Emiya couldn't take it anymore.
"Megumi is still growing," he said. "If you really want to recruit her, at least wait until she matures a bit. You're not in a hurry, are you, Loki?"
"I'm not in a hurry," Loki replied. "But who knows which bastard will snatch Megumi-chan first?"
She had already seen the anime.
She knew Megumi had strong feelings for Soma Yukihira.
Letting things continue like this was too dangerous.
That was exactly why Loki wanted to take Megumi away and bring her into the Loki Familia-to keep her far away from that playboy Soma Yukihira.
The God of Pranks truly lived up to her name.
Her schemes were endless.
So Emiya grabbed Loki by the collar and dragged her away.
"Let's go, let's go," he said. "Let's try someone else's breakfast."
He could tell Loki was here to cause trouble.
Because of her presence, no one dared approach Megumi's counter.
She was clearly trying to prevent Megumi from completing her two hundred servings so she'd be expelled from Totsuki.
Then, with nowhere else to go, Megumi would have no choice but to follow her.
Truly worthy of the title God of Pranks.
Loki didn't resist.
Emiya's words had moved her a little.
He dragged her away from Megumi's counter and headed to Takumi Aldini's station.
Takumi had prepared a salad and a vegetable-and-egg frittata. Simple. Healthy. Nutritious.
Emiya and Loki each took a portion.
They started eating.
"Well?" Emiya asked.
"It's alright," Loki said flatly.
Takumi froze.
His breakfast had sold out repeatedly and received plenty of praise. Loki was the first person to say it was merely "alright."
He couldn't help asking, "Is there anything I can improve?"
Loki glanced at him once, then walked away.
She had no interest in an innocent boy like this.
The hero of her Familia, Finn, was far better.
Takumi's expression darkened.
He could tell Loki was someone important.
Someone like her must have eaten the very best food.
So did that mean his cooking wasn't even presentable?
Emiya noticed Takumi's dejection and spoke up.
"Don't worry. Your breakfast is great. It's just that she's eaten too many incredible things, so to her, it's only 'alright.' You should be proud, actually. Being evaluated as 'alright' by her means you're already ahead of a lot of people. Keep going."
Takumi watched Emiya leave.
A fierce fire lit up in his eyes.
Not anger.
Determination.
He knew Emiya wasn't just comforting him.
At the very least, it proved his current level still wasn't enough.
He would continue to improve.
One day, he would cook for that woman again-and hear the word "delicious" from her mouth.
So he lowered his head and kept cooking.
Emiya had no idea what Takumi was thinking.
If he did, he would've said, This kid really is a dreamer.
He didn't believe anyone in this world could make Loki say "delicious."
After surveying the entire Food Wars! world, there was only one person with that potential.
Erina Nakiri.
The holder of the God's Tongue.
What moved Loki about Megumi's cooking wasn't how delicious it was.
It was the heart she put into it.
That was what Loki valued most.
After all, she had eaten too many delicious things.
After leaving Takumi's counter, Emiya and Loki went to Erina Nakiri's.
Erina had prepared a ham-and-egg muffin, a classic American breakfast.
She added mullet roe powder, giving it a unique and lingering flavor.
Emiya ate enthusiastically.
Loki remained calm.
This level of deliciousness couldn't move her.
Still, for Emiya's sake, she offered advice.
"When it comes to food, heart matters more than deliciousness. What moves the soul isn't taste-it's intent. If you don't understand this, you'll never conquer a god, no matter how high you climb."
She paused.
"Learn from Megumi-chan. That child is someone even I admire."
Erina listened seriously. "I understand, Lord Loki."
"Good."
Loki was satisfied.
She was also looking forward to seeing what kind of dish Erina would make once she combined skill with heart.
Humans had endless potential.
That was one of the reasons Loki liked the children of her Familia.
After leaving Erina's counter, Emiya noticed that, just like in the story, Soma Yukihira was in trouble.
So he and Loki left Venue A and headed elsewhere.
There were still many dishes Emiya wanted to try.
Isami Aldini.
Ikumi Mito.
Shun Ibusaki.
Ryoko Sakaki.
Hisako Arato.
Alice Nakiri.
Miyoko Hojo.
Subaru Mimasaka.
Nao Sadatsuka...
Well. Maybe not her.
To be honest, Emiya never understood how that gloomy woman who made foul-smelling dishes could pass the two hundred-portion test.
This wasn't a shokugeki with judges.
It was a buffet.
Shouldn't people avoid food that smelled like that?
Even if a few brave souls existed, there couldn't be two hundred of them.
But his question was soon answered.
After entering another venue, Emiya caught a faint scent.
It wasn't strong.
It was within tolerable limits.
But undeniably, it stimulated his appetite.
He followed the smell and found Nao Sadatsuka.
She was cooking a pot of soup.
The scent came from it.
Emiya realized she had corrected her mistake.
She wasn't making something unbearably stinky anymore.
She had toned it down.
That way, more people could accept it.
Even so, Emiya wasn't interested.
He could tolerate stinky tofu.
Nothing else.
Loki clearly felt the same.
The moment she smelled it, she nearly fled.
There were too many good things to eat.
She wasn't about to force herself.
So they ignored Nao's dish and quickly left after tasting a few others.
Soon, they arrived at Venue E.
There was someone Emiya had been looking forward to.
Erina Nakiri's cousin.
A molecular gastronomy expert.
Alice Nakiri.
He still remembered her first appearance-arrogant, cool, mysterious.
Later, he realized it was all an act.
One moment proud and haughty, the next crying adorably.
She was genuinely straightforward.
That made her interesting.
Emiya was looking forward to her cooking.
Especially because she specialized in molecular gastronomy.
But that was only his expectation.
When Loki found out, she scoffed.
"What's so special about food made by machines?"
She liked food with heart.
Food made by machines felt cold.
Unfeeling.
Not worth tasting.
"Then just stay with me for a bit," Emiya said.
He knew that if he let her roam freely, she'd run back to Venue A and mess with Megumi again-possibly getting her expelled in her own twisted way.
The God of Pranks was fully capable of that.
Loki didn't refuse.
They went to Alice Nakiri's counter.
Emiya took a dish and ate with enthusiasm.
Loki just looked around, clearly uninterested.
At that moment, Emiya saw Natsume approaching.
He pointed at the dish. "Don't you want to try some?"
"I'm full," Natsume replied. "I can't eat anymore."
Then he nodded politely. "Good morning, Lady Loki."
Loki vaguely remembered him.
A human with no training, yet possessing power comparable to a First-Class adventurer.
Extremely rare.
If his personality were suited to adventuring, she would have already invited him.
"Good morning," Loki said. "Your name is Natsume, right?"
"Yes."
"That female yokai isn't with you?"
"She stayed in my world," Natsume said. "She didn't come."
"Oh."
Loki lost interest immediately.
Natsume then turned to Emiya.
"Mr. Emiya, could you send me back?"
"It's almost time for school."