"Speaking"
"thinking"
On with the story
The rebels and expelled students were all pump up to begin the third bout. However, with heavy snow in the area, it was making travel a bit difficult. Megishima was the only one staying behind, or at least the only rebel who hasn't been eliminated was. Kuga was staying behind to enjoy the hotel, or at least that's what he was saying. Mimasaka entered fatigue after last nights mock battles. He would need to rest for awhile.
Meanwhile, they were all enjoying themselves with playing cards. Hisako was teaching Megumi how to write with Japanese brush and paper. Or at least, help her overcome her own nervousness.
Soma and the others however were playing trumps.
"Ojou, I know you're withholding the queen of diamonds." Ryō said.
"ufufufu! I'm not sure what you're talking about." Alice said with a happy expression on her face.
"prepare to be defeat, Erina" Soma said to Erina with a grin
"I will be making you eat your words" Erina replied with a smirk
While they play, the expelled rebels sweatdropped to them
"they sure are relaxed about this" Yuki said
"But I never guess we would be able to take on the Elite Ten and win. It almost feels like a dream." Ikumi said.
"I know what you mean. We defeated four of their members and they only defeated two of ours. We didn't get back to back clean sweeps, but still, four victories are better than none." Ryoko said.
"I know we are happy, however, there is one thing we have to keep in mind." Hayama said. The others who weren't busy turn to look at him. "The next bout will be different from the others. Central is feeling the pressure, there is no mistake about that. Even though we've back them into a corner, they still have powerful players left in their corner. We're about to witness the best they have in the third bout. They know, they can't afford a single loss."
"This is true." Marui said as he adjusts his glasses. "The Third, Fourth and Seventh Seat. A victory over the seventh seat is the most likely to happen. However, a win over the third or fourth seat will be great if we can get two out of three in this next round."
"what!?" Alice and Soma exclaimed in shock as they lost the game to Erina and Ryo
"fufufu, now do you believe that I am the queen of poker?" Erina asked with a smirk to Soma while Ryo just looks bored as usual
"man, lose again?" Soma said frustrated before looking to the elevator door as it opens and revealed Akanegubono Momo.
"It's her" Soma said standing up from his seat
Erina and Alice watch him go out of the corner of their eyes.
"You're all alone? Where are the other two?" Soma asks as he speaks to the Third Seat.
Momo glares at Soma for a bit as she holds Bucchi tightly. Finally, she spoke to him.
"They're already at the arena. They both said they can't wait for the match to begin." Momo said in a soft voice.
"I don't see Tsukasa-senpai and Rindo-senpai either." Soma said.
"They are still resting in their rooms. After all, they are fairly burned out from yesterday's second bout and need as much rest as possible." Momo said.
"I'm surprised Saito-senpai is able to compete. He didn't have an easy time either with his match. He's competing two straight matches back to back." Soma said in surprise.
"Somyan, you see, he honed his nerves with cold water ablutions yesterday and this morning. So he claims he took care of his fatigue." Momo said.
Those that heard this was shocked he would dip himself in cold water in the middle of winter.
After giving the others nicknames with her 'cute talk' Momo left.
Soma decided he couldn't wait any longer and he quickly gets everyone to come with him to the arena.
They enter the Arena to see their opponents getting ready for their match.
The judges were already present at the judge's table.
"Alright everyone!" Urara said as she starts things off again. "So the rebel scum have gotten some luck in their corner. However, their luck ends right here and right now. The best Central has to offer will be taking them on in this match. This is where the Rebel Streak Ends!"
"In the First Card, we have Yukihira Soma vs. Soumei Saito. The Theme is Butter! In the Second Card, we have Takumi Aldini vs. the Alchemist, Etsuya Eizan. The Theme is Beef! And the Third Card we have Tadokoro Megumi vs. the Cute Queen herself, Akanegakubo Momo-senpai! The theme is Apple! As usual, the contestants have one hour to collect their ingredients from the storage." She shouted out as the crowd applaud Central
They enter the storage unit and immediately went to collect their things. Eizan was already trying to intimidate Megumi into giving up.
They came back up, fully pump and ready to go.
Before they put their things on their selves, they gathered around, and huggle together; putting their arms over each other. Everyone was confused by this sort of action.
"We're going to have to work in supporting each other to the best of our abilities. I don't think I need to say it, but our opponents are tough." Takumi said.
"I already have an idea what I'm going to make. Takumi I need you to do something for me." Soma said.
"Right, I already know. You and your ideas." Takumi said.
"Also, if you guys can help prep a few ingredients for me." Megumi said.
"We can." Takumi said.
"Then let's go." Soma said.
With that said, they break off and go to their workstation.
They immediately start getting their food prep and ready to go.
"You seem to be in high spirits, Somyan. However, if you get eliminated by us, you'll be down to two soldiers with a wounded one in the process." Momo said as she attempts to discourage the first years.
Soma smiles as he looks at the Third Seat. "That is true, however, wouldn't you say you're in the worst boat. Because if you three get eliminated by the three of us, then all you'll have left, is a wounded soldier."
Momo looks at Soma with a burning look in her eye.
"Then I shall not lose." Momo said as she goes to her workstation.
'Momo is closer to the truth than she realized. The Third Bout could be the most important factor of the Régiment de Cuisine. We'll either put their king in check… or we'll get put in check ourselves.' Isshiki thought as he eyed the situation carefully. 'Central has no choice in the matter. They must win two of their matches in order to regain their momentum. Otherwise, as Soma-kun said, they'll be left with a wounded soldier trap in a corner. Not even Tsukasa Eishi can walk away from facing six opponents with little rest. The sheer battles will play their toll against him.'
Back in the hotel, Kuga was sitting in the chair that was vibrating. He looks up and sees Nene walking past him.
"Yo, what brings you here?" Kuga asks.
"Well, I was just… getting some water." Nene said quickly.
"Can't show your face in the arena that you've lost to a first year." Kuga said as he turns away.
Nene ignores him as she knew he was speaking the truth.
"What about you? Why aren't you in the arena?" Nene asks.
"Well, since we're in a hotel, I thought I really get a massage." Kuga said as the chair continues to vibrate. Kuga then turns to Nene. "Yukihira Soma will defeat Tsukasa Eishi when it comes to their term to duel. You know that right?" Kuga said.
Nene thought of his words as it holds truth in it
Her match with Yukihira Soma proved that his words might come into reality
"I can't say that you're statement is true Kuga. However I do have to ask, is Yukihira Soma… really just some first year?" Nene said.
'His soba… it was beautifully made. It was years ahead of any my soba's been. Even if my soba had been a hundred percent perfect and the arena temperature didn't affect it… he still would have won. I realized that when I taste it.'
"He does appear as a second rate chef. However, he is far from one." Kuga said as Nene looks at him in surprise.
"Yukihira-chin isn't an ordinary chef at all, his skills are unparalleled to that of a pro chef."
Kuga remembered his booth match against the redhead as he felt something that was within the young chef
"he is a monster in cooking" Kuga said while being shaked from the massage chair
"what do you mean by that?" Nene asked
"I don't know myself but that black knife of his" Kuga said before remembering the black knife, Soma used in his match against Hayama and then that of Nene's "struck terror in me"
Nene looks at Kuga as he never jokes about things that are related to a chef's skills
Saito was cooking his meal and was preparing to prep his food. Everyone was talking about the first card like it was a real samurai battle. He turns back at Soma and he immediately was on his guard.
'No, that pot… has a wooden lid. Meaning he is stirring something. It's suddenly becoming clear to me… as I face him… he has yet to draw his true sword. He is more dangerous than I realized. I have to give this my hundred percent. For when he strikes me, I may be the one cut thee in two halves.' Saito said as he returns to stirring his butter.
"Awe this smells good. The butter is filling the arena." The students said.
"Here you go Tadokoro, I got the wheat flour you needed." Takumi said.
"Yo, Takumi… here's the beef you need! I kept the size of the cuts uniform to an extent, but make sure to give it one last check yourself!" Soma said.
"Your chicken stock will be done in about twenty minutes until it's done stewing." Takumi said.
"Oh, how interesting." Histoire said.
"It's like we're watching an experienced kitchen at work here. They're all supporting each other flawlessly. What should take them longer, they're cutting it down their work even faster." Anne said.
"This is nothing like what Mimasaka did to Kuga in the second bout. This will have a dramatic effect on their dishes they're about to serve." Charme said.
"However, the question remains, what kind of impact will this effect on the plate they are about to serve?" Histoire said.
Eizan turns to look at Takumi and had a smile on his face before he turns to return to the storage unit.
"Eizan-dono, where are you going?" A Central official said.
"I forgot one key ingredient back in the storage unit. I'll be right back." Eizan said.
'You really think you stand a chance. I don't need to bribe the judges to destroy you, Takumi Aldini!' Eizan said as he picks up his ingredient. 'With this ingredient in my dish, your pride, and skills as a chef… is about to be smashed to smithereens again! Just like it was at the Autumn Selections! Your defeat is inevitable. Such a shame, I'm sure Yukihira would have been able to won… unlike you!'
Eizan returns to the arena and prepares his dish.
"You seem to hold some grudge against me. I simply organized the Autumn Selections. It was Mimasaka who pick the fight with you. I'm sure you'll be able to pull off a marvelous dish, but I have no reason to go after you. I want to crush Yukihira, for destroying my record." Eizan said.
"You are wrong. I simply, want to win." Takumi said as he returns his cooking.
'He may say that, but he's even more fired up. If Eizan is up to his old tricks then that first year could be in trouble.' Saito thought as he eyes the situation. Saito turns back to Soma and narrows his eyes. 'The blade he wields. It's going to be sharper than I thought. He is no means… a pushover. Is he really some diner brat?'
Takumi slams his dough together and quickly put the pizza ingredients on. Then he calmly puts the pizza in the oven to let it cook.
"So, your pizza… seems like a pretty delicate dish, isn't it? Now that you've baked it in the oven, seems like it'd be pretty hard to adjust the taste afterward." Eizan said as he talks to Takumi.
"That is true. What of it?" Takumi asks without a care.
Eizan grew a large smile on his face.
"It's over!" Eizan declared.
"I've added one more ingredient to my special cream sauce recipe. I went to get it from the storage a while ago." Eizan said as everyone looks to see him boiling artichokes. "This vegetable actually has a chemical component called 'cynarine' which gives it a bitter taste. And it's the most important property is that it can obstruct the function of a person's receptors… and fool their tastes buds with an illusion. Anything the person eats afterward will taste sweeter than before!" Eizan said.
Takumi said nothing as he looks at him.
"Your shigureni dish highlights the rich type of sweetness that comes slow-boiling beef. But what if, before they tasted the pizza, they ate a meal with tons of Artichoke packed inside?" Eizan said. "You still have ten minutes at best to finish baking your pizza! No matter how you look at it, I'm going to finish before you! And afterward, your shigureni's going to taste like sweetened cake to them. In other words, it's going to taste like absolute shit!" Eizan declares.
"Hey, judges aren't you listening to him? Disqualify that thug already!" Yuki shouted.
"For what reason?" Anne asks without glancing at the expelled students. "The outcome of the battle will be determined by the 'served dish' and 'our tongues'. Those are the only components that matter. He's analyzed his opponent's strategy and then formulated one that would help him win against it, all within the allotted time. He's done nothing wrong."
"No way!" Yuki said.
"So Takumi drew the short straw." Daigo said as he looks down.
"Nii-san." Isami said as he was beginning to worry as well.
"Takumi Aldini… you're so naïve. You're way too reckless! You don't have the flexibility or the discretion to pull through! Not this time, and not back then either! Also, this is just my own opinion, but the day you got your mezzaluna stolen from you, you lost yourself! You know, what if instead, you were that guy…" Eizan said as he looks down at Tauki. "I bet Yukihira Soma would have totally won this match… unlike you!"
With that said, Eizan puts his plate together and walks over to present it to the judge.
"I present you, Roast Beef of Temptation! Etsuya Eizan edition!" Eizan said.
"It looks delicious. Then, let the judging begin." Anne said as she eats the dish before her.
'Takumi hasn't lost courage. If anything he still looks confident.' Erina thought as she looks at her teammate.
"As long as you win I don't care, but if you mess up the sweetness of my sweets too, then I'll destroy you." Momo said from her station.
"It'll be fine. You know the properties of cynarine work too, don't you? About the alchemy of it and all!" Eizan said.
"Man, that looks good." Soma said.
"After Takumi Aldini is crushed, Yukihira… if you survive your match… I'm going to crush you next." Eizan said pointing a finger Soma.
"Unforently for you, Eizan-senpai, that won't happen. Because you see… Takumi will defeat you and you're going to be eliminated." Soma said.
"What the fuck did you say?! Didn't you listen to a word I said? How can he hope to compete against a dish that is superior to him? Did you get hit in the head, Yukihira Soma?" Eizan demands.
Soma smiles as he returns to preparing his plate.
'Eizan hasn't changed. He still tries to eliminate his opponents using chemical components to his advantage. Well, I'll give him credit, he's very good at that. However, as an actual chef, his skills are just…average. Yet when it comes to business, he has a sharp mind and has made money off of it since he arrived at Totsuki. In fact, because of him, Azami Administration has been able to get so many businesses under them. However, it will take more than that to beat Takumi.' Isshiki thought as he watches carefully.
A ding alerts to everyone to Takumi's pizza and all eyes were drawn to it. Eizan watches with an amusing look on his face.
"Only the Shigureni is on one side and the other side is…cheese?" Ryoko said as she eyes the pizza carefully. "Takumi-kun, how is that pizza going to help you win?"
Takumi puts the pizza on the plates and using his mezzaluna, he cuts the pizza into eight equal slices. He walks up and presents his pizza.
"Bon Appetito!" Takumi said as he places his pizza down before each judge.
"You can struggle all you want, but you know that you can't win." Eizan said with a smirk but Takumi ignores him.
"Pizza. A favorite among Italians no. So the toppings were split down evenly among the middle, eh? It looks like a classic Japanese delivery pizza." Charme said. "I know in Italy we're supposed to use a fork and knife to eat it, but I think I'll eat it with my hands. Is that alright?"
"Of course. You're free to eat it however you like. Setting a formal conduct for eating pizza ruins the fun. But there's one thing. If you'd be willing to a selfish request of the chef. Then I would recommend you eat the slices with the shigureni first if you would."
The expelled students were surprised by this and were arguing against it. Trying to remind Takumi about the cynarine of Eizan's roast beef.
"Oh, eager are you? Or do you have that much confidence in your pizza?" Anne asks. Takumi said nothing as he looks at her.
She said nothing more as she grabs her slice along with her colleagues and eats the shigureni slice pizza. The expelled students were shaking with nervousness over the outcome.
"This isn't sweet at all." Anne suddenly said. Eizan was shocked by her statement. "In fact, it tastes absolutely superb!"
"I basted the pizza dough with yuzu miso sauce. I prepared this recipe with the help of my fellow first years in advance. Because the cynarine would have made it too sweet, I had to cut down on the normal amount of white miso, sugar, and mirin as much as I could. Then I increased the amount of yuzu miso to increase the sourness. I even grated up the peel of the yuzuto add to the bitterness and sophisticated taste… so the flavor of this dish would only harmonize if only… you had eaten Eizan's Roast Beef dish first!" Takumi said.
Everyone was stun by Takumi's explanation. He saw through the cynarine.
"…bullshit!" Eizan shouted. "You're saying you prepared it all in advance? I didn't decide to use artichoke until after I saw you making the shigureni! That's pizza's not something you can just change the flavor of after it's finished baking! The moment you put it in the oven, my would have been determined! How the hell did you know that I would use artichokes?!"
"I knew from the beginning." Takumi said.
"What?" Eizan said in surprise.
"I knew from the moment the theme ingredient was chosen, that you'd use artichokes." Takumi said. Eizan was stun in disbelief. "It's true, that there were a lot of ingredients in the storage that could have interfered with sweetness, but the only ingredient that wouldn't interfere with the subsequent matches or the meat you were preparing, was artichokes. I was certain once you saw my shigureni, you would choose artichokes so you could single me out for your tricks. I, however, have already studied you to a great extent. So I traced your line of thoughts perfectly."
Eizan was thinking hard about this. It was suddenly dawning on him that like all the times Mimasaka traces his opponents, this time he was the one being traced. He was riding around in circles in the palm of his hands.
"Now then, for my final trick… would you please eat my cheese pizza?" Takumi said.
The judges complied and they ate the cheese pizza and were immediately taken back by its flavor.
"This is… three… no four types. This must be quatro formaggi!" Histoire said.
"Cut the bullshit! That's just cheese on top of cheese! What's so great about that." Eizan said.
"Not exactly. He blends four types of cheese together in perfect harmony. Not to mention, after eating the shigureni, it leaves a powerful aftereffect in our mouth. It's delicious!" Anne said.
"You've got to be shitting me! How is that possible?" Eizan wonders.
"I was confident. That so long as I had all the experience I've built on baking countless pizza's, I could assemble the very best quatro formaggi to complement the shigureni." Takumi said.
"We have made our decision. The winner of the third's bout second card is…" Anne said.
"You… shitty first year!" Eizan said.
"Takumi Aldini of the Rebel Alliance!"
Takumi Aldini 3 – 0 Etsuya Eizan
"Grazie!" Takumi said as he clutches his fist up in victory.
Urara and the audience were stunned.
Central was down to three members left and the Rebels had six left.
"Son of a… a black spot on our record right off the bat!" Urara said as she was attempting to regain control of herself. She was shaking so hard as she was seeing the dangers of the outcome. "I-if by some minute chance, we go 0 – 3 in this bout…. This is really bad! Saito-senpai… we're counting on you!" Urara shouted towards the third year.
"A wise man once said, 'Know thine enemy, know thyself, and you have naught to fear, even faced with a hundred battles', Tenacity and determination are wondrous things indeed!" Saito said.
Urara quickly turns to the current third seat. "Momo-senpai… this is really bad! I mean like for real!"
Momo removes her lid from her pot and a wonderful smell filled the arena.
"It's ready Bucchi! Momo has really outdone herself this time." Momo said as she reveals her dish. She reveals three baskets and presents them to the judges. A basket of roses. Momo places the flower-like desert on the plate before the judges.
"Now I see, you used the Damask Rose!" Charme said as he sniffs the dessert.
"That's right. It's Momo's favorite flower. It smells beyond the worlds of cute!" Momo said.
"Then, let us have a taste." Anne said as all three judges bit into the desert. "It's delicious!" Anne said as she finishes the desert.
Megumi finishes her dish and presents it to the judges.
"Thank you for your patience. Here is my dish." Megumi said as she places her dishes in front of them.
It was a Dorayaki.
The residence of Polar Star Dorm look down realized this was very much like Megumi's style.
The judges take a bit of the dish and were taken by the surprising amount of apple flavor there was.
"It's delicious. How on earth did you come up with these flavors?" Charme asks.
"The secret lies within the dough. Apple Butter!" Histoire said.
"That's almost impossible. It requires perfectly fuse of two ingredients! You need a method to mix and emulsify the oil in the water! Even professional chef has a hard time making this!" Charme said.
"Yes. That's why I use a French technique known as Beurre Monté." Megumi said.
'Extronindary! Because of her humble manner, I would have never been able to guess she would have made a dish this superb!' Charme thought to himself. 'It's bake to such extent with double the power in a single punch!'
"However, while this is delicious… I have to say the dish Akanegakubo Momo's dish was superior." Charme said as he seemed disappointed.
Anne looks at Megumi and was surprised to see a look of confidence on her face.
'She hasn't given up. is there something else in this dish that hasn't been revealed?' Anne wonders as she takes a bit of the center. She was immediately taken back by the sea of apple flavor in her mouth.
"This is…" Anne said.
"What is it, Anne?!" Charme asks.
"Keep eating, you'll see." Anne said.
Histoire and Charme look at their dish and couldn't see anything else that would unravel its dish. They took a bite and felt the unimaginable apple flavor surrounding them.
Urara watches nervously. There was no possible way they could defeat the Third Seat. It shouldn't be possible.
"Then… judges… raise your left hand for Akanegakubo Momo-senpai… raise your right hand for Tadokoro Megumi." Urara said nervously.
Charme and Histoire raised their left hands, but Anne raised her right.
Tadokoro Megumi 1 – 2 Akanegakubo Momo
"Anne, why…" Charme asks.
"Because the theme was apple. Her apple flavor was superior in my opinion." Anne said simply.
"It was a splendid dish. Even I had a hard time judging that correctly." Histoire said.
"Which means, the third card goes to… the Elite Ten Council member… Anegakubo Momo-senpai is the Victor!" Urara shouted into her microphone as the audience cheers.
"That's one for Central!" They shouted.
'There are more wrong then they realized.' Erina thought as she looks at the scoreboard. 'That was a close one. Tadokoro nearly won. Even though that doesn't matter, the fact is Megumi, in a dish she couldn't perform at her best… closed the gap greatly. Momo-senpai… I will not let her defeat be in vain. I will crush you in the next bout!' Erina thought with determination as she eyes the retreating Momo who returns to her waiting room.
"Not cute. Not cute at all, Tadokoro Megumi." Momo said as she walks back to Central's waiting room.
Megumi was crying because she didn't win and she was aiming for the win. She quickly recovers. "Get em Soma-kun!" Megumi shouted.
"The last card?" A first year audience said.
"Yeah, Saito-senpai has this in the bag. The First Year got lucky in the first bout, his luck has run out!" Another said.
Saito looks at Soma carefully.
'He doesn't draw his blade first. Very well, then I'll draw first.' Saito said as he presents his dish.
The judges eat it with delicacy and were taken back by its rich buttery flavor. It was almost like they've been cleaved in two.
"Such rich butter flavor." Anne said as she eats it.
"This could be bad." Soma said.
"Wait a minute Yukihira! Did you just say this could be bad? I've never heard you utter those words before!" Ikumi shouted.
Soma smiles, however. He opens the oven and immediately, a rich butter fragment filled the arena.
Saito was taken back by this.
The smell itself assault him with a deep hunger.
All in the arena everyone could smell the rich butter flavor and was immediately taken back with a deep desire to eat Soma's dish.
'His sword… it's sharper than I thought!' Saito realized.
Saito closes his eyes and he could see Soma drawing his blade against him. A perfect katana against his own. And yet his blade was chip immediately.
Soma presents his dish to the judges.
"This is my dish! Yukihira Style… Fragrant Butter Pilaf Inarizushi" Soma said.
'I haven't even eaten his dish and already it assaults me with a deep hunger. I've only met a few chef's who can do this.' Anne realized.
Anne takes a bite and she was immediately taken back by the number of flavors it produces. It was overwhelming.
Charme and Histoire were in the same situation. The meal was beyond delicious it was incredible.
"Even though the aburaage on the outside is succulent and juicy, the pilaf within in light and fluffy. An authentic reproduction! The plump shrimp and the rich mellow chicken base dashi are perfumed by the aromas of salt and pepper!" Histoire said.
"It's taste is assertive but not overpowering. The umami of the ingredients enveloped in butter gushes forward like a fountain with each bite! How in the world did he bring together such comprehensively delicious dish?!" Charme said.
'It's too much for me to bear… this dish… is too delicious!' Anne thought as her clothes were shred.
"Wherefore are so strong?!" Saito asks with his eyes open wide.
"When I said this might be bad. I meant this might be bad if I took you on with a single sword, senpai. I knew at once with a single blade, you're tough to beat. That is why I went for multiple blades to fight you senpai." Soma said.
Saito was realizing, he wasn't just attacking him with a single blade. He had another in his hand. Saito was facing him with everything he had yet the attacks kept coming. It took him away to realize that Soma was surrounded by many types of blades. He could keep attacking his blade until it broke.
'This isn't merely the result of last night's battle.' Isshiki thought as he smiles while watching the whole thing. 'Soma on the very first night I met him, was able to match quality with quantity. From the start, he already had the skills to sit on the Elite Ten. There was no question of that. However, this is what he cultivated over the years at his diner, and during his time at Totsuki. Everything his fellow first years threw at him, he took in and master. Few realized when they face him, but his skills are that of a monster. Even I'm hesitant to face him in a Shokugeki!'
Saito smiles as he looks down upon defeat.
'The origin of his strength. That's right… I know it as well.' Saito thought as he thought back to his time in his mother sushi restaurant. 'It wasn't like I was able to stand at the top all on my own nor run my mother's business on my own either. I was able to become this strong because the other chefs were there to support me. I can't believe it took me this long to see that. I have found an opponent who sword swings with a true heart of a warrior. Yet along the way… I have lost.'
"I am broken." Saito said as he admits defeat.
Yukihira Soma 3 – 0 Somei Saito
"It wasn't much!" Soma said as he unties his headband.
Soma turns his head towards the sound of something metal being dropped and he turns to see all his friends rushing towards him with happy faces. The cage front had fallen down as the first years quickly jump all over Soma.
"They got so excited they broke the cage." Hayama said.
"That's insane." Ryō said.
"You defeated a senior member of the council and a third year!" Ryoko said.
"Takumi! Good job too!" Yuki said.
"Stay away!" Takumi said.
"Nii-chan!" Isami said as he hugs his brother. The others got up to congratulate Takumi.
Soma gets up from the hug before looking to Saito
"Yukihira Soma. Tsukasa Eishi is a formidable foe." Saito said to Soma.
"Believe me, I know." Soma said.
"I pray the tides of battle bring you good fortune." Saito said. With that said he retreats to the Central waiting room.
"All combatants please return to your respective waiting rooms. During this time please choose the next combatants for the fourth bout. The fourth bout will begin in ninety minutes." The announcer said over the speakers.
Soma looks up and realized he was going to going to face Tsukasa Eishi soon.
"I can't wait…" Soma went back to the others as he had a dark grin on his lips
That's a wrap!
Bye bye