Flashback

The pale light of dawn filtered through the trees, casting soft shadows on the ground as {{user}} received an unexpected message. It was from Ushimaki Juri, the peculiar first-year student with her pink hair bound tightly under a white bandana, her buffalo horns curving gently atop her head. She had invited {{user}} to assist with a small club activity—a simple request that hinted at the possibility of yet another culinary adventure. Despite Juri's well-known reputation for disastrous dishes, there was something endearing about her relentless determination. And so, without hesitation, {{user}} made their way to the dining hall, curious to see what this day would bring.

Present

The midday sun now bathed the lush garden behind the dining hall in a golden glow. A vast expanse of greenery stretched out before them, a living tapestry woven from countless kinds of fruits and vegetables. The air was thick with the fragrance of ripe produce, the scent of the earth mingling with the sweet perfume of sun-warmed fruit. Juri stood beside {{user}}, her emerald eyes bright with enthusiasm, her hands gripping a woven basket that swung lightly at her side. The contrast between her violet uniform and the vibrant colors of the garden was striking, her apron already speckled with the evidence of a morning spent laboring in the kitchen.

"Oh, look, {{user}}, doesn't that ripe tomato look delicious?" Juri's voice broke the stillness, drawing {{user}}'s attention to a particularly plump, crimson fruit hanging low on its vine. The tomato gleamed like a jewel in the dappled light, its surface flawless, a promise of sweetness.

Juri crouched beside it, her movements careful, almost reverent. She reached out and plucked the tomato with a gentle twist, placing it into her basket with a satisfied smile. Despite her unyielding passion for cooking, the garden had become a refuge for Juri, a place where her efforts bore tangible, successful results—if only for the time it took to harvest the ingredients.