In that moment, Shun finally understood Erina's feelings. She didn't just have a good impression of him—she liked him. The romantic kind.
Looking at Shun with reddened eyes, Erina went on, "Every time I taste your cooking, my God Tongue feels like it's found its home… I don't know if it's because the ingredients are special, or because it's you who cooks them."
She wiped at the tears by her lashes, but the more she tried, the more they fell.
"Shun, I'm scared—scared of losing this taste… scared my God Tongue will fall into chaos again, and… and even more scared of losing you."
Being confessed to by a girl—by a stunning beauty like Erina—would make any other guy overjoyed.
But right now, Shun couldn't feel happy at all. He could only shake his head with a wry smile.
From the very moment of the transfer-student exam—when his extraordinary skills first caught Erina's attention—their fates had already become intertwined.
Originally, Erina should have honed herself by clashing with her peers, gradually overcoming the "curse" of the God Tongue. Because of his appearance, that path had been changed. Returning to the "original plot" was impossible now.
Only two choices remained before Shun.
First: accept Erina's feelings and tell her the secret of his system—knowing it would mean Erina, like Miyoko, would become an important part of his life.
Second: keep his distance and let Erina face her trials alone—risking a tragedy that might be worse than the original story.
Watching Erina's tears flow, Shun drew a long breath.
He knew his decision would change many people's destinies.
"Erina."
He finally spoke, steadying his voice. "If I told you the ingredients you've been tasting come from beyond anything you can imagine—and that I can keep obtaining them—but it would bind you to me, and the future would hold unknown trials… would you still want to know the truth?"
Erina's tears stilled. She looked straight into his eyes. "If it means I can keep tasting your dishes and stand at your side against whatever comes, I'm willing to accept any risk."
Hearing that, Shun felt a measure of relief.
It seemed much of Erina's affection was built upon tasting his food.
"Alright. What I'm about to say may be beyond common sense," he said seriously. "I have a special ability that lets me obtain ingredients from other worlds. The bacon-leaf, the egg-rice, and the golden tofu from before—they all come from a gourmet-obsessed world."
Erina listened closely—and, unexpectedly, showed neither doubt nor shock. Instead, clarity dawned across her face, as if a long-standing riddle had finally been solved.
"I knew it… The ingredients you use aren't from this world. My God Tongue told me so long ago—I just couldn't bring myself to believe it."
She was very calm now. Born into the privileged Nakiri house, she'd tasted more top-tier ingredients than most people could name. From the first time she tasted Shun's food, doubt had already taken root.
"My girlfriend, Miyoko, learned this secret a few days ago," Shun added. "You're the second to know… She chose to face it with me. Now, you have a choice to make too."
Erina fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Do you love Miyoko?"
Shun nodded without hesitation. "I do."
"And me…?" Her voice quivered, too afraid to finish the sentence.
"I care for you. I admire you—and maybe there's more."
He didn't avert his gaze. "But I won't lie to you, and I won't betray Miyoko. If you choose to join us, we'll need to find a way of being together that everyone can accept."
Surprisingly, Erina smiled in relief. "That's enough. At least you're honest."
She stood and went to the window, looking out over Tōtsuki's nightscape. A sigh rose from the depths of her heart. "You know… as the Nakiri heir and bearer of the God Tongue, I've never really lived for myself. Every choice I've made has been for my family, for Tōtsuki."
Shun nodded, showing he understood.
She turned back to him, resolve bright in her eyes. "But today, I'm making a choice for myself. I, Erina, choose to believe you—choose to accept this unbelievable secret—and choose to face the unknown with you, even if it means sharing your heart."
In that instant, Erina wasn't the cute tsundere from before. She had become steadier, more mature.
Something shifted in Shun's chest. He accepted her answer.
"However, I want this secret to stay between us," he cautioned. "You know what would happen if it got out."
Erina nodded firmly. She understood all too well the consequences of such a revelation.
"Alright—let's solve tomorrow's shokugeki first."
Shun pivoted the topic. "Fermentation might be a weak point for you right now, but it isn't for me. I know a special yeast that can create unparalleled fermented flavor."
Naturally, that yeast came from the system's shop—another treasure of the gourmet world.
Erina's eyes lit up at once. "You have more ingredients like that?"
"Heh, of course I do. But if we want a guaranteed win tomorrow, I'll need your full cooperation… I'll provide the ingredients and assist, but the dish must be finished by your hands. That's the only way everyone will accept it."
"Thank you, Shun," Erina said softly, then, mustering her courage, added, "Thank you for helping me—and for choosing to trust me."
Shun smiled faintly. "Let's head to the kitchen. We don't have much time."
Erina nodded, the fire of resolve rekindling in her eyes.
The God Tongue's crisis was not yet fully dispelled. The shokugeki loomed at dawn. But she no longer felt fear—because she would not face it alone.
And Shun knew that on the road to exploring other worlds, he had gained another indispensable companion.
(End of Chapter)
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