By 9:40 a.m., Damian's dishes — Zuppa di Latte, Crema di Latte, and Polenta di Latte — had all been fully served. The guests, who had initially looked at the simple, rustic menu with curiosity, were now surrendering to the warm, nostalgic flavor that each spoonful delivered.
Damian let out a silent sigh of relief. He wiped his hands on a clean cloth, left the used utensils in the sink, and turned to the audience, raising his voice slightly with a gentle smile:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I truly appreciate all of you who came to try my food. But… unfortunately, all the dishes are gone. There's no more Zuppa, no more Polenta... not even Panna Cotta. I'm sorry."
A murmur of disappointment rippled through the crowd.
"What?! But that soup… it was so comforting…" lamented an emotional lady.
"And that creamy cheese polenta... I never imagined something so simple could taste so good. Are you sure there's no more?"
"The panna cotta with that light syrup… it felt like a sweet goodbye to a dream," said a young man, smiling, still holding his empty spoon.
Damian tilted his head slightly, keeping a kind tone:
"I'm glad you liked it. I would love to serve more... but sadly, I'm out of ingredients. A chef can do a lot, but I still haven't learned how to multiply food with magic," he added playfully.
Erina, seated beside Hisako, let out a deep sigh.
"Finally, it's over…" she muttered.
"He's tireless."
"And on top of that, he left us even hungrier..." Hisako added.
At that moment, the screen of the large central TV lit up again, revealing the calm and firm image of Dojima. Everyone in the room, including Nene and the others, turned their attention to the screen.
"Due to special circumstances…" Dojima began, with his usual authority.
"Today's evaluation will be extended by two hours."
A wave of surprise swept through the hall.
"The minimum sales requirement will remain in effect," he continued.
"But dishes already served may not be altered or replaced."
"Recruited guests may pay a symbolic fee of 2,000 yen to continue enjoying the café. All cafés and resort areas will remain open. Transportation back will be free, and anyone who wishes to stay must register with the service manager."
"So, ladies and gentlemen," he concluded with a slight smile,
"Please, continue the evaluation."
As soon as the broadcast ended, the students reacted immediately.
"It's now or never!" one of them shouted, dashing back to their booth.
The guests also began to scatter, satisfied and excited at the news that they could try more dishes today.
Damian let out a light sigh of relief as he washed his hands and put away his apron, watching as the atmosphere finally began to settle. The hall still echoed with the satisfied murmurs of guests who, after tasting the milk-based dishes — from the rustic Zuppa di Latte to the delicate Panna Cotta al Latte — seemed to have been transported to a nostalgic morning in the Italian hills.
With the last compliments drifting into the air like steam from the pots, Damian turned toward the next participants.
"Now it's your turn, Kuga, Isshiki," he said with a calm smile and a hint of teasing.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll come up with."
"Hah! Then let me get started already!" Kuga exclaimed, as lively as ever.
"The stage is mine now!"
"Good luck," Isshiki said, still smiling warmly, though his cunning remained hidden beneath it.
"I'll observe a bit before jumping in."
Damian nodded, and just as he was about to step back and rest, he heard someone approaching with quiet footsteps.
"Damian-kun…"
Turning, he saw Nene, her uniform impeccable and her gaze restrained, yet clearly anxious. Despite her traditional posture, there was something about her — maybe the shine in her eyes or the slight hesitation in her smile — that made her curiously charming.
Erina, who was about to speak with Damian, froze instantly. Her gaze narrowed at the sight of the girl approaching with such familiarity.
"Nene…" Damian said, softly and serenely.
"Shouldn't you be minding your booth?"
"I... just came to watch you cook. It was incredible," she replied, looking away as if unsure where to place her hands.
Damian raised an eyebrow but soon smiled, grabbing a bowl he had kept aside.
"I'm glad. You've been here the whole time and didn't eat anything, right?" He picked up a ladle and served a steaming portion of his last Crema di Latte.
"Here. Try it before it gets cold."
Nene held the bowl with both hands as if it were a precious gift. She took a sip, her eyes widening slightly, a warmth rising to her cheeks.
"It's so... smooth. Like it melts in your mouth…"
"Good to know my effort was worth it," Damian replied, still smiling.
Meanwhile, Erina watched them from a distance with an expression difficult to decipher. Her eyes shifted between Nene, who was sipping the dessert gratefully, and Damian, who seemed so at ease beside her. The name Nene echoed in her mind like a warning. A faint discomfort formed, though she didn't quite understand why.
"Gray-senpai…" she said with a slightly bitter tone.
"Is that your... girlfriend?"
The sound of a spoon hitting the bowl interrupted the moment. Nene turned bright red.
"N-No! Not at all! I'm just… a friend!"
Damian merely raised an eyebrow with a small smile but didn't answer. His silence said more than words.
Before the atmosphere could shift, feminine voices popped up from all directions like popcorn in hot oil.
"Hey, Damian, right!? Are you still single?"
"Yes," he replied, curt but polite.
"Great! I have a sister who studies gastronomy too! And she's gorgeous!"
"My daughter runs a café, you have to meet her! She's looking for a new chef!"
"Don't listen to them, come to my company! You'd have full creative freedom!"
Erina and Nene exchanged stunned glances. For a second, their expressions mirrored each other — clenched fists, fiery eyes, and a clear "you're pushing it!" in the air.
Damian scratched his head awkwardly as he saw the growing pile of business cards and phone numbers stacking in front of him.
"I appreciate the attention, ladies. But for now, I intend to enjoy my time at Totsuki to the fullest."
He bowed politely, gathering the cards without committing to anything.
"Maybe... in the future."
The "suitors" sighed in unison, stepping back a little, and the tension in the air finally began to fade.
The voices still echoed around the booth when a server appeared to help reorganize the space.
"From now on, extra portions of Crema di Latte will be served in larger bowls," Damian said as he quickly returned to the kitchen.
He was going to use up all the ingredients he had prepared for today.
"Larger bowls?!" exclaimed an excited lady.
"That Crema di Latte…! So smooth it melted on the tongue! Can you pack a little pot for me to take home?!"
Damian smiled gently and raised his hands as if to calm the crowd.
"Unfortunately, I didn't prepare take-out portions. And everything left is being served now. If anyone wants seconds, this is the last chance."
Suddenly, another voice cut through the chatter:
"That Panna Cotta al Latte... is there still any left?!"
"Sadly, that's gone too," he replied with a gentle smile.
"But I'm glad you enjoyed it."
People began to gather around the booth again — some sitting nearby, others taking pictures of the empty plate as if it were a treasure.
"That... was more comforting than any breakfast I've ever had," murmured a touched lady.
"I felt like I was a child again," said a man, discreetly wiping his eyes.
"As if my grandmother had served it to me on a cold morning…"
Meanwhile, Erina and Nene watched Damian being showered with praise and gratitude. But then, what started as simple culinary admiration quickly turned into a different kind of "tasting"...
"Do you have some free time? Maybe I can show you my company's kitchen…" said a younger woman, holding out a business card.
"Me too! My sister's single! And she loves milk! You'd get along great!"
"What about my daughter? She's in her third year! Loves desserts and is really talented!"
Erina and Nene exchanged a look of pure disdain. The veins on both their foreheads began to pulse.
These... opportunists!
Damian, noticing the commotion, simply scratched the back of his head and replied with his usual calm, diplomatic smile:
"Thank you so much for your kindness, but as I said before, I want to focus on my studies and school life for now. I hope you understand."
The women, however, kept surrounding the booth, handing out notes and business cards like it was a love auction.
Damian sighed, glancing at the growing pile of papers on his counter.
"All right… I'll think about it. Someday."
"Hmph…" Erina turned away, sulking.
"Ridiculous…" Nene muttered, crossing her arms.
Damian stretched slightly and murmured:
"It's still just the start of the day… and I'm already tired," he said softly, chuckling.
But then, a spicy aroma exploded through the hall.
"ALOOOOO!" Kuga's voice boomed like thunder.
"LET ME PRESENT TO YOU MY MAPO TOFU WITH CONDENSED MILK AND GOAT CHEESE!"
Everyone turned, shocked. Kuga's pots boiled with an insane mixture of milk, spices, and vibrant cubes of tofu covered in glowing red sauce. The contrast between creamy and spicy was almost violent.
"W-What madness is this? He put milk in Mapo Tofu!?"
"I don't know if I should run… or taste it."
"This is heresy… or genius?"
One of the first guests tried the dish. His eyes widened. Sweat dripped from his forehead. But then… a grin spread across his face.
"It's… it's like a milk dragon hugged me and punched me in the mouth… at the same time!"
Others started lining up, and Kuga raised his arms like a maestro conducting chaos.
"That's right! More is coming! Get your taste buds and tissues ready!"
Damian chuckled softly.
"That's Kuga's style, after all…"
Erina and Nene now stood side by side, watching the creamy yet hellishly spicy dishes roll out like an assembly line. And without realizing it, they spoke at the same time:
"He's definitely an idiot."
End of Chapter.
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."