A piece of bread, slightly larger than Sui's palm, appeared in his hand. It was translucent and exceptionally beautiful, with what seemed like liquid shimmering inside, giving it a satisfying heft.
As soon as the bread emerged, a rich, sweet fragrance filled the air.
"It smells amazing."
Sui exclaimed, marveling at the bread's allure. It was truly deserving of its A-grade classification, surpassing any ingredient he had encountered before in both appearance and aroma.
He eagerly checked the ingredient description.
—Pear Bread
*
Food Grade: A
Description: A luxurious and visually stunning bread imbued with the sweetness of pears. Filled to the brim with pear juice, each bite offers unparalleled sweetness that melts on the tongue, enveloping the body in a noble and fragrant aroma. This exquisite dessert can be enjoyed as is or with minimal preparation.
Origin: Toriko."
"There should be three of these, right?"
Sui asked.
"That's correct."
The system confirmed, and two more pear breads materialized in his hands—one yellow, the other deep pink—indicating different flavors.
Sui recalled a real-world fruit called breadfruit, named for its bread-like texture when roasted. This pear bread was likely a similar concept but far superior, serving as a top-tier dessert even without any preparation.
He glanced at the price. Each loaf was worth a staggering one million yen.
Although the cost was on par with the cheese bunny, the latter was much heavier than the bread. By weight, pear bread was the priciest ingredient he had ever come across.
"That's really expensive."
Even Sui felt a twinge of pain. Although he could earn a substantial amount daily, buying just a few of these loaves would drain his resources quickly.
He suddenly remembered that Erina should have woken up by now and headed upstairs to the bedroom.
Erina was just waking up, yawning lazily.
"You're awake?"
Sui smiled as he saw her and asked gently.
"Mm."
Erina responded with a smile of her own.
"Are you hungry?"
Sui approached her, ruffling her hair.
"A little."
Erina nodded. She hadn't eaten lunch, so she was indeed feeling a bit hungry.
After a brief moment of thought, Sui took out the yellow pear bread and offered it to her.
"Here, try this."
"Huh?"
Erina's eyes lit up as soon as she saw the beautiful bread and caught a whiff of its enticing aroma. Even without tasting it, she could tell it was an exceptional dessert.
"Did you make this?"
She asked curiously, thinking that only Momo could create such a masterpiece.
"You'll see when you try it."
Sui said with a smile.
Erina nodded and took a bite. The bread was crisp and sweet, and as she bit into it, a fragrant, sweet liquid flowed out. An unprecedented feeling of nobility and elegance spread throughout her body, leaving her in awe.
"It's delicious!"
A look of deep surprise flashed in Erina's eyes. Even her God Tongue couldn't find any flaws in this dessert. The taste was incredibly natural and fresh, bursting with juice in every bite, as if she were eating a piece of fruit.
"Did you really make this?"
She asked again, even more curious this time. She recalled that Sui's dessert skills weren't particularly advanced.
"No, it's a fruit."
Sui explained with a smile.
"A fruit? Like breadfruit?"
Erina was astonished. "Such a wonderful natural flavor without any processing?"
"This must be an incredibly rare ingredient, right?"
She inquired.
"Yeah."
Sui nodded. He had been reluctant to eat it himself, saving it for Erina instead.
Erina looked at him, realizing immediately that he must have saved it just for her. This realization filled her with a warm, sweet feeling.
"Let's share it."
She brought the bread to his mouth, smiling.
"Sure."
Sui smiled and took a bite.
The sweet and fragrant taste immediately spread across his tongue. It was the first time he had tasted it, and he was just as astonished by its flavor.
The two shared the piece of bread together.
After returning to his apartment, Sui gave one of the remaining pear breads to Tohru. After all, she was his companion too, and he didn't want to favor one person over another.
As for the last one, he planned to give it to Alice, ensuring that everyone received a piece.
"Did Sui save this for me?"
Tohru took a bite, her face lighting up with joy. "It's so delicious! Sui, you're so good to me!"
Kanna watched eagerly from the side, swallowing hard.
Tohru offered the bread to her, letting her take a bite.
"It's delicious!"
Kanna exclaimed, her cheeks puffed out, eyes sparkling with delight.
"Sui, eat with us."
Tohru held out the bread she had already bitten twice to Sui.
Seeing the two small bite marks on it, Sui was momentarily speechless but took a bite anyway.
Later that night, the students from the Polar Star Dormitory, including Megumi and Sōma, were invited to Erina's residence for a celebration party marking the end of their field training.
"Sui, Miss Erina, sorry to intrude."
Megumi bowed politely to Sui and Erina.
"No, not at all."
Sui quickly replied, his gaze shifting to Rindō in the crowd.
"I see the disdain in your eyes."
Rindō said with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"How could that be?"
Sui cleared his throat and asked, "But Rindō-senpai, what brings you here?"
They were having a celebration for their field training—why was a third-year student joining in? And how did she even know about it?
"See, you do dislike me."
Rindō pouted, lightly pounding her fists against Sui's chest. "Sui, you've changed. You're starting to dislike me."
Sui: "…"