Chapter 114: Moon Festival

Everybody is busy setting up stalls and ordering the things they need for the festival. Totsuki would be paying for whatever they want to buy, but those who incur losses will be expelled.

"Hey, Nikumi, the Nakiris. What are you going to set up?" Ramiel was letting them try his food. His menu consisted of french onion soup and salmon en papillote.

"Well, it's really troublesome to hand out the paperwork for it. Can you do it for me and get me a nice place?" Alice gave him a sweet smile.

"No. How about you Erina?" Ramiel quickly denied her and she puffed her cheeks. Whining and complaining that he doesn't care about her. But he ignored her and addressed Erina.

"Um, I'm going to set up a restaurant in the upper area. It's a reservation only one, so tell me if you want to come okay?" She fidgeted, but she already had the best table that was beside a window ready.

"Ramiel-san, Erina-sama already prepared a suitable tab-" Hisako was about to blurt out her boss's cute plans earlier. Fussing about a table and the perfect place to dine. But Erina shut her up.

"Our donburi RS grew really well, a lot of the junior high students have been giving their application letters for the club. So I will be taking care of them. Our president always hides behind me after all." Ikumi sighed, remembering that she had to have a shokugeki for the spot they were in. And their president sicced her on their challenger.

"Heh? I guess I'll need to check if you've been improving yeah? All of you, you're pretty enthusiastic when I teach you after all." He patted their heads and they purred like a cat.

"Thank you very much, Ramiel-san." Hisako bowed at her after the others left. Because he gave Hisako a day off at the Stagiaire and let her go to Erina when she was shaken by her mother's sudden appearance.

They made up because of it because Hisako thought that losing was unacceptable and she distanced herself from her friend.

"Don't worry, you made new friends too right? You're pretty chummy with Soma now as well, did your passion bloom while you were in the kitchen?" He wiggled his eyebrows and she looked like she was disgusted.

"Ramiel-san... Please don't joke about that. He was a pain in the ass, especially on the first day. We had to prepare a blue marlin as an entree because of him!" She started breathing heavily, remembering the Stagiaire that gave her nightmares for weeks.

"Okay, sorry. Didn't think you'd be so opposed to the idea. But you did make a friend yeah?" He teased her and she blushed. "Don't treat me like a child, Ramiel-san." She immediately ran away and followed Erina.

"Hah, high school girls are pretty emotional." He started cleaning up and had his head up in the clouds. Thinking about the time when Esdeath explicitly desired to be a bodyguard for their restaurants for the festival.

And it would be a pretty bad idea. He can already imagine that she will beat someone up black and blue.

He then heard a gasp. "Oh shit." Ramiel got a bit too lax, he was cleaning with his powers and Alice who is absolutely chaotic and unpredictable returned while he was distracted.

"Y-you have magic! Oh my go-" He shut her up immediately and put a hand on her mouth. "Shhh, don't make me erase your memories." Ramiel sighed and Alice started licking his hand.

He deadpanned at her and pinched her sides. "What the hell are you doing, licking my palm like that?"

"Hehehe~ you can't shut me up Ramiel. But you have powers... Really?" She looked at him all around like he was some kind of alien life form.

"Yeah, I have powers. Wanna see something cool?" He created some sculptures of ice in the air. Swallows and other little critters, making them fly.

"Woah, so cool... Wait, are you some kind of wizard or something?" She squinted her eyes at him and was really curious.

"Wizard? I'd have you know, I'm only 27 years old. And I have sex often." He huffed at her and she was stumped. "What, you're 27?" She was shocked.

He transformed back to his adult form and smiled at her. "Yeah, that's why you need to be a bit more older for me." Ramiel tickled her ears and she froze.

"Kyaaah! Oh my god! You look so much better when you're older! Can I have your babies, please!? Imagine our little kids!" She squealed and he sighed, returning back.

"I already told you, not until you graduate young lady. Run along now, process your stall." He shooed her off and she clung to him.

"But I was going to ask you to help me. It's really boring." She whined again and he rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine." They went to the committee to send in her papers for the spot she wants, but it was already expired.

"Heh, seems like you won't be participating." Ramiel snickered at her and she stomped on the ground. Having a tantrum. "Mou, are you even on my side? Why are you making fun of me." Alice huffed and she suddenly stopped.

She called Erina and started pestering her to give her a stall. They met up with her and Erina looks like she was done with her crap.

"Alice, this is your fault. Even with my power as a member of the elite 10. I can't give you a spot in the festival, that's illegal." Erina sighed at her antics.

"Erina, I'm your cousin! Is this how little you love me? Then fine, I can just get a nice spot with a shokugeki right?" She smirked and Erina thought she just thinks it's troublesome to do it on her own.

"Ramiel has that authority you know? Their group practically have supreme power in Totsuki you know?" Erina threw him under the bus and Ramiel gasped.

"I can't believe it... Shame on you Erina, she didn't have to know that." Ramiel squinted his eyes and Erina felt bad.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? Ramiel, come on~ let's get a nice spot for the festival." She hugged his arm and Erina gritted her teeth, seeing her cousin rub her boobs on him.

"No! That might be in his power, but you need to have accountability, Alice." Erina pulled on him too and they were arguing while having a tug of war with him as the rope.

"Hah, it's too hard being popular." Ramiel sighed wistfully. "How about we just partner up with a friend of ours?" Ramiel suggested and Alice had an idea, remembering that Ryo always hung out at a certain research society after the autumn election.

"Hmm, that's a great idea." She immediately ran off with him to the place and Erina huffed. "That damned Alice, rubbing herself on Ramiel."

Hisako watched at the side and felt a bit bad for him. Being sandwiched between the Nakiris who are a bit troublesome.

"Listen, we need to convince Shiomi-senpai okay?" Alice cleared her throat and already has a nice speech for her acceptance. And they were in the spice RS to convince Hayama's guardian to make them share his spot.

"What a scheming girl you are. You know that Hayama will fume with this right? And I love it." He cackled, thinking how Hayama will adapt with Alice in his team.

They knocked at Jun's door and she got nervous immediately. "Awawawawa, the azure dragon is here with Alice Nakiri. I... I'll get you some tea." She trembled in nervousness.

"Sit down Jun, you don't have to be that nervous. I gave you some capital, but that doesn't mean I'm your boss or something." Ramiel patted her head.

He invested in their research so that Jun can grow and propagate spices more easily all over the world. It was a worthwhile little project in his mind.

"O-okay, but what does she want?" Jun pointed at Alice who had a smile on her face. "Shiomi-senpai, you see. I had some problems in getting a spot for the moon festival." Alice acted distraught and Ramiel thought she would be a good evil woman that manipulates people.

"This moon festival will only come once in my life as a freshman. And I wanted to ask for your permission to be in Hayama's team. You see, I really wanted to honor our alumnae's brilliance. You even had Ramiel's investment for spices." Alice hit her in the feels.

"H-Hayama has friends, and wanting to honor your alumnae huh?" Jun had stars in her eyes and Ramiel shook his head. She was already done, completely in her palms.

"Yes, so please sign here. I would really appreciate it, we'll enjoy our school life with Hayama." Alice gave a pleasant smile.

"Damn, you're already a great politician." He thought she'd be a good one.

"Okay! Hayama-kun, don't worry. Enjoy your youth with your friends!" Jun signed immediately and Alice smirked.

"Thank you Shiomi-senpai! This means a lot to me." Alice thanked her and skipped towards the exit.

"See, I already have a spot now." She smiled. "Then tell Hayama, I'd guess it would be a shock for him." Ramiel smirked and thought it will be quite amusing.

"Huh? What are you doing here? Nakiri?" Hayama was suspicious and she gave him the paper where Jun signed.

"Let's work together yeah? It'll be quite the fun festival." She smiled at him and Hayama started sweating.

"Come on, let's prepare for our stall and ingredients!" She started pulling him and Ramiel waved goodbye. "Good luck, you'll need it." He smirked at Hayama and he couldn't do anything.

"That Alice, she's such a handful." Erina appeared beside him and sighed at her cousin's antics. "Don't worry, she'll grow up. Maybe something like Leonora." He nodded sagely.

"Ramiel... You're imagining my aunt again... And did you really do something to my mother? She always mumbles and says that you violated her." She squinted her eyes and he shrugged.

"I haven't showed you what I did yet have I? Here, have a look." Ramiel whipped out his phone and Erina blushed immediately.

"Y-you spanked my mother!?" She was shocked and Mana looked like she enjoyed it a couple of times. "Yeah, but your mom is kinkier than I thought. She started getting into it halfway." He sighed.

"I... I didn't need to know that!" Erina shouted out in agony. Wanting to forget everything and bleach her eyes.

"E-Erina-sama... That was, explicit yeah." Hisako was shocked as well and thought she saw something that shouldn't be seen.

"Yo, Nakiri. You look free, can you test my Mapo tofu and dish for my stall?" Soma was with Megumi and they decided to team up for the moon festival.

"Look, Yukihira. Erina-sama is very busy, you have to make it quick." Hisako reminded him. "Hisako agreed? That's odd." Erina squinted her eyes at her and raised a brow.

"He's her new friend, they bonded in the Stagiaire. Ahhh, youth. Making friends and enjoying school life." Ramiel smiled and Hisako got embarrassed.

"N-no he is not!" She denied vehemently. "Come on then Yukihira. I'll have you know, people pay me tons of money to taste their dishes. You ungrateful cretin." Erina pointed at Soma.

"Ahhh, thanks for tasting then. Tadokoro, do you have any money? I only have 5000 yen on my bank account right now." Soma looked at Megumi for some payment shamelessly.

"M-my allowance is about the same..." Megumi was ashamed as she ordered Angel eats too much. Ramiel's delivery service for Babel.

"Hah, I didn't say to pay up. It was a statement, you simpleton. Come on, let's taste test your low class dishes." Erina huffed and they went to the kitchen.

Soma served some Mapo tofu and some black pepper meat buns that he created with the help of Ikumi.

"Order up, Yukihira style Mapo tofu." Soma gave them his food and they started tasting. "This is good, but your Mapo tofu lacks the spiciness and numbness that balances Sichuan cuisine. This will be a losing battle if you serve this." Erina gave her conclusion.

"Ohh, your black pepper buns are pretty nice though. Can be served to the masses. This will be good in convenience stores." Ramiel gave a thumbs up.

"Soma-kun... I don't know if he's insulting you or praising you." Megumi gave a wry smile. "That's high praise coming from him, if he will buy it in a convenience store." Hisako commented and Megumi thought that was true.

"Numbness and spiciness huh... I guess this won't do after all, but we won't give up. Isn't that right, Tadokoro!?" Soma was in high spirits.

"Don't get your hopes up, Yukihira. Ramiel over here is opening up an 8 partitioned restaurant in the central area. You and Kuga-senpai will be overshadowed by a shadow so big, it isn't even funny." Erina scoffed.

"I... I forgot about that." Soma thought of how to steal customers from Kuga instead. Because they will be having a fierce battle to get customers.

"Don't be too upset, we'll just be serving about 3000 people. Give you guys a chance, our sales will still be number 1. Because we will serve 3 classes of cuisine. The cheap, the affordable, and the ridiculously expensive fine dining ones." Ramiel shrugged.

"Ahhh, the ones that cost at least 5000 yen?" Megumi remembered the pricings in the upper area.

"Yeah, among that range. The most cheap one for the gourmet ones would be about 250$. More or less 35000 yen." He nodded, Megumi and Soma winced at the price. Because that's definitely higher than their allowances.

"T-that's ridiculously cheap for your food. Gourmets will still buy it like hotcakes if it was 1000$." Erina was surprised.

"Yeah, but we don't really need money. It's all about spreading good experiences and food at a cost that even normal families can buy if they want to taste it. That's our motto, good food for affordable prices." He shrugged.

"Sounds like a slogan of a fast food restaurant. Not an international restaurant that can deny reservations from even the most powerful of people." Megumi mumbled.

"Okay, see you guys tomorrow yeah? Remember, enjoy the week. It's a festival you know?" Ramiel left because he has to brief Esdeath especially well about what to do and not to do.

__

The next morning, an announcement was made and people started swarming the gates. They went a beeline to the central area to get some of the limited edition deluxe cuisine of Babel.

Even though they are classified as semi fine dining restaurants. Ramiel refuses to serve dishes that are over the top and extremely expensive. So everyone can have a taste of their cuisine.

And it was announced all over the world that they were serving 3000 portions of the best quality ingredients they can use.

Choppers were even inbound to cut through the line and arrive first at their restaurant. It was like a stampede.

"They're too damned powerful, what's with that PR? Everyone is ignoring the main avenue to get to the central area as fast as they could." Ikumi sighed and saw the stream of people fighting to get first.

"Hmph, that Ramiel. Announcing that kind of thing, isn't it cheating?" Alice complained to Ryo and Hayama.

"That doesn't matter, he practically saved our assess too. You ordered a dozen crates of turmeric!" Hayama was annoyed to hell.

"We only have 2 tomatoes." Ryo had two tomatoes in his hand and was used to having these kinds of mishaps with his mistress.

"I thought you were the one that approved the ingredients! And where's the outlet for my centrifuge?" Alice was carefree.

"I'm gonna have a stroke." Hayama face palmed and Ryo patted him on the back. "This is your new reality now for one week."

Soma was in his dingy cart with Megumi and stared at the restaurants of Ramiel nearby with Kuga. Everyone ignored them and it was too sad of a sight.

Especially Kuga's Chinese themed restaurant that he made his Chinese cuisine RS slave away to make.

"I think setting up in the central avenue is a big mistake." Kuga trembled. He had a promise with the 1st seat that they will have a shokugeki if he had the highest earnings for the whole moon festival.

"That's right! Look at their amazing crowd, it's like a concert." Soma boasted because they were his friends.

"Don't be proud! We won't sell anything at this rate you dumbass!" Kuga shouted at him and Megumi nodded at Soma with a wry smile.

"Ohhhh? Kuga-chan, Soma-chan. Your stalls are deserted aren't they?" Rindou appeared and snickered at them, holding some gelato and a calzone from Samus' restaurant.

"Rindou-senpai... How did you get a hold of that?" Megumi was surprised. "Ohh, I asked Ramiel and his friends nicely to give me some. Aren't I quite charismatic?" She boasted and they were green with envy.

Rindou saw them looking like a parched man in a desert. But she ignored the boys and gave some of her gelato to Megumi. "Have some, Megumi-chan."

"Hngh! I... I'm melting!" Megumi wriggled around and the two boys stared at Rindou. "What? Get your own, I'm not sharing." She hugged her food defensively.

"L-let's go! Kuga-senpai." Soma was fired up and they went in the restaurant to have a friendship bias.

"Bwahahaha! They refused? Kyahahah!" Rindou laughed her ass off as the two returned, defeated. "The bubbly brunette with green eyes asked us if we were pretty girls. If not, then we can eat dirt outside." Kuga was outraged.

"Aerith huh? She looks sweet that one. But she has a poisonous and sharp tongue." Rindou could imagine her smile at them and look at them like they were dirt.

Everyone else in the festival had to wait until the afternoon before customers started getting into their restaurants.

And Soma's stall wasn't looking good at all, people went into Kuga's place. Enticed by the Mapo tofu and the authentic Sichuan cuisine.

"W-what are we going to do Soma-kun. We barely sold any at all." Megumi was anxious. Seeing the stacks of bills on the table at Kuga's store front.

"Yeah, I didn't know it would be this bad~" Soma didn't show his nervousness and played it off. Observing the weaknesses of their stall.

They were called in by Erina after the day ended and she was fuming. "What in the world are you doing!? You three are finalists in the autumn selection! While you two are participants in the main competition. But your sales are at the bottom of the barrel! You're disgracing Totsuki!" Erina chided them.

"I-I'm sorry." Megumi looked like she was gonna cry. "Ahhh, it wasn't addressed to you Tadokoro." Erina felt bad.

"Hmph, it's all because Hayama didn't check the ingredients we were buying." Alice huffed. "Ojou, I believe you said that was your job." Ryo countered and she immediately pinched him on the side.

"Kurokiba, what the hell is wrong with your mistress? You gotta keep in her control! She created some naan flavored candy... Why the hell would people eat that with curry?" Hayama was losing his mind.

"Well, it did taste like naan though." Ryo retorted and Hayama was about to get a seizure from stress.

"And you! Yukihira Soma, you even roped me in to taste testing your dish. But you were at the bottom of sales!" Erina pointed at him.

"Well, nothing I can do about it. Want some buns? It's dinner time right now." He offered them some and everyone took one except Erina.

"Don't take everything too seriously Erina, you'll blow a fuse." Alexandra commented as she chewed her meat bun.

"Yeah, the guy's flaky as hell. But he'll do just fine, he has friends he can rely on." Aerith insulted him. "Hey! You're having a free meat bun from me you know!? At least say something nice."

"Well, to be honest. You do look flaky man, your friends are too good to you to be honest. You'd be expelled already from here without them, treat them well." Zack asked for another meat bun.

"Yeah, especially Nikumi and Megumi. And you do nothing but improve with their help. What did you give them? Megumi, a little confidence. Otherwise, nothing." Lulu chose violence and Soma realized it was true.

"A useless man huh? Why are you people friends with him?" Esdeath who was finished with guard duties without any particular trouble pressed the attack.

"Okay, okay. Let's calm down for a second, he inspires them I guess? Anyways, you gotta pick up the pace Soma. Megumi will go down with you if you don't do something." Ramiel advised him.

"That's right! Listen Yukihira! I will be the one taking you down, you hear me! Ahh, Isami! Wait a minute!" Takumi was pulled by his brother to have a meeting for the next day.

"Ryo-kun, Hayama. Let's go, we need to come up with a plan!" Alice pulled her teammates with her. "Seriously, you guys. You have to give face to Totsuki." Erina sighed.

"Ohhh, you're 2nd place in the upper area right? Good job Erina, you would be 1st if you accepted walk ins too. But it is a good choice to serve quality dishes." Ramiel patted her head and she giggled.

"A-ahem. Thank you very much for your praise." She went back in character and left with Hisako. "Remember Soma, your friends are your greatest strength. You'd be nothing without them." Ramiel gave him one last message and they left as well.

"They do a lot for me, I know that now." He sighed and squinted his eyes. "Tadokoro, I think I know what we're going to do tomorrow." He thought up of a new dish for their menu.

"That's right Soma-kun, don't give up." Megumi cheered for him and they started making a lighter dish. Because people would have been either from Ramiel's restaurant or Kuga's.

__

At the next day, Kuga noticed that in Soma's cart, they were serving some taiwanese noodles. Danzai, noodles. Using the meat filling for the buns as a topping.

"Heh? Yukihira-chi, no matter what you do. You won't surpass our Sichuan cuisine with that you know?" Kuga smirked, but he looked at the sales and they were catching up. Already at the halfway point. Not noticing the flaws of his restaurant.

Meanwhile, Ramiel was roaming around. Trying all kinds of food from the stalls everywhere. "Guess, who?" Someone jumped on him, but she couldn't reach his eyes due to how tall he is.

"Rindou-chan? What's up, not having a stall?" He pinched her cheeks for being a little mischievous. "Tche, you're too damned tall. What the hell, I can't reach your eyes goddammit. And yeah, eating is also participating in the festivities right?"

"That's true, how about we roam around yeah?" He took her hand and he sprinted to Ikumi's stall. "Two premium donburis Nikumi." He paid and Rindou waved at her.

"Geh, Ramiel..." Ikumi glared at Rindou and saw they were holding hands. "At your break later, how about we have some of Samus' gelato yeah?" He diffused the tension and her eyes sparkled.

"R-really!? Samus' gelato, Yuna and Aerith's desserts are the most coveted dishes by girls in your restaurant!" Ikumi got excited and Rindou smirked.

"Hmm, yeah. It was really delicious. Ramiel made the exception for me and made me taste it in the first day, can I have some more later again?" Rindou smiled and Ikumi growled.

"Sure, but you'll have to pay. Get one yourself later." He dodged and weaved through her trap and Rindou clicked her tongue.

Ikumi served them their premium rice bowls and she slammed Rindou's on the table. "Enjoy." She huffed and smiled at Ramiel.

"You damned philanderer. How many girls do you have on your palm eh?" She wiggled her eyebrows and he started counting, shocking her.

"If I counted right, then they're 11. There's another one too, but she's got some issues with her daughter right now and I gotta let them have some time with each other." He shrugged.

"W-what... The fuck!?" Rindou didn't expect he'd answer seriously. And someone's mother was included too.

"Y-you're joking right?" Rindou couldn't believe it. "No, not really. Though of course I'm more intimate with others. Like Samus, Lulu, and Tifa." He omitted Alexandra because her brain might get fried.

"Damn, you giving them some love potions or something?" Rindou tried teasing him. "I inject them with love, right from here." He pointed downwards between his legs and Rindou laughed.

"Can I see it? It must be amazing, it will be a worthy sword for me to see for the first time realtime." She grinned at him.

"You think I'm that easy? Buy me dinner first at least." He huffed at her and she laughed.

They roamed around all over the place and we're having some takoyakis on a bench for their last one.

"Hey, what do you think of Totsuki? You're basically the god of cooking in the world. I want to know what's your view on it." Rindou was curious.

"I'd say it's a good school, it's fun. And it has excitement with all the challenges." He popped a hotateyaki in her mouth, in exchange for her takoyaki.

"Hmmm, it is. But don't you think it gets a little bit stale? I want to explore more, food all around the globe. Unexplored ones, lost cuisine, new innovations." Rindou talked about her desires animatedly.

"You really love food, huh Rindou?" He chuckled and patted her head. "Well yeah, it's so exciting. That's why I really like your restaurant. It doesn't just serve the mainstream french or Japanese cuisine." She smiled at him.

"Then how about you taste this, it's something that only you will taste in this world besides my family." He gave her a dragon steak, full of Mako from Gaia.

"What is this? It looks really different from a normal steak." Rindou examined it and he just urged her to try it.

"W-what the hell is this? It's so... Soft and meaty, its juices coat my palate, ahn!" Rindou flushed immediately and he chuckled.

"Delicious right? Can you believe that thing doesn't even have a pinch of salt on it? Try it with some flaky salt." He took out some salt and she tried it again.

"T-this is impossible. Even A-5 beef doesn't have this much flavor. And it has a better mouthfeel, having a bit of a chew to it still. But it's so soft like it was boiled for days." Rindou wolfed it down and she almost choked.

"Calm down, impressive right? Well, that's really special. And it will never be served here. Because it's not from here." He winked and she was dying of curiosity.

"Maybe if you buy me some dinner, you'll know. But it's a secret for now." He laughed and patted her head, he then left and went to fetch Ikumi to make her try some of their food.

"Bastard, leaving me hanging like that... What was that?" Rindou ruffled her hair in frustration, trying to understand just what it was.

__

A few more days pass and Soma capitalized in his connections. He asked help from the shopping district of his diner.

They saw the weakness of the long lines of Kuga's restaurant and the wait times. Setting up a lot of tables in front of their stall.

And Megumi also sought help from her research society. The regional cooking club. Soma got a cooking partner to make his own version of Mapo tofu as well.

His Mapo tofu was combined with noodles and a lighter broth from the taiwanese noodles. And it had a meatball filled with curry. Using the filling of his Hujiao bing meat buns for it.

Mimasaka Subaru accepted his request for help, and there were like two of them that kept up with the orders.

Megumi was in charge of the buns and customer service. But they were quickly getting overwhelmed.

Soma was about to help Megumi and leave it to Subaru, but he heard someone from behind. "You idiot, Yukihira. You didn't learn a thing from Ramiel, he told you to rely on your friends right?" Ikumi sighed and she manned the buns while Megumi served customers.

"Heh, Yukihira. It seems that you are in a pinch, I will give you some help." Takumi appeared, but his brother already started boiling noodles. "I'll handle the noodles."

Takumi had no choice but to keep his theatrics for later. "Nice skills, Mimasaka Subaru." Takumi gave a small smile at Subaru who defeated him and took their mezzaluna.

"Less talking, more cooking Aldini. Don't underestimate my perfect tracing." Subaru smiled at him and they made up just like men who slugged each other earlier and was now chill.

"You guys, thank you!" Soma focused on the Mapo tofu and their meatballs. And when the day ended, they were ranked 9th. Just after Ramiel's group, defeating Kuga who was 10th.

"Kuga! You got defeated, it's all because you keep on holing up in your little child sized chair there." Rindou appeared and teased him.

"Shut up! Shut up I say!" Kuga growled and couldn't retort to her. "He's losing badly to Rindou-senpai." Soma was surprised because he was always taunting them to close down earlier.

"Good work everyone." Soma smiled and they finished the day. "But Soma-chan, you're still behind Kuga you know. Can you catch up?" Rindou asked.

"Ahh, I was hoping to match our sales today and surpass him in the next ones." Soma had a simple plan in his mind.

"Hmm, that won't work... You're too behind from the first day~" Rindou checked their sales. "Well, there's still time senpai. Don't count us out yet." Soma grinned.

"Ohhh, good job everyone. Nikumi, I'll give you a special reward later for being such a good friend. You too Megumi." Ramiel patted their heads.

"W-what is it?" Ikumi was excited and Megumi was curious. "I'll give Nikumi a massage, while Megumi can try out our foods for free, here's a coupon." He gave Megumi a coupon and she cheered.

"A m-massage?" She blushed immediately. "Yeah, you can ask Samus, Tifa, or Aerith about it. I give really good massages you know? It will make you energized, we used to do it all the time after some training." He explained.

"O-ohh. Okay, please take care of me then." Ikumi bowed and they enjoyed their victory for now.

At the last day, Soma and Megumi were invited by Rindou to test the 1st seat's dishes. Because Ramiel was missing, she opted to invite them instead.

Meanwhile, he entered Erina's restaurant. Smiling and waving at the other guests like a celebrity. "Erina-sama, Ramiel-san is here." Hisako informed her and she panicked.

Hisako sighed and guided him to his table. "Come on Erina-sama, greet him. You left the best table for him for days you know?"

Erina went up to him and Ramiel nodded at her. "Nice ambiance you have here, Erina. I hope you've improved yeah?"

"Y-yes, of course. I thought you weren't coming..." She twiddled her thumbs and was getting really worried for a second.

"Well, I came. I promised didn't I? Now let's have your dishes." He smiled and Erina started cooking immediately.

She served it to him herself and watched him try it. But before he could get a bite in, someone entered the place.

"I'm sorry, sir. But this is a reservation only... Restaurant." Hisako frowned immediately upon seeing the person who entered.

'Erina-sama's father!? I've only seen him once in the library's elite 10. But he was exiled from the Nakiri clan.' She looked at Erina and she was having a panic attack.

"Erina, your dishes shouldn't be served to such lowlifes. Or else, you will be degrading yourself to their level." The man haughtily commented.

"Hey, brat. Do you know who we are? Is that why you're commenting like that. What do you want? No way, you're exiled from Totsuki!" An affiliated judge for Totsuki was surprised.

"Yes, I am Azami Nakiri. Erina's father." He smirked and Erina was having some PTSD.

"Fine art has class and taste. Something that those who are educated can only comprehend. Just like gourmet food, anything else is only animal feed. So why are you serving these peasants, Erina?" Azami questioned.

"Ahhh, damn. And I was about to have a nice meal over here. A prick suddenly arrives and starts whining like a little bitch." Ramiel sighed.

"Hmmm? Who are you?" Azami ignored his comment, but he raised a brow. Ramiel stood up and went up to him. His towering height of 7 feet made Azami crane his neck upwards.

"Me? If you claim to be educated in gourmet. Then you should kneel before me, why? Because in the words of someone I know. I'm basically the god of cooking in the whole wide world." Ramiel smirked and looked down at him.

Azami frowned and he had no idea who he was at the moment. Ignorant about who the owner of Babel is.

"Hmph, if you're the god of cooking. Then I'm the one who blessed you with knowledge." Azami smirked.

"What an ignorant retard you are. Azami Nakiri, I know all about you. What are your achievements, huh? What did you change in the world? I gave good food to everyone in the globe through my company. Angel's tears. My influence in the culinary world is second to none. As the master of Babel." Ramiel pointed at his forehead.

"You? What did you achieve except get some support from wealthy snobs? When those people beg to eat my food? They're like peasants that want the king's graces. Begging to have a reservation, but we ignore them. I have 297 Michelin stars on my belt. With another 300 on the way with my sister's own tower. You are nothing but dirt under my boots. It's not even comparable." He scoffed.

"R-Ramiel... Please, that's enough." Erina was too traumatized and Ramiel sighed as he made a call. "Mana, come here." He simply ordered.

"By the way, your wife. Or should I say ex-wife? Is really sensitive. She really enjoyed our time together. Isn't that right, Erina?" He smirked at him and Azami froze.

Ramiel then returned to his table and started eating Erina's dish. After a few minutes, Mana entered her booth and was surprised to see Azami.

"You bastard! What did you do to Erina huh!?" Mana immediately went up to him and slapped the hell out of him.

"M-Mana. Is it true? You were with him?" Azami asked, hoping it wasn't true. "What? Ramiel, did you tell him that!?" Mana blushed and was embarrassed.

Azami went wide eyed and he ran away from the booth. "What? I just told him you enjoyed your time with me. And you're really sensitive, tell me Hisako? Did I lie?"

"N-no, that's exactly what he said." Hisako gave a wry smile and there was a weird vibe in the place now.

"I'll remember this Ramiel. I swear, you violate my mouth and... And butt, then you even tell others! Erina, are you okay?" She went up to Erina and was worried if she was fine.

"M-mother, your phrasing... It doesn't really help your situation." Erina pointed out and Ramiel sighed at her. "I already told you Mana, should you really be telling others about that? I even made it ambiguous."

Mana looked at the room and people were whispering. "Y-you... You have shamed me once again!" She started hitting him on the chest. But she was of course pitifully weak because of years of malnutrition.

"Hey, it was your fault. Not mine, Erina. Don't listen to that prick okay? Deep breaths, he has no power over you. He can't do everything he wants anymore. You aren't a child anymore that Mana here abandoned." He rolled his eyes and she was ashamed.

Seeing what the simple sight of Azami does to her daughter. "Erina, mom is sorry. I didn't know it was that bad." She hugged Erina and the blonde started to calm down.

"Okay, night's over folks. We had a raid from an asshole, everything's ruined." Ramiel shooed off all the guests and they returned back to his home.

Erina got mentally exhausted and slept in their guest room immediately while Mana and Ramiel drank.

"I'll never forgive that bastard Azami. Look at what she did to my girl." Mana was fuming and Ramiel snorted. "Yeah, but you're the root cause of all this Mana. Remember that, I left you off easy because your circumstances were pretty grim. But that doesn't make you holier than him." Ramiel swirled his whiskey.

Mana was unable to eat anything normal and gags at even the smell of food. That's a pretty bad situation, but leaving your family for that isn't the answer.

"I know already. And I'm thankful for you reaching out to us so I could right my wrongs. But Azami still isolated Erina and even hurt her when she didn't do what he wanted." Mana growled and was seriously pissed.

"Yeah, normal food is animal feed he says. He has a 10 foot pole stuck up his ass. I'll show him, he'll eat mundane food for the rest of his life is what he'll get for being an asshole. It would be his personal hell." Ramiel messaged Scarlet and she was already on it.

He patted Mana's head and she glared at him. "Good on you, at least you are making an effort in changing your ways. Erina's father will never let go of his delusion. He had this crazy look on his face."

"Y-yeah, he's too far gone. Hah, this all started because of the Nakiri's genetic mutation. Can you get rid of Erina's too Ramiel?" She asked a favor.

"That's up to her, I think she would refuse. Because she wants to be the best. And a good palate is nice for a chef. Besides, we have better palates than you. But we can still eat normal food." He shrugged and Mana thought that was true.

"Thank you again, I didn't expect that someone that father brought to my place that day would change things this much." Mana smiled as she drank her sake, her face flushed.

"Well, Senzaimon asked me to do something about it and I always deliver." He smirked and Mana gave him a little aggressive kiss. "Hmm, your tongue tastes smoky with a hint of vanilla."

"That was unexpected, you're drunk Mana. Go to sleep, I feel like something's going to change tomorrow. Besides, you still need to work on your rehab. Rigorous exercise is not recommended for you." He patted her head and guided her to Erina's room so they can sleep together.

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Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.