"I'll scroll up my ass!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka immediately rolled her eyes before glancing at the four girls at the table.
"Two of them seem to be students from our school, right?"
Although she only taught Japanese language classes for some first and second year classes and couldn't possibly know every student in the school, it was difficult not to recognize anyone even slightly famous.
She naturally recognized Eriri, since she was Eriri's teacher, and she also had some impression of Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"No, it's three people."
Sato corrected her.
"Three?!"
Her voice instantly rose an octave as she stared at Sato in shock.
"With this many people gathered at our school and no conflict breaking out, how exactly did you manage that?"
Sato had been drinking lemon tea and nearly choked to death after hearing that.
Pinching the bridge of his nose with a headache, he said,
"I already told you, we're just ordinary friends. Have you ever seen ordinary friends suddenly get into conflicts with each other?"
"Ordinary friends? I see!"
"As long as nobody confirms the relationship, the deadlock won't break, right? You brat are pretty clever!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka spoke with admiration all over her face.
"Why don't you just take them all? Anyway, people like us already have a tiny bit of privilege in this world, and for someone of your level, it'd be even easier."
Sato fell silent.
Why had he never realized before that Hiratsuka Shizuka was this good at overthinking?
"Hiratsuka-sensei, before giving me advice, could you maybe consider your own actual situation first? I'm only sixteen, so naturally I'm not anxious about this stuff. But if I remember correctly, you're already thirty, right?"
Sato calmly looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka.
As a thirty-year-old veteran single woman, your concern for us young people is very touching, but once I think about your age and relationship status, everything you just said completely loses all persuasive power!
Stare.
Hiratsuka Shizuka stared fixedly at Sato with unwavering killing intent in her eyes.
"I'll forever be eighteen!"
"Uh... alright, forever eighteen."
Sato nodded seriously. He would still cooperate with her when necessary.
But...
That was just self-deception!
"Hello, here is your bank card!"
At this moment, the restaurant attendant returned carrying Hiratsuka Shizuka's card and respectfully handed it back to her.
Sato glanced at it.
"That card looks pretty high-end."
The completely black card body looked especially heavy and ancient, while delicate golden patterns decorated its edges.
"Hehe!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked rather proud.
"It's a VIP Supreme Gold Card from the World Bank. You need a certain level of wealth to qualify for one."
"How much wealth?"
"At minimum, probably families or conglomerates ranked within the top hundred in Japan financially."
"So... you really are some kind of super rich second-generation heir?"
"So-so."
"Um..."
Suddenly, Kato Megumi's soft and calm voice entered their conversation. Looking up, they saw Kato Megumi calmly looking at Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, would you like to order something?"
"Eh?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked surprised.
"You know me?"
Kato Megumi's expression became slightly subtle as she looked at her complicatedly.
"You've been teaching Japanese language class to our class the entire time."
Hah?!
This time Hiratsuka Shizuka was genuinely shocked.
She taught two first-year classes and two second-year classes at the private academy. Four classes absolutely wasn't that many students.
But...
Was there actually a beauty like this in those four classes?!
She was bewildered. If there really were a beauty like this in her classes, how could she possibly have no impression of her?!
Sato, however, knew the reason very well.
Kato Megumi absolutely wasn't the kind of beauty who looked stunning at first glance. But if you calmed down and actually faced her directly, you would discover a pleasing and comfortable beauty about her.
Every detail of her delicate features was perfectly balanced. One extra point would make her vulgar, one less point would make her ordinary. She was like an excellent piece of calligraphy, becoming more tasteful the longer you looked.
Looking at the bewildered Hiratsuka Shizuka, Sato sighed before leaning toward her ear and quietly explaining a few things.
"She's an SAO participant. Her talent works like this, so her presence feels extremely weak in other people's eyes."
"So that's how it is!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka instantly understood and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But ordering food...
She touched her stomach. She really hadn't eaten anything tonight.
Immediately, she waved toward the distant attendant.
...
Half an hour later.
Sato put down his napkin after wiping his mouth and nodded in satisfaction.
As expected of someone who graduated from Totsuki Academy. Even when cooking a completely different cuisine, his mastery had still reached an impressive level.
He glanced around the table. Everyone else also looked completely satisfied.
"Sir, what did you think?"
At this moment, a somewhat steady voice suddenly sounded behind Sato.
Sato showed no surprise because he had already sensed the other person approaching.
"It tasted excellent. You must have specifically gone to China to study, right?"
He turned around to look at the newcomer.
Behind him stood a middle-aged man with a very serious appearance, staring closely at him. The man was still wearing chef attire, so he was most likely the restaurant's head chef.
Hearing this, surprise flashed through the middle-aged man's eyes before he nodded.
"That's right. In order to create the most authentic cuisine from every country, I spent at least half a year to a full year studying in every country listed on the menu."
"That's an admirable chef's spirit."
The middle-aged man was stunned before laughing.
"You flatter me."
After eating and drinking their fill, naturally it was time to pay the bill.
Yuuki Asuna took out a bank card from her handbag and was just about to hand it to the attendant when Hiratsuka Shizuka stopped her.
"With me here, how could I let you youngsters pay?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka smiled as she handed her own card to the attendant.
Seeing this, Sato suddenly remembered something. Beneath the table, he quietly took out a business card from his storage space.
"Would this give any discounts?"
"Hm? This is..."
The head chef looked at the card in Sato's hand in confusion. Soon, immense shock appeared in his eyes.
"C-Could you please let me take a look?"
The head chef's voice trembled slightly.
"Of course."
"Thank you!"
Sato handed him the card. After carefully examining it several times, the head chef took a deep breath before respectfully returning it to Sato.
"It is my honor to cook for you. As for the meal fee, please don't mention it again. You may dine at this restaurant for free forever from now on."
Eh?!
Everyone at the table stared at Sato in shock.
Sato ignored their astonished expressions because even he himself was somewhat surprised right now.
Although back then Saiba Joichiro had told him this business card might work as a meal ticket, he definitely hadn't said it would receive treatment like this?!
What he didn't know was that anyone who received a business card from Saiba Joichiro, the world's number one chef, was recognized by him as a true gourmet. Within the culinary world, such people were considered the highest-level food critics imaginable!
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