Gourmet Research Society's Odd Day Part 1

*pant* *pant* Did we lose them?

I think we're good. Not even the head prefect is stubborn enough to chase us this deep into the woods! ☆

Sheesh. All this fuss just because we lit up that slop bucket of a dining hall? Doesn't the Gehenna Prefect Team have anything better to do with their time?

Actually, no. That's...exactly what the Prefect Team is supposed to do.

See here, Junko. If you saw water gushing out of a tap into an overflowing sink and there was no one around, what would you do?

I guess...I'd shut it off?

Exactly. That's precisely the urge I get when I see an eatery that's no better than a feeding trough.

You can stop there. I'll never understand the way you think.

Wait. I haven't seen Izumi in a while. Wasn't she behind us?

Izumi fell behind ages ago. I'm sure Hina nabbed her by now.

Are you kidding me?! That's serious! Why didn't you say something sooner?!

When Izumi fell behind, she was yelling out something about conviction. Primal scream of a determined soul, that sort of thing.

C-Conviction? N-No way! Could she have...for us...?

Her sacrifice will never be forgotten. What exactly did Izumi say?

N-No! You traitors! Don't leave me behind!

*slips* Huh?!

Ah! I'll get you for this. I swear, I'll get you back if it's the last thing I do!

...Something like that.

...

...

Heehee! ☆

*sniff* Do you smell that? Something smells absolutely scrumptious.

Here? In the middle of the park?

Whatever it is, its aroma is out of this world! *sniff* This way!

Found it! It's coming from these mushrooms!

Oh, my. Is that...?

Truffles! These are truffles!

Trupples?

They're also known as black diamonds. These mushrooms are the rarest of the rare!

In fact, this delicacy ranks higher than even the most delectable of high-end tunas, the Kin Maguro!

Whoooa! You don't say?

And this rich and inimitable aroma is what makes it so unique in particular.

We should consider ourselves lucky just to be breathing it in.

I've heard about how rare they are. People train hogs with keen senses of smell just to find them.

Who knew Junko had such a talented snout?

One more backhanded compliment like that and I'll bury you where I found these truffles!

We don't have time for this. How a truffle is handled within the first five minutes of it being harvested is vital in preserving its essence.

We need a clean piece of cloth or fabric.

Hold on. Do you expect any of us to have that when we've been sprinting down this dirt road? We're all caked in dirt.

Would something like this work?

What in the...?! Is that a pair of underwear?

Brand-new and never worn! Not to mention, 100 percent silk of only the highest quality! It may be underwear, but what's the difference between this and a handkerchief?

Nothing, I guess, but...what do you think, Pres? Are you good with this?

Absolutely. In fact, I'm relieved. I never imagined Akari's neuroticism would come in handy like this.

Voila. Now all that's left to do is head back and cook these truffles.

...

No. I suppose we should rescue Izumi first. Even a single member of the club being absent when we taste such a prized luxury is unacceptable.

Well, then! Why don't we go put those Prefect tightwads in their place and save Izumi?

Love and violence! It's what friendship is all about, ladies! ☆

Who is it you're going to put in their place?

What in the...?! What's the Prefect Team doing here?!

Oh, dear... We're surrounded.

*sigh* I'm tired of all this running. End them, girls.

(Wha...?!)

...You're lucky I don't want to deal with the cleanup. Light them up, but leave them breathing.

*nod*

Please don't resist. There's no point.