67. Three Days and Three Nights, Turning Raw Rice into Cooked Rice

"Right now, you're most afraid of this secret getting out to Suou Yuki, aren't you?"

"If she finds out, she'll have every reason to take Akira back to the Suou household."

"And then, you'll lose your beloved Akira."

"So, Karen, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"Well, since I'm here, I might as well get a share of the pie."

"Sayuri, are you really planning to keep it all to yourself?"

"As the saying goes, 'One plants the tree, another enjoys the shade.'"

"If you can do it, why can't I?"

"If Leonora can become Akira's lover, why can't I?"

Kujou Karen retorted with righteous indignation.

Originally, out of consideration for her two daughters, who were Akira's childhood friends, she had only teased Akira, who was essentially the Kujou family's "child groom."

But now that Leonora and Sayuri had already crossed the line, why shouldn't she follow suit?

If anyone deserved blame, it should be Leonora and Sayuri first.

Sawamura Sayuri's lips twitched. She had a feeling this would be Karen's demand.

This pervert had had her eyes on Akira for a while now.

"Karen, aren't you afraid of Martha and Eli finding out?"

"Sayuri, aren't you afraid of Eriko finding out?"

"Eriko's tolerance is much stronger than Martha and Eli's."

"Oh, really? Now you're saying Eriko has a strong tolerance?"

"Who was it that corrupted Eriko in the first place?"

Kujou Karen was utterly speechless at her sister's lack of shame.

"At least I didn't corrupt my Martha and Eli."

"Not that you could even if you wanted to, right?"

"Liking doujinshi is just a hobby. Eriko and I have normal sexual orientations."

"But you, a lesbian, suddenly setting your sights on Akira—what's that about?"

"Because my sexual orientation has changed!"

"I don't like women anymore."

"Now, I like beautiful boys like Akira."

"Karen, you're truly something else. You're beyond twisted."

Even her sexual orientation could change on a whim.

"Anyway, I don't care. You have to create an opportunity for me."

"If you don't, then we're done."

"I'll just let Suou Yuki take Akira back to her family."

"Fine, I get it. I'll create an opportunity for you."

Sawamura Sayuri reluctantly agreed through gritted teeth.

Meanwhile, defying everyone's expectations, Akira and Leonora hailed a taxi and headed straight back to his house.

"Akira, what if Sayuri and Eriko come back?"

"Knowing my mom and Eriko, they'll definitely stay overnight at the main house."

"The ones we really need to worry about are my older sisters and my childhood friends."

"They're the ones most likely to cause trouble."

"So, the most dangerous place is also the safest."

"They'd never expect me to do the opposite and go back to my own house."

"Leonora, how could a hotel compare to the romance of home?"

"Akira, you're the best!"

"But Leonora, are you really sure about this?"

"After all, there's still Alice between us."

Akira asked hesitantly.

There was no doubt that if Alice found out, she'd rush back from Scandinavia to Japan immediately.

"Akira, you had the guts to confess to me in public."

"Why wouldn't I have the courage to do this?"

"I, Leonora, will be Akira's lover for life."

"Didn't you just say it yourself?"

"Truly strong people don't care about what others say."

"I know they're all just jealous of me."

"Because of Alice, we need to seize the moment."

"Let's turn raw rice into cooked rice, so Alice has no choice but to accept reality."

A sly glint flashed in Leonora's blood-red eyes as she took Akira's hand and led him home.

At this point, if he backed out now, he'd be worse than a beast.

Besides, once Alice returned, there'd be no chance at all.

Screw it, let's live for today and deal with tomorrow's problems tomorrow.

And so, starting that night, Akira and Leonora stayed in his bedroom for three whole days and nights.

Apart from eating and sleeping, they were inseparable.

Even meals were spent cuddling.

Their relationship as lovers was a perfect match.

The only time Akira left the room was to pick up food deliveries.

Meanwhile, back at the Kujou residence, the group of girls who had been waiting for three days grew more and more frustrated.

By the fourth day, each of Akira's childhood friends was surrounded by an oppressive, icy aura.

It felt like they were on the verge of erupting like volcanoes, ready to bring the world crashing down.

What made things even worse was that Alice and Erina's mother, Nakiri Mana, had rushed back from abroad after hearing the news.

Alice had returned early the next morning.

Nakiri Mana had arrived in Japan on the third night.

And yet, Akira, the protagonist of the upcoming Shokugeki, had vanished.

"Mom, Akira must be off making babies with Leonora!"

"Otherwise, why would he disappear for three whole days?"

"It's already the fourth day."

"It must be because, compared to Leonora, you're just a middle-aged auntie now."

"Otherwise, why wouldn't Akira like you?"

Hearing Garura's wailing, everyone nearly lost it.

This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.

But each time, Garura's words grew more outrageous and absurd.

This time, she even dared to mock Yashiro's age.

If nothing else, Garura was about to get beaten up again.

They had always thought of Yashiro as just an ordinary, elegant Japanese teacher.

But when it came to physical strength, she was even more formidable than Garura.

A few punches were all it took to shut her up.

Here we go again!

Yashiro's eye twitched as she inwardly groaned.

"Akira, please come back soon!"

"I'm about to lose my mind dealing with Garura."

She rubbed her temples and then, out of habit, delivered a few swift punches.

Garura was immediately subdued.

It really hurt!

Clutching her head, Garura put on a tearful, pitiful expression.

Without unleashing her full power, she was no match for her mother.

Only in her released state could she stand a chance.

But against her own mother, she couldn't possibly go all out.

Thus, every time Garura acted up, it ended with her getting beaten.

Nakiri Mana, lying on a custom-made wheelchair with an IV drip in her arm, coughed weakly and urged,

"Cough, cough!"

"Are you all just going to sit here and wait?"

"Get your respective forces to start searching!"

Despite the warm, sunny weather, Nakiri Mana was bundled up in a thick fur coat.

Next to her, Suou Yuki, also recovering from illness, lay on another wheelchair.

These two women, both in poor health, had become fast friends over the past three days.

They shared a common enemy—Leonora.

"Mom, we've already sent out a large number of people to search."

"But we've found nothing so far."

"You should try to stay calm."

Erina advised helplessly.

"Your health is already bad enough."

"Erina, that little brat calls me 'auntie' but calls her 'big sister.'"

"She's not only older than me, but she's also my sister-in-law."

"How am I supposed to stay calm?"

"Why don't you try calming Alice down?"

Alice, who had returned the day before, puffed up her cheeks like a pufferfish.

She was absolutely furious.

Calm down? As if!

While she could understand her mother's desire to start a new relationship after being single for so long, did it have to be with her childhood friend?

This was beyond shameless.

"Arisu, aren't you the smartest one here?"

"Use that brilliant brain of yours!"

"How come after three days, you still haven't figured out where Akira is?"

"Could he and Leonora have left Tokyo?"

Chisato picked up Arisu and urged her.

"Chisato, why are you still calling my mom 'big sister'?"

Alice screeched as she pounced on Chisato, tickling her from behind.

The three beautiful girls tumbled into a heap.

It was bad enough that Akira, that playboy, was driving her crazy.

Now even her so-called friends were joining in.

"Hahaha! Alice, I'm sorry, I really am!"

"But your mom really doesn't look her age!"

"She doesn't have that 'married woman' vibe at all."

"She feels more like Ryoko and Sakurako, those big sisters."

"Unlike the other aunties, who obviously look like they've been married and had kids."

The other aunties: "..."

Chisato, we're so sorry for looking like aunties.

"Otherwise, Akira wouldn't have called her 'big sister' at first sight."

"Alice, you should be happy."

"After all, Akira fell for your mom at first sight."

"When you grow up and look just like Leonora, won't Akira fall for you too?"

Chisato, speaking without thinking, tried to comfort Alice.

Pfft!

Cough, cough!

Everyone burst out laughing, forgetting their anger for a moment.

It seemed that while God had opened the door to combat for Chisato, He had firmly shut the window to wisdom.

"Chisato, you idiot!"

"I'm already Akira's childhood friend."

"Why would I need him to fall for me at first sight?"

"Besides, my personality is completely different from my mom's."

"She's naturally airheaded and a bit slow, always doing things that make people laugh."

"That's why you think she seems young."

"Now that you mention it, that does make sense."

"Leonora's smile has a kind of innocent, silly charm."

"So, Alice, you should just accept reality."

"With your mom's way of thinking, she's probably planning to force you to accept it by turning raw rice into cooked rice."

Chisato accidentally hit the nail on the head.

"I've got it."

"I was being stupid earlier."

"Akira's core way of thinking is rooted in Chinese culture."

"Using a Japanese mindset, I could never figure out what he's really thinking."

"There's an old Chinese saying: 'The most dangerous place is often the safest.'"

"He exploited a loophole in our thinking and did the opposite."

"He went straight home."

For the past few days, they had searched every hotel, apartment, and love hotel in Tokyo.

They had even suspected that Akira had secretly bought a house to use as a hidden love nest.

But it never occurred to them that he might have just gone home.

They had subconsciously ruled out that possibility.

"What? Are you kidding me? That playboy Akira just went home?"

Eriko's heart shattered. If it weren't for her grandmother's insistence that she stay, she might have gone home already.

"Hey, Arisu, nice job!"

"It only took you three days to figure it out."

Just then, a familiar voice that made everyone's blood boil rang out.

Akira, hand in hand with Leonora, walked through the door, beaming with satisfaction.

Damn it!

To Arisu, what sounded like praise was actually dripping with sarcasm.

It had taken her three days to figure out where Akira was.

That was hardly something to be proud of.

Beside him, Leonora was glowing. Her stunning face was adorned with a blissful smile.

Her fair Nordic skin, nourished over the past few days, looked even more radiant and smooth.

It was as delicate as a baby's.

Seeing Leonora in such perfect condition, the two women in wheelchairs predictably lost it.

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