Chapter 4: Girlfriend?
"Your girlfriend is still here."
As soon as Kasumigaoka Utaha stepped inside, she spotted Erina standing there and couldn't help but comment.
Though she had only caught a glimpse of Erina before, this was the first time Utaha truly took in her angelic beauty and aristocratic demeanor. She was immediately struck.
"How did this guy manage to land such a gorgeous girlfriend?" Utaha thought to herself. While Sui was certainly impressive, Erina, with her aura of nobility, was clearly on a different level.
"Who's his girlfriend?!" Erina seethed, her silver teeth gritting in frustration.
"Huh? Aren't you?" Utaha asked, confused. "I saw you two hugging earlier, so I just assumed..."
Erina's face flushed red with embarrassment and irritation. She had no idea how to explain the situation and could only glare furiously at Sui, blaming him for the misunderstanding.
A flicker of surprise crossed Utaha's eyes, followed by a sudden, shocking realization. "Wait... could it be...?" Her gaze turned to Erina, now filled with pity and deep regret. How could such a good girl get involved with this guy?
"Let me make this clear!" Erina snapped, her face full of pride. "My relationship with him ends today! After tomorrow, we'll have nothing to do with each other!"
Utaha simply nodded, silently confirming her suspicions.
Meanwhile, Sui, holding a plate of omelet rice, tried to shift the mood. "Here, I made this. If you don't mind, give it a try."
If Utaha praised his dish, it might attract Erina's attention.
"Thanks. I'll pay for it." Utaha accepted the plate, a little embarrassed. The golden, delicate egg layer perfectly wrapped around the rice, emitting a fragrant aroma. Even at first glance, it was clear this omelet rice was a step above the ordinary.
Starving, Utaha wasted no time. She took a spoonful, breaking through the soft egg to reveal the glossy rice inside. As soon as she put it in her mouth, her eyes closed, overwhelmed by the burst of flavor that hit her taste buds.
"It's... it's delicious!" Her voice trembled slightly, her cheeks flushing with satisfaction.
Although she had eaten omelet rice before, this was by far the best she had ever tasted. Despite its simplicity—just eggs and rice, no ketchup—the dish had a depth of flavor she couldn't explain.
In no time, Utaha had finished the entire plate, leaving it spotless. Only then did she realize both Sui and Erina were staring at her in astonishment.
Erina, for her part, couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Is it really that good?" she wondered, her beautiful eyes filled with doubt. To her, omelet rice was nothing more than common people's food. Could it really be this delicious? Or is the food she's eating just that bad?
Even Sui was surprised. He had made the dish with cold rice and eggs—nothing fancy. Could my cooking skills really have improved this much? he thought.
Utaha, cheeks still warm from her indulgence, noticed their stares and felt a little embarrassed. "It really is delicious. Much better than any omelet rice I've had before."
Erina's skepticism remained. "Really?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Utaha licked her lips, glancing at the other untouched plate. "If you don't believe me, why don't you try it yourself?"
"Hmph! I have no interest in tasting commoner food!" Erina said, crossing her arms and feigning indifference.
However, she couldn't help but steal glances at the remaining plate. The aroma was tantalizing, and despite herself, she felt a pang of hunger. After hesitating for a moment, she sighed dramatically.
"Fine, I suppose I can try it... reluctantly. You should consider it an honor. Many top chefs beg for the chance to have me taste their food," Erina declared with pride.
Sui, sensing her reluctance, grinned mischievously. "But this is my dinner..." he teased.
A faint vein appeared on Erina's forehead, her patience wearing thin. "I'm just tasting it!" she growled, picking up the spoon. She scooped a small portion and put it in her mouth.
Instantly, her eyes widened in surprise.
The eggs were perfectly cooked—silky, tender, and just the right amount of flavor. The rice, moist and chewy, was infused with a delightful richness. Erina felt as though every fiber of her being was wrapped in the comforting warmth of the dish, and for a brief moment, she closed her eyes, letting out an involuntary, soft hum of pleasure.
When she opened her eyes again, Utaha was staring at her with amusement, and Sui was clearly holding back laughter. Erina's face burned red with embarrassment.
"So, how does it taste?" Sui asked, unable to hide his smirk.
Erina slammed her spoon onto the plate, glaring at him. "It's terrible!" she snapped, voice trembling with irritation.
"Really? Because you seemed pretty satisfied just a second ago," Sui teased, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Erina's face grew even redder. "It's just... average! Don't get too full of yourself!"
At that moment, Sui heard the system's familiar voice: "Mission complete. You have been acknowledged by Erina Nakiri, the God's Tongue. Reward: Sinangag fried rice."
Sui smiled knowingly. "Tsundere," he muttered under his breath. The system itself had confirmed that Erina had approved of his cooking, though the proud girl would never admit it out loud.