Chapter 415: Erina's Burning Resolve, Ren's Hidden Secret
Nakiri Mana took a slow, deliberate breath, trying to keep her composure. If she had to listen to another word from Alice, she was certain her blood pressure would skyrocket. The child, whether by design or by some innate, infuriating talent, seemed to live for the sole purpose of needling her.
Courage, oblivious to the simmering tension, chuckled warmly. "What precious things could Lanterby possibly have? It's probably just her collection of peculiar trinkets. I'd wager she just likes the box itself. At most, she'd put her bank cards or something in it."
Anne nodded in agreement. "Mhm, I think so too. But she does seem to have something she's been treasuring recently. She always keeps it tucked away in a small case. Could it be for that?"
"I did see Lanterby muttering to a piece of paper the other day," Lucifer added, a thoughtful frown on her face. "Could it be that? If so, it must be some kind of diary she doesn't want anyone to see."
Everyone nodded, finding the theory plausible. Courage clapped her hands together, her eyes lighting up. "Ah! Speaking of which, I have a few things I'd like to keep safe, too. Let's all get one!"
Just as Nakiri Mana was about to voice her disinterest, she felt a familiar, prickling sensation. She glanced down to find Alice's wide, innocent eyes fixed on her once again. A muscle in Mana's jaw twitched. "Alice," she said, her voice dangerously level, "what is it now?"
"Mmm… Aunt Mana," Alice began, her tone deceptively sweet, "you've been with the WGO for so long, and you never even used a phone. What could you possibly have to put in a secret box?"
Nakiri Mana gritted her teeth. This damned girl. Before she could formulate a scathing retort, she realized it was too late. Courage and the others were all looking at her, their curiosity piqued.
Anne added softly, "Lady Mana, it's true you only ever worked and slept. What would you put inside?"
Mana's eye twitched. She cleared her throat, forcing a dignified air. "If it were something I could simply say aloud, there would be no need to put it in a box. Besides," she deflected, turning the tables, "Alice, are you telling me you have no secrets of your own to keep?"
Her blood pressure was practically boiling. She should have just said she liked the box's design or that she'd use it for cosmetics. A fatal miscalculation.
Sensing the shift in conversation, Pandemonica turned her calm gaze to Ren. "Ren," she asked softly, "do you have anything you need to keep secret?"
Lucifer waved a dismissive hand. "Ren doesn't have any secrets…"
"Yes, I do."
The simple, direct contradiction hung in the air.
"You really do?!" Lucifer's head snapped toward him, her eyes wide. "How could you?! How come I didn't know?!"
She was utterly stunned. This man had told her his shop could connect to other worlds, yet he still had secrets? He was keeping things from his own woman! It was unacceptable!
Seeing Lucifer's jaw practically on the floor, Ren just smiled. "I already said it's a secret. If I could just talk about it, it wouldn't be much of one, would it?"
Lucifer paused, her mind racing. She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "What is it? Have I seen it? Do Kirari and the others know?"
"I can say with certainty that no one has seen it but me," Ren replied calmly. "Kirari knows that such a thing exists, but she's never laid eyes on it. As for Yumiko… ah… let's just leave it at that."
Lucifer's eyebrows shot up. Good heavens, he had hidden it well. But the mention of Yumiko was a crucial clue. It seemed she knew something, or at least had a lead. In that case, Lucifer would have her chance. She would uncover this mystery, piece by piece.
Just as Ren was about to say more, he paused. He noticed that it wasn't just Lucifer; everyone, from Anne to even Alice, was staring at him with undisguised curiosity. Their eyes gleamed with the thrill of a puzzle. Ren could practically see the gears turning in their heads.
He let out a soft sigh. "With expressions like that, you're not planning to launch a full-scale investigation, are you?"
"No!" came the perfectly synchronized, seven-part denial.
Everyone exchanged a quick, guilty glance before silently turning their heads away, a clear sign they were all thinking the exact same thing. Ren wasn't worried. Even if they somehow stumbled upon it, they likely wouldn't recognize it as the 'secret' they were looking for. The chances of them actually finding it were next to zero.
Seeing Ren's utterly unconcerned expression, however, felt like a direct challenge. A silent vow was made among the women. They would find it. And when they did, it would be a truly impressive feat.
Meanwhile, back at Totsuki Academy, Erina Nakiri wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead, a puzzled look on her face. "Why do I feel like I've been forgetting something important for a while now…"
"Miss Erina, do you perhaps want to go shopping as well?" Hisako Arato asked from her side.
Erina started. An absurd, fleeting thought—the desire to agree with Hisako—flashed through her mind. But she quickly shook her head, her golden hair swishing with the sharp movement. "No. I cannot afford to waste time. Every spare moment must be dedicated to honing my culinary skills!"
Hisako's eyes filled with admiration. "You are truly diligent, Miss Erina."
"Of course!" Erina declared, her resolve hardening. "The practical training is approaching, and I'll be staging at Shopkeeper Ren's restaurant. While I may not be allowed to handle every dish, I will certainly be asked to assist or even prepare a dish or two for the assessment!"
"So, you want Shopkeeper Ren to see how much you've progressed?"
"Yes! A little bit of progress is nothing to show off. Whether it's my cooking technique or my handling of ingredients, I must improve myself as much as possible! I will never be seen as someone who got in through connections and can't pull her own weight!"
For Erina, earning Ren's recognition as a chef had become more than just a desire; it was a goal, an absolute objective she had to achieve.
Her voice softened slightly. "It's not just that, Hisako. If I am required to cook, the customers who visit are all Shopkeeper Ren's regulars. If I don't perform well, I will tarnish his reputation!"
Hisako froze, the weight of Erina's words crashing down on her. She suddenly felt a cold knot of anxiety form in her stomach. Given Ren's legendary skill, his regular customers would have impossibly high standards. To cook for them, one couldn't just be good; one had to be exceptional. Compared to Ren's cooking, a dish that was merely "not too bad" was already a monumental achievement.
The pressure was suffocating. Hisako was instantly flustered. She wasn't Erina, or Kobayashi Rindou, or Akanegakubo Momo. She wasn't a culinary prodigy. If she messed up then…
The thought was horrifying.
"No!" Hisako suddenly shouted, her voice ringing through the kitchen. "Absolutely not!"
The outburst startled Erina so badly she nearly dropped the potato she was peeling. She was about to ask what was wrong when she saw the look in her aide's eyes—Hisako was completely fired up, radiating an intensity that was almost frightening.
"Hi… Hisako?" Erina asked, bewildered. "What's wrong with you?"
Hisako clenched her fists, her knuckles white. "Miss Erina! You must practice even harder! There will be absolutely no slacking! Absolutely none!"
"Oh! But Hisako, why do you seem so… passionate all of a sudden?"
"Miss Erina! Cherish this precious practice time!"
"I… I know!"
Erina found herself completely overwhelmed by Hisako's ferocious momentum, feeling as if their roles had been completely and utterly reversed.
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