The story begins in Food Wars, when Alice took him home.

She opened the door to the room and leaped onto the hotel bed, feeling the coolness wash over her from all sides. The residual heat from the hot spring was rapidly dissipating, clearing her mind again. Then, Erina Nakiri remembered the things she had done in a daze under Shirobuchi's instigation.

A slight bitter taste lingered on her tongue, a sensation that drove her somewhat mad. So she buried her head in the blankets, trying to stop savoring the memory and stop thinking about such a shameful thing.

However, her heartbeat, which had returned to normal, suddenly accelerated when she thought about this, and she was unable to calm down in the short term.

"Ugh! How could I have agreed so easily?!"

The more she tried to forget, the more she couldn't. The God Tongue's superb sense of taste became a flaw at this moment, making Erina Nakiri remember that taste firmly and find it unforgettable.

"We absolutely cannot agree to this!"

What's done is done, and Erina Nakiri can only hope for next time. No matter what, she absolutely cannot agree to something like this again!

"Bang bang bang."

Just then, there was a knock on Erina Nakiri's door, which startled her. She thought it was Shiro Awakening coming over again, still unsatisfied. She shrank back and didn't know what to say. After a long while, she finally said to the door, "Come...come in."

The next moment, the room door opened.

Hisako Shinto appeared at the door, wearing pajamas and holding a pillow in her arms. She looked somewhat conflicted and shy.

"Hisako, what's wrong with you...?"

Upon seeing Hisako Shinoto suddenly appear, Erina Nakiri's expression changed from hesitation to surprise. She then got up from the bed and walked over to her.

"I'd like to sleep with you tonight, is that alright, Lady Erina..."

"So suddenly? I'm fine, but is something bothering you? Or is there anything you don't understand about cooking? You can ask me anything."

Looking at Hisako Shinto, who was hugging a pillow and looking shy, Erina Nakiri reached out and hooked her chin, adopting a superior posture. Her eyes were full of tenderness as she looked at her, completely different from when she was with Shirobuchi.

"Actually, there's something I want to tell Erina-sama, but I'm a little worried that you'll be angry."

Hisako Shinoto carefully chose her words, somewhat hesitant to look Erina Nakiri in the eye.

After thinking for a long time at the hot spring, she decided to pursue Bai Yuan.

However, before doing this, she felt it was necessary to explain things clearly to Lady Erina.

"It's windy outside, come in. Say whatever you want, I definitely won't get angry."

Seeing Hisako Shinto's appearance, Erina Nakiri, who had already become a wife, keenly sensed that something was wrong. So she went over, closed the door, took her hand, and led her to the bed, where they sat down together.

A brief silence fell over the room.

Hisako Shinoto had her head down, seemingly preparing something...

Chapter 252 Erina Nakiri's Embarrassing Reminiscence

"I've realized I might also have a bit of a crush on Shirabuchi-sensei..."

After a moment of silence, Hisako Shinoto took a deep breath.

Then, without any preamble, she directly expressed her feelings.

"So that's how it was..."

To everyone's surprise, upon hearing her words, Erina Nakiri showed no surprise whatsoever, and instead nodded gently.

"What? I knew all along? Was all of this within Lady Erina's expectations? Isn't Lady Erina angry at all...?"

Seeing Erina Nakiri's calm reaction, Hisako Shinoto was the one who was stunned.

Sitting next to Erina Nakiri, his face full of struggle, he finally looked up at her and asked.

"Of course I'm not angry. Teacher Bai Yuan is so outstanding, and he usually does all sorts of intimate things with you that only couples would do. It's perfectly normal for you to like him."

Ultimately, it all comes down to Teacher Bai Yuan's problem!

Erina Nakiri shook her head, held Hisako Shinto's hand tightly, and said, "If you like her, just go for it. There's no harm in trying. Besides, Hisako is so beautiful, even prettier than a star. If I were Shirai-sensei, I would never refuse you. All you need to do to succeed is confess your feelings."

At that moment, Erina Nakiri suddenly understood Alice Nakiri back then.

Back then, Alice Nakiri made countless promises to her, saying that as long as she could take the initiative a little, Bai Yuan would be more than happy to take her into his harem. So that's what she felt back then.

Having spent a long time by Bai Yuan's side, I have gained a thorough understanding of his temperament and character, which is why I was able to draw conclusions or formulas that can be applied to a certain type of person.

As long as you spend some time by Bai Yuan's side, receive her careful guidance, and are punished by her with a ruler, it's impossible for her to refuse your confession.

Because Bai Yuan had already conducted a screening process when he took her in.

Those who remain here now are all women he finds attractive, with good figures, and most importantly, they are serious about cooking and have a certain talent for it—potential harem partners he can date!

I must say, he's a very understanding man.

"Just one confession away..."

However, Hisako Shinto did not think so.

Looking at Erina Nakiri, who was speaking with such certainty, she blushed deeply, biting her lower lip with an unusually hesitant expression.

"Don't think I'm exaggerating, but it's normal for you to have doubts. After all, I didn't believe it myself at first, but after getting to know him better, I found that he really is that kind of person."

Reaching out and grasping Hisako Shinoto's hand, Erina Nakiri spoke sincerely.

She has always considered Hisako Shirato her only friend.

If Hisako Shinto marries someone else in the future, they will only be able to get together once in a long time. I don't want that to happen!

In that case, marrying Bai Yuan would be the best choice for her.

They can still live together then, just like they did during their school days.

Furthermore, although Bai Yuan is a womanizer, he is indeed very gentle and responsible towards every girl, making him the best person to entrust one's life to.

"I…"

Hisako Shinto still hesitated, even though Erina Nakiri spoke with absolute certainty, as if things were very simple.

But Hisako is just Hisako, not the much-anticipated Erina…

"If you can't muster the courage, then take it slow. We still have plenty of time."

Seeing Hisako Shinto's extremely conflicted expression, I thought back to how I was at the beginning.

Erina Nakiri immediately realized that she was being a bit too hasty; these things should be done step by step.

After all, even she wouldn't dare to confess her feelings to Bai Yuan directly.

Instead, after going through various tests and experiencing the boy's sincere care, she finally expressed her feelings at the hot spring.

"Let's take it slow, there's no rush for these things."

However, it seems there are a lot of girls here who like Teacher Baiyuan.

Seeing that Erina Nakiri had finally relented and was no longer being asked to directly express her feelings.

Hisako Shinoto looked relieved, then spoke in a tone that was half sarcastic and half questioning.

"It should be said that almost all the girls who come here are interested in Teacher Bai Yuan."

Didn't you see Mito Ikumi? Her eyes were practically glued to Hakugen-sensei!

I absolutely do not believe that she only sees him as a teacher. She's just timid and afraid of failure, so she doesn't dare confess and can only bury her feelings deep in her heart.

Erina Nakiri astutely pointed out Mito Ikumi's worries and timidity, emotions that made it difficult for her to gain Hakubuchi's favor. After all, that guy had so many people around him, and getting him to take the initiative was simply a pipe dream.

Are you timid...?

Hisako Shinoto suspected that Erina Nakiri was targeting her, but she had no proof, so she could only hug her little pillow and silently lower her head once again.

"That's right, it's cowardice. Falling in love can turn you into a coward!"

This is a famous quote from the well-known light novel, "It's Impossible to Like That Idiot Aota-kun."

Looking at Hisako Shinto, Erina Nakiri was reminded of herself back then. She pointed at the chandelier on the ceiling, her fair and delicate little feet swaying slightly, and uttered the famous line she had read in a light novel.

"Love can turn you into a coward..."

Hisako Shinto repeated Erina Nakiri's words, raising her head to look at her. The girl seemed to sparkle under the chandelier.

The next moment, her face suddenly turned red.

The scene I saw at the hot spring just now flashed through my mind. Back then, Lady Erina was not a coward at all!

Not only are they not timid, they're terrifyingly bold!

"What's with that expression? Your face is so red, are you running a fever...?"

Seeing Hisako Shirato's face turn bright red in an instant, Erina Nakiri reached out and touched her forehead, pressing her head against it to feel the heat emanating from her forehead. It seemed perfectly normal.

So what's causing this blushing?

Speaking of which, why would Hisako suddenly run to her room and tell her that she also likes Baiyuan? Even though girls like to talk about love, the timing seems a bit off!

Erina Nakiri finally realized that something was wrong.

This is the time for intensive training, right? Even though it's nighttime for training, it's not the time to relax and chat about love in the room!

From the very beginning, Erina assumed Hisako had some questions about cooking, which was why she came to ask her. But as soon as Hisako came in, she told her that she liked Shirabuchi.

Looking at it this way, something seems a little off...

Thinking of this, Erina Nakiri frowned slightly, and her gaze toward Hisako Shinoto, who had her head hanging low, became more scrutinizing.

All the things that had gone unnoticed before suddenly came together in that instant, forming a network with incredibly clear logic.

"Hisako, did you hear any strange noises while you were soaking in the hot spring?"

Thinking of this, Erina Nakiri asked directly, and when she thought about what might happen, she looked at Hisako Shinoto with intense shame in her eyes.

"A sound? What sound? I didn't hear anything."

When Erina Nakiri suddenly changed the subject back to the hot spring, Hisako Shinoto immediately looked away, becoming somewhat guilty and avoiding eye contact.

"You heard that, right? So what exactly happened!"

I felt something was off as soon as I walked in. Why was there only one teacher, Shirayuki, in the women's bathroom?

Seeing that Hisako Shinoto seemed to know something, Erina Nakiri immediately grabbed her shoulders, her voice trembling slightly.

What was initially thought to be an accident was actually not so?

"Actually, it was Miss Alice who secretly switched the signs for the men's and women's bathhouses. By the time I found out, you were already in the men's bathhouse next door. I wanted to go and remind them, but they stopped me, so I couldn't get through."

Moreover, you were already...

It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go over and remind them again...