The ingredients were simple.
The aroma was also pure, instantly filling the mouth and flowing through the body.
Nakiri Erina couldn't help but swallow it, feeling that this was the happiest moment of her life.
On the other side, Kuguchi Sonoka stared blankly at the steaming rice-less fried rice, her expression a mix of hesitation and difficulty in speaking.
"Aren't you hungry, or... is something on your mind?"
Seeing that she hadn't touched her chopsticks, Sosuke asked with concern.
Kuguchi's face flashed with a bitter smile as she sighed, "Shopkeeper, can I bring her to eat with me?"
"You can!"
"Let her come over."
Sosuke, of course, knew who that "she" was.
The Izakaya had expanded its operations and was short on staff. If Kakizaki Taki, who was currently at a low point in her career, could be recruited and put to use, then it would be a beneficial matter for both the Izakaya and for Sosuke!
After receiving Sosuke's permission, Kuguchi Sonoka hastily got up and ran back to the Spring Fruit Pavilion Western Restaurant next door.
...
"I told you!"
"I'd rather jump from here than go to any Izakaya..."
Soon, a roaring sound came from outside the Izakaya's door, and then the glass door automatically opened, revealing a figure.
Her long, dark purple hair was tied into a ponytail. Although her tone of voice was a bit aggressive, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that her personality was somewhat reserved and gentle.
"Alright."
"Taki, have a bowl of rice-less fried rice first."
Kuguchi, however, maintained her smile and pulled her towards Sosuke.
From her Totsuki days, Kakizaki Taki had a very good relationship with her; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were best friends. Now, seeing her like this, she naturally felt heartbroken.
At this moment, the clever Erina understood something and quickly brought her a bowl of rice-less fried rice.
At first, Kakizaki Taki struggled a bit, but then her whole body became very honest, picking up her bowl and chopsticks and taking a few bites of the cauliflower fried rice.
Ever since Taki Amarillo Restaurant was forced to close, she had been somewhat self-abandoning, no different from a "useless person" (useless person).
At the same time, these past few days, staying at Chun Guo Ting Restaurant gave her more opportunities to interact with Sosuke.
As she got to know him better, she also discovered that Sosuke was indeed very charming, and his personality was truly, truly good...
"Hmm?"
"What's wrong with me?"
As she ate, Kakizaki Taki suddenly burst into tears.
"Taki, become an employee here, just like Kuguchi Sonoka."
"This Izakaya has many interesting stories and many interesting people. I believe this will definitely be your best refuge."
Finally, looking at the sobbing Kakizaki Taki, Sosuke could only smile and say to her.
"Tha... thank you!"
Kakizaki Taki, with watery eyes, replied emotionally.
Beside her, Kuguchi Sonoka was stunned for a moment. Upon learning that she had finally agreed to work for Sosuke and become the second official employee of this Izakaya, a slight smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of her mouth!
And so, during a warm late-night meal, the Izakaya finally welcomed its second official employee:
The Second Seat of the 88th Totsuki Elite Ten.
Kakizaki Taki!
...
On a bright morning.
A ray of sunlight softly fell on Erina's face, making her look like an ethereal fairy, unbelievably beautiful.
Waking from her sleep, she rubbed her eyes with her hands, then stretched. Erina felt she hadn't slept so comfortably in a very, very long time!
"Oh?"
"This is..."
Then, when she picked up her phone nearby.
After opening a text message, she couldn't help but widen her eyes.
Immediately after, she quickly washed up, then walked to the first-floor kitchen, where she saw Sosuke expressionlessly cutting ingredients, busy making breakfast.
The "da da da" sound meant that his knife skills had reached perfection, and for a moment, she was mesmerized, unable to tear her eyes away.
If the days ahead could always be like this, always living in the Izakaya, living with Sosuke, how wonderful that would be!
Afterward, the dazed Erina quickly tidied her clothes.
After brushing aside the strands of hair on her forehead, she gently approached Sosuke.
Seeing this, Sosuke could only put down his chef's knife, then turned to look at Erina, whose complexion seemed a bit off. He couldn't help but brush some dust from her hair.
"Why are you up so early and running to the first-floor kitchen when you should be sleeping?"
Erina was silent, her body trembling slightly.
She instinctively leaned towards Sosuke, feeling his warmth and a scent that made her feel safe.
Seeing her so close, close enough to hear each other's breathing, Sosuke paused for a moment, then understood something and directly pulled her somewhat cold body into his embrace: "Are you going back?"
"Yes, I've been notified that I must attend the Totsuki Ten Masters Council at noon today, so I have no choice but to return to Totsuki."
Erina's heart suddenly ached.
After these past few days together, she truly didn't want to leave Sosuke's side.
But as a member of the Elite Ten, she bore many important responsibilities for Totsuki. Of course, she could simply abandon her duties like Kobayashi Rindo, but that was clearly not her style.
Thinking that she would have to say goodbye to Sosuke and leave this Izakaya today, she felt reluctant and an indescribable emotion.
She mustered her courage and wrapped her arms tightly around Sosuke's waist.
Her pretty little face nestled against him, constantly inhaling his warmth with the tip of her nose.
"Sosuke, I don't want to leave you."
Erina choked up a bit, her expression heartbroken.
"Fool!"
"It's not like we're parting forever."
Sosuke reached out to wipe away Erina's tears: "There will be many more opportunities to meet in the future, no need to be like this."
"I think this return to the council is related to the Autumn Elections."
"This competition is very important for the entire Totsuki Culinary Academy. As a member of the Elite Ten, I will definitely be responsible for many affairs, so I'm afraid it will be like the Practical Training, where I won't be able to come to the Izakaya for a long time."
"Sosuke, I really... really..."
Erina, holding back her tears, looked at Sosuke piteously.
In this scene, if Hisako were to witness it, she would probably be so shocked her jaw would drop.
Who would have thought that after only staying at the Izakaya for a short period, this cold, arrogant young lady of the Nakiri would fall in love with Sosuke so quickly.
"Erina."
"No matter when or where, I will never forget you."
With things having developed this far, Sosuke could only hold her tighter, whispering softly into her ear.
Erina's delicate body trembled.
Looking closely, one could even see the corners of her mouth slightly turn up.
Having not much experience with romance, she naturally couldn't resist such "sweet talk."
→
Ultimately, amidst the reluctant atmosphere, she still resolutely chose to leave the Izakaya, temporarily ending her temporary employment there.
...
As noon approached, the weather began to turn muggy.
During this period, the first-year students were still on vacation, but in a slightly dim conference room somewhere in Totsuki Culinary Academy, a Totsuki Ten Masters Council was quietly convened.
"I'm so tired!"
"Why do we, the Elite Ten, have to be responsible for all the big and small matters in the academy?"
"The Autumn Elections are just an event for the first-year students. Let the Shokugeki Management Bureau and other departments handle it. What does it have to do with me, a third-year student?"
At this moment, Kobayashi Rindo, eating snacks while pushing open the door and entering the conference room, complained thus.
"Exactly, exactly."
"What selection competition? No matter how much they fight, they're just a bunch of trash having fun by themselves."
"No matter how strong or amazing they are, can they compare to us, the Elite Ten?"
Following closely behind Kobayashi Rindo was Kuga Terunori, who habitually clasped his hands behind his head, appearing lazy and unkempt.
Like her, he also seemed very dissatisfied with the convening of this Totsuki Ten Masters Council!
...
Subsequently, more and more members of the Elite Ten arrived at the conference room, gathering together.
They took their seats in order of their rank, until Eishi Tsukasa, the First Seat, arrived and sat in the very center. At that point, all the Elite Ten members were accounted for.
"I am truly sorry."
"Last night, the General suddenly informed me that the affairs of this Autumn Elections could officially begin."
"So, out of helplessness, I could only temporarily notify you to come and attend the council. The matter might have happened very suddenly, affecting your rest time, so I apologize to you all in advance."
After a quick glance around, Eishi Tsukasa spoke timidly.
"Eishi Tsukasa, couldn't you just handle the planning and procedures for this Autumn Elections by yourself?"
Beside him, upon hearing Eishi Tsukasa's words, Kobayashi Rindo, who was eating snacks, was the first to be unable to sit still, and quickly asked him.
Clearly, as the Second Seat, she truly didn't want to be responsible for the academy's affairs right now.
"I wish I could!"
"But there are still many other things in the academy waiting for me to handle."
"Do you know that during the time you've abandoned your duties, I've received 14 more conflict incidents regarding Shokugeki duels."
"Cough, cough, alright, alright."
"We know you're working hard, but we don't have time to listen to your complaints here. You should get straight to the point!"
Seeing Eishi Tsukasa sighing constantly, seemingly with some complaints and grumbling, Kobayashi Rindo clearly panicked and quickly replied.
...
"Alright, let's get to the main topic first."
After Kobayashi Rindo's reminder, Eishi Tsukasa finally straightened his posture, then pointed to the stacks of documents on the conference table and continued: "These documents are the performance records of the approximately 400 new students who survived the grueling Practical Training activities since the beginning of the semester."
"Among them, in addition to their scores for each class, there are also comments from various lecturers and professors, as well as the results of various cooking assessments during the Practical Training activities."
"I hope that from these approximately 400 documents, you can carefully select 60 outstanding students to participate in this year's Autumn Elections."
"This is a matter of great importance."
"I once again earnestly request everyone to take this seriously!"
With that, Eishi Tsukasa pushed all the documents towards the other Elite Ten members present.
Although people like Kobayashi Rindo, Kuga Terunori, Eizan Etsuya, and Nakiri Erina were all reluctant to look at these documents, since this Totsuki Ten Masters Council had already been convened, it wouldn't look good to simply refuse the task.
Therefore, they all reluctantly accepted the assignment and began to review the documents carefully.
...
Time flew by.
Soon, after a selection process by the Elite Ten, the list of 60 participating students was gradually filtered out!
"Graduating to the high school division with the lowest score in the junior high division, such poor aptitude definitely isn't good. She should be kicked out."
Eizan Etsuya, inadvertently seeing the student information for someone named Tadokoro Megumi on the list of participants, couldn't help but frown.
However, just as he was about to kick her out, he was stopped by Isshiki Satoshi.
"It's undeniable."
"Tadokoro Megumi's grades were indeed terrible in the early stages."
"But since the beginning of the semester, especially during the Practical Training activities, the talent she has displayed has often amazed teachers and evaluators."
"Therefore, she is a dark horse with potential and should be given a spot to participate in the Autumn Elections."
Isshiki Satoshi, who had stopped him, noticed that the atmosphere in the entire conference room was becoming increasingly oppressive, and everyone was staring intently at him.
So, he could only shrug his shoulders and explain.
...
"Isshiki Satoshi-senpai."
"If I remember correctly, Tadokoro Megumi is your dormmate, isn't she?"
"And, it seems that all the participants you recommended are residents of Polar Star Dormitory?"
"Your actions and methods force us to suspect whether you are using your authority as an Elite Ten member to secure qualifications for the Autumn Elections for this group of dormmates?"
At this moment, Nakiri Erina, who was at the lowest rank of the Elite Ten, reprimanded him without ceremony.
"Erina, do you think this list has a problem?"
"Of course it does!"
Isshiki Satoshi merely smiled slightly upon hearing this: "Precisely because they are all my dormmates, I understand them better than anyone."
"These dorm residents are already a group of exceptionally skilled students. Their outstanding performance during the Practical Training activities alone qualifies them all to participate in the Autumn Elections."
"Is that so?"
"Your explanation is difficult for me to believe."
Erina's eyes were filled with disdain as she retorted defiantly.
"Heh heh, I remember you also recommended Mito and Hisako?"
"These two participants, one is your most trusted subordinate, and the other is your closest secretary, so it's equally difficult not to make people..."
"Senpai, with their culinary skills and cooking level, they definitely rank among the top 60. I can guarantee they are much more reliable than whatever mediocre individuals you recommended."
Hearing Isshiki Satoshi throw the accusation back at her, Erina immediately became furious, slamming her hand on the table and shouting loudly.
"Anyone can say pretty words."
"The key is to be someone who can survive the selection competition through their cooking, Erina, am I right?"
Isshiki Satoshi, still maintaining his smile, replied.
"You... Fine, then we'll see in the Autumn Elections."
Erina's gaze sharpened, and she said with a serious expression. (End of Chapter)
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