The two visitors were none other than Hinako Inui and Taki Tsunozaki.
"Hinako-senpai, Taki—what brings you here?"
Sonoka smiled warmly as she greeted them.
"Come on, take a seat," motioning for them to sit down.
The three of them had restaurants close to each other, and being graduates of Totsuki, they often visited one another.
"I've heard your restaurant's been getting some great reviews lately," Taki commented. "Some customers even mentioned that you've switched assistants. Didn't I tell you ages ago to let that guy go?"
Previously, Taki had suggested that Sonoka fire her sous chef, but Sonoka, being kind-hearted, hesitated. She knew how hard it was to find good chefs and hadn't wanted to make the decision lightly.
"Yes, you're right. It's all thanks to Sui-kun," Sonoka admitted with a soft smile.
"Sui?"
Taki blinked in surprise as she saw Sui step out of the kitchen.
"Wait, aren't you that intern at Hinako's restaurant? What are you doing here—another internship?" Taki was visibly taken aback, her impression of Sui already quite strong.
"Sui-kun, how was your day?" Hinako greeted him with a warm smile, though her tone was casual, as though speaking to a regular kohai.
Sui couldn't help but recall how the two of them had shared a meal from the same pot the previous night—a scene much more intimate than the typical relationship between senpai and kohai. Their bond had long surpassed ordinary boundaries, but both had tacitly agreed to keep it hidden.
"Sonoka-senpai taught me a lot today," Sui replied with a polite nod and smile.
"No, really, it's thanks to Sui-kun that my restaurant is back on track," Sonoka quickly corrected.
"What? He's the one responsible for your restaurant's turnaround?" Taki was astonished. She had assumed Sonoka had brought in an experienced chef for help, but to learn it was Sui left her even more impressed.
As an intern, he had revitalized Sonoka's restaurant, elevating her opinion of him even further.
"I just did what anyone would do," Sui responded humbly.
The real reason Sonoka's restaurant had been struggling wasn't due to a lack of skill on her part, but rather her indecisiveness and overly kind nature. Her chefs had been taking advantage of her, but with the right help, the restaurant quickly regained its reputation.
As the group sat down for tea and conversation, Sui suddenly felt a light kick under the table. Glancing toward Hinako, he saw her chatting and smiling at Sonoka as if nothing had happened.
But Sui knew. The kick was from her—a subtle greeting.
He chuckled to himself at the thought of Hinako having such a mischievous, playful side. In response, he gave her a light kick back.
Hinako's face flushed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
Just then, Sui's phone vibrated in his pocket. Checking the message, he saw it was from Hinako.
"Sui-kun, did you enjoy the bento?"
Sui looked up at her with a mix of confusion and amusement. Hinako continued chatting with Sonoka as if she hadn't sent the message at all, her expression as serene as ever.
Unable to contain his amusement, Sui texted back, "Yes, it was delicious. Thank you, Hinako-senpai."
"Really? I'm glad! I'll make you another one tomorrow, okay?"
"Thank you, Hinako-senpai."
As they all sat there, sipping tea and talking, Sui and Hinako engaged in a private conversation over text. It felt strange to Sui—almost like they were hiding something, though the secrecy added an element of novelty to the interaction.
After some time, Sui remembered the food still in the oven. "Excuse me, I need to check on the dish I'm preparing."
"Wait, you're cooking?" Taki asked, intrigued.
"Yes, Sui-kun has been experimenting with a new dish. He plans to add it to Shunkatei's menu," Sonoka explained.
"Is that so? Adding a new dish is no small matter. Let me help you with the tasting," Taki said with a glint of interest.
Sui nodded and went to the kitchen, returning with a freshly baked dish.
"This is a special crispy fried duck wrapped with taro. Please give it a try," he said as he placed the dish on the table.
*
"Wrapped in taro?" Taki raised an eyebrow, surprised by the combination, but the enticing aroma quickly piqued her curiosity.
"I'll help you identify any flaws," she said, tasting it first.
The duck was perfectly roasted, its texture tender and rich. The taro paste added a crisp, sweet layer that complemented the savory duck, blending seamlessly without being too heavy. It was a fresh, natural pairing.
"This… Aren't you known for your Japanese cuisine?" Taki's eyes widened, astonished at the dish's perfection.
The last dish Sui had prepared at Kirinoya had left a deep impression on her, and she had assumed his strengths lay in Japanese cooking. So, when she heard he was working on a Western-style dish, she hadn't expected much. But this… this was beyond her expectations.
"No, actually, my specialty is eastern cuisine," Sui replied modestly.
"What?"
Taki was floored. If neither Japanese nor Western cuisine were his strengths, just how skilled was he?
Sonoka and Hinako also tasted the dish, both equally amazed.
"Sui-kun, you're incredible!" Sonoka couldn't help but exclaim. Just days ago, his proficiency in Western cuisine wasn't as sharp, and now, he had mastered it to a level that even surprised her. His talent in cooking was nothing short of remarkable.