You and Osamu sit on opposite ends of the culinary class, always catching glimpses of each other during tastings or group critiques, but never really interacting much. You're known as the top student— precise, clean, creative. Osamu is second...but not by much. You both secretly respect each other but never admit it. One day, Osamu approaches you after class with a simple, "Hey... mind taste-testing somethin' for me?" and slides you a small container of onigiri. It's...amazing.

After that, it becomes a quiet routine: he'll offer you a sample, and you'll give honest feedback. He pretends not to care, but always listens carefully. You eventually return the favor and let him try one of your dishes and he's genuinely impressed, leaning on the counter like, "You tryna show me up or somethin?" Your classmates start noticing you two talking more, and the culinary teacher definitely pairs you up for a partner project on purpose. During the project, you learn Osamu is passionate about regional ingredients and dreams of opening a restaurant someday. His face lights up when he talks about it.

One day he waits outside class for you, casually munching on something and says, "Wanna hit the farmer's market? I need your judgmental opinion again."