The Most Beautiful Girl in School Has Become a Mother - Chapter 26: "Mom's" Neapolitan Spaghetti

How skilled is the cooking of the school’s number one beauty and “mom”? From the way she speaks, it doesn’t seem like she’s bad at it, but what is it really like?

First, she boiled the water in the pot and immediately added the noodles.

“Wait, are you already boiling the noodles?”

“Yeah. Because it’s thick noodles, it takes time.”

Miori showed the pasta package and said.

The cooking time is listed as eleven minutes. Indeed, it is significantly longer than regular pasta.

Since the noodles are two millimeters thick, they are considerably thicker than regular pasta. According to her, thick noodles go well with Neapolitan pasta. Speaking of which, the image of Neapolitan pasta served in restaurants is often associated with thick noodles.

Once the noodles started boiling, the next step was to prepare the vegetables. First, we chopped the garlic, green peppers, shimeji mushrooms, and onions. The knife skills were so impressive that they seemed almost professional to me.

“Alright, I’m going to start making it right away, so just watch.”

“Yes, sensei.”

When I honestly said that, Miori let out a small chuckle.

At this point, just seeing her preparation makes it clear that her cooking skills surpass mine, so I have no choice but to look up to her as a master. Well, I still don’t know if it will taste good or not, though.

She first added minced garlic and olive oil, then turned on the heat and added onions and bacon. It seems that thick-cut bacon works best.

“Hey, what about the bell peppers?”

“I add the bell peppers at the end because I want to keep their texture.”

While lightly adding salt and pepper, the master answers.

Just considering the texture, I can’t help but feel that something absolutely delicious will come out of it.

After that, add the shimeji mushrooms and stir the frying pan.

It seemed that she was quite accustomed to handling the frying pan.

“Do you cook often?”

“Yeah. Maybe since the upper grades of elementary school? I started looking up recipes and making things myself.”

According to Miori, her grandmother wasn’t very good at cooking, and even as an elementary school student, she thought to herself that it would probably be better if she made it herself. After that, it seems she started taking charge of dinner a few times a week.

Perhaps she originally had a natural talent for cooking. Despite cooking almost every day, I show no signs of getting any better.

“Yeah, I think it’s about time…”

After sautéing the vegetables for a while, she added the bell peppers when the onions were about half translucent. Then, she poured in the ketchup.

“Add the ketchup at this timing, okay? We need to get rid of the acidity.”

“I see.”

“So, I’ll add this along with the ketchup.”

After saying that, Miori took something out of the plastic bag.

“Chuno sauce?”

“Yeah. This is Mom’s secret ingredient.”

“Mom’s secret ingredient!”

Did she like the word “secret ingredient”? Shuri repeated “secret ingredient.”

After that, she sautéed it for a while to get rid of the acidity of the ketchup.

“So, finally, I’ll add this. Ta-da!”

What Miori said and took out was honey.

“Are you really putting honey in it?!”

“Yeah. This sweetness brings out a good flavor.”

Miori has a confident look on her face, but I can’t help but have doubts about it.

I can’t shake the feeling that it’s going to be incredibly sweet, but I wonder if it’ll be okay. Personally, I think ketchup is already sweet enough on its own.

Casting a sideways glance at me, who was watching with suspicion, she smoothly drizzled honey into the frying pan.

“Oh… what have I done?”

“Don’t make that desperate face. It’s delicious.”

Miori made a dissatisfied face as she stirred the honey. After tasting a little, she smiled and said, “Hmm, delicious.”

However, even without seeing that face, I could tell this Napolitan was delicious just by smelling it. The good aroma of Napolitan filled our house.

“Hey, let me taste it too.”

“Mom!”

Both Dad and Daughter are grumbling together, but Mom won’t let them eat, saying, “Not yet.” By the way, the way she says “not yet” and the mischievous smile she has when she says it is so cute that it’s almost unbearable—just between us.

Miori added more butter from there, melted it, and continued to stir the frying pan.

──Amazing. It’s completely different from what I made.

I was just impressed.

The way she put in the effort and followed the steps, everything about it was the “way a person who can cook makes food.” It was on a completely different level from how I make things haphazardly. It’s not that she was making anything particularly difficult, but I could sense her unique attention to detail in the finer points.

After that, drain the water from the thick noodles that have been boiled sufficiently, and put them directly into the frying pan.

“Did you memorize the recipe or something?”

“Nope, it’s my original. I tried various things and thought this one was the most delicious.”

Miori answered while tossing the frying pan.

As expected. She was quite the culinary expert.

There is no doubt that this Neapolitan pasta is delicious. I already knew that from the aroma filling this kitchen.

I’m a bit worried about the honey, but seeing this level of skill, I have a feeling it will surely make a good secret ingredient.

“Yes, it’s finished!”

She divided the Neapolitan pasta from the frying pan into three plates and sprinkled Parmesan cheese on top at the end.

It’s nothing less than the Napolitan you get at a set meal restaurant. It’s definitely going to be delicious. Both Tamaki and I were staring at the Napolitan with drool-worthy intensity.

Immediately, we carried it to the dining table, brewed some tea, and the three of us joined our hands together.

“””Let’s eat.”””

The three voices unintentionally overlapped, and we exchanged smiles without thinking.

I wonder… It feels very much like a family.

And finally, the three of us began to eat the Neapolitan made by the school’s number one beauty and “mom.” As we twirled our forks and brought the food to our mouths, we wondered about the taste──

“What is this…?”

“Huh?! Didn’t it suit your taste?”

“Wait… isn’t this too delicious?”

When I paused and said that, Miori relaxed her expression and let out a small sigh, saying, “Geez, don’t surprise me like that.”

“I thought you would say it doesn’t taste good.”

“Sorry, sorry, it was so delicious that I couldn’t immediately come up with a comment.”

“That’s good to hear. What about Shuri-chan?”

Miori asked Shuri, who was silently munching away.

“Mmm~! Mom, you’re amazing! Mom’s Neapolitan pasta is delicious!”

Even Shuri, who loves Neapolitan pasta, is a big fan.

It might be the first time I’ve seen my sister so moved by food.

──She must have been forcing herself to eat the food I make, thinking it probably isn’t delicious.

Thinking about it makes me want to cry. It makes me realize that I need to try a little harder.

Seeing us devour the food, Miori narrowed her eyes and smiled, then took a bite herself and praised, “It’s been a while since I made this, but it’s delicious.”

However, this Napoli-style pasta made by Miori is seriously delicious, no joke. I can tell how good it is the moment I take a bite.

The chewiness of the thick noodles enhances the Napoli-tan flavor, and the sweetness of the ketchup and honey surprisingly pairs well together. It’s a Napoli-tan that makes me crave rice.

And so, we enjoyed Miori’s special Neapolitan pasta.