"You haven't eaten in such a long time—you'll need time to get used to it," Kael nodded. Mana Nakiri's recovery wasn't a problem; the WGO's medical care was world-class.
After a few polite exchanges, everyone started eating. It had to be said: every dish on the table was top-tier—basically nine-star quality.
When the meal finished, Kael didn't linger at the WGO. He went off to sightsee. Alice Nakiri naturally stuck by his side; she had family at the WGO, but she wasn't interested in sticking with Mana—she preferred Kael.
Between a distant relative and someone she liked, she knew exactly who to follow.
"Erina, do you have any thoughts?" Mana asked after Kael and Alice left. She sent Arato Hisako and Anne away too, then looked at her daughter.
"Thoughts? About what?" Erina blinked, caught off-guard. She didn't know how to answer such a sudden question.
"About Kael. During dinner you kept glancing at him," Mana said with a smile. She'd noticed Erina's furtive looks—each time a quick peek before pulling back.
A mother knows these things. Mana had hoped to set Erina up with Kael from the start. If she'd spoken to Erina earlier and opened things up, Erina's mindset might've shifted and she might've approached Kael herself.
But Alice was already making her move, and there was another girl at Polar Star Dormitory who liked Kael too.
Mana wasn't worried about that other girl—by background and temperament, she wasn't the type to fight for him.
Alice, on the other hand, was troublesome. Mana didn't know Alice well in person, but she'd heard enough to know Alice didn't give up once she decided on something.
Since childhood, Alice had been relentless. She'd used every method to beat Erina, and she'd never stopped trying. Getting Alice to give up on Kael? Impossible.
As for whether Erina could outcompete Alice—looking at her daughter's shy, hesitant behavior, Mana shook her head.
Maybe it was time to change tactics: if you can't beat them, join them.
Kael's future, Mana believed, would place him at the very top of the culinary world—possibly even above her current status.
Two skilled, beautiful girls vying for him wouldn't be surprising. But, crucially, Erina had to actually like him. After watching her tonight, Mana was sure Erina did.
"Ah?!" Erina's face flushed when she realized her mother had noticed. Her mind went blank.
"You like Kael, right? But Alice is glued to him. Stealing him away won't be easy," Mana said.
"Mother, what are you saying!" Erina's blush deepened. She felt mortified.
"I'm your mother—I can read your little thoughts. This isn't like when you were a kid; this is a grown man. You can't just snatch him like a toy."
Mana sighed. She could see Erina was flustered and couldn't find the words. Ten minutes passed as Erina calmed down, and eventually she steadied herself.
"Mother, what should I do?" Erina asked.
Kael had already helped her so much—he'd solved the problem with her mother and brought them back together.
Erina longed for family affection; Kael had helped restore that. How could she not feel moved? But thinking about Alice made her lose confidence.
Erina had never shied away from competition before. As Mana said, she was no longer a child. Kids could snatch toys away; adults can't just take someone else's affection by force.
Besides, Kael and Alice had spent a whole term interacting—same class, often the same dorm area. Their relationship wasn't something Erina could easily match.
And there was also Megumi Tadokoro at Polar Star Dormitory, who liked Kael too. If Alice hadn't stepped in, Kael and Megumi might already have been a pair. Erina felt she'd already lost the initiative.
"I do have a plan. Come closer…" Mana lowered her voice and told Erina what she'd thought of. Listening made Erina's face flame up again.
"W-what? You want me to... team up with Alice?" Erina's head swirled.
Scenes from the romance manga she loved suddenly flashed through her mind—harem scenarios she never expected to play out in real life.
"It may sound odd, but you must understand—Kael's potential is terrifying. He's already an Eight-Star Chef. Becoming a Nine-Star or higher is all but certain."
"The culinary world is always reaching beyond nine stars, but chefs above nine stars are extremely rare—you can count them on one hand."
"Relying only on us won't change the upper limit. There are only two ways to break the ceiling."
"One, increase the number of chefs above nine stars. That's practically impossible, even with our outstanding class."
"Two, rely on one extraordinary individual to surpass everyone else and redefine the field. That was impossible—until Kael showed up."
"If his special ability holds and he keeps improving at this speed, he will break the culinary ceiling."
"Erina, do you understand what that means? He could, alone, change the structure of the culinary world. He would be the pioneer—the belief all chefs look up to."
Mana's words hit home. In short: Kael could become a godlike figure in cuisine. When someone reaches that height, ordinary social concerns fall away.
Many powerful families would stop caring about petty rules or reputation. That's what immense status buys you.
"Erina, I'm not forcing you. If you don't like Kael, I won't make you do anything. The Nakiri family grew strong with the God's Tongue, not by sacrificing family. We value family."
"But if you do like him, you have to choose: either cut ties and stay friends, or push yourself forward and be bold."
Mana left it at that. The moment had arrived—either Erina pressed forward, or she'd regret it. Time was right; indecision would only hurt her.
Erina weighed her options. Thirty minutes later she looked up at her mother, determination flickering in her eyes.
"Mother, I've decided. I won't give up."
Erina's driven nature—partly performance, partly real—meant she simply couldn't let go of something she wanted.
"Of course. I expected you'd say that. With your personality, giving up isn't an option. But you'll need to lower your stance a bit... and toughen your skin."
"I can lower my stance, but what do you mean by 'toughen my skin'?"
Erina knew little about romance beyond shojo manga. Mana smiled.
"Toughen your skin means don't be afraid to be persistent. Don't fear rejection. Be like Alice—follow Kael wherever he goes, stick to him relentlessly."
"As the saying goes, men have a mountain to get over to chase a woman; women have only a thin veil. You're a beautiful woman—if you go to him without hesitation, a normal man won't push you away."
Mana coached her daughter on pursuing a man—though she'd never done it herself, she could imagine it from the male perspective. Besides, Erina was beautiful—face and figure both top-tier.
"Right after you return, apply to live in Polar Star Dormitory. As for Alice, I'll speak with my brother and sister-in-law, and ask your grandfather to help. They shouldn't oppose it."
Mana planned to talk to Senzaemon and others; with their support, Erina could move into the dorm.
If Kael was destined to leave their small corner of Japan for bigger things, beautiful capable women would flock to him.
Erina and Alice would be better off joining forces to keep him close—otherwise anyone could sweep him away.
"Grandpa supports it too?" Erina blinked in surprise.
"Of course. I already talked to Grandpa—he said as long as it doesn't go against your will, it's fine."
Erina was grateful for a father who constantly cared for them—such sincere family affection was rare in a mighty household.
"Got it. I'll apply for Polar Star Dormitory as soon as we get back!"
Erina nodded promptly. Senzaemon had suggested she move into Polar Star before; she'd once considered it but hadn't, because her emotional knot hadn't been untied.
Now that it was, she'd finally made up her mind—and when she did decide, she threw herself into it fully.
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