Mana Feels Homesick!

After leaving the tavern, the outside world seemed even more tranquil than before. As everyone knows, because of the "competitive" education system at Totsuki Academy, students are rivals and hardly have any genuine friendships.

However, during this banquet, Soma Yukihira saw valuable friendships and warm human connections among the Polar Star Dormitory residents. Perhaps in the future, he will cherish these beautiful memories and experiences at the dormitory even more.

"Hehe, Megumi, what did the owner give you when you left?" Yuuki asked excitedly as she looked at a small gift in Megumi's hands. Ryoko also peeked at it now and then, full of curiosity.

"It's nothing much... just a little osmanthus cake," replied Megumi, blushing.

"Oh!" exclaimed Yuuki. "You gave him cookies, and he gave you osmanthus cake!"

Yuuki playfully patted her shoulder, her gaze suddenly implying something mischievous.

"I'm so envious. I wish the owner would give me a bottle of sake too, but I'd be too embarrassed to ask him for such a favor," Ryoko said, both envious and helpless.

"Exactly, when we left the tavern, the owner wouldn't even give us a proper look," Yuuki continued. "But he suddenly stopped Megumi, showering her with attention. And to top it off, he even gave her a box of osmanthus cake when we were leaving, which makes me insanely jealous!"

"But, on the other hand," Yuuki added, "Our little Megumi from the Polar Star Dorm really matches the owner well!"

Megumi's face turned even redder at Yuuki's words. "Yuuki, what... what are you talking about? You shouldn't say things like that!"

She then quickly walked behind Satoshi, her pace swift.

Her reaction made Yuuki and Ryoko exchange looks—could there really be something between these two?

...

Nighttime.

The breeze gently blew.

The street lamps lined up like a silvery necklace hung around the city's neck, casting the dorm residents' faces in a vivid light.

Satoshi, stepping out of the tavern, looked particularly pensive. Especially when he remembered the imposing aura that Mana carried when she first appeared, it made him even more serious.

"Shun, what do you think about that guest?" he asked.

"Senior, I'm not kidding when I say my legs were shaking. I felt an aura from her that was far more terrifying than the General Manager's," Shun confessed, still shaken.

"I've heard that the WGO food organization's executives have started to secretly investigate restaurants around the world. If I'm not mistaken, she must be one of the executives," Satoshi speculated, his eyes flickering.

"An executive of that level appearing in a tavern?" Shun found it hard to believe.

"The garden next door is Shunkatei, a Western restaurant run by senior Yono, so I think the WGO executive came to the tavern as part of her inspection."

"I just didn't expect that the owner's cooking would be so spectacular! That dish of Icy Fresh Snapper Mountain would be unique in the entire culinary world," Satoshi remarked after a thought.

"Indeed, he always turns out to be more formidable than we anticipate!" Shun exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Soma Yukihira, who had been eavesdropping on Satoshi and Shun's conversation, was also contemplating his future life choices.

Eventually, he seemed to make a decision and hurriedly called out to Satoshi in front, "Senior, could you try some dishes I've made after we get back? I'd appreciate your feedback!"

"Hmm?" Satoshi paused at the words from behind.

He turned to look at Soma, seeing determination in his eyes, and smiled, "Good, it seems you know what to do. Let's see if your cooking can move me again!"

"Thank you, senior!"

...

The scent of tea.

Under the moonlight, it carried a rustling sound. A kind of laziness permeated the soul with the aroma of wine, slowly and gently.

Just a sip was enough to let the mild tranquility of the tea wash over one's heart.

This made Rindo, who had never left the tavern, slowly feel the slow richness of life.

She then slowly opened his eyes and sneaked a peek at Zane, who was wiping his knife at the cooking station.

His handsome and gentle face, his calm demeanor, made her a bit infatuated as she watched.

But just then, she accidentally saw Mana, who had just finished eating five whole plates of snapper sashimi, also quietly watching Zane with a startled expression!

"Have you been in Japan for several days now?"

"Don't you want to go back to Totsuki to see your father and daughter?" Zane, putting away the knife, casually looked towards Mana, surprised to find her staring intently at him.

"I don't know how to face it."

"It's okay with my father, but my daughter Erina..."

As she spoke, Mana's eyes showed an indescribable loss and loneliness.

...

For ten whole years, she had not returned to the Nakiri Family, to her own family.

This life alone, though entirely free from family constraints, also left her with a severe psychological shadow.

This wasn't just due to the curse of the divine tongue but from dealing alone with unfamiliar environments and unexpressed grievances over the years.

As time passed, these feelings and mindsets might not necessarily fade.

If she could find a cuisine that conquered the divine tongue, perhaps her mental pressure would gradually improve, and her guilt towards her family might not feel as heavy.

However, having invested so much over the years, only to finally find a cuisine that satisfies the divine tongue, she found it even harder to let go now.

"Perhaps you anticipated this day when you made that choice?" Zane asked calmly, seeing Mana's condition.

"Yes."

"It's all fate!" Mana said, her voice somewhat elusive.

Her thoughts drifted back to times spent with her daughter Erina.

The curse of the divine tongue had caused her much pain. To prevent Erina from following in her footsteps and to free herself from torment, she had resolutely made that choice.

But in the end, it also burdened her heavily.

"Mana, I think you need to learn to let go of past burdens, or you might fall into an even deeper abyss."

"As for how to let go, I can't offer better advice."

"But what I want to say is, it's scarier to keep wandering in the dark than to stand still!"

Hearing this, Mana couldn't help but raise her head to meet Zane's calm gaze.

"You're so young, yet you act like a wise elder. I don't need your lectures!"

Mana retorted coldly.

She had just wanted to enjoy Zane's cooking again today.

She hadn't expected him to stir up memories of the past or hope she would take the initiative to go back to Totsuki to reconcile with her father and daughter.

...

"Do you believe in fate?" Mana asked thoughtfully after calming down.

"Let me put it this way, since I've been running this tavern, I've stopped believing in any fate."

"It might exist, but fate is too elusive and mystical. Who knows, maybe one day I'll have an accident and end up in another world?"

"So, it's better to trust in oneself."

Zane shrugged and smiled.

"Believe it or not, it doesn't matter."

"I just want to know if it's possible for one person to fight against fate?"

Mana seemed to be talking to herself and to Zane.

Zane pondered for a moment and then spoke seriously, "It's possible, and it's not."

"Like, in this world, you know of no chef, no dish that can conquer the divine tongue, but my cooking can break this curse!"

Hearing this, Mana finally couldn't hold back.

She stared blankly at Zane, her expression tinged with a faint sadness.

This look, besides the time she had resolutely left the Nakiri Family, had not been seen since.

"Missing them, aren't you?" Zane asked softly.

"Yes!"

"Very much so."

"But... can I go back?" Mana murmured, slightly confused.

"Of course, you can go back."

Zane's gaze deepened as he nodded in response.

...

Meanwhile, at Totsuki Academy, another Shokugeki (food war) was taking place.

Intense white light illuminated the venue as brightly as daylight, making every detail clearly visible.

Suddenly, a beam of light shone on a contestant named "Seiji," instantly making him the most noticeable figure at the event!

He was the captain of the Sumo Hot Pot Cuisine Research Society and also a second-year student in the high division.

His personal strength was considered top-notch at Totsuki, even stronger than some third-year students.

Yet at this moment, his complexion was pale, and his large, corpulent body lay sprawled on the ground like a lump of mud. The large screen hanging in mid-air had already displayed the results of the Shokugeki:

5:0

"How terrifying!"

"Is this the strength of the Elite Ten?"

"I remember Seiji senior, his strength is far beyond that of Shiro from this morning."

"Yes, his strength is well recognized in our academy, but I didn't expect him to be utterly defeated!"

"Who would have thought?"

"Erina, possessing the divine tongue, has such terrifying strength!"

"It's over, it's just the first day of school, and already two research societies have been shut down."

"If this continues, the struggles between various factions will become more intense, and what can I, a mere underling, do to protect myself?"

"Just pray for good luck, because facing the two powerful Nakiri sisters, we're probably going to have a tough time."

...

The venue was filled with murmurs.

Tonight's Shokugeki, featuring Erina, a member of the Elite Ten, had attracted much attention.

As everyone expected, Erina's display of strength truly matched her title of the Elite Ten, proving even stronger than Alice!

"Impossible."

"My Ishikari Nabe Rich Soup Hot Pot cuisine used over 30 high-quality ingredients."

"How could it lose to your dish?"

"I don't accept this! I just can't!"

Seiji found it hard to accept this devastating defeat.

Erina, knowing he was still dissatisfied, walked over to his dish with light steps.

After hesitating for a moment, she scooped a spoonful of the soup and took a sip.

Then, opening her eyes, her expression serene, she calmly said to Seiji, "Senior, your rich soup hot pot has 18 major errors, 34 minor mistakes, and 57 imperfections that aren't exactly errors."

"For example, you were too hasty in simmering the pork bones, causing the bone flavor not to fully integrate into the soup, making it somewhat bland."

"Also, the amount of soy sauce is incorrect; you added too little."

"The salt, too, is not enough."

"You claim to have prepared over 30 high-quality ingredients for this dish, but I found that you missed 2 specialty ingredients from Hokkaido."

"As for the control of the fire, the processing of various ingredients, the blending of soup bases, and so on, there are more or less issues..."

...

At last.

Seiji looked at Erina in shock.

Only at this moment did he fully understand just how formidable this young girl with the divine tongue was.

She could analyze all the errors in a dish with just one taste!

"Senior, the results of this competition are clear."

"There's no longer a Sumo Hot Pot Cuisine Research Society at Totsuki Academy, only the 7th building of the culinary hall belonging to the 10th seat of the Elite Ten!"

With that, Erina walked past Seiji to Fuyuko, saying, "Contact the demolition team on site and tell them the whole building can be demolished!"

"Okay, Miss Nakiri."

Fuyuko nodded and immediately made a phone call.

"What? You... you're going to demolish the entire building of the Sumo Hot Pot Cuisine Research Society?"

Seiji was completely panicked.