Chapter 33

She interrupts her, saying, "Instead, I'll call Ishihara and Kurosawa too, so you figure it out."

They were the ones she was going to call anyway.

Rin is the type who would stalk even if I didn’t call her.

Since it’s come to this, I have to entrust the bomb disposal team to the two guys related to Rin.

It’s a slave assembly.

"......Alright."

Rin answers with a solemn voice and glares at Olivia.

Olivia, who receives her gaze, crosses her arms and retorts, "I don’t like your dim-witted decision, the most stupid in the universe, even a bit, but...... there’s no choice. Fine. I’m generous, so I’ll mercifully accept your foolish decision. Consider it an honor!"

Really.

She never knows how to speak nicely, even at the end.

"Both of you, if you understand, go back to your seats. Dismissed. Stop tormenting my head."

She waves her hand, dismissing them.

As Rin and Olivia return to their seats,

Creak.

The sliding door at the front of the classroom opens, and Teacher Mayuzumi appears.

The students’ murmurs instantly subside.

Teacher Mayuzumi clenches both fists and shouts, "Students! Good morning! It’s me, your teacher! Let’s start HR today!"

She really comes quickly.

Did she just read and chew?

Tokyo.

The innermost part of the Shinazaki mansion.

A tatami room filled with an unnatural silence.

Shinazaki Ichiro’s melancholic eyes scan Shinazaki Rin, who is sitting in seiza with her head bowed.

"Results?"

Ichiro’s cold voice pierces Rin’s ears.

‘Click.’

Rin bites her lip.

The events of today play in her mind.

A cold rejection after mustering the courage to confess.

The shock was doubled for Rin, who never thought her confession would be rejected.

She wants to tear apart the internet dating advice that said confessing first was the best.

‘What’s wrong with me......!’

She can’t understand the rejection.

She can’t understand his cold attitude.

Objectively, she believes she’s a perfect bride.

‘It must be that thief cat......!’

Olivia’s image appears in Rin’s mind.

Olivia, the Princess of France, whom she never wants to lose to again.

The image of Kim Deok-sung standing beside her also comes to mind.

At first, it was just a vague idea to take away the man Olivia liked to avenge the humiliation of the entrance exam.

But today, after experiencing another humiliation in the classroom, a seed of stubbornness sprouted in her heart.

A stubbornness to have him no matter what.

She can’t always be second, a perpetual runner-up.

Rin’s hand, gripping her skirt, trembles.

"Failed in dating, but......"

Rin raises her head with a solemn expression.

"I’ve been granted permission to go to Inokashira Park for the cherry blossom festival."

A cold smile appears on Ichiro’s lips.

"Not bad, a somewhat acceptable result."

"Thank you, Head of the Family."

Rin bows respectfully.

The first praise from the Head of the Family since entering Shuou Hero Academy.

Rin’s expression stiffens as she feels a strange elation.

Going to the cherry blossom festival together is fine.

"But...... I’ve never made a bento before......"

However, for Rin, who was more familiar with swords than dolls since childhood, cooking is a foreign territory.

Naturally, she can’t make a bento.

Considering that making a homemade bento is the core of womanly skills, this is a serious problem.

She might fall behind the Princess of France, who has a personal maid.

Thinking of this, Rin bites her lip.

"I’ll assign the family’s personal chef to you."

Ichiro’s voice rings in her ear.

"I’ll have them make the best bento in Japan. And."

Rin raises her head.

"I’ll arrange for you and Kim Deok-sung to be paired at the upcoming interim school after the model gate practice."

Interim school.

An annual outdoor training camp for first-year students of Shuou Hero Academy, held in the Shikai forest in Hokkaido for a week.

The original purpose is a survival training to survive in the Shikai forest, where interdimensional beings roam wild, but in reality, it’s more like a camping event for students.

The team formation for the interim school is two people per group.

To prevent accidents, the principle is to pair male students with male students and female students with female students.

But now, Ichiro is openly declaring that he will break this rule.

"Really......?"

Rin asks with a trembling voice.

"Yes. Even if the academy is an independent institution from the association, if we use the association’s power to pressure, this level of support is not impossible."

The Japan Hero Association is the core power organization supporting the hero-strong country of Japan.

Even the Prime Minister of Japan, the highest authority, cannot treat Ichiro, the association’s president, lightly.

If he uses his formidable power, changing the team formation is possible.

Of course, while Seiline, the White Empress, might allow it once as the principal of Shuou Academy, it’s impossible to apply the same pressure twice.

It doesn’t matter.

"A week. A whole week to spend alone with him. At the interim school, use any means necessary to bring him down."

If a passionate teenage boy and girl are in the same space for a week, something will happen.

For this golden opportunity, using a single chance is worth it.

"The daughter of the Shinazaki family, representing Japan, cannot lose to the Princess of France twice. Win at all costs, by any means necessary."

Ichiro’s command pierces Rin like a dagger.

"......Understood, Head of the Family."

Rin clenches her teeth and answers.

She has never liked the Head of the Family’s commands.

They were always unreasonable goals.

But this time, she can willingly obey the Head of the Family’s command.

Because she doesn’t want to lose to Olivia.

"I will definitely win."

Ichiro smiles faintly at Rin’s determined response.

It’s been a long time since Rin has approached her instructions with such passion.

Ichiro sips the oolong tea on the table.

"......Head of the Family, I have a question."

"What is it?"

Clack.

Ichiro puts down the oolong tea cup.

Rin, who rarely asks questions, has thrown one.

Curiosity is inevitable.

Rin hesitates, bows her head, and slowly says, "D, do you know what kimchi soup is?"

"Kimchi soup?"

Ichiro’s eyebrows twitch.

"Although it’s a food I’ve never heard of......"

Ichiro knows about kimchi.

A famous dish from the neighboring country, South Korea.

Since Korean cuisine is subtly popular in Japan, Ichiro knows a few basic Korean dishes like hotteok, bibimbap, and galbi.

But kimchi soup is a new dish to him.

Ichiro’s eyes narrow.

"Is this question related to Kim Deok-sung?"

"Yes, it is."

Rin nods.

She still doesn’t understand why Kim Deok-sung told her to stop drinking kimchi soup.

Ichiro’s expression becomes serious at Rin’s answer.

Kim Deok-sung.

To make him the son-in-law of the Shinazaki family, even minor information cannot be overlooked.

An awkward silence hangs between them.

Slurp.

Ichiro takes another sip of oolong tea.

A thought suddenly flashes in his mind.

"......Could the term 'kimchi soup' mean 'kimchi stew'? Kim Deok-sung might like the Korean dish, kimchi stew."

"Kimchi stew...... Understood."

Rin nods.

"Any other questions?"

"No."

"Cherry blossom festival. I expect good results."

"I will do my best."

Rin’s eyes, bowed respectfully, shine coldly.

*

Shuou Hero Academy.

Home economics practice room.

In a spacious room equipped with various cooking tools and ingredients, a platinum-blonde girl, Olivia, wearing a white apron, is wielding a kitchen knife and fuming.

"Ugh, really...... Worst! Lowest! The most stupid man in the galaxy!"

Thud.

A yellow radish on the cutting board is sliced.

Olivia’s face turns red with anger.

"A stupid man with no redeeming qualities!"

Thud.

Another radish is cut.

"Going with someone else, really, it’s unbelievable! After making a promise! After even putting our fingers on it, copying, and signing......!! How dare...... How dare......"

Olivia’s hand trembles.

The events of today play in her mind.

A long-awaited cherry blossom outing.

They had agreed to go together, even putting their fingers on it and signing.

But of all people, Shinazaki Rin was there too.

"It’s impossible, I can’t forgive it......!!"

Thud.

Olivia’s angry knife work turns the radish into a mess.

"Princess. If you cut it like that, you can’t use the radish for the sushi roll."

A calm voice comes from beside Olivia.

Bella, in a neat maid uniform, is wearing sanitary gloves and chopping spinach.

"That’s true, but......"

Olivia pouts, discards the ruined radish, and takes a new piece.

The food waste bin beside her is already piled high with chopped radish.

The result of her venting.

"Is it because your master’s plan to go out alone with his master has fallen through?"

"No, no! Absolutely not! Who would want to be alone with that stupid guy!? I just don’t like that thief cat, Shinaz