Around her, other members of the house were sleeping, clearly tired after the rambunctious party that they had as a welcome to both Sunset and Soma. Not only did they eat some really good food, so much that Sunset had gotten an idea of everyone’s style of cooking rom the small samples that they had. Shun, with his eyes perpetually hidden behind his bangs, knew more than the average person about smoking ingredients and how to salt them to bring out the flavor.
The last time Sunset had jerky this good; it had been prepared specially for the restaurant she used to work. It had a deep flavor that she wanted to replicate, but sadly she had never looked into smoking. While that was true, she had picked up more than enough knowledge about BBQ and bacon, probably more than anyone in Japan thanks in part to how addicted they were to those two things back in Canterlot High. It also was slightly ironic considering her natural hair color.
Among the other students, she hasn’t really tasted enough to get a clear picture about them, but if the ‘rice juice’ was anything to go by, then Ryoko truly knew her way around fermentation. If the numbers scribbled at the side of the bottle was any indication, then it was close to turning beyond simple juice and into a low quality Sake. True great Sake was hard to ferment and create and it could be quite the challenge Sunset to create, but why not? Maybe she could do something about it later on, at least when she could think with a clear head.
Right now, she was fuming, just an inch away from burning everything around her, or at least she would be able to do that if she were still living in Equestria. Still, her fingers were curled into a fist so tight that she printed half-moons on her palms.
How dare those two idiots ignore Sunset Shimmer? The two boys had gone into duel mode it seems, because they were so focused on each other that flames were physically manifesting around them. It had been hilarious if Sunset wasn’t ready to explode due to rage.
If there was one thing Sunset hated was to be ignored by others. That’s what pushed her to perfection when she was Celestia’s student. The Princess could never understand that and she was sure that not even today, the supposedly perfect ruler of Equestria understood why Sunset behaved like that. She wanted validation, pure and simple and when all her efforts were shown to be in vain, it was little to no surprise that Sunset would react that way. First, when that stupid little pink alicorn was adopted, then by reading about the Tree of Harmony and discovering that no matter how much she tried, she will never be able to stand at the level of Celestia.
Did Celestia truly think that Sunset will gladly step aside, so an unknown little filly could take her position? Well, screw them; because now she didn’t need any of them, she didn’t need magic or wings. What she had was more important and something neither Celestia nor Twilight will be able to replicate. She had the Devil’s Palate and it was right now raging due to the disrespect those two idiots were showing her! How dare they turn their backs to her? Did they not realize that they were now the prey to an even bigger predator?
Just as the smells of whatever Soma was cooking began to drift upwards, Sunset heard how the rest of the Polar Star residents, but Sunset could barely hear them with the ideas and rage rolling through her brain. She took a long breathe as the tide turned back and left the shore that was Sunset’s mind; she needed to keep a clear mind if she wanted to pay back that disrespect.
“Sunset, what are Soma and Isshiki-san doing? Are they having a duel?” Ryoko asked after brushing her hair with her fingers, but instead of an answer the only thing she got was a glare from Sunset. You have to understand, Sunset was looking at the door so none of them could see her complete face, but at the sound of Ryoko’s voice she turned around and they saw it for the first time.
When Sunset had given her speech at the entrance ceremony, they all thought that Sunset’s left eye had become completely black and decided that it was a trick. This time they were sure it was not a trick and poor Yuuki could do nothing but squeak in fright at the sight of the Devil’s Palate true face. The others stood rooted in their places as Sunset simply scoffed and walked out of the room, just as Soma and Isshiki were about to go in.
Sunset’s rage just went up a notch by looking at the four plates that Soma was transporting; enough for the other four students and one more for Isshiki. So the idiot boy simply forgot about Sunset? Was she not good enough to be remembered by him?
“Oh, Sunset, didn’t know you were awake,” his stupid grin just made her want to hit him repeatedly on the head; how could one person could be so fucking stupid!
“Tea over a mackerel rice ball, the secret is that you used poele, letting the mackerel cook in its own juices while you poured olive oil on it. I could smell every single ingredient that you used so I don’t even need to taste it,” the surprised face of Soma and Isshiki -who had opened his eyes even- were still not good enough for Sunset, she needed more “not only that, I could tell you four different things you need to change if you want to ever show that recipe to a judge, now move out of my way,” she all but growled at Soma who quickly stepped aside as the irate redhead prepared her counter attack.
“Poele? What’s that?” Isshiki would have explained that, but instead he was more interested in the way Sunset had acted. It was true that this had been a test for Soma, to see his own abilities and knowledge. If what he heard was true about Sunset and Erina being sisters, then Isshiki had done a foolish thing and he hoped Polar Star wouldn’t pay for his mistake.
Sunset didn’t care about Soma’s dish, she already told him what was important and she didn’t lie. Since she arrived to the human world she had quickly realized that her sense of smell and taste went beyond human limits. Maybe it was a remnant of her pony heritage, but who cared when she could use it now. It was true what she said though, she knew of several ways in which he could make the dish even better.
The rice and the vinegar of it, the time in which the mackerel must be cooked, the tea and the leaves that had to be changed and instead of a normal onigiri, she could think of several ingredients to put inside to make the flavor burst.
Now, Sunset was ready to show them all what she could do. First she took a look inside the refrigerator and found out the cans of beer that she needed. It was quite fortuitous that Japanese people liked beer so much and with such good quality too. She then prepared the batter and using the small package that she had bought last morning she prepared the last touches for her own dish.
Upstairs, once everyone recovered from what had happened they took a bite and sip of Soma’s dish and found out the quality of it, but knowing that something was going to happen and happen it did; warm had settled inside them due to the tea and flavor before Sunset entered the room with her own surprise for them.
There were four plates and she gave everyone their own, except for Soma. The boy looked so ready to taste Sunset’s dish before his face changed to confused and then to comprehension. The insult had been returned. Soma didn’t do it on purpose, but Sunset had taken it personal; both sisters were too alike.
In the plate, what they found out was a small round maize paste dish; it was a tortilla with a battered mackerel on it and coleslaw on top.
“Is this a-” Isshiki started before turning to look at Sunset’s grin as he got the answer from the devil itself.
“Yep, it is a taco fish; this is not a secret recipe, you can find it anywhere in Mexico, so dig in,” she said as the four turned to look at each other. All the residents of Polar Star had seen how deliberate it had been for Sunset not to give Soma a plate, so they were more than a little excited for this grudge match. If there was something they had understood quickly at this school, was that rivalries always brought great food with them.
Taking the first bite and their world exploded in colors; they could feel spring and how warm, happy and full of life it was. Almost like an explosion of the fresh sea combined by the slightly acidic and flavorful coleslaw.
It was so different from Soma’s dish and yet, it showed the same two main ingredients, cabbage and mackerel, the ingredients of spring. How could these two ingredients could show how incredibly different two students could be?
“You said this is normal?!” Yuuki pointed at Sunset, incredulous at what the redhead had said before.
“Yeah, there are many places in Mexico were seafood is a normal thing. Not only are they know for their beef, but their seafood is something that it is exported to Japan all the time. You could say that Mexico has been Japan’s lifeline since World War 2,” Sunset said shocking every student with her words.
The American country was constantly exporting food to the island since the forties, being one of the main business partners for decades. The street food of Planet Earth, this was the true sight of Sunset’s cooking.