Courage's announcent landed like a bombshell, stunning the room into a brief, sharp silence. Ichihara Yuko and Jinx, being newcors, simply looked on with mild curiosity. But for Elena and Karura, the na was electric.
Karura leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with an almost manic excitent. "Sister Courage! You said you're a First-Class Inspector... Does that an... is the Lady Mana you ntioned the Nakiri Mana?!"
Elena's hand flew to her mouth, her voice a hushed, incredulous gasp. "No way! The Special-Class Inspector? The only one in the entire world? The woman who can decide a restaurant's star rating—and its very survival—with a single word? She's coming to Mr. Ren's restaurant?!"
Lucifer and the others exchanged wide-eyed glances. Good heavens. They were aware of Nakiri Mana's title, but hearing it laid out like this drove ho the sheer scale of her influence. She wasn't just a powerful figure; she was the absolute arbiter of the global culinary world.
Courage offered a professional, confirming nod. "Yes. This ti, Lady Mana will be accompanied by Decora and Anne, who are First-Class Inspectors like myself, and Lanterby, a Second-Class Inspector who serves as one of Lady Mana's personal adjutants. They will all be coming."
A delighted cheer erupted from Karura. Lucifer, still processing the information, turned to her. "Karura, you seem particularly thrilled that Miss Nakiri Mana is coming."
"Mhm, mhm!" Karura nodded vigorously, her enthusiasm infectious. "Of course! Nakiri Mana is a completely different breed of powerful woman. She single-handedly commands the colossal World Gourt Organization, almost never making public appearances, yet she holds the fate of more than half the world's food and beverage industry in her hands. In just a few short years, she transford the WGO from a simple culinary society into a sprawling, multi-industry economic empire. She has legions of fans!"
Hearing the explanation, Lucifer nodded in understanding before a thoughtful frown creased her brow. "Huh? For so reason, that reminds of Mr. Yamashita's son, Yamashita Kenzou. They both control massive economic conglorates from behind the scenes."
"Nakiri Mana is rumored to be an incredible beauty," Karura shot back instantly. "Way better than that Yamashita Kenzou~"
Kobayashi Rindou, however, tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes as she pieced things together. "There's only one branch of the Nakiri family in the entire world: the Totsuki Nakiri Family. Nakiri Mana beca a Special-Class Inspector because of her God Tongue, and only one person in each generation of the Nakiri family possesses that ability. Ren," she said, her gaze sharpening, "what's the relationship between Nakiri Mana and our little Erina~"
"Mother and daughter," Ren stated simply.
"What?!" The exclamation was a chorus of shock. "Erina is Nakiri Mana's daughter?! But... why have we never once seen her at Totsuki?"
Courage let out a heavy sigh, her professional deanor softening with a hint of sorrow as she explained the tragic history of the God Tongue's curse and the painful separation it had caused. When she finished, Rindou and the others stared, their faces a mask of disbelief and sympathy.
"So the God Tongue... is actually such a terrifying devil," Karura murmured, her earlier excitent replaced by a somber awe. "Nakiri Mana is truly pitiful... But thank goodness, it's all over now!"
Rindou breathed a sigh of relief. "I wonder how Erina will react when she finds out the truth..."
"Why are you all getting sentintal over sothing that's already been resolved?" Ren cut in, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "Co on, it's ti to eat. Any later and Yuko will stage a rebellion."
Ichihara Yuko arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Don't you dare drag into this. I haven't said a single word this entire ti, thank you very much."
Given the size of the group, Ren had naturally prepared a large 'Mandarin Duck Pot'—a hotpot divided down the middle. One side held a gentle, milky-white broth, while the other bubbled with a fiery, crimson liquid studded with chilies and peppercorns. He had assud so of Elena's group might not handle spicy food well, but to his surprise, the clear broth was almost completely ignored. Everyone dove into the spicy side, only retreating to the non-spicy broth for a brief respite when the heat beca too much to bear.
Kasugano Sora took the opportunity to happily sip on a fizzy soda. Elena, who had never experienced anything like this, was initially hesitant, eyeing the roiling red soup with suspicion. But seeing everyone else so thoroughly enjoying it, she cautiously dipped a slice of at into the crimson depths. The first bite was a shock of heat, but it was quickly followed by a wave of complex, numbing spices and savory flavors. She was instantly hooked.
It was also during the al that Elena confird her transfer to Otonokizaka Academy. She would be in the sa class as Karura, starting as a second-year high school student. The only remaining challenge was her hostay arrangent.
Due to the unique and secretive nature of Karura's Kure clan, it was impossible for Elena to stay with her. Momobami Kirari lived on campus in the school dorms, and Soryuin Akemi's ho was a bit too far to be practical. Ren's place was nearby, but Elena politely insisted that she didn't want to impose on him any further.
After a long mont of deliberation, Karura's eyes suddenly lit up, and she snapped her fingers with a sharp crack. "I know! If it's her, I would feel completely at ease leaving Elena in her care! And she usually lives alone, so they can keep each other company!"
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Ichihara Yuko asked lazily.
"A girl, of course! She's my junior, and we're very close!" Karura gushed. "She's incredibly gentle and beautiful, an amazing chef, and she loves fashion design. The clothes she makes have won international awards! Plus, she's a top student!"
Lucifer nodded, impressed. "As expected of such a prestigious girls' school. It certainly attracts excellent students. In that case, Elena should be in good hands."
"But..." Elena said, a touch of concern in her voice. "Will your junior agree to this? Having a stranger suddenly move in..."
"Don't worry about it!" Karura waved a dismissive hand. "She's a super nice person. And even if she had any objections, her mother would insist that you stay with them."
"Eh?" Karura blinked, realizing her omission. "Oh, did I not ntion it? Her mother is the principal of Otonokizaka Academy. She'll be thrilled to have you, Elena. She's usually very busy and can't co ho often, so she'd be overjoyed to know her daughter has so company."
"You didn't say that at all!" ca the unified reply from around the table.
Hotpot, being one of the best dishes for creating a lively atmosphere, kept everyone's spirits high. But soon after the al, Karura, buzzing with excitent, eagerly dragged Elena off to see the school, promising to bring her back to visit whenever they had free ti.
Kobayashi Rindou also departed, accepting a ride in Kirari's private car. The vehicle headed in a direction that was decidedly not towards Totsuki, and it was obvious Rindou had sothing she wanted to discuss with the student council president in private. But that was their business.
Looking at the suddenly smaller group, Jinx, who thrived on chaos and company, slumped dramatically onto the table. "Hey~ Chef," she drawled lazily. "Is going to school fun?"
"Eh?" Kasugano Sora giggled. "Jinx, don't tell you're thinking about going to school?"
"Well, all of you go, so I'm kinda curious."
Sora humd thoughtfully. "I see what you an, but given your personality, Jinx, I think university might be a better fit for you."
"Don't know what that is," Jinx mumbled, patting her stomach. "And I'm too lazy to think about it... I think I ate too much... I never felt like this back on that island. It's weird."
Lucifer, tying her long hair back as she began to help clear the table, spoke without turning around, her voice calm and matter-of-fact. "That's because you like it better here."
Jinx fell silent, the words echoing in her mind.
'Like... here...'
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