"None of your business, keep peeling your squid."
Yuki Yoshino waved her hand and called out.
"Alright."
Yukihira Soma was a bit bewildered, then continued to lower his head and peel the squid skin.
"Everyone, don't scare the two children."
Tadokoro Masako couldn't help but remind them with a smile.
"Haha, don't worry, Megumi's mother."
Everyone in the kitchen burst into laughter, making Satou quite helpless, and Tadokoro Megumi's cheeks were flushed with shyness, feeling very embarrassed.
She also didn't know why everyone knew about it, which made her feel a surge of shyness, as if she couldn't face anyone.
"Oh, by the way? Has the pork bone broth started boiling yet?"
Tadokoro Masako asked.
"I'll boil it."
Satou volunteered, otherwise, he would be the only one doing nothing in the kitchen, which felt very uncomfortable.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Satou."
Tadokoro Masako smiled slightly.
Seeing Satou begin to boil the broth, Tadokoro Megumi instinctively walked over, ready to help.
She had long been accustomed to it at school, silently acting as a capable and helpful assistant whenever Satou prepared dishes.
"Megumi, are the seasonings ready?"
Satou asked naturally.
Hearing Satou speak to her, Tadokoro Megumi couldn't help but recall what happened last night, her cheeks burning, but she still very tacitly brought over all the seasonings needed for the pork bone broth.
As time passed, Tadokoro Megumi gradually forgot the distracting thoughts in her mind and began to focus on assisting Satou.
"Have the pork and chicken bones been boiled and skimmed?"
"Yes! They're ready! Also, the kelp and dried shrimp are already by your hand."
"Very good, I've already knocked out the blood from the bones."
"Satou, I've already washed and sliced the apples, onions, and garlic."
Watching the two cooperate with such perfect synchronicity, everyone in the kitchen was filled with admiration.
"What a perfectly coordinated effort! The two of them working together are almost as efficient as five or six people, aren't they?"
"Yes, if they get married in the future, they definitely won't argue."
"That's natural, Megumi is so virtuous and sensible."
"How wonderful would it be if they could stay at Shoueien after they get married? Our restaurant would surely thrive."
Tadokoro Masako also watched the two busy at the kitchen counter with a beaming smile, her heart full of contentment.
Soon, it was mealtime, and the kitchen immediately became busy.
Yukihira Soma, Ryoko Sakaki, and the others naturally helped out inside.
Satou and Tadokoro Megumi also worked in perfect sync, as if they were back in their Far Moon classes.
"Megumi, are the eggs beaten?"
"Yes, they're beaten. Also, the shrimp have been peeled and deveined, and they're starting to marinate."
Tadokoro Megumi had forgotten the awkward experience with Satou last night; her small face was filled with seriousness and concentration. She greatly enjoyed the process of cooking with Satou. Every time she saw herself silently preparing the things Satou needed and assisting him in creating exquisite dishes, she felt an unprecedented sense of happiness and fulfillment.
"Are the ten portions of shrimp omelets ready?"
At this moment, the waiter came to urge them.
"Yes, they're ready! Please take them!"
Tadokoro Megumi brought out the steaming, fragrant omelets and said with a smile.
"They're ready so quickly?"
"The two of them are really capable!"
"Yes, if they could stay at Shoueien after getting married, how wonderful that would be."
Everyone in the kitchen looked at the two with admiration on their faces.
Listening to everyone's discussions, Tadokoro Megumi's small face turned a bit red, and she couldn't help but secretly glance at Satou.
Before this, she had never thought about such things; being able to silently assist Satou from behind, acting as a qualified helper, she was already content.
But if she could really be with him, work together at Shoueien in the future, and even have a few children, just thinking about it made her incredibly happy.
...
Erina Nakiri rested her chin on one hand, biting on a pen, a shy yet sweet smile occasionally appearing at the corner of her mouth, lost in thought.
"Miss Erina, Miss Erina?"
Hisako Arato, standing behind her, couldn't help but quietly remind her.
"Hmm?"
Erina Nakiri snapped back to reality, realizing she was sitting in a chair, and dozens of people at the conference table, attending the meeting, were all looking at her with somewhat strange expressions.
"Miss Erina seems a bit distracted today."
"Yes, she's zoned out for the fourth time already."
They lowered their heads, discussing in low voices.
Erina Nakiri's cheeks immediately burned, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
After leaving the office.
"Miss Erina, you've been inexplicably spacing out for the past two days, and sometimes you don't seem well. Do you need me to brew some herbal medicine?"
Hisako Arato followed behind Erina Nakiri and asked.
"No need."
Erina Nakiri said somewhat awkwardly.
"Miss Erina, are you perhaps missing Satou?"
Hisako Arato's eyes flickered, and she couldn't help but ask.
"N-no, I'm not!"
Erina Nakiri's face immediately flushed, and she quickly retorted, but then, after a moment of hesitation, she lowered her head and softly hummed in affirmation.
This surprised Hisako Arato a bit. As a companion who had grown up with her, she understood Miss Erina's personality very well. Although she always explained away anything related to Satou, Hisako could still tell that Miss Erina really liked Satou.
However, this was the first time she had openly admitted her yearning for Satou in front of others.
It seemed their relationship had taken a big step forward during the exams.
Hisako Arato couldn't help but smile slightly, feeling a sense of relief.
"How long have you two been separated, Erina Nakiri? Are you already missing Satou that much?"
She said with a teasing smile.
Erina Nakiri's face turned beet red, but she truly had been missing him. She couldn't hold back after only two days apart.
"Satou will be back very soon."
Hisako Arato said.
"Mm. I hope so."
A happy smile appeared on Erina Nakiri's face.
...
In a certain sea area, a small island slowly sank.
Tor-daren let out a satisfied sigh, smiled happily, revealing a small canine tooth, and waved her hand, shouting, "Let's go find another small island to exercise on!"
Elma said somewhat strangely, "Tor-daren has been very irritable these past few days. She seems to want to vent."
"Mm, because Satou hasn't been back for a long time."
Kanna said in a naturally dazed tone.
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