A reward for me! Woo-hoo, yippee!

Only once you've finished your work. Goodness me. I'm sorry you had to witness such a scene after only just arriving here. You're Miss Ayase from Science μ, right?

Call me Eli. Are you also a researcher here?

No. I help out every so often, but I'm actually the chief's secretary. My name's Riko Sakurauchi. Lovely to meet you today, Eli.

And a pleasure to mee—Hm? I smell something sweet.

You're right. Could it be what I think it is? Oh, I know!

Eli! I'll start by introducing you to all of the researchers!

[Fade in/out.]

Stoves, a rice cooker, fridge, and numerous ingredients on the benches. Is this the kitchen? Come to think of it, I have heard that the food at your cafeteria is delicious.

*Yawn* Huh? I see a stranger.

Wha?! Huh? Wh-Why is there a bed here?!

There you are, Kanata! This here is Eli Ayase. She's come to interview us and look around our lab. I was going to introduce you to her.

To interview us and look around the lab? Huh, I think I did hear something about that. Or maybe I didn't. Anyway. Nice to meet you. I'm Kanata Konoe, a researcher here.

N-Nice to meet you too. So you're a researcher, I see. But why is there a bed in the kitchen?

Good-quality sleep is required to conduct fruitful research. It's a pain to always have to go to the nap room. Also, this isn't a kitchen. This is my private lab.

Kanata conducts research on food and cooking. She's a great cook herself and is also part of the cafeteria's cooking staff.

Wow. So you not only research, but you prepare food at the cafeteria as well? That's fascinating. Cooking is said to be a science, so I'd love to try your cooking sometime.

Then let's have you try something right now. Ta-da!

Whoa! That looks tasty!

Is this a cheesecake? Oh! So the scent wafting around the hallway just now was coming from this.

I just happened to receive a request, so I was researching and developing the perfect cheesecake that can bring about sheer bliss from just one bite!

I don't think there are any problems with its structural composition, but I don't know how people will react when they eat it.

I can gather more meaningful data by having lots of different people try it rather than just trying it myself. Do you mind giving it a taste?

Yay! Let me at it! I'd love to try your cheesecake! You'll have some too, right Eli?

Now, now, Chika. You can't just suddenly spring that onto—

It's okay. I've actually been pretty hungry ever since I caught its scent in the hallway. This is also part of my research for the magazine, so I'd love to try some.

Thank you! Okay, I'll have you try these as well.

Huh? More of the same cheesecake?

They're not the same. This one uses a different type of cheese. Give it a whiff. It's slightly different. The other one has a different ratio of ingredients.

And all of these, while we're at it. This souffle cheesecake, New York cheesecake, and there's a no-bake cheesecake in the fridge that I'll bring out now. It should be set.

That's a lot of cheesecake…

I've varied the types of cheese and other ingredients, measurements, and cooking time for them. Please tell me about the taste, texture, fragrance upon eating, and aftertaste.

Sure!

Um, Eli. Don't force yourself to do anything you don't want to.

It's okay. Like I said, this is part of my research. All right, here I go…

Time to dig in!