The following day, in the office of Tōtsuki's Commander-in-Chief…
A tall, imposing man with white hair and a long beard sat quietly, dressed in traditional samurai attire. His aura was commanding as he listened intently to Hisako's report. He was none other than Senzaemon Nakiri, the current Commander-in-Chief of Tōtsuki Academy and the grandfather of Erina, the "Devil King" of the culinary world.
"Is it true that Erina is living with a man?" Senzaemon's deep voice rumbled, like a lion ready to roar.
Hisako trembled under the weight of his presence and nodded, lowering her head. "Yes, Commander-in-Chief."
Although she had promised Erina-sama she wouldn't tell anyone, Senzaemon had every right to know as her closest family member. Moreover, Erina was inexperienced in many aspects of life and lacked common sense. What if she were being deceived by that guy?
It wasn't that Hisako didn't trust Sui, but the thought of her Erina-sama being hurt if something went wrong kept her awake all night. After much deliberation, she had decided to inform the Commander-in-Chief.
"What's the boy's name?" Senzaemon asked.
"His name is Sui Mizushima. He's a first-year student here at Tōtsuki. I've brought his information with me," Hisako replied, handing over the form Erina had filled out herself when helping Sui with the admissions process.
Senzaemon glanced over the document, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.
"He also possesses the God's Tongue? And received A's in every class?"
"Yes, it's said that all his lecturers have a very high opinion of him," Hisako confirmed.
Senzaemon's expression grew thoughtful. "He's certainly talented, but talent alone isn't enough to be worthy of my granddaughter."
Tōtsuki was home to many extraordinary students, and mere excellence wasn't sufficient to impress him.
"Does Erina truly like this boy?" After a pause, he asked.
"Yes. She has been smiling much more recently," Hisako answered. "She's also been asking for advice on how to wash clothes."
Erina had been regularly consulting her secretary on domestic matters, a clear sign of change.
"Learning how to do laundry?" Senzaemon was visibly taken aback by this revelation. After a moment's silence, he said, "Bring the boy here. I want to meet him."
"Yes, Commander-in-Chief," Hisako answered promptly.
——
Sui had just finished a class with Megumi when a staff member approached him as he stepped out of the classroom.
"Sui-sama, the Commander-in-Chief wishes to see you," the staff member said politely.
Megumi looked at him, wide-eyed. "The Commander-in-Chief of Tōtsuki wants to see you?"
"Yes, please come with me at once," the staff member repeated.
"Sui, is everything okay?" Megumi whispered nervously. "You know that Nakiri Senzaemon is famous for being a terrifying gourmet. What could he want with you?"
"It should be fine," Sui said, though his heart was racing. Had Senzaemon found out that he was living with Erina?
Following the staff member, Sui soon arrived at the Commander-in-Chief's office.
Senzaemon was already seated, his tall, imposing figure radiating authority. His long, gray hair and beard only added to his aura of power. Years of holding a high position had naturally imbued him with an air of majesty.
As Sui entered, Senzaemon's sharp gaze locked onto him.
"Greetings, Commander-in-Chief," Sui said, bowing respectfully.
Senzaemon nodded slightly. "You're Sui, correct? I've heard you've been living with my granddaughter Erina recently?"
Sui's heart skipped a beat. It was just as he feared—the Commander-in-Chief knew about his living situation with Erina. His mind raced, wondering how Senzaemon must feel about this. If his own daughter were living with a stranger, he would certainly be upset.
Senzaemon continued to observe him silently, before finally speaking. "Erina has had a difficult childhood. She has never known the love and care of her parents, and I am well aware of the flaws in her character. When I first learned she was living with you, I was shocked."
Suddenly, Senzaemon rose from his chair, walked over to Sui, and stared deeply into his eyes. Sui braced himself, wondering if the legendary "Devil King" of the culinary world was about to lash out.
Then, to Sui's utter surprise, Senzaemon bowed to him.
"I entrust Erina's future to you," he said solemnly.
"Eh?" Sui was utterly dumbfounded.
He had prepared himself for many possible outcomes—but this? It was beyond anything he had imagined. The entire situation felt surreal, like a shift in tone he hadn't anticipated.
"Erina is a willful child," Senzaemon continued. "She's proud and arrogant, has few friends, and can be ruthless toward others. She's not an easy person to get along with. But deep down, she is a kind girl. I hope you won't look down on her for her flaws."
With a serious expression, Senzaemon added, "Please continue to guide her in the future."
"Uh... sure," Sui stammered, bowing in return, still stunned by the unexpected turn of events.
Senzaemon's decision wasn't just based on Sui's impressive skills, but also on the fact that Erina clearly cared for him. The Commander-in-Chief had long worried about his granddaughter's future due to her difficult personality and the influence of her father. But now, seeing that she had chosen someone herself, and that Sui was a trustworthy person, Senzaemon felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
——
"What?! You told my grandfather about Sui and me?" Erina gasped, standing in the corridor in shock.
"I'm sorry, Erina-sama," Hisako said, bowing her head in shame. "I was just worried about you. I feared you might be deceived..."
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P.S. These are advanced chapters as I'll be focusing on working on more chapters.