"Ah!"
At the resort's breakfast buffet hall.
Watching Erina Nakiri raise her fork with a piece of beef on it, Luo Shu, already quite full, couldn't help but comment:
"You're acting really strange today, Erina."
"Just eat it!" Erina snapped, flustered.
"Fine, you win."
Luo Shu took the beef, chewing slowly as he watched Erina expertly cut into her eighth steak.
After swallowing, he suddenly realised something and frowned:
"Aren't you sick of eating so much this morning?"
Normally, even a regular person would find this much steak overwhelming, let alone Erina, who possessed the God's Tongue and was naturally hypersensitive to taste. She should have been nauseated long ago.
Yet here she was, having polished off eight plates of beef in front of him—something was definitely off.
"Only now you realise it!"
Erina Nakiri shot Luo Shu an annoyed glance, as if throwing a childish tantrum:
"It seems the Gourmet Cells have evolved my sense of taste."
After saying this, Erina Nakiri added:
"It's evolved for the better."
As she spoke, Erina Nakiri cut a small piece of beef, lifted it before her eyes, and examined it closely:
"Before, I could only discern the texture of the beef and the various flavours produced by the mixture of seasonings with the meat. If I encountered an unpleasant taste, I'd feel nauseous and retch. But now..."
Erina took a bite of the beef, chewing while gazing at Luo Shu with an unusually alluring look in her eyes.
"The sensation of the beef entering my body, the amino acids produced by gastric enzymes breaking down the beef, the growth and evolution my body gains from absorbing this nourishment."
"I can taste all of these things now!"
"With every meal, I can feel new changes, and I can even freely control this sensory ability."
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately understood Erina Nakiri's meaning:
"To put it simply, has the power of the God's Tongue evolved under the influence of Gourmet Cells? Allowing you to perceive more details, and beneficial ones at that? Since these sensations override the others, the side effects of the God's Tongue have disappeared?"
After speaking, Luo Shu couldn't help but laugh wryly: "So before I could even start looking for a solution to the God's Tongue issue, you've already resolved it yourself?"
"You're mistaken."
Erina Nakiri set down her knife and fork, shook her head, then rested her chin on both hands as she looked at Luo Shu:
"It's not that I've resolved it myself. It's that you, Luo Shu, have already solved it for me."
At these words, Luo Shu's eyelids twitched slightly, sensing something even more off about Erina.
'She's starting to remind me of Toyomi Fujiwara last night... except Toyomi was acting, while she's being genuine...' Luo Shu thought to himself.
Just as he was musing, hurried footsteps approached.
Luo Shu turned towards the sound and saw Alice Nakiri striding over energetically.
"Sorry to interrupt! I need to borrow this one for a moment."
Alice Nakiri gave Luo Shu a polite nod before immediately grabbing Erina Nakiri's arm:
"Erina, come with me for a second."
"Tch."
Erina clicked her tongue in annoyance, as if some plan had been ruined, then turned to Luo Shu:
"Apologies, Alice seems to need me for something."
With that, Erina Nakiri turned and started pulling Alice Nakiri away:
"Let's go over there."
"Eh? Eh?" Alice Nakiri looked utterly bewildered as Erina dragged her along.
'Since when was Erina this strong?'
"Miss Erina, Miss Alice." Hisako Arato, who had arrived belatedly, quickly bowed to Luo Shu before following after them.
Watching this, Luo Shu shrugged from his seat, glanced at the unfinished beef on the table, and stood up:
"Guess I'll go get some vegetables."
...
Totsuki Resort, first-floor entrance near the elevators.
Erina Nakiri crossed her arms, looking at Alice Nakiri with impatience and arrogance:
"Well? What did you want? Can't you see I'm busy with important matters?"
"What's with that attitude? And your 'important matter' was feeding a man? Have some shame."
Hearing this familiar tone, Alice Nakiri immediately felt the Erina she knew had returned, muttering the last part under her breath.
Erina Nakiri frowned at the words. "Did you come here just to complain to me?"
"Huh? You heard that." Alice Nakiri instantly looked awkward.
Getting caught badmouthing someone to their face? This... She'd definitely been speaking very quietly just now.
Witnessing Alice's instant defeat, Hisako Arato couldn't help but ask:
"Miss Erina, last night around 11 pm... did you go out? With Mr Luo?"
Hearing this, Erina Nakiri froze for a moment before turning to Hisako. "Hisako, you know about that?"
The moment these words left her mouth, Hisako's eyes widened in shock. Covering her face in distress, she groaned:
"It's actually true... How could this be? Just one night..."
"Huh?" Erina was utterly confused by Hisako's reaction.
Meanwhile, Alice immediately sprang back to life, pointing at Erina accusingly. "Erina! You actually went out on a date with a man in the middle of the night!"
"A date?"
Erina's face instantly flushed red. But seeing Alice's triumphant expression - as if she'd uncovered some great secret to hold over her - Erina immediately snorted coldly.
"Do I need your permission to spend time with someone, Alice?"
"Of course you don't need my permission~" Alice grinned mischievously. "But Erina, isn't it a bit much to bribe the judges just because you're worried about losing our competition?"
"What?"
Erina was momentarily stunned before bursting into incredulous laughter. "You mean that competition where the prize was just a teddy bear? You think I'd need to bribe judges over that? Besides, wasn't the judge chosen by Chef Dōjima?"
Alice shrewdly countered, "If it's not that, then it must be about Aunt Mana, right?"
Erina froze.
"Seems I guessed correctly." Alice sighed, unsurprised. "So you offered yourself up just to ask about Aunt Mana? Wait, no - that doesn't sound like you, Erina. Unless... that man has a solution for the God's Tongue?"
"A boy our age suddenly appears, solves the problem that's plagued you, your mother, even our entire Nakiri family - like some prince charming saving you? So you've fallen for him?"
Erina's body stiffened slightly. "You?!!"
Seeing this reaction, Alice knew she'd hit the mark. Sighing, she said:
"Was it really that hard to guess?"
"Erina, those innocent romance manga hidden in the third drawer of your cabinet, under everything else... You didn't actually think you were the only one who knew about them, did you?"
"Why don't you ask the secretary over there? I'm sure she knows too."
Hearing this, Hisako couldn't help but guiltily avert her gaze. "Miss Alice, what are you talking about? I don't understand..."
Erina immediately realised Alice was telling the truth. Now it was Erina's turn to be stunned.
How did everyone know where she hid her manga?!
Alice waved her hand dismissively. "So all this fuss is just because Erina's suddenly gone lovestruck. No wait - this should be called love at first sight."
"Come to think of it, Director Luo is quite good-looking, but still... to give in after just one night? I suppose that's our love-struck Erina for you."
"Whatever, it's not my business anyway. Seems like Grandpa has already given his approval."
Alice Nakiri said this as she turned to leave, though not before glancing back at Erina Nakiri and adding:
"Just don't waste too much time on romance and fall hopelessly behind me in culinary skills, alright?"
"Bye~"
With a flick of her hand, Alice Nakiri strode off.
Erina Nakiri stood frozen for a moment before stamping her foot in indignation:
"How dare that insignificant Alice speak to me like this!!"
"Outrageous!"
"What an outrageous creature!!"
Hearing Erina's complaints, Alice Nakiri—having successfully provoked her—ran off with a mischievous grin.
"Scolding Erina and making her too furious to retaliate feels absolutely amazing!"
"Though now that I think about it, she's always been love-struck, but for it to get this bad... It's a bit worrying. I don't want to be called 'Auntie' by some kid at this age."
As Alice ran, she subconsciously found herself near the dining area and spotted Luo Shu carefully picking out vegetable strips.
Noticing this, her eyes gleamed with mischief.
Within seconds, she gave Luo Shu's shoulder a light tap—one he allowed without protest.
"Yo~"
Alice cheerfully waved at him.