"Erina."
"Do you have time tonight?"
Zane's voice was calm, but his eyes carried a subtle concern as they landed on the teary-eyed girl before him.
Erina looked up, slightly startled.
Then, with a faint blush, she nodded softly.
"Yeah… I'm free."
"Haha!"
"Miss, what do you mean by free?"
Rindo grinned wickedly from the side.
"Weren't you the one who grabbed my hand and demanded to come see what new dish Zane's whipped up tonight?"
"Rindo!"
"I-I didn't say it like that!"
Caught off guard, Erina turned away quickly, her cheeks burning.
"I was just… bored today. That's all. I thought I'd come to the tavern for a quiet dinner. That's it!"
Rindo could barely hold back her laughter, clamping a hand over her mouth as she watched the mighty Erina Nakiri stumble over her words like a flustered teenager.
Just then, another voice broke the tension.
"Erina?"
"You're here too?"
It was Alice, just waking from a brief food-induced haze.
Erina's eyes widened.
She hadn't expected to see her cousin here before her.
"Alice, shouldn't I be the one asking that question?"
"Tch. Don't act surprised," Alice huffed.
"I already figured out that those Ascending Dragon Dumplings weren't your creation. So I came early to see the real chef behind them."
Erina sighed. She knew Alice wouldn't just take her word for it.
That's why she'd baited her with the dumplings—Zane was the only one who could help Alice confront her culinary crossroads.
Rindo, who had been casually observing the exchange, suddenly tilted her head.
"Wait… Is she another Nakiri?"
"Yes," Erina nodded.
"Rindo-senpai, this is my cousin—Alice Nakiri."
"Senpai? So she's a Totsuki student too?"
Alice looked Rindo over with interest.
"You don't recognize her?" Erina blinked.
"She's Rindo Kobayashi—the current Second Seat of the Elite Ten."
Alice froze.
Wait. What?
She turned her gaze toward the laid-back woman munching almond tofu beside her.
The Second Seat of the Elite Ten?
First it was the previous generation's Second Seat on her first visit.
Now, the current Second Seat?
What kind of tavern was this?
She scanned the room, paranoia creeping in.
Was the First Seat hiding in the kitchen too?
"Erina."
"Didn't you say you wanted to see what new dish I've been working on?"
Zane leaned in and whispered softly.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"You really made something new?"
She had grown addicted to the thrill of Zane's cooking—how every dish seemed to shake the very foundation of her God Tongue.
"Just like before. I'll serve it to you first. I'd love to hear what your God Tongue thinks."
"Alright."
Erina nodded, trying to keep her excitement contained.
But her anticipation was obvious.
"Okay, wait here. It'll be ready soon."
Eggs.
Laid by hens.
Ordinary, humble, yet the foundation of countless dishes.
And among them, one stood out—
Oyakodon.
A chicken-and-egg rice bowl, warm and comforting.
First came the hen—cleaned and trimmed of excess fat.
Then the onions—thick slices, ready to release sweetness.
Zane whisked the eggs gently, careful not to overmix—
So the yolk and whites would remain distinct, each offering a different texture.
In a separate bowl, he blended soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and cooking sake—
A sauce both savory and delicate.
The chicken, skin-side down, sizzled as it hit the pan—its fat rendering into a golden crisp.
He didn't overcook it—just enough to draw out the flavor.
The sauce went in next.
Steam rose, fragrant and rich.
Onions followed, then the chicken—simmered gently until tender.
Then, half the eggs—poured over, covered, allowed to set.
Finally, the rest—barely cooked, still silky and trembling.
Zane placed the steaming mixture atop a bowl of fluffy white rice.
He sprinkled scallions across the top and slid the bowl in front of Erina.
"Oyakodon?"
Erina blinked.
After Ascending Dragon Dumplings and Reincarnation Spring Rolls, this seemed…
underwhelming.
She glanced at Zane, a bit pouty.
This looked like something a family would eat on a quiet night—not a dish that would shake the soul.
"This again?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, seeking an explanation.
Zane only smiled.
"Don't underestimate it."
"This bowl will awaken something inside you. Someone… you'll have to face. Maybe soon."
Erina rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her intrigue.
If anyone else had served her this, she'd have refused it outright.
But this was Zane.
And Zane never made anything ordinary.
So she lifted her spoon.
The egg was barely set—creamy, soft.
The chicken, tender, smoky with just a bit of bite.
The broth soaked into the rice, balancing richness with lightness.
But it wasn't the flavor that struck her.
It was the feeling.
A warmth spread through her chest.
Something gentle.
Something… achingly familiar.
A memory resurfaced.
Small hands. A soft smile.
A bowl of steaming rice placed before her.
The scent of home.
And a voice she hadn't heard in years.
"This… this rice…"
Her voice trembled.
She clutched the ceramic bowl tightly as if afraid it might disappear.
Tears welled up in her eyes—again.
"Mom…"
"I miss Mom."
The tavern fell silent.
Rindo, Alice, even Zane—no one spoke.
Because in that moment, they all understood—
This wasn't just food.
It was a memory.
A connection.
A longing buried deep within Erina's heart.
And somehow, through this humble dish, Zane had brought it back to life.