第1章厨房春潮-我的妺妺h

Miss Claire glanced at her elegant wristwatch, her fingers brushing over the delicate band. "We should be heading back now," she said smoothly, her eyes flicking up to Don. "If you still wish to take part in the evaluation, that is. Or…" she paused, a thoughtful smile appearing on her lips, "are you perhaps thinking of declaring for another institution?

I don\'t doubt you\'ll receive many lucrative offers this week if you wait—offers from all over the nation."

Don stood up first, pushing his chair back gently as he shook his head. "No," he said with certainty. "SHU is perfect for me."

Miss Claire smiled, clearly satisfied with his decision. She stood as well, her movements as graceful as ever. "In that case, I\'ll begin drafting an agreement between you and the university. Sponsorships and the like can be handled after the evaluation." She paused, adjusting her coat with a flick of her wrist.

"Do you have any specific demands for the university, or will you trust me to make those on your behalf?"

Don pretended to think for a moment, though he\'d already considered the terms by which he wanted to operate. He was far from careless when it came to protecting his independence.

"I don\'t care about what they have to offer as long as I can have these seven," Don replied, his voice firm but calm.

Miss Claire\'s eyebrow lifted ever so slightly in curiosity. "Oh? And what might those seven be?"

Don began listing them off, his gaze steady. "Non-Exclusive Affiliation, Flexible Curriculum, Mission Autonomy, Private Funding, Intellectual Property Rights, Contract Review, and Freedom from Public Relations Requirements."

Miss Claire\'s eyes didn\'t leave his as he spoke, her mind already processing the implications of each demand. She was quick to grasp the strategy behind them. \'He knows exactly how to ensure his freedom in a place that could otherwise tie him down.\'

She nodded thoughtfully. "Let me see if I understand your intentions," she said, her voice smooth and professional, but with a trace of admiration in her tone.

Don watched her closely as she began to elaborate.

"First, Non-Exclusive Affiliation," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "You want to ensure that your enrollment at SHU doesn\'t tie you exclusively to their hero management system. This will allow you to operate independently, work with other agencies, or pursue personal missions without needing the university\'s approval." She gave him a small, knowing smile. "Quite clever.

It keeps your options open."

Don nodded but said nothing, waiting for her to continue.

"Then there\'s Flexible Curriculum," she added, crossing her arms lightly. "You want a curriculum tailored to your unique skill set and or goals, giving you the freedom to choose which courses or training sessions to attend. That way, you can bypass any mandatory programs that may feel restrictive." She chuckled softly. "Very fitting for someone who doesn\'t like being told what to do I suppose."

Don smirked slightly. \'She\'s really quick to catch on, then again it is her job.\'

"Mission Autonomy," Miss Claire went on, her gaze sharpening a little. "This allows you to select which missions or situations you participate in, rather than being assigned tasks by the university. You\'re ensuring that you only take on missions that align with your objectives. I assume you don\'t want to be dragged into anything that doesn\'t interest you?"

"Exactly," Don replied simply.

"Private Funding," she continued, her tone becoming a bit more businesslike. "You\'re looking to avoid reliance on the university\'s equipment or resources by providing your own funding. This will free you from any financial obligations they might impose, and you can use your own tech and equipment. Smart move, especially if you have access to better resources."

Don gave a subtle nod of agreement, his expression unfazed.

Miss Claire shifted slightly, her gaze still intent. "Intellectual Property Rights," she said, her voice taking on a more serious edge. "If you create or innovate any new techniques, technologies, or strategies, you want full ownership of those developments, rather than them becoming university property." She smiled again, a bit more knowingly this time.

"You don\'t strike me as the type who would give away your creations without a fight."

"Not a chance," Don said with a slight grin.

"And Contract Review," Miss Claire continued, her head tilted thoughtfully. "You want the ability to periodically review your contract or renegotiate terms if the university becomes too restrictive or fails to meet your expectations. It\'s a safeguard, ensuring you\'re not locked into something that could hinder your progress."

"Exactly," Don confirmed.

"Lastly, Freedom from Public Relations Requirements," she said, her voice soft but pointed. "You don\'t want to be involved in university-sponsored media, branding, or PR stunts. This allows you to manage your public image on your own terms, free from their influence." She smiled again, her expression approving. "You really do value your independence, don\'t you?"

Don chuckled softly and nodded. "It\'s very important to me."

Miss Claire looked at him for a moment longer, her eyes filled with curiosity. \'For someone so young, he\'s thought all of this through.\' She smiled and nodded. "Very well. I\'ll ensure these terms are included in the agreement. You\'ve chosen wisely."

She checked her watch again, then glanced back at Don. "Shall we?"

Don nodded, and the two of them began walking out of the café.

———

Roughly fifteen minutes later, Don and Miss Claire arrived back at SHU, the campus as lively as ever.

The noise was almost overwhelming, most of it emanating from the main battle stadium. The massive, open-roof structure loomed in the distance, its walls vibrating with the roars of excited fans and students alike.

High above the campus, a huge blimp drifted slowly through the sky, displaying a live stream of the evaluation ceremony on a massive screen attached to its side. The images showed the stadium\'s field below, where candidates tested their powers for all to see.

The stadium\'s field itself was an impressive sight, designed with equipment tailored to test the wide array of abilities SHU students brought to the table.

There were large, reinforced platforms for strength tests, dynamic agility courses, and hovering drones equipped with sensors to measure energy output and precision.

Massive walls sprang up at intervals, meant for testing speed, scaling abilities, or destructive power.

It wasn\'t just functional—it was meant to be entertaining, with candidates going head-to-head in spectacular fashion, creating a show for both those in the stadium and the millions watching the live stream from the blimp and at home.

Miss Claire\'s Rolls-Royce came to a smooth stop in the student parking lot, the engine purring softly before falling silent. She stepped out first, followed by Don, both of them taking in the lively atmosphere around them.

Miss Claire glanced at the bustling campus, her gaze momentarily lingering on the excitement filling the air.

"It sure does get lively," she commented, her tone lightly amused.

She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone, intending to call Dean Sanchez. But before she could unlock it, her screen lit up with the same number that had already left her over ninety-nine missed calls.

Smiling faintly, she glanced at Don. "Speak of the devil," she said with a chuckle, gesturing for Don to follow her as they made their way toward the stadium.

As they walked, weaving through groups of excited students, Don\'s own phone began to buzz in his pocket. He glanced down at the screen and smiled when he saw the name.

"Hey, Mom," Don said as he answered the call.

Samantha\'s voice on the other end was soft, with a hint of concern. "Hey, Donnie, is everything alright? Benjamin\'s been spamming me with messages, asking where you are. He said the ceremony is reaching its closing point. He\'s also asking if you\'d reconsider withdrawing. What\'s going on?"

Don smiled as he walked, keeping his tone casual. "Don\'t worry, Mom. I\'ll fill you in later, but I\'m heading to the evaluation right now."

Samantha sighed on the other end, her voice slightly muffled as though she was multitasking. She was standing just outside a conference room, glancing over her shoulder when a woman peeked out of the door and said, "Mrs. Bright, the meeting is starting."

Samantha turned back to the phone. "Well, alright, honey. I have to go into this meeting, but text me when you\'re about to do your evaluation. I\'ll sneak out to watch it. Love you, and all the best."

"Alright, Mom. Love you too," Don said before ending the call and sliding his phone back into his pocket.