As the melody of the first song ended, and the rhythm of the second, softer piece began to drift through the air, Ren invited Alya to dance. Meanwhile, Godou, now appearing slightly more confident, asked Liliana for a dance.
This time, the sight that drew the attention of many pairs of eyes was the striking similarity between the two girls dancing with the Kings: both Alya and Liliana possessed stunning silver hair!
Under the crystal light of the chandeliers, their hair shimmered like strands of silver thread, making them the inevitable center of attention on the dance floor.
At the edge of the hall, still standing with her arms crossed over her chest, Yukino snorted with disgust at the scene.
"Disgusting playboy. What's so great about that guy except for his decent looks? There are plenty of handsome men out there, why can Alisa-san and Maria-san be so in love with Rokuhara Ren? I really don't understand." She muttered cynically, her voice barely audible amidst the music.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Chika cheerfully clung to Kaguya's right arm, acting spoiled.
"Kaguya-chan, what do you think if I ask Rokuhara Ren to dance? Do you think he would? Honestly, that guy is totally my type!"
"Fujiwara-san, I advise you to drop that idea. We don't know what consequences you might face if you accidentally offend him."
Knowing Chika's personality all too well—her tendency to cause trouble and act without thinking—Kaguya didn't want her best friend to bring disaster upon herself.
'Is she deliberately pressing her chest fat against me?' Kaguya thought with a hint of frustration, feeling the soft sensation of Chika's large breasts against her arm.
Kaguya subconsciously looked down at her own feet—a view difficult for women with large chests to achieve.
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After the dance, Masha and Alya felt a little tired. They had also been socializing with the elites who approached them representing Ren. Finally, they decided to take a short break.
Meanwhile, Ren approached the buffet table laden with various delicious dishes.
Among the fifteen alumni chefs from Totsuki Academy, specially invited by the Shinomiya Family to grace this banquet, four of them were former members of the Elite Ten.
So, what exactly was the Elite Ten?
The Elite Ten was a group of the ten most outstanding and talented students at Totsuki Culinary Academy, forming the core of the academy's Student Council. They were not just ordinary students; they possessed abilities equivalent to master chefs, each often having a culinary specialization, yet they were also known to be highly flexible and versatile.
"Welcome, Sir. You have a keen eye." Shinomiya Kojiro greeted with a friendly smile, noticing Ren's interested gaze on one of his culinary creations.
"This is Chou Farci, a classic French dish consisting of cabbage stuffed with minced meat and various vegetables, then slowly braised in a rich broth."
Kojiro explained with a proud tone, highlighting the uniqueness and deliciousness of the dish.
He was not from the Shinomiya Family hosting the banquet. He was the former First Seat of the 79th generation of the Totsuki Academy Elite Ten. He even earned the nickname "The Légumes Magician" for his skill in transforming vegetables into stunning dishes.
His most notable achievement to date was receiving the prestigious honor of being the first Japanese person to ever win the Pluspol medal, an award given to the chef with the highest contribution to the culinary aspect in France that year.
"Sounds very intriguing. Hopefully, the taste lives up to your enthusiastic description."
Taking a fork and piercing a piece of Chou Farci, Ren put it in his mouth. He was already accustomed to the typically small portions of French cuisine, so he wasn't surprised by the size of the serving in front of him.
"Not bad... Compared to the food at the French restaurants I've been to, your French dish is the most delicious I've ever tasted."
His mental fortitude prevented him from experiencing the bizarre delusions that often appeared in the Food Wars series when someone tasted incredibly delicious food. Ren gave his assessment honestly and without exaggeration.
"It is a great honor to hear such high praise from you, Sir. I deeply appreciate your words."
"I always strive to give my best in every dish I create, and knowing that my creation can be accepted by someone with such great taste as yours is a personal pride."
Hearing the praise from a Campione, Kojiro bowed slightly with a respectful expression. There was a tone of pride yet humility in his voice.
After tasting a few other French dishes, Ren moved towards the buffet table guarded by another Elite Ten alumnus. There, Inui Hinako, the former Second Seat of the 80th generation, was serving various traditional Japanese dishes. Ren took a small portion and enjoyed it, savoring the rich, authentic flavors.
Next, he approached Dōjima Gin, the legendary former First Seat of the 69th generation. Gin was serving Hachis Parmentier, a classic French dish of minced meat topped with a smooth layer of mashed potatoes. Although it was also a French dish, Ren felt a unique touch in Gin's cooking that made it taste more delicious and memorable compared to Kojiro's creation.
Finally, Ren's attention was drawn to the table guarded by Kikuchi Sonoka, the former Second Seat of the 89th generation. Her table displayed various Western dishes that looked appetizing. However, instead of focusing on the food, Ren's eyes were more drawn to the figure of the creator.
There was no other way to put it; Sonoka was a calm-faced young woman resembling Inui Hinako, with long hair flowing down to her waist, accompanied by several chest-length strands tied at the bottom with a black ribbon. Her straight bangs framed her forehead, highlighting her gentle light blue eyes. Her figure also exuded an attractive plumpness.
'Hmm... This woman meets all my criteria.' Ren thought to himself, observing Sonoka with an interested gaze.
'Beautiful, big breasts, beautiful long hair, and most importantly... an aura of gentleness emanating from her. The women in my harem are indeed blessed with large chests, but I don't think anyone is bigger than hers!'
'Didn't Itsuki once say that she really liked the cooking of the Totsuki Academy alumni chefs? If this woman becomes mine and lives in my house, she can be in charge of cooking for all of us. Yes, it's decided. Kikuchi Sonoka will be my fifth girlfriend.'
Ren considered for a moment whether he needed to use hypnosis or other brainwashing magic to ensure Sonoka became his. However, after a moment of thought, he decided against it.
'Seducing an innocent and naive woman like Kikuchi Sonoka should be easy enough for me with all my experience. Moreover, getting a woman too easily would also feel boring.'
'I've already obtained Masha and Alya through despicable methods like mind control enough. This time, I'll try a more conventional approach. Let's see how interesting the process of conquering the heart of this gentle girl will be.'