In early November, the weather began to turn cold.
"Erina, so you're here."
Senzaemon Nakiri returned to the Nakiri estate for the first time in a while. After inquiring with Nakiri Mana, he learned she was in the Nakiri family's kitchen.
"Grandfather, and this is..."
Hearing the familiar voice, Erina Nakiri put down the kitchen knife in her hand and turned her head.
She then saw Senzaemon Nakiri and was just about to run forward and leap into his arms when she noticed a curious little girl following behind him. She demurely stopped in her tracks and stood before him instead.
The little girl looked left and right, her gaze filled with novelty. Finally, her eyes focused on Erina's face, and Erina Nakiri could clearly feel the girl's eyes light up.
"Her name is Hisako Arato. She's the only daughter of the Arato family and the little secretary I, your grandfather, have found for you. She'll be responsible for handling the various trivial matters in your life."
Seeing Erina Nakiri tilt her head in confusion, a kind smile appeared on Senzaemon Nakiri's face as he introduced the girl behind him.
"A little secretary?"
Erina Nakiri was taken aback. She carefully sized up Hisako Arato, who stood behind Senzaemon Nakiri, then took two steps forward, her large eyes filled with curiosity.
At this moment, Hisako Arato was also observing her. However, compared to the more casual Erina Nakiri, she was clearly more reserved, standing demurely in place.
To serve Erina Nakiri well, she had, under Senzaemon Nakiri's arrangement, enrolled in a secretarial training institute, becoming its youngest student in history.
At the institute, she trained for three months in etiquette and various secretarial courses, and now she could finally showcase the results.
"Lady Erina, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Hisako Arato." Looking at Erina, the girl gave a slight bow, her hands placed in front of her, looking a little nervous.
Although Senzaemon Nakiri had already introduced her, a self-introduction was more appropriate for a first meeting. It was basic courtesy.
"My family has studied medicinal cuisine for generations, so I am also somewhat versed in it.
From this day forward, I will be responsible for assisting you with your daily affairs. Whether it's scheduling or paperwork, I will do my utmost to lighten your burden."
When Hisako Arato raised her head, her gaze remained respectful yet sincere: "If you permit it, I can also prepare some medicinal dishes to help condition your body.
I have heard that you are extremely dedicated to cooking, and I thought perhaps I could help you maintain your peak condition for cooking without disrupting your daily life."
After saying this, Hisako stood quietly in place, her posture dignified without seeming distant.
However, her fingers, placed before her, unconsciously clutched the hem of her clothes, and her movements seemed a bit stiff, betraying the nervousness hidden deep in her heart.
After hearing this proper and thoughtful self-introduction, Erina Nakiri did not respond immediately.
Her large, violet eyes blinked, and she then took another small step forward, getting so close to Hisako Arato that their faces were almost touching.
Her gaze held the unique, undisguised scrutiny of a child.
She tilted her head slightly, her soft blonde hair swaying with the movement, and then said in a clear, childish voice tinged with a hint of innate pride, "Secretary? So that means you'll be following me around all the time from now on?"
Before Hisako could answer, Erina Nakiri's gaze fell upon her fingers, which were slightly curled from nervousness. She suddenly reached out, took Hisako's hand, and began pulling her towards the stove.
"Alright, I'll allow it."
"But I want to try your medicinal cuisine, right now!
And another thing, I hate bad-tasting medicinal food. If what you make doesn't taste good, I'll get angry, and I'll never eat anything you cook ever again."
As she finished speaking, Erina Nakiri gave a tsundere 'hmph', but she was actually in a good mood, feeling as if she had just adopted a cute puppy or kitten.
"Yes, Lady Erina."
Seeing that Erina Nakiri was willing to accept her, Hisako Arato let out a small sigh of relief.
The reason she had come here to be her secretary, aside from her admiration for Erina Nakiri, was for another, more important reason.
To save the Arato Group.
Due to mismanagement, the Arato Group was on the verge of bankruptcy. Their business partners had turned into a pack of wolves and tigers, all wanting to tear a piece of flesh from them to strengthen themselves and avoid falling into the same tragedy.
Just as the family was on the brink of life and death, facing imminent bankruptcy, Senzaemon Nakiri approached her father and proposed that she become Erina Nakiri's secretary, following her for life. In return, the Nakiri Group would invest in the Arato Group and help them overcome their difficulties.
Simply by having his daughter become a secretary, the Arato Group could survive its current crisis and even receive support from the Nakiri Group in the future.
It was a deal no one would refuse.
Hisako Arato's father was no different. Although his heart was reluctant, under pressure from other family members, he ultimately agreed.
As a child who had grown up enjoying the family's resources, it was only right that she contribute to the family's continuation.
Moreover, the person Hisako Arato was to follow was Erina Nakiri, the owner of the God's Tongue.
Even without the so-called investment, if the Nakiri family were to put out the word, a large number of people would surely flock to send their own children over.
However, as a three-year-old child, Hisako Arato didn't know why she had to do this, nor what benefits she would gain from it. But she knew she had to do it.
Because only by doing so could her family and her father smooth their brows and show happy expressions.
Everyone in the family was very good to her, so she wanted to make every one of them smile.
And so, she had appeared here.
·
·
"No matter which path I choose in the end, polishing my fundamentals is definitely the right move. Right now, there are no classes, so I have plenty of time to grind my basic skills to the absolute limit."
The paper was densely covered with a two-year special training plan. Okabe chewed on the end of his pen, pondering if he had missed anything.
Now that Liu Anqing had left the Nakiri estate, there were no more morning classes. The afternoon interest classes could also be arranged according to their own wishes—they could go if they wanted to, or skip them if they didn't.
It could be said that Okabe was currently in the most time-abundant phase of his life.
Furthermore, because he was a child, he was rarely disturbed by anything. The Nakiri estate had all the ingredients he could need, and if all else failed, there was still the vegetable garden.
The time, the place, and the people were all in his favor.
"Heave-ho."
Ikaros placed a sack of freshly dug potatoes in the corner of the kitchen, her face still smudged with a bit of dirt. By now, the kitchen was already piled high with all sorts of ingredients.
Flour, eggs, butter, chili peppers, and other basic ingredients could all be found here; these were essential items for Okabe to hone his culinary skills.
[Triggered Mission]: The Grind is On, Kid!
[Mission Description]: While others are still enjoying a carefree childhood, you have resolved to walk a more arduous path. Use this precious time, undisturbed and with abundant resources, to hone at least one basic culinary skill to the point of perfection.
[Mission Objective]: Within two years, raise your Knife Skills proficiency to the level of perfection.
[Mission Reward]: Seven-Star Knife: Wu Qu
[Seven-Star Knife: Wu Qu (Purple)]: The Wu Qu knife combines power and flexibility, making it suitable for various types of ingredient cutting tasks. Whether it's rapid slicing and shredding, or delicate carving and peeling, the Wu Qu knife can display its unique advantages, making it the most practical of the Seven-Star Knives.
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