"Speaking"
"thinking"
On with the story
Soma watches Rindo as she smiles to them
"so?" Soma asked as he reaches for his headband "are you saying that we have to do a Shokugeki here?"
"no no" Rindo said with a wave of her hand "the only one going to have a shokugeki with me are Aldini and Tadokoro-chan"
"us!?" Tadokoro exclaimed in panic
"after the side members first, huh?" Takumi said
"and for you, Yukihira Soma. Your opponent is at the train station where this train itself is going to" Rindo said before turning around and walking away "that's all for the details, I'll tell you guys all about the rest later on. It's time for a good night sleep"
Soma and the others watched as Rindo exited the cart before walking to another
"is she trying to mess with our heads or something? This definitely smells like a trap" Takumi said crossing his arms
"even so, I'm worried about Yuki and the others" Megumi said "who will they be facing against?"
"we can worry about that later" Soma said as he pocketed his pants "right now, we've got some night training to do"
Erina and the others nodded and went to their bedrooms
As the train stops to the train station of its destination, the passenger's steps off the train as they head on to their training site
Soma and the others however were pulled off the train station and was about to face their trial by Rindo
"had breakfast yet?" Rindo asked as she was having breakfast by herself "can't do anything on an empty stomach, right?"
"why is he here?" Soma asked as he looks down with his bangs foreshadowing his eyes
"who is here?" Erina asked before her eyes widen in surprise as Hayama Akira appeared behind them
"that there is your opponent, Yukihira" Rindo said while sipping on her drink "the new 9th seat of the Elite Ten, Hayama Akira"
"been a while, Yukihira" Hayama greeted as Soma turns to look at Hayama as his golden eyes glowed in the shadows of his bangs
"but why?! I thought you were against Central! What would Shiomi-san say about this!?" Megumi exclaimed "what about the Shiomi Seminar?!"
"what she says in this, would not matter" Hayama said "and the Shiomi Seminar is gone"
"what?" Megumi asked shocked
"the institute doesn't need a non-independent organizations beyond central. That's what dean Azami decreed" Hayama said
"but! The Shiomi Seminar! Wasn't it important to you and Shiomi-san!?" Megumi asked again as she couldn't believe what she was hearing from Hayama
"that's enough, Tadokoro-kun" Erina said to the bluenette "that is no longer the Hayama we once know"
Soma took a step forward as he got face to face with Hayama
"I can't believe you joined them, Hayama" Soma said as he looks at his rival "I'm disappointed in you"
"say all you want, Yukihira" Hayama said "you and I are now in different leagues, I've surpassed you"
"surpassed?" Soma said as he cracks his neck before looking at Hayama with his head tilted to the side "you've never seen me serious before"
The two looks at each other as the tension between the two got so thick that it could be cut with a knife
"now that you all got reacquainted" Rindo said before she clapped her hands and dozens of men in black suit came in "it's time for the rest of you to go to your designated exam site"
"miss Erina, this isn't where you are to receive your instructions for next exam" the men started to surround Erina as they started pulling her away "please come right this way!"
"w-what do you think you're doing?! Unhand me!" Erina exclaimed before one of the men in suit got grabbed behind the back and thrown away
"Guaaah!" the men fell down to the ground as the rest looks to who did it and it was none other than Soma himself
"didn't you know?" Soma asked as he looks to the other men and glared at them with his dark golden eyes "it's not nice to grab a lady's hand forcefully"
The men got frightened by Soma's demeanour as they backed away from Erina
"he's right, fellas" Rindo said as she stands up from her seat and went to Megumi and Aldini "treat the lady with more respect, will ya?"
Soma went to Erina as he caresses her hand "you ok?"
Erina nodded and replied "yes"
Soma turns to look at the men as they got goosebumps from his glare
"if I see one bruise on her, I'm going to cut you all with a rusted axe" Soma threatened them before looking to Erina with a soft smile
"good luck on your test" Soma said to Erina before he gives her a kiss on the forehead
Erina nodded before giving him a peck on the cheeks that made Soma blush a bit
"that's my thank you" Erina said with a smile before the two parted ways
"now then" Soma said as he rolled his shoulders a bit before looking to Akira "where were we?"
The two rivals looked at each other as they aura raged against each other
"what's the theme? And who are going to be the judges?" Soma asked Akira before hearing footsteps and a dragged wheel sound from behind him
"I shall be answering that" a voice spoke as Soma turns around to see Dojima Gin
"Dojima Gin" Soma looks in surprise to see the legendary chef "why are you here?"
"is it not obvious? All advancement Exam are also handled by Totsuki's chain members and that includes Totsuki's hotel as well" Dojima said as he takes out an envelope
"what I have here is the theme ingredient of the test would be used" he said as he takes out the letter "this has been chosen from a thousand random ingredients that are specific to Hokkaido and the theme ingredient is Bear"
"Bear" Soma said as he imagined bear meat in his head
"the challenge is simple and that is to create a bear meat dish that will surpass any other" Dojima explained as he started to explain everything else to them
"I see" Hayama said before turning around and started walking away "goodluck, Yukihira. I'll be happy to get the win and see you get expelled"
Soma looks at his rival as he scoffed before walking away
He walked pass Dojima Gin who holds the young chef's shoulder
"bear meat is a very hard dish to prepare" Dojima told the young chef "the fat within it's meat makes it hard for most chefs to prepare it and then cook it,"
"I know" Soma replied as he shakes off the older chef's hand and started to walk away "I won't be losing to someone like him"
Dojima looks at Soma as he walks away
There he saw a blackish aura around Soma as it showed him a memory that returned to his mind
"Joichiro….your son….did he inherit it?" Dojima thought as a demon shaped aura appeared behind Soma
That's a wrap!
Bye bye