At first, Sui thought the woman approaching was Natsume Sendawara, but upon closer inspection, he realized she was slightly different. This must be her twin sister, Orie Sendawara.
*
Unlike her sister's mature and sensual appearance, Orie Sendawara looked younger and more innocent. She had neat bangs and a darker beauty mark under her left eye, adding to her youthful charm.
"You're the guy my sister likes, right?" Orie asked, gazing at Sui with curiosity.
Recently, she had heard that her sister was interested in a first-year intern from Totsuki, which had piqued her interest. Knowing how selective her sister was, she wanted to see for herself if this boy truly possessed the talent her sister claimed he had.
Sui was momentarily speechless. Could she please stop using such ambiguous language?
The people around them blushed slightly but seemed to understand that this was simply the playful style of the Sendawara sisters.
Still, others were surprised. Could it be that Natsume Sendawara favored this young man? Earlier, everyone had assumed that the driving force behind 'Shunkatei' was Sonoka. But now it seemed this young man wasn't ordinary. Not only could he prepare dishes that rivaled Sonoka's, perhaps even surpassing them, but he also seemed to have caught the attention of Natsume Sendawara.
Reflecting on Sonoka's earlier dependence on Sui, some began to wonder if this seemingly unassuming student was actually more powerful than the former second seat.
For a brief moment, the name 'Eishi Tsukasa' crossed their minds. Rumors said that the top seat was a master of French cuisine, but he was known for his silver hair, while Sui's was jet-black. Could Sui be some hidden talent within Totsuki?
The speculation began to swirl.
"Hey, did you make these dishes?" Orie asked, glancing playfully at the food on the counter. "I'm starving. I want to eat something delicious."
Sui felt a bit speechless. The Sendawara sisters really did share a similar style. He pointed to the dish of Crispy Fried Duck Wrapped in Taro and said, "I made this one."
"Really?"
A curious glint appeared in Orie's eyes as she took a plate of the Crispy Fried Duck and began tasting it.
The flavors of taro and duck blossomed on her palate, making her feel as though she were enveloped in soft feathers. She couldn't help but let out a soft moan of satisfaction.
"Just like my sister said—you're a talented and cute boy," Orie said with a smile, licking her rosy lips.
She was genuinely surprised. This dish was on a level far above what she had tasted from the students during the autumn selections. It was clear that Sui's skills were in a league of their own compared to his peers, perhaps even comparable to the Elite Ten members. Yet, she had never heard of such a talented young chef before.
"Can I try Miss Sonoka's dish too?" Orie asked casually.
"Of course," Sonoka responded quickly.
Orie then sampled Sonoka's Fried Banana Chicken Roll. The delicate chewiness of the chicken paired with the sweetness of the banana left a lasting impression.
"As expected of last year's second seat," Orie remarked with a smile toward Sonoka.
While Sonoka's cooking was indeed excellent, Orie found herself more intrigued by Sui. Not only was he younger with greater potential, but he also happened to be the type of boy she liked—handsome and charming.
"Hey, Sui, right? How about becoming mine?" Orie leaned in close, her fingers resting playfully on her lips as she asked flirtatiously.
Sui could smell her expensive perfume and immediately understood she meant for him to become her assistant. However, Sonoka misunderstood and stammered, "Isn't that a bit too forward?"
At the same time, Sonoka felt a pang of worry, fearing that Sui might actually accept the offer.
"I'm still a student, so I'll have to decline," Sui politely refused.
"What does that matter? You can drop out of school, and I'll take care of you for the rest of your life. Come on, be mine—soon," Orie Sendawara teased, tugging at Sui's sleeve with a playful pout.
The people nearby, including Kita Shuji, blushed at her forwardness, unsure how to respond.
"Sui-kun isn't that kind of person! He wouldn't agree to something like that!" Sonoka suddenly burst out angrily.
"Hm?" Orie looked at her in surprise, as did the others.
Realizing all eyes were on her, Sonoka's face turned bright red. "Sui-kun is my sous-chef at 'Shunkatei', and I won't allow him to be… your… whatever!"
"Oh, I see. So it seems I'm stealing Miss Sonoka's boy?" Orie giggled, covering her mouth.
"W-What? That's not what I meant!" Sonoka stammered, her face flushing even more as she lowered her voice.
"Well then, since Sui belongs to Miss Sonoka now, I suppose I'll have to back off." Orie sighed dramatically, though her eyes still sparkled as she looked at Sui. "But remember, the offer's always open. You can be mine anytime you want. I'll be waiting."
With a mischievous smile, she turned and left.
As soon as Orie was gone, Sonoka breathed a sigh of relief. "That woman is shameless! I'm so glad Sui-kun didn't agree."
"I'm still in school, so of course I couldn't take her offer to be a food consultant," Sui explained calmly.
"F-Food consultant…?" Sonoka repeated, confused.
"Huh? What did you think she meant, Sonoka-senpai?" Sui asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
Sonoka hesitated, her face turning even redder. "Didn't she want you to… be her, you know… her gigolo?"
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