87. [Totsuki Mode—The White Swan Devolves into an Ugly Duckling]

"Since it's for Akira's sake, I'll let this slide—for now."

"But if you dare disobey again, I'll make you experience 'public bird spraying.'"

Jabami Shouko shivered like a frightened chick, nodding frantically.

She had completely lost her dignity as an older sister in front of Yumeko.

Seeing this, Akira quickly unlocked the restraints and carried Shouko off the electric chair.

"Waaah! Akira, I feel so dirty!"

"Let go of me already!"

"Shouko-nee, I was just joking earlier."

"How could I ever be disgusted by you?"

"If only this shameless womanizer could always be this gentle, considerate, and understanding, he'd be perfect."

"Arisu, are you dreaming?"

"Wake up! This is the real world, not some fairy tale."

Everyone: ...…

Watching Sakayanagi Arisu's face turn bright red from Akira's casual mockery,

They all realized that his previous kindness was just an illusion.

"Alright, alright. Since Shouko's finally awake, it's time for you guys to leave."

"I'll escort you upstairs."

"Inuzuka, stay behind and clean up."

"Understood, Dr. Amamiya."

Noticing how Saya was suddenly rushing them out, Akira immediately caught on.

"Did the Cleaners just deliver a new test subject?"

"Most likely a corpse."

"Do you guys wanna stay and watch?"

"LIKE HELL WE DO!"

Fujiwara Chika and Chitanda Eru snapped, completely losing it.

Any longer in this horrifying place, and they'd wet themselves for real.

Back on the first floor, Akira glanced outside at the sunset and muttered:

"Time flies. A whole day just passed in an instant."

Hearing this, his childhood friends immediately connected the dots—

Thinking about how this womanizer had somehow gained four more "little sister fiancées" in just one day.

"Look at your score today."

"Do you even have the right to say time passed slowly?"

"For you, I bet time flies fastest when you're in bed."

"Aside from Mom and Kaoru, who have to stay hospitalized, does anyone else need to stay overnight?"

Akira brushed off their insults and changed the topic.

This level of verbal attack was nothing to him.

After all, he'd spent years slowly conditioning these childhood friends to accept the reality of his womanizing ways.

He had the upper hand.

Love was a war of attrition—

Whoever surrendered first lost.

The girls exchanged glances.

All the ones who had gone through checkups earlier shook their heads.

They all refused to stay overnight.

This hospital had already given them too many mental scars.

"I'll stay."

"I might as well recover fully before starting at Advanced Nurturing High School."

"Akira, shouldn't you stay a few days to take care of Aunt Yumi?"

"If I remember correctly, in a few days, you're going to Britain with Aunt Sayuri and Eriri for the Spencer family's funeral."

"When you get back, your Shokugeki with Erina should be starting soon."

Noticing how his mother's expression subtly changed,

Akira immediately realized—she was definitely jealous of Sayuri again.

"Arisu, you've got a point."

"Yao-nii, then we'll stay too!"

Kujou Nagisa, Kujou Kaoru, and Kujou Sora exchanged glances before instantly changing their minds.

They all wanted to stay by Akira's side.

Even though they had changed their last name to Kujou,

They had never actually met Akira's grandmother.

What if she turned out to be a terrifying old hag?

The fear of the unknown made them hesitate.

"Didn't you guys just say you didn't want to stay?"

"Why are you all suddenly staying now?"

"Are you trying to make Tachibana and the staff work overtime?"

"No backing out once you say it."

Akira glared at them.

The three girls immediately deflated.

"Are you guys scared of my grandma?"

"Mmmhmm! Yao-nii, it's so nice that you understand our feelings!"

The three of them nodded frantically, their faces full of fear.

"I'll take you back tonight and explain everything to her."

"Mom and Eriri are also staying at the Kujou estate for the time being."

Out of all of them,

Sora was the most familiar with Akira.

She immediately jumped into his arms, cheering happily:

"Yao-nii is the best!"

Seeing Akira was staying, Nishikigi Chisato also changed her mind and decided to stay hospitalized.

"Damn it, Arisu! That was sneaky!"

She gritted her teeth.

"Erina, call the Totsuki Group's logistics department and have them send over some ingredients."

"Everyone, just tell Erina what you want to eat."

"We'll have dinner in the hospital cafeteria tonight."

"Don't hold back."

"Totsuki's logistics department can deliver almost anything from around the world, unless it's super rare."

"Wait—Totsuki Group is that powerful?!"

"Erina, I wanna eat brains."

Saya suddenly shouted.

"Cough, cough!"

"Saya-neesan, do you realize how suspicious that sounds?"

"Saya-neesan just really loves eating animal heads."

"Brain for brains?"

"Exactly."

"Pig brain, cow brain, lamb brain, rabbit heads, goose heads, duck heads, fish heads."

"I want them all."

"Erina, got any?"

"…I'll have to ask."

Erina's face darkened.

Not just Erina—

Even the others got goosebumps.

"That's so many different brains…"

"Erina, pig, cow, and lamb brains refer to just the brain itself—"

"Not the whole head."

"But rabbit, goose, duck, and fish heads mean the entire skull."

"Don't mix them up."

"Yep, Yao-chan is totally right!"

"Yao-nii, how do you even know all this?"

"In China, these are delicacies."

"Some of them are even used in traditional medicine."

"So, you eat them often?"

"Not often, but I do eat them."

"They taste pretty good."

"I'm a pragmatist."

"There's no scientific proof that eating animal brains boosts intelligence—"

"But also no proof that it doesn't."

"Might as well try."

"…Makes sense."

"Akira, why can Totsuki's logistics department handle such a massive supply chain?"

"Wouldn't it cause waste if they can't use all the ingredients?"

"And isn't it expensive to source food worldwide?"

Yukinoshita Haruno's business instincts kicked in.

As a merchant and capitalist, she had to know.

"I don't feel like answering you."

"Boohoo! Yukino, your big sister just got rejected by Yao-chan!"

Yukinoshita Haruno dramatically threw herself onto Yukino, fake-crying.

"Well, you've been looking down on him since we were kids."

"It's only natural that he holds grudges."

"Akira, I'm curious too!"

"Eru, you're curious about EVERYTHING!"

"Your family's a bunch of landlords—you only need to learn how to collect rent."

Chitanda Eru's cheeks puffed up angrily.

She was convinced that Akira's words were a jab at her.

"You're not even a capitalist. Why do you care?"

"Because I'm just naturally curious!"

"Besides, we have people from actual zaibatsu families in our group."

"Alright, fine. I'll explain it to you guys."

"Actually, I don't think even Erina and Alice know the full depth of Totsuki's influence."

"Or why the Elite Ten hold so much power that they can even replace the Director."

"Now that you mention it, that is weird!"

"The Elite Ten are just like a regular student council, right?"

"How can they possibly have the authority to overthrow the Director?"

Leonora rubbed her chin, puzzled.

"Even you don't know, Mom?"

"Ehehe! Nope."

How are you so proud of not knowing?!

"The reason the Elite Ten hold such ridiculous power wasn't a voluntary decision."

"In a way, Grandpa Senzaemon was forced into this system."

"If he didn't, the Japanese government would have intervened—"

"Forcing Totsuki Academy and Totsuki Group to split apart."

"The Nakiri family would have been allowed to keep only one of them."

"Wait, what?!"

"You guys learned about the four types of monopolies, right?"

"Yeah."

"They're cartels, syndicates, trusts, and concerns."

Sakayanagi Arisu answered flawlessly.

"Japan's zaibatsu system follows the concern model—"

"Which is a finance-centered monopoly led by banks."

"It's the most advanced form of a monopoly."

"But in my opinion—"

"What Senzaemon created with Totsuki is actually even more advanced than that."

"In fact, it's the only example of its kind in the world."

"That's impossible!"

"The zaibatsu model is the most perfect economic structure we've ever seen."

"Large zaibatsu control national economies."

"Smaller zaibatsu control regional economies."

"Many have collapsed or been restructured throughout history."

"Their core is always the bank and financial institutions."

"And they're not controlled by a single person or family."

"For example, even the Kujou family only holds minor shares in several zaibatsu."

"But those shares just mean dividends—they don't have any real power."

"Zaibatsu operate across multiple industries—"

"But not every sector is profitable."

"They expand just to increase their influence, so they can threaten the government."

"That's why they always use the 'too big to fail' excuse to negotiate."

"But Totsuki—"

"Totsuki controls Japan's entire culinary world."

"And the food industry is essential to daily life."

"They don't just control chefs—"

"They also control the entire supply chain."

"Take agriculture, for example. You guys remember how powerful the Agricultural Cooperatives used to be, right?"

"Then look at them now."

"You can ask Eru, the daughter of a landlord family."

"My dad says the Agricultural Cooperatives are completely finished."

"Ever since Totsuki rose to power, the ones who suffered the most were the farmers."

"Let me break it down—What is the 'Totsuki Model'?"

"First, let's start with Totsuki Academy."

"Students generally fall into two categories:"

Those with extreme talent in culinary arts. The children of Totsuki's raw material suppliers.

"The first type graduates and either:"

Opens a high-end restaurant in Japan. Joins Totsuki Group as the executive chef of one of their resorts.

"And all those restaurants rely on Totsuki's logistics department for ingredients."

"The academy trains top chefs."

"The group absorbs them."

"The second type inherits their family business—"

"But because they grew up in Totsuki's system, they continue supplying the group."

"This is the one and only 'Totsuki Model'."

"Totsuki doesn't just control food the way the Agricultural Cooperatives did—"

"They control every part of the supply chain."

"Farming, fisheries, livestock, seasoning production—everything."

"And because 90% of Japan's high-end restaurants are opened by Totsuki graduates,

Farmers can't sell their crops, fishermen can't sell their fish, and ranchers can't sell their wagyu beef—

Unless they go through Totsuki.

"Because if Totsuki cuts ties, they can just switch suppliers."

"That's what makes Totsuki terrifying."

"They have a chokehold on an entire nation's food industry."

"But that only applies to fine dining."

"Most people can't afford high-end restaurants."

"Totsuki fails way more students than it graduates."

"But even those dropouts still idolize Totsuki."

"They look down on chefs who never even passed the entrance exam."

"And even the dropouts end up working within Totsuki's supply chain."

"Mid-range restaurants, small businesses—"

"They all follow Totsuki's sourcing trends."

"Which means they cater to Japan's middle class."

"That's your average consumer."

"Even the food in supermarkets is supplied by Totsuki-controlled farms and fisheries."

"Any more questions?"

"No."

"Totsuki is terrifying."

"Exactly. No normal, peaceful country could create something like Totsuki Group."

"That's why the Elite Ten were given power."

"If the Nakiri family ever lost control of the academy—"

"Then the entire foundation of Totsuki Group would be shaken."

"After all—"

"'A hungry population will revolt.'"

"And Totsuki can absolutely make rice prices skyrocket overnight."

"Just like the Agricultural Cooperatives used to."

"Pfft!"

"Basically, as long as Totsuki Academy runs smoothly,"

"Totsuki Group will always be more stable than a zaibatsu."

"But the Elite Ten's authority ensures that even if a fool takes over the Nakiri family, the academy won't collapse."

"Senzaemon probably realized that—"

"Which is why he agreed to this system."

"Boohoo! Yukino, your big sister just got rejected by Yao-chan!"

Yukinoshita Haruno dramatically threw herself onto Yukino, fake-crying.

"Well, you've been looking down on him since we were kids."

"It's only natural that he holds grudges."

"Akira, I'm curious too!"

"Eru, you're curious about EVERYTHING!"

"Your family's a bunch of landlords—you only need to learn how to collect rent."

Chitanda Eru's cheeks puffed up angrily.

She was convinced that Akira's words were a jab at her.

"You're not even a capitalist. Why do you care?"

"Because I'm just naturally curious!"

"Besides, we have people from actual zaibatsu families in our group."

"Alright, fine. I'll explain it to you guys."

"Actually, I don't think even Erina and Alice know the full depth of Totsuki's influence."

"Or why the Elite Ten hold so much power that they can even replace the Director."

"Now that you mention it, that is weird!"

"The Elite Ten are just like a regular student council, right?"

"How can they possibly have the authority to overthrow the Director?"

Leonora rubbed her chin, puzzled.

"Even you don't know, Mom?"

"Ehehe! Nope."

How are you so proud of not knowing?!

"The reason the Elite Ten hold such ridiculous power wasn't a voluntary decision."

"In a way, Grandpa Senzaemon was forced into this system."

"If he didn't, the Japanese government would have intervened—"

"Forcing Totsuki Academy and Totsuki Group to split apart."

"The Nakiri family would have been allowed to keep only one of them."

"Wait, what?!"

"You guys learned about the four types of monopolies, right?"

"Yeah."

"They're cartels, syndicates, trusts, and concerns."

Sakayanagi Arisu answered flawlessly.

"Japan's zaibatsu system follows the concern model—"

"Which is a finance-centered monopoly led by banks."

"It's the most advanced form of a monopoly."

"But in my opinion—"

"What Senzaemon created with Totsuki is actually even more advanced than that."

"In fact, it's the only example of its kind in the world."

"That's impossible!"

"The zaibatsu model is the most perfect economic structure we've ever seen."

"Large zaibatsu control national economies."

"Smaller zaibatsu control regional economies."

"Many have collapsed or been restructured throughout history."

"Their core is always the bank and financial institutions."

"And they're not controlled by a single person or family."

"For example, even the Kujou family only holds minor shares in several zaibatsu."

"But those shares just mean dividends—they don't have any real power."

"Zaibatsu operate across multiple industries—"

"But not every sector is profitable."

"They expand just to increase their influence, so they can threaten the government."

"That's why they always use the 'too big to fail' excuse to negotiate."

"But Totsuki—"

"Totsuki controls Japan's entire culinary world."

"And the food industry is essential to daily life."

"They don't just control chefs—"

"They also control the entire supply chain."

"Take agriculture, for example. You guys remember how powerful the Agricultural Cooperatives used to be, right?"

"Then look at them now."

"You can ask Eru, the daughter of a landlord family."

"My dad says the Agricultural Cooperatives are completely finished."

"Ever since Totsuki rose to power, the ones who suffered the most were the farmers."

"Let me break it down—What is the 'Totsuki Model'?"

"First, let's start with Totsuki Academy."

"Students generally fall into two categories:"

Those with extreme talent in culinary arts. The children of Totsuki's raw material suppliers.

"The first type graduates and either:"

Opens a high-end restaurant in Japan. Joins Totsuki Group as the executive chef of one of their resorts.

"And all those restaurants rely on Totsuki's logistics department for ingredients."

"The academy trains top chefs."

"The group absorbs them."

"The second type inherits their family business—"

"But because they grew up in Totsuki's system, they continue supplying the group."

"This is the one and only 'Totsuki Model'."

"Totsuki doesn't just control food the way the Agricultural Cooperatives did—"

"They control every part of the supply chain."

"Farming, fisheries, livestock, seasoning production—everything."

"And because 90% of Japan's high-end restaurants are opened by Totsuki graduates,

Farmers can't sell their crops, fishermen can't sell their fish, and ranchers can't sell their wagyu beef—

Unless they go through Totsuki.

"Because if Totsuki cuts ties, they can just switch suppliers."

"That's what makes Totsuki terrifying."

"They have a chokehold on an entire nation's food industry."

"But that only applies to fine dining."

"Most people can't afford high-end restaurants."

"Totsuki fails way more students than it graduates."

"But even those dropouts still idolize Totsuki."

"They look down on chefs who never even passed the entrance exam."

"And even the dropouts end up working within Totsuki's supply chain."

"Mid-range restaurants, small businesses—"

"They all follow Totsuki's sourcing trends."

"Which means they cater to Japan's middle class."

"That's your average consumer."

"Even the food in supermarkets is supplied by Totsuki-controlled farms and fisheries."

"Any more questions?"

"No."

"Totsuki is terrifying."

"Exactly. No normal, peaceful country could create something like Totsuki Group."

"That's why the Elite Ten were given power."

"If the Nakiri family ever lost control of the academy—"

"Then the entire foundation of Totsuki Group would be shaken."

"After all—"

"'A hungry population will revolt.'"

"And Totsuki can absolutely make rice prices skyrocket overnight."

"Just like the Agricultural Cooperatives used to."

"Pfft!"

"Basically, as long as Totsuki Academy runs smoothly,"

"Totsuki Group will always be more stable than a zaibatsu."

"But the Elite Ten's authority ensures that even if a fool takes over the Nakiri family, the academy won't collapse."

"Senzaemon probably realized that—"

"Which is why he agreed to this system."