...
"Thank you for waiting, guests. Please enjoy your meal." Lucian lifted the lid and placed the rice before Mejiro McQueen.
"Thank you." Mejiro McQueen didn't immediately pick up her spoon, intending to eat only after Lucian left.
Yet Lucian didn't leave just then.
He wanted to watch Mejiro McQueen take a bite before going.
"Might I ask how you all feel about the dishes we've served today? Or if you have any suggestions?" Lucian inquired.
Mejiro Dober and Mejiro Ryan exchanged glances before answering in unison, "They're wonderful! We could easily eat several more bowls."
Mejiro Dober even cupped her cheek and asked, "Sensei, is it too late to sign up for your practical class now?"
"Technically, enrollment hasn't started yet, but you're always welcome to join."
Lucian subtly glanced at Mejiro McQueen, noting she still hadn't touched her food, before shifting his gaze to the Mejiro family's grandmother.
The grandmother smiled warmly. "Little Lu, thank you for allowing me to taste cooking of this caliber again... As for suggestions, I truly can't find a single flaw."
"You're too kind. If there's another opportunity, I'll definitely have you try my dishes again."
Lucian deliberately slowed his speech, barely managing to stall until Mejiro McQueen, unable to resist the aroma, finally picked up her spoon.
Dammit, why isn't she eating yet!?
If she won't eat, then no one will! I'll flip the damn table! (╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻
Lucian was slightly worried Mejiro McQueen might resist the temptation of the food, take one bite, then curl her lips disdainfully, flash her pearly whites, tilt her chin up, and look down at him with utter contempt while saying in that insufferably smug tone: "Trash will always be trash~ Still tastes awful~"
Though the odds were low...
Wait, is there some weirdo out there who actually wants to see that kind of expression like on the cover? (Doge)
Seeing that he had asked everything he needed to, Lucian decided to address Mejiro McQueen directly. "McQueen, do you have any suggestions?"
Mejiro McQueen took a bite. To avoid showing any unbecoming reaction, she quickly composed herself and swallowed. "It's delicious. Thank you for the meal."
Though somewhat reluctant, the taste made it impossible for her to lie.
Hmph, fine. For the sake of this meal, I'll be magnanimous this time.
"Understood. Please enjoy your meal. If you need anything else, feel free to call for me or a server."
...
After seeing off the Mejiro family, the next guests soon arrived.
"Welcome~"
"Satono-san, please come in."
This time, there were only three guests.
Aside from the middle-aged human man before Lucian, there were two little girls trailing behind him—Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black.
The two looked like tiny figurines.
Satono Diamond hid behind her father, while her bold friend Kitasan Black openly scrutinized Lucian.
"Eh?! Are you Ines Fujin-senpai?!" Kitasan Black exclaimed, darting over to Ines Fujin.
"Yes, hello there, little one," Ines Fujin replied, momentarily surprised before smiling.
"Dia-chan, come look! It's Ines Fujin-senpai!" Kitasan Black called excitedly.
"Really?!" The previously shy Satono Diamond also rushed over, though her sharper eyes recognized Taiki Shuttle as well. "And Taiki Shuttle-senpai too!"
Lucian suddenly felt a bit superfluous.
But that was fine. He simply instructed, "Little Fujin, Shuttle-chan, please attend to our guests."
"Of course~"
"Got it~ Right this way."
...
The two little horse girls, brimming with curiosity, pestered Taiki Shuttle and Ines Fujin with endless questions.
Even Satono's family head grew somewhat embarrassed and apologized to Lucian.
Lucian waved it off before setting dish after dish on the table. "Please enjoy."
After just one bite, both Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black's eyes lit up. After polishing off two baskets of shrimp dumplings, their attention finally turned to Lucian.
"Papa, can we come back here for dinner tonight? This big brother's cooking is so good," Satono Diamond tugged at her father's sleeve.
"Sorry, Diamond. This is a reservation-only restaurant."
"Oh..." Satono Diamond's little face fell slightly, but she didn't dare disobey her father.
But Kitasan Black wasn't part of the Satono family.
She widened her big, sparkling eyes and asked Lucian eagerly, "Big brother, really not possible?"
Too cute... Really hard to say no.
But he had to go watch his own horse girls' rehearsal that evening. Even if it meant incurring the audience's wrath, he had to steel himself and refuse.
However... Lucian had another plan.
"I'm a trainer at Tracen Academy. If you two enroll there in the future, you can come find me, and I'll cook delicious meals for you."
As the saying goes, if you want to dig a corner, start with the dolls.
The Satono family had dedicated trainers within the academy. Whether he could poach them was uncertain.
But Kitasan Black didn't have that.
"Every day?" Kitasan Black, who had just wilted at Lucian's refusal, perked back up.
"Haha, you eat every day, so of course, every day."
"Yay!"
...
Meanwhile, at the eating contest.
Special Week, Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross, and Super Creek stood on stage together.
Before them were neatly stacked donuts, arranged like four pyramids.
"Contest—begin!"
Super Creek grabbed one in each hand, taking alternating bites, her eating style oddly adorable.
Tamamo Cross, meanwhile, stuffed them in haphazardly, picking up another before even swallowing the last. Her cheeks were soon bulging.
But those in the know understood the real spectacle lay with Oguri Cap and Special Week.
Oguri Cap's prowess was well-documented by anyone who'd shared a cafeteria with her.
As for Special Week, she couldn't be underestimated either. Perhaps she'd merely been hiding her abilities, never showing her full potential. Who could say where her limits truly lay?
Both were devouring donuts one after another, neck-and-neck in the first half.
"Spe-chan, ganbatte!" Silence Suzuka cheered as loudly as she could, though her voice remained soft.
"Little Spe, do your best!" Seiun Sky, for some reason, found herself getting fired up too.
On stage, Special Week didn't dare slack off. The pressure Oguri Cap exerted was immense. "Come on, little stomach, show me what you're made of!"
Tamamo Cross kept an eye on her competitors while eating, thinking, "As expected, Oguri is terrifying... Super Creek and I are about even, but that dark horse—Special something? Kuh, I won't lose!"
Om nom nom nom— (Chewing sounds)
Oguri Cap, however, wasn't overthinking it. She was just here to eat. Prizes didn't matter. "Tasty, though it's getting a bit too sweet after so many."
...