Damn it! Damn it!
Hisako Arato pouted, kicking a stone as she followed behind Dylan, feeling none of the joy of taking third place, only dissatisfaction.
"Alright, relax. You'll get another chance to fight back. Just teach that guy a lesson then. You should be a little happier about winning the match."
Having listened to her complaints the whole way, Dylan stopped, turned around, and pinched Hisako Arato's soft, fair cheek, trying to cheer her up a little. Otherwise, wouldn't this third-place finish be for nothing?
"I know, I'm just so annoyed! I prepared so thoroughly, I haven't even been sleeping well. Even if he had shown up, I could have won!"
"I know, little Hisako is the best."
Following Hisako Arato's lead, Dylan spoke as if he were coaxing a small child.
Hearing the affection in his words, the young woman's face turned visibly red, and she looked away without another word.
"She must be shy."
Noticing Hisako Arato's expression, Yūki Yoshino, who was beside Dylan, couldn't help but tease, and the atmosphere became cheerful again in the process.
"Let's have a celebration party tonight as usual, to celebrate Megumi and Hisako-san getting first and third place, respectively."
Speaking of which, the Elite Ten members have historically been chosen from those with outstanding performances in the selection tournament. Getting in the top three was like getting a basic ticket into the Elite Ten Council.
Satoshi Isshiki's voice rang out from within the group. Since they were taking the same way back, he and the other boys from the Polaris Dormitory were there, chatting at the moment.
"The Elite Ten…"
Hearing Satoshi Isshiki's words, Hisako Arato stopped dwelling on her anger and began to murmur to herself, a new longing in her eyes.
If she became one of the Elite Ten, could she stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Lady Erina?! For a Totsuki student, the Elite Ten was the greatest honor!
Even with an outstanding performance in the Summer Selection, the probability of ultimately becoming one of the Elite Ten was very small.
"Set your sights higher. The Elite Ten is just a title within Totsuki. Once you step outside these gates, it means nothing. It doesn't even carry the same weight as the title of a Special Grade Chef."
"If you make that your goal, you're selling yourself short. For now, strive to be the world's number one medicinal cuisine chef!"
Noticing the complexity in the young woman's eyes, Dylan spoke up beside her.
If her goal was the Totsuki Elite Ten, then that would be her ceiling. This wasn't good for Hisako Arato's development, so he had to correct her attitude.
Because she hadn't seen the wider world, she thought this small cage was the entire universe. He had made the same mistake before, always thinking that being invincible in the Dark Cooking Society meant he was invincible everywhere.
"I understand. I'll work hard!"
Hearing Dylan's words, a different kind of light appeared in Hisako Arato's eyes.
To become the world's number one medicinal cuisine chef—what a thrilling goal!
"Then I'll become the world's number one aquaculture expert! The animals and plants I raise will become unparalleled delicacies, even with simple cooking!"
Knowing full well that her talent in cooking was lacking, Yūki Yoshino stated an alternative goal.
Becoming the world's number one aquaculture expert and developing the best ingredients—wasn't that a form of success in itself?
"If you want to, I can provide you with funding and technical support. Go for it."
Yūki Yoshino's words gave Dylan an idea.
The world's number one aquaculture expert? If she really succeeded, wouldn't all the ingredients she cultivates belong to him!
"Thank you, Dylan-sensei! I can't pretend I didn't hear that. In the future, if I run into any related problems, I will definitely be troubling you!"
Having received Dylan's support, Yūki Yoshino's face lit up with excitement.
Even though Dylan never showed off around them, he was, after all, a Seven-Star Special Grade Chef. Even the resources that trickled through his fingers would be more than enough for them to enjoy for a lifetime!
"Then I'll become the world's number one expert in 'fermentation cuisine'!"
Ryōko Sakaki also declared her ambition, her eyes looking straight at the moon in the sky.
However, it was unknown how much of her statement was sincere and how much was just going with the flow.
For a moment, the scene was filled with the sounds of young women declaring their goals. Their vibrant energy even made passersby turn to look, giving them a thumbs-up.
"Dylan-sensei, I have something I want to talk to you about. Could you come with me for a moment?"
Just as the group was moving forward, about to reach their destination, Megumi Tadokoro's voice suddenly sounded. As she spoke, she tugged on the corner of Dylan's clothes.
"Talk to me? Hmm, alright…"
Looking at the people around them, Dylan had a feeling he knew what this was about. Unless it was something important, Megumi Tadokoro rarely pulled him aside for a private chat.
Avoiding suspicion was one reason, but more importantly, her heart would race and she'd feel hot all over whenever she saw him. She was too shy and found it a bit hard to look him in the eye.
But today, she was being unexpectedly proactive.
The two of them broke away from the main group and took a smaller path. Not many people noticed them leave, only Ikumi Mito and Miyoko Hojo. The two of them had fallen behind, walking slowly, and upon seeing the situation, they both started guessing what they were up to.
"Could it be..."
Seeing Megumi Tadokoro's repressed expression, Ikumi Mito and Miyoko Hojo exchanged a look and spoke in unison.
They were all too familiar with that expression! Because whenever they were with Dylan, every single person there would end up with that same look.
And at this very moment, as the path ahead became more and more remote, Dylan's pace gradually slowed.
He actually had an answer in his heart as to why Megumi Tadokoro had suddenly sought him out. Only a fool wouldn't be able to see her feelings for him.
It was like a person standing next to a furnace; no matter what they were doing, they would feel its heat.
And so.
When the two of them went from walking briskly to a stroll, moving slowly through the mountain forest.
Feeling Megumi Tadokoro's inner turmoil, her hand trembling by her side, Dylan felt nervous for her, so he boldly reached out and took it.
Feeling her hand suddenly being held, Megumi Tadokoro was a bit surprised. Her already flustered heart rippled once more, and she then softly called his name.
"Dylan… sensei?"
"I'm here. People still pass by here occasionally. Come with me."
Dylan nodded lightly and quickened his pace again, leading Megumi Tadokoro toward a less crowded place.
Because Dylan was leading her, and he was the person she liked most, she obediently followed by his side, even though she opened her mouth to speak several times only to stop.
Soon, the two found a quiet, deserted spot. Because it was off the main road, it was so quiet that even the chirping of insects could be heard.
"Dylan-sensei, I love you. From the first time you helped me and affirmed me, a seed of love was planted in my heart."
Totsuki Academy was built on a mountain, making it unquestionably a mountain high school. The buildings were scattered about, a cool breeze blew, and the moon hung in the sky, creating a unique atmosphere.
It was at this moment, looking at Dylan's tall, straight back and feeling the perfect atmosphere around them, Megumi Tadokoro felt the time was right. She took a step forward and spoke with some shyness.
Because there was no one else around, her voice, though not loud, carried with perfect clarity to Dylan's ears, and he heard every single word.
"I know this is a very selfish request, and perhaps a bit selfish, because you and Alice-san are a very loving couple. But I have to say it, because these words have been bottled up in my heart for a long time. Even knowing I'll be rejected, I still have to say it. I love you, Dylan!"
Hearing her words, Dylan spun around. Under the streetlight, his already handsome face was cast in a light that made it even more atmospheric, making one want to lean in and kiss him.
Megumi Tadokoro held her head high, looking at Dylan with a completely serious expression. Seeing that he didn't reply, her heart beat faster and faster, and the fists hidden under her sleeves clenched tighter and tighter.
She knew that after today, she and Dylan could no longer interact as they had before, but she didn't regret it.
Because she had been reserved and restrained for more than a decade, and she wanted to be willful for herself just once!
"I won't make any promises, because I know that making a promise I can't keep is a kind of harm. I will do everything in my power to make the rest of your life happy."
Dylan had never been one for sweet talk. At a time like this, no words could express the truest thoughts in his heart.
Helpless, he ended up just looking seriously into her eyes and leaning his head toward hers.
Soft lips carried a faint scent of jasmine. Megumi Tadokoro's body stiffened at Dylan's sudden action, and she subconsciously wanted to retreat.
However, Dylan's hand held her waist tightly, pulling her body forward until she was pressed firmly against his chest.
This lasted for more than three minutes. Only when Megumi Tadokoro was a little out of breath did Dylan let her go, holding her in his arms and gently patting her back.
After being like this for a while, Megumi Tadokoro's heart calmed down. Her fingers began to draw circles on Dylan's chest, savoring its warmth.
"Just stay with me from now on. I won't restrict you in any way. Whatever you want to do, whatever you want to pursue, I will support you. Just be as you've always been."
Dylan didn't like the idea of a trophy wife, nor did he want a supremely talented chef to become a housewife.
He hoped that the girls he liked could shine brightly in their own fields, dazzling on the competition stage. That was her best destiny!
"Like before…"
Megumi Tadokoro's expression froze. She looked at Dylan pitifully, thinking he wasn't accepting her and wanted to keep things as they were.
Although that was the best outcome for her, having come this far, she was unwilling to just maintain the status quo. He clearly had feelings for her too.
If he didn't have feelings for her, he probably wouldn't have kissed her… Now she just needed to push a little harder!
"I just meant for you to act as you always have, not that our relationship would stay the same. We've already come this far, do you really think you can get away?"
Noticing the tears in Megumi Tadokoro's eyes, Dylan lowered his head and kissed her again. This time it wasn't a long kiss, but a light, fleeting touch.
However, even if it was just a light touch, Megumi Tadokoro was still filled with joy. She could barely suppress her smile, but did her best to remain calm.
"Thank you, Dylan-sensei."
"I don't remember doing anything worthy of thanks. It's because you are outstanding enough that I accepted you, Megumi."
Polygamy was allowed in this world, so Dylan said these words without any burden.
The same was true for Megumi Tadokoro. Although she felt it was a bit unfair, she didn't see herself as a third party intruding on someone else's relationship.
Dylan-sensei is so amazing, so what's wrong with having a few more people by his side?!
"Let's go back."
After a brief, tender embrace, Dylan took Megumi Tadokoro's hand.
They smiled at each other, and then their simple hand-holding became an interlocking of fingers.
With such a big step forward in their relationship, Megumi Tadokoro thought she would be extremely excited, but in reality, she quickly calmed down.
However, the faint happiness deep in her heart told her that her choice was not wrong.
Love could be shouting and screaming, or it could be a quiet reliance. For Megumi Tadokoro, having Dylan by her side was the best gift.
The two strolled along the mountain path. The night wind was cool, carrying the scent of fresh grass. Because they were on a mountain, the air was exceptionally fresh, making it a pleasant experience.
"Ah, where did you two go? I've been looking for you for ages! The party's just waiting for you two. You're the stars of the evening; what does it look like if you disappear for so long!"
Just as they were about to arrive home, Alice Nakiri's voice came from not far away. As soon as she saw Dylan, she grabbed him, ready to pull him inside.
However, she got a hold of him but couldn't pull him along. Alice then turned her head in confusion and noticed Megumi Tadokoro and Dylan's joined hands.
She wasn't stupid. A moment's thought was enough for her to figure out what had happened.
She immediately put her hands on her hips and questioned the two of them: "I was wondering where you two ran off to. So you were sneaking a snack behind my back! You hide it pretty well!"
"I... actually, just now..."
Seeing that Alice Nakiri seemed to have misunderstood something, Megumi Tadokoro immediately began to explain.
She had just confessed; she couldn't be misunderstood as sneaking around!
"Anyway, welcome to the big family, Megumi."
Seeing the embarrassed look on Megumi Tadokoro's face, as if she wanted to explain something, Alice Nakiri waved her hand to stop her and extended her own hand.
"I'm sorry, Alice…"
Seeing this, Megumi Tadokoro froze for a moment. Faced with Alice Nakiri's utterly pure smile, she suddenly felt a bit shameless...
"You didn't do anything wrong. Brother Dylan is so amazing, anyone who sees him would fall for him."
"You just did what you thought was right. The fact that Brother Dylan was willing to accept you proves that you're a wonderful girl. If anything, he's the one who got lucky."
Seeing Megumi Tadokoro's embarrassed expression, Alice Nakiri stepped forward, took her hand, and held it in her own, speaking seriously, word by word.
Aside from Megumi Tadokoro thinking she had hidden it well, pretty much everyone else knew about her feelings for Dylan, and Alice Nakiri was naturally one of them.
That's why, the moment she saw Dylan and Megumi Tadokoro returning hand-in-hand, she didn't think of anything else and immediately guessed the answer.
However, because this was someone who had grown up by her side, Alice Nakiri was at ease. At least she wasn't some wicked woman. This was also why she was being so pleasant.
"And you know, Brother Dylan, he…"
Hearing Alice Nakiri pull Megumi Tadokoro aside to whisper embarrassing stories about him, a vein pulsed on Dylan's forehead.
She even told the story of what happened when they bathed together during his boyhood, causing Megumi Tadokoro to look at him with a peculiar expression.
"Hey, hey, I'm still right here."
Hearing the two of them laughing, an embarrassed expression instantly appeared on Dylan's face. He wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
As he spoke, he caught both of them by the waist.
"That time is indeed nostalgic. The first time we bathed together, little brother Dylan didn't even dare to look me straight in the eye, even though he was just a little kid back then."
A gentle voice tinged with teasing came through. Turning his head, he saw it was Leonora Nakiri.
She approached with graceful steps and stopped in front of the three of them.
"Nora, you're teasing me too."
Dylan wore a helpless expression at Leonora Nakiri's arrival.
Back then, because he was young, she would often bathe with him. Of course, she would bring Alice Nakiri along in the process.
In her words, Nordics were unreserved, and bathing with family was a Japanese tradition.
Plus, Dylan was just a little kid at the time, so neither Leonora Nakiri nor Alice Nakiri paid it much mind, even though Dylan was very resistant back then.
"It's just the truth. Little brother Dylan was super cute when he was young. I really wanted to hold him in my arms and pinch his cheeks hard."
As she spoke, Dylan was already enveloped in Leonora Nakiri's embrace, just like how she used to hold him as a child, only this time the young man was much taller.
For his part, Dylan only felt a wave of softness wash over him, followed by a pleasant fragrance filling his nose—Leonora Nakiri's unique natural scent.
"Oh my, you're not like you were as a child anymore, when you were a tiny little thing I could hold completely in my arms. Now, little brother Dylan is a big boy."
Stroking Dylan's head and feeling the heat from the body in her arms, Leonora Nakiri blushed for some reason, then let go and took a step back.
Those firm muscles, that sturdy physique—this girl Alice is eating well!
As if thinking of something, Leonora Nakiri stared at Dylan's body in a daze, a barely perceptible look of resentment surfacing in her eyes.
"Alright, let's go back first. Tonight's star is Megumi. If we don't go back soon, they'll get impatient waiting."
Steadying himself, Dylan looked towards the brightly lit villa not far away, which was currently filled with laughter and cheerful voices.
The grill and food were all ready.
He had also intentionally let Leonora Nakiri hug him just now, just as he did when he was a child. After all, her body was graceful and soft, and he didn't dislike being held by her.
Leonora Nakiri, perhaps knowing this, would often tease him, leaving him in a state of limbo. Fortunately, such incidents rarely happened after he became an adult.
"Let's go back. By the way, you didn't even come over to say hello during the competition today, and you disappeared right after it ended. Now you even made me come over personally. You've gotten quite full of yourself, haven't you?"
"Not at all. I just thought we'd have plenty of time to talk after getting back, so there was no need to make a scene in public."
Her words carried a hint of playful complaint, much like a young girl in early spring. As she spoke, she gently tapped Dylan's shoulder with her fist, then entered the villa with him and her daughter.
"Dylan-sensei…"
Megumi Tadokoro, seeing she couldn't get a word in, was about to follow a step behind, but Dylan grabbed her hand and led her towards the house.
This was treatment she had never received before!
Megumi Tadokoro felt that everything was the same as before, yet somehow different.
Soon, the four of them returned to the villa.
As soon as they opened the outer door and entered the yard, they were met with a shower of confetti from Yūki Yoshino and Ikumi Mito, who had been lying in ambush by the door.
"Congratulations on first place, Megumi!"
The confetti landed on the head of Megumi Tadokoro, the first to enter the yard.
This celebration was held for her; she was the star of this party.
Thanks to a heads-up from Alice Nakiri before entering, Dylan didn't compete with her for the first spot, allowing the confetti to hit its target smoothly.
"Everyone…"
Watching the confetti scatter through the air, Megumi Tadokoro was moved. Before she could say anything, Yūki Yoshino and Ryōko Sakaki surrounded her.
"I knew you could do it, Megumi!"
Yūki Yoshino was ecstatic. As she spoke, she grabbed the other's arm, as if she were the one who had succeeded, not Megumi Tadokoro.
"Congratulations, Megumi."
In comparison, Ryōko Sakaki was much more reserved, but she was still genuinely happy for her, congratulating her on winning first place.
"Yūki, Ryōko…"
Looking at the two before her, Megumi Tadokoro's expression grew more touched.
As the trio of Polaris, if they hadn't been supporting her from behind, she would never have lasted until the day Dylan arrived, let alone won the Summer Selection championship.
If Dylan had given her a new lease on life, then these two were her emotional pillars!
"Thank you."
Megumi Tadokoro said with heartfelt sincerity.
"Don't say things like that at a time like this. Want to try the rice wine I just brewed?"
"I just made a flavored roast duck that's pretty good too!"
Seeing Megumi Tadokoro suddenly get sentimental, Yūki Yoshino and Ryōko Sakaki both got a little embarrassed and hastily retreated to the kitchen to get the dishes they had cooked.
"Champion, come have a drink!"
At the same time, a crisp voice rang out. Dylan looked over and saw it was Hisako Arato, chugging a beer as if trying to drown her sorrows.
It was clear she was really annoyed that Soma Yukihira hadn't shown up today.
"Alright."
Seeing this, Megumi Tadokoro didn't refuse.
She was happy today and wouldn't refuse any request, so she sat down and started a drinking match with Hisako Arato.
Dylan glanced over, then went to the oven and grill and started fiddling with the barbecue.
Seeing this, Alice Nakiri went to his side to help. Dylan held the bamboo skewers, and she handed him the meat, the very picture of attentiveness. For a moment, it felt like that night all over again.
"Pineapple and meat are a perfect match."
He skewered pineapple and pork together, then placed them directly on the charcoal fire, sprinkling a thin layer of salt.
A rich aroma instantly filled the entire space.
"The pineapple loses moisture as it's grilled over the charcoal, concentrating its sugars and making it sweeter. The pork belly sizzles with oil. One bite is just so satisfying!"
Taking the skewer Dylan handed her, Alice Nakiri took a bite, a blissful expression immediately appearing on her face.
"Give me a skewer too!"
Megumi Tadokoro and Hisako Arato sat down next to Dylan with their beers, their eyes filled with longing.
"I want one too! I want one too!"
"Don't worry, there's enough for everyone."
Watching the atmosphere grow more lively, the smile on Dylan's face never faded.
He liked this kind of life, happily cooking while surrounded by everyone.
____
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