"Very well, since no one seems to have any objections, let's begin our class."
Looking at the incredibly quiet classroom, Shizuka nodded in satisfaction and started today's lesson.
"Next, please turn to page twenty-five, and today we'll be learning..."
Shizuka, standing at the podium, diligently went through the textbook.
Not to mention, despite her somewhat difficult personality, she was quite engaging while teaching, often using examples and comparisons from real life to make the content more relatable.
Her engaging teaching style quickly made the students forget the earlier incident, and they started interacting with her.
Although the classroom atmosphere was lively, Hachiman wasn't particularly interested. Instead, he found himself gazing out of the window, feeling somewhat bored.
With his Level 3 learning module, he belonged to the category of academic superstars who could learn something just by casually glancing at it. There was no need for him to study diligently.
However, Shizuka, standing at the podium, noticed Hachiman's distracted state with a few # symbols metaphorically popping up on her forehead.
She thought to herself, "I'm working so hard up here at the podium, and this kid dares to not pay attention properly."
Clearing her throat, Shizuka spoke up, "Ahem, next, I'd like to invite a student to answer what hidden meanings are behind this passage."
Upon hearing her words, the previously lively classroom fell silent.
Many academically inclined students had eager expressions on their faces, eager to demonstrate their knowledge in front of the entire class.
Shizuka pretended to sweep her gaze across the room, and eventually, her eyes settled on Hachiman, a subtle smirk forming on her lips.
Sensing her gaze, Hachiman had a sinking feeling in his heart.
"Hey, hey, what's going on? I haven't done anything today, and I don't think I've offended you, have I?" Hachiman inquired.
As expected, Shizuka took the opportunity to speak.
"Well then... let's have Hachiman-kun answer this question."
With no way to avoid it, Hachiman reluctantly stood up and opened his textbook.
When he read the sentence chosen by Shizuka, he felt a sense of familiarity.
It was an excerpt from a famous Japanese literary work "Norwegian Wood" about a young man experiencing emotional turmoil after his wife left him.
**Excerpt:** "Toru Okada, a young man living in Tokyo, finds himself in a state of emotional turmoil after his wife suddenly leaves him. As he navigates the complexities of his own emotions, he meets a mysterious and enigmatic woman named Naoko. Their encounters lead him on a journey of self-discovery and healing."
**Question:** What is the main emotional challenge faced by the protagonist, Toru Okada, at the beginning of the story, and how does it impact his life?
Fortunately, with his Level 3 writing module and his excellent literary background, he easily concocted a suitable answer.
"At the beginning of the story, Toru Okada faces emotional turmoil and distress due to his wife's sudden departure. This emotional challenge leaves him feeling lost and disoriented, unsure of how to move forward with his life. It sets the stage for his encounters with Naoko and his subsequent journey of self-discovery and healing as he grapples with his own emotions and searches for meaning and connection in his life."
Listening to his answer, Shizuka raised an eyebrow, somewhat impressed. She didn't expect this kid to have such a strong literary foundation.
Her plan didn't succeed, and Shizuka felt a bit disappointed.
She had intended to give him a good scolding in her office after class if he couldn't answer correctly.
Unfortunately, her plan fell through.
"You answered well; you can take your seat."
"Just as Hachiman-kun said, the author's intention at the time was..."
As a Japanese language teacher, Shizuka had some expertise and proceeded to elaborate further based on Hachiman's answer.
After this little episode, the rest of the class proceeded without any issues. Time flew by, and lunch break quickly arrived.
"Ah~~" Hachiman stretched lazily, loosening up his somewhat stiff body from having been hunched over all morning.
"Zaimokuza, want to grab lunch together?" He turned around, intending to invite Zaimokuza to have lunch with him, but he realized that the guy had disappeared.
He had even thought about sharing some of the bento with him, but since he was gone, Hachiman decided to eat alone.
He took out two bento boxes and chose to go to the rooftop to have his meal.
Climbing the stairs and opening the rooftop door, he surveyed the empty area.
The rooftop had an expansive view, and Hachiman nodded in satisfaction.
Sitting on a bench, he opened the two bento boxes.
First was the bento from Yui, and the dishes were similar to the previous one, but this time, there was a pink heart shape in the middle of the rice.
It was clear that Mrs. Yuigahama had put a lot of effort into it, probably thinking that Hachiman wouldn't realize that it wasn't handmade by Yui.
Perhaps she believed he would assume that Yui had prepared it.
However, Mrs. Yuigahama had never expected that her naive daughter had already spilled the beans.
Not only did she openly admit that her cooking skills were poor, but she also revealed that her mother made the previous bento.
After examining Yui's bento, Hachiman opened Kotonoha's.
As expected of a refined lady, it was much more delicate compared to Yui's bento.
Chicken nuggets, steak, tempura fried shrimp, onsen tamago (soft-boiled egg), and even a small portion of vegetable salad, with rice replaced by rice balls.
Looking at the two bento boxes, Hachiman's appetite couldn't be held back any longer.
"I'm digging in." He silently declared in his mind, picking up his chopsticks.
He picked up a piece of steak and put it in his mouth, savoring the tender texture that burst with flavor.
This texture must be A5-grade beef, truly fitting for a well-off family's daughter.
The Japan Meat Grading Association categorizes beef based on yield grades of A, B, and C.
They further divide it into five numerical grades based on factors like "fat marbling," "meat color," "meat firmness and texture," and "fat color and quality," with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest.
In this context, A5-grade beef is indeed considered the highest-quality beef.
Taking a bite of the steak, accompanied by black pepper sauce, the tender beef provided an immense culinary delight.
Having sampled the steak, Hachiman shifted his focus to the onsen tamago (hot spring egg).
Although both were boiled eggs, they differed in that the onsen tamago had its egg whites semi-solidified and the yolk not entirely set.
Onsen tamago is prepared by cooking eggs at a temperature of 60-70 degrees Celsius, allowing the yolk to slightly thicken while the egg whites remain partially liquid, forming a white, creamy texture. This is what makes it an onsen tamago.
Typically, onsen tamago only needs a drizzle of soy sauce to be enjoyed, making it a simple yet delicious dish.
Just as Hachiman was about to dive into the onsen tamago, the rooftop door was once again pushed open.