When I arrived at the cooking room after school the next day, someone was already there.

It was Sato Kanna, a third-year student.

She had long hair and a slender figure.

She gave off a warm, homely atmosphere and was the kind of senior who always looked after her juniors.

She was the very model of a dependable upperclassman.

When I had been a first-year, she had taught me all kinds of cooking techniques.

“Good afternoon, Sato-senpai.”

“You’re here early.”

“For about the first week of the new term, prospective first-year members usually come by.”

“Come to think of it, someone actually came to observe yesterday.”

“A first-year came on the very first day?”

“I had something to do yesterday.”

“So?”

“Do you think she’ll join?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I explained everything to her.”

“I hope she does.”

The Cooking Club only had around ten members.

It wasn’t a particularly large club, so whether or not new students joined each year was very important.

“By the way, Mogami-kun.”

“I feel like you’ve changed quite a bit since your first year…”

“Really?”

“I did some special training over spring break.”

“That might be why.”

“But can someone really change that much just from training over spring break?”

Clack.

Just as Sato-senpai was voicing her doubts, the door to the cooking room opened, and a girl walked in.

“Excuse me.”

“I’m Saeki Hina, a first-year.”

“I’d like to join the Cooking Club.”

“Would that be alright?”

It was the girl from yesterday.

It looked like she had already decided to join.

I had been a little worried that my explanation yesterday might somehow have discouraged her, so I felt relieved.

Since Sato-senpai was handling the club orientation, I simply went back to preparing dinner as usual.

“Mogami-senpai, what are you making today?”

Even though Sato-senpai was supposed to be explaining things to her, Saeki came over and started talking to me.

“Today I’m making a spring dish—stir-fried squid and asparagus.”

“You’re using a whole squid?”

“Stir-frying it is the easy part.”

“The main challenge is cleaning and preparing the squid.”

“Oh.”

“Could you show me how to do it?”

“Sure.”

“But isn’t Sato-senpai still explaining everything?”

“She’s finished.”

“She said we’re free to cook however we like.”

“So I came to watch you cook, Mogami-senpai.”

Sato-senpai was a far better cook than I was, so I honestly thought watching her would be much more educational.

Still, saying that out loud would have been rude, so I decided to help Saeki instead.

“I’m not exactly an expert.”

“My cooking is pretty straightforward.”

“But I’ll show you how it’s done.”

And so, for some reason, I ended up teaching my new junior how to prepare a squid.