Compared to the extravagant breakfast, dinner was relatively simpler, though still just by comparison. It was Tamako-san's specialty, tonkotsu ramen.
As soon as Shuichi Chiba stepped inside the shop, the rich aroma hit him, and his stomach growled uncontrollably while his mouth began to water.
Any thoughts about the allure of his "little maid" were quickly forgotten. After all, you need to be full before you can... well, take care of other matters.
He walked straight to the counter and, seeing Tamako-san preparing the bowls of noodles, he smiled and said, "Just smelling this makes it hard for me to walk. I'm practically drooling already."
Tamako-san laughed, clearly amused. "You're just like An-chan, always craving good food. It'll be ready soon, so don't worry."
"I've been surviving on bread and milk, but you've spoiled me with your cooking. Now I'm becoming picky." Shuichi Chiba jokes.
Hearing this, Tamako-san was delighted. "Then I'll have to put even more effort into your meals from now on. You look a bit too slim, so you should eat more."
"As long as it's made by you, Tamako-san, I won't be satisfied until I've eaten until I'm stuffed." Shuichi Chiba replied sincerely.
Just that morning, with a 300% flavor boost, the food had been the most delicious he had ever tasted. Now, with the ramen shop's boost at 500%, he couldn't even imagine how incredible it would be.
If the shop's effects eventually stacked up to 1,000%, he figured just one bite might make him so happy he'd faint.
People who cook love when others enjoy their food, and if the meal is eaten with relish, the satisfaction for the chef is even greater.
Shuichi Chiba's flattery made Tamako-san so happy that she began humming while efficiently serving ramen to the three of them.
Tsuki Akiyamai eyed Shuichi Chiba suspiciously. Was he being so nice to her mother because he had ulterior motives regarding An-chan? Normally, he didn't act like this.
An-chan had mentioned that, in class, Shuichi Chiba was usually quiet and had little presence.
As for the seating arrangement, it remained the same as in the morning. An Akiyama had already slumped over the counter, eagerly eyeing the ramen while drooling from the aroma.
Shuichi Chiba had only joked about almost drooling, but An-chan was 'literally' drooling.
"Come on, wipe your mouth. What kind of behavior is that?" Tsuki Akiyamai frowned at her younger sister.
"The ramen smells amazing today..." An Akiyama wiped her mouth with her sleeve, then immediately grabbed her chopsticks and mumbled, "I'm digging in!" before diving right into her meal.
Tsuki could only shake her head in exasperation. This sister of hers, so easily satisfied—no wonder Chiba wouldn't be interested in such a simple girl... huh?
She turned her head and, to her surprise, saw that Shuichi Chiba was eating even faster than her sister! He had already stuffed a slice of pork into his mouth and was chewing with his eyes closed, looking completely absorbed in the taste.
Shuichi Chiba looked completely absorbed in his ramen, like he was on a high from it!
At that moment, he had no thoughts of women—only the rich tonkotsu ramen in front of him. The extra 200% enhancement seemed to elevate the dish to an entirely new level. The flavor was beyond what mere words could describe, like something out of a gourmet fantasy.
The broth, simmered for hours, had extracted the very essence of the pork bones, creating a unique and rich aroma that made it impossible to resist. Even the simple ingredients like the soft-boiled egg and seaweed carried a special taste in this bowl of tonkotsu ramen. And the noodles? They were perfectly firm and springy.
Shuichi Chiba finally understood what it meant for noodles to be 'chewy.' It was an eye-opening experience.
"Chiba-kun, how is it?" Tamako-san asked with a smile.
But Shuichi Chiba had no time to respond, too busy slurping his noodles loudly, a sound that delighted Tamako-san rather than annoyed her. She seemed even more pleased to see how much he was enjoying her cooking.
Tsuki Akiyamai, noticing how focused he was on his ramen, felt a bit irritated. He was completely ignoring her! Trying to get his attention, she subtly brushed her leg against his, hinting that he should be doing something more exciting than just eating. Shouldn't his hands be doing something else, too?
Shuichi Chiba didn't pay any attention to Tsuki Akiyama's subtle advances. In fact, her persistent leg brushing was starting to annoy him, so he shifted a little further away.
"Just don't get in the way of my ramen!" was all that filled his mind.
Tsuki Akiyamai was immediately deflated. She was a school idol, after all! How could she lose to a bowl of noodles? She had even made the first move, and he found her bothersome?
This was... this was...
Well, it was oddly exciting for her. The more he ignored her, the more exhilarated she felt inside.
Shuichi Chiba, however, had no clue that his indifference was triggering the twisted excitement of the girl beside him. He was completely absorbed in his meal. Normally, his appetite was modest, but today he was so immersed that he ate every last bite, even down to the last bit of green onions in the broth. Yet, he still wasn't satisfied.
"Another bowl!" Two voices rang out in unison.
Tsuki Akiyamai, still stuck in her own world, hadn't even started eating, while the other two at the table were already clamoring for seconds.
Tamako-san quickly set down her chopsticks and happily took the bowls from both of them, her face glowing with pride. "How is it? Is Mama's cooking delicious?"
"Mhm, mhm!" An Akiyama nodded enthusiastically.
"The class rep was right." Shuichi Chiba added in agreement.
After serving their second bowls, Tamako-san and her eldest daughter finally sat down to enjoy their ramen.
After just one bite, Tamako-san closed her eyes in bliss, gently cupping her cheek. "As expected of me! I'm amazing!" She exclaimed.
Shuichi Chiba, amidst his meal, managed to toss in a compliment. "Indeed, Tamako-san's cooking is flawless." Who knows, maybe this would even raise her sense of belonging?
Meanwhile, Tsuki Akiyamai sipped the broth and couldn't help but reflect, 'Is this the flavor that's more attractive than me? It's that good? What kind of play is this?'
By the end of the meal, Shuichi Chiba was completely stuffed, leaving the table feeling utterly satisfied. As he leaned against the bar to steady himself, he thought, 'What temptress class president? What seductive little maid?'
It was no wonder the ancient saying goes, 'Food and sex are both natural desires.' Putting food first definitely made sense.
As Tsuki Akiyamai watched Shuichi Chiba leave without even looking back, she entertained herself with the idea that this was a type of 'neglect play.' She got excited on her own for a while before suddenly remembering the task her 'master' had assigned her.
"An, if you're full, go upstairs and study now." Tsuki Akiyamai said, turning to her younger sister, who was leaning back in her chair with a full belly, contently rubbing it.
"Let me rest for a bit... I feel so good right now... I'll study later." An Akiyama lazily waved her hand, licking her lips, clearly savoring the aftertaste of the meal.
"No, now. Immediately. Upstairs." Tsuki Akiyama's brows furrowed as she glared at her sister with a stern look.
An Akiyama pouted, reluctantly sliding off her chair and grudgingly heading upstairs.
Once her sister was out of sight, Tsuki Akiyamai turned to her mother, who was still busy behind the counter. "Mom, do we have any goji berries?"
"Goji berries?" Tamako-san paused, a puzzled expression crossing her face as she glanced back at her daughter. "Why are you asking about that all of a sudden?"
Tsuki didn't know the real purpose of goji berries and just assumed it was a special food that Shuichi Chiba liked, so she responded straightforwardly, "Add some to Chiba-kun's breakfast tomorrow, or maybe make a tea out of it."
Tamako-san's expression grew even more bewildered. Her daughter suddenly suggested putting goji berries into Chiba's food? It definitely sounded a bit... suspicious.
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