Akikubo Momo, holding a teddy bear, squatted on the ground, staring expressionlessly at the Happiny, both her eyes sparkling.
"So cute."
With her naturally keen intuition for cuteness, she was immediately drawn to this magical creature she had never seen before.
The Happiny looked at her strangely for a moment, then happily greeted Kobayashi Rindo and led them both into the hall.
In the hall, everyone had already arrived, besides the people from Polar Star Dormitory, there were also Alice Nakiri and her group.
Originally, when Kobayashi Rindo returned, it was customary to invite other Elite Ten members, but considering their current factions, Nene Kinokuni and Eizan Etsuya did not appear to avoid suspicion. The third-year students' relationships were actually quite harmonious, but Azami Nakiri had just established the Central Gourmet Institute, and Eishi Tsukasa and Saito Soumei were too busy to come. Akikubo Momo was only brought by Kobayashi Rindo after much persistence.
"Ah, Lin Longdan is here? And Akikubo-senpai."
Satou saw the two and walked over with a smile.
"Hey!!! Junior, congratulations on becoming one of the Elite Ten!"
Kobayashi Rindo patted his shoulder, offering her congratulations.
Satou looked at Akikubo Momo, but she just snorted softly, turned her head, and said, "Su Pian, don't get too carried away."
Satou looked at her in confusion, not understanding what this senpai, who looked and acted like a loli, was saying.
"Although you're only temporarily filling Megishima's position, there will be a specific ranking later, so don't think you're... the Third Seat now, or that your seat is higher than mine."
Akikubo Momo puffed out her cheeks slightly, saying it in a huff.
Satou was a bit speechless; this person, was she actually jealous that his seat was higher than hers? "But welcome to the party."
He said.
"Hmph! I was just dragged here by Ryodan."
Akikubo Momo huffed arrogantly, pouting, "Let's be clear, I won't stay too..."
Then, she saw Swirlix, Chansey, and several other Pokémon playing hide-and-seek with Alice Nakiri, and her gaze immediately became fixated. She even forgot what she was saying, and her eyes began to sparkle.
"Hey, hey, junior, is dinner ready yet?"
Kobayashi Rindo, on the other hand, was concerned about tonight's dinner. "Are there any... ingredients that Senpai hasn't tried? Junior, you can't be stingy with your big sister!"
Satou rolled his eyes at her and said, "Erina, Megumi, and Kuga are already cooking in the kitchen."
"Everyone, let's have some drinks first."
Just then, Tadokoro Megumi walked out of the kitchen, carrying several drinks, and said with her characteristic gentle smile.
"Drinks?"
Kobayashi Rindo's eyes lit up, and everyone else also came over, said thank you, and picked up a drink.
The drinks were freshly squeezed juice from shining peach, which was exceptionally sweet and refreshing.
Akikubo Momo also took a cup.
"So, so delicious!"
A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. The rich, sweet peach aroma lingered on her tongue, giving her an enjoyment she had never experienced before.
"If used for desserts..."
She subconsciously began to ponder.
At this moment, the dishes began to be served.
"I say, Satou-kun, you really have a lot of good stuff here."
Kuga Terunori, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, walked out of the kitchen, then began to put his arm around Satou's shoulder. "I say, how about selling me some?"
In the kitchen, he had seen many unheard-of high-grade ingredients, which had dazzled his eyes.
"Little Kuga, get away! Don't even think about those ingredients!"
Kobayashi Rindo unhappily pinched one of his ears and lectured him.
She thought to herself, 'I haven't even thought about it yet, how could it be your turn?' "I got it, Lin Longdan, let go of my hand..."
Kuga Terunori grimaced in pain.
"This is the last dish."
Erina Nakiri, wearing an apron, walked out of the kitchen, like a virtuous hostess.
"Oh, Erina-kun, you're looking more and more virtuous."
Kuga Terunori praised.
"Eh, really?"
Erina Nakiri's face flushed slightly, and she was a bit pleased.
Afterward, everyone started eating.
"Mmm..., this shrimp is so delicious! And this pumpkin too."
Kobayashi Rindo's mouth was completely stuffed with food, and she asked indistinctly, "I say, junior, where are those ingredients I brought? Didn't you take them out?"
"Uh, those... we'll eat them later."
Satou said. He had no interest in the strange ingredients she brought, such as bats and scorpions.
"Akikubo-senpai, eat more."
He said to Akikubo Momo.
"...I know."
Akikubo Momo's face inexplicably flushed. She had originally planned to sit for a bit and then leave, but the delicious dishes had completely captivated her.
For example, the delicious freshly squeezed peach juice, the silky smooth marshmallows, and the sweet and tasty pumpkin—all things she had never tasted before.
"My salted egg yolk pumpkin isn't bad, right?"
Kuga Terunori triumphantly picked up a piece of his own dish with his chopsticks.
"It's disgusting."
Akikubo Momo gave him an expressionless glance. "Such delicious pumpkin, if it were in Momo's hands, she could definitely make the cutest desserts."
Her tone carried a faint disdain, as if she was despising him for wasting such good ingredients.
"I say, Akikubo-senpai, why do you support Azami Nakiri?"
Satou suddenly asked.
Akikubo Momo immediately became alert, subconsciously hugged the toy bear in her hands, and looked at him warily. "Su Pian, why are you asking that question? It's because those useless guys at school always make un-cute dishes. If you want to persuade me to change my stance, that's impossible."
Satou nodded. Kobayashi Rindo had told him that Akikubo Momo had a natural intuition for cute things since she was a child. She became a darling of the fashion world at a young age, but ultimately chose to become a chef.
Because she believed that desserts were the cutest things in the world.
"Of course, I didn't mean to persuade you."
Satou's face showed a "kind" smile. "By the way, speaking of which, Erina, don't we have a new ingredient recently?"
Everyone looked at his smile and thought he looked very much like a strange uncle trying to trick a little loli.
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