Ren held his head down, ears red from the tug.

Jin instinctively stepped back beside Kazuma, unsure whether to intervene or flee.

Mei frowned, bent down, picked up the papers Tanvika had thrown—and froze.

Tanvika crossed her arms, glaring. “Read those rubbish answers. And you two,” she turned sharply to Ren and Kazuma, “why did you write that kind of answer?”

Sakura, blinking in confusion, leaned toward Mei. “What’s written? Can you read it out loud?”

Mei slowly raised her head, still stunned. “…There’s nothing here. All four lines are the same.”

Gasps rose from the others nearby.

“…All four lines say: ‘I don’t know.’”

**

Outside the forest, Inori’s mouth dropped open. “What...?”

Miko blinked, rubbing her temple. ‘I knew they’d do some nonsense… but Tanvika-sama won’t let this slide.’

**

Tanvika’s eyes darkened. She turned to Kazuma, voice ice-cold. “You—why are you smiling? Why did you write that? You think this is a joke?”

Kazuma grinned. “Why are you angry, Tanvika-sama? The answers matched, right?”

She barked at Renshiro, “Don’t give them the key. Close this stall. I already said—it depends on your answers, right? I need the correct ones too.”

Kazuma calmly replied, “But the answers are correct too.”

“What do you mean ‘you don’t know’? That’s your answer?”

He tilted his head innocently. “I haven’t awakened my second type yet. So I don’t know.”

He thought silently, ‘I did awaken… but you can’t ask here, even if I say wrong. Hehe. And I didn’t tell Ren, so he really doesn’t know.’

Her fist clenched. ‘This idiot… He’s tricking me. I know it’s wrong—but I can’t press deeper, not here.’

She turned to Ren. “Then you—?”

“I don’t know the katana’s name. I didn’t give it one. So I wrote ‘I don’t know.’”

He continued calmly, “And its abilities… I really don’t know the full range, Tanvika-sama. I stopped exploring after a point. I thought the ones I know are enough. So that’s what I wrote. It’s valid, right? According to your exact question.”

Yui thought, ‘Huh? This dumb fellow wrote based on what he actually knows… but that fourth answer… They must’ve planned this beforehand.’

Tanvika’s gaze softened slightly as she looked at Ren—just for a moment. But her face hardened again as she turned to Kazuma.

“Then you—the final question. Why did you write that as your reason for participating?”

Kazuma folded his arms. “We don’t know. We just felt like participating this year. No particular reason.”

She scowled. “Don’t lie. You must have some reason. Like… you weren’t strong before… or this is your final chance. But this—this isn’t an answer.”

“I already said. No particular reason. We just felt like it. If you really want to assume, you can think of it as the examples you gave, Tanvika-sama. But we didn’t write nonsense. We really don’t know.

If you asked like Shiro-san, maybe the answers would’ve changed. But you didn’t.”

She stared. ‘So you won’t admit it…’

She turned to Renshiro, her face hard. “Give me the keys.”

Renshiro blinked in fear and quickly handed over the remaining four keys.

Tanvika's voice was calm—but her words were sharp. “Go. I won't give the keys. I don’t accept these answers. This isn’t just about matching answers. Whatever your reason, if you write like that, then you must explain it.”

Kazuma raised his brows. “Huh? Doing this when you’re in a respectable position, Tanvika-sama? This is unfair. We played fairly. Then what are the rules? I heard every year, instructors say follow the rules—or get eliminated. We followed it. We earned it. But…”

Her voice dropped, dangerous and low. “Then don’t play. You’re eliminated.”

Both froze, silent as the echo of her words settled around them.

She turned slightly, gaze fierce. “Renshiro—inform Haruki. These two are out.”

Kazuma and Ren stood still, eyes wide. That word—‘out’—kept ringing.

She raised her chin. “I already said the reason. If you write vague answers, you must explain them. I can change the rules as I see fit. If you want to win—you have to follow the conditions.”

She flicked her fingers dismissively. “Now go.”

She turned to the side. “Yui. And you… Sakura, right?”

They nodded nervously.

“You both failed too.”

****

Inori’s jaw dropped, her voice shrill. “Miko-senpai, what is she doing?! Even if those answers were vague… they weren't wrong. And now Yui too? If she fails, Hisagi will also get affected—”

Miko didn’t answer immediately. Her fingers tapped her arm, eyes squinting in thought.

‘I don’t think she’ll go that far… or… wait—did she find out? Is she playing with them? Or did those answers really make her angry? Ugh, it’s hard to…’

“Senpai! Say something! Why are you just watching? Where's Haruki? Damn it, he's in the forest too. If I go in now—I swear I’ll argue with her.”

Miko gently raised her hand, calm but serious. “Wait. Just wait and watch what happens.”

****

Back inside Room 3, at the stall—

Sakura’s eyes widened, breath catching. “Tanvika-sama… please…”

Yui, already stepping back, said softly, “Ken… let’s go. We don’t need the key. We’ll try another task. Come.”

Turning slightly to Tanvika, her voice lowered into a quiet appeal. “Tanvika-sama… please. Just consider this once.”

She didn’t blink. “Yui… the rules were made to control you. But we don’t force you. If you don’t want to obey—leave.”

“We’re not asking for the key. Just let it pass.”

Her voice didn’t soften. “Then they have to request it.”

Kazuma, arms crossed, thought to himself, ‘Just for that, maa? Just because of that... you're eliminating us? You need us to bow?’

Yui hissed at Ren, “Ken, just say sorry. Because of you, we’re all getting disqualified. Sakura—tell him.”

Inside Yui’s mind, Yuki’s voice echoed. – ‘Hey! What’s happening? I wanted to play like yesterday.’

– “What do you want me to do? I can’t argue with him the way I do with Ren!”

In a panic, Sakura reached forward and cupped Ren’s chin gently. “Please, Ken… say sorry. It’ll all be over. Say it to master too—he’ll follow you. I want to play more rounds.”

Kazuma stiffened. “I won’t say sorry for not doing wrong. Let’s go, Ken.” He turned away. “We’ll figure something out later.”

Then he turned to Tanvika, voice still respectful. “Tanvika-sama. I request just one thing—please pair up Sakura and Yui. We’re leaving.”

Tanvika’s face stayed unreadable. But inside, her heart tensed. ‘Just say sorry already! I’ll let it go, idiot! I’m waiting! Why won’t you—!’

Ren still didn’t move.

Her breath hitched silently. ‘Uff. At least you say “please”. Anything! Damn it I’ve gone too far already… Wait. What do they mean, ‘we’ll figure it out’? Ahhh! No—first focus on this.’

She said, “I don’t pair them. If they can’t convince their partner, they don’t need to play.”

Ren whispered in mind voice, calm and honest, – It’s maa only. We’ll say sorry. Think of it as… an indirect sorry for not coming. Sakura really wants to play.

Kazuma replied in frustration, – Damn it. Maa’s doing this on purpose. If not, why won’t she allow them to pair?

– Whatever. I’ll say it. It’s fine. We did write it the wrong way too, right?

Kazuma clenched his fists. – Damn… I don’t have a choice, huh? You! Urgh…

He finally muttered, “Okay. Sorry. We did wrong.”

Tanvika stared at them silently. Her hand curled slightly near her waist. ‘Can I say yes now? If I agree too fast, it’ll feel weak… I have to give it a pause.’

She breathed out slowly. “Um… Okay… okay.”

She turned, adjusting her saree lightly. “But now, which pair needs the key?”

Yui stepped forward quickly. “We need two. We already have one.”

Tanvika nodded. “Alright. Renshiro—go to Room 4 and bring the dishes that were made earlier.”

Renshiro blinked, nodded once. “Yes, Tanvika-sama.” Then hurried out.

She turned to Yui and Ren. “You two will now play a version of the game. Four dishes will be placed. You taste them, and each of you writes in one word how it tasted to you. Sweet, spicy, sour, bitter, whatever it feels.”

Her voice dropped slightly colder. “I just tweaked the round so you wouldn't feel unfair. This time, no nonsense. If you don’t match answers, no key.”

He smiled gently. “Thank you, Tanvika-sama… for agreeing to our request.”

She blinked fast. ‘Just one word from you both… and I’d do anything. Idiots. Just… please say something to me at least…’

She turned away, her face regaining its calm mask.

Kazuma turned away too, arms folded tight — not a word left in him.

Tanvika saw it clearly, her gaze narrowing. ‘Now you’re sulking or getting angry at me?’

She called out, not unkindly, “Hey, turn this side.”

Kazuma slowly turned his head, not meeting her eyes. “What now... do I have to say sorry again?”

His voice stayed flat. “In my opinion, I didn’t say sorry for what happened. I just said it because they all asked.”

She stared, arms folded. ‘Huh... are you saying sorry for not coming? You even covered it with ‘I just said because they asked’?’

She let out a breath and said with a small smile, “Actually, my son behaves like you. He also writes cunning answers.”

Kazuma glanced up briefly. ‘Is she talking about me... or that idiot?’

His reply stayed flat. “So what, Tanvika-sama? You didn’t accept the answers either, right?”

At that moment, Renshiro arrived with a tray of four dishes—banana chips, burfi, cheese balls, and parota—each in small tasting cups.

Himari, nearby, blinked. “Huh? Our dish? Shiro-san brings that too?”

Jin leaned close, whispering, “That’s our Parota.”

Tanvika pointed toward the booth. “Okay. Go into the booths. Eat one by one and write your answers. Go.”

Ren and Yui entered the adjacent booths.

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the burfi. ‘Wait… this is Yuta’s dish, right? He failed. Now I have to eat this?’

She took a bite—her face twisted, lips puckering and glared toward Yuta. “Ugh!! Salt?! Who adds salt to burfi?!”

“It’s not my mistake! It’s her! She was confused between the sugar and salt!”

Ren chewed the banana chip calmly. ‘Huh? It’s not spicy. Why did they say that?’ After waiting a few seconds: ‘Still not spicy.’ He scribbled down his answer.’

She picked up the next dish—cheese ball. Bite. Crunch. ‘Mmm... crispy outside, cheesy inside. I’m definitely making this later.’

He tasted the Parota, dipping it in the curry. ‘Hmm… a little oily, but nice flavor.’

Tanvika took their sheets. “Hmm… at least now… this is good.”

She glanced at the first answer. “Barfi.”

Reading aloud, she said, “Ken: Salty.” A pause. “Yui: Salty.”

Mei chuckled from behind. Himari scowled. “You! It’s not my fault!”

Mei shrugged playfully. “Exactly why you should step into the kitchen sometimes, Neesan.”

Tanvika went on. “Banana chips. Ken wrote, ‘Not spicy at all.’”

And she checked Yui’s. “Not spicy,” she read. “Hm…”

Yui blinked. “Huh?”

Tanvika tilted her head. “This one doesn’t match…”

Ren leaned forward. “Huh? Wh–what? M… My answer also says ‘not spicy,’ right? I still don’t get why you gave that one third place, Tanvika-sama...”

Kazuma shifted, throwing him a sharp glance.

She paused. ‘Still holding back from calling me Maa, idiot? You even stopped mid-sentence and changed it?’

And tapped the paper with her finger. “Everyone’s taste is different. We liked that dish. Simple.”

She continued, “Cheese balls. Ken wrote: Crunchy. Yui wrote: Cheesy and crunchy.”

And she arched her brow, but said nothing.

Yui gave a tight smile. “Okay, Tanvika-sama… we’ll just head to another stall and try a different task.”

But Tanvika smiled softly. “Yui, I didn’t say your answer was wrong. I was just teasing in the second answer too. It’s fine. In this round, if the answers are related, it counts. Only when they’re contradictory—like ‘spicy’ and ‘not spicy’—it’s considered incorrect.”

She moved to the final answer. “Parota.”

Ren’s sheet: “Oily but spicy.”

Yui’s: “Spicy.”

Tanvika looked up. “Mm. That matches too.”

Yui exhaled, a bit relieved. “Phew. So we got the key now… to Room 2?”

She nodded.

Kazuma stepped up slightly. “Tanvika-sama… do you know what’s in Room 1? They told us Room 4 needs preparation, but for Room 1, Takshiro-san just said it needs time to open.”

She tilted her head slightly, then turned to Renshiro. “Hey. What’s in Room 1?”

Renshiro leaned in and whispered something to her.

Tanvika turned back with a soft, unreadable smile.

“Well,” she said to Kazuma, “you’ll see later. Cooking takes time, right? So to balance all the pairs’ timing, Room 1 will open last.”

She clapped once. “For now, go. Head to Room 2.”

****

All eight regrouped outside Room 3.

Tanvika stood slightly apart, her gaze resting on the familiar duo. ‘If they realize Ren and Kazuma have returned… what kind of faces will they make?’ she mused silently.

Ren looked around and asked, “What’s in Room 2?”

Kazuma shrugged. “I don’t know. They said only 15 pairs are allowed per batch, so we didn’t get in.”

Jin stepped forward. “We actually have the orange key. We’re heading to Section A. You six can go to Room 2.”

Kazuma replied, “Well, Yui and Ren already have a key. So they don’t need another one from Room 2.”

Mei turned to Ren. “Ken-san, can you please open a dimension portal to Section A? You’ve already been there, right? You can at least send us somewhere close.”

Ren hesitated. “Um…”

Yui narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean ‘um…’ again?”

“The charge… it might be useful for other situations.” Then turned to them. “Just touch my hands.”

He held out his hands, gently touching Jin and Mei’s palms. In a blink, they vanished—reappearing outside the building they’d searched earlier.

“We’re here,” Ren said calmly. “Don’t forget—the token in the box.”

They nodded and stepped into the building.

A few seconds later, Ren reappeared outside Room 3 and rejoined the others.

Inside Room 2, which was now open for 15 pairs, rows of carts waited neatly lined up beside towering racks and wide counters. Each aisle held labeled products—oil bottles, snacks, packs, jars, fruits, spices… a layout that looked oddly familiar.

Maki walked in, guiding them while carrying Hina on her waist.

Kazuma glanced around and muttered, “Hm… Shopping yard.”

Author’s Note:

Hi, readers

I haven’t written an author’s note in recent chapters, right? So here it is!

For this chapter (and honestly, most of my uploads), I don’t edit too heavily. I follow grammar rules as best as I can, but I use chunky English — simple, emotional, and straight actions. It may not be perfect, but it’s me.

Also, from now on, chapters will go live around 10–11 AM instead of the usual evening. My job schedule shifted, and while I can schedule them for evenings, it gets tricky for me after that. So I’ll try to mention this clearly if I can schedule in future author notes too.

And please yaar... Just one comment, one like, one review—they make me so happy. Really. Not just for numbers, but because I want to know what’s working and what’s not. Even if the story or dialogues feel good, maybe the actions feel jarring sometimes—and I won’t know unless you tell me, right? Because you are following me from the start.

You’ll also find updates in: My profile’s wall/ message section, Forum threads.

Lastly... thank you. Truly.

To every single person who's been reading, even silently—even one reader following this journey from beginning to now makes my heart full.