The sudden energy fluctuation caused all the girls' clothes to vanish in an instant.
Leonora, seated directly across from Sui, was clearly visible to him. She was now clad only in purple lingerie. Her slender figure, smooth and milky-white skin, and long silver hair cascading over her shoulders exuded an undeniable allure, characteristic of a mature woman's charm.
While both Alice and Erina also had enviable figures, theirs was the youthful vitality of girls, still lacking the sophistication and elegance of a fully grown woman like Leonora.
Leo hadn't expected her clothes to suddenly disappear, and a deep blush crept onto her face. When she noticed Sui's gaze fixed on her, her cheeks flushed even more, and she gave him a subtle but reproachful glance.
Just then, Sui felt a sharp pinch on his arm. It was Alice, sitting beside him, clearly displeased.
"Why are you staring at my mother like that?" she asked indignantly, her cheeks puffed out in irritation.
Alice herself had been left in just her white lingerie. Her ample chest threatened to spill from her bra, and her skin was as smooth and fair as her mother's.
"I'm sorry," Sui quickly apologized, embarrassed, and turned his gaze away.
However, as he turned, his eyes landed on Erina, sitting next to him.
Erina, now in nothing but pink underwear, met his gaze for a fleeting moment before hurriedly lowering her head, covering herself shyly. Her blush deepened, and she tried to hide behind her arms.
Sui was momentarily speechless—hadn't he already seen this when they woke up earlier in the morning?
"My apologies. I lost control," came the deep voice of Senzaemon.
He had closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight before him. After all, these women were his daughter-in-law and granddaughters, and it would be inappropriate to look at them in such a state.
"No, Father, I'm at fault too," Sōe muttered awkwardly, lowering his head and closing his eyes as well.
Even though two of the women were his wife and daughter, it still felt improper to let his eyes linger, especially with his niece present.
Sui bowed his head as well, feeling a little flustered. Could this be the legendary ability stronger than the famed "collar-ripping technique"?
It was well known that when a Nakiri family member tasted food that reached a certain level of deliciousness, their intense emotions caused the clothes around them to tear away.
"This is a unique trait of the Nakiri family," Senzaemon explained solemnly. "I deeply apologize."
At this point, Leonora and the others had already dressed again and returned to the table. Alice and her family, having arrived straight from the airport, still had their luggage at Senzaemon's residence, allowing them to change quickly. Erina, however, had to borrow Alice's white pajamas.
Despite having changed, Leonora's face was still flushed, clearly embarrassed by Sui's earlier gaze.
"Sui, are you surprised?" Sōe finally dared to open his eyes and smiled kindly at Sui.
"Oh, it's all right," Sui replied with a chuckle, trying to diffuse the awkwardness.
"But you may inherit this ability someday," Sōe teased with a grin. "It's not just restricted to Nakiri blood."
Though he didn't say it outright, Sui understood the implication. Sōe seemed to suggest that after marrying into the Nakiri family, one might inherit these peculiar traits. His hint was subtle, but the meaning was clear.
Erina's face turned beet red with embarrassment. Sōe's words were a thinly veiled acknowledgement of her future marriage to Sui, a thought that left her both shy and happy.
"I have to say, I'm truly impressed, Sui. I didn't expect such rapid progress from you in such a short time," Senzaemon said, his voice deep with admiration.
He had been astonished when he tasted Sui's food earlier. Initially, Senzaemon had considered Sui to be an exceptional talent with great potential, but tasting his cooking again revealed how far he had come.
The last time he'd tried Sui's dishes, Senzaemon had thought he was at the level of one of Totsuki's top ten students. But after just one semester, Sui had already risen to the top of that elite group. Few in the academy could now match him.
Senzaemon couldn't help but wonder just how much Sui would grow by the time he reached his third year. Could he create history for Totsuki Academy?
These thoughts filled him with anticipation for the future.
As the meal continued, everyone shifted their focus to the dishes made by Erina and Alice.
"Erina-chan, did you really prepare this?" Leonora asked, astonished.
Senzaemon was equally stunned. Not only had Sui shown remarkable progress, but Erina had improved significantly as well. From the beginning, the family had high expectations for her. She had been made one of the top ten in middle school—a rare exception—but Senzaemon hadn't expected her to reach the top tier so soon. By his estimation, she wouldn't have reached this level until at least her second year.
But here she was, her dishes now ranking among the top three.
"Well, it's because I often compete with Sui that I've made such great strides," Erina admitted shyly, her face reddening.
Indeed, if it weren't for the constant culinary challenges between their two "God Tongues," her growth wouldn't have been this rapid.
"I see," Senzaemon said, nodding in approval. "I had been worried that falling in love might cause your skills to stagnate, but this outcome reassures me."
The old man's satisfaction with Sui grew by the minute. Not only did Sui possess extraordinary talent, but his influence was also pushing Erina to new heights. Together, they complemented and strengthened each other.
In Senzaemon's eyes, they were a perfect couple.
With these two leading the way, he was confident that Totsuki Academy would continue to flourish.
Before, he had merely considered the idea of marrying them off quickly. Now, he was determined to find the right moment to formalize their union.
"What? Do you think my cooking isn't good?" Alice suddenly piped up, pouting with frustration.
"No, my little Alice, your cooking is the best," Sōe quickly reassured her, slipping into his usual doting father mode as he ate the food she'd prepared. "You've made incredible progress too! It's delicious."
"Yes, I agree," Leonora added, nodding.
"Speaking of which, didn't Sui send a gift earlier? Why don't we take a look at it now?" Sōe said, remembering something.