Chapter 599: Entrusting Mana
Morning light filtered into Totsuki Academy's grand auditorium, casting long shadows across the gathering student body. The culinary world demanded grueling physical and mental endurance, so the academy's schedule mercifully allowed for a later start to the day. Students milled about in various states of readiness. Some were still inhaling their breakfasts, others frantically double-checking their knife rolls, and a few were simply staring blankly into space.
A sharp divide split the room: those treating the upcoming Stagiaire as a torturous death sentence, and those treating it as a holiday. Ironically, the ones who actually had the luxury of treating it as a vacation were currently the most terrified.
Inside a lavishly appointed dorm room, Nakiri Erina paced the floor like a caged lioness. Arato Hisako stood nearby, wringing her hands, her face pale with sympathetic panic. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a cleaver.
Lounging on the sofa, Nakiri Alice watched her cousin's frantic laps with a look of utter indifference. After several long minutes, she let out a dramatic sigh. "Erina, do you have ADHD? Just sit down and be quiet for a second!"
Erina whipped around, her violet eyes wide with horror. "Do you even comprehend what day it is?!"
"It's just the Stagiaire," Alice drawled, waving a dismissive hand. "Why are you acting like the sky is falling?"
Erina let out an exasperated breath, rolling her eyes. "You know exactly where we're going, yet you're sitting there looking like you haven't a care in the world! Are you insane, or am I?!"
"No need to guess," Alice replied without missing a beat. "It's definitely you, Erina. Have a little more confidence in your own madness, and leave me out of it."
"You idiot!" Erina snapped, her composure fracturing. "We are going to Shopkeeper Ren's restaurant! Do you understand what that means?! Are you completely out of your mind to be this relaxed?!"
Alice puffed out her cheeks, her playful demeanor slipping into a pout. "Don't call me stupid! You're the stupid one, Erina! It's exactly because it's Shopkeeper Ren's place that this is going to be a breeze! He barely has any daytime customers. Plus, his culinary skills are practically god-tier. We won't even have to do any heavy lifting during the day. Why on earth should I be nervous?"
Erina stared at her cousin, utterly aghast. "We are going there for an assessment! Not a vacation! Do you have any idea what this implies? We have to step into his kitchen! Even if we aren't the ones manning the stoves, he might demand basic prep work. You've seen Shopkeeper Ren's knife skills. You've tasted his food. Do you really want to make a fool of yourself in front of him?!"
The reality of the situation finally pierced Alice's bubble of confidence. She froze, blinking blankly. "R-really?"
"Yes, really!" Erina groaned, rubbing her temples. "What if he has to step out for a delivery and leaves us in charge of a dessert or a salad? What if he suddenly gets inspired and demands we assist him in plating a dish for a VIP? His clientele consists entirely of regulars with impossibly high standards. Have you even thought about the consequences of messing up in his kitchen?"
The color drained from Alice's face as the gravity of the Stagiaire finally set in.
Hisako exhaled a shaky breath, trying to mediate. "We are already committed. There is no turning back now. We just have to do our absolute best."
Erina took a deep, steadying breath, her aristocratic mask slowly slipping back into place. "Since we are assigned to his restaurant, we are exempt from the general mobilization and briefing sessions in the auditorium. That buys us time to mentally prepare. His shop doesn't officially open for service during the day, which means we have a window to practice and adapt to his kitchen's rhythm."
Alice nodded slowly, conceding that Erina's cautious approach was actually reliable. She made a silent vow right then and there: when Erina inevitably broke down in tears upon seeing Nakiri Mana, Alice would be a good cousin and comfort her properly instead of teasing her.
Elsewhere in the dormitories, Akanegakubo Momo was currently employing all her strength to drag Kobayashi Rindou out of bed. The Second Seat had reluctantly washed up, slapped a hydrating sheet mask over her face, and was now blindly attempting to eat her breakfast.
Momo sighed, clutching her plush toy tightly. "Rindou-senpai, why are you wearing a face mask while eating?"
"Because I need to look absolutely flawless for Ren..." Rindou mumbled through the damp fabric, letting out a massive yawn. "Haah... I'm so exhausted..."
"What exactly were you doing last night?"
"Last night? Hmm... Ah! I was on a video call with a friend. Didn't you see me, Momo-chan?"
"You mean Esdeath?"
"Yeah."
"You two were talking all night?!"
Rindou waved a dismissive hand, nearly knocking over her juice glass. "Nah, that's impossible. The time zone difference is too crazy. After we hung up, I stayed up playing video games with Cerberus and the others... Ugh, I'm so sleepy..."
"Rindou-senpai!" Momo shrieked. "Your face! Your face is going to fall right into your soup bowl!"
Back in the grand auditorium, the atmosphere was buzzing with chaotic energy. Eishi Tsukasa ran a hand through his silver hair, looking around the massive hall. "It seems Kobayashi and the others aren't going to show up," he murmured. "Where is everyone heading for their Stagiaire?"
After the surrounding students exchanged their assignments, Eishi nodded thoughtfully.
Terunori Kuga leaned over, a wide grin plastered across his face. "Hey, Tsukasa-senpai! Where are you off to for your assessment?"
"I'll be going to SHINOS," Eishi replied, his tone polite and measured. "Chef Shinomiya's restaurant. It works out perfectly, as I've been heavily researching French cuisine lately, and he agreed to take me on."
"Oh! That's pretty hardcore!" Kuga laughed, crossing his arms. "You know, the WGO just moved their headquarters here. If they had finished setting up a bit earlier, we might have been able to intern at a WGO-affiliated Chinese restaurant. Such a shame the timing didn't work out. Hey, any of you planning to aim for the WGO after graduation?"
Only a sparse few hands went up in the crowd. Kuga tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I think I'd like to get certified as a WGO First-Class Chef and open my own authentic Sichuan restaurant!"
The surrounding students merely rolled their eyes at his usual boisterous declarations, choosing to ignore him.
Their chatter died down as Nakiri Senzaemon strode onto the main stage. The Food Demon had been in exceptionally high spirits the previous night, but this morning, a heavy knot of worry had settled in his chest. He knew the impending reunion between Erina and her mother, Nakiri Mana, had the potential to trigger a massive emotional breakdown.
Still, he took solace in the fact that Ren would be there. Between the young shopkeeper, his capable girlfriends, and Mana herself, Senzaemon trusted that any crisis could be averted.
His booming voice echoed through the hall as he outlined the strict rules and expectations for the Stagiaire. Once the briefing concluded, he dismissed the students to finalize their packing. With the exception of the Elite Ten, every student was mandated to arrive at their designated kitchens before the lunch service commenced.
As the massive crowd dispersed in a flash, Senzaemon stood alone near the stage, letting out a heavy sigh. "I just hope we can keep Erina emotionally stable this time. Otherwise... sigh. Hmm? Who is calling me?"
He pulled his phone from his pocket, his thick eyebrows rising in surprise. "Ren?"
Senzaemon quickly answered the call. As he listened to the young man on the other end, his stern expression melted into a hearty, booming laugh. "Alright, alright! I'll tell them to wait. You actually arranged a special car for them? You really are a sly boy, Ren."
He chuckled, stroking his beard. "Well, it's no wonder you've managed to win over the hearts of so many exceptional girls. How is Mana holding up?"
Hearing the response, Senzaemon nodded repeatedly, his smile widening. "Good, good, good! Just make sure to remind her to cut back on the soda. I am completely relieved to entrust Mana to you! Hahahaha!"
"Alright, I know you're busy! When they arrive, just have them head straight in. I'll leave the arrangements in your capable hands!"
Senzaemon lowered the phone, a deep, satisfied rumble echoing in his chest. "Mana, Mana... you must seize this golden opportunity! Hahahahaha!"
Meanwhile, in his own restaurant, Shopkeeper Ren stared at his phone screen, a look of deep confusion crossing his face.
'Entrusting Nakiri Mana to me?'
He blinked, a dry sense of amusement warring with bewilderment. Why did the old man's phrasing sound so incredibly ambiguous?
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