"Wait, Aunt Leonora is coming here? Isn't she usually in Northern Europe?" Erina asked, somewhat surprised.
Leonora Nakiri, Alice's mother, was also the head of the Nakiri International Research Society, an influential research division of Totsuki Academy based in Northern Europe.
"I heard a student exchange group from Northern Europe is coming," Hisako quickly explained.
"A student exchange group from the Nordics?" Erina nodded thoughtfully.
"Exactly. The lecturers will be in charge of hosting the group leaders, but as for the students, you'll be handling that, Erina-sama," Hisako confirmed with a nod.
"Is it that prestigious culinary school? Sounds like a headache." Erina sighed, then pulled out her phone and dialed Sui.
"Erina-sama, are you calling your boyfriend for help?" Hisako teased with a soft chuckle.
"My boyfriend?!" Erina's face turned slightly pink as memories of Sui's bold, unexpected kiss that morning flashed through her mind. Her cheeks heated up. "I'm just not great at handling these kinds of things and needed someone to deflect onto," she muttered, trying to brush it off.
Sui, who had just arrived in class, received the call and had no choice but to request time off, heading over to meet Erina.
When Sui arrived at the location Erina had mentioned, he noticed Isshiki Satoshi and Momo Akanegakubo were already there.
"Isshiki-senpai, Momo-senpai," Sui greeted them.
Momo, holding her teddy bear, glanced at him without expression, her forehead beginning to ache slightly.
"Oh, Sui is here too?" Isshiki asked with a friendly smile.
"Yeah. Erina called me here," Sui said, feeling somewhat helpless.
Erina, her face still flushed, snorted softly, looking away.
Just then, a tall, elegant woman with long silver hair and alabaster skin appeared, dressed in a deep purple gown. She was accompanied by several young men.
"Aunt Leonora," Erina greeted quickly.
Leonora smiled and nodded, her graceful and noble demeanor evident. Even Sui couldn't help but be taken aback by her elegance.
But as soon as she spoke, the illusion shattered.
"Ah, Erina-chan! It's strange that I'm here, right? This campus is so loud today! What's going on?"
Sui was momentarily speechless. Her Japanese was… atrocious.
"There's a competition between research societies today," Erina said, looking slightly embarrassed, as the source of the chaos stood right next to her.
"Ah, I see. Well, it's nice to see the students are full of energy!" Leonora laughed warmly before asking, "By the way, where's Alice? I didn't spot her earlier."
"Alice…" Erina hesitated, but at that moment, Alice and her entourage burst into the room.
"Ryo-kun, today the Molecular Gastronomy Research Society must claim victory! We 'have' to win!" Alice cheered, brandishing a banner.
"We… must win," Ryo replied with his usual deadpan tone, following her lead.
"Alice, what are you doing?" Leonora asked in surprise as she noticed her daughter's antics.
"Ah! Mom, why didn't you tell me you were coming?" Alice panicked, hastily hiding the banner emblazoned with the words "Victory in Battle."
Before Alice could explain, two little girls in matching blue skirts ran out, shouting with excitement.
"Alice-senpai! We meet again!"
"Cilla? Berta? You're here too?" Alice greeted them happily.
"Who are they?" Sui whispered curiously to Erina.
"I heard Aunt Leonora discovered them. They're supposed to be prodigies with exceptional knowledge of brain physiology and taste," Erina explained in a serious tone.
Sui nodded, processing the information.
"Oh, Erina-chan, I heard you have a 'blue friend' now?" Leonora teased, suddenly remembering something. "Where is he?"
"Wha—what boyfriend?! Who said that? There's no such thing!" Erina stammered, feeling a wave of panic.
"There he is!" Alice chimed in without hesitation, pointing directly at Sui. "That's Erina's boyfriend. They're even living together!"
"Alice! What are you saying?!" Erina's face turned crimson as she shouted in embarrassment.
The sudden revelation caught the attention of Cilla, Berta, and the exchange students, many of whom began casting curious and even hostile glances in Sui's direction.
"Oh, Erina-chan, your temper hasn't changed at all," Leonora chuckled behind her hand. "I didn't expect you to find a 'blue friend' so soon."
"That's not it at all!" Erina protested, her voice tinged with frustration.
Leonora then turned to Sui with a warm smile. "Ah, so you're Erina-chan's 'blue friend'? Just as I imagined—a cute young boy."
"Hello… Auntie," Sui greeted politely after a brief pause.
"Oh, how lovely! He actually called me 'auntie'!" Leonora was delighted. "So, when's the wedding?"
"W-wedding?" Erina's heart skipped a beat.
"Yes, your grandfather mentioned something about it happening soon," Leonora replied matter-of-factly.
"Grandpa… what nonsense is he spouting now!" Erina clenched her fists, seething with frustration. The grandfather Leonora referred to was, of course, Senzaemon.
"Wait, Erina, are you really getting married to Sui?" Alice asked in surprise.
"Absolutely not!" Erina stomped her foot in anger, fuming.
"Oh dear, I've run out of time. I'll leave the exchange students in your care, Erina-chan," Leonora said hurriedly, glancing at her watch before quickly taking her leave.
Finally, Sui and the others turned their attention to the group of teenagers who were about the same age as them.