Chapter 21
Erina's Day at Yukihira

Senzaemon tells the story of Erina Nakiri when she was a child. Back when she was a child, she was full of laughter and was close to Alice. Even though she called her strawberry cake disgusting, they had some fun. That was until Alice wanted to go to Europe and begged her father, leaving Erina all alone with her father. Erina was taken by her father to a dark room with a small window that has bars with a fancy yet looking wooden small table and a matching seat. On the desk are two plates that look similar, but there are some differences. There is a single candle on the table and next to the seat is a green bin with a wavy top. The point was to teach Erina the meaning of cooking. Or rather, his way of cooking.

"Tell me," he says in a stern tone, "which of these are seasoned correctly?"

Erina look at the two fish dishes in front of her, "The right one? The one on the left is putting too much emphasis on animal fats. The flavor is unbalanced."

"Very well done. Now then, throw whats on the other plate into the garbage."

Erina looks at her father, "What? But um..." She looks back and forth at the plates and her father, "Wasting food doesn't seem like the right way to do."

Azami grabs his daughter's left wrist and squeeze it tight. He starts to look mean, serious and angry. "Do it." he orders.

Erina is in serious pain as she begs, "You're hurting me! Please don't! Stop it, father!"

"Do it girl." he gives her a very terrifying look in his eyes to strike fear and obedience.

Erina reluctantly throws the rejected dish into the trash. She is terrified by her father and is scared. A huge pressure is placed on her as she starts to sweat and finds it hard to breath.

However, he smiles and is proud of her with a more cheery tone, "What a good girl you are."

He tells her that she must let go of any form of sentimental and taste is all that matters. Azami tells Erina that an ill-prepared dish is unforgivable. Anything that doesn't meet with his approval is nothing but complete and total garbage. He trains and brainwash her as part of her 'training'. However, Senzaemon came to the rescue and exiled Azami. Unfortunately, the damage was already done despite everything Senzaemon tried to do. Thus, that's how Erina became today. As for her father, he started creating some sort of club full of the elite as he filled his pockets and created dishes that only a few chosen can ever try.

We cut back to the Yukihira dinning room as Senzaemon finished his story.

"And that's what happened. I don't know what Azami is planning, but it can't be good." Senzaemon looks back at Saiba yet becomes terrified along with Hisako.

Saiba is mad while giving off a blood red aura. He bears his teeth and has a very horrifying scowl yet his teeth were turning into fangs. In his hands, both cups of teas were boiling as if his hands were hot to the touch. Behind him is some sort of black-furred, monstrous fox with nine-tails with soul piercing golden eyes as it bares its fangs.

Hisako is blue in the face as she falls from her seat. She panics, "WHAT IS THAT?!"

The monstrous fox behind Saiba lets out a vicious roar for both of them to hear.

Senzaemon backs away, "I heard of this! That's an appetite demon! Ferocious monsters that are spirits that manifested by eating certain types of foods in the new continent! Never in my life I would ever imagine that the transfer student would have this, but I had my suspicions!"

AN: If you want to know more about Appetite Demons and how they actually come about and work, check out the Toriko Wikia for more information.

"Azami Nakiri." he says in an agitated state, "You're dead!" But his angry state was set aside as his demon retreated back into his body. He takes a deep inhale through his nostrils before exhaling to calm down. After finally calming down, he went to the fridge and takes out some leftover udon, place it in the microwave, and eats it to replenish the calories he had to burn because of that stunt.

"Why is he eating?" Hisako is still frighten yet now confuse.

Senzaemon explains, "Bringing forth such beings require a great deal of calories. If he doesn't get enough, it will eat his very soul."

Then Saiba starts eating two apples, three carrots and two strawberry Pop-Tarts he stashed away in one of the cabinets before he left.

He wipes his mouth with a napkin, "I'm sorry you had to see that." he gets up, "I think my mom and Erina are done."

The three head back to the restaurant and see Erina and Yuki in a middle of a stare down. The two are making angry expressions at each other yet all is quiet as everyone in the restaurant try to enjoy their food despite the intensity in one section. Saiba sighs and walks over to Erina. All of a sudden, he hugs her, much to Erina's surprise and to Yuki's shock.

"Wha-?!" Yuki went, "What's going on!?"

Erina is blushing as Saiba gives her a sympathetic hug after hearing her story from her grandfather.

Saiba looks at his mother, "Let me tell you what Mr. Nakiri said to me."

They all are in the living room of the Yukihira house and Senzaemon tell the story again.

"WAAAAH!" Yuki produces a fountain of tears before hugging Erina on the couch, "I'm so sorry!" She pets Erina while hugging her, "I didn't know you had it that hard!"

Erina is having a hard time breathing because Yuki is hugging too tight. "It's okay..." he struggles to speak, "You can...let go...now..."

Yuki stops hugging and hold Erina's shoulders as she looks at her, "You're welcome here as much as you like! You can hide here in our home as much as you want. If your father ever comes here," she makes a fist with her right hand, "I'll give him a good decking!"

Hisako is laughing a little but she has a fake smile on her face while having a giant sweat drop on her head while standing with a tray. Senzaemon is sitting on a chair while sweating a little.

"Even though the man knows where we live now." Saiba states the fact, "So he could come over anytime with an army."

Erina looks at Saiba and is surprised, "He was here!?"

"Yeah, he convinced me to be a student at Totsuki Academy when my father was still here." Saiba thinks about it, "He must be using me then. Damn him."

"Saiba!" Yuki yells at her son, "Watch your language!"

Saiba duck his head between his shoulders, "Sorry, mom."

Erina asks Yuki, "In that case, can I merry your son?"

"Don't push your luck."

"He does have a point." Senzaemon thinks the same, "Azami is planning something. He might take some form of drastic measure."

But everything gets interrupted when they hear a knocking at the door. They look and see Aletta coming in.

"Excuse me." Aletta seem to be a bit on edge, "Can we have some help? Some of the customers are getting a little out of hand."

Senzaemon stands up, "We'll discuss this at another time. We'll leave you to it."

When they make it back, there is a bit of an argument among the regulars that got in the restaurant via the portal door.

"I keep on telling you!" Fried Shrimp is arguing with Minced Meat Cutlet again, "Shripe is the best food there is! You can taste the sea and the batter used when frying it is delicious! Why can't you imperial girls understand that?"

Minced Meat Cutlet argues, "And I keep telling you that minced meat cutlets are better! The sweet savory taste of minced meat cutlets perfectly cooked in oil with the breading is far better."

Teriyaki and Pork Loin-Cutlet are having their own argument as well.

"Then why can't you try my teriyaki chicken for once?" Teriyaki asks, "You keep on holding off on trying it."

"Same with you with my pork loin-cutlets. It would even widen your palette."

The dwarves raise their giant mugs, "MORE BEER, PLEASE!"

"Another rice omelette for here. Two more rice omelettes to go."

"Can I have another chocolate parfait?"

"Two spaghetti plates, please."

Saiba puts on his headband, "I'll take care of the cooking! Mom, you handle the customers!"

Yuki cracks her knuckles, "On it!"

Erina joins in, "I'll help out as well! Give me the menu, and I'll do what I can."

Aletta asks Hisako, "Can you help us? I know you're a guest, but Kuro and I could use some help."

Hisako joins in also, "If Miss Erina is helping out, I'll help too!"

Everyone went to work as Senzaemon takes a seat and watches them all work.

Tenshu asks Erina, "Can you chop some of the mushrooms for the rice omelettes?"

"On it!"

Hisako heads on over to the kitchen with an order, "Two minced meat cutlet sandwiches and fried shrimp sandwiches to go!"

"Two minutes!" Saiba says.

'One tofu steak with rice.' Kuro uses telepathy which freaks out Hisako and Erina.

"Got it!" Tenshu says.

"What was that?" Erina asks.

"That was telepathy." Saiba says, "Now get back to work!"

"Uh, right!"

The day continues with everyone working hard. Erina and Hisako learn some of the in's and out's of Nekoya as the two are amazed by the customers that come in. Yuki makes sure no fights get out of hand or else she decks them and have them banned from the restaurant. It continued until sunset when the restaurant finally closed after Red Queen takes the giant pot of beef stew through the door.

"That should be all." Tenshu says.

Both Erina and Hisako sigh in relief as they take a seat.

"Who knew that working in a restaurant like this would be so busy." Hisako says as she fans herself with a paper fan.

"But to be honest, I didn't realize how popular this restaurant is." Erina notices all the customers.

"Yeah. I realized that as well. There were some royalties and a half-elf duchess here."

"Not only that," says Saiba while holding a tray, "we also have a lizardman hero, a champion gladiator, a famous samurai, one of the four legendary heroes, and one of the dragon gods."

"Seriously?!" Hisako is surprised, "I had no idea!"

Saiba place some dishes in front of Hisako and Erina. "Curry buns with lassi? Its tonight's dinner. For dessert, we have souffle cheesecake with berries."

Hisako takes her drink, "Thank you."

Yet Erina press for some answers, "How exactly did they ended-up in this restaurant?"

Saiba takes a seat and is about to eat dinner, "Have you forgotten the lesson I told you back at the club? It started when one of the four legendary heroes disappeared on Earth after the war against the Demon King. Believe it or not, Tenshu there is that heroine's grandson."

The two look over and see Yuki, Senzaemon, Aletta, Kuro and Tenshu over at the other table and take a good look at Tenshu, who is laughing.

Hisako and Erina point at Tenshu as they look at Saiba, "Him? You've got to be kidding."

"But he looks normal." Hisako says.

"True." Saiba says. "But look at it this way: Do you really need magic to survive in the world we live in? Or a sword?"

"No, we don't." Hisako realizes, "I get it now. Still though."

Erina takes a bite of the curry bun and finds it enjoyable. "This is really good!" she takes another bite.

Hisako tries it and finds it delicious as well, "Oh wow!" Then she takes another bite.

"I know, right?" Saiba takes a bite. "Tenshu makes some great curry buns."

Erina is astonished, "He made these?"

"Yeah. He made them. As for me, I made the dessert."

Hisako drinks the lassi, "And these buns taste good with the lassi."

Erina talks about the curry buns, "The vegetables and the meat are cut finely and in proper portions. The curry is mild yet has a mellow creaminess to it. The very bun itself is perfectly fried while being light and fluffy. The lassi is the perfect drink to such a delectable treat."

They enjoy their dinner as Saiba explain much about how Tenshu and Joichiro ended-up on this world. He even told the two on how Joichiro and Yuki met before he was conceived. After the conversation, Saiba went and get the cheesecake.

"Eat up!" Saiba presents the cheesecake.

It is a plain cheesecake with a variety of berries such as blackberries, blueberries and strawberries along with a berry sauce at the top and some whip cream. The two are impressed how it turned out. Saiba takes a knife and cuts the slices. To the girls' surprise, the cheesecake didn't stick to the knife. The two are presented their slice and takes a closer look at it.

Erina pokes it with a fork, 'The consistency of the cake is firm yet creamy to the touch. The berry sauce is slowly dripping over the edge of the slice.' Erina then takes a bite. Once she did, she felt like she is being elevated deep in her soul. She gasp on how wonderful the cake taste. 'The taste! The textures! All of these flavors! It is a wonderful combination! Since it was made here in this new world, it's like... It's like...'

In her mind, she is sailing across an ocean of the same berry sauce while on a boat that is exactly like a plain cheesecake with a fork being a mast and sails made from the whip cream. She is dressed as a sailor from the late medieval to early renaissance period as she looks out through a spyglass. Through the spyglass, she sees a land made out of cheesecake with mountains of berries, the crust as the beach and trees of whip cream.

'It's like the early explorers of Europe discovering the Americans!'

Afterwards, they are all outside as Senzaemon, Hisako and Erina get into their car. Everyone of Yuki-Neko says goodbye to them as they drove off.

In the car, Erina looks at her grandfather, "Grandfather?"

"Hmm?"

Erina smiles, "I had a wonderful time today. Thank you." and giggles a little. "This world is truly amazing."

AN: Hey everyone! I hope you enjoy the new chapter. I had to shorten it because of work and all that, but I hope it turned out right. Until then, stay safe and stay healthy. Later!