"Your girlfriend is still here too."
As soon as Kasumigaoka Utaha walked in, she saw Erina Nakiri standing there gracefully and couldn't help but comment.
She had only seen her briefly before, and this was the first time she truly looked at Erina Nakiri up close. The girl's angelic beauty and noble presence immediately left a deep impression on her.
"How did this guy end up with such a beautiful girlfriend?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed inwardly. Although Satou was rather handsome himself, this girl clearly looked like someone from a powerful, wealthy family. They were worlds apart.
"Who's his girlfriend?!"
Erina Nakiri bit her silver teeth, glaring as she spoke in exasperation.
"Eh? Aren't you his girlfriend? Then why were you two hugging like that earlier?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha asked, her tone carrying a touch of curiosity and confusion.
Erina Nakiri's cheeks turned crimson. Both ashamed and angry, she found herself unable to explain. In the end, she could only shoot Satou a deadly glare, venting her frustration on him instead.
"Could it be that this girl is actually...?"
A flicker of realization flashed through Kasumigaoka Utaha's beautiful eyes, followed by a shockingly strange idea. Her gaze toward Erina Nakiri suddenly softened, filled with pity.
How could such a good-looking girl be involved in compensated dating?
"Listen to me! My relationship with this guy is limited to today only! After tomorrow, I'll have nothing to do with him!"
Erina Nakiri said, her tone that of a full-blown Tsundere.
Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded slightly, her suspicions only growing firmer.
"This is the omurice I made. If you don't mind, you can try it."
Satou offered a plate of omurice to her.
If Kasumigaoka Utaha praised the dish, it might finally pique Erina Nakiri's interest.
"Thank you. I'll pay for it!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha took it awkwardly. The golden egg crepe wrapped neatly around the rice, gleaming under the light. A rich aroma filled the air, and even at a glance, she could tell it was different from an ordinary omurice.
Having not eaten all day, Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't resist any longer. She picked up a spoon and started eating.
Seeing her take the first bite, Satou tensed up slightly. He wasn't sure what his current cooking skill level could produce.
The egg layer broke with a gentle press, revealing perfectly glistening grains of rice beneath.
Kasumigaoka Utaha scooped up a spoonful and placed it in her mouth. The moment the flavor hit her tongue, her eyes fluttered shut as her taste buds exploded with warmth and delight.
"It's… unbelievably delicious!"
Her voice trembled slightly, her cheeks faintly flushed.
Omurice—a simple, home-style dish she had eaten countless times before—but this one? This was easily one of the most delicious meals she'd ever had.
And yet, it was made from nothing more than rice and eggs, without even ketchup.
Before she knew it, Kasumigaoka Utaha had finished the entire plate, leaving not a single grain behind.
Only then did she realize that both Satou and Erina Nakiri were staring at her in surprise.
"Is this omurice really that delicious?"
Erina Nakiri's violet eyes widened in disbelief.
In her mind, this was nothing but a lowly commoner's dish. Could it really taste that good?
Or perhaps the cooking standards in this world were just pitifully low?
Satou was equally surprised. He had only thrown together a simple dish with eggs and leftover rice. Could his skill truly have improved this much?
"It's really delicious. Far better than any omurice I've had before."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's cheeks reddened slightly; she realized her behavior just now might have been a little too unrestrained.
"Really?"
Erina Nakiri's eyes still carried doubt.
"If you don't believe me, try it yourself."
Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at the untouched plate of omurice beside her, licking her lips as though she wanted another serving.
"Hmph! As if I'd lower myself to taste such a commoner's dish!"
Erina Nakiri folded her arms, her Tsundere expression completely on display.
Yet...
She couldn't help sneaking another look at the plate. The scent was rich and intoxicating, teasing her senses. Against her will, Erina felt her stomach stir with hunger.
She hesitated before muttering, "Fine. I'll… reluctantly give it a try. Just know that having me taste your food is an honor most chefs can only dream of!"
Seeing her stubborn attitude, Satou couldn't resist teasing her. "Hey, hey, that's my dinner, you know."
A vein pulsed on Erina Nakiri's forehead. For the God Tongue to taste someone's dish was an unimaginable privilege, and yet this infuriating guy dared to act reluctant!
She gritted her teeth. "I'll only take one bite!"
Scooping a spoonful, Erina Nakiri placed it delicately in her mouth.
"This dish…"
Her words trailed off as her eyes widened in shock.
The egg was fried perfectly—smooth as silk—and the rice underneath had just the right amount of chewiness, the oil enhancing its fragrance.
A warmth spread through her senses, the flavors wrapping her like a soft embrace. For a moment, she felt as if she were floating among clouds. Her body relaxed, and a soft hum escaped her nose before she realized it.
…
"Miss, are you alright?"
When Erina Nakiri snapped out of her trance, Kasumigaoka Utaha was staring at her with a bemused look, while Satou watched her with a knowing grin. Her porcelain face turned crimson once more.
"How does it taste?"
Satou asked, his voice teasing.
"Terrible! It's a terrible dish!"
Erina Nakiri shouted, slamming the spoon onto the plate.
"Really? Because your expression just now looked pretty satisfied."
Satou replied with a playful smile.
Erina's face flushed even deeper. She stomped her foot and snapped, "So what if it was decent! Don't get so full of yourself!"
"Host successfully completed the mission, gained the recognition of God Tongue Erina Nakiri, and received the reward: Yangzhou Fried Rice."
As the system's voice echoed in his mind, Satou smiled faintly.
"She says one thing and means another," he murmured, amused.
The system's acknowledgment confirmed it—no matter what Erina said, her taste buds had already surrendered.