Chapter 12: A Woman Obsessed with Love
Kobayashi Rindou had taken the bus when she first arrived at the Restaurant because her impulsiveness had left her carless. But now, fueled by annoyance and a full stomach, she wasn't about to wait for public transport. She unhurriedly called a private car service, tapping her foot impatiently as she waited on the bustling street corner.
"Hurry up," she muttered, checking her watch. "If Eishi called me back for something stupid, I'm going to bite him."
Twenty minutes later, the car screeched to a halt at the gates of Totsuki Academy.
At this moment, Eishi Tsukasa and the other Elite Ten members were sitting in the opulent conference room, the air heavy with tense silence. They were waiting for the Second Seat.
Bam!
Suddenly, the heavy double doors of the conference room were pulled open violently, slamming against the walls.
Then, everyone saw Kobayashi Rindou walk in. Her red hair seemed to bristle with static energy, her golden eyes narrowed into slits, and her face clearly stated, 'I am very annoyed, and someone is going to pay.'
Eishi Tsukasa was so scared that cold sweat broke out on his forehead instantly. He shrank back in his seat.
Kobayashi Rindou's combat power—both culinary and physical—could be said to be terrifying. Can ordinary people catch alligators bare-handed in the Amazon? Can they outrun wild beasts on foot? Do they dare to directly catch venomous snakes just to see if they taste good? Kobayashi Rindou dares to do all of these. Her survival instincts were apex predator level.
Her personality perfectly matched her name, Rindou (Gentian), but perhaps "Dragon" would be more apt. Her courage was truly great.
Just as Eishi Tsukasa opened his mouth to offer a trembling greeting, he heard Kobayashi Rindou speak. Her voice was cold enough to freeze boiling water.
"If it's useless, you don't need to say it. Just get straight to the point. I want to see what's so important that I had to leave my breakfast to come back here."
Everyone, including the usually haughty Erina Nakiri, had never seen Kobayashi Rindou quite like this. They all swallowed hard. Wow, they thought. This is truly terrifying. A hungry Rindou is a dangerous Rindou.
Eishi Tsukasa cleared his throat, adjusting his papers nervously. "A-Alright. The main reason for calling you back this time is for the upcoming Accommodation Training and the subsequent Practical Training curriculum."
Kobayashi Rindou frowned slightly, crossing her arms. "That's it? What does that have to do with me? That's first-year stuff."
The others also looked puzzled. Kobayashi Rindou was right; it really had nothing to do with her. Third-years didn't need to participate in the hellish training camp designed to weed out the weak. Besides, both of these events were organized by the school administration, not the student council directly.
Eishi Tsukasa sighed, rubbing his temples. "This was a direct notice from the Director last night. This Accommodation Training indeed has nothing to do with the third-years in terms of participation, but for the subsequent Practical Training period... the Director said that the Elite Ten must also participate."
"What?"
Everyone finally realized what was wrong.
Terunori Kuga frowned slightly, spinning a pen in his fingers. "Elite Ten? Does this 'Elite Ten' refer to all of us?! Isn't the Stagiaire program only for first-years?!"
Eishi Tsukasa shook his head gravely. "This is the Director's special request for this year, and no one can refuse. He believes the Elite Ten have become too comfortable in the ivory tower. The main purpose of calling everyone here this time is for this matter. Please go back and summarize the Restaurants you know that are suitable for the Elite Ten to intern at, and add them to the list for approval."
Sōmei Saitō, the Fifth Seat, sat silently holding his wooden sword. He spoke indifferently, his eyes closed. "The school should have some compensation for doing this. The third-year Elite Ten have a lot of things to do... graduation exams, restaurant management..."
Eishi Tsukasa nodded. "That's right. I negotiated with him. According to the Director, those who achieve excellent results in this special internship can choose to offset three months of their mandatory graduation service time..."
At this, everyone froze. They couldn't sit still.
Kobayashi Rindou was stunned. Her eyes widened.
Then, her expression suddenly transformed from annoyance to a predatory smile.
Slap!
She slapped the table hard, making Eishi jump.
"Does that mean we can graduate early?!" she shouted, leaning forward.
Eishi Tsukasa nodded quickly. "That's right... The prerequisite is that it must be an Elite Ten-level establishment, and you must also receive the approval of the head chef to get an 'Excellent' rating. Observer scores are not needed; the head chef's word is the final evaluation. However, observers will supervise daily to ensure there is no favoritism or bribery."
Everyone completely erupted into whispers. This was practically free graduation time! They had many things to do, and they couldn't learn anything more at school. For the third-years, they were extremely eager for this early graduation to start their professional careers.
Kobayashi Rindou's grin was almost stretched to her ears, her sharp canines gleaming. She was just wondering when she could graduate to be with Ren properly, and then this thing came up. It was truly great! Fate was smiling on her!
She originally had more than six months until graduation, but if she could cut off three months, she could use her Elite Ten privileges to go out freely.
This is basically equivalent to graduating! she thought. If I go to Ren's... I can stay there all day!
Akanegakubo Momo looked at Kobayashi Rindou from across the table. She naturally knew what the redhead was planning.
She thought, Instead of going to those noisy, crowded Restaurants where she couldn't learn much cooking and would have to deal with annoying staff... she might as well go with Kobayashi Rindou to Ren's Restaurant!
There were only a few customers every day. She had complete freedom during the day. Ren seemed to make delicious staff meals. And she could learn a lot of cooking techniques that baffled even her. She and Ren and Kobayashi Rindou knew each other. This wave would be an easy way to get graduation time while sleeping and eating sweets!
It seemed she noticed Akanegakubo Momo's gaze. Kobayashi Rindou looked at her and nodded with a conspiratorial wink. You in? her eyes asked.
Akanegakubo Momo showed a faint smile, hugging Bucchi. I'm in. Then she acted as if the meeting had nothing to do with her.
Erina Nakiri had been paying attention to Kobayashi Rindou the whole time, so she naturally saw the exchange of signals between her and Akanegakubo Momo.
She immediately understood. These two... they are planning to go together.
They would choose the Restaurant that Momo claimed had made her grandfather's clothes burst many times with a single dish. The "Dimensional Restaurant."
Erina bit her lip, narrowing her violet eyes. I cannot let them have all the fun... and secrets.
She decided that she must visit that Restaurant before the Accommodation Training to see what magic it held! She would ask her grandfather tonight! She needed to know if it was worthy of her time.
Thinking this, the rest of the meeting gradually became irrelevant to her.
After the Elite Ten discussed logistics for a while, Eishi Tsukasa softly said, "Then everyone should go back and prepare. Report back once you've found your Restaurant."
"Dismissed!" Rindou shouted, already standing up.
After everyone dispersed, Erina took a deep look at Kobayashi Rindou and then turned to leave with Hisako.
Kobayashi Rindou waited until the room cleared, sitting on the table now. She looked at Momo with a hint of a smile and said, "Momo-chan~ It seems you're a prophet, aren't you? You told them about Ren? Otherwise, the God Tongue princess wouldn't be acting so strange, staring at me like I stole her pudding."
Akanegakubo Momo, holding Bucchi, softly said, "I just said that the Director's clothes exploded many times at Shopkeeper Ren's place… to prove his skill."
Kobayashi Rindou nodded, looking satisfied. "Good job."
Just as she was about to say something else, she heard Akanegakubo Momo softly add, "And I also told them that you're chasing after Shopkeeper Ren… in a reverse pursuit."
The meeting room suddenly fell dead silent.
Kobayashi Rindou's face turned crimson instantly. She jumped off the table, rushing over and pinching Akanegakubo Momo's soft little cheeks.
"Momo-chan~!" she wailed, pulling gently. "It's clearly Ren who's chasing me! Did you hear that?! I just gave him a chance! I am the prize!"
Akanegakubo Momo, after breaking free from Kobayashi Rindou's grip, rubbed her face with her bear's paw. She said flatly, "Rindou-senpai… Be careful not to get married if you lie so much… But you weren't wrong… You did give him a billion chances… and he ignored most of them."
Kobayashi Rindou was stunned. The brutal truth hit her.
Then she snorted, crossing her arms. "Hmph! You don't understand strategy! Let's go, let's go! Time to go back! I'm hungry~"
"Eh?" Momo blinked. "Rindou-senpai, didn't you just finish eating breakfast with Shopkeeper Ren? And you looked like you ate too much… you left half an egg."
Kobayashi Rindou tapped Akanegakubo Momo's head and said in the tone of an experienced love guru, "Ai, Momo-chan. You don't understand this. Have you ever seen a girl eat a lot in front of a boy she has even a slight crush on? You have to maintain the image of a delicate flower!"
"Hmm~ It does seem to be that way in shoujo manga. So it really is a slight crush… or a massive obsession."
"Momo-chan! Are you trying to die?! We're on the same side! Allies!"
"Momo-chan is not on the same side as you. You're a woman obsessed with love… It's embarrassing."
"I… Ah! You brat! Let's go! Let's go cook something! I'm starving to death!"
"Cook then! But Rindou-senpai! Momo-chan will say it again! Momo-chan is the same age as you! Stop treating me like a kid!"
As these two bickered and left the building, the meeting room fell completely silent.
At this moment, in the Director's Office at Totsuki.
Erina walked in after knocking. Seeing her grandfather on the phone, she did not disturb him, waiting respectfully by the door.
Senzaemon Nakiri was laughing heartily into the receiver.
"Alright, alright~ Hmm? You said you're in a good mood today? That's wonderful then. Did you get a new pet?"
[...]
"Good! This old man will go after he finishes his work tonight! And I'll bring you two new customers! Be prepared!"
[...]
"Hahaha! See you tonight, Ren-kun!"
After Senzaemon Nakiri hung up the phone, his face still beaming, he turned to his granddaughter.
"Erina! You've come at just the right time! Come with me to a Restaurant tonight! I have a surprise for you."
Erina was stunned. It was exactly what she wanted.
She narrowed her eyes, testing the waters. "Is it that Restaurant that made your clothes explode many times? The one Momo-senpai mentioned?"
Senzaemon Nakiri was stunned. He coughed, looking a bit embarrassed. "Ahem. It seems you already know. Momo has a big mouth for a quiet girl."
He regained his composure, his expression turning serious but excited. "Yes. We'll go to that Restaurant tonight. Erina, you will learn things that will overturn your imagination… and perhaps challenge your God Tongue."
Erina nodded. She chatted with Senzaemon Nakiri for a few moments about school matters, and then left the office.
Once outside in the hallway, Nakiri Erina crossed her arms. A cold, confident smile played on her lips.
"I'd like to see what kind of cuisine can overturn my imagination…" she whispered to the empty hall. "If he is a fraud, I will crush him."
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