"You really do like eating seafood..."
Erina had completely lost the Shokugeki against Jaden.
After regrouping, she ignored the doubled "meal duty" period and prepared paella for lunch as usual.
Hearing her words, Jaden swallowed what was in his mouth and blinked.
"I do like it a lot..."
He spoke naturally.
"I like both the expensive seafood you make and the cheaper seafood that the fisherman my old man knew used to deliver to the orphanage when I was a kid."
As he said that, Jaden picked up a piece of translucent shrimp and smiled faintly at Erina.
"What's more, I think even people who don't particularly like seafood would probably come to love it after eating the way you prepare it."
Jaden couldn't cook.
He was the type who ate out when he had money, and when he had plenty of money, he ate whatever he wanted, purely based on mood and preference.
But ever since coming here and meeting Erina-
Even though he now had access to Etsuya Eizan's assets, had future royalties from A Certain Magical Index, and had also inherited a decent sum left behind by the old man-
Despite all that, he hadn't eaten out even once.
Basically, Erina had been in charge of his meals.
And after getting used to her cooking, he no longer had any desire to eat outside.
When Erina had time, he ate her food.
When she didn't, he ate instant noodles.
That was how he had been living recently.
"After all, I am a chef."
Erina scoffed softly, turning her head away.
There was a faint blush on her face.
Then, still in that posture, she spoke slowly.
"It just so happens that I've also been thinking recently..."
She paused.
"That focusing only on so-called high-end cuisine is too limiting."
"I plan to learn more about regional cuisine and popular diners as well."
"So, if you know a fisherman and get some ingredients, and you want to eat a local dish-"
She glanced aside.
"It's not impossible for me to study it on the side."
When Jaden saw her like this, he wanted to say something.
But before he could-
A voice cut in from the side.
"Puh-puh-puh... that's hilarious~"
"Erina, you know all types of cuisine thoroughly, yet you're talking about learning regional food and popular diners?"
"I'm dying of laughter."
Jaden turned his head.
Sitting down next to them-far too naturally, far too familiarly-was a girl with silver-white hair.
She looked like a Nordic fairy.
"Alice!"
Erina recognized the voice instantly.
"Shut up!"
She snapped back without hesitation.
"Cooking is something that requires constant observation and study!"
"If you think you know everything after learning only part of existing knowledge, you'll confine yourself to a narrow circle and stop improving!"
Hearing this, Alice puffed out her cheeks.
"Hmph! You used to go on and on about high-end cuisine."
"You probably thought regional food and popular diners were trash!"
"I-"
Erina froze.
For a brief moment, she felt guilty.
Because Alice wasn't wrong.
That was how she used to be.
Under the psychological shadow left by her father, she really had been exactly as Alice described.
But that had gradually changed.
After meeting Jaden.
First-just as she had said-if she only understood high-end cuisine, it would be difficult to surpass Jaden's ability.
At least, she hadn't seen any hope yet.
Second-
Erina's face heated up.
She lowered her head slightly and glanced at Jaden out of the corner of her eye.
-The flavor he specifically mentioned...
-I want to try making it for him.
Thinking that, Erina couldn't help but smile faintly to herself.
Alice noticed that Erina was ignoring her.
She blinked.
Then her gaze shifted to Jaden.
Jaden still remembered Alice.
He had seen her once at the Totsuki Resort.
Later, Erina had also mentioned her-Alice's full name was Alice Nakiri.
Erina's cousin.
Stare-
Since Alice had started bickering with Erina the moment she arrived, Jaden had assumed she was very talkative.
When she turned to look at him, Jaden prepared to speak.
He intended to leave a good impression on Erina's family.
But Alice didn't say anything.
She just kept looking him up and down.
Carefully.
Thoroughly.
Finally, Jaden spoke first.
"Um... is something wrong?"
Hearing his question, Alice finally opened her mouth.
"No..."
She tilted her head slightly.
"I just wanted to know what kind of man could make Erina so fond of..."
"-Alice!"
Erina's voice shot up instantly.
Her face flushed red.
Her ears followed.
Her gaze flicked toward Jaden again and again.
Jaden noticed all of it.
With his current hearing, he had already caught what Alice said before Erina shouted.
He knew he could say something right now.
But-
He looked at Alice.
Then at Erina.
And in the end, he gave up.
Erina knew it too.
She knew she probably should've let Alice continue.
But-
At that moment, their thoughts aligned without a word.
-This is too embarrassing.
-Alice is here.
-Let's wait a bit longer.
-It'll be better to say it another time.
Both of them thought the same thing.
So when Erina cut Alice off, silence fell.
Erina sneaked a glance at Jaden.
Their eyes met.
Just for a moment.
Then both of them looked away at the same time.
The silence deepened.
Alice watched everything.
Clearly.
Painfully clearly.
And the more she watched, the more anxious-and irritated-she felt.
So-
-Why aren't these two getting married already!?
Just as Alice was about to slam the table and force the issue-
Hisako Arato walked in, calling out.
"Erina-sama..."
When she saw Jaden, she nodded politely.
"Erina-sama, Jaden-sama-the Director-General's old friend has arrived."
"The Director-General requests both of you to come over."
"Grandpa called for us..."
Erina took a breath and finally regained her composure.
As if changing the subject, she immediately asked:
"Which old friend of Grandpa's is it?"
Hisako answered calmly.
"It's said to be..."
"The current clan head of the legendary assassin family."
"The Kure Clan."
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