden realization. Without a second thought, he grabbed the bag of sugar from the table and, without hesitation, dumped all the contents into the bowl.
Natsume's eyes widened in horror. 'You think three pinches of flour is enough, but then you add an entire bag of sugar for 'some'?' He pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. He had been looking forward to enjoying these crepes, but now he could only say goodbye.
Without a second thought, Natsume quickly snatched the bowl from their hands and grabbed a ladle, desperately trying to scoop out the excessive amount of sugar. As he was focused on damage control, a whole stick of butter suddenly plopped into the bowl, startling him.
"Butter?!" Natsume exclaimed, looking up in confusion at Shiroyama.
Shiroyama noticed Natsume's shocked expression and patted his chest confidently. "Don't worry, Natsume. The recipe says to add some butter, so I figured one stick should do the trick."
"Wait! Shiroyama! You idiot! It says melted butter!" Kanzaki shouted, pointing furiously at the blackboard.
"Ah! Did I mess up again?! What do we do now?!" Shiroyama cried out, completely panicking. Kanzaki scratched his chin in thought until a lightbulb moment hit him, and he snapped his fingers.
"I've got it!" Kanzaki announced with a triumphant grin.
"What's the plan, boss?" Shiroyama asked eagerly.
"Simple! We'll melt the butter by putting the bowl in the microwave!" Kanzaki declared, already moving to shove the metal bowl into the microwave. He quickly punched in the numbers, ignoring the wide-eyed expression on Natsume's face.
"Guys, wai—" Natsume started to shout, but it was too late.
**BOOM**
[...]
Ryuga stood before Shiroyama and Kanzaki, now kneeling on the ground, their heads hung low in shame. Their teacher's fierce gaze felt like a heavy weight pressing down on them, and the other students' snickers only deepened their humiliation. But under Ryuga's stern watch, they had no choice but to swallow their pride.
"Explain," Ryuga commanded, his tone icy.
Shiroyama and Kanzaki bowed even lower, their foreheads nearly touching the floor.
"We are deeply sorry for our stupid actions!" they shouted in unison, their voices filled with regret as Ryuga pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep his composure.
"Whatever… just don't cause any more problems. Got it?" Ryuga said with a sigh. Both Kanzaki and Shiroyama nodded vigorously.
"Good. Now, everyone, back to your stations! We don't have much time left!" Ryuga ordered, and the class quickly dispersed, returning to their cooking stations.
Kanzaki sulked, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "How was I supposed to know you shouldn't put metal in a microwave?"
Shiroyama nodded emphatically. "Right?! There should be a warning or something! How are we supposed to know these things?!"
Natsume, standing nearby, couldn't help but shake his head with a mix of exasperation and amusement. 'These two really are hopeless…'
As the class resumed cooking, Kanzaki and Shiroyama returned to their station, determined to avoid any more blunders. Natsume, still wary, kept a close eye on them.
"All right, boss," Shiroyama said, scanning the blackboard. "Next, we need to add some milk."
"Easy enough," Kanzaki replied, reaching for the milk carton. He poured it into the bowl without measuring. "That should do it."
Natsume glanced over, noticing that Kanzaki had poured almost half the carton into the mix. His eyes widened in alarm. "Uh, Kanzaki… that might be too much."
"Nah!" Kanzaki waved him off. "You can never have too much milk. It'll just make the crepes better!" Natsume sighed, knowing it was impossible to argue with his boss. "Just… make sure you whisk it well," he suggested, hoping to mitigate the damage.
"Heh… Don't worry, I'm very confident in my strength!" grinned Kanzaki as he flexed his arm muscle. "Let me show you boys! AHHHHHHHHH MIX ITTTT!" Kanzaki grabbed the whisk and began stirring the batter vigorously. Shiroyama watched in awe at Kanzaki's mighty strength and charisma. But as Kanzaki whisked, the mixture started slipping out of the bowl, splattering onto the table and floor.
"BOSS! IT'S FLYING EVERYWHERE!" Shiroyama exclaimed, trying to shield himself from the flying batter. Meanwhile, Natsume crouched on the floor, his arms blocking his head and sighed. He honestly should have expected that to happen.
"Oops… I don't even know my full strength," Kanzaki admitted, slowing down but still sending the occasional splash out of the bowl.
Natsume grabbed a towel and started wiping up the mess, muttering under his breath. "At this rate, we'll have no batter left…" Once the mixing was finally under control, Shiroyama took the next step. "All right, we're supposed to cook the crepes now. Let's get this pan heated up."
He turned on the stove and turned the heat up to high. "The hotter the pan, the faster the crepes cook, right?"
Natsume's eyes widened. "Wait, no—"
But Shiroyama had already poured a large ladleful of batter into the scorching hot pan. Within seconds, the batter sizzled violently, burning at the edges and sticking to the pan.
Kanzaki smacked Shiroyama's head angrily. "STUPID! YOU ARE WASTING THE PANCAKE!"
"AHHH! I'M SORRY!" Shiroyama cried as he tried to flip the crepe, but it was too late. The batter was a burnt, sticky mess that refused to budge. "It's STUCK!"
Kanzaki frowned, grabbing a spatula. "Let me try." He jabbed at the crepe with the spatula, but it only tore the half-burnt, half-raw mess into pieces. Natsume, exasperated, stepped in. "You've got to lower the heat! And use oil to grease the pan first!" Kanzaki and Shiroyama exchanged sheepish looks as Natsume turned off the stove, dumped the ruined crepe into the trash, and wiped down the pan.
"Okay, let's try this again," Natsume said, taking the lead. He poured some oil into the pan and set the stove to medium heat. "Now, let's wait until the pan is evenly heated before pouring the batter."
As they waited, Shiroyama glanced at the toppings on the table. "What should we put on our crepes, boss? We've got fruit, chocolate, and… OH! Whipped cream!"
He reached for the can of whipped cream and shook it vigorously. "I'll make sure there's plenty for all of us."
But as Shiroyama pressed the nozzle, the whipped cream shot out in a wild stream, splattering across the counter, the stove, and even Natsume's face.
"SHIROYAMA?!" Kanzaki roared, wiping whipped cream from his eyes. He stared angrily at Shiroyama with pure, killing eyes. Shiroyama froze, the can still in his hand, wide-eyed. "Uh… I disagree that it's my fault, boss! I swear! The tip was stuck!"
Natsume stifled his laugh as he didn't want to incur the wrath of Kanzaki on himself. "Well, at least we know there's whipped cream for us to use." Natsume, barely holding back a laugh, shook his head. "Okay, let's clean this up and focus. We've got one last chance to get this right."
Unfortunately, despite Natsume's best efforts to salvage the crepes, time ran out, and the trio was left with nothing but a pile of burnt or mystery food x. Kanzaki fell to his knees, a dark cloud of despair looming over him. Shiroyama, on the other hand, was on the verge of tears, guilt-ridden for failing to make a delicious crepe for his beloved boss.
"I... I don't feel so good, Shiroyama," Kanzaki muttered, his voice heavy with defeat.
"I'm sorry, boss... I've failed you!" Shiroyama wailed, tears streaming down his face.
As the two wallowed in their misery, Natsume approached, carrying three slices of crepe on a small plate. Their eyes widened in surprise as Natsume explained, "Ryuga-sensei gave us these slices as a reward for our effort, even though things didn't go as planned."
Kanzaki and Shiroyama were momentarily stunned, but then, overwhelmed with emotion, they both burst into tears of gratitude. They eagerly took their slices from Natsume and, with trembling hands, took a bite. The moment the crepe touched their tongues, it was as if they had been transported to a heavenly realm. The sweet, delicate flavours melted away their disappointment, replacing it with pure bliss.
Kanzaki, eyes glistening, gazed across the room at Ryuga with newfound reverence. "Ryuga-sensei… You are truly the 'Yogurty God,' descended to the mortal realm to bless us with your divine culinary gifts."
Shiroyama nodded fervently, wiping away his tears. "I swear, Sensei, I'll follow you to the ends of the Earth! Your crepes are proof that there's still hope for us!"
Natsume couldn't help but chuckle at their dramatic reactions. "Maybe this cooking class wasn't a total loss after all."
***
[A/N]: An episode of Saiki K heavily inspired the last part.