11:30 PM.
The Izakaya was nearing closing time.
Mana Nagiri, who had not yet left, still felt awkward and guilty when facing her own biological daughter.
But to get closer to her and foster more familial affection, she told Erina every single thing she had experienced since running away from home!
She recounted how she had become a Special Executive Officer of the WGO Gourmet Organization step by step, and how she had met world-class chefs and how terrible their dishes were, never able to conquer the God Tongue.
All the while, Erina listened with great interest.
Perhaps deep down, she was also quite curious about her mother's past years.
...
Seeing the atmosphere gradually warm up, Hisako Arato, as an observer, also felt happy about it.
Then, she looked out the window at the sky, then turned to the clock on the wall, and couldn't help but carefully tug at Erina's sleeve, asking softly, "Young Lady, shouldn't we be going back?"
"It's really late."
"Mother, let's leave it at that for tonight!"
After a moment of regaining her senses, Erina, with some reluctance, said to Mana Nagiri, "Our reunion has indeed brought back many unpleasant memories for me."
"But knowing that your anorexia has been successfully treated, I am still happy for you."
"Erina, I... I..."
Mana Nagiri's words ultimately got stuck in her throat.
"Mother, if you feel embarrassed about some things, you don't have to say them. I understand you."
Seeing this, Erina actually showed a particularly strong demeanor, replying indifferently.
Immediately after, she took the initiative to approach Sosuke, her cheeks slightly flushed, and asked in a low voice, "Sosuke, do... do you remember our last agreement?"
"I remember, after the Practical Training ends, there will be a holiday, and you want to work part-time at the Izakaya."
After looking at her deeply, Sosuke finally continued with a slight smile, "You can come punctually at 7 PM tomorrow night."
"Mhm!"
"I... I will."
Erina seemed a little excited, then nodded in agreement.
Finally, she said nothing more and, under the gaze of both her mother and Sosuke, turned and left the Izakaya directly.
Hisako, seeing this, quickly pulled out money to pay the bill and left with her.
...
Mana Nagiri looked at the receding figure, lost in thought.
But in the end, she inadvertently revealed a faint smile, as the current outcome was much better than she had imagined.
"Sosuke, thank you."
"Ever since I met you, I've felt like Lady Luck has been by my side."
"First, the anorexia that plagued me for years was successfully cured by your dishes, allowing me to finally stop living with an empty stomach all day."
"And tonight, when facing Erina's resentment and misunderstanding, it was also you who used the Egg-Beauty Chicken dish to guide her."
"Actually, I know you still had some ingredients to continue making Golden Ratio Shumai, but for the sake of helping Erina and me understand each other, and to improve our mother-daughter relationship, you sacrificed so much."
"Honestly, I feel like I owe you so much in this lifetime!"
These words came entirely from Mana Nagiri's true feelings, as for her, the happiest thing in this life was meeting Sosuke.
"Don't think that way."
"My Izakaya is meant to bring happiness to diners."
Hearing this, Sosuke just chuckled.
And listening to his words, Mana Nagiri couldn't help but admire his broad-mindedness.
Afterward, her eyes reddened slightly, seemingly a little moved, and she could only whisper softly, "If... if only I had met you earlier, I wouldn't have had to suffer so much!"
...
"Mother, hurry up, the Izakaya is about to close."
Just then, a Urge voice came from outside the door.
Alice Nakiri and Leonora Nakiri, the mother and daughter, arrived at the Izakaya.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she entered, Leonora saw Mana Nagiri at a glance and was stunned: "Oh, are you... Mana Nagiri?"
"Is that Leonora?"
"It's been so long, you haven't changed at all these years. No, you seem to have become even more beautiful."
Looking back at Leonora Nakiri behind her, Mana Nagiri here appeared very calm, perhaps because she had just reunited with her daughter and hadn't yet emerged from that emotion.
"Ah? Could it be... Aunt?"
Alice's face showed confusion.
When Mana Nagiri ran away from home back then, she was very young and didn't have many memories of it.
Therefore, when she first saw Mana Nagiri, she felt very unfamiliar, but as she tried hard to recall, she finally realized that she was Erina's mother!
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