Survive in Azure Files

"You pervert, why did you call me? You can't be so low and despicable that you would do such an unreasonable thing in public, right?"

Having said that, Iori took a half step back, his slightly narrowed eyes flashing with a wary light.

What happened to your imagination?

I laughed dumbly, shook my head, and whispered, "You misunderstood. You should come to the cafeteria to eat, right?"

"Why else would I come to the cafeteria at this time? There aren't any students causing trouble."

"That's great, let's go together?"

My sincere invitation was met with distrust.

"...Huh?" Iori frowned and made a puzzled sound, "Wait a minute, why do I want to eat with you? And didn't you just come out from inside?"

I scratched my face awkwardly: "How should I put it... After all, this is Gehenna... You know what I mean?"

"Please speak more clearly."

I thought about it and told him frankly: "It's just that there are too many problem children in your school, and there are too many students in the cafeteria. I'm worried about getting into trouble."

"Then why don't you go somewhere else to have lunch?"

That is indeed the truth, but firstly, I miss the dishes cooked by Fengxiang, and secondly, I am a little hungry now and don’t want to make an extra trip back and forth.

Just as I was organizing new words, Iori curled his lips and walked over to my side in two or three steps:

"Forget it, there's nothing I can do. This is part of the Judgment Committee's duties, and it's just a side job, so I'll help you a little. Let's go in and see if there are any empty seats nearby."

After saying that, Iori walked towards the cafeteria door and I quickly followed.

My eyes followed the arrow-shaped tail in front of me, swaying left and right, and I couldn't help but sigh in my heart that Iori is really a good girl with a cold appearance but a warm heart.

Looking back, in a chaotic school like Gehenna, students who would voluntarily join the Discipline Committee and work hard every day to maintain the remaining order in the school must all have passionate hearts.

Maybe even including Yazi.

Although it may be a bit rude to say this, based on the impression that Ako has left on me so far, it is difficult for me to respect her.

Iori and I got our meal coupons from the self-service ordering machine and then lined up at the window to pick up our meals. The student who was serving the meals at the window was someone I knew. I had seen her last time. Her name was Ushimaki Julie.

Julie's height and figure are extremely outstanding among her peers. She has a gentle and kind face and always has a bright smile.

A pair of thick and solid horns protrude from the long peach-colored hair, the pupils are green, and under the left eye is a teardrop mole that adds a bit of charm to the appearance.

Obviously she had an impression of me. After seeing me, Julie greeted me unexpectedly and happily: "Oh, it's the teacher. Good afternoon, welcome to our cafeteria. Are you here in Gehenna for business today as well?"

"Almost. I came here today to meet an important student."

I naturally omitted the word "students", which caused Iori, who was queuing behind me and didn't understand what was going on, to snort in a meaningful but not as cold a voice as before.

"Is that so? Here, enjoy your meal. Please enjoy it."

Julie took the meal ticket and handed me a plate with the set meal I selected through the window.

Then we waited in the open space next to us for Iori to get her meal, and I found two adjacent empty seats in the corner with her and sat down.

"I'm gonna start now."

Putting our hands together, Iori and I said in unison this pre-meal etiquette phrase that is said to have originated from the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons and has become a customary one in Kivotos, and then we began to eat.

However, as soon as the food entered my mouth, I couldn't help but frown.

It's not that it's terrible, at least it's still edible. But it's totally different from what I had last time.

"What's wrong? Are you not used to it?" Iori noticed my strangeness. "The food in our school cafeteria has always tasted like this. I thought you knew it. After all, it's a student cafeteria. The cheap price is already its biggest advantage."

My frown instantly relaxed, and I noticed this blind spot—

When I came before, it was neither too early nor too late, and happened to be stuck at a relatively awkward time, so I tasted the small meal prepared by Feng Xiang, the head of the supply department. But this time, I ate a big pot of rice.

No matter how good your cooking skills are, when you have to cook so many portions of food in a short period of time, you will inevitably have to compromise on quality in order to meet efficiency requirements.

After figuring this out, I lowered my standards and took another bite, and immediately felt that it had a unique flavor.

Perhaps it was because of Iori's presence that I was able to enjoy my lunch peacefully, and for that I sincerely thanked her.

However, Iori still said proudly that it was just a trivial matter and not worth mentioning. Then he walked away with light steps and his head held high.

By the way, in the process, I also successfully got Iori's contact information.

I looked around and saw that there were not many students left in the cafeteria, so I went to the back kitchen without worry. Soon, I found Fengxiang, who was lying down and resting.

"Hey, Liquidambar," I said skillfully, "I came just to see you!"

Chapter 45: Kivotos is not guilty of bigamy

Aiqing Fengxiang is a second-year student at Gehenna Academy. She is currently the director of the student cafeteria supply department. She is an excellent cook and has a gentle personality.

She has a slender figure and pure face, with long, shiny black hair like brocade, casually tied into two ponytails. Two strands of hair are placed on the two horns that protrude to the left and right from her forehead. There is always a gentle look in her bright red eyes.

But sometimes, her eyes, which seemed like a lake reflecting the fiery red glow, would lose their luster and become dull and lifeless like a dead fish in the lake, just like at this moment.

It's not hard to imagine what's going on.

Hearing my voice, Fengxiang, who had been lying on the table listlessly, instantly sat up, straightened his back, and his dead eyes regained their spirits:

"Ah, teacher. You... you really came."

"Feng Xiang is willing to ask me for a favor, so of course I have to come."

I pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Fengxiang, and asked curiously, "Come to think of it, what do you want to talk to me about?"

The last time I came to the Gehenna canteen, I exchanged contact information with Fengxiang, and we would chat occasionally when we had time.

Not long after Chinatsu's greetings last night, I received another message from Fengxiang, asking me if I was free today and hoping I could help with something.

The combination of these two factors made me decide to set my trip in Gehenna instead of other more familiar academies.

"Eh... Actually... I wanted to go out to do some shopping today. The amount needed seems to be more than expected. I was wondering if I could ask Teacher Jun to help me..."

"Of course, it's my duty!"

The kitchen girl smiled, her eyes flickering, "Haha, now that you mention it, the teacher is indeed as gentle as the rumors say."

To be honest, I think the reputation of Xia Lai and I is turning into an urban legend. We have only received a few commissions, but it may be because of this, plus the good luck of completing all of them successfully, that many rumors have appeared on the Internet since I don't know when.

Fortunately, the reviews are generally positive.

However, I shook my head at Fengxiang's praise and said seriously, "Fengxiang, you seem to have misunderstood something. Let me clarify it first. I am willing to help you, not from the perspective of a teacher, but as a diner who has been captured by your superb cooking skills and kind heart, okay?"

Fengxiang was slightly startled before she reacted: "Eh...? Teacher, come on, don't make such jokes..."

"I'm not kidding. So, if you're satisfied with my performance, let me taste Fengxiang's specialty again when you're free."

"Okay, I understand. Then let's go out shopping together today." Fengxiang narrowed her eyes, and her smile became sweeter and cuter, "Because there are still many ingredients that need to be purchased~"

After handing over the task of protecting the cafeteria from foreign invasion - these were the words Fengxiang used originally, which sounded a bit strange at first, but when I thought about Gehenna here, it instantly became normal - Fengxiang and I set off in an old pickup truck after handing this task over to Julie.

By the way, Fengxiang was the one driving.

On the front end of this pickup truck, the paint is peeling and you can vaguely make out the words "Feed Food". When it's driving on the road, I feel a shaky feeling when sitting in the passenger seat.

I guess this car has been in the supply department for much longer than Fengxiang.

"Fengxiang, have you considered buying a new car?"

I didn't ask until the car stopped at the intersection and waited for the red light.

"I have this plan. Recently, I feel that the cargo capacity of this car is insufficient, so I have submitted a funding application to Pandemonium," Fengxiang answered with a look of longing, "Also, I am saving money myself, so I should be able to buy a new car with a larger cargo capacity in a while."

Although I think the focus should not be on cargo capacity.

However, I think Fengxiang is very cool for taking his work so seriously and responsibly.

In short, time flew by, occasionally chatting with Fengxiang, and soon we arrived at our shopping destination, a huge department store.

As soon as he entered the supermarket, Fengxiang showed a childlike innocent joy and said with emotion:

"Wow... It's always exciting to visit a large supermarket."

I casually asked, "Does Fengxiang like supermarkets very much?"

“I don’t like big supermarkets… I just feel really happy when I’m in the cool air of the fresh food cabinet.”

Fengxiang said something that fits my perception of an outstanding chef very well: "As soon as I see the neatly arranged vegetables and fruits, my eyes are involuntarily drawn to them, and I can't help but think, this is really a jewel box of ingredients~ Don't you all think so?"

I just don't understand it a little bit.

After careful consideration, I tactfully said, "I think such an idea is rare, and not everyone has it. Sure enough, my feeling was right, Fengxiang does have the talent and passion to become an excellent chef."

Fengxiang blushed and said with a smile, "Really, teacher, you are teasing me again by saying this."

The tone sounded a bit coquettish.

Fengxiang turned her eyes away, then suddenly stopped looking at something, and even stopped walking.

Then, the cook girl picked up a stick-like object and said excitedly, "Ah, teacher, look! This cucumber still has sharp thorns on the surface. It's so rough."

As she said this, Fengxiang gently stroked the surface of the cucumber with her slender hands.

……Um?

Fengxiang touched the top of the cucumber again: "The stem is not dry and is still hard. The quality is really good!"

I was a little confused, not knowing whether it was because my thoughts were too dirty or if the sweetgum was indeed hinting at something.

"Ah!" Fengxiang made a new discovery. He trotted over, patted the skin with his hand, and put his ear close to listen. "This watermelon makes a nice dong dong sound when you knock on it. The quality is also great!"

I glanced at Fengxiang's flat figure wrapped in an apron without leaving a trace, and then looked at the innocent smile that naturally appeared on Fengxiang's face, and suddenly felt a little ashamed.

However, Fengxiang noticed my gaze and apologized:

"Oh, sorry, I was so happy that I didn't realize...ah ha ha..."

"It's okay. Seeing Fengxiang happy makes me happy too."

And the one who should apologize is me, because I thought of something I shouldn't have thought of.

It's all Hoshino's fault. I, who was originally a pure-hearted person, have fallen to this point. I have actually become an adult who is so rude in my heart. I am really ashamed of Fengxiang's trust.

There is no other way, I can only make amends by marrying Fengxiang in the future.

I have checked in advance, Kivotos is not guilty of bigamy!

So, I think my idea is completely fine, reasonable and legal, and is indeed a model for Kivotos teachers.

Chapter 46: Sensei must protect herself outside

Fengxiang, who had no idea what greed was brewing in the heart of the righteous man in front of me, continued to speak with a good impression of me:

"Don't look at me like this. The ingredients I provide for the school are all carefully selected by me... Of course, no matter how carefully I prepare them, they are made in large quantities after all, so it is inevitable that the original flavor of the ingredients will be lost."

I have experienced this myself.

“Sometimes we receive a lot of complaints…”

Fengxiang couldn't help but look depressed when she said this.

"Actually, I had lunch in the cafeteria today."

"Eh?" Fengxiang was surprised and flustered when she heard this. "Teacher, why didn't you tell me before you came? Ha... But even if you did, I wouldn't be able to spare the time to prepare food just for you."

I abruptly changed the subject: "Gehenna really has a lot of students."

Fengxiang was stunned for a moment, then nodded hesitantly: "Yes. After all, it is a famous school with a long history."

"Before, I only knew an empty number, but I had no corresponding concept in my mind. It was not until today, when I walked into your student cafeteria at lunch time, that I clearly realized that when that number was reflected in reality, there were so many."

I sighed, "Besides, there are quite a few students who choose not to eat in the cafeteria. Based on my limited understanding of Gehenna, this group of people can't be a minority, right?"

At this moment, Fengxiang and I met each other's eyes. She should have vaguely guessed what I was going to say next.

"You have really worked very hard to provide affordable and healthy hot meals to so many students. I think that although you will receive complaints from a few people, your thoughts must have been conveyed to more people before that."

I nodded to Fengxiang and gave her an affirmative smile: "Otherwise, why would so many students be willing to come to the cafeteria to eat? Gehenna didn't stipulate that lunch must be eaten in the cafeteria."

Of course, it could also be due to poverty. Regardless of the taste, it is really cheap, and the welfare subsidies of the three major schools are in place.

I continued to pursue the issue: "Even if it can't be called delicious, it's just a sacrifice due to efficiency. Fengxiang, your efforts have not been discounted at all. Rather, when I thought about the food being cooked by Fengxiang during lunch, I magically felt a different kind of deliciousness. Perhaps this is the so-called emotional added value."