Chapter 242: Shocking Results, Eishi Tsukasa's Reply
Akanegakubo Momo had no intention of refusing the request.
As she stared at the glowing screen of her smartphone, she couldn't help but feel that the cryptic email they had just received was incredibly childish. It read like the grandiose script of a villain in a cheap manga, specifically designed to tempt brainless, hot-blooded teenagers into a rebellion.
[Akarin's Note: The "chuunibyou" email they received is from Nakiri Azami, Erina's tyrannical father. In the original Food Wars! storyline, Azami orchestrates a coup d'état by secretly emailing the Elite Ten Council, getting the majority to vote in favor of ousting Senzaemon and naming himself the new Director. Here, things are playing out a bit differently!]
Kobayashi Rindou swallowed the last bite of her late-night snack, wiping a stray crumb from her lips. She looked over at the petite girl clutching her stuffed plushie and tilted her head.
"Eh? Momo-chan, why did you get ready so quickly?" Rindou asked, her golden, feline eyes blinking in genuine curiosity.
Momo puffed out her cheeks, hugging her plushie, Bucchi, a little tighter to her chest. She glared exasperatedly at the taller girl.
"Rindou-senpai, you only came out of your room after finishing an entire plate of late-night skewers," Momo grumbled, her voice laced with sleepy irritation. "It's not that Momo-chan got ready quickly. It's that you took forever eating."
Rindou simply laughed, completely unapologetic as she waved a dismissive hand. "Ah, it's all minor stuff! You can't expect a predator to hunt on an empty stomach, right?"
Momo rolled her eyes but didn't argue further. She knew better than to get between Rindou and her endless appetite.
"Anyway," Rindou continued, stretching her arms above her head with a satisfied groan. "Where do you think is the best place to go first, Momo-chan? We need to figure out who else got this ridiculous email."
Momo buried the lower half of her face into Bucchi's soft head, thinking for a moment. The grand clock in the hallway ticked quietly, emphasizing the late hour.
"I think we should go to Eishi's place first," Momo finally decided, her voice muffled against the plush fabric. "Because Eishi's personality is so passive and anxious. I feel like Eishi would be the easiest one to pressure into agreeing to something like this."
Rindou tapped her chin, her sharp canines peeking out as a wicked, almost feral grin spread across her face. She nodded slowly, her eyes glinting with a dangerous light.
"You're right," Rindou mused, cracking her knuckles with a menacing series of pops. "If Eishi actually dares to agree to this coup, I'll personally let him experience what true cruelty feels like!"
Momo shivered in fear, taking a small step back from the terrifying aura radiating off the Second Seat. However, she didn't object.
If Eishi Tsukasa, the revered First Seat of the Elite Ten, actually agreed to such a blatantly childish scheme, it would be incredibly disappointing. They needed to know where he stood.
The two girls left Momo's room, stepping out into the quiet, moonlit corridors of the elite dormitories. The cool night breeze drifted through the open corridor windows, rustling the leaves of the meticulously manicured courtyard outside.
Their footsteps echoed softly against the polished hardwood floors. Rindou walked with a confident, predatory stride, while Momo shuffled along tiredly, dragging Bucchi by the paw.
As they approached the lavish, private kitchen laboratory assigned exclusively to the First Seat, a rich, intoxicating aroma suddenly wafted down the hallway. It was sweet, creamy, and undeniably fragrant.
Inside his pristine, stainless-steel kitchen, Eishi Tsukasa hovered over a simmering pot, his silver hair falling into his eyes. He held a silver tasting spoon, gently stirring the milky white broth.
"Hmm? So adding this exact ratio of coconut milk yields this kind of effect..." Eishi muttered to himself, his eyes wide with profound realization. "No wonder... as expected of Ren-sensei. The depth of flavor is entirely different."
He carefully blew on the hot liquid before taking a small sip. The velvety texture of the coconut broth coated his tongue, perfectly balanced with the savory depth of the chicken fat he had rendered earlier.
"Eh? I actually didn't even pay attention to the exact measurements of the ingredients this time..." Eishi whispered, his hands trembling slightly with excitement. "I just followed my instincts like he showed me, but the taste is indeed vastly more delicious."
Eishi stared into the pot, completely lost in his own culinary world. He could vividly remember the gentle yet commanding presence of Ren in the kitchen.
"Do you all feel the same way?" Eishi asked softly, speaking directly to the ingredients floating in the pot, treating them with his usual, absolute reverence. "I feel like we've reached a new harmony together. I feel..."
BANG!
Before Eishi could finish his sentence, the heavy kitchen doors were violently kicked open, slamming against the walls with a deafening crash.
"Eek!!!" Eishi shrieked, his entire body jolting in sheer terror.
The sudden intrusion startled him so badly that his hand slipped. He nearly plunged his entire arm straight into the boiling pot of coconut broth, barely catching his balance against the edge of the stove.
Eishi whipped his head around, his heart hammering against his ribs. Standing in the doorway was a gloomy, menacing Kobayashi Rindou, flanked by a panting Akanegakubo Momo who was desperately clutching Bucchi.
Seeing the absolute murder in Rindou's shadowed eyes, Eishi swallowed hard. Every instinct in his body screamed danger.
"Um... Kobayashi-san..." Eishi stammered nervously, wiping a bead of cold sweat from his forehead. "What are you and Akanegakubo-san doing in my kitchen so late...? I was just... researching some new dishes..."
Rindou didn't say a word at first. She stalked forward like a tiger cornering a very frightened rabbit.
She pulled out her smartphone, the screen illuminating her sharp features. She swiftly closed the distance, shoving the device practically into Eishi's face.
"Eishi," Rindou said, her voice dropping an octave into a chilling, deadpan tone. "Did you receive this thing?"
Eishi leaned back slightly, his eyes focusing on the glowing screen. He recognized the sender and the ridiculous, grandiose text immediately.
He blinked, the lingering panic in his chest slowly fading into confusion. He gave a small, timid nod.
"Yes, I received it," Eishi answered honestly. "I actually replied to it right before you two came crashing in..."
Rindou's lips curled into a dangerously sweet smile. She tilted her head, her golden eyes narrowing into predatory slits.
"Is that so?" Rindou purred smoothly. "So, Eishi, tell me... what exactly was your reply?"
Eishi looked at her, tilting his head slightly in genuine innocence. "I refused it."
The heavy, suffocating tension in the room instantly vanished. Rindou blinked, her menacing aura evaporating like smoke.
"Eishi! I knew you were going to— Wait, huh?!" Rindou sputtered, her jaw dropping. "You... you refused?!"
Momo was equally surprised. Her sleepy eyes widened behind Bucchi's head. It was a completely unexpected outcome; they had both been certain Eishi would succumb to the pressure.
Rindou quickly recovered, though her expression remained somewhat serious. She crossed her arms, analyzing the silver-haired chef closely.
"Eishi, although I'm genuinely happy to hear you say that, can you tell me why?" Rindou asked, her voice losing its edge. "Normally, you'd overthink this until your brain melted and end up agreeing just to avoid conflict."
Eishi let out a long, exhausted sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. He turned his gaze back to his simmering pot, a soft, reverent smile touching his lips.
"I just got back from Ren-sensei's shop," Eishi said softly, his voice carrying a profound sense of respect. "I won't lie... what that man in the email said did tempt me a little bit, as he offered absolute freedom and control."
He paused, picking up his tasting spoon once more to gently stir the creamy broth.
"But in the end," Eishi murmured, his eyes reflecting the warm glow of the stove. "I'd rather trust my teacher. The path Ren-sensei showed me is far more vast than anything that email could offer."
Hearing this, Rindou let out a massive sigh of relief. She slapped a hand against her forehead, her tense muscles finally relaxing.
"Thank goodness..." Rindou groaned, flashing him a wide, genuine smile. "But wait a second, since when did you officially become Ren's disciple? If you're his student now, shouldn't you..."
Eishi turned to her, his smile gentle and completely void of his usual crippling anxiety.
"Ren-sensei has never once treated me as just a student," Eishi explained, his voice filled with unwavering loyalty. "But I still consider him my ultimate benefactor, as he taught me so much more than just cooking. He taught me how to find my own pulse within the kitchen."
Eishi then offered a polite, deeply respectful bow toward Rindou.
"So, you don't need to worry about my loyalties, Shimu."
[Akarin's Note: "Shimu" (师母) translates directly to "Wife of the Master" or "Teacher's Wife." Eishi is formally acknowledging Ren as his revered Master, and by extension, officially recognizing Rindou as his Master's rightful wife!]
The kitchen plunged into an absolute, deafening silence.
Rindou froze. Her brain completely short-circuited.
Shimu?!
Did Eishi Tsukasa, the untouchable First Seat of the Elite Ten, just call her the Master's Wife?!
A violent, atomic blush erupted across Rindou's cheeks, spreading rapidly down her neck and tinting her ears a bright, burning crimson. Her feline eyes widened to the size of saucers, and her heart began hammering wildly against her ribs.
Seeing Eishi's perfectly serious, respectful expression, Rindou suddenly wanted to dig a hole and bury herself. She really wanted to know what on earth Eishi and Ren had talked about during their private session!
What exactly did Ren teach Eishi to make the First Seat so unshakably convinced of their relationship?!
She had originally wanted to jokingly tease Eishi, maybe command him to call her 'Shimu' just to mess with him. But hearing him say it with such absolute, deadpan sincerity caught her completely off guard.
It made the usually brazen predator feel incredibly awkward and utterly flustered.
Rindou aggressively cleared her throat, waving her hands wildly in front of her burning face. She averted her gaze, unable to look Eishi in the eye.
"W-Well then! That's that!" Rindou stammered loudly, her voice cracking slightly. "I'm glad we cleared that up, so let's have an Elite Ten meeting tomorrow morning to lay our cards on the table early!"
Eishi simply nodded, offering another polite, respectful bow to his 'Master's Wife'.
Rindou couldn't stand the embarrassment for a single second longer. She reached out, grabbed the collar of Momo's pajamas, and directly pulled the startled girl out of the kitchen, marching down the hallway at a blistering pace.
After watching them leave, Eishi turned back to his stove. He picked up his phone, glancing at the rejected email one last time.
"A clown is a clown after all..." Eishi softly murmured, his voice laced with uncharacteristic coldness before he deleted the message entirely.
Out in the cool night air of the courtyard, Momo stumbled slightly as she tried to keep up with Rindou's frantic pace.
"Phew... I didn't expect Eishi to change so much," Momo said in surprise, hugging Bucchi. "What on earth did Ren say to Eishi to give him that kind of backbone?"
"I don't know, and I don't care right now!" Rindou squawked, still fanning her burning red cheeks.
Momo looked up at her senpai's flushed face and tilted her head. "Yeah, I didn't expect Eishi to be like this, but with him rejecting it so firmly, we can probably rest assured, right?"
Rindou took a deep breath, forcing the heat down from her face. She slapped her cheeks with both hands, regaining her fierce focus.
"Mm, let's go. We can't stop yet," Rindou declared, her eyes sharpening. "Next up is Somei Saito..."
Their midnight hunt continued. They marched across the sprawling campus, tracking down the remaining upperclassmen one by one.
Knock, knock.
"Refused..." Saito's stoic voice echoed from behind his door, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of a whetstone sharpening a massive blade.
Knock, knock.
"Refused..." came another grumbled reply from down the hall.
Knock, knock.
"Refused..."
The results truly surprised Rindou. As they walked away from the final dormitory, the reality of the situation set in.
Among all the people they had checked on so far, every single one of them had flat-out refused Azami's temptation. There wasn't a single vote in favor of the coup.
Momo stood blankly under a streetlamp, the yellow light casting soft shadows across her face. She blinked slowly, processing the information.
"Rindou-senpai..." Momo muttered quietly. "Erina is resting safely in her room, and Hisako texted me saying she hadn't received any similar email. I told her it might just be a prank and left it at that..."
Momo looked up, her brow furrowing. "Why didn't they approach Erina specifically? She's the Tenth Seat."
Rindou shook her head, leaning against the cold metal of the lamppost. She crossed her arms, her sharp mind piecing the puzzle together.
"Probably because Azami knows he can't sway Erina through a simple email right now, not with Ren in the picture," Rindou analyzed. "We still have Eizan, Nene, Isshiki Satoshi, and Kuga left to ask, but it's too late to track them down tonight."
Rindou pushed off the lamppost, stretching her long legs.
"Let's discuss it tomorrow morning. We'll gather everyone except Erina for the emergency meeting," Rindou concluded smoothly.
Momo nodded, rubbing her tired eyes. "Mm... What do we do now then?"
Rindou's feral grin returned in full force. She patted her flat stomach affectionately.
"Go back to the kitchen and hunt for a late-night snack, obviously~"
Momo stared at her in utter disbelief, her jaw dropping. "Huh?! Didn't you already eat an entire plate of skewers right before we left?!"
Rindou laughed, wrapping an arm around Momo's shoulders and dragging the tired girl toward the cafeteria.
"That was just an appetizer, Momo-chan! The real feast begins now~!"
Meanwhile, far away from the brewing political storms of Totsuki, a much more peaceful atmosphere settled over Ren's restaurant.
The golden, warm light of the dining area had been dimmed. The last of the night's dishes had been washed, and the subtle, lingering aroma of sweet coconut and savory spices hung comfortably in the air.
Courage and the three bodies of Cerberus were currently being ushered upstairs by Ren and Lucifer to rest for the night.
Cerberus seemed incredibly happy, the three identical silver-haired dog-girls wagging their tails in perfect, synchronized rhythm. Perhaps it was simply because they weren't being sent upstairs alone, or maybe it was the lingering joy of the massive feast they had just devoured. They bounded up the wooden staircase, chattering excitedly to one another.
Courage, on the other hand, walked with a slow, almost reverent grace. She traced her fingers along the smooth wooden banister, an exceptionally warm feeling blooming in her chest.
She felt like she was finally going home.
It wasn't until she reached her assigned guest room, softly said goodnight to the bouncing Cerberus trio, and gently closed her door that the reality of the situation hit her.
Courage walked over to the plush, perfectly made bed and sat down. The mattress yielded softly beneath her weight. She stared blankly at the warm, cozy furnishings, utterly in disbelief.
"It's really that simple..." Courage whispered to the empty room, her eyes trembling. "There's no grand ceremony, no strict protocols, no hidden agendas... It feels like a beautiful dream..."
For a First-Class Book Master of the WGO, her entire life had been dictated by rigid rules, sterile hotel rooms, and the overwhelming pressure of perfection. Yet here, she was just... a welcome guest. Family, almost.
Courage quickly came to her senses. She pulled out her sleek WGO-issued phone and immediately began typing in the private group chat.
Her fingers flew across the keyboard, rapidly sharing the unbelievable information and the day's miraculous culinary events with Decora, Anne, and the others back at headquarters.
As she detailed the warmth of Ren's cooking and the casual kindness he showed everyone, she paused. Her thumb hovered over the send button.
She looked out the window at the starlit sky, a profound question echoing in her mind.
Does love make people strange? Courage wondered silently. Or are humans inherently strange, and we just need the right catalyst—the right warmth—to activate our true selves?
She smiled softly, hitting send before falling back onto the soft pillows.
Downstairs, the rest of the world faded away. The quiet hum of the refrigerators and the soft ticking of the wall clock were the only sounds left in the empty restaurant.
Another entire day had passed, and Lucifer finally had the rare, precious opportunity to have some alone time with Ren again.
The Queen of Hell sat gracefully at the polished wooden counter. She had shrugged off her pristine white CEO blazer, draped it over the stool, and unbuttoned the top of her crimson blouse. The dim, ambient lighting caught the faint, alluring blush on her pale cheeks.
Lucifer leaned forward, propping her chin on her hand. Her mesmerizing ruby eyes locked onto Ren as he wiped down the spotless counter.
"Ren~" Lucifer purred, her voice dripping with sultry affection. "Are you really going to renovate the shop?"
Ren chuckled, tossing the damp towel over his shoulder. He walked around the counter, stepping into her personal space. The faint, alluring scent of brimstone and sweet vanilla drifted from her skin.
He reached out, gently tucking a stray lock of snow-white hair behind her ear. Lucifer leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering shut for a brief second.
Ren smiled, his thumb lightly caressing her cheek. "That's right. Though 'upgrade' might be a much better word for it."
Lucifer's eyes snapped open, sparkling with sudden intrigue. She tilted her head, her demonic tail giving a slight, curious flick behind her.
"Upgrade?" Lucifer repeated, her voice hushed. "What do you mean by that—wait, are you telling me the system itself has upgraded?!"
Ren smiled warmly, trailing his hand down to rest lightly on her waist. The physical closeness made Lucifer's breath hitch ever so slightly.
"Mm, it seems my little Queen is as sharp and smart as ever," Ren praised, earning a proud, contented smirk from Lucifer. "That's right. After this upgrade completes, there are a few brand new functions, and they seem incredibly interesting."
Lucifer leaned closer, resting her hands on his chest. She could feel the steady, reassuring beat of his heart beneath his shirt.
"What kind of new functions?" she asked, her curiosity entirely piqued.
Ren wrapped his arms loosely around her, enjoying the quiet intimacy. "For starters, ingredients from Another World will begin to appear randomly in our inventory. The probability is very low, but the potential is limitless."
Lucifer gasped softly, her eyes widening.
"But that's not all," Ren continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The shop can now physically open portals to Another World, provided we have the explicit consent of a customer originating from that specific world. Just one consent is needed to establish the connection, and then there's..."
Lucifer couldn't contain herself. She gripped his shirt tightly, cutting him off in her sheer excitement.
"Wait, wait! You mean we can actually travel to Another World?!"
Looking at the absolute, wide-eyed surprise on Lucifer's beautiful face, Ren couldn't help but laugh softly. He nodded, pulling her a fraction closer.
"Yes. But the full upgrade can only be initiated after the current competition is completely over and we return to our normal routine. Otherwise, Courage, the WGO, and our regular daily customers definitely won't be able to handle the sudden multiversal shift."
Lucifer nodded eagerly, completely understanding the logic. With an infinite, immortal lifespan, a few extra days of waiting meant absolutely nothing to the Queen of Hell.
Besides, it wasn't like she was without things to do. She had a sprawling underworld to manage and a certain chef to keep all to herself in the late hours of the night.
But as her mind wandered to the endless possibilities of traversing the multiverse, a singular, overwhelmingly pure thought eclipsed all her dark, demonic ambitions.
Thinking about the possibility of traveling to a new world and finally being able to catch and raise a cute little Mew, Lucifer felt incredibly, indescribably happy.
Meanwhile, deep in the bureaucratic hellscape of the Underworld, Pandemonica's exhausted voice echoed softly. "Boss~ I'm coming for you..."
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