Around 9 AM.
Two white streaks cut across the clear sky; it was Tohru and Elma in flight.
Tohru didn't want Elma to stand on her body, and Elma similarly didn't want Tohru to stand on her body.
Thus, both of them had reverted to their dragon forms, flying at high speed through the sky.
Fortunately, both of them had already cast the perception-blocking magic, so outsiders couldn't see them at all, which, of course, included Liu Ming and Iko who were riding on Tohru.
The previous night, after Liu Ming's explanation.
Everyone learned that Tadokoro Megumi was going to compete in a cooking battle, and each of them wanted to go and cheer her on. Miyu even suggested that everyone take a day off and go to Totsuki Academy to have fun together.
However, Liu Ming rejected it.
They were still students, and their studies, of course, came first.
The last time Liu Ming took everyone on vacation, wasn't it so they could have a good time and then, after school started, fully devote themselves to their studies?
If they had to take time off just to visit Tootsuki, what kind of thing would that be? He, as their guardian, would never agree.
Liu Ming had originally planned to leave Iko to accompany Kyoko, but Iko insisted on coming along, so Liu Ming indulged it.
Fortunately, Tohru didn't resist Iko staying on her body; otherwise, Iko would have had to transform into a divine dragon and fly on its own.
The last person at the restaurant, Kyoko, was sent by him to buy new clothes, after all, she couldn't keep wearing Miyu's clothes forever.
Of course, Liu Ming had paid for them first, and she would slowly deduct it from her salary later.
The reason Liu Ming was so meticulous was also to keep Kyoko there, as their relationship wasn't as solid as with Sora and the others.
"Oh, by the way, Tohru, do you know the way?" Liu Ming suddenly remembered.
Tohru paused, then asked awkwardly, "Is this direction wrong?"
She really didn't know where Totsuki Academy was. She had been flying for so long, and Liu Ming hadn't said anything, so she thought the direction was correct.
Liu Ming was speechless. With them flying so high, how was he supposed to tell the direction?
He took out his phone, opened the map application, and began to search for the location of Totsuki Academy.
The direction was indeed wrong.
Following Liu Ming's instructions, Tohru adjusted her direction and accelerated.
In less than twenty minutes, they arrived directly above Totsuki Academy.
"Find a secluded spot to land, and remember not to cause too much commotion," Liu Ming said softly.
"Mhm," Tohru responded, slowly descending.
Elma followed closely behind Tohru.
"Is this where Megumi goes to school? Why is it so much bigger than Kanna's?" She curiously looked around.
"Because they're rich," Liu Ming casually gave a reason, as explaining it was too troublesome. And he wasn't entirely wrong; Totsuki Corporation was indeed very wealthy.
The manga alone introduced Totsuki Academy and Totsuki Resort as high-end facilities, and there were probably some that weren't mentioned in the anime, otherwise, how could its status be so high?
It was not yet ten o'clock, and the Shokugeki wouldn't start for over two hours, so Liu Ming wasn't in a hurry to notify Tadokoro Megumi, so as not to disturb her.
He led the two of them to stroll around Totsuki Academy.
He had only heard before that Totsuki Academy was very large, but now that he saw it for himself, he realized it couldn't simply be described as large; it was practically like a small town.
What a pity, after walking for more than ten minutes, he hadn't seen a single person.
Were they still in class?
"Xiao Ming, there's someone over there," Tohru pulled Liu Ming, pointing in a direction.
Liu Ming looked in the direction Tohru indicated, but saw nothing.
However, Tohru wouldn't lie to him.
Liu Ming then led everyone in that direction.
Five minutes later, Liu Ming truly saw a person.
A young girl.
Liu Ming was a little speechless. Why had he been encountering so many 'golden lights' these past few days?
First Onizuka, then Teacher Yamamoto, then his old classmate Sakura and her daughter Xiao Anzu, then Kyoko, and now this young girl in front of him.
He hadn't expected the first person he'd see at Totsuki Academy to be this tsundere young lady—the legendary God Tongue—Nakiri Erina.
Golden long hair, purple pupils, a sky-blue school uniform paired with black over-the-knee socks; a very cute outfit.
As Liu Ming approached, he realized the other person was happily humming a song.
"Excuse me, classmate."
Liu Ming's sudden voice startled her.
Erina hadn't expected anyone to be here, especially during class hours, and she wondered if the other party had seen her embarrassing behavior just now.
Thinking of this, Erina's cheeks immediately flushed red.
"Who are you, and why are you here?" Erina was, after all, Erina. She quickly regained her composure and asked with a hint of displeasure in her tone.
"Us? We're probably guests," Liu Ming replied.
"Guests? Did guests come in today? Why wouldn't I know?" Erina frowned, her gaze beginning to size up Liu Ming and his group.
At just over 1.6 meters tall, Erina felt quite pressured facing the 1.8-meter-tall Liu Ming, not to mention Thor and Elma, both over 1.7 meters, standing beside him.
"If not, then how else would we be here? There are security guards at the entrance, you know," Liu Ming began to ramble. This place is so big, the security must be quite advanced.
Erina nodded in agreement. As the Director General of Totsuki Academy's granddaughter, she had considerable confidence in the security quality here and didn't believe the group of one man and two women could break in unnoticed.
"Then what do you want?" Erina's tone carried a hint of pride.
"I heard there's a Food War happening here at noon today, so I planned to come and watch, but I can't find where it's being held," Liu Ming said helplessly.
"That Food War provoked by that commoner, Tadokoro Megumi? What's so good about that? She's just a bottom-feeder.
It's one thing for her not to work hard to improve her cooking skills, but to cause such a farce right at the beginning of the school year is simply nonsensical.
I guess she probably knows she'll be expelled anyway, so she's making a big fuss while she's still here. Commoners are commoners, utterly lacking in awareness and grace."
Erina's tone was filled with disdain and dissatisfaction towards Tadokoro Megumi.
The atmosphere instantly turned cold.
Elma was fine; after all, she was a harmonious force and could suppress her anger.
Thor, however, did not have such a good temper, and a dangerous aura flickered around her.