After another hour of driving along the highway in the old Supply Department pickup, Fuuka's hope of getting back to school in time to prepare dinner had basically evaporated.
At this moment, she sat with a strained expression, typing on her phone, likely arranging a solution for tonight's meal.
After a moment, she sighed and looked around wearily:
"How much longer until we get there… And, we're already in another academy's district, right?"
Akari, who was driving, answered offhand: "Yes, we entered the Millennium zone some time ago. According to navigation, we'll arrive in about another ten-odd minutes."
"Oh! Finally! Hey, hey, wake up!"
Junko, who had been listless, perked up instantly and nudged Izumi, who was dozing beside her.
Meanwhile Haruna turned back to Fuuka, eyes narrowed with a smile:
"Fuuka, you'll be in charge of staying with the car when we get there, alright?"
Before Fuuka could respond, Junko and Izumi exchanged glances, pulled ropes and duct tape from behind their backs, and, under Fuuka's horrified gaze, quickly subdued her. They bound her tightly before she even had a chance to resist.
Haruna nodded in satisfaction and turned polite eyes toward me:
"As for Sensei, will you be acting with us? Or will you stay here with Fuuka, waiting in the car until we triumphantly return?"
Do they really not worry I might free Fuuka and drive off? I thought inwardly. But I seized the opportunity.
"I'll stay behind and act as support. I'm not joining the action, but I'll protect our safety."
Too far away and I won't see anything. Too close and I might get caught in an explosion. Best to stay in-between.
"Hehe~ Very well then∼"
Haruna lightly accepted my proposal, then turned serious with the others to confirm the plan:
"According to intel, the target is in Exhibition Hall C. The plan: infiltrate first as ordinary spectators, confirm the intel, then begin the operation.
"Although the organizer is Millennium, the exhibition is quite small, so the security is very weak. The only thing to watch for is possible reinforcements.
"Thus we must make this a quick-strike: once we achieve the objective, we gather and withdraw as fast as possible. Since Sensei volunteered to handle support, we'll adjust the original division of roles a little.
"Izumi, Akari: you two cause chaos in Area A and Area B and clear the armed forces along the escape route. Junko, you and I wait in Area C for the chaos, then seize the ingredient. And Sensei…"
What? Me? Suddenly counted a full participant in the plan, I felt a swirl of surprise, worry, shame, and perhaps a faint thrill. I'd come to the conclusion I was being treated more as an accomplice than a hostage.
Haruna addressed me carefully:
"Please wait on the evacuation route. If something seems wrong, hide in a safe location and alert us. I'll send you the map now."
She exchanged a Momotalk with me and sent a marked structural diagram of the building. I studied it for a moment, then nodded: "Understood."
"Everyone ready?" Haruna surveyed us, smiling slightly. "Good~ Then, for the path of gourmet bliss, let us proceed with grace!"
"Oh!" The remaining three members of the Gourmet Research Society answered in unison, excited.
"Oh!" I responded a beat later.
"Mmph-mph, mmph mmph mmph." Poor Fuuka, she seemed to want to say something, but the duct tape sealed her lips.
Haruna noticed and made a sentimental comment:
"Look, even the School Lunch Club's head, Fuuka, is cheering us on!"
Akari pretended to wipe a non-existent tear:
"Such moving friendship, isn't it?"
Clearly their logic: Fuuka has not raised objection, so it equals consent. Observing this, I couldn't help admitting, the bond between the Gourmet Research Society and Fuuka really is moving… in a way that makes me want to laugh.
Soon the pickup stopped in a secluded corner of the road. We all got out.
Haruna and Akari retrieved a folded waterproof sheet from the truck, spread it above the trunk, carefully covering the side-lying Fuuka in shadow.
Akari, in a voice soft yet intimidating:
"Please don't make strange noises. If any delinquent students pass by and discover you, they will kidnap you and demand ransom from our school~"
"Mmph mmph mmph!"
I suspected Fuuka perhaps wanted to say: I'm already kidnapped by delinquents.
Junko urged:
"Alright, let's go! I'm too excited to wait!"
"Hehe~ Junko's quite impatient. But that's exactly it! To uphold the path of gourmet, one must have this much passion!" Haruna flipped her silver hair and smiled:
"Let's depart, everyone."
We walked tens of steps from our hiding spot toward the street, two turns later a tech-looking building with a banner reading "Millennium New-Style Biotechnology Exhibition" stood before us.
After buying tickets at the box office, I and the girls of the Gourmet Research Society effortlessly entered the hall. Then they, unable to contain their excitement, followed the map straight to the location of the target ingredient.
Not one of them noticed the small fact: the exhibition had almost no other visitors.
I quietly followed behind them until we reached a large aquarium,
Inside was a single living creature: a massive deep-blue lobster, resting lazily on the fine sand at the bottom.
The girls, lovers of fine cuisine, watched the blue lobster through the glass, each holding their breath.
Until the swallow of saliva broke the silence.
"This is…" Junko pressed against the glass, eyes shining, voice full of longing, "the legendary Breton lobster…!"
Akari's expression grew serious. "They say the Breton lobster grows far slower than ordinary lobsters, and to see it reach this size is truly top-tier!"
"And!" Izumi looked at her phone's info screen, a tear leaking from the corner of her mouth, "no matter the size or age, Breton lobsters are thick-meated, tender, rich in flavour, sweet yet bold, right from the first bite you taste that intense lobster taste and a whisper of salty ocean… that's how the encyclopedia describes it!"
Swallow. The three of them swallowed simultaneously.
Finally, the Gourmet Research Society's president, Haruna, who had been silent till now, spoke:
"You all heard that?"
After the abrupt question, a brief pause. Then Haruna stared intently at the pair of glossy dark eyes of the blue lobster and quietly smiled:
"It is sending us its heart's voice."
The beautiful girl with dream-silver hair lowered her eyelids and let out a pitiful sigh:
"It longs to escape this confining prison, to return to its destiny, to be awakened by the finest chef into maximum flavor, to freely linger on the lips and tongue of a true gourmet. That is its only desire as a solitary yet universal top-grade ingredient."
Nope! And besides, I'm pretty sure its stomach is smaller than the aquarium!
"We of the Gourmet Research Society heard that voice of the ingredient, the voice willing to sacrifice itself to become the stepping stone for our path to ultimate cuisine, and that is why we came here!"
Haruna's eyes flashed fire, voice cold and precise:
"Proceed as planned."
The other three nodded wordlessly, then each followed their designated role without turning back.
This temporary departure was for a better future reunion.
Akari and Izumi headed toward nearby exhibition areas; Junko took up position at the passage entrance.
As for me, the one assigned to support, walked alone to the corridor connected to the main entrance, leaned against the wall, pulled out my phone and began sending a message.
Me: How's progress?
Yuuka: All clear.
That was it.
Once I knew Haruna and the rest's target, I checked it online and from the direction of travel confirmed their destination, then promptly told Yuuka.
Though I felt a little guilty for betraying their trust, any normal person would do the same.
To avoid harming innocent bystanders, to prevent the reputation of Millennium Science School from being compromised, and to spare the Gourmet Research Society and Prefect Team from extra work, they already had enough.
Since I knew about this and had the ability to stop it, I could not stand idle and let my immature student act recklessly.
From another angle, I had to prevent the Gourmet Research Society from falling deeper into the wrong road.
Their passion for culinary dreams deserves support, but their method must be corrected. That is my duty as Sensei.
Yuuka: I've contacted the professionals. Leave the rest to them.
Yuuka: Please act with your safety as your top priority!
Me: Understood. I love you too.
Yuuka: ???
Yuuka: What are you saying?
Yuuka: Please don't tease girls with such trivial remarks!
Yuuka: …
Yuuka: Seriously. I'm going back to work now. Contact me if anything happens.
Across the screen I could imagine how cute Yuuka's expression must be. I couldn't help but smile.
"…Hey, you over there, unauthorized persons, don't loiter here."
Suddenly a harsh voice rang from the other end of the corridor. I looked up and made eye-contact with a small maid figure striding toward me with force.
Neru's looking mighty fierce as her posture dropped, she blinked and said in surprise, "Huh? You?"