"Ittadakimasu."
Ren nodded and began slicing into the Beef Wellington. As he cut, the perfectly cooked meat revealed itself—pink in the center, enveloped by a layer of pâté foie gras and mushroom duxelles, its aroma instantly wafting upward.
The puff pastry was flawlessly layered, crisp on the outside yet tender within.
Taking the first bite and chewing slowly, Ren felt a wave of pleasure flood his senses.
*FLASH!*
Suddenly, in his imagination, Ren was transported to an ancient European castle, where nobles reveled in lavish feasts, joyful dances accompanied each delectable bite, and boundless opulence reigned.
*FLASH!*
Snapping back to reality, Ren savored the moment. The tender wagyu melded with the savory foie gras and the earthy mushrooms, all wrapped in buttery, crisp puff pastry—a symphony of flavors dancing on his tongue.
"Truly remarkable, Sonoka-san. I've never tasted Beef Wellington this perfect." He murmured, closing his eyes to relish every layer of flavor.
Of course, such exquisite taste wouldn't induce blissful illusions if Ren resisted with his willpower. But why reject something so delightful?
'Wow, the top 1% of Totsuki Academy graduates are truly world-class chefs, especially the Elite Ten Council—they're the best of the best. No wonder the rich and powerful clamor to hire Totsuki alumni.'
While watching Food Wars, Ren had scoffed at a billionaire groveling to Saiba Jōichirō, begging him not to quit. Now, he'd changed his mind.
The cuisine of Sonoka and other Totsuki alumni—calling it heavenly wasn't an exaggeration!
Ren's desire to claim Sonoka surged. If conventional methods failed to win her, he wouldn't hesitate to use underhanded tactics, like the mind control he'd employed on the Kujou sisters—Masha and Alya.
"Phew… Next dish."
Ren then sampled the Truffle Risotto, and once again, an explosive burst of flavor assaulted his senses.
*FLASH!*
This time, his imagination whisked him to an Italian truffle forest, where truffle pigs hunted for rare black mushrooms. The rich, elegant earthy aroma enveloped him, while the creamy Arborio rice grains melted like pearls on his tongue.
"This isn't just the best meal I've had today—it might be the best in my life."
Sonoka gasped at Ren's praise.
"If only Sonoka-san could cook for me every day, I'd be the happiest man in the world."
*THUMP!* *THUMP!* *THUMP!*
Sonoka's heart raced at those words.
'Rokuhara-sama wants me to cook for him every day? D-Does that mean he wants me to be his wife? Does he want me to live with him, like a married couple? But… but we just met!'
Lowering her head to hide her overwhelming embarrassment, Sonoka ate quietly, stealing occasional glances at Ren, who savored her cooking with a satisfied expression.
"…"
But Ren wouldn't let the atmosphere turn awkward. He shifted the conversation.
"Sonoka-san, I'm curious about your time as a student at Totsuki Academy. There must be fascinating stories, right? As the Second Seat of the Elite Ten Council, your journey couldn't have been easy."
"N-Nothing interesting about my stories, Rokuhara-sama. I was just an ordinary student lucky enough to graduate."
"Of course it's interesting. I'm curious about the life of a great chef like you there. No one reaches Second Seat without extraordinary struggles."
Coaxed by Ren, Sonoka finally agreed to share.
"Alright… Honestly, the early days at school were terrifying for me." She began softly. "My first Shokugeki… I was trembling with nerves. My opponent was an experienced second-year, while I'd only been there a few weeks."
"My hands shook while chopping vegetables, and I nearly burned the sauce. But somehow… I won by a hair."
"Then there was the Friendship Training Camp. Successful Totsuki alumni were brought in to teach and supervise us. They were brutal, tolerating no mistakes. Many of my friends were expelled just for being five minutes late or adding too much salt."
Ren listened attentively, nodding occasionally to show he was engaged.
"The Autumn Election was grueling too. It was a major tournament where winners had a shot at joining the Elite Ten Council. The competition was fierce. I remember a contestant crying because their dish wasn't perfect."
"And the Stagiaire program—internships at renowned restaurants. We had to excel at our assigned venues or face expulsion. I was placed at a high-end Western restaurant in Ginza, and the chef was terrifying."
Sonoka paused, then continued in a softer voice.
"And the Autumn Leaf Viewing… An event where we juniors were mentored by second- and third-year seniors. But most seniors intimidated us, saying things like, 'You'll never surpass us' or 'Give up before you're humiliated.'"
"I'm naturally quiet. With my gentle personality, I often felt intimidated by my peers. The competition at Totsuki was relentless. Almost every day was stressful."
"But you succeeded, Sonoka-san." Ren said with pride. "You didn't just survive—you became the Second Seat of the Elite Ten. That shows how extraordinary your culinary skills are."
Sonoka's face flushed at the praise. "Th-Thank you, Rokuhara-sama. But I think I was just lucky…"
"Not luck. It's the result of your hard work and incredible talent. Don't fear geniuses—fear the diligent ones, because their potential is limitless." Ren said firmly.
After her long tale, Sonoka fell silent. A question had been nagging at her since yesterday, but she hesitated to ask.
"Rokuhara-sama, may I ask something?"
"Of course. Ask away." Ren nodded lightly.
Sonoka looked down, her hands fidgeting with her dress.
"At the Shinomiya family banquet… I saw two beautiful women with you. They were both so lovely and graceful. Are they…?"
"Girlfriends?" Ren finished, completing her question.
"Mm."
Sonoka nodded slightly, still not lifting her gaze.
"Yes. They're mine. No point lying to you, Sonoka-san."
Hearing Ren's direct confirmation felt like thousands of needles piercing Sonoka's heart. Though she'd suspected it, the truth still hurt.
"I see…"
But then Sonoka began to think calmly.
'Wait… Polygamy is legal in Japan now. Emperors and rulers in history had harems. If mere mortals could have multiple wives, why can't Rokuhara-sama, a Campione at the pinnacle of humanity, have one?'
The thought eased her heart slightly.
"So… does Rokuhara-sama have a harem?"
"That's correct."
"How many women are in your harem right now?"
"Currently, five. And perhaps… the number might grow."
"…!!!"
Ren's gaze as he spoke seemed to hint at something. Sonoka felt both joy and embarrassment understanding the implication.
'Five… Compared to Chinese emperors with thousands of concubines, Rokuhara-sama's harem is small. And… maybe… there's space for me…' Sonoka thought, calming herself.
"By the way, one of my women is pregnant and due next month."
"EH?!"
Sonoka was stunned by the news.
'Does that mean I'm falling for a man who's going to be a father?'
Her face burned with shock. In her mind, Ren's image as a high school boy morphed into a mature man about to become a father.
'Is it okay to like someone who's going to be a dad?'
'No, it's fine. After all, Rokuhara-sama is a young, handsome, strong, and kind man. And… he saved me.'
Sonoka quickly dismissed the thought. She didn't mind. Ren wasn't some middle-aged, overweight creep—he was a young, charismatic man.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The two continued talking about various topics—hobbies, favorite foods, enemies, and views on life.
Their bond grew closer as the night wore on.
As the evening deepened, it was time for Ren to leave.
"Thank you for the incredible dinner, Sonoka-san."
"I'm the one who should be thanking you."
Sonoka followed Ren to the door.
Outside Shunkatei, under the dim streetlight, they stood face-to-face. Tokyo's chilly night air made their breaths faintly mist.
"Rokuhara-sama."
"Yes?"
Suddenly, with a face as red as a tomato, Sonoka stood on tiptoe and softly kissed Ren's lips.
The kiss lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough to make Sonoka's heart pound.
"That was my first kiss. Thank you for everything, Rokuhara-sama." she whispered, touching her lips.
After those words, Sonoka hurriedly retreated into the restaurant, overwhelmed by embarrassment.
"…"
Ren stood outside Shunkatei's door, touching his lips, still feeling the softness of Sonoka's. A satisfied smile spread across his handsome face.
'Conquering Sonoka was easier than I thought. The suspension bridge effect never fails. Now, I just wait for the right moment to make her part of my harem.'
As Ren vanished into the night, Sonoka stood behind the door, face flushed, heart racing.
This night had changed her life forever.
Unaware that it was all part of a Campione's grand scheme to expand his harem.