Silence lingered in the air, even as the days passed since the confrontation at the Nakiri house. The memory of Daichi's words, the cracks in Azami's mask, and Senzaemon's rare moment of introspection echoed through the halls like a distant storm.
Daichi sat by the window of his room at Totsuki Academy, watching the rain trace patterns on the glass. "Did I go too far?" he wondered, replaying the scene in his mind. "No... someone had to say it. For Erina's sake. For Mana's."
He glanced at the list of names for the autumn election, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Eighty names. Eighty dreams. Only one would stand at the summit. "The collision of geniuses... what kind of monsters will emerge?"
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. The door opened, and Gin stepped in, his expression unreadable. "Daichi, are you ready? The opening ceremony is about to begin."
"Yes, Uncle Gin," Daichi replied, standing and smoothing his uniform. He hesitated, then asked quietly, "How is Erina?"
Gin's eyes softened. "She's with Hisako. Senzaemon thought it best to give her a friend, someone her own age. The Nido family has a long tradition in medicinal cuisine. Hisako is a good girl."
Daichi nodded, relief mingling with worry. "I hope Erina can find some happiness... even if it's just a little."
Down the hall, Erina sat with Hisako in a sunlit room. The two girls exchanged shy glances, the silence between them heavy but not unfriendly. Hisako offered a small smile. "Erina, would you like to try some of my herbal tea? My mother says it helps calm the heart."
Erina hesitated, then nodded. As she sipped the tea, a faint warmth spread through her chest. For the first time in days, the tightness in her heart eased, if only a little.
Meanwhile, Azami wandered the empty corridors of the Nakiri estate, his thoughts a tangled web of pride, anger, and doubt. "They don't understand. Erina's gift is the key to the future of cuisine. I can't let sentimentality get in the way."
But the memory of Daichi's words haunted him. The look in Senzaemon's eyes. The quiet rebellion in Erina's silence. For the first time, Azami wondered if he had truly gone too far.
Back at Totsuki, the academy buzzed with anticipation. Students gathered in the grand hall, their uniforms crisp, their eyes shining with ambition. Daichi stood among them, feeling the weight of expectation settle on his shoulders.
"No turning back now," he thought, clenching his fists. "This is my chance. My new life. I won't waste it."
The ceremony began, Senzaemon's voice echoing through the hall. "Welcome, students, to the autumn election. This is where legends are born. Where the weak are tempered, and the strong rise. Show us your resolve. Show us your flavor."
As the applause faded, Daichi caught sight of Erina and Hisako in the crowd. Erina met his gaze, her eyes still shadowed but no longer empty. She gave a small, grateful nod.
Daichi smiled back, hope blooming in his chest. "We'll both find our place here. No matter what it takes."
And so, as the rain finally ceased and sunlight broke through the clouds, a new chapter began at Totsuki Academy. The stage was set, the players assembled, and the taste of destiny lingered in the air.
The autumn election was about to begin.
The fake smile on Azami's face could no longer be maintained. For the first time, the fake smile had a crack.
Gin obviously didn't know what happened, and was so shocked that his eyes widened.
Senzaemon stopped eating and put down his bowl and chopsticks. Silence.
And Daichi, he was still output! He hadn't fallen yet.
"Speaking of which, the emergence of such a great talent as the God's Tongue is really a blessing for the cooking world!" Daichi said with a smile.
"But..." Daichi looked at Senzaemon. As if he had some concerns.
"Say whatever you want to say." Senzaemon said coldly.
"Yes, but this is just my personal opinion. I heard that Aunt Mana seems to have higher and higher requirements for food now. So much so that she has started taking nutritional supplements." Daichi paused after saying this. "So I was thinking, if the God's Tongue is opened later, for example, the quality of the food sent to the God's Tongue is lowered a little. Will Aunt Mana not be as painful as she is now?"
Half an hour later, on the way down the mountain. Gin looked at the expressionless Daichi next to him, and then thought about the Daichi who was smiling with narrowed eyes in the Nakiri house before. He couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
And Daichi, he wanted to laugh when he thought that Azami should be being questioned now.
It's totally what he deserves. In Daichi's eyes, the person who used his daughter is a pure scum. It's better to get out of the country earlier. Erina can suffer less.
At this time, Gin's mobile phone rang, and a list was sent over. Daichi leaned over to take a look. It turned out that the list of the autumn election was out.
Looking at the 80 people on the list of candidates. These are the people standing on the top of the mountain in the entire 80th period of Totsuki. And among these people, only one person can stand firm.
The collision of geniuses will eventually produce what kind of monsters, which is really exciting.
At this time, in the Nakiri residence, Senzaemon was sitting in the upper seat of the hall. Azami was kneeling in the hall, and behind Azami were the maids who were responsible for taking care of Erina.
After carefully investigating what happened. Senzaemon called the relevant personnel and had a conversation.
After that, he cleaned up the private house from top to bottom. Many people from Azami's faction were swept out.
After replacing a group of caregivers for Erina, he began to deal with Azami and his followers.
As the head of the family, Senzaemon obviously did not take enough care of the family affairs, which allowed Azami to find a loophole.
Fortunately, it has not caused a big disaster. Although Erina is still very afraid of Azami, it has not yet reached the point of becoming a nightmare.
It's just that Senzaemon is more concerned about Daichi's speculation. After all, there are only two contemporary God's Tongues. How to use them correctly without causing harm is now a matter of trial and error. This power entangled in the Nakiri family is a gift to outsiders, but it is a curse to Senzaemon.
Maybe the development of the God's Tongue has been wrong for a long time. Excessive consumption of high-end cuisine has made the God's Tongue more and more picky.
Is it so important to say "peaceful" rather than "precious"?
Thinking of this, Senzaemon no longer had the idea of reprimanding. He waved his hand to let Azami go out, and fired the maid who had taken care of Erina before. Then he set out to find someone.
On the surface, Azami looked repentant, but the anger in his heart could no longer be suppressed: "No! Erina is my daughter! Her life should be decided by me! Her role is to become a tool to explore new development paths for the cooking world."
"I will definitely change the cooking world, for sure! People without talent just need to follow talented people and become a mediocre chef!" Azami thought.
After leaving the house, Senzaemon thought about it and thought that the diet therapy in the concept of traditional Chinese medicine is the most "peaceful". So he called the Nido family, who have been studying traditional Chinese medicine and medicinal food for generations.
Hoping to find a playmate for Erina, the eldest daughter of the Nido family, Hisako, who is the same age as Erina, came to Erina in advance.
Azami, who still did not give up, came to Erina's room again.
"I'm so sorry! Erina, I was too hasty. I didn't consider your feelings. But I think Erina will forgive dad." Azami once again put on a gentle mask, "Erina will be a good child, right? Will you still listen to dad?"
In Erina's eyes, this smile is no different from the devil. The long-term obedience to Azami still prevailed, and finally Erina lowered her head and replied: "Yes, father, I will be obedient."
Things seem to have changed, but it seems that something has changed. It hasn't changed.
In any case, Daichi's performance today left a deep impression on the three people in the Nakiri family.
A few days later, Daichi was taken to Totsuki Academy by Gin. At the same time, Senzaemon also took Erina and Azami to Totsuki to relax.
Daichi was sitting in the box on the second floor watching the broadcast of the game. At this time, he heard the sound of the door opening at the door. He turned around and saw, oh! What a coincidence.
I saw a group of four people walking in, familiar silver hair, familiar black hair, familiar blonde hair, familiar red...? Unfamiliar red hair.
Senzaemon came in with a hearty smile this time. He first expressed his gratitude to Daichi. Erina obviously looked much better under the recent food supplements of the Nido family.
Daichi just smiled and said, "It's great to be helpful! By the way, who is this?"
Daichi looked at Hisako, but wondered in his heart if the secretary in the original book came so early?
"This is Hisako, I found a playmate for Erina." Senzaemon said.
Daichi stretched out his hand and said to Hisako: "Hello, my name is Daichi."
Hisako looked at the boy in front of him, thinking about the scene that Erina told him about that day. He smiled friendly and said: "Hello, my name is Hisako, please give me your advice."
At this time, Azami took over the conversation and said: "This time it's really thanks to you, how about this, uncle will treat you to a meal, and I will cook it myself." Azami was ready to show off his skills with all his strength. Use his own cooking to completely destroy Daichi's confidence in embarking on the road of cooking.
Daichi smiled and said: "No need, uncle. If my inference at that time was really useful, did you tell Aunt Mana? I think she would be very happy."
As soon as these words came out, the scene became quiet instantly. To be honest, no one remembered Mana who was a food judge in W.G.O.
"Let's watch the competition first." Senzaemon said. At the same time, he was even more dissatisfied with Azami. Although I didn't remember her father, as her husband, you are not wrong?