Finally, at Satou's persuasion, the guests reluctantly departed, but before leaving, they reminded Satou to be sure to notify them when he opened for business again.
After seeing the guests off, Satou also breathed a sigh of relief.
After today, the School Festival would officially end.
"Oh, I won't be able to enjoy Satou-kun's cooking anymore."
Reioura Nakiri also expressed her regret; she wouldn't be able to come over for dinner anymore.
"If Aunt wants to eat, she can come find me anytime," Satou said with a smile, unable to help himself.
"Ah, although that's what I say, I've been away from Northern Europe for too long. I originally only wanted to accompany Alice, but I accidentally stayed for such a long time. It's really annoying." Reioura Nakiri said, stroking her cheek with a troubled expression.
"Mom is reluctant to part with Satou-kun's cooking, isn't she?" Alice Nakiri teased.
"Haha." Reioura Nakiri couldn't help but laugh.
"Eh? Aunt, are you leaving already?" Satou felt a pang of reluctance. He was quite fond of this adorable Mother-in-law, who was outwardly noble and elegant, but actually a bit silly, somewhat cunning, and full of girlish charm.
Of course, it was merely the affection of a junior for an elder.
Reioura Nakiri nodded, saying with some regret, "It should be in a few days. I won't be able to see Satou-kun again; just thinking about it is a bit troubling."
After her departure, Satou also bid farewell to Hinako Inui, Kikuchi Sonoka, and the other Elite Ten graduates.
"Satou-kun, this senior is leaving now. I'll come to see you again later!" Hinako Inui stood on her tiptoes, her small feet in geta, and with some effort, patted Satou's head.
Satou was a bit speechless, but he still saw them to the door. "Come and visit again sometime, everyone."
"Mm!" Kikuchi Sonoka smiled gently at him.
Afterward, Satou, Miyoko Hojo, and the others tidied up the restaurant. They wouldn't be opening tomorrow.
For everyone else, the School Festival had officially ended, but for Satou, there was still one very important matter.
Because if he hadn't miscalculated, that man should appear at Erina Nakiri's restaurant.
Then, everyone went to Erina Nakiri's restaurant for dinner together.
However, during dinner, Satou was clearly distracted, constantly looking at the door.
"Eh? Satou-kun, is the food not good?" Tadokoro Megumi asked, somewhat puzzled. She thought today's dishes were as delicious as ever.
"Do you dislike today's dish flavor? Or is the air conditioning too low? Could it be that you're exhausted?" Erina Nakiri, like a little woman, circled around him, asking questions, her tone filled with deep concern.
"Cough, cough, it's nothing, I'm just a little distracted, the food is very delicious." Satou came back to his senses, looked at the worried Erina and Tadokoro Megumi, and smiled, saying.
"Well, are you waiting for someone? You keep looking at the door." Kobayashi Rindo put a piece of foie gras into her mouth, eating as she asked.
"Eh? Satou, are you waiting for someone important?" Erina Nakiri was clearly very concerned, and then asked casually, "Is it a girl?"
"Maybe." Kobayashi Rindo smiled mischievously.
"Is it really a girl?" The innocent Erina Nakiri immediately believed her, and asked with a hint of sourness.
Looking at this Tsundere who was so easily deceived, Satou was quite speechless. He glared at Rindo-senpai and said, "No, it's not. Don't listen to Rindo-senpai's nonsense. I'm not waiting for anyone."
"Sure enough, Rindo-senpai is the worst!" Alice Nakiri said, pouting, clearly also believing that Rindo-senpai was deliberately trying to scare them.
"Is that so?" Although Erina Nakiri said that, she was clearly still a bit concerned.
Next, everyone enjoyed dinner together. Alice Nakiri and the others had forgotten about what had just happened, but only Erina Nakiri would occasionally glance towards the door.
Looking at the somewhat silly Tsundere, Satou felt a bit helpless. Sure enough, this girl's heart was still too sensitive.
What surprised Satou, however, was that Azami Nakiri still hadn't appeared even after dinner was finished.
It wasn't until Erina Nakiri's restaurant closed, and Alice Nakiri, Kobayashi Rindo, and the others had successively left, that Satou came back to his senses.
"Has the School Festival just ended like this?" he muttered to himself.
"Some restaurants in the Avenue Area and Central Area are still open, but overall, the School Festival has indeed concluded perfectly," Hisako Arato said, looking at him strangely.
"It seems he won't be showing up today," Satou muttered, frowning.
The only explanation for this situation was that Azami Nakiri had not managed to win over enough of the Elite Ten.
In the original story, Azami Nakiri had won over six of the Elite Ten, which allowed him to successfully replace Senzaemon Nakiri as Head Chef.
However, the situation has changed now.
To nominate a new Head Chef, one must obtain the approval of more than half of the Elite Ten, which means that even five would still not be enough.
"No wonder he came to find me," Satou muttered to himself.
If he had already won over more than half of the Elite Ten, there would have been no need to contact him. It was precisely because the number was insufficient that he wanted him to seize an Elite Ten seat.
"I just don't know which of the Elite Ten have already been secretly won over?"
Although he had a good relationship with most of the Elite Ten, apart from Rindo-senpai, his other acquaintances were merely nodding acquaintances.
Nagi-no-ki Touko still owed him a great favor, but she was originally a member of the rebel faction.
Moreover, the Elite Ten members obviously couldn't change their stance just because of their friendship with him.
If it came to feelings, Isshiki Satoshi, Kuga Terunori, Nene Kinokuni, and Eizan Etsuya had better relationships, even though they would argue every time they met, their feelings were actually very deep, but in the end, they still stood on opposite sides.
Next, Satou, as usual, carried Erina Nakiri back to the mansion.
Then, also as usual, he prepared a basin of hot water, ready to help her massage her feet.
"Actually, since the School Festival ends tomorrow, it's fine if you don't massage them." Erina Nakiri blushed. Although Satou had massaged her feet every night for the past few days, she still felt very shy.
Satou was a bit speechless and said, "I've touched them who knows how many times, and you're still so shy."
Erina Nakiri's face immediately turned even redder. She hesitated for a long time before finally asking the question she had been wanting to ask.
"Satou, who was that person you were waiting for just now? Was it a girl?"
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