After being toyed with by Akari and Haruna for a while, Fuuka was finally freed from her bindings.
She rubbed her reddened wrists, quietly thanked them, and accepted the handkerchief I handed over to wipe her face. Sniffling, she muttered in complaint, "Why does it always have to be like this? Can't you just invite me normally for once?"
"Hehe~ But if we asked you politely, Fuuka, you'd never agree, would you∼?"
"That's only because you never consider my feelings!"
Maybe it was just my imagination, but somehow, the relationship between Fuuka and the Gourmet Research Society didn't seem entirely bad. It was… strange.
Perhaps Akari was right. Their dynamic might look odd to an outsider, but there really did seem to be some sort of bond between them, a bizarre kind of connection between chef and diner, like soulmates in the pursuit of flavor.
"So," Fuuka sighed, "where's the ingredient?"
"Just so you know," she added, "this is my first time dealing with Breton lobsters. I can't guarantee I'll do a good job. You'd better find a more experienced chef."
"Don't underestimate yourself, Fuuka," Haruna said with a shake of her head, her voice sincere. "It's precisely because we believe in your cooking that we only ever kidnap you, and not anyone else."
"Well, I sure appreciate that."
Fuuka's eyes went flat and lifeless as she groaned, "Fine, but if it doesn't turn out well, don't blame me. Anyway, where's the ingredient? We've nearly left Gehenna's district already. I still have to get back to prepare dinner for the school."
Even in a situation like this, she was still thinking about her duties back at school. Ever the responsible one.
Still, even if Fuuka couldn't make it back, Juri should be able to hold the kitchen for a while… or so I told myself, optimistically.
To Fuuka's question, Haruna responded with a meaningful smile. "Hehehe~ Don't worry, we're on our way to pick it up right now."
"So you mean… how far is it... wait a second…" Fuuka froze mid-sentence, her expression slowly shifting into horror. "Don't tell me… you're not planning to... again?!"
Haruna didn't answer. She only smiled wider. "Mhm~"
Akari, still driving, said lightly, "We really don't have a choice, do we? The Gourmet Research Society could never ignore such a rare delicacy."
"That's right!" Junko added firmly. "A one-in-two-million find! If we miss this chance, who knows when we'll get another? Even if it's dangerous, we've got no choice but to go for it!"
A bad feeling crept over me, and judging by Fuuka's increasingly pale face, she felt it too.
"Hold on," I interrupted, looking up from my phone. "That whole 'one in two million' thing is just a myth. Breton lobsters aren't actually that rare."
Fuuka's eyes lit up instantly. "Really? Then that means…"
"That means!" Izumi chimed in, drooling slightly, "we can cook it however we want and experiment with different sauces that'll definitely taste amazing, right?"
…Yeah, Izumi's thought process was on a completely different wavelength.
"Huh?" Fuuka blinked. "That's not what I meant! I mean we can call off this dangerous plan, right?"
Wait, don't tell me… The Gourmet Research Society was planning to steal the lobster?!
"No," Haruna declared firmly. "The plan continues."
Her ruby eyes seemed to blaze with passion. "To display a top-grade ingredient like that instead of cooking it is a crime against gastronomy! Using it as decoration is an insult to the very spirit of fine dining! Even the lobster itself would feel sorrow, don't you think?"
If lobsters really had that level of sentience, I doubted being eaten would make them any happier.
Still, her words confirmed it. The Gourmet Research Society really was planning to rob someone, just to eat a rare delicacy.
Honestly… it fit their image perfectly.
"You… you can't be serious!" Fuuka's voice trembled, her eyes welling up again. "Don't drag me into your crimes every time!"
"Now, now, Fuuka," Haruna said earnestly. "As a chef, you must understand that fresh ingredients must be handled immediately, while they're at their peak."
Her voice grew softer, almost tender. "That's why you're already an irreplaceable member of our team. Even one moment without you would be unthinkable."
"You only remember I exist when you need a cook!"
Whenever Fuuka was around them, she naturally slipped into the role of the exasperated straight man among clowns.
But faced with the unshakable resolve of Haruna and the others, she eventually gave up.
"Fine. Whatever. But at least let Sensei go. This has nothing to do with him."
Her concern moved me deeply.
…Though it seemed she'd misunderstood something.
"What are you talking about?"
Akari tilted her head. "We never forced Sensei to stay. If he wants to get off the truck, he's free to go anytime."
…Wait. Really? I guess that's technically true.
"But if Sensei comes along," Haruna said, leaning over her seat dangerously close, eyes gleaming, "he'll get to taste the dish the very moment it's complete, at its absolute peak of flavor."
Given how seriously these girls took food, that was an incredibly sincere offer.
Still, if I left now, I'd be abandoning Fuuka to deal with this mess alone. Running away while a student faced trouble, especially one who trusted me, was not exactly a good look.
Besides, I am a Sensei, after all.
So I nodded without hesitation. "Alright. I love good food too. Please, take me with you."
"Hehe~ Wonderful! I knew we'd get along splendidly, Sensei∼ Then it's settled!"
Beaming, Haruna turned back around and sat properly again.
Taking advantage of the moment, I quietly reached out and squeezed Fuuka's soft hand, just enough to reassure her. I met her eyes and gave a small, confident nod.
To be honest, I could tell that the Gourmet Research Society didn't mean me any harm.
They hadn't restrained me or even kept their guard up around me, which only made me feel a little guilty.
But precisely because of that…
I had to stop them from making a mistake.
In my own way.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and waited in silence for the right moment.