After packing the remaining ten pieces of takoyaki, Leonora immediately contacted her sister-in-law, Mana. The two arranged to meet in a private room at a tearoom. Leonora arrived early, and Mana rushed in nearly half an hour later.
"What is it that has you so jumpy and surprised?" Mana asked curiously after arriving. Over the phone, Leonora's voice had been so excited it sounded like she'd discovered an alien.
Leonora offered a mysterious smile. Without further teasing, she took out the package.
"It is an existence capable of changing the culinary world!"
Listening to Leonora's dramatic tone, Mana looked down at the package. She was instantly speechless.
"The thing capable of changing the culinary world is takoyaki?" Mana half-regretted dropping what she was doing to rush over.
"Don't jump to conclusions yet," Leonora urged. "Just try one first!" She couldn't wait to see the reaction of the woman with the God's Tongue to this takoyaki.
"Fine, fine. It's cold now, though." Mana shook her head, forked a piece, and brought it to her red lips. "What could takoyaki possibly…"
Mana's voice was cut short as her eyes suddenly narrowed, a look of shock even more pronounced than Leonora's appearing on her face. The extraordinary sense of taste granted by the God's Tongue allowed her to experience flavors almost visually. Therefore, the more delicious the food, the more intense the stimulation. The supremely delicious nature of this takoyaki, which was practically the pinnacle of its form, instantly overwhelmed Mana.
Fortunately, Leonora had anticipated what might happen and thoughtfully arranged for a private room. Nevertheless, watching Mana's flushed, blissful state, Leonora faintly recalled the expression she herself had displayed in front of Asa. To be reduced to this state by a dish casually made by a little shota was truly humiliating.
A while later, Mana, having fully savored the taste, straightened her weak body on the chair. She stared at Leonora with unprecedented seriousness.
"Which master made this?"
"This is completely on a different level than any food I've ever eaten before!"
Mana had grown increasingly disappointed with the stagnation of the culinary world over the last two years and was close to losing her desire to pursue great food. The takoyaki before her instantly reignited her passion and pursuit of fine cuisine!
Leonora was very satisfied with her reaction. "Do you remember I recently took a job teaching a cooking class at Shuchi'in?"
Mana frowned slightly. "What does that have to do with this?" She had previously tried to dissuade Leonora, thinking her taking a job as an elementary school cooking teacher at Shuchi'in was a waste of time!
Leonora smiled and revealed the answer directly.
"This takoyaki is the culinary work of an elementary school student at Shuchi'in!"
"An elementary school student who has never studied formal cooking before!"
"I believe he is a child with the talent of a Culinary God!"
Listening to Leonora's words, Mana's frown deepened. She felt as if Leonora was talking nonsense. But meeting her extremely earnest gaze, Mana fell into silence.
"If what you say is true, this talent is indeed worthy of being called a gift from the Culinary God…"
"But, didn't you invite him to Totsuki?"
Leonora offered a wry smile. "I did, but he refused."
"That's why I came to you!"
Mana was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. "So, someone with talent who is unwilling to use it…"
Mana pursed her lips. A single takoyaki ball was enough to bring her such immense pleasure. It was impossible to simply watch such a talent with limitless potential drift away from the culinary world.
"Shuchi'in is holding its School Festival in three days. His parents will likely be there."
"Perhaps we can talk to them then."
Mana nodded, agreeing with the idea. For now, this approach seemed feasible. Given her status, she should be able to get the attention of his parents.
"If possible, I hope I can taste his hot takoyaki that day," Mana added with anticipation. If the cold takoyaki Leonora brought back was this delicious, she couldn't imagine how enjoyable the hot ones would be.
"Oh, right, is it alright if I take a few of these balls with me?" Mana asked Leonora.
The latter nodded, smiling. "Are you going to let Erina try some?"
"I've also prepared a portion for Alice!"
The two beautiful young wives exchanged smiles. How could they, as mothers, miss such a golden opportunity to deflate their arrogant daughters.
....
The Service Club, Afternoon.
"The School Festival?"
"Selling takoyaki?"
"Here?"
Yukino looked at Asa with an expression of astonishment.
Asa nodded. "Doesn't the School Festival require activities?"
"The Service Club only has you, Yukino-nee, so you can't prepare much in the way of activities."
"So, let me join in, and let's sell takoyaki together," Asa said slowly.
"But, wouldn't that be too much trouble?" Yukino said hesitantly. As a high-flier who had always been a loner, in Yukino's mind, the School Festival was just a day to find a quiet corner and read. Activities and performances were for the extroverted students who enjoyed showing off!
Seeing Yukino's hesitant look, Asa immediately adopted an expectant expression and spoke in a small, soft voice. "This is my first time participating in a School Festival… We never had this kind of event at the orphanage… So I was really looking forward to it…"
"But if Yukino-nee thinks it's too much trouble, then I guess…"
Before Asa could finish his subtle, manipulative comment, Yukino cut him off.
"It's not trouble!"
"Didn't we just buy a takoyaki machine? We can definitely use it for the School Festival!"
When Yukino saw Asa's hopeful eyes instantly fall into disappointment, her heart twisted with distress. Yukino, you're truly despicable! What happened to creating a bond with Asa as an older sister?! Yukino even mentally scolded herself twice.
"Really, Yukino-nee? We really can?"
Yukino slowly exhaled, her lips curling into a doting smile as she saw Asa's eyes instantly brighten.
"You can do whatever you want for this School Festival, Asa!"
Faced with such an endearing little shota, Yukino was completely won over and chose infinite compliance!
"Thank you, Yukino-nee!" Asa cheered.
He immediately started planning the layout of the Service Club's spacious activity room.
"Hmm, we need to put chairs here, and tables there…"
Yukino watched Asa's plans get increasingly elaborate and couldn't help but ask, "If we're only selling them in the activity room, this location is so secluded. There won't be many people coming, so we don't need so many tables and chairs."
At least, Yukino couldn't imagine many people coming here to buy takoyaki. Well, maybe Shizuka might. But barely anyone knew there was a Service Club here.
Asa, however, tilted his head and pointed his finger. "Not true. Ai-nee, Yotsuya-nee, Eriri-nee, Shinomiya-nee, and Fujiwara-nee will probably all come, won't they?"
Yukino's beautiful eyes immediately narrowed when she heard Asa list a string of names all suffixed with "nee." Are my competitors multiplying this much now? Still, they're all my age, so I don't need to worry!
"And people who aren't students can come visit too! Haruno-nee and Auntie Yukinoshita will come, too!"
Asa's words reached her ears again, and Yukino's expression instantly froze.
'Mother…'
Yukino fell into contemplation. In her memory, any activity concerning her at school was basically handled by her older sister, Haruno. Her mother never seemed to have shown up.
'Will Mother come this time?'
Yukino sank into thought and uncertainty. Deep down, she didn't necessarily want her mother to come. But given Mrs. Yukinoshita's busy schedule lately, and Yukino's understanding of her, she probably wouldn't attend such a boring event meant for students to play.
Probably… right?!
....
The Yuuki Residence, Mrs. Yuuki's Office.
Mrs. Yuuki and Mrs. Yukinoshita received reports from the project manager, looking over the progress reports for their recent project. During the meeting, both women pointed out areas that needed follow-up and reinforcement according to their own ideas, after which the project manager left the office in a cold sweat.
"If things continue like this, the amusement park should start to take shape soon," Mrs. Yukinoshita said calmly.
"Yes, we've been very busy lately," Mrs. Yuuki stretched, highlighting her full, lovely figure.
"Sigh, the Shuchi'in School Festival is starting in two days. My daughter keeps nagging me to accompany her, it's really…" Mrs. Yuuki spoke with what sounded like annoyance, but Mrs. Yukinoshita could clearly hear the happiness in her tone.
However, Mrs. Yukinoshita was more concerned with the first half of Mrs. Yuuki's statement. The Shuchiin School Festival…
'Will Asa-kun be participating in any activities?'
Outsiders would be allowed into the school then, and with so many people, Asa's handsome and endearing appearance would surely draw attention from all sorts of women. The women outside use so many sweet words, and Asa is so naive; what if someone tricks him away…
'No, I have to go and keep an eye on him!' Mrs. Yukinoshita thought to herself.
At that moment, Mrs. Yuuki looked at Mrs. Yukinoshita curiously and asked, "Your youngest daughter, Yukino, and Asa are both enrolled at Shuchi'in, aren't they? Will you be accompanying them, Mrs. Yukinoshita?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita looked up at her, a faint light glowing in her narrow, beautiful eyes.
"Of course, I'm going!"
"I'll catch up on the project work these next two days and try to free up half a day."
Similar conversations were taking place repeatedly in many families, between mothers and daughters, and between wives. As Shuchi'in was a noble school with centuries of history, its School Festival was always a highly anticipated event!
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