[Tl/n: Don't worry, I'm not deleting anything. However, I've read some comments about how WN removes unofficial translations, so this is just a precaution.]
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Sui returned from the kitchen carrying a platter of fried beef with apples, the restaurant's signature dish.
"Are you satisfied with today's meal?" Sui asked with a warm smile.
"Mm, it's truly wonderful," Eishi sighed, though there was a smile on his face. "Sui, I really lost to you this time."
Though initially, Eishi believed his defeat was due to Sui's superior ingredients, after tasting the food himself, he realized Sui's cooking skills were on par, if not better than his own.
"Well, I look forward to our next competition, senpai," Sui replied with a friendly grin.
The guests were equally satisfied with today's dishes. However, a sense of melancholy settled in the room—the school festival was ending, and this might be their last chance to enjoy Sui's extraordinary cooking.
"Sui, will the restaurant be open tomorrow?" Orie asked as she wrapped herself around Sui's arm, her tone playful and flirtatious.
"Yes, Boss, can we still enjoy your cooking in the future?" other guests chimed in, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Sui, slightly embarrassed, shook his head. "Sorry, everyone. Tomorrow's the final day of the school festival."
A wave of disappointment swept through the crowd. The five days of unparalleled culinary delights had left a deep impression on the food enthusiasts. The thought of never tasting such food again cast a shadow over their hearts.
As if unwilling to let go, some guests began urging Sui to open his own restaurant.
"Sui's cooking has really become quite popular," Eishi observed, smiling softly.
"Of course!" Alice exclaimed proudly, her face lighting up with enthusiasm.
"That's right! Sui-kun's dishes are incredibly, incredibly, incredibly popular!" Leonora added with a mischievous smile, deliberately emphasizing the word "incredibly" three times in a girlish tone, making her appear unexpectedly cute.
The mother and daughter duo seemed perfectly in sync, turning into Sui's most ardent fans. Their display of affection for him didn't go unnoticed, and Eishi couldn't help but chuckle.
"Haha, it seems like Lady Leonora fully considers Sui your son-in-law," Eishi teased.
"Of course," Leonora said, a trace of pride in her voice, "Erina-chan lacked love and care growing up. As someone who's been like a mother to her, I suppose that makes me half of Sui-kun's mother-in-law!"
"When will you open your own restaurant? If you do, people will definitely come to support you," Orie asked, shaking Sui's arm eagerly, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
Sui sighed, his head aching from all the attention. "It's hard to say. If I do open one, I'll be sure to let everyone know."
The idea of opening a restaurant intrigued him, but with his current schedule, it seemed nearly impossible.
"But I really want it!" Orie persisted, leaning in close and pouting in a coquettish manner. She batted her lashes innocently, like a girl seeking affection from her beloved.
"How shameless!" Alice exclaimed, her voice rising in anger as she saw this unfold.
"Exactly," Leonora agreed, nodding. "What a despicable woman."
As it became clear that Natsume was trying to inch closer as well, Alice couldn't hold back any longer. She rushed forward, puffing out her cheeks in fury, and yelled, "Don't go too far!"
"Indeed," Leonora quickly joined in, stepping forward and pulling Sui away from Orie. Hugging his arm tightly, she warned, "Sui-kun, you must be cautious of women like her in the future."
"Who are you calling indecent?" Orie fumed.
"Oh, I wasn't referring to you," Leonora replied sweetly, though her eyes glinted with mischief. "I meant those women who throw themselves at men whenever they get the chance."
Leonora clung to Sui's arm, her expression shifting into a playful pout, her beauty tinged with a hint of teasing arrogance.
"You're one to talk!" Natsume growled, gritting her teeth in frustration. "Aren't you doing exactly the same thing?"
"Well, Sui-kun is practically family now, part of the Nakiri clan," Leonora said matter-of-factly. "I'm practically his mother-in-law, so it's only natural for us to be close."
With that, she deliberately nuzzled her cheek against Sui's shoulder, as though it was the most normal thing in the world. Then she added, "Sui-kun, don't let yourself get tricked by vulgar women."
Her behavior, however, seemed less like a mother-in-law's and more like that of a wife staking her claim.
"That's right!" Alice echoed, grabbing Sui's other arm and nodding emphatically.
Watching the scene unfold, Sui could only sigh. Unlike the innocent Alice, who was merely protective, his mother-in-law was a far more complex figure—sharp, cunning, and never one to lose in a battle of words.
"As a mother-in-law, aren't your actions with your son-in-law a bit too improper?" Natsume retorted with a bitter smile. "It's shameless!"
"This is just normal family affection," Leonora said with a sweet smile, hugging Sui's arm even tighter.
"Exactly!" Alice echoed again. "We're a very close-knit family!"
The Sendawara sisters were left fuming, their teeth clenched in frustration. But despite their anger, they had no clever retort to counter the Nakiri mother and daughter's banter.
The other guests looked on with amusement, stifling their laughter at the spectacle. It seemed that this battle between the mother-daughter duo and the sisters had ended with a decisive victory for the Nakiris.
No one expected the usually confident Sendawara sisters to be so utterly outmaneuvered. For once, they had met their match, and the Nakiri family had emerged triumphant.
Even Sui found himself inwardly sighing. His mother-in-law's strength was overwhelming. But then, he couldn't help but feel a bit of dread—did this mean he would now be under constant supervision from his "mother-in-law"?
"Haha, Sui, it seems you've developed quite a close bond with the Nakiri family," Eishi said, chuckling.
"Of course," Leonora replied with a smile. Clinging to Sui's arm, her youthful beauty made her look less like a mother-in-law and more like a sibling—or even a romantic partner.
"But I must say, Lady Leonora truly has a special affection for you, Sui," Eishi commented.
"It's only natural," Leonora said with a satisfied air. "My son-in-law is so remarkable that shady women are bound to set their sights on him. As his elder, it's my responsibility to protect him."
In her mind, this was simply part of her duty as a mother-in-law.