Chapter 24: Bet with Erina
Xia Yu was in the kitchen, washing dishes.
It was already the end of the day, and there weren't likely to be more customers. He figured it was better to clean up the mess now—four sets of bowls and chopsticks, four small plates, and one large stainless steel pot. The spicy aroma of Mapo Tofu still lingered in the kitchen air, clinging to the surfaces as he scrubbed.
Phew.
After rinsing and drying his hands, Xia Yu pulled his phone from his pocket. He was planning to call the old man—check if he'd boarded his flight, and also ask about the required store licenses.
Opening a restaurant wasn't as easy as hanging a sign and serving food. Back in his old world, the process in Japan—known as RB—required several documents: a Business Permit Application and a Food Sanitation Manager Certificate from the health center, plus paperwork from the tax office, fire department, and employment security bureau.
That was then. Now, the Gourmet Association had taken over many of those bureaucratic roles. With their license, everything else fell into place. But without it…
"Beep. Beep. Beep…"
The call didn't connect. No signal.
"Must've already boarded," Xia Yu muttered.
Just then, he sensed someone behind him. Turning around, he saw Erina Nakiri standing silently at the kitchen entrance, her expression unreadable.
"Well, well, Erina," he said with a teasing smile. "When did you learn to walk without a sound? Not full yet?"
To his surprise, 'God's Tongue' didn't flare up at the provocation. Her violet eyes remained calm, almost serious.
"How did you cook that glowing dish?" she asked bluntly.
"With my hands."
"…"
Erina inhaled deeply, clearly restraining herself. "I meant the principle. Why did it glow?"
"Principle?" Xia Yu tapped his chin, pretending to ponder. Then he shrugged. "No idea."
"What do you mean, 'no idea'?!" Erina snapped.
"I mean, you wouldn't understand even if I explained," he said, smirking.
The truth was, there wasn't really a "principle" behind the glowing dish. In the legendary world of Chinese Cooking Master Boy, the glow of a dish symbolized its transcendence—a true chef's pinnacle.
Applying that concept to this world, it became a near-mythical standard.
Even the prototype Mapo Tofu—rated only 70—was enough to make the Director's clothes burst and draw praise from him. But today's glowing version scored above 90, powerful enough to silence even the Divine Tongue.
In other words, a dish scoring just 60 in his cooking system would already outclass most Totsuki High students. A dish above 90? That could defeat any member of the current Elite Ten in a formal competition.
Of course, the topic today was Chinese cuisine, specifically tofu. It played to Xia Yu's strengths. If the challenge had been Western or Japanese food, he'd be lost.
When it came to other cuisines, his skill level was nowhere near the top—barely comparable to an average Totsuki student.
"You're saying I can't do it?" Erina's eyes narrowed.
This time, she was truly angry. Her teeth clenched as she glared at him. "As long as it's food, there's nothing I can't recreate with my Divine Tongue!"
"…You really are stubborn."
Xia Yu rolled his eyes. Explaining it would just lead to more arguments. The 'glow' wasn't something that could be broken down into logic or science. It came from inspiration, passion, and maybe a bit of cooking magic.
So, he didn't bother. He sidestepped her and walked out to the storefront—only to come face to face with a very alert Arato Hisako.
"Yo, Secretary-kun!"
"Who are you?" Hisako's voice was stiff. "Where is Lady Erina—"
"This is my shop." Xia Yu casually pointed at the floor beneath his feet.
"Ah…"
Just then, Hisako noticed Erina walking out of the kitchen. She immediately bowed.
"Thank you for looking after Lady Erina."
As her personal secretary, Hisako knew how rare it was for the Divine Tongue to visit any restaurant, let alone stay so long. That alone proved this little shop wasn't ordinary.
In truth, Hisako was far more perceptive than her master.
"Yep, I took care of her. Now take her home, would you?" Xia Yu waved toward Erina, who was staring at him with a complex expression. "She's a handful. Thanks in advance."
Hisako blinked at the tone he used.
Secretary? she thought. What kind of nickname is that…
"Hurry up and leave. I'm not even charging you." Xia Yu waved dismissively and turned his attention to the two Chinese girls, chatting with them easily. Only when talking to ordinary, grounded people did this world feel real.
"Lady Erina…" Hisako looked at her mistress for instructions.
"Let's go."
Erina bit her lip and began walking to the door—but stopped just before stepping out.
"You should come to Totsuki," she said without looking back.
"Totsuki? I've already told you—I'm not interested in school. I want to run a real restaurant."
"You're wasting your talent!" she snapped.
"Wasting?" Xia Yu tilted his head. "A chef's value is in making customers happy, serving dishes that earn praise. That's what I want. That's what I live for."
Then, as if struck by an idea, his eyes gleamed.
"How about we make a bet, Erina?"
"…A bet?"
"If this place isn't packed with customers every night from 6 p.m. to midnight before the school term starts in April, I lose. I'll shut down the shop and enroll in Totsuki. I'll even join your team willingly."
"Oh?" Erina's violet eyes lit up with intrigue. "Are you serious?"
"Of course."
"But a bet goes both ways," Xia Yu added with a grin. "If you lose, you'll work here as a kitchen assistant for one year. Sound fair?"
"A kitchen assistant?! No, Lady Erina, you can't accept such a ridiculous—" Hisako tried to intervene, but was ignored.
Erina stared at Xia Yu's confident smile—one that reminded Hisako of a mischievous fox.
"Erina," Xia Yu continued, "if I lose, I'll spend the rest of high school at Totsuki. That's a huge commitment. You, on the other hand, will just be a helper here for one year. Honestly, I'm the one taking the bigger risk."
"…Fine. I accept."
Erina declared boldly, "I don't believe some no-name shop in a forgotten alley can attract that many customers in just over two weeks."
She paused, then added with a hint of contempt, "You're overconfident. Cooking skills alone aren't enough to run a restaurant."
Xia Yu just smiled.