In the elegant private room of the Shunkatei, a luxurious air hung heavy in the atmosphere.
Taki Tsunozaki crossed her legs impatiently, her gaze fixed on the empty seat opposite her.
"Sonoka, who else are we waiting for?" she finally asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and rising irritation.
Sonoka didn't answer right away.
Instead, she stared off toward the door, her thoughts elsewhere. Her gaze lingered forward, as if hoping—expecting—someone to appear.
"Taki…" Sonoka finally turned her head with a soft smile.
"I'm so glad you came today~ It's been a while since we've had a proper get-together like this."
Taki raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
There was a familiar warmth in Sonoka's tone, but also something evasive—too casual, too polished.
Taki had arrived early this morning to visit her longtime friend. But something felt… off.
This was supposed to be a private banquet in her honor, yet an empty seat remained at the head of the table—the honored guest's spot.
Someone more important than her?
Someone Sonoka was eagerly awaiting?
Who?
The thought gnawed at her, sparking both curiosity and a quiet dread.
Just then, the door opened.
Right on time.
Zane stepped into the room.
This was his first visit to the Shunkatei since arriving in this world—a world of refined cuisine and fierce culinary rivalry. In fact, it was the first time he'd set foot in any restaurant other than his own tavern in the past month.
"Chef Zane! You really came."
Sonoka's eyes lit up. She stood up at once and greeted him warmly, almost instinctively.
The moment Zane entered, his gaze landed on her.
Today, Sonoka looked… stunning.
A white dress hugged her figure elegantly, with a delicate bow at the waist. High heels completed the look, accentuating her graceful presence. She looked like she belonged at a royal banquet—not just a chef, but a woman of class and poise.
"Sonoka," Zane said with a soft smile, "you look beautiful today."
"Huh…? R-Really?"
Her cheeks flushed instantly. Flustered, she touched her face and looked away, trying to calm the sudden flutter in her chest.
After a moment, she turned back, composed once more.
"I've already saved a seat for you. Please… come this way."
"Alright. Thanks."
Zane followed her into the private room.
Sonoka gently pulled out the empty chair—the honored guest seat—and gestured for him to sit.
"Please, make yourself comfortable."
Zane chuckled lightly.
"I'm just here for the banquet. No need to treat me like royalty."
But seeing Sonoka's sincerity, he said no more and sat down.
As soon as he did, the temperature in the room dropped.
Taki, seated across from him, narrowed her eyes dangerously.
Her gaze was piercing—sharp enough to cut steel.
If looks could kill, Zane would have died at least a hundred times over.
Originally, this banquet was meant for her.
But now, this man—this stranger—was clearly the center of Sonoka's attention.
And their relationship… it was hard to define. Ambiguous.
Dangerous.
Taki's instincts screamed at her: this wasn't just a neighbor.
"Taki," Sonoka quickly jumped in before tension boiled over.
"Let me introduce you. This is Zane—the owner of the tavern next door. He's from China. And don't be fooled by how laid-back he looks—his cooking is so good, even the WGO's First Executive recognized him!"
Taki folded her arms, unimpressed.
"The tavern next door? So the two of you are neighbors… and see each other every day?"
A tight smile tugged at her lips, but her eyes betrayed the rising jealousy within.
"That's right!" Sonoka answered cheerfully.
"Not just neighbors—we're good friends too! I've been going over there to eat and drink a lot lately!"
She turned to Taki, completely unaware of how her words were fanning the flames.
"You wouldn't believe how good Master Zhang's dishes are. Even something as simple as an omelet—"
"Enough."
Taki's voice was low and curt.
"Since everyone's here, shouldn't the banquet begin?"
Sonoka blinked, caught off guard.
"Ah, right! Look at me, completely forgetting!"
She quickly clapped her hands and called the staff.
A full-course French feast.
It was no exaggeration—Sonoka had gone all out.
French cuisine, known for its elegance and influence on global fine dining, filled the air with refined aromas. From romantic dinners to VIP receptions and national banquets, French food reigned supreme in haute cuisine.
Tonight was no different.
One by one, the dishes began to arrive.
Sherry for the aperitif.
Delicate vegetable and seafood salads.
A hearty Marseille-style fish soup, rich with saffron and flavor.
Beef, tuna, salmon—each cut prepared to perfection.
Avocado tartare laced with onions and spices.
A deeply flavorful onion soup.
And finally—
The crown jewels of French luxury: caviar and foie gras, presented with precision and grace.
Everything was served in traditional order, following the ceremonial pacing of French dining.
A true experience—slow, deliberate, indulgent.
A full two-hour affair.
Taki took a bite of the foie gras and finally spoke.
"Sonoka… your skills have improved. I heard Shunkatei's aiming for a two-star WGO rating this year?"
Sonoka's smile faltered.
"Aiming, yes," she said softly.
"But… I failed. I put everything into this year's evaluation, but in the end, I couldn't satisfy the WGO Executive."
She looked down at her plate, expression dim.
"Even though I'm starting to care less about those titles now…"
"It still stings. Especially when my French cuisine couldn't even earn a nod from Anne."
The air turned quiet.
Her words revealed more than disappointment—they showed just how much effort she had poured into her craft.
And how deeply she still sought validation.