After the Housekeeper Leaves
"She's gone?" Erina Nakiri asked quietly.
Renz glanced sideways and nodded. "She's gone."
Ms. Asakawa had gathered her things and quietly left.
Erina slumped onto the living room sofa, as if all the strength had drained from her. Finally, she's gone.
"Erina, come with me to the room for a moment," Renz said, pausing. He didn't give her time to rest. "I have something to tell you."
"Daddy, it's time for school!" Rina called out, carrying a small backpack.
"Just a moment, I have something to discuss with your mom, okay?" Renz replied gently.
He turned back to Erina and gestured with his mouth. Renz walked ahead while Erina followed, both entering his gaming room.
"Erina," Renz began, his gaze settling on her.
To be fair, yesterday had been a chaotic rush just to gather information. Today, things had calmed down a bit, giving him a chance to really observe the woman before him. Her golden hair flowed over her shoulders, her delicate features exuded elegance, and her skin was as flawlessly pale as jade.
Whether it was an illusion or simply the instinct of this body, she felt like the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
Erina, of course, noticed his gaze.
The atmosphere suddenly felt... strange. Was he going to confess?
Already on the second day?
Sure enough, all men are perverts.
If he really confessed, how should she respond?
If she refused, would he get angry? Would he throw a tantrum and affect Rina's healthy development?
But this was her bottom line. Accepting a confession without even getting to know each other first was far too shallow.
"Just say what you need to say," Erina said coolly.
Right now, all she needed to do was act aloof—put some pressure on him and make him back off.
"Oh, it's like this..." Renz picked up something that looked like a USB drive.
"Last night, I spent the whole night researching parenting tips for raising daughters and sons.
A lot of online content isn't reliable, but I did find some valuable insights."
He continued, "So I compiled them all and created my own 'Child-Rearing Guide'."
"If you have time, take a look."
Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "By the way, do you have any money?"
Renz smiled awkwardly. "I checked my bank account—I'm broke."
Aside from occasionally asking his mom for help, he had never asked anyone else for money.
But right now, he was seriously short on cash. Emergencies could come at any time.
What's wrong with asking for money when you don't have any? It's not like I won't pay her back...
"Oh. Money..." Erina felt a strange pang of disappointment.
Even if he had confessed, she wouldn't have accepted, but...
Wouldn't a proactive confession at least prove her charm?
"I'll transfer some over later," she said calmly.
"Okay," Renz scratched his head and handed her the USB.
"Then I'll go take Rina and the others to school now."
He casually slipped on a jacket and turned to leave.
"Take care. Be careful on the road," Erina said, bowing slightly.
Renz walked out the door, holding Rina's hand in one and Haruna's in the other, leading the two unlucky kids off to school.
---
Meanwhile, Erina sat at another computer and began reviewing the "guide" Renz had compiled.
It was densely packed with integrated parenting information.
He must have spent all night working on this, she thought.
Renz seemed more dedicated to their children than she was.
It wasn't that she didn't want to raise them properly—but this whole situation had skipped too many steps, leaving her feeling unprepared.
She hadn't adjusted her mindset as quickly as Renz had. He had already begun to embrace this new life, while she was still fumbling.
But raising a son and a daughter was a shared responsibility.
It was useless for Renz to do everything on his own.
Erina focused on the guide, absorbing the knowledge. She decided to put other matters aside for now.
Learning to be a good mother was also important.
Just as she was fully engrossed, the phone rang.
It was Hisako Arato.
"Moshi moshi, Erina! Have you made up your mind?" Hisako asked cheerfully.
"If you're coming, let me know soon. Otherwise, the judges for this competition will be replaced."
Erina froze.
She immediately remembered the matter—the judge for the Food Soul Grand Prix.
She had later looked it up. The Food Soul Grand Prix was a prestigious competition where elite chefs from all over the world competed. It was a major platform for rising fame, not just for individual chefs but for their restaurants as well.
Her participation as a judge wouldn't be questioned—after all, her God's Tongue was still an unparalleled tool.
Moreover, this would be one of the few chances she had to interact with the outside world.
The only concern was her grandfather, Senzaemon Nakiri.
If their act as a "loving couple" fell apart in front of him, it would be disastrous.
"Yes," Erina replied.
She hadn't yet experienced cuisine from ten years in the future.
This was a chance to expand her horizons—and if she stayed isolated any longer, it would only make things worse.
Better to reconnect with the world sooner than later.
"Good! Then bring Haruki, Rina, and your man with you!" Hisako teased.
The Hisako of the past would never have spoken to her like that.
Ten years had changed a lot—but the care and warmth in her voice hadn't faded.
Wait... What was she saying?
Bring Haruki?
Bring Rina?
Bring Renz too?!
"Aren't I just going as a judge?" Erina asked, flustered.
"Yes, but they can come as part of your family support group, right?" Hisako replied, confused.
"Besides, doesn't Rina still need her mom around? That guy Ze's cooking is definitely worse than yours. If you leave Rina in his care for a few days..."
The mental image was too hilarious for Hisako to continue.
Logically, she wasn't wrong.
While Renz had shown genuine care and responsibility these past two days, pampering children and actually raising them were two different things.
Especially when it came to their diets—without her, it would be a disaster.
When Renz gets back, I need to have a serious talk with him, she thought.
"I'll talk to him later," Erina said with a frown.
"Are there any other important details I should know?"
---
What other challenges await Erina Nakiri as she faces her evolving reality and the high expectations of the Food Soul Grand Prix? And how will Renz respond when he learns he's part of the 'family support group' for the competition?
---Support with power stones