Chapter 144: Sukiyaki and the Totsuki Connection
"Wait!"
Inui Hinako walked over, her expression a mix of professional pride and genuine curiosity. She looked at Ren, then at the dish he had just critiqued from a distance of twenty feet.
Ren stopped, turning to face her. His expression was calm, while Ryota Kise looked puzzled, unsure of why a restaurant owner was intercepting them. Cerberus, as always, showed no reaction to social cues, her attention drifting to a decorative paper lantern.
"Mr. Ren," Hinako began, clasping her hands together. "You were originally here for a meal, weren't you? What happened today—my sous chef's rudeness, the closed sign—it was truly inhospitable of us. Please, stay for lunch. It would allow me to make up for my negligence."
She bowed slightly, a gesture of sincere apology typical of a traditional hostess.
Ren waved his hand, smiling. "I said it's fine, Miss Inui. You have a tasting in progress. But since you've put it that way... I can't refuse such a gracious offer. However, compensation is a bit too much. We'll pay."
A hint of an imperceptible smile flashed in Inui Hinako's eyes. The challenge had been accepted.
She turned to her staff. "You two," she commanded the waiter and the humbled sous chef. "Come and help today. I will personally handle all the dishes for this table."
The staff looked surprised but immediately sprang into action.
Ren looked at Nakiri Erina, who was still standing by her table. "Since we've met by chance, Erina, let's eat together. It seems this is your last tasting meal for the day, isn't it? The more the merrier."
Erina nodded repeatedly, her usual haughty demeanor melting away in the presence of the chef she admired. "Yes! I would be honored!"
Ren tapped his chin, thinking about the menu. "Since Cerberus wants to eat meat, and this is a Japanese restaurant, why not Sukiyaki? It's communal, filling, and perfect for a group."
He glanced at Hinako. "Oh, and you can make Gratin Onion Soup, right? It's a bit of a fusion request, but my friend here has a craving."
Inui Hinako nodded confidently. "If it's Sukiyaki, I'll truly be much more relaxed. It's my specialty. As for Gratin Onion Soup... no problem. I can make it. After all, I am Erina's Senior. I can handle French techniques."
Ren was stunned for a moment. "Erina's Senior?"
He shook his head with a smile. "I truly have a connection with Totsuki Academy. It seems everyone I meet these days is an alum."
After speaking, he led Cerberus to a large table near the window. Hinako watched him go, her mind racing with menu preparations. Ryota Kise very consciously sat to the side, giving Ren the head of the table, while Erina and Hisako sat opposite Ren.
"Senior Inui," Erina called out as Hinako headed for the kitchen. "You must do your best! Shopkeeper Ren's cooking is amazing. His Sukiyaki is legendary—it even made Grandpa take off his shirt when he ate it!"
Inui Hinako paused, her eyes widening. The Director stripped? That was the highest form of praise in the culinary world.
Ren laughed gently. "It feels like that girl Rindou has influenced you, Erina. You're all exaggerating a bit now. Miss Inui, don't be too nervous. It's not as earth-shattering as Erina and the others say. Just cook with your heart."
Erina opened her mouth to protest, but remembering what Kobayashi Rindou had once said about Ren's humbleness—and how Ren often claimed he wasn't very good at cooking despite evidence to the contrary—she chose to remain silent.
He's just being modest, Erina thought. But a person who can be so highly praised by Rindou-senpai, and receive endless commendation from Grandfather, is definitely not simple. Senior Inui is in for a test.
It seemed the Mistress of Mist would have to perform well today.
After Inui Hinako left to prepare the meal, Ren turned to Erina and gestured to Kise.
"This is Ryota Kise," Ren introduced. "He's sort of my younger brother. We have a very good relationship. Don't let his height fool you; he's actually only sixteen. He plays basketball."
Kise waved, flashing his model smile. "Nice to meet you!"
Erina nodded politely. "Nakiri Erina. And this is my secretary, Hisako Arato."
Kise blinked. "Nakiri? Is it the Nakiri of Totsuki? The conglomerate?"
Erina nodded.
Ren asked curiously, "What? Do you know anyone from the Nakiri Family, Ryota?"
Kise laughed. "I don't really 'know' them personally, but I've often seen the shadow of the God Tongue in magazines. If I know about it, it's probably from what Little Akashi told me... after all, his family is the Akashi Family. They run in the same elite circles."
[Akarin's Note: Seijuro Akashi is the captain of the Generation of Miracles. His family is extremely wealthy and influential, comparable to the Nakiris.]
Erina nodded, acknowledging the connection. "The Akashi Family is indeed a very powerful family. They are quite traditional."
She turned her attention back to Ren. "But Shopkeeper Ren, why are you out with Cerberus today? Just the two of you? Where is Miss Lucifer?"
Ren nodded, pouring tea for everyone. "That's right. Just the two of us. The specific reason is that Lucifer is currently making chocolates with Yumiko back at the shop. She didn't want me to interfere or critique her work, so she effectively banished me. She sent me out to play with Cerberus so she could focus."
Erina's eyes lit up. "Chocolates... Sister Yumiko and the others can make chocolates? That takes a long time to make properly."
"They're making simple chocolates," Ren explained. "Ganache, truffles. For the high-quality bean-to-bar batch, I've already put them in the machine to mix. Do you want to try some later? I can save a box for you."
"Eh?" Erina leaned forward, excited. "Shopkeeper Ren made them himself? From the bean? If possible, please! I would love to try them!"
"It's just chocolate," Ren shrugged.
"The dried fruit before was different from ordinary dried fruit!" Erina insisted. "Everything you make is different!"
Because of her interactions with Kobayashi Rindou, Erina's respect for Ren was accompanied by a bit more casualness than she showed others. Otherwise, the Ice Queen might not have spoken to Ren so freely.
As Ren and Ryota Kise chatted enthusiastically about sports, and Erina, Hisako, and Cerberus discussed food, Inui Hinako returned.
She was followed by a waiter carrying a portable stove and a large, steaming iron pot. The aroma of soy sauce, sugar, and beef wafted through the air instantly.
"Here we are," Hinako announced, placing the pot in the center. "Kansai-style Sukiyaki."
Ren looked at the marbling on the beef slices. "Hmm. This beef is good. Miss Inui, you must have something you want to tell me, right? You look like you have questions. Sit down and eat with us. You're Erina's Senior, so we have a connection. Don't stand on ceremony."
Inui Hinako was stunned by the invitation. She hesitated, then nodded and sat next to Hisako. "Mr. Ren, why do you say we have a connection just because I'm Erina's Senior? Is it because of Erina?"
"Of course not," Ren replied, dipping a piece of tofu into the simmering broth. "The old man—Director Nakiri—once asked me to teach at Totsuki for a day. So, in a sense, I'm also a temporary Totsuki teacher, even though I only worked for one day. Another reason is probably that many Totsuki customers visit my Shop. It feels like a gathering hub for your alumni."
Inui Hinako nodded slowly, smiling. "That truly is quite a connection. Do many Totsuki people go to Mr. Ren's Restaurant?"
Erina nodded vigorously. "Yes! Besides Grandpa, me, Hisako, and my cousin Alice, there's also the current Second Seat, Senior Kobayashi Rindou, and the Fourth Seat, Senior Akanegakubo Momo. I don't know about anyone else..."
"A while ago," Ren added, "a man named Yukihira Joichiro came. He was said to be the Second Seat back then. He came with a Mr. Gin Dojima, and then later a Mr. Kojiro Shinomiya visited."
"Yukihira Joichiro..." Hinako muttered. Then her eyes widened. "Joichiro... the same grade as Dojima-senpai... Ah! That must be Saiba-senpai! The Asura!"
"Uncle Saiba Joichiro?!" Erina gasped.
Both Inui Hinako and Erina looked shocked.
Ren smiled and nodded. "Mr. Kojiro Shinomiya seemed to have mentioned that Saiba-senpai recommended him to come here. They were quite the lively bunch."
"Even that Shinomiya idiot has been there..." Hinako murmured, looking at Ren with awe. "To satisfy the Magician of Legumes... Mr. Ren's skill is truly incredible..."
Erina beamed with pride, as if she were the one being praised. "Shopkeeper Ren's skill is amazing!"
"Let's eat first," Ren interrupted the praise session, handing bowls of raw egg to everyone for dipping. "We can chat while we eat. After walking around all morning and playing basketball against a prodigy, I'm actually a bit hungry."
"Mm!"
"Mr. Ren," Hinako said nervously. "Please feel free to point out any shortcomings."
"As long as the food is delicious, there's no need to worry about the trivial things," Ren reassured her. "After all, even the flavors you love aren't perfect to everyone. It's tiring to pay attention to so many technical details while eating. Just enjoy the harmony."
Inui Hinako was slightly stunned, then smiled and nodded.
Just as Ren said, chatting while eating Sukiyaki—which is essentially a hot pot variant—has a magical quality. Only hot pot can make a group of disparate people talk for an entire afternoon, without even drinking alcohol, while strengthening their relationships. The act of sharing from a communal pot breaks down barriers.
At this moment, the group was harmonious. Even Ryota Kise, usually an outsider to the culinary world, had become familiar with everyone and more enthusiastic, charming Hisako with his stories of basketball.
"Eh?!" Hinako exclaimed after hearing a story about Rindou. "So many Seniors know about it! It seems I really need to go to Mr. Ren's Shop to learn something. Tonight it is! Anyway, it's already been closed for a day, I might as well take the night off!"
"Welcome," Ren smiled. "Erina, do you want to come too?"
Erina looked torn. "Although I'd love to go, I have a proposal to deal with for the Council, so I can't..."
"Hehehe," Hinako teased. "Erina... The Elite Ten isn't easy, is it?"
"Senior Inui, weren't you also from the Elite Ten?" Erina countered.
"But now I'm a free Shopkeeper," Hinako giggled. "Freedom is sweet!"
"Sigh..."
[Meanwhile - The Dimensional Restaurant]
While Ren was enjoying a harmonious lunch, his own shop was not quite as peaceful.
Lucifer stood in the kitchen, wearing an apron that was now smeared with various brown substances. She held a whisk like a weapon.
"Hmm..." Lucifer frowned, staring into a bowl. "Yumiko... why does this white chocolate feel a bit strange? It's... lumpy."
Fuji Yumiko walked over and peered into the bowl. She winced.
"Uh... it seems so," Yumiko admitted. "I think the heat was too high. The cocoa butter separated. It seized."
[Akarin's Note: Seizing happens when moisture gets into melting chocolate or it gets too hot, turning it into a grainy, hard paste.]
[Author's Note: No useless filler, it's directly for Leonora Nakiri.]
[Akarin's Note: Will My Lovely MILF Leonora appear? Hehehe. Leonora Nakiri is Alice's mother, known for her beauty and slightly air-headed personality.]
[Akarin Note:
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