"Erina, why aren't you staying with Auntie?" Alice looked at Erina and Arato with a puzzled expression.
She and Kael had been sightseeing together, and suddenly Erina showed up with Arato. It didn't add up—weren't they heading back in a few days? Shouldn't Erina have been with Mana?
"Kael helped our family a great deal," Erina said, "and Mother gave me a list of places to take him. I thought I'd use the next few days to show Kael around properly."
That excuse was ready-made. Mana had told Erina she didn't need to stay by her side all the time—once her condition improved she could move freely, and the God's Tongue problem had already been temporarily handled.
So Erina had to make the most of the time she had.
Alice squinted, still suspicious of the explanation, but Erina's words were earnest, so Alice didn't push it.
"By the way, Alice, I want to say something about when we were kids. I'm sorry," Erina said suddenly, her face growing serious.
Though the plan had come from Mana, Erina genuinely felt bad about how she'd treated Alice as a child—calling Alice's cooking awful, grabbing things from her, and then not having the pride to apologize later because of her tsundere nature.
Alice was caught off guard. She never imagined Erina would come apologize—never in a million years. She knew her cousin's personality too well; this was entirely unexpected.
Kael was surprised too. He'd read the original story and knew Erina's tsundere streak wouldn't simply vanish, so seeing her do this shocked him.
Arato, however, wasn't confused—Erina had already explained her plan to her secretary and asked for Arato's help later.
At first Arato had been baffled, but when Erina explained Mana's reasoning, Arato fell silent and agreed to support her. No matter what Erina chose to do, Arato would stand by her.
"Is that so? Erina—will you really get along with me from now on?" Alice asked, uncertain.
Erina blushed. Thinking about how she'd bullied Alice as a child made her uncomfortable, but she'd also gained something—confidence and a reason to apologize.
Alice hesitated, then said, "Fine… since you're so sincere, I'll forgive you."
With that, the two cousins' relationship warmed a bit. Erina joined the little group. She certainly wasn't fit to be a tour guide—so Arato ended up taking that role without fuss.
For the next few days they spent the days sightseeing and the nights Erina continued visiting her mother.
Two days before everyone had to return, Kael decided to head back early to prepare for the upcoming Shokugeki. He also wanted to run some experiments related to his ability.
They said goodbye to Mana and boarded a private plane back to Totsuki. Once back, Kael and Alice were shocked to learn Erina intended to move into Polar Star Dormitory.
"You're moving into Polar Star Dormitory? That's fine—just make a dish. There are still procedures to follow," Dorm Mother Fumio said, looking at Erina with approval.
Erina had just been named one of the Elite Ten. Although the dorm's Elite Ten seats might be taken by second- or third-year students later, having a current Elite Ten move in was a huge boon.
Everyone knew Erina was the core of the Nakiri family. The Nakiris rose to power because of the God's Tongue; it was their foundation.
If Erina joined Polar Star, the dormitory would be unstoppable—both in culinary skill and influence. Fumio couldn't refuse.
"Wow, Erina choosing to join Polar Star—this WGO trip did her good," Ryoko Sakaki said with a smile. Erina's change was obvious.
"She really does seem different," Yuki Yoshino agreed.
"Oh, and Aunt Fumio—my secretary Arato wants to join Polar Star too," Erina added. She took Arato everywhere; if she moved in, Arato would too.
"That's fine. Just make a dish like you did," Fumio replied. She knew Arato's results, and though Polar Star had been an outlier in the Autumn Elections, other capable students had stood out and were remembered.
Erina and Arato each cooked one dish in the kitchen—Erina at roughly Four-Star level, Arato close behind—so both were accepted.
With that, Erina and Arato officially moved into Polar Star Dormitory and became members of its ten.
Yuki immediately dragged them on a tour and explained that many of the dorm's facilities had been reclaimed during the Golden Age.
"Wait—Joichiro-senpai and the others won these facilities?" Erina asked in amazement.
"I need to think about something. Let's go back—we'll discuss it."
Back at the dorm, Erina gathered everyone.
"What do you want, Erina?" Alice asked, puzzled. Erina had been acting strangely lately and making unexpected moves.
"It's not huge," Erina said. "But I took a look at Polar Star's facilities. You expanded the kitchen and baths when you joined, but I think we should do a bigger renovation."
She explained her idea: build another building right next to Polar Star exclusively for culinary research. The current kitchen, though expanded, felt small when everyone crowded in.
She wanted a full research building—individual kitchens for members, upgraded facilities, fields converted into farms, even a small livestock area. There was plenty of space, and since the land belonged to the Nakiri family, why not use it?
The room fell silent. They'd seen rich people before, but never someone as free-spending as Erina.
"This is great. Of course I won't refuse!" Fumio said first. For the dorm, nothing but benefits could come from it.
As dorm mother, she'd lived here for decades—how could she deny such a boost?
"Since Mrs. Fumio approves, we don't object!" others chimed in. They'd all benefit—each would have a private kitchen once the building was done.
Erina's money move raised everyone's excitement.
"Fine, Hisako—handle the arrangements. Get someone here tomorrow to inspect and start construction as soon as possible," Erina ordered.
"Understood, Erina-sama!" Arato answered immediately.
She was used to this kind of task—Erina already owned six cooking buildings of her own, built on the sites of clubs she'd toppled.
"You really are something," Yuki marveled after everyone dispersed.
Alice had expanded the kitchen and bath when she moved in; now Erina was planning an entire new building. It was outrageous—but given money and influence, anything could happen.
With Japan's resources now behind them, construction would be quick. The dorm would have lasting new facilities.
The next morning, inspectors arrived and quickly produced specific plans. With the funds available, the dorm's residents saw firsthand how efficient things could be.
Erina didn't want to micromanage—she only wanted the building completed quickly and well.
As for Kael, nobody saw him after they returned—he said he needed to research something and stayed in his room.
The dorm residents were used to his habits; everyone knew he was preparing for a Midnight Shokugeki. It was obvious he was getting ready.