In the culinary world, not every path leads to the kitchen.
There are brewers. Baristas. Food writers and critics. Even industry moguls.
Take Orie Sendawara, for example. The woman behind Haubi Food Corporation, who single-handedly dominates Japan's 200-billion-yen curry industry.
Success doesn't always come with a chef's knife.
But for Zane, there was no ambiguity.
He was a chef.
Sure, he brewed sake, shochu, fruit wines, red wines—his skills in fermentation could rival that of a seasoned vintner.
Even Sonoka had once said, "You could open a winery and make a fortune."
But Zane would never take that path.
Wine was a passion. Cooking was his soul.
Late into the night—almost midnight—the tavern was finally closing its doors.
Tomorrow marked the start of the Tōtsuki school term.
That likely explained why Rindō Kobayashi, who'd gotten tipsy the last time she came, hadn't shown up tonight—no doubt busy preparing to act as one of the assessors.
Sonoka, for her part, had been careful not to drink too much this time. Still, as the tavern emptied out, she kept stealing glances at Zane.
Their eyes met once. Then again.
The third time, she didn't look away.
"…Owner," she called softly.
"Do you… have time tomorrow morning?"
Zane blinked. The question had come out of nowhere.
"I'll be heading to the market and supermarket early for fresh ingredients," he replied. "But otherwise, I'm free."
She hesitated, fingers curling into her sleeves. Then she gathered her courage.
"I have a friend coming to Shunkatei tomorrow. Since I didn't properly thank you after drinking too much the other night—and… since I sort of invited myself to dinner again tonight—I was hoping… maybe you'd join us?"
The words came in a rush. She glanced away, cheeks pink.
Zane tilted his head slightly.
It wasn't hard to guess that the "friend" in question was Takumi Aldini.
And the fact that Sonoka was inviting him to Shunkatei—to share a table with someone that important to her—meant something.
Maybe even… a lot.
"What time?" he asked.
"Ten o'clock."
She bit her lip. "I know it's sudden…"
Zane gave a small smile.
"I'll be there. I just hope your friend won't mind me crashing your reunion."
"How could she?" Sonoka said quickly, eyes wide.
"Although she's a little… fiery at times, she's not unreasonable."
"And besides…" She smiled, a bit shyly.
"Chef Zane, your charm is hard to resist. I think she'll come to admire you just like I do."
Zane chuckled.
"Was I always this impressive in your eyes?"
That made Sonoka's face turn scarlet.
"U-uh! It's getting late! I should head back now!"
And with that, she all but fled from the tavern.
Zane watched her go, slightly amused.
She really was easy to fluster.
But… being reminded that he still had that effect on people?
Not a bad feeling.
He returned to the kitchen.
With a bit of low-gluten flour and eggs left over, Zane quickly whisked up a flowing batter. He poured it into the heated, greased mold, then added chopped cabbage and chunks of tender octopus.
Once the base began to firm up, he added a bit more batter and carefully flipped the pieces into round golden balls.
Takoyaki—fresh, hot, and just right.
A few minutes later, he packed five perfectly crisp octopus takoyaki into a decorative takeout box.
As Erina prepared to leave, he handed it to her.
"For you," he said casually.
"Had some ingredients left. Would've been a waste not to use them."
"Ah…"
Erina reached out hesitantly.
She wanted to refuse—especially with Alice standing nearby.
But the smell was just too tempting.
"…Thank you."
She accepted the box, cheeks faintly pink.
Alice's gaze immediately narrowed.
She stomped over and extended her hand.
"What's this supposed to mean?"
"Hm?" Zane raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "You want takoyaki too?"
Alice pouted.
"If Erina gets some and I don't, that's not fair."
Zane grinned.
"Unfortunately, I used the last of the ingredients. Only made five."
Alice's face fell.
"…Seriously?"
The disappointment was clear in her expression.
"Relax," Zane said, unable to hold back a chuckle.
"I'm just messing with you. I saved something special."
He turned and placed a neatly packed, golden-crusted layered cake in front of her.
Alice blinked.
"This… is for me?"
"Yup. Figured you'd want something."
Her eyes lit up.
"At least you have a conscience! I won't hold back, then!"
On the way back from the tavern, the air between the two Nakiri cousins was unusually quiet.
Erina held the takoyaki box carefully, as if it were something precious.
Beside her, Alice was practically skipping.
She took a giant bite of the layered cake—and immediately, the crunch echoed through the air.
Crispy on the outside, savory and smoky on the inside. The contrast of textures was divine.
"Mmm~" Alice hummed, utterly content.
"This is so good…"
"Why is Zane so ridiculously talented?"
Erina glanced over, smiling slightly despite herself.
Then, she asked casually, "Alice. What are your plans at Tōtsuki next?"
The question caught Alice off guard.
"Why do you ask all of a sudden?" she replied, mouth still full.
Erina didn't answer right away.
Maybe it was the food. Maybe it was the night air.
But for once, things between them felt… calm.
They had bickered. Clashed. Thrown shade more times than they could count.
And yet, at the tavern, something had changed.
Zane had a way of pulling people in—breaking down their walls, even when they didn't realize it.
Their rivalry might never disappear.
But maybe, just maybe… it didn't have to be ugly.
Not anymore.