Master Chef ― Leona Version
～ Let’s Make Pannacotta 1～
Ghost Chef: Today, we'll have you make a pannacotta. It's a dessert that's made by hardening milk using gelatin.
Ghost Chef: Dessert required more delicate handling than any other aspect of cooking.
Ghost Chef: There are many ways to make mistakes when making it, including baking it too long, measuring out the ingredients wrong, or even mixing up the order of the ingredients added, so don't let your guard down.
Leona: Yaaaawn…
Ghost Chef: EXCUSE ME, LEONA-KUN!
Leona: Huh?
Ghost Chef: Don't yawn at me like that. Were you listening to my explanation?
Leona: Of course I was. I got pretty good hearing. Basically, all I have to do is follow the recipe and everything'll work out fine, right?
Ghost Chef: I-I mean… That may be… Ahem! Then, I shall go through the recipe.
Ghost Chef: Then first, can you go fetch the ingredients for the pannacotta? You'll need milk, fresh cream, sugar―
Leona: Wait. I'm already taking up your precious time having you teach me how to cook this, having you explain every step is much too gracious.
Leona: If you just hand me the recipe in the beginning here, I'm sure I won't have to bother you too heavily, Chef.
Ghost Chef: Eh, the recipe? Normally we don't give it out right away…
Ghost Chef: But if you're thinking of me that much, I suppose I can give you a spare recipe sheet. Thank you for your kind concern!
Leona: Yeah, sure, thank you, too. Okay, then…
Epel: Um, sorry to interrupt. I would like to grab some of my ingredients out of that fridge.
Leona: Ah, good timing, Epel. Grab my ingredients out of there, too.
Epel: Yes, sir.
Leona: I'll read off the ingredients. I need milk, fresh cream, sugar, powdered gelatin, vanilla beans, and fruit for the garnish.
Epel: First, I'll grab the milk and fresh cream… Are you okay with using apples for your fruit?
Leona: You gotta peel and slice apples, so it's a pain. I'd rather just have something that you can just eat right away…
Ghost Chef: STOP, STOP, WHY ARE YOU ORDERING AROUND EPEL SO CASUALLY!? THIS IS YOUR ASSIGNMENT!
Leona: There's less chance of a mistake if I leave it to the more experienced Epel, right? 'Sides, nowhere does it say that I have to prep my own ingredients.
Ghost Chef: You always have an excuse… This is your assignment, Leona-kun, so you need to work on it yourself and not have others do it!
Ghost Chef: We've had many a student who've tried to cut corners in this course, but this is the first time someone has tried to shove his work onto someone else.
Epel: Ahahah, Leona-san's always like this. I'll leave your milk and fresh cream here.
Ghost Chef: Alright, let's go, we'll start cooking now! AND OF COURSE THAT MEANS YOU, LEONA-KUN! YOU!
Leona: ―This says to throw the pods in with the milk after shelling out the vanilla beans…
Ghost Chef: That's right. Vanilla beans are wonderful on their own, but if you add their pods, the aroma grows richer.
Leona: Huh, then, I'll just leave these pods out, then. You can use them for another dish.
Ghost Chef: I know you just don't want to have to fish them out of the bowl later. I'm picking up on your mannerisms fairly quickly…
Ghost Chef: Turn the heat off right before the milk starts to boil. Keep an eye on the pot and time it well.
Leona: So, I just have to watch the pot. Easy day.
Ghost Chef: Don't get complacent and mess this part up.
Leona: Mess it up, huh. Must be super sensitive if the temperature of the milk can throw off the whole thing.
Ghost Chef: Just so. When it boils, fat and oil rise to the surface, and it releases a very distinctive smell.
Leona: Hmph. It's like I'm taking a potionology class.
Ghost Chef: By the way… You said that you were just taking this class for the credit, but do you have any interest in cooking at all?
Leona: Sorry, but no. I wouldn't have even taken this class if I hadn't heard that one of my precious juniors would be taking it.
Ghost Chef: What a simple response… Well, I know I would be nothing less than happy if you were to gain a little interest in cooking from this venture.
Leona: I'll do my best so as to not upset your expectations.
Ghost Chef: You say that, but your face is screaming that it'll never happen…
Leona: Well, I never wanted to ever cook anything, so.
Leona: The fact that I've never had an issue up to this point in my life means that cooking isn't a skill I really need at all.
Ghost Chef: Hmmm, so you're definitely the type of student that the Headmage was worried form.
Leona: Crowley, worried? …Riiight, that thing he said about living healthy and independently. It's all much ado about nothing.
Leona: Everyone has things they're good at, and bad at. For each person and each job to be efficiently managed, have someone who wants to do it, or can get it done.
Leona: It would be absolutely terrible if everyone got so good at cooking that you were out of a job.
Ghost Chef: Yes, yes… Regardless, I'll need you to do your given tasks properly during this course. To begin with…
Leona: Chef, thousand apologies for interrupting you, but looks like the milk has been warmed up to the right temp.
Leona: It'd be bad for me to mess up here. Can we get to finishing this now?
Part 2
[Kitchen]
Master Chef ― Leona Version
～ Let’s Make Pannacotta 2～
Ghost Chef: Next, we want to dissolve the gelatin we left soaking in the water.
Leona: Feels like it'd dissolve if we just threw it in the pot like this… What's the point of heating it up separately?
Ghost Chef: The temperature at which the gelatin dissolve is also important to keep an eye on. For this, we'll use a method that's easier for beginners.
Leona: An easier method, hm…
Ghost Chef: Good, good, you're following the recipe well. I'll go and fetch the fruit you'll use to garnish the plate, then.
Leona: …
Ghost Chef: How is it, has the gelatin completely dissolved into liquid?
Leona: Yeah, see?
Ghost Chef: Alright then, add the melted gelatin into the pot. Once it's all mixed, you'll pour it into the mold and wait for it to solidify.
Leona: Finally, it's almost over. Can't believe it takes this much effort to just make one measly dessert…
Ghost Chef: Okay, while we wait for the pannacotta to solidify, let's make a sauce out of the blueberries.
Leona: A sauce? If we add in too many random things, you won't be able to taste the pannacotta.
Leona: Even the recipe only said, "add enough fruit for garnish."
Leona: I'm just gonna choose some toppings that'll bring out the flavor. So, I'll be skipping out on the sauce.
Ghost Chef: I see, I see… Wait, no! I almost went along with it, but we're definitely not skipping the sauce!
[Cafeteria – Judging Venue]
Floyd: Where's the pannacotta I ordered? Isn't this takin' too long?
Floyd: How long does it even take to fix up one dessert? This wouldn't happen at the Mostro Lounge.
Leona: I thought I heard something annoying out here… So, Floyd's my judge.
Floyd: Ohhh? If it isn't Sea Lion-senpai. That outfit… No way, you're actually taking the Master Chef course?
Leona: You have eyes, don't you? Don't ask stupid questions.
Floyd: Huuuh, so I'm about to eat something you made? Is it safe? Didja even make anything edible?
Leona: You're the one that's gotta decide whether it's edible or not. Here, the pannacotta you ordered.
Floyd: Hm? Isn't it a little deformed on the bottom there? …Meh, whatever. I'ma dig in.
[bite, chew, chew…]
Floyd: HUH? WHAT'S THIS SUPPOSED TO BE?
Floyd: THE TEXTURE'S TERRIBLE. THIS IS HILARIOUS! TOTALLY FELT WEIRD AS SOON AS THE SPOON SLID INTO IT, TOO.
Floyd: All's you gotta do to make a pannacotta is mix all the ingredients in and harden it. How can anyone screw it up this badly?
Leona: …
Ghost Chef: Ummm… Well, actually…
―While cooking
Leona: I was wondering what kinda frustrating fiddlin' I'd have to do here, since there's something about wattage and the number of seconds, or whatever, but…
Leona: There's this handy button labeled "Auto" here.
Leona: That probably means that if I press this, then it'll determine the perfect power and heat time.
[clack! beep! vrrraaaah...]
Leona: …'Kay, good enough.
Ghost Chef: ―So, when he used the automatic function, it looks like he overcooked the gelatin…
Floyd: SEA LION-SENPAI, YOU TELLIN' ME YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO USE A MICROWAVE OVEN!?
Floyd: You only use auto when you wanna heat up a dish, not get the gelatin dissolved into a perfect consistency.
Floyd: THAT JUST MAKES THIS SCREW UP EVEN BETTER～～!
Leona: Tch… Stop laughing like an idiot. You think it's that funny? Huh?
Floyd: Yuuup, it's way too funny. I thought all you people on land could use a microwave.
Leona: …Ruggie said something like that before, too. Something about "even kids know how to use them," and "it's just common sense."
Leona: Back home and here on campus, we have chefs that present hot meals every day.
Leona: That's the life I've always had. So, you can imagine that I've never had the chance to use a microwave, don't you think?
Floyd: Haha, what, are ya making excuses now? You should just admit when you can't do something like a good boy.
Ghost Chef: Well, Leona-kun was very skillful and quick on his feet.
Ghost Chef: I'm sure he'll take this failure in stride and be able to use the microwave properly next time. Right, Leona-kun?
Leona: Right… Just as you say, chef.
Leona: This is a prime opportunity for me, so I would absolutely appreciate a deeper focus on learning how to use a microwave for the rest of this course.
Jack: That guy's pretty amazing. He's getting better and better at surfing every time I see him.
Azul: Pbbft augh! And here I am doing everything I can to just stand on my board…
Jack: You need to work on your posture. Push your center of gravity in the direction you want to go without overdoing it.
Azul: Your advice is very rational and helpful, Jack-san. Floyd's relies too much on feeling.
Jack: Hm… …It's starting to get dark. We should probably leave the waters.
Azul: Yes, I agree. Floyd! We'll be heading back to the cottage soon!
Floyd: Ehh ～～～ Already?
Azul: It will be difficult to discern anything in the ocean at night. It's far too dangerous for us, especially now that we cannot transform back into our original mer-form.
Floyd: Fiiiine… Tch. I'm not done havin' fun, though. I wonder if there's anything we can do for fun at night around here.
Jack: At night, hm… Well, this is an uninhabited island, so it's pitch black at night. We'd only have the moonlight to do anything by. It'd be pretty impossible to do stuff outside.
Azul: Then, shall we create some kind of simple board games or card games to play inside with?
Floyd: Ehh～ Board games and card games can be done during the day, and we can play them anytime back on campus, too. That's not what I'm talking about…
Floyd: I wanna do somethin' fun that I can only do at night on this island, somethin' that's all bam and wheew and awesome!
Azul: There you go again with trying to describe it irrationally…
Floyd: Hmmm～ …AH! I GOT IT!
Floyd: Hey, hey, Azul. There's something I want you to show me how to do…
Part 2
[Uninhabited Island – Near Spaceship]
Floyd: Stitch～ you there?
Stitch: ?
Floyd: So hey, can I have some of the leftover parts that you're not usin' to fix up your spaceship with?
Stitch: Ye.
Floyd: Hmm, so I wanna grind up all this metal into dust… Can you do that for me, Stitch?
Stitch: Rock and roll!
[shaka, shaka, shaka, shaka, shaka!!]
Floyd: Woah, awesome! Man, you really can do anything. You reduced a bunch of different parts to dust lickety-split.
Floyd: Mmkay, then it's Dr. Floyd's Experimentation Time～
Floyd: First, I'll start with this powder… Oh, I got green sparks!
Floyd: From this powder, I got red sparks, and this one over here gets me purple.
Floyd: And then using that rotten smellin' mud from the hot springs… I'll put it on this stick I dried… Like this…
Floyd: Aha, it's lookin' good! I'm a genius ♪
Stitch: ???
Floyd: You curious what I'm making, Stitch? This is what we call a "Flying Jellyfish."
Floyd: Uhhh, what did they call 'em on land, again? Oh, right, fireworks! Do you know what fireworks are?
Stitch: Yeah!
Floyd: Oh, are you gonna help me make some fireworks? Thanks～
Floyd: Back when we were kids, me and Jade would go up to the coastline to check 'em out. Ah, and when I say Jade, I'm talking about my brother.
Stitch: Ohana!
Floyd: Hm? Jade's not whatever that is. He's the same moray eel merman like me.
Stitch: ???
Floyd: Didn't I tell you? I'm a merman. Before I came to school, I lived in the ocean my whole life.
Floyd: And like, back in elementary school, we'd sneak up to the surface and watch the fireworks.
Floyd: My pops and mama always told us that it was dangerous for us kids to go by ourselves, so we shouldn't go near it.
Stitch: Grrr, rargh!
Floyd: Hmm? Oh, it's nothing like that. That whole thing where the humans and merfolk were afraid of each other is stuff from a long, long time ago.
Floyd: Folks've been comin' and goin' between the land and sea for a while now, ever since the mermaid princess married that human prince.
Floyd: But the reason why us elvers were told to stay away from the beaches was 'cause of the dangers of high waves or ebbing tides leavin' us stranded on the shore.
Floyd: The adults can somewhat get back on their own, but it's not that easy for the kids, y'know.
Floyd: There'd be a buncha shop all up and down the coast, too.
Floyd: Kinda like how we did the cottage here, they'd set up shops along the shoreline selling food, or accessories, or whatever.
Floyd: My parents own a few stores like that…
Floyd: But like, those were all stores for adult merfolks. They didn't like us kids goin' in by ourselves.
Floyd: So yeah, me 'n Jade would often go hang out near the beaches without tellin' them.
Floyd: 'Cause, I mean, if someone tells you not to do something, doesn't it just make you want to do it more?
Stitch: Yahahahaha!
Floyd: There's a ton of cool things to find around the shoreline… And the flying jellyfish ―the fireworks― were our favorite thing.
Floyd: It's super amazing to watch fireworks from the ocean.
Floyd: The light from the fireworks light up the dark ocean surface, sparkling like stars…
Floyd: It made me feel like I was swimming in the starry night sky.
Floyd: Oh yeah, you're from space, right, Stitch? That's so cool, I'd love to swim in the starry sky for real someday.
Floyd: I remember when I first came on land, there were a ton of things that new to me, like, strange things and weird people…
Floyd: I bet if I went to space, I'd get to see so many more awesome stuff.
Floyd: 'Cause there's a ton of other aliens like you and Gantu out there, right?
Floyd: Maaan. I bet even if I told him that I met an alien on an uninhabited island, Jade'll never believe me.
Floyd: "Your dreams are overflowing with originality, Floyd," he'd probably say.
Floyd: I know! You should come hang with us at Night Raven College someday, Stitch.
Floyd: You should bring your friends next time, too. I wanna see some crazy weird alien dudes. Like…
Floyd: Maybe an evil genius mad scientist that was the one that made you, or maybe a one-eyed federal agent who likes to wear disguises. Got anyone like that?
Stitch: Yahahahaha!
Azul: Floyd, Stitch-san. There you are. It's almost time for dinner.
Floyd: Eh, already? I got so wrapped up that time flew by so fast.
Azul: How did you do in crafting the firewor… Oh, wow! You've put together quite a lot.
Floyd: All the sticks you see bunched over there are the ones that you showed me how to make, and all these disc-lookin' ones'll spin.
Floyd: And this box over here is my own original creation!
Azul: Fireworks that you yourself put together? It won't explode all of a sudden, right…?
Floyd: It'll be fiiine, don't worry. I pumped a bit of magic into it, too.
Azul: Goodness… Once Floyd decides he wants to do something, his focus shoots through the roof.
Azul: I wish he were more like this during work, as well.
Floyd: After all that excitement, now I'm hungry. Azul, Stitch, can you guys help me carry all the fireworks?
Floyd: We can hide them on the beach and surprise the others later.
Stitch: Yeah!
Part 3
[Uninhabited Island – Cottage]
Lilia: Floyd, Stitch, what's going on? Why are you taking us outside after we all finished eating?
Ace: The further we get from the cottage, the more pitch black it is. Also, why're you makin' me carry this bucket?
Floyd: It's fine, just trust me. Hurry and follow us.
Jack/Riddle/Ace: ???
[Uninhabited Island – Beach]
Floyd: We have arrived～!
Jack: The beach…? No, you better not be thinking of surfing in this darkness.
Floyd: Wrong～ The correct answer is… This!
[Fweeeeeeee…BOOM!]
Everyone: WOOOAH…!
Lilia: What a spectacular fireworks display! Floyd, how did you prepare all this?
Floyd: Me 'n Stitch made them by grinding up the leftover junk parts into powder.
Grim/Ace/Jack: YOU MADE THESE!?
Floyd: Stitch, can you bring out the rest?
Stitch: Ooo!
[thud, thud]
Jack: Woah! All that stuff Stitch just carried out here on his back… Don't tell me those are all fireworks?
Floyd: Yuup～ I wanted to shoot some fireworks on the beach at night, so I spent all my free time today makin' these.
Grim: This is awesome! I bet we can go all night with how many we got here!
Lilia: The long, thin ones are sparklers, I see… But what's this box?
Floyd: That's my original creation.
Floyd: We'll put it over here a little bit away from us, and… Goldfish-chan, give me a light!
Riddle: Don't use people as you would a match, seriously. …Hah!
[Shwaaaaa…!]
Everyone: OOOOHH…!
Floyd: Whaddya think? Isn't it cool with the way it lights up the pitch-black ocean, makin' it all sparkly?
Ace: Floyd-senpai, this is crazy awesome～! You're a genius! Can I try one too?
Floyd: Go ahead. Do as much as you'd like.
Lilia: Ooh! This sparkler's spitting out green sparks. It's just like the Diasomnia colors ♪
Jack: This one's giving off yellow sparks. Amazing, how'd you get different colors?
Riddle: This is my first time playing with fireworks. I just have to hold this end and light the other end, yes?
Azul: We'll often have fireworks placed on top of cakes and parfaits at the Mostro Lounge for celebrations, but…
Azul: It's not a bad change of pace to do it outside like this.
Grim: Nyahaha! I wanna hold one in both hands and set 'em off!
1. I want to try the hand-held fireworks!
2. I want to try the ground fireworks!
[laughing and cheering]
Azul: You were so gung-ho in preparing these, but you haven't touched a single firework at all.
Floyd: Hmm, I just feelin' like watching right now, instead of doin' anything.
Azul: I never took you for one to become so sentimental while watching fireworks.
Azul: Perhaps you're thinking… "If only Jade could see this too?"
Floyd: Huh, why Jade?
Floyd: I mean, I guess I've thought about how he's probably running the Lounge all by himself right now, so when we get back, we're gonna get an earful of complaints, sure.
Floyd: But it's not like I thought anything like, "Wish he was here～"
Floyd: 'Cause I mean, isn't it more fun to do our own thing and then come back with stories to tell?
Floyd: And if we like what we hear, then next time we can go together, and if it sounds boring, then we don't gotta go.
Floyd: It's not like me 'n Jade are the same person, anyway. Like, he just up and got hooked on hiking in the mountains one day and started going off on his own.
Floyd: Doing stuff on our own is way more fun than always doing the same thing together.
Floyd: 'Sides… If we were together all the time 'round the clock, I bet we'd suuuper hate each other’s guts about now.
Floyd: Like, back when we were kids, we'd get into huge fights and beat each other senseless almost every day.
Azul: Your sibling quarrels are really quite dreadful… I was quite shocked the first time I observed it happen.
Floyd: C'mon, we don't fight as much anymore. But that's 'cause we know if we go all out, our lives would be on the line.
Floyd: Eh, but when we do, we still go at it pretty hard.
[multiple fireworks goes off at once]
Riddle: Hey, Stitch! Grim! Don't get so greedy and light all those fireworks at once!
Stitch/Grim: NYAHA～!
Floyd: Ooh, looks like Stitch 'n them are havin' a blast!
Floyd: I think I'm feelin' like joinin' in now ♪
Azul: Heh. “Something fun that can only be done at night on this island, something bam and wheew and awesome”… Right, I see.
Azul: Have you been sated enough with this, Floyd?
Floyd: Eh～? You think I'd be satisfied just doin' this?
Azul: That was foolish of me to ask. I'm certain by tomorrow, you'll be searching for a different stimulus.
Floyd: See, you know me. Wonder what I should do tomorrow?
Floyd: Not every day that we get tossed onto an uninhabited island like this, so.
Floyd: Just so I can make Jade say, "Please take me with you next time" after he hears my stories…
Floyd: I'm gonna play and go wild and do all the stuff I wanna do, and make sure I have so much fun I don't have time to get bored at all ♪
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