Chapter 2: Nakiri Mana, Appears (Patreon)

Ramsay. The one thing weighing on his mind right now was this: the guest arriving for a meal soon wasn't Erina Nakiri, but her birth mother:

Mana Nakiri!

As the current head of the Nakiri family, Mana Nakiri was no ordinary figure.

At this point in the timeline, her influence in the culinary world was several times greater than that of her daughter Erina, who would become so famous later!

Everyone in the food industry feared her, and everyone craved a single word of her critique.

One comment from her was enough to sway a chef's future and reputation.

---

But. Interestingly enough, Mana Nakiri had never attended Totsuki Academy.

Ramsay clearly remembered the original story: before Erina's generation, the children of the Nakiri family never went to Totsuki for their education.

After all, the Nakiri family's philosophy of raising heirs had always been one of a kind.

They weren't bound by the dogma of an academy. Instead, family members were scattered across the world to train firsthand among the countless flavors of life.

And so, from a young age, Mana had drifted from one top restaurant to another.

She had planted herself at the stove and thrown herself into cuisine. She was a top gourmet who had fought her way up step by step, through smoke, fire and real cooking.

---

What's more, in the original story, it was in a restaurant that Mana met Azami Nakamura, who was out on an internship.

Back then, Azami Nakamura's cooking was torn apart by the sharp-eyed, impossibly exacting Mana Nakiri, who found it worthless and full of flaws.

And yet. That merciless critique turned out to be... the turning point of Azami Nakamura's life!

Badly shaken, he didn't sink into despair. Instead, he reflected hard and drove himself forward, studying the culinary arts day and night, reviewing his failures to improve and breaking through his limits with countless rounds of polishing!

In the end, day after day of perseverance and accumulated skill earned his cooking Mana Nakiri's approval.

The two were bound together by cuisine, their ties deepened, and that eventually set off the whole story of Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma.

---

He'd never imagined he would transmigrate right into this critical moment.

It felt like some kind of hint from fate.

Ramsay actually loved the Food Wars! anime. But of the entire cast, Azami Nakamura was the one character he couldn't stomach and couldn't let go of!

Back when he was watching the series, every time he saw how Azami Nakamura treated the young Erina, Ramsay wanted to climb through the screen and stop it all.

A child is innocent to begin with. No matter what high-minded excuse you wrap it in, locking your own daughter in a dark, gloomy room and subjecting her to cold, cruel, inhuman pressure education...

Yeah, that is absolutely not what a parent should do!

---

What infuriated him most was that the ending of the original story forcibly whitewashed Azami Nakamura.

Every time he thought about it, resentment still churned in Ramsay's chest.

He had always believed in one principle: once harm is done, it can never be completely erased.

Whatever the original intention, pain inflicted on another person is real harm. There was no excuse that could excuse it. It was unforgivable. Absolutely unforgivable!

Just as Ramsay's thoughts were churning, a slightly strained announcement came from the restaurant entrance.

---

"Quick!" "Miss Nakiri has arrived!"

At the sound, everyone in the restaurant tensed up.

"What?" "She's here already?"

"Everyone to your positions and get ready to receive her! I'll go out and greet Miss Nakiri myself!"

The Manager finished speaking and strode out of the kitchen in her high heels. A moment later she came back, looking grave, and faced the kitchen.

"Nakamura." "Get ready right now." "Miss Nakiri has ordered our signature Fish Paupiette. I can leave this dish to you, right?"

"Don't worry! I'll serve the most perfect Fish Paupiette."

Azami Nakamura answered in a low voice, then turned and strode to the stove, his expression focused and resolute.

---

The Fish Paupiette.

It was a signature dish of classic French cuisine.

Azami Nakamura had practiced it countless times. His technique was polished and his experience deep, and he made the dish with ease, his movements flowing like water.

Time slipped by. After more than half an hour, the meticulously crafted Fish Paupiette was finally finished, its fragrance drifting through the entire back kitchen.

In the front of the restaurant, all the chefs had gathered, standing in hushed silence. No one dared make a sound.

Ramsay blended into the crowd, his eyes locked on the woman at the center of the circle...

Yes!

That was Mana Nakiri, the owner of the God's Tongue!

In the original story, Mana Nakiri had made a brief appearance, but back then her heavy makeup had hidden her real features, and plenty of people thought she looked rather plain!

But now, seeing Mana Nakiri in the bloom of her youth with his own eyes, Ramsay was left with nothing but shock.

---

He looked closely.

Her eyes, her brows, her features were almost identical to Erina's, a stunning, exquisite duplicate.

But compared to her daughter's pampered, showy beauty, the young Mana Nakiri had the greater presence. She carried a worldly composure, a cool, alluring elegance, and the aloof dignity of a top-tier family.

She wore a pink-and-white Japanese kimono that set off skin like snow and a graceful figure, its hem hanging softly.

And on her feet, white tabi socks and wooden geta set off her delicate, dainty feet.

A faint trace of noble coldness lingered between her brows. Her natural, peerless aura made people feel awe without meaning to.

The waitresses of this high-end restaurant were every one of them beautiful and gentle. Yet standing beside Mana Nakiri, they instantly paled and became mere backdrop!

And Azami Nakamura, who had been so full of confidence only moments ago, now stood before Mana and found his aura quietly suppressed. A hint of stiffness and unease showed through.

---

He bowed slightly, his posture utterly respectful.

"Miss Nakiri, this is the Fish Paupiette I made for you. Please enjoy."

Mana Nakiri turned her elegant profile and gave Azami Nakamura a light glance. Then her gaze fell on the dish, and her tone was flat, impossible to read.

"This is the dish?" "It looks far too ordinary."

At those words, the atmosphere in the front of the restaurant froze. The Manager hurried forward with a bow, quickly trying to smooth things over.

"Miss Nakiri!" "Nakamura is only a temporary trainee at our restaurant for now." "But his cooking is without question the best in our restaurant. Diners and our veteran chefs alike have nothing but praise for his dishes." "I'm sure," "that the flavor of this dish" "will not disappoint you!"

"Hm?" "A trainee?"

Hearing that, Mana Nakiri's delicate brows knitted. "Which Saryo culinary academy did he graduate from?"

Remembering the Totsuki name, the Manager answered at once:

"Totsuki Academy!"