After being toyed with by Akari and Haruna for a while, Fuuka was finally freed from her bindings.
She rubbed her reddened wrists, quietly thanked them, and accepted the handkerchief I handed over to wipe her face. Sniffling, she muttered in complaint, "Why does it always have to be like this? Can't you just invite normally for once?"
"Hehe~ But if we asked you politely, Fuuka, you'd never agree, would you∼?"
"That's only because you never consider my feelings!"
Maybe it was just my imagination, but sohow, the relationship between Fuuka and the Gourt Research Society didn't seem entirely bad. It was… strange.
Perhaps Akari was right. Their dynamic might look odd to an outsider, but there really did seem to be so sort of bond between them, a bizarre kind of connection between chef and diner, like soulmates in the pursuit of flavor.
"So," Fuuka sighed, "where's the ingredient?"
"Just so you know," she added, "this is my first ti dealing with Breton lobsters. I can't guarantee I'll do a good job. You'd better find a more experienced chef."
"Don't underestimate yourself, Fuuka," Haruna said with a shake of her head, her voice sincere. "It's precisely because we believe in your cooking that we only ever kidnap you, and not anyone else."
"Well, I sure appreciate that."
Fuuka's eyes went flat and lifeless as she groaned, "Fine, but if it doesn't turn out well, don't bla . Anyway, where's the ingredient? We've nearly left Gehenna's district already. I still have to get back to prepare dinner for the school."
Even in a situation like this, she was still thinking about her duties back at school. Ever the responsible one.
Still, even if Fuuka couldn't make it back, Juri should be able to hold the kitchen for a while… or so I told myself, optimistically.
To Fuuka's question, Haruna responded with a aningful smile. "Hehehe~ Don't worry, we're on our way to pick it up right now."
"So you an… how far is it... wait a second…" Fuuka froze mid-sentence, her expression slowly shifting into horror. "Don't tell … you're not planning to... again?!"
Haruna didn't answer. She only smiled wider. "Mhm~"
Akari, still driving, said lightly, "We really don't have a choice, do we? The Gourt Research Society could never ignore such a rare delicacy."
"That's right!" Junko added firmly. "A one-in-two-million find! If we miss this chance, who knows when we'll get another? Even if it's dangerous, we've got no choice but to go for it!"
A bad feeling crept over , and judging by Fuuka's increasingly pale face, she felt it too.
"Hold on," I interrupted, looking up from my phone. "That whole 'one in two million' thing is just a myth. Breton lobsters aren't actually that rare."
Fuuka's eyes lit up instantly. "Really? Then that ans…"
"That ans!" Izumi chid in, drooling slightly, "we can cook it however we want and experint with different sauces that'll definitely taste amazing, right?"
…Yeah, Izumi's thought process was on a completely different wavelength.
"Huh?" Fuuka blinked. "That's not what I ant! I an we can call off this dangerous plan, right?"
Wait, don't tell … The Gourt Research Society was planning to steal the lobster?!
"No," Haruna declared firmly. "The plan continues."
Her ruby eyes seed to blaze with passion. "To display a top-grade ingredient like that instead of cooking it is a cri against gastronomy! Using it as decoration is an insult to the very spirit of fine dining! Even the lobster itself would feel sorrow, don't you think?"
If lobsters really had that level of sentience, I doubted being eaten would make them any happier.
Still, her words confird it. The Gourt Research Society really was planning to rob soone, just to eat a rare delicacy.
Honestly… it fit their image perfectly.
"You… you can't be serious!" Fuuka's voice trembled, her eyes welling up again. "Don't drag into your cris every ti!"
"Now, now, Fuuka," Haruna said earnestly. "As a chef, you must understand that fresh ingredients must be handled imdiately, while they're at their peak."
Her voice grew softer, almost tender. "That's why you're already an irreplaceable mber of our team. Even one mont without you would be unthinkable."
"You only rember I exist when you need a cook!"
Whenever Fuuka was around them, she naturally slipped into the role of the exasperated straight man among clowns.
But faced with the unshakable resolve of Haruna and the others, she eventually gave up.
"Fine. Whatever. But at least let Sensei go. This has nothing to do with him."
Her concern moved deeply.
…Though it seed she'd misunderstood sothing.
"What are you talking about?"
Akari tilted her head. "We never forced Sensei to stay. If he wants to get off the truck, he's free to go anyti."
…Wait. Really? I guess that's technically true.
"But if Sensei cos along," Haruna said, leaning over her seat dangerously close, eyes gleaming, "he'll get to taste the dish the very mont it's complete, at its absolute peak of flavor."
Given how seriously these girls took food, that was an incredibly sincere offer.
Still, if I left now, I'd be abandoning Fuuka to deal with this ss alone. Running away while a student faced trouble, especially one who trusted , was not exactly a good look.
Besides, I am a Sensei, after all.
So I nodded without hesitation. "Alright. I love good food too. Please, take with you."
"Hehe~ Wonderful! I knew we'd get along splendidly, Sensei∼ Then it's settled!"
Beaming, Haruna turned back around and sat properly again.
Taking advantage of the mont, I quietly reached out and squeezed Fuuka's soft hand, just enough to reassure her. I t her eyes and gave a small, confident nod.
To be honest, I could tell that the Gourt Research Society didn't an any harm.
They hadn't restrained or even kept their guard up around , which only made feel a little guilty.
But precisely because of that…
I had to stop them from making a mistake.
In my own way.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and waited in silence for the right mont.
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