TV Studio -

The talk-show had been a lively event, with both Pro Heroes and other ' mundane' Celebrities like actors and singers; its host was a bubbly young woman with frizzled red hair and a perennial friendly smile capable of easily putting people at ease.

She was just finishing her latest interview by going through the section she knew her audience loved the most: ' 10 Questions from the Audience' , and she was clearly pleased to see her current ' Guest' take part to this with honest interest, instead of the fake Forced Courtesy many VIPs before him had always used to keep their image safe, even when they were blatantly annoyed by most of those questions.

Said Guest was a tall, imposing man wearing a red and black-colored chef's uniform with striped designs on the middle front and shoulders, a black sash around his waist, a pair of knee-high black boots and a large puffed toque ( chef's hat ), he was also keeping his uniform's collar raised.

He had very chiseled facial features, moderately long white hair which kept braided into a ponytail and a well-kept long pointy beard and mustache, even a faint trace of freckles that had survived his teenage years, but his green eyes held the purest gentleness compared to his otherwise austere aura.

"So you still practice everyday?" the Woman asked, actually impressed.

"Huhuhu! Of course! No matter the age or experience, a professional never stops practicing! And I actually do enjoy it, it helps me feel just a tad younger!" the old Master Chef answered with a low chuckle.

"I visited your restaurant a couple times, and I can testify to it, you are still damn good!" the Host answered, chuckling to herself.

"Oh, I know that! Miso Soup, pork belly cutlet and Karahage...or Donburi, if you have something on your mind." the old man answered, looking at her like a grandfather looking at his favourite niece.

"Y-Y-You remember?!" the woman said, shocked.

"Believe it or not, I remember every single order of my Regular Customers." the Chef answered.

"Wow. B-But I want people at home to know that I don't eat ALL THAT at once, it's either one dish or the other! I do take care of my girlish figure!" she countered with an ashamed expression.

"What's wrong with enjoying food? I am happy you ask for seconds whenever you come visiting my Restaurant!"

"Midoriya-saaaaan!" the woman said with a long, embarrassed whine, and burying her face in her hands as the entire studio was immersed in the laughter of the live audience present.

"Sorry, my dear. I didn't mean to embarrass you." the other replied with a tiny smile surfacing from under his beard.

"You just did, though."

"Again, I apologize."

"Fine! Ready for the tenth and last question?" the Host asked with a childish grumble.

"Ask anything you want."

"Good. This is a question from Miss Takebana, Sakai Prefecture. She would like to know why you decided to become a Chef, and when." the woman asked while reading the question on the giant screen behind them both.

"Huhuhu! That is a good question! You may be surprised to know I made that decision when I was sixteen, right after waking-up from a year long coma...For me...A lot of things changed during that year." the old man answered with a chuckle.

"A Year of coma changed your life?" the woman asked, surprised.

"Yes, you can say I lived an entire different life during that coma, in a sense. And that helped me focus myself on a new dream, one that I knew I could actually turn into reality, and that was becoming a Chef. I believe I can say that I managed it quite well."

"I'd say! Your restaurant is basically Legend nowadays, even Pro Heroes swear high and low when they can't secure a table! But please tell us, do you want to share some details of that Life you said you lived during that dreadful year?" the interviewer asked, chuckling amicably.

"Aaah! Not yet, maybe one day I will, but for now I won't steal more time from you, I risk looking like one of those Grandpas that never shut-up, otherwise!" the Chef answered, equally amused.

"It was a pleasure talking with you instead, sir. Time totally NOT wasted! So please, dear audience, let's give Mister Midoriya a last applause as a thank you for being our Guest today!"

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

As asked, the audience went wild in their applause while saluting the retreating Chef.

"Chef Midoriya, gentlemen! The World's Greatest Chef!" the woman declared one last time before the show took a small pause for the ads to roll-out and give time for the Host to relax before the next Guest's arrival.

" The World's Greatest Chef...That would be a nice story to tell! " the old man thought in amusement as he walked out of the TV Studio and towards the car awaiting for him, his mind returning to that fateful day when he woke-up from his coma and his life changed forever.

Several years ago – Izuku Midoriya, Age: 16 – Musutafu - Hospital -

Inko was over the moon! Her precious baby boy was finally awake! Awake after a long year of coma after that Bast...Son of a bit...Piece of sh…

After the Bakugou brat blasted him away with his Quirk in retaliation for Izuku daring to save his life from a Villain!

Inko really hated cursing, but what Mitsuki's spawn had done to her small ray of sunshine almost guaranteed Inko would have snapped the brat's neck with her bare hands, she didn't though, only because Murder was still a crime, and she didn't want her precious Icchan to one day wake-up and learn his dear mother was in jail for putting-down a rabid Pomeranian.

Mitsuki had apologized for months about her son's behavior, but Inko and Hisashi ( returned from his Business Trip as soon as he learned of the incident) still slapped her, the school and her psychotic son with a restraining order AND the hospital bills AND ruined almost any chance the boy had at entering UA University, now even if the maniac managed to join the Hero School, both Midoriya parents KNEW there wouldn't be a single breath or step Katsuki could take not under the constant watch and utmost scrutiny of the entire university staff.

Assaulting somebody just because he believed that 'The Quirkless Useless Nerd' made him look bad in front of Pro Heroes by saving him from being suffocated by a Villain was not Hero behavior, and many luckily thought the same! Pro Heroes especially since they still struggled everyday to squash any rumor of there being an 'Elitist Quirkist Mentality' that many believed the profession was riddled with.

But all of that was not important now! Now their beloved Izuku was finally awake after one year of coma! Hisashi and Inko were just finishing signing the last of the paperwork that would ensure their boy's release from the hospital as soon as the doctors declared that he was no longer in danger!

"You think he was serious when he asked us to remove all his Hero Merchandise from his room?" Inko asked.

"I don't know, honestly. But when we mentioned how you kept everything clean and proper he looked... Tired of it, somehow? As if those had lost every Magic they held for him." Hisashi answered, unsure.

"Knowing he was Quirkless was a huge blow already, maybe seeing his ' Friend' attack him like that the one time he tried to be a Hero himself simply smashed his dream?" Inko answered.

"You said he looked depressed already, before that animal was attacked by the Villain, maybe something happened even before that incident?"

"He doesn't want to talk about it, he just says he understands he cannot be a Hero." Inko answered, sighing.

"Maybe we can help him find a new dream? A new direction? He is a smart boy, maybe now that he no longer wants to be a hero he can become something else, like a doctor or a lawyer." Hisashi offered.

"W-We?" the woman asked, shocked.

"I...I almost lost him, Inko. WE almost lost him! I-I-I...The last time I saw my son he was a kid! T-To him I was just a voice on the phone until yesterday when he woke up! H-He almost did not recognize me! HIS DAD!" Hisashi answered, eyes overflowing in tears as he cried and hiccuped so hard his body shook.

"You always provided for us, darling." Inko answered, hugging her husband as tightly as she could.

"Yeah, with money!" he spat, bitterly.

"But I was not there when he entered High school! I was not there when the bullying started! What memories does he have of me, uh?! A voicemail and some pictures!" the man said.

" My dad is overseas working. I can easily imagine all the bullshit they said to hurt him, like that I did not love him because of his Quirklessness or that I cheated on you or who knows what else!"

"It's okay, we know you love us. And we love you too." Inko assured him while gently caressing his back in small circles.

"...I...I ask you just another year. Another year to finish this project then I will be back for good. I will ask to be transferred back here to the Musutafu branch. We'll be a proper family, promise!" Hisashi promised.

"Oh, Hisashi! There's no need!"

"Yes there is!" Hisashi insisted.

"Just give your best, it will be enough for us. No matter if you are far away." Inko said with a kind smile.

"Trust me, I will make it happen. I will return to you two." Hisashi answered, eyes ablaze in determination.

At the same time – Izuku's room -

The room had the same sterile-white standardized décor of every other room, down to the exact same pictures hanging from the walls in the exact same positions; and Izuku's room was even more impersonal thanks to the total lack of flowers or get well soon cards, something that disturbed the nurses and doctors present so much THEY actually gave gifts to the boy to liven up the room when he woke.

"Your mom and dad are almost done signing everything, now we just need to make sure you are healthy enough and you will be able to get back home." the gentle nurse said with a kind smile.

"That's nice." Izuku answered, plainly.

"Listen, I know it must hurt to not see your classmates send you anything, but maybe they were waiting for you to wake-up?" the young woman offered.

"…" her only answer was a half-lidded stare that made her face flush red in embarrassment.

Sigh! "I know what you are thinking: ' I am Quirkless, so they don't care. '. And maybe it's true in their case , but not everybody out there is like that! Look at me! I am still here, and not just because it's my job!" the woman said while showing the four arms her Quirk gifted her with.

"Uh-hu."

"There are good people out there, people that don't care if you have a Quirk or not! People that will love and respect you all the same if you give them the chance! Having or not a Quirk is not the be-all-end-all, you can do amazing things if you set your mind to it! Humans did it BEFORE Quirks even existed! Have faith in yourself! I bet you can find hundreds of friends both Quirked and Quirkless that will trust and love you just for who you are, not your Powers! People YOU will be able to love and trust back with no fear!" the nurse said while grabbing his hand in hers to give it a gentle squeeze.

"I really hope so," Izuku answered, sighing.

"Trust me, the world is not a nightmare ready to beat you down." she answered.

Sigh! "Okay."

"Have faith! Good things come to those who work hard." the woman replied while walking away.

"Hey."

"Yes?" she asked, stopping right at the door and turning back to look at him.

"...Can you live an entire different life in a single year?" he asked while looking outside the window with a far-away light in his eyes.

"You mean while in a coma?" the nurse asked.

"Yes."

"It's hard to say. Many say they were fully aware of the world around them but unable to move, others simply said they had a ' Normal dream' like when they slept normally and just woke-up after years while for others everything lasted only an instant...It's complicated enough that there is not a simple answer."

"Oh…"

"So you dreamed of a different life for yourself?"

"Either that or I got Isekaied and just got back home." Izuku answered with a chuckle devoid of any real emotion.

"Considering life is not a Manga, I am more inclined to say it was just a dream." the woman answered, chuckling amicably, and secretly happy to see the boy finally showing her a more genuine smile, albeit minuscule.

"Yeah, then I guess it was just a dream then." he replied, looking down at his hands.

"Can I ask what you were doing during that Life ?" the nurse asked with a gentle smile.

"I was a Chef." the boy answered, simply.

"It's a nice job! You like to cook?"

"I like food, especially Katsudon. Yes, I can say I do like cooking."

"Maybe then it's a sign for a future career?"

"It depends…"

"It doesn't take a Quirk to be a great Chef! Just talent and the will to put in lots of hard work! You can try to see if you have what it takes!"

"A Chef...Can I be one? Do I deserve to be one?" Izuku asked, looking honestly scared.

"Why not? You won't know if you don't try!" the nurse answered, smirking, before walking away.

"I-"

Once a Chef, always a Chef, you fool!

A voice echoed in the boy's ears like a faint whisper, making him jump in fright and look around himself wildly.

"Tha-That voice!" he muttered with wide eyes.

That night he would not sleep at all, every time he tried the same disembodied voice of an old lady he was sure he knew personally would keep berating him.

You and I are chefs! We do not stop being one, ever! We do not retire unless we die! Our destiny is to die in front of a chopping board while cooking and only once the dish is ready, like Froese-sama did! AND YOU KNOW IT!

Then finally, after the third day of continuous visits from the Voice whenever he slept, the dreams too came: memories Izuku desperately kept suppressing in the belief they were just his imagination: his early days in his new life , his first dish, his first apprenticeship then his first restaurant...All he learned, all he did…

And then the rare flashes of what ' The other him' did after Joie used his accursed ' Taste Change' on him to turn him into the guy's puppet, and the pain he caused.

It was not you and you know it!

You would have never done any of that and you know it!

I know the real you! The real Zaus! Who you were before Joie corrupted you!

You want redemption? Then grab the kitchen knife and cook like you used to!

Recover your honor like only a Chef can! By Honoring the Ingredients!

"AAAAAAAAH!" That night Izuku would wake-up screaming, covered in cold sweat, and start crying immediately after while begging for forgiveness over and over.

"Setsuno...I am sorry…" the boy begged in tears.

Then show it, you idiot!

"Uh?!" the boy asked to the empty room once heard the Voice answer with a friendly chuckle for the first time since he started hearing it.

It will also be the last time he ever heard that Voice of the woman the other Him considered his greatest friend and rival.

Three days later -

It was finally the day the doctors deemed Izuku healthy enough to be took back home, the boy had already been helped by his mother to dress and was sitting on a wheelchair his father was pushing, the three of them were even chatting of few inane things when a loud cacophony of curses and screams started echoing in the corridors, coming from right in front of the Hospital entrance.

The cause of the ruckus was a guy with a Quirk turning him into a Tiger-Human hybrid arguing with a guy with a Gorilla Quirk that made his body HUGE and obscenely muscled.

"FUCK YOU!"

"NO, FUCK YOU!"

And the two punks were apparently uninterested in the absurd noise they were making in the middle of the Hospital while they argued about something, although the fact both were covered in bruises suggested they both were in the hospital to finish whatever fight landed them there in the first place.

"What is happening?" Inko asked, scared.

"Apparently the gorilla guy destroyed the tiger guy's new car while parking. The two beat the crap out of each other until they both passed out and were brought here a couple hours ago, and now that they are finally awake, they have started all over again." a nearby doctor answered with a tired voice.

"Shouldn't somebody stop them?" Inko asked.

"Security will be here soon, have patience." the doctor answered, sighing.

Izuku...Did not exactly know what he was doing, but simply following the ' Memories' of his year of coma, he felt compelled to walk towards them and tap the shoulder of the tiger guy, shocking the doctors and his parents by getting-up from the wheelchair with no apparent issues.

Tap! Tap!

"What the fuck do you-" both arguing men started yelling at the same time while turning towards the intruder , when they stopped abruptly.

Because for some reason the kid whose head could barely reach the tiger guy's armpits ( or the Gorilla guy's belly-button) had become in their eyes a giant easily towering over them both as soon as they locked eyes with him.

"This is a Hospital, can you two please go fight somewhere else, Monkey and Cat ? " the boy asked with a calm and yet infinitely-threatening tone.

"YOU LITTLE-"

"KEEP IT DOWN!"

The tirade of the duo died immediately when the kid's booming roar, delivered though with the grace of a King, eclipsed both their voices and made their furs stand-up like they were electrified.

And at hearing his order EVERYBODY IN THE ENTIRE. FUCKING. HOSPITAL . STOPPED BREATHING for a couple seconds.

The boy was standing with his back straight and hands clasped behind him in quite the regal pose and with his eyes narrowed, his hair were even casting a bit of a shadow over those same eyes too.

The most daring abnormality though was that many could swear they saw a glimpse of a giant red-furred gorilla of sort with big boar-like tusks, and enough muscles on its human-like torso and arms to shame a pack of bodybuilders, appear behind him for an instant with shining eyes and a blood-red flaming aura of energy covering its entire body.

"Y-Y-Yo, it's cool man...I-It's cool...W-We are done arguing, yes?" the gorilla guy whimpered with his complexion turning chalk-white in fear.

"Y-Yeah! W-We are sorry if-if we make a scene, Sir! N-No need to get violent, yes? T-This is a hospital after all!" the tiger guy added while nodding violently.

"Good to know! Then please, do take a seat so these gentle nurses can look at your bruises." Izuku answered with a gentle smile, one completely devoid of any threatening intent.

"O-Of course, Sir! No problem, sir!" both punks answered as one and hurrying to sit on the waiting seats with their backs straight and without uttering a sound, but just following the kid's every move with unblinking eyes while sweating heavily.

"Nice! Thank you!" Without another word, the young teen walked back towards the wheelchair and collapsed on it, he too utterly drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

"Icchan? You okay?" Inko asked immediately while kneeling down in front of him to check his now very pale face.

"Y-Yes, I am fine. I am just tired, that is all." he answered with a forced smile.

" Was that Intimidation? How?" the boy thought, feeling overwhelmed by his own confusion.

"Well, whatever you did was kind of foolish, you could not know if they would attack you," Hisashi answered, sighing.

"Sorry, dad."

"It's okay, luckily they calmed down instead of getting violent. Just do not think things will always go this well."

"Of course."

"Very well. Let's go home now, I just recently filled the fridge, I want to celebrate your return, Icchan!" Inko said with a wide smile.

"Okay, mom!"

Later that day – Midoriya Household -

The family of three was just finishing setting the table, with Izuku managing with great effort to talk his parents into letting him help them, even if maybe he did whine a little too childishly for his tastes.

"I am not made of glass, dad!" he said.

"You just got out of the Hospital, please do take it easy." Hisashi answered, frowning a little.

"I will take it easy, promise. But I am used to helping, you know? I like to feel useful."

"I won't deny that, just don't rush."

"Okay, dad."

"Good!" the man answered, showing from where the boy took his ' cinnamon bun smile' from as both father and son matched each other.

"Since you both feel so well, are you up for a small ' Adventure' ?" Inko asked with a teasing smile.

"An adventure, darling?" Hisashi asked, curious.

"Uh-hu! I found a new recipe on the net, do you feel adventurous enough to try it?" she asked.

"That would explain why you insisted on buying that giant wok. Okay!"

"Okay, mom!" Izuku echoed behind his father.

"Good! Let's hope it will be good! This is the first time I'll make it after all!" Inko answered while making a show of rolling-up her sleeve intensely enough to make the two men behind her laugh in amusement.

The recipe looked simple enough, even if the big wok kept sizzling extremely loudly, something that raised an alarm bell in the back of Izuku's head the boy wasn't even aware existed.

And when that burning oil spilled-out after a too-violent twist of Inko's ladle, the entire content caught fire and produced a giant flame followed by a deafening WOOSH! Sound.

"KYAAAH!" The woman had barely the time to jump back and not get burned, slipping on the floor while pulling the wok filled in flaming oil with her.

"INKO!/MOM!" Both Hisashi and Izuku yelled at the same time while hurrying to help her, but while his father managed to grab the woman in a protective embrace that saved her, Izuku peripherally watched the wok fall in slow-motion towards the floor, and he swore he heard the horrified scream that seemed to come from the food in it.

When the thing reached half-way to the floor, and once his instinct told him his mother was actually safe, the young teen moved with a burst of speed that surprised his parents and grabbed the wok's handles and rapidly lifted it to put it back on the fire to start stirring it with the same ladle he took from his mother's hand.

" A bit more salt...Some pepper maybe? The seasoning does need some adjustment! " as if in a trance, the boy tasted the content and started adjusting the seasoning while continuously stirring it, his hands moving fast enough they simply disappeared .

"There should be some beef in the freezer...There it is!" he then muttered, grabbing a knife nearby and managing to cut the still frozen meat without trouble.

"Icchan?" Inko asked, dumbfounded.

"Potatoes...I need potatoes…" The boy mumbled while preparing the tubers, then onions, peas, pepper grains and more at the same time at high speed.

"Son?" Hisashi tried again, just as shocked as his wife.

"The Beef stew is looking good...The mushrooms need to be cut thinner still…"

"Icchan?"

"The tenderloin needs braising...Drats, no red wine!...I'll use sake…Are those strawberries? I know what to do for dessert! Nice!"

"Izuku?"

"This knife is too damn dull! I need to find a Melk here too…"

"Icchan!" Inko called-out, raising her voice.

"The stew is ready, so is the meat...Vegetables are ready too...So are appetizers, first course, salad, dessert and side dish...Everything is-"

"IZUKU!" both his parents yelled at the same time as loud as they could.

"W-What?" The boy uttered while distractedly finishing putting everything in the respective plates.

"...How?!" Hisashi asked with wide eyes.

" How what? Uhu?!" the young teen asked back before finally noticing what he had done and how long he had actually zoned-out.

The kitchen table was now fully stacked in a Full Course Menu for three, every dish worthy of a five-star restaurant in appearance and preparation, the table itself seemed ready to collapse under the weight of the immense quantity of food on it while the scent permeating the house was unbelievably good.

"Did-Did I do this?" he asked.

"Me and your mother were kind of too overwhelmed to do it, so I guess it's a yes!" the man answered, unnerved.

"I was just thinking about how to help?" Izuku tried saying.

"Icchan, you were in a trance, your usual mumbling was there, but in the meantime your body moved. And it was unreal." Inko answered.

"Did I do wrong?" he asked, unsure.

"By nose and eyes I would say No. And since we DID say we needed to celebrate your waking-up and returning home, this would have been the final result all the same. I just did not think YOU would have been the one cooking." Hisashi answered.

"Me neither." Izuku admitted.

"So, what's this?" Inko asked while pointing at the table.

"Beef Stew, mushroom salad, sweet-and-sour pork ribs, Three-Meats Hot-pot with beef tenderloin, pork belly and chicken guts , Tuna Carpaccio, scallops in aromatic potage and I put some Strawberry Sorbet in the freezer for a late snack. I think?" the boy answered automatically, before growing puzzled by his own answer.

"Those were all left-overs, except the tuna. How did you do all this just with THAT?" Inko asked.

"I don't know." Izuku answered.

"Well, let's see if it is good at least…" Hisashi muttered while trying the stew.

" Mmmmmmmmh! " and develop a blissful expression food should NOT give to somebody. He actually looked frighteningly close at having an ahegao.

"Eh?!" both mother and son gurgled-out at the same time.

"It's gooooooooood!" Hisashi moaned in awe and with his mouth still full while shamelessly filling and re-filling his plate over and over.

"Darling! Manners! Please contain yourself!" Inko said, appalled, while trying the pork ribs.

" ...NOM! NOM! NOM! NOM!" to then show utter hypocrisy by attacking the dish herself with the same lack of manners, like a starving animal.

"H-Hey! Leave me something!" Izuku yelled in horror at seeing the dishes apparently HE made getting empty fast!

"Since when can he cook this well?!" Hisashi asked between mouthfuls.

"I have no idea, but I know I can't stop!" Inko answered.

"Me neither!" Izuku replied, just as entranced as they were by the taste.

When the three finally stopped eating, almost two hours later, the family collapsed on the sofa, all three of them groaning because their bulging stomachs filled to the breaking point.

"Oh, God! I am going to explode!" Izuku admitted in agony, and yet not regretting a single morsel of what he ate.

"You said you wanted to become a Chef?" Hisashi asked.

"It was just an idea, dad, I don't know if I have what it takes."

"My stomach says you have some solid bases to start from, Icchan!" Inko admitted before burping loudly, a thing that made her face burn red in shame.

"Sorry!"

"If you say so, mom."

"What I don't understand is how you became this good all of a sudden." Hisashi wondered.

"I have a theory...If you have an open mind and can actually help me make sense of this." Izuku answered.

"I can barely move, so it is not like I have no time to listen!" his father admitted.

"Me too, Icchan." Inko added.

"Well, I am not sure, but there is a chance my coma has something to do with it."

"Uh?"

"You see…"

Three Weeks later – Musutafu – market square -

The so-called ' Market Square' was just a small rectangle of paved street near a park where on Saturday the housewives/househusbands of half Musutafu met to assault the various vendors for ingredients and other amenities in a free-for-all to hunt down the best sales.

Today though the entire thing had been booked by a renowned School of cuisine for a small cooking showdown between some of their better students and three ' Amateur Chefs' , the prize was a mere toaster, and everybody knew both Challenge and prize were just an excuse to collect funds for the local association making sure homeless people had a place to eat for free.

"So this is dad's plan?" Izuku asked in dread while watching the big stage the association built for the challenge.

"Hu-uh! Before returning to his office he said that IF you really gained knowledge from your coma, and if you want to fully use this knowledge to become a great Chef again, then you will need to catch the eyes of Professionals so to gain entrance to a proper school for aspiring Chefs. This contest should help a lot if the rumors Hisashi-kun heard about this year's edition are as good as he said they were." Inko answered.

"You think dad will be able to see if it was really just a dream or Transmigration as he called it?" Izuku asked, unsure.

"I know damn well I didn't teach you how to cook like that, and yet you demonstrated skills I never saw before. The fact that you went into a trance every time we tested it was what ticked-off your father, he literally said it was like somebody else was controlling your movements."

"Then why not a Quirk?" Izuku asked.

"We took the test again, Icchan. It's still negative." Inko answered, showing him again the same result papers she showed the judges when she managed to enlist Izuku between the Amateurs challenging the Cooking School students.

"I know, I know...It's just...an Isekai sounds so unbelievable."

"Your dad begs to differ, honey."

"That's because he is a geek."

"You are a nerd, Icchan…" Inko answered, chuckling.

"Those are two different things."

"If you say so, dear."

"Ok Quirker ."

"HEY!" the woman answered with an overly-hurt expression that made him chuckle.

"Huhuhu! Just go there and give your best. Whatever happened during that coma left you with a Gift . If it was you to live as Zaus-san in another world, or it's just his knowledge passing to you, what matters is that you now can do those things HERE as well. Chefs are supposed to be a gift, right? Heroes bring smiles by protecting people, chefs do it by filling their stomach, you said so yourself. Your dream is still the same, you can still do it."

"Y-You think I can do this?" Izuku asked, scared.

"Yes I do. I believe in you, and your father does as well." Inko answered.

"I-I will make you proud then!" the boy answered while marching up the stage with the other two Amateurs to take position at his small kitchen .

"We already are, Icchan!" Inko muttered with a small smile.

On the stage -

"Good evening, people! Welcome to the fifth edition of our Cooking Showdown!" The Host of the event was a bald old man wearing a bright yellow tux addressing the audience under the stage through a gaudy golden mike.

Inko had in the meantime started recording everything on camera since due to the time difference Hisashi could not see it live, so he gently asked to have a recording of the thing sent through email once done, for bragging purposes other than further data for his theories about Izuku's new Skills .

"As always we have three daring Challengers here to face against the Top 3 students of Inoshiki Culinary School , a friendly showdown to collect funds, so do not get too angry should you lose, you are facing Pros just to help the less fortunate, not to get fame! But let's introduce the Challengers and their dishes, shall we?" the Host said while nearing the area left to the Amateur Chefs.

"Let's start with you, you are?"

"Hi! I am Nana! Umibozu Nana! I will prepare my special Vegan Pork cutlet! " the young thirty-something woman replied with a wide smile.

"...There is nothing Vegan about pork cutlets, dear." the Host commented, dryly.

"There is if you use Tofu instead of the meat of some poor pigs!" she answered, frowning.

"Then don't call it pork , but whatever floats your boat, darling." the old man answered, grimacing and walking towards the second woman.

"Good evening, I am Mitsuki Bakugo. I will prepare my own version of the Oden ." Mitsuki answered, stealthily stealing a glance at Izuku next to her and flinching when she saw the boy take a tiny step aside to avoid her. And flinching harder when she saw Inko glare at her with all her strength.

"At least somebody here can prepare good food! Good to know!" the Host replied, smiling happily.

"Corpse eater!"

"Go suck a turnip, woman!" the Host replied with a scathing glare that silenced the first contestant, before finally focusing on Izuku.

"Hi! I am Izuku Midoriya and...And I... Uhm ...I-I will prepare a dish called ' Golden Fried Rice', with shrimps and pork belly meat." Izuku muttered with a shy voice, and even the mic had trouble picking his answer up to make it audible for everybody else.

"Oh-Ooooh! A simple dish! You plan to make a lot of plates then?" the Host asked with a smile that kinda looked too mocking for Inko's tastes.

"I-If it's not a problem." the boy answered.

"It won't be if it will actually be good! Let's introduce the Judges now!" the guy answered before kind of shoving Izuku away for a girl to walk forward.

"As you know we usually have a panel of both teachers and common people to decide who is the winner, but this year we have a special threat! Our association, the one usually collaborating with Inoshiki School to prepare this event, has managed to strike a deal with a famous Japanese Chef that accepted being our head judge and even brought along some colleagues.

So please, give an applause to Chef Samui, owner of the legendary three Michelin Star Samui Restaurant in Tokyo, and his friends!" the woman declared as five judges dressed in fine Chef attires all sat together at the same long table on the right side of the stage.

All of them also sported on their chests the insignia of the restaurants where they worked, and not one of them had less than two tiny stars under those restaurants' names, meaning that all of them were definitely Pros.

"Thank you for the warm welcome! It's a pleasure to see my Alma Mater , Inoshiki School, still producing such amazing Chefs, so I am honored to be here to give my own two cents on their level of preparation!" the Head Chef, Samui, declared once the applause calmed down and the mic was passed to him.

"We will be strict, though. So be advised, we want you to give your best!" the man said before sitting down on his chair in the middle of the judge formation.

"Well, you heard the man! When we'll give you the start signal, you will have forty minutes tops to prepare your dish, so don't slack off!" the Host yelled in glee.

" F-Forty minutes only? Oh, God! " Izuku thought in worry as the Host started listing the plates the Students will prepare, and all of those sounded very complex compared to his.

" What's wrong? Afraid? Since when?"

" Uhu?" the boy thought in surprise at hearing a deep baritone voice.

He recognized it as Zaus' Appetite Demon , a very prideful Food Spirit that very rarely talked with the man, and that after the events with Joie fully turned his back to the Chef and never again talked with him. Why was he there? And why did he talk to Izuku?

" This is your second chance, Partner! You want redemption? Seize it! Be a Chef again and do NOT lose your way again! "

You can't retire, Zaus-chan! Once a Chef, always a Chef!

"Setsuno?"

"That's a memory, you buffoon! She is not here! I am here, and I want to eat, not be your nanny! So don't expect me to hold your hand or talk to you whenever you are nervous! I followed you here just for one reason: FOOD! So dry your tears and straighten your back! Do you still have your skills? Then use them!"

"Ready? Three...two...one...GOOO! Your time starts now!" the Host yelled, giving start to the Challenge.

" I...I can still be a Chef? Even after what I did as Zaus? As a Villain?" Izuku thought in worry while mechanically collecting the Ingredients he needed from the communal fridge they all were given access to.

" Before is before, now is now! You were Zaus, now you are Izuku! Who the Hell cares?! The Ingredients want to give you another chance, so where's the problem!? Grab the knife and do your job! You heard me?! It doesn't matter if you are Zaus or Izuku now! You are both!"

" I am...Both?"

(Small soundtrack suggestion to listen while reading.) Link:

Toriko Battle OST: Tosou Honnou! YT Link.

"Yes, damn it! You are still a Chef at heart? Then COOK!" the Appetite Demon said with a fierce roar, and from the outside, everybody saw the young teen eyes turn inhumanly sharp as he grabbed a kitchen knife...And performed a Miracle.

CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP!

The judges were speechless, the shy kid had picked-up speed to the point the knife could NOT be seen at all and utensils went swapped at unreal tempo.

"I am Izuku...Cutting." The kid muttered as ingredients went cut into thin slices with just one slice of the knife, so fast the boy would just hit the counter to have the Ingredients jump-up for him to cut while they were still in mid-air.

"I am Zaus ... Braising ." he then whispered as the fire roared to life under the wok and the meat went braised to absolute PERFECTION.

"I am both! Sauteing!`` At the same time other pans hovered over the flames in complete stillness with only the Rice and Shrimps in there moving without stopping.

The more he cooked the clearer Izuku's memories as Zaus became and his movements more precise, everything then became his own skills instead of implants from reincarnation, until 'Izuku' and 'Zaus' became one and the same, a single being!

And Food Honor was returned to the young Chef!

"Plating!"

TAK! TAK! TAK! TAK! TAK! TAK!

Plates upon plates, in an absurd number, were delivered as soon as the dish was ready, each plate not even having the time to fully rest on the counter and the boy was already back to cooking more.

"Is...He's covering the work of an entire kitchen staff by himself…" one of the judges muttered in horror.

" Too slow, my body still can't keep up! " Izuku thought in worry as he knew that had his body moved like his old one as Zaus, he would have done at least ten times the amount of plates he was preparing in that moment. If not more.

"I-I-I can't keep up! What the fuck?!" One of the people in the audience, a girl with a speed-related Quirk, was feeling dizzy as her eyes could not keep up with what he was doing on stage.

"GO, ICCHAN! GOOOO!" Inko in the meantime was going WILD in cheering for her son, nobody could miss the fact she was incredibly proud of him.

TAK! TAK! TAK! TAK! TAK! TAK!

"I-Is he cooking for everybody?!" The girl cooking next to Izuku shrieked in awe as the plates kept amassing, all absolutely perfectly-done and at a rate the staff struggled to keep-up and deliver them even while focusing on Izuku alone.

"HOW?!" Mitsuki asked, horrified.

"H-H-Hoy! Slow down!" The Host asked, scared.

"NO! You others hurry up!" Izuku roared in determination, making the idiot FINALLY shut-up, and to the others' awe, or horror in case of the other contestants, he actually went even faster .

"Yes, Chef!" It was maybe an unconditional reflex, but the students answered with the same tone they normally used in the kitchen where they worked, all for their astonishment while they picked-up the pace to keep-up with the kid.

"Other than the time needed for the ingredients to actually cook...T-That speed is unreal!" one of the Judges muttered with wide eyes.

"No, he is still faster than that…" the Head Judge growled.

"Uh?"

"He is shortening the time needed by doing everything at the same time, but instead of having somebody helping him, he is doing it alone. Is he using his Quirk to speed-up his movements." the Michelin Chef hissed in annoyance.

"Actually, He is Quirkless."

"WHAT?!"

"He is Quirkless, that is all natural talent." the woman repeated while showing them the copy of the medical test Inko brought along.

"Impossible!" the Chef yelled in disbelief.

It was indeed impossible, because who was cooking was the second Legendary Chef of another world, second only to a woman with unfathomable skills called a ' National Treasure' , but since there was no Setsuno in his original world, Izuku's abilities could really be called ' Peerless' .

The skills of the King of Chefs!

- Forty minutes later -

"Preparation complete. Sorry for the wait, please enjoy your meal." Izuku declared with a bow a minute before the judges could actually stop the competition.

In front of him there were lots of plates, other than the five for the judges, of gold-coloured fried rice perfectly prepared, each plate a work of art finely decorated by an absurdly-detailed drawing of a cherry blossoms branch made of of soy sauce glace and flowers of sweet-and-sour sauce while on top of the rice stood a humble tiny patch of green leaves.

How on God's green earth the boy actually got the time to also take care of ' Decoration/Presentation' was anybody's guess, but every person present agreed on the fact that the smell was truly, literally DIVINE.

"Holy shit, I am hungry…" Katsuki muttered while swallowing down what felt like the fourth mouthful of saliva.

"Yeah, well, good fucking job at alienating the family, now you won't be invited to dinner any time soon!...Neither will I…" Mitsuki answered, bitterly, once walking down from the stage after delivering her dishes to the judges.

"...Goddamnit…" the young teen swore under his breath as no plate even just passed close to him and his mother, making the two of them part of the few that did not receive any.

"We will now proceed with our judgment of the dishes. Starting with Midoriya-san's rice." the judge's spokeswoman declared.

"Icchan…" Inko muttered while accepting the dish her son brought her himself.

"Please don't start, mom! I am already a nervous wreck by myself!" Izuku begged, shivering violently thanks to his nerves.

- Judge Table -

"This looks very nice." one of the judges admitted while studying the plate and steadfastly ignoring the LOUD gurgling coming from his stomach.

On top of the white porcelain plate stood the pearl-like rice grains, with every grain perfectly wrapped in the gold of the egg yolk the boy used like a sauce; the egg was not completely cooked either, but had been left slightly viscous to better hug the tongue once eaten.

The egg dressing in it literally turned the rice Golden as the dish name implied, it even left behind thin threads like molten gold when lifted by the chopsticks thanks to its semi-liquid consistency.

"It...It is shining like gold!" Head Judge Samui exclaimed in wonder while studying his plate.

Not one of them had ever thought that it would be possible for a plate of Egg-Fried Rice to look like a piece of artwork, and when the judges actually tried it, the egg sauce fully mixed with the rice grains and solidified to create an explosion of taste that together with the tender and syrupy pork belly meat, the mix of spices and shrimps moved them to tears of awe.

"How?...How did he do it?...How?…" The Michelin Chef kept asking himself between mouthfuls, as while the rice tasted Godly , each bite of that Heaven also felt like a stab to his honour as a Chef, until tears started flowing from his eyes without control, he was weeping in defeat and yet he could not stop himself from eating more.

"Is he okay?" one of the judges asked, shamelessly talking with her mouth full but unable to stop eating long enough to ask.

"I think," Burp! "I think the boy crushed his spirit with a plate of rice. And Goddamnit this tastes amazing! Gotta ask him the recipe…" another Judge answered while rudely licking his plate clean, uncaring of people seeing him doing that.

"I thought you hated rice, that's why you have none on your restaurant's menu."

"I may change my stand on rice after this!"

- With Inko -

"ICCHAN!" Chomp ! "I am so proud of you!" NOM! "Dammit this is amazing…" Inko, between mouthfuls, complimented her kid and actually wolfed down the remaining rice so to then throw away the empty plate and hug him as hard as she could.

"Glad you like it, mom!...I-It's kind of a rush job though, if you want tomorrow I can make it again and properly!" Izuku answered with a sorry expression.

Properly…Properly…Properly...Properly…

Utter silence fell in the small square as Izuku's words echoed in everybody's ears and pierced their minds like a searing-hot blade.

"This...This is a Rush Job ?" Inko asked, shocked.

"Yes, I had to cut corners and make it immediately instead of preparing the Ingredients beforehand to truly bring out the best taste they have to offer. Sorry." the boy answered, looking down in shame, as the Zaus part of him knew the dish could be way better if done properly, but he had not proper equipment or time to work with, especially while working with that dull slab of metal they gave him and had the gall to call a kitchen knife.

"…"

"... WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH !'' After a long silence a loud wailing of despair was heard as Samui broke in tears while tearing away the restaurant name from the front of his attire to throw it on the floor and then bury his face in his arms to cry even harder.

Izuku's victory was a given at that point, what was more important to mother and son ( and from afar, Hisashi) was that it was the first time the young teen could call upon Zaus' Chef knowledge while still being in full control and without the feeling of depersonalization Izuku felt whenever he tried remembering something of his life as the man.

- I-Island – A week later -

"Your son is a damn monster, Hisashi!" The man's assistant said once visioned the footage Inko sent him.

"Yep! And I am damn proud of him!" Hisashi answered, smirking.

"And you say he needs proper knives to do a better job?"

"At the very least, listening to him, the Ingredients HERE are way easier to use compared to Zaus' ones, but still, at least the knives he would like to have are like his old ones." the man answered.

"And that means?"

"Since we have no Melk here. We'll need to borrow the instruments of Lab 3 to create durable blades with edges sharpened to nano-metric levels."

"Nano-metric?! Too sharp!"

"...I saw Icchan peel a raw egg with a cheap knife. Peel it, Tamaki. He gave a single swipe and the thing lost its shell like a damn orange and the egg inside was left standing up by itself before splattering down a second later. It looked like something out of a damn manga!" Hisashi said while reproducing said video on the computer, along with many others from the various Tests he had Izuku go through.

"...Is that a living fish skeleton?" Tamaki asked, faintly.

"Icchan calls it Food Honor . Whatever it is, he used it to filet a fish so fast the fish did not notice. "

"How the fuck does THAT work?!"

"No idea. That is why I wanted your help to decipher what the hell happened to my boy during his coma. He either got an Isekai and came back, or he somehow downloaded information inside his brain from another world."

"The brain scan shows nothing out of ordinary besides brain activity way superior than normal, but it still covers the areas of the brain it's supposed to." the Assistant said.

"Blood pressure too is normal. Muscles mass too, and yet speed and reaction times are like you saw." Hisashi added while passing a hand in his messy hair, something he deeply regretted passing to his boy.

"Absurd?" Tamaki said, smirking.

"It's not exactly a proper scientific term, but I'll let it slide."

"I still say we need a blood sample to run more tests."

"They took one in the hospital under my request. Here's the results." Hisashi answered while displaying the results.

"...All in the norm, no anomalies detected."

" Dad, is my blood still okay?" Izuku's voice echoed inside Hisashi's mind.

" Yes, Icchan. Those cells you talked about have not surfaced yet."

"They will come out soon, dad. I can feel them stir awake whenever I eat…"

"We will keep them a secret, have no fear. "

"Hisashi?" the Assistant asked once seen the man look deep in thought.

"Sorry, just reminiscing about something trivial. You were saying?"

"That this makes no sense. If your boy is exactly as he was before the coma, then there should be no way he can do all that now. Let alone knowledge, he has the muscle memory to go with it, something years of practice gives you, not a coma! You said he would stutter once or twice in the past, but those stutters as you call them are not present in any of the videos I saw.

Whatever separation there was between the two 'Him' , now it's gone for good or close to be gone. And if we can't find anything with info from before the coma, we will need to run tests now that he is awake and compare the results."

"Do we have to?" Hisashi asked, scared.

"What are you hiding, Hisashi?"

"I got the full story from Izuku, and there are details I know I MUST keep a secret. He doesn't want to be a Hero anymore, he just wants to be a Chef and live a quiet life. He has abandoned a dream already, I don't want him to lose another, especially if I know he can reach it!"

"Something happened to him, didn't it?"

"The changes are happening slowly, but are there. I want to see if those changes are dangerous to him, but I am too afraid of others using that data for their agenda."

"You mean like All for One ?"

"We all know a body was never found, he may still be out there."

"That dangerous?"

"I got an explanation and saw it first-hand. It can be used by somebody with no remorse or care for collateral damages."

"Then it's decided, me and you will need to be extra careful, but if your boy wants to give his best as a Chef instead of a Hero, I think I can help." Tamaki offered with an encouraging smile.

"Thank you, Tamaki. I really want to help my boy reach his full potential."

"That's corny, Hisashi." the Assistant said, chuckling.

"Oh, shut up!" he answered, face red in embarrassment.

"Let's say I can close an eye and let you use our instrumentation to help him reach the Full Potential you talked about..." the Lab director muttered, making both conspirators jump-up in fright.

"Yes, chief?" Hisashi answered with narrowed eyes.

"I expect him to take part in some tests all the same. Nothing invasive if you are so sure about his Secret being dangerous, but we still need to see if it can really be a threat or if your being his Father is making you worry for nothing." the old man answered.

"No blood tests though. Really."

"What's in his blood, Hisashi?"

"Something I can't talk about."

"Why?"

"Too dangerous."

"...A virus?"

"A mutation."

"Can it spread?"

"Not if somebody does not steal his blood and tries to. And even then, it's inadvisable."

"How much?"

"Not everybody can withstand the strain, and I don't want to think how Quirks would react to that."

"You know the Higher-ups will force us to tell them?"

"If they know about it, sir." Hisashi countered.

"And he just wants to be a Chef?"

"A simple life as a Chef, he isn't even sure he wants to open his own restaurant, just work in one. It doesn't even have to be fancy."

"...Goddamnit! Okay!"

"Sir?"

"Let me cover the few traces you two morons left behind then we'll get to work in preparing his tests. And I hope your son's food is worth it." the old man declared with a growl.

"I…"

"Hisashi?" the Chief said with narrowed eyes.

"I kind of sent a drone home to collect some?" Hisashi said with a weak smile.

"MIDORIYA!" the old man roared in fury.

"I was having Soba withdrawals!" the man answered, whining.

"We have strict rules about secrecy here, Midoriya. And even then, we have a perfectly fine cafeteria here…"

"It's not the same." Hisashi answered, offended.

"Fork it out then, let's try."

"NO! It's mine!"

"Are you denying your superior?!"

"YES!"

"Hisashi, man, just hand them over. It's just soba." Tamaki said, rolling his eyes.

"JUST SOBA?!...Fine!" he answered with a petulant tone, but still took out one of the boxes he held hidden in his office personal fridge.

"Here, choke on them, you two. Hn! "

"Drama Queen. Let's see those skills of your brat," the old man declared while shaking his head and taking a bite.

"..."

"He made them with common equipment and Ingredients found in every supermarket, just so you know. Nothing luxurious was used."

"…"

"..."

"Say, how many knives do you reckon dear Icchan needs to do his best?" Hisashi's Chief asked with a way-too-innocent smile that sent a chill up the man's spine.

"I think the guys in Lab 13 have a new super-alloy that they did not know how to use, I bet they can make awesome pans with that as well!" Tamaki added from the sidelines.

"We'll ask them to borrow some. Level 5 Secrecy of course."

"At the very least, sir!"

"Oh! And I believe that in exchange of your request of transferal back to Musutafu going through smoothly, I will be your dinner guest once a month, if you don't mind paying for my silence with food."

"Me too!"

"You will just stay quiet, Tamaki!"

"Okay, sir...damnit…"

"Okay, sir. You'll have your bribe." Hisashi muttered in answer.

"Wonderful! Now share with me those tests you talked about, I want to see them myself."

" Oh, God...What have I done...I am sorry Icchan! " Hisashi thought in horror.

He just hoped nobody else would notice his son's skill before securing his safety.

Back to the mainland – Musutafu - Yaoyorozu household – Kitchen -

There was a somber silence in the huge kitchen of the disgustingly-rich family, for a ' Murder' had happened there, with Ingredients being the victims.

It was a massacre, some strange gelatinous green sludge was slowly dripping from the walls and smelling like dirty socks, a small pan was burning in a corner while completely enveloped by flames and the oven was giving few last dying electric whimpers before finally succumbing, producing a tiny plume of black smoke and then letting its frontal panel detach and slam on the floor in a thousand pieces.

"Why does this keep happening!? I just want to be good at cooking!" The lady of the house, Rei Yaoyorozu, wailed in tears while burying her face in her husband's shoulder as he hugged her.

"I know, dear. But you are an amazing woman already, maybe it's the Universe balancing things out by giving you some bad luck, otherwise you would be too perfect.`` The woman's husband, Saito Yaoyorozu, answered while patting her back in a comforting manner, and at the same time sending an apologetic look at their family personal Chef, the guy was weeping at watching the sorry state the kitchen had been reduced to in merely five minutes.

"T-Too perfect?" Rei asked with a hopeful tone, breaking her husband's heart by locking her now puffy red eyes with his.

"Of course, it is clearly a sick joke of the gods, pure jealousy." the man answered, shamelessly ramping-up his compliments with zero hesitation, as for him there was never enough ' Simping' if it meant having the love of his life smile.

"You are so good to me!" Rei wailed while hugging him again.

"And so are you to me, dear! Come, while dear Takeshi makes a list of what it will need to be changed-"

"Damn near everything, sir!" the Chef interrupted him with a tone of horrified awe at the sheer destruction he was seeing.

"We will go watch some TV to relax!" Saito growled-out the rest of his words while nailing the man with a scathing glare and half-dragging his wife away.

Living room -

"Here, darling. We'll watch some silly videos and you'll see you will feel better." Saito said while turning-on the GIANT TV and selecting the internet video app ( that for the sake of copyright we will call U-Tube ).

"I just wanted to be the one preparing lunch for you and Momo-chan for once…" Rei admitted with a small, adorable voice.

"I know, dear, and one day you will." Saito said.

"I hope it will be soon...Can...Can we watch that?" the woman answered while pointing at the Top 10 ' Featured Videos' , at the very first video dominating the list in terms of visualizations to be precise.

"The ' Young Chef Competition '? Why is it trending? It's a small channel with barely any followers too." the man said, confused.

"Maybe somebody screwed-up badly?" Rei asked, hopeful.

" Aah! Schadenfreude! That will help her feel better! Hopefully whoever it is they fail so hard, Rei-chan will look like a Master in comparison! " Saito thought in relief as he as well believed that to be the case.

"Yes, let's see that, a good laugh is always good for one's health!" he said aloud while clicking on the video and already savoring the return of his wife's smile and laughter at the expenses of some unknown brat fucking-up.

" TAK! TAK! TAK! TAK!…"

And both adults watched slack-jawed as the video instead featured Izuku going-in raw and without lube in the competition while humiliating his opponents.

"Holy fuck! He is culinary raping them ! Is the video sped-up?!" Behind them their Chef was heard shrieking in awe after glancing from the kitchen door.

"No…" Saito answered, shocked as the number of plates the boy made kept growing.

" WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH ! Even a kid cooks better than me! And he doesn't look older than Momo-chan!" Rei in the meantime started crying again, not that Saito could actually blame her.

"I think I found your new Cooking Teacher instead." It was then that the man devised a new plan while looking at the screen with narrowed eyes.

"W-What? Really? Who?" Rei asked, still hiccuping.

"That boy, he seems prepared enough."

"NO! Please don't fire me! I can get better! Even better than that!" their Chef said immediately while falling on his knees.

"He will just teach Rei-chan how to cook better with weekly lessons, I am not firing you after years of loyal service!" Saito answered while rolling his eyes.

"Ah! Okay then."

"Do you really think you can become better than THAT, though?" Mr. Yaoyorozu asked, curious.

"…Maybe?" the Chef tried answering with a forced smile.

It was utter bullshit, and both men knew that, but chose to not comment on it all the same.

- Two Days Later – Midoriya House -

DING! DING! DING!

"Coming!" Inko yelled while opening the door to see a tall gentleman with clearly expensive clothes waiting for her on the other side.

"Ehm...Good evening?"

"Good evening. You are Inko Midoriya, I presume?" the man asked.

"Yes?"

"Saito Yaoyorozu, pleased to meet you."

"Pleasure is mutual. How do you know my name?"

"I know a guy, or better, a guy knows you." Saito answered, smirking.

"Who?"

"Samui, he is the Head Chef of my family's favourite restaurant...Or he was before his nervous breakdown."

"Oh! Him, how's he?" Inko asked with a sorry expression.

"He is doing okay, or so I heard." Saito answered, shrugging.

- At the same time – Penthouse at the opposite side of the city – Kitchen -

"NO! NO! NO! It was mellower! And the taste was richer!" the famous Chef Samui yelled with insane eyes while throwing away another pot of rice behind him.

Around him dozens of empty sacks of rice littered the floor, and by looking at him, it was clear he did nothing besides cooking ever since the challenge, not even sleeping or showering.

"HOW DID HE DO THAT?! HOOOOOOOOOW?! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! " a deranged laugh echoed in the penthouse before the man's assistant finally forced his way into the apartment by bursting down the door and accompanied by three burly doctors holding-up a straitjacket.

- Back to Inko and Saito -

"I hope he recovers. But why did you ask him about me?"

"Well, I needed a name to better find you and your son, madam." Saito answered.

"Why were you looking for us?" Inko asked with narrowed eyes.

"I heard your son is looking for a University to join while following his dream to be a Chef...AND for a restaurant where to work part-time so to have some actual experience."

"Why do you know all this?"

"Because I can offer your son both in exchange for a favour." Saito answered.

"Uhu?"

"May I come in? So we can talk details without others eavesdropping,"

"We were about to have lunch actually."

"It's okay, mom! I made more than enough for a guest!...Who's your friend?" Izuku said from inside.

"Not exactly a friend, Icchan." Inko answered.

"Please, madame. I have no bad intentions, I am just offering my help to your son in exchange for him helping me."

"...Get in." Inko answered with a sigh.

"Thank you, Madame." Saito said while gesturing his chauffeur to just wait for him.

"What's on the menu?" the man asked, cheekily.

"I tried my hand at sushi, I hope you don't mind." Izuku answered, shyly, while presenting the colorful display of fish and rice.

"A-Amazing!" Saito exclaimed in wonder.

"To my shame lately I have left cooking to Izuku since he says he wants to train in his skills." Inko admitted, blushing.

"I cannot blame you, Madame. And it's kind of fun since my wife had tried to prepare a similar dish and failed, that was when I decided to look to your son for help." Saito answered.

"My help? Was her sushi that bad?"

"I did not try it since she just destroyed the kitchen. And yes, I was wondering if you were open to come teaching my wife how to cook once a week." he answered.

"How did she destroy a kitchen while preparing raw fish and rice?" Izuku asked, confused.

"I have no idea how she managed, and it honestly baffles me. Sometimes I wonder how it's possible that her bowl of cereal does not catch fire after she poured milk in it. I thank the fact we are not in some crappy comedy manga for that not happening." Saito said, sighing.

"Oh. Then why asking me?"

"You have skill, clearly, since the other guy I wanted to ask had a breakdown after eating your dish. And also...well...No offense meant, but you are a nobody."

"HEY!" Inko growled, offended.

"I think he means I don't have any Fame that may cloud my judgment, mom." Izuku said.

"Precisely, I asked around, and you seemed to be quite the soft-spoken, gentle boy from how people described you. So I thought that you would have been patient enough to help my precious Rei-chan become at least decent at cooking," Saito explained.

"I understand what you mean, but...How bad is she, actually?" Izuku asked with narrowed eyes.

"On a scale from 1 to 10?" the man asked back.

"Yes."

"Between Akane Tendou from Ranma and Otae from Gintama." the man answered, bluntly.

"Good God." Izuku whispered in horror.

"Quite. As the man of the house I sacrifice myself by eating what she cooks whenever she tries, and spare Momo thanks to some bullshit excuse I cooked-up years ago about my daughter's Quirk needing a very specific diet to work best. It's a thankless Mission, but somebody has to do it." Saito explained with a proud voice.

"You must love her a lot."

"More than my own life or liver, but the doctor said I can't keep this up or my stomach will start to break-down, so she either becomes at least decent ...Or I will be in trouble."

"I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, my boy. If you really pull this off, then whatever price you will demand, I'll pay."

"Wait until we decide if it is feasible before saying that." Izuku answered, sighing.

"Please give it a try. I asked around and I can put a good word for you to work in a restaurant kitchen, nothing luxurious though, as I don't believe those poncy stuck-up fools would accept a teen surpassing them. As for the University, that I can actually pay for."

"I can't accept that!" Izuku said with wide eyes.

"Being good at cooking is my wife's dream, Midoriya-san. Myself and Rei-chan may look like people drowning in cash NOW, but we weren't so fortunate when we were kids, our familys struck gold only late in our life not long before we took over our respective family businesses...And you know what that means?"

"Not really."

"It meant we worked. That's it. When we started dating we wanted a big family, instead we got so absorbed in our work we barely had ONE daughter, and even then we are hardly able to spend time with her. She grew up mostly with nannies and other strangers with Rei and myself desperately squeezing-out every second we could to spend it with her like a ' Normal' family. And now our daughter plans to join UA University and become a Pro Hero. Meaning even less time to be a family." Saito explained with a sigh.

"And where do I fit in this?" Izuku asked.

"Just once, Rei just wants to cook something for Momo. Like a mother should, or so she describes it."

"I don't know if I have the skills, I mean, I don't know how to teach somebody how to cook." Izuku answered, unsure.

"In that case I will help you as well, if we work together, I know we can do it." Saito offered.

"Why me?"

"Why not you?"

"There are hundreds of renowned Chefs that I bet would give an arm and a leg to work for you, why not ask them? Or even a student from any school?"

"Because they would give an arm and a leg, as you said, to work for a rich family. You are arguing against teaching a mother how to cook for her daughter. They would not care about the reason behind this, only about the compensation. Like all the others I asked before you. They all just looked at the check I offered and said yes, and then dropped-out because they could not be bothered to put in the effort." Saito answered, frowning.

"...Let's say I accept."

"Yes?"

"Rei-san will need to put in the effort as well."

"She will, I swear."

"And I don't want to get paid."

"Why not?" he asked, surprised.

"Because I want to make it with my own power, without help."

"I admire that conviction, it's rare nowadays." the man answered, smiling.

"So? When do I start, sir?" Izuku asked with a tiny smile.

"Whenever you are ready, Izuku-san!" Saito answered.

"Then I guess we have to celebrate?" Inko offered.

"Madame, I know this sounds fishy, but I swear I just want to help my wife, nothing more."

"Then it won't be a problem if I join as well."

"Mom!"

"Understandable, there is no problem for me." Saito answered.

"Thank you. My husband said he had a surprise for Izuku that will be ready in two days. Will it be okay if we come by once we have it delivered?"

"Of course, madame, in the meantime I will tell Rei to get ready."

"A surprise?" Izuku asked, confused.

"Huhuhu! You'll see, Icchan! Those will help immensely!" Inko answered with a conspiratorial smile.

They were not Melk knives, but Hisashi was sure a high-tech secret lab would not lose to any sharpener working by hand in producing the absolute best knives in the world!

And in the afterlife, Melk the First felt extremely offended for reasons he could not fathom.

And at the same time, somewhere even beyond Mortal's understanding…

"New Host Candidate detected. Beginning operations."