"If you're curious, just try it. Then you'll understand why everyone loves it."
Seeing Hisako's confused face, Sora casually broke a stick in half and brought it to her mouth. She hesitated for two seconds… and then took a bite.
The crust was crispy and savory, the inside soft and airy—salty with a subtle richness. It was a simple flavor, yet somehow elevated through its combination.
After chewing and savoring it, Hisako glanced at Sora's hand again—he still had half a dough stick. Her eyes flickered with a hint of desire, though she didn't say a word.
"You can have it. Just make sure to work hard afterward."
"I'll take it myself, thanks."
Blushing faintly, Hisako quickly snatched the remaining dough stick and shoved it into her mouth.
Hack cough!
It was too big to swallow quickly, and her mouth couldn't move much. She choked a bit before finally managing to gulp it down.
"There's soy milk over there. Go eat your breakfast first. Ask Erina if she wants any too. If not, she can go hungry."
Sora gestured toward the breakfast he had prepared for Hisako and Erina. Since they'd arrived early, they probably hadn't eaten yet. He wasn't a monster—he wasn't going to make his staff work on an empty stomach.
"So good! Soy milk and dough sticks are amazing!"
At first, Hisako hadn't planned to eat much—but this stuff was addictively good. The aroma alone kept making her mouth water. And since she hadn't eaten, her stomach eventually gave in.
The humiliating defeat came under the allure of soy milk and dough sticks. Happiness bloomed on her face.
Before this, no one had ever told her that sweet and savory could pair so well!
"Right? Just two simple foods combined, and they become greater than the sum of their parts. Try the flatbread too—it's pretty tasty."
Sora dropped a pig trotter into the stewing pot and covered it. Then he walked over to flip the frying flatbreads, watching them turn golden as a rich aroma wafted out.
"Three dough sticks and two flatbreads. Hisako, are you really eating peasant food?"
"Ah? I'm sorry, Erina-sama! I… I was so hungry, and it smelled so good, I couldn't help it…"
"Don't bother explaining! I can't believe your standards are this low! Just a bit of fried dough and you look so happy. When did you become so easy to please?"
"Erina-sama, I…"
"Soy milk and dough sticks are a classic combo. Judging it before tasting it is rash—not something a proper chef should do!"
Sora cut in, standing tall. Watching Hisako's expression shift from joy to guilt under Erina's scolding, he selected a perfectly cooled dough stick, broke it off, and shoved it into her mouth.
"Mmgh!"
It happened so suddenly—Hisako was still crouched over, sulking. In the blink of an eye, Erina had been force-fed.
It looked a bit indecent. Her small mouth puffed up like a chipmunk's.
If a certain kind of artist saw this, they'd probably imagine ten entire doujinshi on the spot.
"You—what do you think you're doing?! Don't shove things into my mouth!"
Erina mumbled through full cheeks, glaring at Sora. But the crispy texture and savory flavor made her expression subtly change.
It wasn't bad at all...
"Don't talk. Here—have some soy milk. The flavor's on a whole different level when you pair them!"
Sora handed over the soy milk. Erina hesitated, sniffed it, then drank. Eating dough sticks without anything to wash it down had been drying out her mouth.
As the warm liquid touched her lips, it started sweet and turned into a rich soy flavor with hints of peanut and millet. It was silky smooth and genuinely top-quality.
She felt like she was bathing in warm soy milk. Every part of her body relaxed. Her skin soaked in the warmth. It was serene and peaceful.
But once she added the dough stick into the mix—bam. Something strange jolted through her. She shifted her legs slightly and unknowingly rested her hand on the kitchen counter. Her breath grew heavier. A faint flush spread across her cheeks.
With the sensitivity of the God Tongue, Erina could detect every nuance. Most people just thought "this is tasty"—but she could visualize the strengths and weaknesses, each flavor forming an image in her mind.
When she encountered a truly delicious dish, her body responded on its own.
Like right now—she grabbed the dough stick from Sora and alternated bites with the soy milk. Separately, they were ordinary. But together, they became something extraordinary.
"Well? Tasty, right? Peasant food can be delicious too—not inferior to your high-society cuisine at all."
Watching Erina squirm in pleasure, Sora smiled with satisfaction. As expected, no one could resist soy milk and dough sticks!
"Say something. Was it good?"
He was feeling pretty pleased with himself now. Erina's tsundere attitude made him want to tease her even more.
Maybe he really was a bit of a pervert.
But so what? Life's short. If you spend it worrying about what others think, you'll never be happy.
In his previous life, he cared too much about others' opinions. In this life, he'd live for himself.
"Disgusting… it was disgusting!"
Gritting her teeth, Erina gave him a death glare and stormed off.
But she forgot her current role.
"Oh no you don't. This order's ready—go deliver it, my dear maid."
Sora grinned as he pointed to the waiting food tray.
The maid outfit was slightly snug, especially in the chest. It made her curves stand out in all the right ways. The skirt reached her knees, and the black stockings highlighted her perfect legs.
Erina Nakiri truly was beautiful. If she became an celebrity, she'd probably be a top-tier one.
And what was more amazing—there were many girls like her at Totsuki Academy. Maybe it was just anime logic—or maybe the kids from rich families really were raised with different standards.