Chapter 39: The Obsessed Father
"…Man, it's already eight o'clock."
When I looked out the window, the sun had already set. Realizing how quickly the days were getting shorter, I changed out of my cook's uniform and back into my school uniform.
I had to head to Erina's stall next—I had made a reservation. It was an important event for advancing my ambitions.
That said, it was still a little early. I needed to time it perfectly, so I had to kill some time.
"Hello? Nakiri-san? Sorry, but I might be a little late getting to the stall. Could you keep a seat for me? …Yeah, thanks. I'm really looking forward to your cooking."
I quickly finished the call to Erina and slipped my phone back into my pocket.
Until my target appeared… I had about two hours left.
"…Fwaah. …Maybe I'll sleep for a bit."
I cracked my neck and leaned back in the chair again.
I had been working nonstop since morning and my drowsiness had reached its limit. I decided to take a short nap until the Santoku family staff waiting at the academy entrance contacted me. Even two hours of sleep would make a huge difference compared to none.
I had a good sleep posture, so I wouldn't fall out of the chair.
This too was the result of years of training to maintain sleep quality. I was confident I could sleep through fireworks going off next to me. My internal clock was accurate, so I would wake up right on time after two hours.
But I hadn't realized it myself.
I was far more exhausted than I thought.
"—…Nngh?"
A strong shake woke me up. Someone seemed to have roused me.
The stall had been locked, so it had to be someone connected to me. Thinking Alice and the others had returned, I opened my eyes—only to find one of the Santoku family staff members who had been waiting at the academy entrance. My half-frozen mind kicked into high gear, and I grasped the situation before any explanation was given.
The phone I pulled out showed a flood of message notifications and missed calls. At the same time, I saw the current time: 8:12 PM. I had slept well past the time I had intended to wake up. There was no other way to describe it—I had overslept.
"—!!"
I sprang up from the chair and rushed out of the stall. Fortunately, my destination was also in the Yamanote Area. At my speed, I could get there in under three minutes. If I took shortcuts between buildings with parkour-like movements, I could shorten the time even further.
Run. Shake off the sleepy haze. Slip through the gaps between the leisurely-walking wealthy guests like a single gust of wind.
"Make it in tiiiiime!!!"
For the first time in my second life, I ran with everything I had.
The time was eight o'clock. Unlike the other two areas, the Yamanote Area was still packed with visitors enjoying their meals. Most were overnight guests, so they could savor a relaxed dinner.
Because only skilled chefs opened stalls here, every shop offered high-ranking cuisine. Tenth Seat Nakiri Erina's stall was, of course, one of them.
"—Hisako. Are all the guests here?"
Erina asked with a serious expression. Her tied-up hair and white chef's coat caught the light, enhancing her natural beauty even further.
With a dignity far beyond that of a first-year high school student, she watched the customers eating the dishes she had prepared.
"Yes, Lady Erina. …All except one."
Hisako, who was supporting Erina as her secretary even during the festival, checked the reservation list and made a slightly bitter face.
Erina's stall was reservation-only. She had boldly chosen a customer-attraction method that turned away all walk-ins. As a result, she could focus entirely on cooking and offer even greater culinary excellence.
Tonight was the final night of the festival. The guest list was undeniably luxurious. Being able to invite such prominent figures in the food world was possible only because of Nakiri Erina's skill.
There was only one person missing from the reservations: Santoku Shogo.
The special seat prepared for him remained empty.
"…Santoku-kun… still hasn't come."
"I did contact him earlier, but… That man! Making Lady Erina wait like this…!"
"Don't be so angry, Hisako. Santoku-kun must have had something come up. He said he would come, so I'm sure he will. He's not the kind of person who breaks promises."
"That may be true, but…"
Hisako's expression was complicated. She knew his true nature, but she couldn't bring herself to deny it. Even when he had threatened her, he had never broken a promise. It was precisely because he had shown that strangely dutiful side that feelings other than hatred had begun to sprout inside her.
"I went to the trouble of preparing such a good seat… If he comes, I'll give him a lecture!"
"Hehe, just be gentle. The food will get cold."
"That would be terrible! I'll be gentle!"
Erina smiled innocently while Hisako remained stern. Their relationship had clearly grown closer than the old master-servant dynamic—they were more like friends now. All of it was thanks to Santoku Shogo's steady assistance.
…Santoku-kun. Will you be happy…?
Erina pressed a hand to her chest with the expression of a girl in love. He was the first boy her own age who had made her acknowledge that someone could be better than her at cooking. To save him from the loneliness that came with genius, she had even declared herself his worthy rival.
The desire to serve him the best possible dish had only grown stronger while she waited for him to arrive.
"…! Lady Erina, that fool has finally arrived. I will guide him to his seat, so please focus on the cooking."
"Y-yes. Thank you, Hisako. …Alright!"
Erina clenched her small fist, a mix of anxiety and excitement rising inside her. She still hadn't challenged her own shell with a dish that would break it, but this was a meal she had created as her own attempt at growth. She was genuinely looking forward to seeing how Shogo would react.
Those girlish feelings were shattered the moment a certain man suddenly appeared.
"P-please wait! This is unacceptable!"
"…? Hisako?"
The voice coming from the entrance was Hisako's, and it was far from calm.
Erina peeked out, wondering if the arriving guest wasn't who she had expected. The person standing there was the very last individual she ever wanted to see.
Black hair and skin so pale it looked sickly. Eyes devoid of light that seemed to look down on everything, paired with a thin, unsettling smile plastered on his face.
She could never forget him. She could never forget that man—Nakiri Azami, her own father, the source of her greatest childhood trauma.
"—Hello, Erina. It's been a while."
Nothing had changed. Not his face, not his voice, not his gaze.
Erina froze in terror the instant their eyes met. Her throat tightened and her breathing became unsteady. Her legs began to shake and her knees buckled. The warmth she had felt in her chest only moments ago vanished, replaced by an icy coldness.
Just seeing his face was enough to drag Erina back to her helpless childhood.
"…F-Father…?"
"You look well. That's good. Sorry for the sudden visit, but I'd like you to serve me something. Show your father how much your skills have improved."
His voice was calm and adult. To Erina, however, it was the whisper of a demon. Unable to affirm or deny, she could only take a single step back, stunned.
"I told you, we cannot seat you! All reservations for today are complete! Please leave!"
Hisako stepped in desperately to stop him, but Azami paid her no mind.
Knowing he was Erina's father, there was nothing Hisako could do to forcibly stop him.
"Oh? Perfect timing. There appears to be one seat available."
"Th-that seat is already reserved!"
Hisako's protest was in vain. Azami walked toward the empty seat—the special one that had been prepared for Santoku Shogo.
"…Ah, ah… Th-that seat is…!"
"I'm hungry, Erina. I want to taste my beloved daughter's cooking as soon as possible."
Even though the most important seat was about to be taken, Erina could not move. Unable to defy her father, she could only desperately hold back the tears threatening to spill.
The girl screamed with all her strength.
Picturing the face of a single boy.
"…Help me."
A faint, fragile cry that seemed on the verge of vanishing.
The scream that reached no one's ears summoned a single boy to the scene.
"—That seat belongs to me."
The voice suddenly reached her ears.
Erina looked up to confirm the speaker.
Messy hair and ragged breathing. It was obvious at a glance that he had run here with everything he had. Seeing him, Erina finally let the tears she had been holding back fall.
Hisako, who had been in despair, now had hope shining in her eyes as she rushed toward the boy.
"W-welcome, sir…!"
"Yeah, sorry I'm late. —I have a reservation under 'Santoku.'"
"…Santoku-kun."
As if reassuring the imprisoned princess, the boy smiled gently.
"I came to eat, Nakiri-san."
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A/n: I just saw that we passed 500 power stones so I will drop 2 chapters today. Also, this week's first power stone goal is 100 power stones. 100 power stones = I will drop +1 bonus chapter instantly. So, don't forget to vote with ur power stones!!