Chapter 13
"I'm at the back of the Totsuki mountain!?"
Looking at Erina's reply, Takemine Mineo was slightly stunned.
After opening the map and checking it thoroughly, he finally realized that the location of his restaurant was indeed on the back side of Mount Akatsuki, right within the Totsuki Academy area!
Totsuki Academy was an institution that leaned against the mountains. Starting from the front side of Mount Akatsuki, including the vast expanse of land at the base of the mountain, it had been the private property of the Totsuki Academy since ancient times.
The back side of Mount Akatsuki, however, was not part of the academy's private holdings.
Starting from the back side of Mount Akatsuki and heading further down, there was a commercial street area. Akatsuki Street was the main road that cut through that commercial district and extended all the way to the slopes of the mountain's rear!
But now, the entire area of Akatsuki Street leading upward had become Mineo's personal territory.
Dammit, does this mean I've suddenly become a massive landlord owning this entire region?
This Gold Finger is truly incredible!!!
After Mineo muttered in admiration, he quickly replied to Erina's message.
"I really am at the back of the Totsuki mountain right now, and the restaurant I'm in is located right here!"
"But isn't the back of Mount Akatsuki undeveloped? Where would a restaurant even be there? Mineo-kun, you haven't mistaken the location, have you!"
"You'll see the details for yourself once you get here. I'll explain it in person later..."
"Fine... in that case, I'll get ready and head over immediately!"
After ending the text conversation with Mineo, Erina stood up abruptly from the sofa.
"Grandfather, I'm going out for a while..."
"Going out? Are you heading to those restaurants for a tasting and evaluation?"
"Yes... I have an appointment with someone, so I have to get there right away. I'm going to change my clothes first!"
As soon as she entered her room, Erina immediately flung open her wardrobe!
With practiced speed, she pulled out a set of brand-new clothes she had spent all of yesterday choosing before finally deciding on them.
It was a pearl-white laced princess gown, with a skirt length that sat perfectly at her knees.
Once she donned the outfit, Erina's slender neck and beautiful collarbones were fully exposed to the air.
Then, Erina bent over to remove her knee-high black stockings, replacing them with a pair of white over-the-knee socks!
After stepping into a pair of silver crystal high heels that were slightly translucent, Erina finally stood before the mirror.
Seeing her incredibly beautiful reflection in the glass, Erina's face turned a deep, burning shade of crimson.
"Mineo... you jerk, don't you dare have any wandering thoughts... I-I'm only doing this out of politeness for a first meeting, that's why... that's why I dressed myself up a little!"
Remembering back to when she first met Mineo, when he had actually doubted whether she was a boy or a girl, Erina bit her lower lip and whispered:
"T-This Young Lady will definitely make your eyes pop out of your head in shock this time..."
After that, she took a pair of white lace gloves and pulled them on.
The moment Erina stepped out of her room, she immediately caught the attention of both Senzaemon and Alice.
"???!!!"
Senzaemon stared at his granddaughter with a bewildered expression, subconsciously asking:
"Erina, are you attending a banquet? Why the sudden formal dress!?"
"I... I am going to a restaurant to taste a dish... out of respect for... for the dish of said restaurant, that is why I..."
Seeing Erina's face turning red and hot, coupled with her stuttering speech, Alice's gaze instantly sharpened with suspicion.
"Going to a restaurant to taste a dish?"
"Erina, do you have a fever today?"
"Or is there a wire crossed in your brain?"
"In the past, you've had tasting duties almost every single day. But as far as I remember, every time you go to a restaurant, you always wear your chef's uniform, don't you!"
Alice's words gave voice to exactly what Senzaemon was thinking.
The grandfather felt that Erina's condition today was a bit unusual!
In the past, even when he took her to attend grand business galas, she had never dressed up this seriously.
Why was it that today, even the pearl earrings she never used were being worn?
White laced gloves?
Dammit, why does this feel more like she's going to meet a lover!!!
The grandfather pondered for a moment but quickly brushed the thought from his mind.
He knew his granddaughter very well. Erina was incredibly proud and didn't care for a single peer around her. It must just be his imagination running wild!
Hearing Alice's interrogation, Erina gritted her teeth and spoke in a frustrated, pampered tone:
"Alice, what are you babbling about!"
"It's just that the person who invited me for a tasting today is very important to me!"
"That's why I... I dressed up a bit... I-I also just want to show respect to the restaurant owner who invited me!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Erina, why haven't I ever seen you show this much 'respect' to any of your other clients before?"
"A white lace gown, high heels... don't tell me you're secretly heading to a ball or a banquet..."
"No... I'm... I'm not going to a ball... Alice, stop guessing blindly!"
"I'm guessing blindly? Fine, Erina. Since you said you're going to a restaurant to perform a dish evaluation, then there shouldn't be any problem if I come along too, right...?"
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