Anime Collector: Starting With the Malevolent Shrine

At the Yukinoshita family mansion.

Sonoka was shocked as she surveyed the devastation around her. Had this family been attacked by terrorists with rocket launchers?

The ground was pockmarked with craters, and the walls were riddled with bullet holes. Scattered shell casings still lay uncollected across the grounds.

The Yukinoshita family had built their fortune in construction and real estate, and they were considered local nobility in Chiba, with an intricate web of connections. Their ability to mobilize relationships and manpower was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

In fact, it was far beyond Sonoka's imagination.

"To openly use firearms and organize a gunfight — aren't they basically Yakuza at this point? So this is the Yukinoshita family of Chiba? Miss Haruno's background is even more impressive than I imagined." She couldn't help but marvel.

She was a graduate who had held the Second Seat of the Elite Ten's 89th class. Despite her young age and gentle demeanor, she was already the head chef and owner of the Western restaurant "Shunkatei".

Along with her senior Taki Tsunozaki, she was known as a "prodigy who could rival professional starred chefs". She had come to Chiba because she had hit a plateau in her skills, hoping to find new flavors through travel.

Her initial plan was to taste local Chiba cuisine.

But at one restaurant, she encountered a former junior classmate being harassed by customers. After stepping in to help, she ended up serving as head chef there for several days. That's when she met the young lady of the Yukinoshita family.

Perhaps it was Haruno's personality, or something else entirely, but the two hit it off immediately, chatting happily. Haruno even introduced many hidden gem restaurants for Sonoka to try.

This time she was invited to the Yukinoshita family to demonstrate her culinary skills. Naturally, she would give it her all.

After walking a few steps, she saw Haruno approaching. Sonoka couldn't help but wave excitedly.

"Little Sonoka, long time no see!" Haruno enthusiastically gave her a hug.

But Sonoka's impressive figure caused her to bounce back. Her expression shifted to a mix of frustration and resentment.

She had thought her own attributes were enough to overwhelm most people. However, this woman's "presence" was truly on another level — the kind that naturally drew attention at first sight.

Haruno mentally slapped her forehead. She'd been foolish, so focused on getting Daiki to stay over that she'd forgotten how attractive Sonoka's appearance was to men.

"..." Sonoka scratched her head awkwardly.

Her delicate personality only made people want to tease her more. Her impressive figure was the kind that drew attention wherever she went.

"No need to apologize, come on in. Little Sonoka, I'm counting on you for the cooking!" Haruno took her hand and led her toward the Yukinoshita mansion.

The pleading, helpless tone in her voice made Sonoka panic.

"Eh? Is this cooking event really that important?" She froze, then asked hurriedly.

"Very important! This is for the person who saved the Yukinoshita family. From today on, my family will be under his protection."

Her words made the already flustered woman even more nervous.

The Yukinoshita family was Chiba's local nobility, after all!

For such a powerful family to align themselves with someone else — just how formidable must that person's background be? She hadn't expected her first invitation would be so challenging.

She walked timidly, as if treading on thin ice. In her mind, she pictured a stern-faced man of great authority.

"Don't be nervous, Daiki-kun has quite a nice personality. He doesn't kill people randomly — see, I'm still alive and well!" Seeing her state, Haruno couldn't help but tease.

Sonoka's beautiful eyes went wide, doubting what she'd just heard.

"That guy kills people too?" She instinctively looked at the bullet holes around her.

The image in her mind changed to that of a fierce man firing guns wildly.

"Haruno, he doesn't have any dietary restrictions, does he?"

"Huh? I don't think so? I haven't really paid attention before." Haruno truly hadn't noticed his eating habits — not that she'd ever had the chance.

Sonoka became even more panicked, "How can you just say 'I think'? What if I serve him a steak and he says he doesn't eat beef? He won't shoot me, will he?"

Hearing her words, Haruno imagined the scene and burst out laughing.

"You're still laughing!" Sonoka said with a pout.

"I'm just joking — you won't be scared once you meet Daiki-kun." Haruno waved her hand reassuringly.

"Once I meet him, I probably won't dare to be scared!" Sonoka said with a twist of her mouth. She could tell that her friend's earlier words were just teasing, "This Yukinoshita young lady is known as the 'Universal Beauty' after all."

She was quite trustworthy, relatively speaking. Compared to her previous dejected state, Haruno seemed to have regained her vitality, as if all burdens had been lifted from her shoulders.

If this Daiki were a bad person, she wouldn't be like this.

After walking a bit more, Haruno and Sonoka arrived at the banquet hall.

Maids in uniform were cleaning and organizing the open kitchen, having finished purchasing the necessary ingredients and seasonings.

"For appetizers, we'll prepare rainbow fruit salad and vinaigrette vegetable salad, paired with cream seafood soup and clam chowder. For main courses, wine-braised foie gras, golden prawns, Beef Wellington... Haruno, are you sure Mr. Daiki doesn't have any dietary restrictions?" Perhaps thinking of the bullet holes in the walls, Sonoka remained cautious.

"No, he doesn't! I just messaged Yukino to ask, she said he doesn't." Haruno waved her phone, gesturing for her to cook without worry.

"For dessert, we'll prepare soufflé and Viennese mille-feuille. Here's the ingredients list — everything must be fresh." Sonoka organized the list and handed it to her.

"Don't worry!" Haruno passed the list to the nearby maid.

The entire Yukinoshita family sprang into action.

Sonoka approached the open kitchen and opened her utensil box, revealing an immaculate array of professional cooking implements. The careful arrangement alone spoke volumes about her expertise.

"Little Sonoka is a chef who rivals W.G.O. starred chefs. With her culinary mastery, she might just impress Daiki-kun. Perhaps she can even outshine Ichika through her cooking."

W.G.O. starred chefs' cuisine existed in a league of its own. First-time diners were invariably astounded by the sophisticated flavors.

Haruno could barely contain her anticipation of everyone's amazed reactions.

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