Chapter 101.
"Shijun, aren't you heading back to your home country for the summer vacation?"
Isshiki Satoshi smiled warmly. Surprisingly, the usually exhibitionist 7th Seat was fully dressed for today's dorm celebration. Shijun was initially puzzled by the sudden modesty, until he caught the teasing, predatory half-smile of the girl leaning against him, and it all made sense.
Unlike the innocent first-year girls like Tadokoro Megumi, Isshiki knew exactly who was in the room. This was Kobayashi Rindo—the third-year 2nd Seat of the Elite Ten, notorious for her terrifying, carnivorous appetite and her habit of hunting down exotic beasts like alligators. Isshiki had undoubtedly suffered at her hands in the past, which perfectly explained his flawless behavior today.
"Nah, I think I'll just travel around Japan for a while."
Shijun replied. He wasn't a masochist; going back home just to suffer through boredom sounded like a terrible idea.
"There are so many incredible spots here, and Rindo-senpai is a master traveler! I'm so jealous you get to spend the whole vacation exploring."
Isshiki sighed theatrically, lamenting his eternal duty to the Polar Star vegetable garden.
"Whoa! Could this be the legendary honeymoon trip?!"
Yoshino Yuki squealed, her chaotic imagination instantly running wild.
"Don't be an idiot, Yuki! This is just their first trip as a couple!"
Sakaki Ryoko sighed, rubbing her temples. No matter how mature and grounded Ryoko tried to be, managing Yuki's boundless energy always gave her a headache.
"Ah~ I don't recall officially agreeing to drag this guy around all summer."
Rindo purred, eyeing her boyfriend with a mischievous, feline smirk.
"No way! You want me to spend this entire vacation alone?"
Shijun gasped, clutching his chest in mock betrayal.
The common room burst into laughter. Everyone could see it was just playful banter between a happy couple.
However, the polite smile plastered on Tadokoro Megumi's face was noticeably strained.
Watching Shijun and Rindo effortlessly radiate such deep intimacy stirred a quiet, panicked tightness in her chest. She couldn't help but remember the tall, dependable figure that had stood protectively in front of her during the grueling Training Camp.
Ryoko noticed Megumi's slight frown and offered a silent, sympathetic sigh.
Looking around the bustling room, Shijun noticed a few key absences.
"Where did Soma and the others run off to?"
"After the Autumn Election participants were announced on the main board this morning, Soma-kun headed straight back to Restaurant Yukihira to train with his father."
Isshiki explained with a gentle smile.
"Ibusaki and the rest are locked inside their respective cooking labs. Everyone is completely fired up and desperate to sharpen their knives for the preliminaries."
Shijun nodded in understanding.
Today's "celebration" was essentially a farewell party; by tomorrow morning, the dorm residents would scatter to prepare for the looming culinary war.
—
The following day, Shijun and Rindo boarded a bullet train, kicking off a whirlwind summer romance.
Their first stop was Osaka.
Walking hand-in-hand through the vibrant streets, they explored the towering Tsutenkaku and the ancient Shitennoji temple. Rindo's voracious appetite led them straight into the chaotic heart of Dotonbori's food scene. The rich, savory impact of authentic Kansai okonomiyaki and the perfectly crisp, golden batter of freshly fried kushikatsu brought an entirely new dimension of flavor to their trip.
When the sun set, they traded the bustling street stalls for romantic, candlelit dinners in quiet, high-end restaurants.
From the historic shrines of Kyoto to the pristine beaches of Okinawa and the vast, ingredient-rich fields of Hokkaido, Rindo proved she was a true travel expert. As a seasoned exotic ingredient hunter, she knew the country inside and out, guiding them to breathtaking views and hidden culinary gems.
Throughout the journey, their relationship accelerated rapidly.
By the end of the two weeks, they were practically inseparable. Everywhere they went, the air was filled with their shared laughter and passionate debates over local flavor profiles. For Shijun, these were easily the happiest days of his life. As long as Rindo was by his side, even the most mundane activities felt electric.
Of course, the most profound shift happened behind closed doors.
Over the course of their half-month vacation, the warm, sweet nights naturally evolved into a much deeper physical intimacy.
When the trip finally concluded, Shijun reluctantly dropped Rindo off at the airport. She was flying overseas to visit her parents.
He had desperately wanted to tag along and introduce himself to his future in-laws, but Rindo had adamantly refused. Despite her usual fierce, carnivorous demeanor on the Elite Ten Council, the sudden, profound shift in their relationship had left the 2nd Seat surprisingly flustered.
She simply wasn't mentally prepared to bring her boyfriend home yet. It was a rare, endearing moment of shyness from the usually fearless upperclassman.
Left with no other choice, Shijun returned to Totsuki alone.
Waiting for the new semester to begin quickly became agonizing. Without Rindo, leaving his room felt pointless. As for locking himself in a kitchen to invent new recipes for the Autumn Election? He had trained his culinary skills for over a decade; right now, he just wanted to slack off.
Furthermore, sleep had become a scarce commodity. The moment he closed his eyes, Rindo's captivating figure flooded his mind.
When he finally dragged himself out of bed a week before the preliminaries, he was sporting a rare, heavy pair of dark circles under his eyes.
He certainly didn't expect Nakiri Erina to storm into his room at eight o'clock in the morning, radiating absolute hostility.
"Didn't get much sleep last night, Your Highness?"
Shijun teased shamelessly, noticing that the pristine wielder of the God Tongue was also sporting heavy bags under her eyes.
"Look who's talking!"
Erina snapped, her cheeks puffing up indignantly.
"Storming in here this early just to glare at me—who made you this angry?"
Their relationship had improved significantly over the past few months, so he was genuinely curious about what had set her off.
"It is entirely your fault!"
Shijun blinked in utter bewilderment. He hadn't seen her in over twenty days since the break started. How could he possibly be at fault?
His confusion only deepened until his gaze dropped to the object clutched tightly in the furious heiress's hands: a thick, heavily dog-eared volume of a shoujo romance manga.