Chapter 103

Before entering the restaurant, it was stated that they wouldn’t grill any meat, but Inna, although initially refusing a few times, eventually picked up the tongs with familiarity when the meat seemed about to burn and proceeded to grill it.

During this process, despite some bl**d getting on Erica’s clothes, which might have caused uneasy glances from the owner and customers, a quarrel did not break out. This was only possible thanks to Inna’s abilities.

The essence of influence lies in affecting the other person. While it might be possible to persuade just the shop owner and be done with it, with skillful use of abilities, making others not notice the bl**d on Erica’s body isn’t an impossible task either.

Just because Erica wasn’t looking, it doesn’t mean her efforts went unnoticed. Even though it might appear she only listens to Erica’s opinions like a gentle lamb, and may not be visible at first glance, Inna’s power, if ranked, would undoubtedly place her among the top tier in this country.

Back when the former queen of the school was expanding her influence beyond the school, one of those who stopped her was Inna; it would actually be stranger to assume she is weak.

While keeping this in mind, as Erica was eating the meat grilled by Inna, a woman watching happily as Erica ate like a mother bird feeding her chick, eventually spoke up.

“So, what’s the real reason?”

What had they been talking about just moments before? Erica tilted her head, only remembering questions like how delicious Inna’s grilled meat was or how she masked people’s gazes. However, moments later, Erica realized what Inna was referring to.

This was about that light comment Inna had made earlier—requesting something that, while insignificant to Inna, caused harm and was thus refused.

Permission to address Erica by her name. Erica couldn’t help but think, “If she truly wanted to, why not simply call her name?” However, she didn’t hastily jump to conclusions.

Despite the gentle and compliant aura Inna exuded, her actual profile might differ. In fact, Inna hadn’t yet done anything to her, though perhaps without realizing it, or at least that was Erica’s current assumption.

If the profile is accurate, perhaps there’s deeper meaning behind allowing someone to call her name — for example, rejecting the call being a condition that resists influence, or not being affected by influence due to a protective mechanism triggered by refusing one’s name.

All of these remain mere speculations. Theories formed because Inna seemed rather fixated on obtaining the permission to call her name.

“Wouldn’t it have been helpful to ask her about it earlier?”

The knowledge the girl could possess might be too valuable to give away advice on her powers and let her walk away so easily.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.”

Inna quickly noticed Erica’s unfocused, absent-minded gaze and questioned her.

With meat present, not eating while daydreaming was disrespectful. One should eat first, then daydream. While filling her empty mouth with meat, Erica carefully pondered what to say.

“Then let me ask from my side. Why do you want to call my name?”

Without a lead to follow, directly asking was the wisest decision.

Erica was, in fact, somewhat curious why this woman was so determined to not break her word and avoid calling her name.

“… It’s embarrassing, but you lost your memory, right? Now, I’m asking for permission. I’ve reflected a lot. Would it be troublesome?”

“Not that much of a bother.”

As Erica hoped, Inna didn’t proceed to explain every detail about why she previously prevented “Erica” from being called by her name.

She could let this pass for now, but this woman would likely desire to call her name again in the future.

“Whenever I decide to tell all the circumstances behind why I didn’t want you to call me by name, I’ll listen. Then, I’ll grant permission. You wouldn’t like it if I refused again after regaining my memories, right?”

“Anyway, we don’t know when the memories will return, and it could last a lifetime, right?”

As long as this body remains, regaining memories is impossible. However, through her encounters with “Erica,” Inna learned there might be ways to uncover her past. Thus, it isn’t entirely impossible to discover what happened with Inna.

In other words, contrary to Inna’s thoughts, regaining the memory could happen anytime. And even without relying on “Erica’s” help, resolving this body’s character scenario might gradually unveil the truth.

“Just a joke, a joke. I get what you mean. Hmm… But telling you would only result in you getting mad at me again, so I’ll just give up.”

“By the way, I’ll still bring up this condition next time. So, if it’s something you truly want, come back after fulfilling it.”

Although the woman interpreted Erica’s serious contemplation differently and was about to back down, Erica didn’t want it to end here.

How many times has this woman requested the permission to call her name? Perhaps dozens of times if including instances Erica herself doesn’t remember.

If there’s to be no clue about the past, this request should stop altogether. Listening positively to this declaration, Inna responded:

“Hmm… No!”

And with a bright smile, she negated the request. Flustered by the incongruence between the smiling face and words, Erica was suddenly surprised as Inna shoved a tightly wrapped vegetable into her mouth.

If it were a romantic visual novel, it might have been drugged, but this was merely a common dish at a meat restaurant, generously stuffed with chili peppers and garlic.

“Heek-. Heek-.”

No literal fire spewed out of Erica’s mouth like in a cartoon, but her tongue was so numbed that she resembled a dog with her tongue sticking out. She quickly gulped water and swirled it in her mouth.

Erica’s face, slightly puffed out from holding water, resembled a squirrel stuffed with acorns, an adorable sight.

“Want me to tell you something else instead? You seem interested in abilities lately.”

“Hmm?”

Unable to properly voice her curiosity, Erica stared blankly at Inna, interpreting the gesture as her intent. She already knew a lot about Inna’s ability through prior explanations.

“When I cook, it tastes better than what others touch, right? Do you remember why I told you that?”

“Uh-huh.”

Erica gave an affirmative hum, recalling that the taste was enhanced because the food was influenced to taste good due to her intent to serve delicious meals.

Erica remembered admiring how Inna’s ability could even affect inanimate objects.

“That was a lie. Influence, in other words, is my actions affecting the other party. I merely used the food as a medium to pierce through your resistance and imposed the sensation of ‘delicious’ on your tongue.”

“Wha-?!”

Erica’s eyes widened at the unexpected statement, a topic she hadn’t anticipated Inna to fabricate or admit as a lie. The revelation was that Inna used her ability to influence her tongue during food consumption, potentially extending to making her favorably inclined towards her through the same method.

By revealing something unnecessary that would only result in further distrust, Inna faintly smiled.

“Isn’t this information far more useful than some story from the past?”

“Useful information?”

Useful? It would only cause Erica to distrust her more and wasn’t useful at all. How would such information be applied?

Despite her mouth still tingling from the chili, Erica closed her eyes momentarily to focus. Why did Inna bring this up if it harms her?

“Yeah, since I know you dislike telling stories from the past, this is usable information.”

—She must have mentioned it to show she didn’t manipulate my emotions even when she could.

Considering Inna hadn’t known Erica was aware of this ability until now, had she intended to exploit it, there were endless ways to do so. But her reason for refraining must simply be that she didn’t want to.

Understanding her intent, Erica slightly opened her mouth—not completely, but large enough for someone to put something inside if they wished.

“…You might add chili again?”

Erica’s gesture was clear to anyone. It meant, “I believe you won’t influence me through food.”

This unexpected action made Inna’s voice slightly tremble.

“I won’t add chili. But until you’re sure, I’ll continue to feed you.”

Even if it were easy to influence through food, since it hasn’t happened yet, placing the influence (chili) could lead Erica to stop eating Inna’s food entirely.

However, if influenced, she could be easily convinced to keep eating it. Therefore, Erica’s intent was clear and simple.

Trust.

Trust in Inna to not influence her.

Or perhaps…

Trust that influence isn’t necessary.

The woman who always smiled warmly at Erica lost her usual grin. Some unfamiliar emotion crept into her usual warm smile.

Before Erica could identify that emotion,

“Alright. By the end of summer break, or probably when sophomore life ends, I’ll tell you. Everything that happened between us.”

A single wrap, devoid of chili, entered the white-haired girl’s mouth. As Erica’s face lit up with happiness, their date at the meat restaurant came to an end.