"We've... we've only known each other for a few months, and we're already going home together?"
"Does that mean we'll be holding hands later?"
"How... how shameless!" Erina Nakiri was lying on her bed, her feet, encased in black stockings, wiggling slightly as she blushed while reading a romance manga titled "Sachiko's Love Story."
Just then, Satou opened the door and walked in. "Oh, Erina, you're back so early today?"
Erina Nakiri immediately sat up from the bed in a slight panic, gritting her silver teeth and saying irritably, "Don't you know you're supposed to knock before entering?"
"Sorry, I'm used to living alone, so I always forget to knock," Satou said, then glanced at the manga cover Erina Nakiri was holding and said in surprise, "I didn't expect you, Erina, to read romance manga!"
A blush spread across Erina Nakiri's small face. She hid the manga behind her back and stammered, "Who... who's reading manga?"
"But I didn't expect you to be so conservative, Erina," Satou said, having heard her voice when he entered. "Holding hands after knowing someone for a few months is already considered late in a relationship, you know?"
"Eh? Is... is that so?" Erina Nakiri was immediately taken aback, stammering, "But shouldn't you at least know each other for a year or two, get familiar, then get permission from each other's parents, and then slowly start dating? How scandalous!"
Satou was speechless. Perhaps due to her simple upbringing and limited exposure to certain things, Erina Nakiri was exceptionally pure in this regard.
"But, wasn't it you who rushed over for a French kiss the first time we met, and then cohabited with a guy you'd only known for half a day?" He teased.
Erina Nakiri instantly felt terrible, her entire face turning so red it looked like it would drip blood, as she stammered, "Th-that... that's because..."
Seeing her reaction, Satou found it secretly amusing.
After teasing the Tsundere, the fatigue of the day instantly vanished, leaving him feeling good.
"But then again, Erina, are you interested in romance since you're reading romance manga?" Satou asked curiously.
Erina Nakiri's face was beet red. She stammered, "No, I'm not! I... I... Hisako lent it to me, and I just reluctantly flipped through a page or two."
"A page or two?" Satou glanced at the dozen or so manga volumes neatly arranged on the bed, with Erina Nakiri's being the last one. "This looks like more than a page or two, doesn't it?"
"What I read is none of your business!" Erina Nakiri shouted in exasperation.
"You're right. Erina, with your terrible temper, and being so willful and arrogant, it's probably hard for any boy to like you." Satou nodded.
"Even if no boy likes me, it has nothing to do with you!" Erina Nakiri gritted her teeth and said irritably, "Even if I dedicate my entire life to cooking, that's my business!"
"Actually, Erina, if you're looking for love, there's a good candidate right now," Satou suddenly said.
"I... I don't want to fall in love!" Erina Nakiri quickly defended herself, but after hesitating, she still asked, "Who is that person you're talking about?"
"Of course, it's me," Satou said, as if it were obvious.
"You?" Erina Nakiri stared at him blankly, then smiled arrogantly, "Someone weaker than me isn't qualified to be my boyfriend!"
"Oh? What if I'm stronger than you?" Satou couldn't help but ask.
"Just you?" Erina Nakiri chuckled lightly. "If you can defeat me, then I might agree to be your girlfriend."
"Really?" Satou asked.
"Of course." Erina Nakiri said arrogantly, "If you can defeat me, I'll admit you're my boyfriend, but that's impossible."
"You wouldn't go back on your word, would you?" Satou asked suspiciously.
Erina Nakiri was exasperated, sneering, "I never go back on my word. But you wanting to defeat me is impossible in this lifetime!"
Satou immediately smiled. He could receive experience packs every day. Although he wasn't as good as the Tsundere yet, it wouldn't be long before he caught up. Then, he'd see what the Tsundere would do!
"By the way, what about the application?" he asked.
"Regarding the application to establish a research society, I've already submitted it to the Elite Ten Council for you. In a few days, an Elite Ten member will come to assess your qualifications," Erina Nakiri said.
Satou nodded, then suddenly asked, "By the way, Erina, how does one become an Elite Ten member?"
Erina Nakiri was startled, then a mocking smile appeared on her lips.
"Oh? You want to become an Elite Ten member? Heh heh, with your current strength, you're far from qualified!"
"There are two ways to become an Elite Ten member. First, after the third-year students graduate, excellent students will be selected based on their usual grades, such as the Autumn Election, to fill the vacancies."
"Second, you can directly challenge an Elite Ten member to a Shokugeki, wagering their seat!"
"I see." Satou was a bit troubled. The first condition took too long; for him, the only path was a direct Shokugeki.
"However, even if you wanted a Shokugeki, they wouldn't agree. Do you have a wager commensurate with an Elite Ten seat? Just your expulsion isn't nearly enough," Erina Nakiri mocked again.
"Erina, you're the Tenth Seat now, aren't you?" Satou suddenly asked.
"That's right." Erina Nakiri's face showed an arrogant expression.
"Then if I defeat the seats above you, does that count as defeating you?" Satou asked.
"I suppose so!" Erina Nakiri nodded, saying confidently, "But it's only limited to seats above mine. It won't be long before I become the First Seat; you can slowly try to catch up behind me."
Satou nodded. His current goal was to defeat an Elite Ten member.
"Erina, do you want some late-night snack?" he asked.
"No!" Erina Nakiri refused coldly.
"There's a little cabbage left from last time. I was going to invite you to eat it with me, but if you don't want it, that's fine." Satou shook his head and turned to leave.
Erina Nakiri's face flushed. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, "If that's the case, I don't mind trying some."
"What did you say?" Satou pretended not to understand, asking, "I didn't hear you! Tell me louder."
"You're the most annoying person ever!" Erina Nakiri shouted.
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