Haste Makes Waste

The proportion of repeat customers is always the standard by which a restaurant's success is measured, and the tavern is no exception. Transforming first-time guests into regulars, who in turn bring in new guests, this cyclical form is precisely the tavern's marketing strategy.

It's undeniable.

Regulars like Rindo bring a scale effect that represents the vitality of this tavern. If one day, regulars like Rindo lose interest in Zane's tavern, it would signify the "end" of the tavern's "life."

...

"Master, you were right."

"There are always some astonishing talents among the new students!"

Exhaling a breath of alcohol, Rindo recalled today's shokugeki (food battle) and sighed deeply. She vaguely remembered that during the entrance examination, she had never seen Alice Nakiri. The only explanation was that she must have been admitted to Totsuki as a special enrollment student. However, what was even more unexpected was that this special student dared to challenge the entire Dessert Cuisine Research Society on the first day of school and defeated the second-year student Shiro Hakuhe with an unexpected molecular dessert cuisine.

"How so?"

"Didn't you just say last time that the cooking of those new students was very poor?"

Hearing this, Zane knew something must have stimulated Rindo after school started and couldn't help but ask.

"Yes!"

"They were indeed very poor."

"But at Totsuki, there's a kind of special enrollment that bypasses the entrance examination."

"Another Miss Nakiri was admitted as a special enrollment student, and she really stole the show today!"

Putting down her glass, Rindo began to describe in detail today's shokugeki.

...

Being overly competitive.

Sometimes, it's just an illusion.

What really can't be accepted is one's own worthlessness.

Even among all the new students, Alice Nakiri's skills definitely rank at the top. However, her desire to beat Erina Nakiri, her obsession and desire, led her to make erroneous judgments about certain things, especially the real-life gap between them, which often made her feel worried and anxious.

Thus, she did something on the first day of school that shocked the entire Totsuki Academy.

"More haste, less speed."

"She's too eager to show herself, and she might face backlash later."

At this moment, hearing about Alice's deeds after school started, Zane frowned slightly.

Strictly speaking, competitiveness has no good or bad aspects; it doesn't need to be suppressed or nurtured.

However, often the excessive pursuit of success and a single goal can make one feel crushed when faced with failure.

In fact.

In Zane's view.

Alice's sense of competition isn't that strong.

She wanted to prove herself to Erina Nakiri because the cake she made in her childhood wasn't acknowledged by her.

She might act more recklessly than Erina in many ways, but her straightforward and genuine personality was something Zane greatly admired.

After all, as another Miss Nakiri, interacting with her is certainly much more harmonious than with Erina.

"Also, showing her hand so quickly now might make it easier for other students to target her later."

"How cruel and intense is the competition at Totsuki? Such a special transfer student, seems not to have truly experienced it yet!"

Rindo nodded in agreement to Zane's words.

However, her performance and her cuisine in that spectacular shokugeki made Rindo feel that if she were allowed to continue to grow, she might soon pose a real threat to their positions as the Elite Ten.

Saying she is the closest to the Elite Ten isn't an exaggeration at all!

...

"Wow!"

"Has the tavern changed so much since I last came?"

Just then, a group of people arrived at the tavern.

Leading them was a girl with chestnut-colored hair tied in a bun.

As she pushed the door open, the completely renewed dining environment of the tavern made her stop in surprise, then her eyes sparkled brightly.

"My goodness! If it wasn't for Shunkatei next door, I would have thought I was in the wrong place."

Following her, Ryoko covered her mouth in surprise.

For her, the tavern now felt both unfamiliar and familiar.

Then Satoshi, Zenji, Shun, Daigo, Shoji, and the transfer student Soma, also gradually entered.

Especially the new guest, Soma, who started examining this unfamiliar tavern as soon as he entered.

Amazement!

Excitement!

Contemplation!

Confusion!

His expression became incredibly complex.

Perhaps for him, who had also run a restaurant, this distinctive tavern evoked a strange fondness.

But on the other hand, he couldn't understand why the Polar Star Dormitory group, just wanting to host a welcome party for this transfer student, would need to come here?

"Chef, this... this is some cookies I made myself."

Then, Megumi, who came into the tavern somewhat reluctantly, bit her lip, mustered her courage, her cheeks flushing as she presented a beautifully packaged box of cookies to Zane.

"Megumi, you must have passed the first exam after school started to come with them, right?"

Zane didn't immediately accept the gift but asked with a smile.

"This... this..."

"Zane, I really thank you for smoothly passing the exam!"

Megumi hurriedly lowered her head, pushing the cookies further towards Zane, her tone excited.

"Huh?"

"Why thank me?"

Seeing this, Zane pretended to be dumb.

"Zane, you don't know."

"The culinary topic for this exam was Burgundy wine-braised beef."

"Thank goodness, back at the tavern, you told me all the ways to prepare this dish; otherwise, I might have really been expelled."

"So to express my gratitude, I made these cookies... and I hope you will accept them."

"Alright, alright."

"Your kind gesture, I accept!"

Finally, Zane did not refuse, for not accepting would seem somewhat pretentious.

And watching him finally accept the box of cookies, Megumi couldn't help but feel even more delighted.

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