Kaito was sitting in his new, spacious, and well-lit "Chief Rehabilitation Therapist's Office", enjoying that fleeting, cursed calm before the storm.
The office was fantastic, with leather sofas, a solid wood desk, and even a special refrigerator for cooling medications.
But what good was it?
It would only become a larger and more luxurious battlefield.
Just as he was thinking this, with a loud "BANG!" the heavy solid wood door flew open with a strong and rude push.
Gold City came running in with a tray covered by a silver dome.
She lifted the lid quickly, revealing a sizzling and fragrant piece of premium A5 Kobe beef, which appeared before Kaito amidst rising steam.
"Hey, you bastard! Replenish your energy before training! Eat fast!"
Her tone was brief and authoritative.
However, before she could finish speaking...
"Heh, heh, only knowing how to complement proteins rudimentarily is a purely barbarian idea"
TM Opera O entered serenely, with an elegant and feline stride, carrying an even more exquisite tray covered with a golden dome.
She placed the tray carefully on the desk and lifted the lid, revealing several French snails that gave off a rich aroma of butter and garlic.
"For the protagonist's lunch, artistic taste and style are much more important than mere calories"
Immediately after, the office door opened with a "clack-clack", and Agnes Tachyon entered with her characteristic experimental cart.
On the cart was a row of "complete nutritional liquid food" stored in test tubes, whose colors ranged from red, orange, yellow, and green to cyan, blue, and purple.
"According to my calculations, your junk food will only increase free radicals and metabolic toxins in his body"
She adjusted her glasses and looked at the previous two with a gaze reserved for primitives.
"Only my 'Type VII Perfect Nutritional Solution' is the most responsible and optimal solution for his body"
Finally, a small and quiet figure entered silently through the open door.
It was Manhattan Cafe
She did not speak, but silently and obstinately placed a bowl of simple white congee, still steaming and clearly having been simmered for a long time, gently in front of Kaito
Four portions of "love", four pairs of eyes, once again surrounded Kaito
The air in the office instantly became thick and dangerous.
Kaito's crisis intuition and newly acquired Serene Heart activated simultaneously; one screamed a warning, while the other forcibly calmed him.
He took a deep breath, stood up slowly, picked up a clipboard and a pen from the desk, cleared his throat, and instantly switched to "Chief Rehabilitation Therapist" work mode.
"Very well"
His voice was calm and professional.
"Since everyone has brought lunch, it is the perfect opportunity for me, as Chief of Rehabilitation Therapy, to review your recent nutritional status; this is crucial for your return to racing"
Saying this, he took a small piece of Gold City's steak and tasted it carefully.
"Mmm... the protein is excellent and the cooking temperature is perfect. However"
He changed his tone.
"It is a bit greasy and has a high fat content; it can be consumed in small amounts to replenish energy after training, but it is not recommended before a race"
Gold City pouted, unable to refute him.
Then he took a small fork and elegantly pricked one of TM Opera O's snails.
"The flavor is magnificent; the ratio of garlic and butter is practically perfect"
He praised, and then shook his head.
"Unfortunately, the calorie count is too high and the seasoning is too complex, which can easily cause unnecessary physiological excitement; it is not suitable for pre-race adjustments that require absolute calm"
TM Opera O's smile froze for a moment.
Then, without expression, he took a green nutritional solution tube that looked like strong acid and took a small sip.
"..."
He remained silent for three seconds, struggling to control the urge to vomit.
"The ingredients... are actually very well-balanced, but this flavor... Agnes Tachyon, I believe that overly stimulating flavors can also cause irreversible negative effects on the subject... no, on the athlete's appetite and psychological state; it needs to improve"
Agnes Tachyon frowned while quickly taking notes on her pad.
"Flavor... negative psychological impact... noted"
Finally, Kaito took the most modest bowl of simple congee and took a large bite.
The rice grains were soft and sticky, the temperature was perfect, and a warm current slid down his esophagus to his stomach.
He looked up, met Manhattan Cafe's expectant gaze, and smiled kindly.
"Soft, soothing for the stomach, and completely non-irritating; it is perfect for gastrointestinal conditioning during the recovery phase. Very well, Manhattan Cafe, you did an excellent job"
Under the guise of "work", he perfectly tasted and reviewed each portion of "love", astutely achieving impartiality while secretly praising the best-behaved one.
Although the four of them were a bit dissatisfied, they found no reason to object.
Everything he said was pure nonsense—professional and correct.
For a moment, they could only engage in fierce combat using their eyes in the air.
After resolving the lunch crisis, Kaito felt as if he had won a world war.
He took his jacket and prepared to head to the training field to begin his real "work" of the day: finding the first target on his list, Rice Shower
He opened the office door.
In that instant, he saw an unusually thin and small figure wearing a Tracen uniform dash past at the end of the long hallway and disappear around the corner.
Around that figure, there seemed to be... a visible and sinister black aura swirling.
...
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