Chapter 9
Rin's second day of Tōtsuki "Hell's Camp" started with Shinomiya Kojiro's class. Luckily, he was on the same class with Yukihira Souma and Tadokoro Megumi, everyone in the Polar Star Dormitory knew that Souma is closer with Megumi than the others residents of Polar Star Dormitory. Rin thoughts about the two was funny actually; Souma was the very confident while Megumi was the shy one, while both of them are the polar opposites of each other, they make an interesting pair.
"Kobayashi Rin" Rin was waiting in the lobby for Souma and Megumi when he heard someone called his name. He glanced behind and he was surprised to see Doujima Gin smirking to him. Rin had already met the former First Seat of Tōtsuki earlier in his life.
FLASHBACK
"2 Pumpkin Risotto, 4 Lobsters, and 2 Steak for the VIP" Rentarou Matsuda yelled from the window of the kitchen, all of the members of the kitchen nods giving her confirmation of the order.
"Rin, take care of the Risotto! Can you do it?" Izuka Ayame asked the fifteen years old boy, Rin gave her a nod and went his way to make the Risotto. He wondered who was the VIP, once there were the Prime Minister dined in Moonlight's Kyoto.
Meanwhile in the Dining Area or in specifically, in the VIP lounge, Ebisawa RIko was catching up with her old friend, Doujima Gin.
"It's been too long, Dojima-Senpai" Ebisawa said while sipping her wine.
"Indeed it has been too long, Riko" Doujima said to his former underclassmen.
Doujima Gin, Saiba Joichiro, Nakamura Azami, and Ebisawa RIko was all a former residents of the Polar Star Dormitory. When they were all there, their time was called the Golden Age of Polar Star; since the first until fourth seat are all occupied with the Residents of Polar Star Dormitory. Doujima Gin was the first seat, Saiba Joichiro in second, Nakamura Azami in third, and Ebisawa RIko in fourth.
"But it's unfortunate that we're the only who was able to meet up. I don't know where both Saiba-Senpai and Azami, and I can't contact them…" Ebisawa said with a sigh.
"The last time I heard about Joichiro was about 15 years ago saying that he has a kid and you already knew about Azami" Ebisawa nodded at her Senpai. While both of them are reminiscing the past, they were interrupted when the waitress delivered their foods.
"Thank you, Sakura" Ebisawa thanked her waitress. Both of them enjoyed their food and finished rather quickly. Dojima was impressed by the wonderful taste of the steak and he enjoyed it well.
"As expected from your restaurant, world class dish" Dojima praised.
"So Senpai, How's life treating you?" Ebisawa asked him while taking another sipped of her wine.
"It's the usual. Work was increasing; many meetings I have to attend and my schedule is busier. How about you?"
Ebisawa grinned when she was asked by him. "Work was average; the sales in Kyoto are increasing but the one in Hong Kong are decreasing a bit so I was thinking about visiting Hong Kong next week. But at least I have a genius training under me" She smirked when she finished.
Dojima was shocked when he heard that Ebisawa has a student. 'The night just getting more interesting' Dojima thought.
"Who is he?" Dojima asked, curiosity was shown in his voice.
"Wait here for a moment, I'll get him" Ebisawa said then she left the table, making her way to the kitchen.
Rin already finished his cooking, right now he has nothing to do so he cleaned his station while waiting for the next order to come.
"Rin, come with me for a sec. I want you to meet a friend of mine" Ebisawa said to her apprentice. RIn followed his teacher to the VIP lounge, what he saw there shocked him. He was shocked when he saw Dojima Gin sitting there, while his eyes were observing him.
"Chef Do-Dojima?!" Rin stuttered when he talked. Seeing Rin's expression, Ebisawa smirked mischievously. It's not an ordinary thing to meet the Head Chef of Tōtsuki and the Former First Seat of the Tōtsuki Elite Council.
"Is this the person you're talking about, Riko?" Dojima asked.
"Yes, Senpai meet Kobayashi Rin" Ebisawa introduced the boy to Dojima.
"It's an honor to meet you, Dojima-Chef" Rin said while bowing his head.
Dojima smiled looking at the boy and he shook each other hands. 'Kobayashi? Where have I heard that name?' Dojima thought. Dojima also already met RIndou when her generation when to the Tōtsuki Hell's camp. The three of them talked to each other and of course, Ebisawa boasted Rin's skills in front of Gin. While RIn felt embarrassed and nervous around Dojima, Ebisawa Riko kept boasting his skills in front of him, adding his embarrassment more.
Not long after they talked, Dojima went bscl to hid hotel because early in the morning he has a meeting and Rin went back to the kitchen. Unknown to Rin that Dojima was interested in the upcoming journey that the black haired boy will going through.
FLASHBACK END
"Dojima-Chef" RIn bowed in greetings to the person in front of him. Dojima smiled when he bowed and he said.
"Kobayashi-Kun, I heard you did well yesterday" Indeed Dojima heard from the Alumni that Rin performed well in their classes, Rin left good impression in the chefs and made them wanting to recruit him early.
"Thank you for the compliment, Dojima-Chef. I hope that I could perform better in the coming classes." RIn replied to Dojima.
"How are you doing? And how is Riko doing?" He asked.
"I'm fine and from I heard, Sensei is fine too and the sales in Hong Kong are increasing" He answered. Before the two of them could talked more, Yukihira Souma's voice came from behind RIn.
"Oi, RIn! Sorry, we're late" Souma said while Tadokoro Megumi walked beside him. Souma and Megumi's eyes went wide when they noticed that Rin was talking to the Former First Seat of Tōtsuki Elite Council. While Souma is smiling, Megumi was fidgeting her fingers and she felt so nervous that she hid behind Souma.
"Dojima-Senpai" Yukihira greeted Dojima. Apparently, the two has already met yesterday. When Souma finished the 50 set meal task, he went to the bath and there he met Dojima. The two of them talked yesterday about Tōtsuki. Souma gained many information regarding Tōtsuki and yesterday he knew that Isshiki Satoshi was holding back with him when they had a Unofficial Shokugeki in the Polar Star Dormitory.
"Yukihira Souma, it's nice to see you again. Good-bye Rin, I don't want to hold you up any longer since you have Shinomiya Kojiro's class next" After he said that, he left the trio. Unknown to the three of them, he went to observed their class.
The three of them walked to Kojiro's class five minutes earlier than the scheduled time. After five minutes, they saw Shinomiya walked in and closed the door behind him, ignoring the students that previous walked behind him. 'A good chef is a chef that arrived at exact time' Rin thought. Rin respected Shinomiya's principles about tardiness and time management.
"Good Morning, my name is Shinomiya Kojiro and I am one of the graduates in 79th generation. Your task for today is cook a dish from my choice. You already received the recette, right? And I chose the easiest dish from my recipe" Shinomiya said from the front of the class while sitting on his throne-like chair.
"Shit, we got Shinomiya chef as the proctor. I heard yesterday, he fired more than thirty students and we have to cook a dish that was chosen by him" One of the students said. They were ordered to cook Nine Layered Terrine, while it was a combination form nine different vegetables, each vegetables has different time and method in cooking it. The flavor also needed to synchronize with each element, the most difficult part is to synchronize the flavor.
"Recette?" Souma asked Megumi and Rin. Megumi answered that 'Recette' meant Recipe.
"And also in this task, you won't work in pairs or teams because in this task, you will work by yourself. Sharing information and helping others are also forbidden. You could pick the ingredients from the back of the kitchen. I will give you an advice; you better treat everyone here your enemies. The time limit is 3 hours, get to work now" Shinomiya informed. Megumi's eyes went wide when she heard that they won't be working on teams, she's not confident enough in her skills to pass Shinomiya Kojiro's class.
"Do your best, Megumi! / Relax, we're gonna pass this class" Souma and Rin encourage Megumi. Megumi know was determine to pass this class and he will do her best. With that, the students went to the back of the kitchen and grabbed their ingredients. The students became wild as they race for the best ingredients. Due to Megumi small figure, she was shoved to the back and she wasn't able to get the best ingredients. While she has some good ingredients, the remaining cauliflower were in bad condition so she has no other choice to change the recipe a bit. In order to avoid decolorization, she used wine vinegar.
Time went by and not one student has passed the test, about fifteen people has failed and was fired by Shinomiya Kojiro. The tension could be felt from around the class, so many students are nervous about it, including; Souma, Rin and Megumi. While the boys felt confident in their cooking, they still felt nervous because of the tension in the class. Rin finished his dish earlier than Megumi and Souma so he went to Shinomiya Kojiro.
"Here you go, Chef" Rin showed his plate. The dish presentation looked beautiful, you could see the elegance behind it and it impressed Shinomiya a bit.
"Name?" Shinomiya asked.
"Kobayashi Rin" Rin answered Shinomiya question. Rin was anxious for the result after Shinomiya took a bite, Shinomiya went silent for a moment. Shinomiya was impressed by Rin since the flavor of the dish was just like it was made by himself.
"You passed" was the only words came from Shinomiya's mouth.
"Thank you, Chef" Rin bowed politely and went to his cooking station to cleaned it. Many students looked at him with stunned and envied looks, since he was the first one to passed. Rin glanced towards Souma and Megumi and he saw that they were still preparing their dish. Noticing that Souma and Megumi will finished their dish later, Rin walked out from the class but not before he wished for the best for the two.
With Souma
Souma was in the lone to present his dish to Shinomiya. It's already about thirty minutes since Rin left the class and Souma was not going to fail this class. Souma present his dish with confidence and he was relieved when Shinomiya said that he passed. Like before, Shinomiya didn't commented on the dish that passed. Now Souma was waiting for Megumi to present her dish. Souma knew that Megumi was a talented chef, she just didn't have the confidence.
Megumi prayed so that she was able to pass the test, she closed her eyes when Shinomiya took a bite from her dish. The moment of silence was making her anxious and nervous, but then she heard him talked.
"Tadokoro Megumi, you're fired" The time seemed to stopped when she heard it. She didn't believe that her journey stopped here, she wasn't able to cook with her friends anymore, she wasn't able to cook with the fellow Polar Star Dormitory residents anymore, she wasn't able to cook with Souma anymore.
"E-Excuse me, Shinomiya-Chef. But what's wrong with my dish?" Megumi asked Shinomiya.
Shinomiya answer were. "To covered the color of the cauliflower you used wine vinegar, right? The vinegar has a whitening effect to the cauliflower and the usage of the vinegar also intensify the sweet flavor. The acidity from the vinegar and the sweetness from the vegetables were spotted on, but who told you that you could change the recette? This dish aims to synchronize different vegetables into one, the recette didn't say that you could add acidity to the dish. The dish you presented is different to the one I ordered you to made, to serve a different dish meant failure. Are you satisfied with my explanation now?"
Megumi went silent, she couldn't say anything. Her dreams went shattered in seconds and she doesn't know what to do now. The people back at her home was expecting her success in Totsuki but apparently reality said the otherwise.
"I'm still not satisfied by your explanation, Shinomiya-Senpai" A voice came from behind her and when she realized that the voice belongs to Yukihira Souma.
"The situation Megumi was in were called unexpected situation. Everywhere you could found ingredients that weren't fresh. Besides, aren't we here was treated like your staff members? Then managing the ingredients was your responsibility, Shinomiya-Senpai. If this is the case, then would be this a failure for you as a chef?" Souma asked. He was not satisfied with the outcome of Shinomiya's judgement to Megumi's dish.
"Fucking brat, who do you think you're talking too?! You don't understand, so I'll explain it to you. I placed the not fresh cauliflowers on purpose, to limited the one who passed" Shinomiya said to Souma. Many gasps were heard all around the class, they were all shocked that Shinomiya did that on purpose.
"Cauliflower is an ingredient that was easy to oxidized, easy to fall apart, and was hard to prepare. That was three disadvantage to use cauliflower. Losing composure and chose the wrong decisions, idiots like that will failed. Slow people that wasn't able to get prime ingredients will fail too." Shinomiya continued his explanation.
"That's why, Tadokoro tried to overcome the problem with her solutions!" Souma argued with Shinomiya.
"The chef here is me! I won't let my subordinates changed my recipe as they wished! Listen here subordinate, if you continue this nonsense, with my power as a chef, I could fire you too as well" Shinomiya said.
"WHAT?!" Souma yelled at Shinomiya but before he could say anything more, Megumi pulled his arm and said.
"That's enough, Souma-Kun. If you continue this, you'll get expelled too. I'm alright, so don't worry about me" Megumi said while her eyes are pouring tears but she smiled, to ease Souma's worries. Souma couldn't see Megumi like this; the cheerful, the kind, and the caring Megumi like this. It hurts him seeing her like this. Souma sighed before he released Megumi's hold on him and Shinomiya was making his way to the exit.
"Excuse me, Shinomiya-Senpai. There's one thing more I like to asks"
"What is it, Monsieur Yukihira?"
"Does the rule of Totsuki still abides in the Alumni? If yes, then I want to challenge you to a Shokugeki, If I won then would you retract your decision about Megumi's expulsion" Souma said, Shocking the entire people in the room, including Dojima Gin who was spectating from the door. Dojima has to admit that Yukihira Souma has the balls to stand up against Shinomiya Kojiro. Shinomiya was about to rejects Souma declaration but Dojima interfered first.
"An interesting situation you got yourself into, Shinomiya" Dojima said while leaning on the wall, his presence alone startled the students including Megumi and Souma.
"Let's talk about this elsewhere" Dojima said as he left with Hinako Inui following behind him. Shinomiya, Souma, and Megumi followed him a bit later. The five of them were in Dojima's private office, there. Hinako and Dojima tasted Megumi's dish and both of them were impressed.
"As expected, Tadokoro Megumi's dish was incredible. Why don't you pass her? Stubborn Shinomiya-Senpai!" Hinako said. She annoyed Shinomiya until eventually he grabbed her face and lifted her up from the ground.
"Shut up, Hinako!" He whispered dangerously to her.
"So-So-Sorry" She stuttered as she couldn't spoke properly since part of her mouth was covered by Shinomiya's hand.
"Dojima-San, I think I already did give full discretion about the task"
"Of course, Shinomiya. I don't have any problems with the task or your judgement but she tried to overcame the situation with her solutions. Her courage could be the factor to reconsider your judgement. no?"
"I don't think so, not even a little bit" Shinomiya said.
"I think it could!" Hinako said while hiding behind Dojima.
"Looks like we have tie. It seems I have no other choices, I will be the proctor of this unofficial Shokugeki but because we can't interrupt the schedule of the Friendship and Rapport Camp, after today task are finished, you two will fight against Shinomiya" Dojima said.
"Wait, Dojima-San! Who said that I agree to all this?!" Shinomiya yelled at Dojima.
"Just accept it, Shinomiya!" Dojima ordered, while a frightening aura surrounded his body making Shinomiya accepts it.
"Fine, I'll do as you say, Dojima-San. I retract my decision about her expulsion if you win but if you lose, you'll be expelled with her too, Yukihira Souma" Shinomiya said while walking out from the room.
"Come to the underground pavilion later. Show me your will!" After Dojima said that, Souma and Megumi walked outside.
"Yah, it seems that we're still able to stay here. For now, we should do our best to survive the day, Tadokoro"
"Souma-Kun Baka! Why do you challenge him?! You already passed his class, you shouldn't interfere it. What if you get expelled too?" Megumi said while sitting on the floor, crying her eyes out. Souma crouched to the floor and patted Megumi's head.
"Y'know, Tadokoro. I did it because I want to and you should've know that the reason I challenged him was because you didn't deserve to be expelled from Tōtsuki." Souma said while grabbing Megumi's hand and pulled her up so she can stand.
"Y-you always help me and now you were involved with my problem again. I don't know how to repay you" Megumi said while her tears are dripping to her hands.
Souma wiped her tears off and he said. "You can repay me by staying here, in Tōtsuki. I want to cook with you more, Megumi and I know that the others didn't want you to leave, so you have to stay. Now come on, we have to go or you'll be late for the next class" Megumi cried even more when she heard him say that. With that the two left the halls and went to their own perspective classes.
Time Skip, In The Evening
Yukhira Souma and Tadokoro Megumi arrived at the underground pavilion after they both were finished with their classes. The two of them saw Dojima, Hinako, Donato, Hitoshi, Fuyumi, and Shinomiya conversing with each other. All of them stopped their conversations and looked at where Souma and Megumi was. Megumi's shifted nervously while avoiding the gazes of the people in front of her, meanwhile Souma doesn't really get affected by the Alumni in there. But the two of them were shocked when they saw, in the corner of the room, Hinako Inui tied up to a chair and there was a sign that said "Only an Audience"
"Ah you're here, Tadokoro-Kun and Yukihira" Dojima said, gaining Megumi's and Souma attentions.
"The rules are the same as the usual Shokugeki with a proctor and an odd number of judges. We're going to start the unofficial SHokugeki, Tadokoro Megumi and Yukihira Souma against Shinomiya Kojiro. You're going to use the remaining ingredients from today tasks and make a dish from it, the menu is free but use vegetables as the main ingredients. The limited time is two hours-" Dojima said.
'The whole reason that there is this Shokugeki was because of me. So that's why I'm going to help Souma-Kun with my best so that I don't become a burden to him' Megumi intends to support Souma as an Assistant Chef but apparently Dojima Gin has different thinking.
"Another requirement for this Shokugeki; Tadokoro Megumi you will be the lead Chef, you decide on the recipe. Yukihira will be the Assistant Chef and supports you. In that case, Shokugeki! Begins!" With Dojima's announcement, Souma and Megumi's eyes went wide. Both of them were shocked that the final requirement will be that.
"Dojima-Senpai, I'm the one who challenged Shinomia-Senpai, so why do you do that?!" Souma asked him, hoping that he would change his mind about the leading Chef.
"Yukhira, because of me that this Shokugeki could be held so you need to accept the terms. Listen here Yukihira, if you become the lead Chef and you managed to win against Shinomiya, Tadokoro-Kun won't change all. She will be expelled in another task by an another Alumni. Will you always be there of her, Yukihira? Will you be able to save her all the time? In Tōtsuki, all of you have to prove yourselves by your cooking. Whether you deserve to survive or not depends on yourself only. Right now, tonight, in this kitchen Tadokoro-Kun will be the leading Chef" Dojima finished.
Megumi was shocked when she heard him say that. Dojima stated the truth that Megumi could handle. In order to survive Tōtsuki you have to rely on yourself, if you can't cook at Tōtsuki standards then you don't deserve to be here. Megumi also realized that she won't always be saved by Souma and it scared her more when she realized what was Souma staking to help her right now. If they lose then Souma will be expelled too, his dreams to be at the top will be shattered.
Megumi was breaking down, she can't regain composure and she was panicking. She can't think what to cook now and thinking about the stakes didn't help either.
"Dojima-San, I already decide what am I making. Can I start now?" Shinomiya said to Dojima, who just nodded to him.
Shinomiiya saw the nod and went to cook but not before he said something to Yukihira. "Heh, I felt bad for you, Yukhira. You must be desperate right now. Your fate and future is in the hands of an useless person." The words cut deep into Megumi's heart and it furthered her panicking state that she was in.
"Do you heard that? Very harsh words coming from his mouth"
"Shinomiya has a terrible personality"
"That's the reason why no woman can stand around you" The people who previously talked is Hinako, Fuyumi, and Donato.
'Chef Shinomiya Kojiro, after he graduated at Tōtsuki, he went to France, opened up a Restaurant in Paris, and the only Japanese person that has the Pluspol Award. I'm cooking against him with my own recipe?' Megumi thought to herself.
Souma noticed Megumi's panicking state and it worsened when Shinomiya said that she was 'an useless person'. Souma knew that Megumi was talented at cooking but she doesn't have the confidence to push it through. Like the time, when the Polar Star Dormitory went gardening, Megumi cooked a delicious three way Onigiri. Souma was thinking how he could help gain Megumi's confident and help her regain her composure, then he remembered how his father do it to him back then.
"Megumi, put your hands together" Souma ordered her. Megumi slowly put her hands together and she, along with the Alumni, were shocked when Yukhira Souma clapped his hands with Megumi's hands.
'It hurts….. It hurts but the shaking stop' Megumi's eyes went wide.
"I learnt it back home. When your panicking, you couldn't think straight. Just relax and think calmly for the recipe. I'll support and help you, so just relax, I got your back. My dad once said that cooking is putting your whole self to a plate so don't think what is the opponent cooking and focus on yourself" Souma said while smiling sincerely to her. The effect in Megumi were positive, it calmed her and right now, she was thinking what to make.
"Thank you, Souma-Kun. Now I know what to make." Megumi said with determination and confidence showing in her face.
With Rin
"Tch, that dumbass. What was he thinking challenging Shinomiya Kojiro, I know that he does that to protect Megumi but still, there's no way that both of them will beat Shinomiya-Chef; the gap for their skills are too far wide" Rin muttered to himself.
Souma actually told Rin about the Unofficial SHokugeki that he was having against Shinomiya Kojiro. While Rin doesn't really showed it but he respected Souma to stand up for Megumi. Rin actually felt bad for Megumi since the situation she was in was unexpected but Rin really hope that Souma and Megumi would win for the Shokugeki because Rin doesn't want to lose his friends.
Rin walk himself to the lobby, apparently the rest of the Polar Star Dormitory residents are there. Rin was happy that he could be close friends with the others as well. Rin never was the person to show his emotions well, meaning that; he doesn't have too many friends as well. In Junior High, girls were idolizing him because the aura of coolness that surrounds him but Rin never started a conversation between him and the girls. The only girl that he was close to was her. While his sister has her cheerful attitude showed up front, Rin doesn't. The only people who has seen Rin's cheerful and carefree attitude could be counted with fingers.
"Yo" He greeted the Polar Star residents. Rin noticed that they seemed to be in deep thinking and they were surprised to see him.
"Ah, Rin! You had a class with Megumi and Yukihira earlier today, right?" Yuki asked and Rin rose an eyebrow.
'Ah so they're worried about Souma and Megumi.' Rin thought. He nodded at her and suddenly, he was bombarded with questions.
"Where are they?"
"Did something happen?"
"Are they fine?"
"They must be involved in something, right? Since last time, Souma was involved with the Don Research Club Shokugeki against Nakiri Erina faction." Yuki said the question so quick that she sounded like she was rapping. The others were anxious for the answer.
Rin sighed and sat down beside Ibusaki. "Okay, I'll tell you but please calm down. The three of us were at Shinomiya Kojiro's class, Me and Souma passed without any problems but Megumi was not so lucky. Apparently, Shinomiya-Chef limited the best ingredients and Megumi got the bad ones. In order to make a good dish, Megumi had to altered the recipe a bit resulting Shinomiya decision to her expulsion. Souma didn't accept that and got in an argument with Shinomiya-Chef and resulting a Shokugeki between Megumi and Souma against Shinomiya-Chef. If they lose, both of them will be expelled and if they win, Shinomiya-Chef would retract his decision about Megumi's expulsion."
"WHAT?!" Rin had to covered his ears when all of them screamed together.
"Poor, Megumi-Chan" Yuki said sadly. Tears looking to come from her eyes.
"Look, there's nothing we can do now. The only thing we can do is to hope for the best." Rin tries to calm Yuki while Ryoko is patting her back; soothing her.
With Souma and Megumi
Souma and Megumi already started cooking with their dish. Souma assisted Megumi with impressive performance. He prepped and passed in perfect timing, making them not wasting time at all. Both of the participants of the Shokugeki finished in time with Shinomiya presented first.
"Chou Farci. A local dish came from Auberge. Finely chopped meat and vegetables are wrapped in cabbage and steamed. It's similar to Japanese roll cabbage." Hitoshi said while looking at the plate in front of him.
The judges took a bite and they were truly sent to heaven. The dish itself was spectacular, as expected a dish made by Shinomiya Kojiro, or known as 'The Legume Magician'.
Megumi and Souma presented their dish to the judges as well. Megumi and Souma created a Rainbow Terrine with different layers of 7 vegetables.
"Ho, A terrine. Are you trying to outdo my recipe of the nine vegetable Terrine?" Shinomiya asked.
"N-No, I only want to present my own recipe." Megumi waved her hands at Shinomiya. She was scared when Shinomiya said that, he sounded like she was trying to outdo him, which is not what she is trying to do.
"Well, let's taste it" Donato said as in cue the others took a bite. Megumi was anxious at the result, she was so nervous that she has to close her eyes and hold her breath.
"DELICIOUS" The three alumni said at unison.
"Potatoes, carrots, and zucchini were blended into the pate, creating the seven colors and then cooked to bring out the best of each vegetable. How did you do all this within that limited amount of time?" Hitoshi praised Megumi. Souma smiled looking Megumi got praise, he was happy that the judges like the dish created by Megumi.
"There are two sauce; A sweet and sour lime jelly, and a refreshing green herbs made with perilla and other herbs crushed into a paste. Serving the terrine with lime and perilla, what a fn concept" Donato said.
"The combination of the roasted zucchini and the herb sauce is refreshing and delicious" Hinako said while enjoying thebite.
"The lime and sweet tomatoes are a good combination. I see, with the seven layer pate and the two sauces, you can enjoy fourteen different flavors." Fuyumi said, surprising and impressing the others. Souma smiled looking Megumi got praises, he was happy that the judges like the dish created by Megumi.
"Okay, it's time to judge now. This coin represents one vote, vote for the best dish." DOjima said after the judges finished tasting Megumi's dish.
'Until now, I was scared of being expelled so I kept running away. But for the first time, I feel like I really want to stay in this academy. For the first time, I was able to confront my own cooking. Please, I don't want it to end here. I want to remain in this academy. I want to continue cooking with everyone and with Souma-Kun. Please… God…" Megumi thoughs while she closed her eyes and waited for the result. When she opened her eyes, her eyes went wide. On her plates, there were not a single coin there. She lost….
'I didn't win…. Because of me Souma-Kun will be expelled too…'
"Sorry, Tadokoro. I couldn't be much of a help. But you should be proud of yourself, you made an amazing dish" Souma said.
Megumi cried when she realized that both of her and Souma will be expelled. She cired even more when she remembered the days she spent with Souma, so many moments they both went through together yet so little time.
"Well there's no reason to cry. This was the obvious outcome. I have to be up early tomorrow so I'll take my leave-" Shinomiya said but the action that someone took made him froze in his spot. There, Dojima Gin put one coin on Megumi's plate.
"The battle is already finished. What are you doing?" Shinomiya continued.
"The contrast in ability is clear. It's a complete victory for Shinomiya. But I just wanted to give credit to this dish so I put in a vote" Dojima said, shocking everyone in there.
"You're not even a judge. Why are you doing that? You said you want to give credit to that dish? I don't understand, Dojima-San" Shinomiya asked while extending his arms, showing confusion.
"You really don't get it? The answer is in the dish Tadokoro made. Shinomiya, aren't you stagnant right now?" Dojima said and he tossed another coin to Shinomiya.
Shinomiya were shocked when he heard Dojima said that. While what Dojima said earlier was true, Shinomiya couldn't accepted the truth.
After Shinomiya graduated he immediately aimed to the Pluspol award, he went to France and trained there for some time. After that he opened his restaurant, while it was an excellent start at the beginning, the staff felt jealous to Shinomiya so they changed Shinomiya's recipe a bit making the restaurant unstable. As more problems arose, the restaurant spiraled down. In order to survived, Shinomiya treated his own staff members like enemies, only trusting himself. The restaurant raised itself; gaining good reviews, many customers, and popularity. Shinomiya finally achieved his dreams, the Pluspol awards. But where will he go after that? What things he have to achieve next? He's confused as he was lost on the world.
"You realized it now right? After you've won, you don't know where to go next. You are standing at the summit, unable to take the next step. To a chef, being stagnant equals degenerating. You didn't cook your specialty today because you didn't want us to know you've become stagnant" Dojima said.
"Shut up! What do you know? You're a chef hired by Tōtsuki Academy. How would you know that I-" Shinomiya was about to say more but Dojima interrupted him by gesturing his hand to Megumi's dish and said.
"Try eating Tadokoro's dish and you'll know it yourself" Shinomiya sighed and took a bite.
"It's under-cooked, the plating could be better, and the pate isn't set right." Shinomiya commented. But then he took another part of the dish.
'But why does it pierce my heart. It's clumsy but it's designed with consideration for the one eating it. It unravels the heart that's been pushed to the limit. This tastes like a mother's love.' Shinomiya thought deep down. The he put a coin on Megumi' plate.
"Oi, Dunce. You put allspice in the pate, right?" Shinomiya asked Megumi.
"She used it to get rid of the strong liver taste, since it's a mixture of spices such as cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg." Fuyumi said but Shinomiya has something to confirms so he said something.
"But that's not the only reason, is it?"
Megumi answer were. "Yes, since all of you have been evaluating and eating a lot of dishes since yesterday and allspice works to help with digestion so so…. I wanted to serve something that would be easy to digest." The answer that shocked all of them.
"This dish was clumsy but it touched us. Although it was a battle, Tadokoro cared about the pople eating her dish. I think that's something yui'll need as you make your next move." Dojima said to Shinomiya.
Shinomiya clicked his tongue in annoyance. 'It all went according to Dojima-San's plan. For a long time now, I have been cooking by myself, without seeing the customers faces or hearing out my staff.' Shinomiya thought that he needs to change his way in cooking for the future.
"Here! It's a tie" Hinako yelled while putting a coin Megumi' plate.
"A tie? Then that means that we're in the same situation as before the Shokugeki" Dojima acted like he is surprise.
"Everything is irregular here. This is a joke. Well, work hard to last even a day longer here. DO the best a dunce can do" Shinomiya looked to Megumi and said that before he left the area.
"Tadokoro-Kun, your cooking is like a warm welcome, showing hospitality to the ones who eat your food. Use that powerful weapon at Tōtsuki and work to improve it. These three coins are a vote towards your future" Dojima told Megumi, after that he left with Hitoshi following him from behind.
"It seems like we're saved. Good job, Tadokoro." Souma said then Megumi cried happily.
Meanwhile with Dojima
"Did Shinomiya become stagnant because he's too talented?" Hitoshi asked while walking beside Dojima.
"Shinomiya was too concerned with reaching the top that he threw away everything in exchange. Then he reached the summit before he could mature as a chef-owner. But for a chef to continue reaching higher, you need to have the desire to absorb new things from other sources. Tonight, Shinomiya will probably regain that desire." Dojima answered.
Hitoshi nods and said. "Tonight Shokugeki saved two chefs. You're truly an exceptional educator, Dojima-San.
Back to Souma and Megumi
After both of them were congratulated by the Alumni, they went outside.
"It's already dark, Tadokoro. You should go back to the hotel first and I'm sure that everyone is worried about you" Souma said and with that Megumi left Souma alone but not before she said.
"Souma-Kun, thank you very much. I will never forget what you have done for me." She bowed and left.
Souma waved at her and punched the wall. "I lost… I lost…. I lost… Damn!" He screamed to the night. He never knew that Dojima was looking at him form the window.
"In that situation, Yukihira Souma was the only who believed he could win. That's another quality a chef needs. It's just like young Shinomiya walking towards the future, confident that he'll win that award. I wonder… What will you do when the future obstacles will be in your way, Yukihira Souma? But then from the things I saw in you, you'll be fine. The person I'm worry about is him" Dojima said to himself before he left.
Souma left the area too and went to Marui's room where the rest of the Polar Star Dormitory residents are.
Third Day of Tōtsuki Hell's Camp
The third day of Tōtsuki Hell's camp went by without any troubles. Right now, the Polar Star Dormitory residents walking towards Marui's room to relax. Rin and Ibusaki was carrying a tired Marui while they chose not to listen to Marui's babbling about why do they always played in Marui's room.
"I don't see any schedule for tomorrow. Maybe we have tomorrow as a free day?" Ryoko said beside Ibusaki.
"Students of Tōtsuki Academy, an hour from now, at ten o'clock you need to assemble at the main hall with your uniform on" The voice belongs to Dojima Gin, he announced it through the PA. After they heard the announcement, suddenly Marui collapsed in shock and none of them moved to help him.
"What a drag" Shoji said lazily.
The Polar Star residents went to their own respective rooms and dressed up. They assembled at the hall immediately, with the exception of Rin.
"Looks like everyone is tired" Souma said.
"Everyone must be tired…" Ryoko said.
"Gathering at this time, I wonder what's wrong?" Souma said and the other nodded in agreement.
""YUKIHIRA!"" The voices belong to Takumi Aldini and Mito Ikumi.
"To do a Shokugeki with an Alumni. You're so reckless, Idiot!" Nikumi said while her and Takumi's face lean forward towards Yukhira Souma.
"Just watch out, if you leave before having a Shokugeki with me!" Takumi said.
"How do you even know about my Shokugeki?" Souma asked lazily.
"Because everyone is talking about that! But wait, if you're here then could it be that you won?" Takumi asked.
"No, I lost badly. So… it doesn't need to be discussed again, okay?" Souma said while looking a bit irritated with the fact he lost against Shinomiya Kojiro.
Before Takumi and Nikumi could asked more about the Shokugeki between Yukihira and Shinomiya, the arrival of Nakiri Erina distracted them.
"That's Erina-Sama" A student spoke
"She's so gracious" Another student spoke.
Erina stood at the corner of the hall with HIsakostanding beside her. Erina was looking around the room, looking for something interested but then when she looked at Yukihira Souma's group, she noticed that Kobayashi Rin is not there.
'Where could he be?' She asked herself in her mind.
Rin didn't felt tired at all instead he felt energetic. He got a news that said she will be in Tokyo and he just got off the phone from calling her. Who is this person? That is another story for another time.
Rin walked in to the hall when the time showed 10 o'clock precisely. He didn't see Souma or the others because the room is to crowded so he goes to only person he saw that he knew.
"Yo, Nakiri-San" RIn said from behind Erina. Erina was busy looking all over the room to find Rin but then the world doesn't side with her. Turns out, Rin was behind her. When she heard him spoke, she was surprised that she nearly jumped form the spot he was standing on.
"R-Rin-Kun?!" Erina said while her face is flustered. Hisako who was seeing the scene from beside her got an amused look on her face. This side of Erina was truly enjoyable to see. Before they could talk more Dojima Gin spoke from the stage.
"Attention please! All of you were assembled here because we will explain the task for tomorrow. The task is you have to serve the guest of Tōtsuki resort a proper breakfast. Breakfast is the face of a resort. It was a dish that started the day of the guests here. I want you to make innovative dishes that able to contribute in the time of the guest breakfast. The main ingredient will be Eggs, you're free to make any dish but it will be serve in buffet. The assessment itself will starts at 6 in the morning. Until then, you have to make the preparation. You are free to use your time until morning. You can also create your recipe in various places or rest in your own respective rooms. That's all, see you in the morning" Dojima announced before he left. When he left the hall immediately turns into chaos. Many uproars from the students and complains.
"We don't have time to sleep!" A student said.
"This is impossible! My brain is unable to think anymore" A male student said while rubbing his head.
"Shit! I don't have any energies left" Another student spoke.
Despite in the middle of chaos, Rin and Erina were perfectly calm. Both of them are confident in their skills of cooking and they were also confident that they are able to pass the assessment.
"Speaking of eggs, I remembered how much you enjoyed my dish at the entrance exam" Rin smirked when he said that.
Erina was embarrassed, her face was all red. "Hm stop joking around. The dish was passable not delicious. I bet, in the future you couldn't make a dish that was delicious for me" she said arrogantly, trying to cover up her embarrassment by acting all powerful.
Rin laughed at her while taking her words to his heart. He vowed to himself that he will make a dish and make Nakiri Erina say delicious.
In another part of the hall, Yukihira Souma and Takumi Aldini is having a conversation with each other.
"Just you see, Yukihira. I will make an Aldini's specialty, an Italian egg dish" Takumi said with fire burning in his eyes. While Souma just stand there looking like an idiot and he said.
"What is it like, this Italian Egg dish?" Takumi heard it and had a smirk on his face. He didn't want to answer Souma's question and he decides to show him tomorrow, the greatness of his cooking. But then his twin brother had different thinking from him.
"It is a mixture of eggs, vegetables, cheese, and then-" Isami explained to Souma.
"Why do you tell him that, Isami?!" Takumi yelled at him, not accepting the betrayal of his younger twin. Isami laughed and then he left the room while dragging Takumi.
Rin who finally saw Souma and the othrs went towards them, while walking alongside with Nakiri Erina.
"Ah speaking of eggs, it reminds me about the entrance exam. When you tasted my dish and ran away, I thought that I was going to fail there…" Rin said loudly enough so the others can hear. Erina was embarrassed now, the reason she ran away because she was surprised of the deliciousness of the dish. She never thought that a simple dish could be so delicious.
"Ww-What are you talking about?! The reason I ran because I had to vomit because your dish is too awful" Erina stuttered when she told the lies that cover the truth. While she thought that everyone was fooled, she smirked. Unknown to her that everyone had a deadpanned expression on their faces.
"Then if my dish was awful, why did you passed me?" Rin asked, with a fake curiosity in his tone. Erina's pride was hurt, she didn't found anyway to answer back so she chose the best solution; she changed the topic.
"Anyway, I'll give you an advice. If you don't want to be humiliated in front of the judges, don't make a dish like that" She said.
"Alright alright, then I'll make a dish that will surprise the judges" Rin said with confidence.
Erina and Hisako are talking with each other regarding the kitchen that they will use for tonight and the Polar Star residents are conversing with each other too, with an exception of Marui, who was sulking on the floor.
Then Rin's phone rang. He looked at the screen and he smiled when he saw who's the caller is.
"Sorry, I'll have to take this. You guys can go first, I'll catch up" Rin excitedly walked outside the hall, making everyone confused and curious by his sudden cheerful attitude. But no one was more curious than Nakiri Erina.
Erina decides to follow Rin and she also intends to overheard the conversation he had with the caller but unfortunately Rin was nowhere to be found.
Erina went to look for him for about ten minutes. She was about to give up when she heard his voice in a distance. She followed the voice and she finally found him, he was on the balcony while leaning his body to the railing.
"I can't wait to see you! I miss you, y'know…." This is the words that Erina heard. Erina's mind went racing, she felt weird when she heard him said that.
I have to go… talk you later" Rin said to whoever was on the other side of the phone. Erina, who noticed that he was walking back in, immediately ran far away from him. She doesn't need to think about this, the only thing important is her cooking.
The morning of tomorrow arrived. The student actually looked the worst; the fatigue finally caught up to them. Most of them didn't even had 3 hours to sleep because they need to make sure everything is prepared for the assessment. Luckily, Rin was confident of his menu and thus he was able to get his beauty sleep without any distractions.
The goals in this assessment is simple; you need to serve 200 portions of your dish in order to pass. Rin was walking to hall D while carrying his preparations. He truly was excited to show his skills to the Alumni and to the rest of the students. Rin set down his tray and he glanced to the person who will share the cooking station with him.
To his surprise, the person turns out to be Arato Hisako.
"Yo, Arato-San" Rin waved at the pink-haired girl. The girl actually waved back and smiled to Rin. Both of them conversed with each other regarding about the upcoming assessment and others.
While on Hall A, Nakiri Erina was put on the same station with the worst person she could set up with.
"Nakiri? We sure meet a lot in here, huh?" The voice belongs to Yukihira Souma. Nakiri gritted her teeth when she saw him there. Somehow Souma annoyed her but then she saw what Souma was trying to make and she chuckled.
"It's a shame. You're trying to make that and you have to share a station with me… Sorry, Yukihira-Kun but this will be the end of the journey" She said.
Souma was a little bit surprised when he heard her say that. He was making an omelet soufflé and what could go wrong with that? There could be many complications regarding Souma's choice of menu, the soufflé could deflate and would ruin the texture and the taste of the dish. Souma didn't find his mistakes yet, so he was still confident.
"Don't worry about me Nakiri. I'll make sure that I'll serve more than you." Souma said with confidence in his tone and Erina just scoffed in response.
"Students of Tōtsuki, the assessment will begin soon. Prepare yourselves! The only requirement to pass the assessment is to serve 200 portions. The supplier of Tōtsuki resort and their families will be the judges, and the staffs and the chefs of the resort will also participate in this assessment. Every year they participated to help with the Tōtsuki Friendship and Rapport Training Camp. Their judgement is absolute Dojima Gin announced from the PA.
After he said that, the door opened and revealed hundreds of people. Many gasps were heard all over the Hall. But there are three people who immediately got the student attentions, this people were; Tokuzo, Kosuke, and Kyusaku. They are the biggest supplier to Tōtsuki Academy. The students were intimidated by their presence since they had their scary aura surround them.
'I'm lucky that I already knew about this part of the test, thanks to Nee-San I came prepared' Rin thought to himself. It's true that Rin already asked Rindou regarding about the camp since he need the most advantage he could get.
"Good luck to you, Arato-San" Rin said.
"You too" Arato wishes him the best of luck too.
"Please enjoy the dishes provided." Dojma said through the PA. With that the final assessment starts. Students started inviting the guests to taste their dish and wanting to gain 200 portions as fast as possible. The time limit of this assessment is 2 hours, you won't get any second chance if yu failed to reached the requirement in the time limit, if you failed then you will get expelled.
"What are you making, Arato-San?" Rin asked Hisako while finishing his dish's preparation.
"I'm making a traditional Herb Egg Soup. What about you?" She asked back.
"Who me? I'm making a Quiche" Rin answered. Quiche is popular French pie consist of a pastry crust filled with eggs, cream, and anything from bacon, cheese, and leek to mushrooms and seafood. Quiche is a frequent choice of dish for buffet.
"Oh yeah, your specialty is French cooking, right?" HIsako asked.
"No it's not my specialty actually. I just happen to knew a person who specialize in French cooking and I felt comfortable cooking it" Rin said with a smile. Unknown to Hisako, the person Rin was talking about, is the current first seat of Tōtsuki Elite ten. Rin started plating his dish, he used bechamel sauce to accompany his Quiche.
Hisako started greatly, she got many compliments regarding her dish and she also served a lot in short of time. She glanced at Rin and she noticed that he was still doing his finishing touches but then he finished his preparation.
Rin called out a waitress to try his dish. Hisako who was still busy serving her dish, looked towards Rin and saw that he was serving his dish to the waitress.
"Please enjoy" Rin said to the waitress. The waitress was young, probably in her 20s, she was also pretty good-looking. She blushed when Rin smiled at her. She took a spoonful of the Quiche with the bechamel too. She put it on her mouth and she was immediately in heaven. The dish was truly remarkable. It was so delicious that she even couldn't move and give a compliment towards Rin.
The waitress felt like Rin was an angel. An angel that was sent from the heavens to the earth in order to give this heavenly food.
"You're an Angel" She unconsciously said to Rin. Rin just laughed at her response while Hisako has to coughed up a lot to remained calm.
"Hahaha, you flattered me" Rin said to the waitress. Many people come to Rin's booth when they heard the waitress said that and they also saw how the waitress enjoyed the dish that make her speechless.
The entire students in Hall D was left speechless when all of their booth when deserted. They all looked all around the hall and they found most of the guests are at Rin and Hisako's station.
"Incredible!" A man complimented Rin's dish.
"This is a dish blessed from the heaven" A man said that while munching on the Quiche.
"He's an Angel" A child praised him.
Hisako was flabbergasted. She didn't expect that Rin would be this strong. She thought that he was only an average student but what is she thinking? Someone who passed Nakiri Erina's test was not an average student.
"Kobayashi Rin has completed 200 servings" Dojima announced. Rin smiled and the guests frowned. Rin only prepared 200 portions.
"Sorry everyone, it seemed I already ran out of ingredients" Rin said to the guests.
Meanwhile in the supervisor office, Dojima and Roland Chapelle are conversing with each other.
"Must've been a new record, right? 31 minutes and 55 seconds… Only 2 minute differences between him and Tsukasa Eishi" Dojima said.
It was true that the previous record holder of the fastest task accomplished was Tsukasa Eishi. Tsukasa's time record was 34 minutes, while Rin had 31 minutes and 55 seconds.
"Kobayashi Rin, he's the current second seat little brother. Interesting generation, right? The 92nd generation; there's Nakiri Erina, Nakiri Alice, Kobayashi Rin, along with the others. A generation full of monsters" Chapelle commented.
"Interesting boy isn't he? Riko even said that he is a prodigy in the culinary arts. He always surprised her when he created a new dish, she said that It took her to a new world of taste. She also said that Rin reminds her of young Joichiro" Dojima said.
Chapelle was surprised, he didn't know that the former 4th seat of Tōtsuki knew the boy. And to said that he reminded her of a young Saiba Joichiro, or Asura.
But even sometimes, tremendous talent could be the downfall.
With Erina and Souma
"This is an Egg Benedict" Erina told the guests in front of her. She made an egg benedict i
"Eggs Benedict. A dsih consist of a piece of bred coated with egg, bacon, and others, also layered with a special hollandaise sauce. It's a common dish in America, what's so special about it?" The chief of staff questioned Erina's dish.
He then took a bite and he was shocked due to the strong flavor. The egg melted in his mouth perfectly, the hollandaise has perfect taste of acidity, the bacon is crispy, and there's the sweetness from the bread. The combination of the elements in her dish make perfect chemistry. But the leading factor of her dish greatness was the roe, the roe was spread in her dish.
"INCREDIBLE!" Erina's booth were immediately swarmed by people.
But her taste of victory went by so fast all because of…
"Kobayashi Rin has completed 200 servings" Dojima Gin announced.
Erina gritted her teeth, she was infuriated to herself that he was able to finish faster than her. She will try anything to outdo him.
"Tch, Rin finished faster than me. Alright Fluffy soufflé omelettes, done!" Souma said while holding a tray of newly made omelettes. He turned around and saw that only 8 plates of his were taken.
'None of the dishes I put out have been taken. The soufflés have collapsed! I see, serving buffet style means that my food may not be served right away. It's not like at Yukihira, where we can control how the dishes are served. At a buffet, the customer decides not only what they want but when they want it. The soufflé has to be eaten immediately after it's cooked. Otherwise, the dish loses its appeal. No matter how many I make it, it collapses before the customers take it. This is not good at all, Nakiri is attracting all the customers' Souma thought. He was in danger if he didn't find any solution for his problem.
"Nakiri Erina has completed 200 servings" Dojima Gin announced through the PA.
"Do you finally understand? For a buffet, the dish has to look good and stay looking good. In other words, you chose the worst dish possible for this assignment. It's finally time to say goodbye. You may gaze at my beautiful dish until your time is up" Erina said to Souma. Souma just lower his head while thinking of a solution.
Souma just stood still for moments, he truly didn't know what to do.
"Nakiri Alice has completed 200 servings"
"Takumi Aldini has completed 200 servings"
"Tadokoro Megumi has completed 200 servings"
The clock showed that he only has 35 minutes remaining. The announcement didn't help either. Instead it gave him more pressure. He was deep lost in his thoughts.
"You're giving up? Just because you have a problem and you didn't have any soulution to overcame it, you give up? I thought that you'll face any problems in your way, just like when Tadokoro nearly got expelled. If you're like this, then you could say to your dreams to be on top goodbye" A voice said that from beside him. The voice belongs to Kobayashi Rin. Rin after done cleaning his station went wandering the halls to see how his friends is doing.
When he arrived at Hall A, he was surprised that Souma only served 8 plates while he only had 35 minutes remaining.
While Rin said rather harshly, it gave Souma the push he needs. Somehow, Souma calmed down and tried harder to find a solution.
"You tend to show off but now look at you" Rin said that to Souma, breaking him from his thoughts.
'That's it! Show off, that's the thing I need' Souma thought. He immediately grabbed 16 stoves and prepared his ingredients again.
Rin smirked when he saw that Souma works again. Rin knew what was Souma's going to do, the thing that Souma was going to do was actually impressive. You need speed, precision, and stamina to make this strategy work.
Live Cooking.
That was the thing that Souma's going to try.
Souma begin to cook his dish, he glanced at Erina's customers and he saw a girl was accidently pushed to the side by a boy.
"Come over here, Ojou-Chan. Take a look at this, I'm going to cast a spell on this egg" Souma said, he also noticed that now the girl's attention is on him.
Souma then opened the lid, flipped his egg, and landed it on his plate perfectly. The gir eyes were starry wide, she was amazed by the performance of Souma.
"Here you go!" Souma said while giving her a plate of his Souffle Omelette with special tomato sauce. The girl took a bite and she was amazed by the dish.
"Delicious! It's so fluffy and melts inside my mouth" The girl praised loudly. Now Souma attracted more attention to him, he repeated the process and he attracts more attention. Souma's movement was so fast yet it's precise, impressing Rin and Nakiri a little.
"10, 9, 8, 7-" Dojima counted backwards, letting know the students of the remaining time.
"Yukihira Souma has completed 200 servings" Dojima Gin announced through the PA.
"6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! This assignment is finished"
Souma then gave Nakiri Erin a thumbs up.
"Why do you looked so satisfied. There's nothing to brag about" She said.
Before Souma could counter her back, someone interrupted him.
"I'm shocked! I thought you wouldn't go past eight servings. But you made it through with a stunt like that" Alice said from out of nowhere, even Rin was confused by her sudden emergence.
"Relax, Yukihira-Chan. At least you made it" Rin said cheerfully while patting him from the back.
"Chan?! Why do you call me Chan, teme?" Souma asked while gritting his teeth a little.
"I'm just having a good mood because I beat all of you in terms of time" Rin answered while smirking mischievously. He didn't notice the glares directed to him from the three.
In the Supervisor Room
"That was something else" Dojima right-hand man said while looking at Yukihira Souma from the camera.
"The most important thing for this tak is the power of imagination" Dojima said and his right-hand man nods in agreement.
"if they can clearly picture the setting of a hotel breakfast and that it's served buffet style, they can plan the perfect dish for that setting" He said.
"And another thing… the most important skill to have in the kitchen where the unexpected always happens. He reversed his own disadvantage by adapting to the environment. He's still unrefined but he's interesting. On the other hand, total of 407 servings? Nakiri Erina is the only student to surpass the 400 mark. And there's the girl who served 380 serving before she ran out of ingredients, Nakiri Alice. But the three of them could be beaten if Kobayashi Rin prepared more ingredients, the fastest time in record to reached 200 servings in this assignment. Truly a generation full of monsters…" Dojima said while the others nodded in agreement to his statement.
Back with Rin
"There's no way you can reach the top just by relying on stunts like that. What you need is cutting-edge theories and ideas for each task. Kind of like what I made. Oh, that's right! I haven't told you who am I. My name is Nakiri Alice. I will stand above all of you" Alice said to Souma. While the two of them already talked yesterday, she didn't tell her name to him.
"Nakiri… Alice…Nakiri?!" Souma said a bit confused.
"that's right. Me and Erina are cousins. WE lived together until we're five" she said to Souma.
"Ojou, so this is where you are" Kurokiba Ryo voice were heard from behind Rin and Alice.
"Ah there you are, what great timing. Now, explain who I am to Yukihira Souma-Kun" She ordered Ryo.
"Um… Alice-Ojou is Erina-Ojou's cousin…" Ryo said lazily.
"I've already said that! Never mind, I'll do it-" Alice said while pointing her finger towards Ryo.
"My father built Nakiri International in Denmark, where my mother is from. It's an epicurean research institute testing the latest cooking technologies based on molecular gastronomy, including brain physiology of taste and smell functions. I lived there until I was 14 years old and then came to Tōtsuki. To defeat Erina and stand at the top of Tōtsuki" Alice explained to Souma and Rin.
"My cooking will not be defeated by someone who only values cutting edge technologies" Erina said smugly to Alice.
"How annoying! You never change! When we were three, you stole my toy. When I made you a cake, you told me it's inedible! And I couldn't forgot when we were five-" She was cut by ERina.
"Th-That has nothing to do with us right now!"" Erina yelled embarrassedly.
"And you, Yukihira Souma-Kun… you talked big at the opening ceremony but the days of artisan craftsmanship is over. That's apparent since you barely finished making 200 servings hahaha" She said to Souma while leaning her body to the cooking station.
"Yeah, I totally panicked. Ignorance can be so scary. I totally messed up-" Souma said. Alice is dumfounded that her attempts to bring Souma down failed.
"But I gained experience from that" He said, making Erina's eyes went wide a bit. Alice pouted because of his response, then she turned around and said.
"Anyways, I won't lose against you three. I look forward to defeating you" she said while walking away, with Ryo following behind. But Ryo didn't leave before he greeted Rin.
"For those of you who completed 200 servings. The next task is in four hours. You may rest until then" Dojima said through the PA.
The students just sighed and complained then they left to their own respective rooms.
"Nakiri-San, do you want to walk back together?" Rin asked Erina. She blushed a bit but she was able to maintained her composure.
"S-Sure" With that said, the two left the Hall together.
While they were walking together, many whispers erupted from the students. The boys glared hate to Rin because he was walking alongside with their queen, while the girls grew jealous to Erina because he was walking with Rin.
RIn pressed the button of the elevator and they waited for the elevator to come. The elevator the opened and revealed empty. Both of them walked inside and Erina pressed the button to their floor. When the door closed, Rin called her name.
"Nakiri-San" He said.
"Y-Yes?"
"You said that you won't lose to Alice-San, right? Then I promise you this; I'll beat you and I'll be on the top of Tōtsuki" Rin said while putting his hand to the wall behind Erina, forcing Erina to leaned on the wall.
Erina blushed when she noticed that they were so close but her blush reddened when their eyes met. Azure met Amethyst, blue et purple. Even Rin blushed, they were lost in each other eyes that they don't noticed the elevator door opened.
"Fufufu" Alice mischievous laughed were heard by both of them. Rin immediately released his hand and put it in his pocket. Both of them immediately left the elevator, ignoring Alice.
When they arrive at the front of their rooms, Rin bid goodbye to Erina. With that, the two rest in their own rooms.
The Final Day of Tōtsuki Hell's Camp
The final day of Tōtsuki Hell's camp actually felt the best. The day was actually a free day. The breakfast was prepared by the Alumni and you have free time from 10 o'clock to 3 o'clock. Many students chose to use the facilities provided by the resort while some of them chose to rest their bodies. Rin chose to rest his body.
The students went to their own respective buses. The Nakiri private bus wasn't able to use so the people who used the Nakiri private bus was assigned to different buses. Right now Nakiri Erina and Hisako Arato are sitting next to each other in a bus. Erina looked inside her bag and she didn't found her journal.
"Hisako, I'm going back to my room. I forgot something" She said while standing up.
"Erina-Sama, let me grab it for you" Hisako tried to be a good assistant to her.
"No, it's fine. I want to do it myself" Erina said while walking out the bus.
Moments later, she arrived in her room and open the drawer, revealing her journal. She walked out from her room and she noticed that there's a room service on Rin's door.
"What's going on?" She asked.
"The occupant of this room hasn't checked out, Miss Erina" She said. Erina sighed and said.
"Don't worry, I'll wake him up"
Erina went to the connecting door and opened it. She saw that the room was tidy, not the typical boy's room in the shoujo manga she read. She saw that Rin was curled up like a ball in the blanket, sleeping.
She poked his cheek and tried to wake him up.
"Come on, wake up! You're going to be left behind" He didn't even move or show any signs of waking up. Then Erina noticed that he was holding his phone. 'Apparently he fell asleep while palying his phone' Erina thought.
"DING"
The phone notifications voiced. She glanced at his phone and saw the name of the person who texted him.
"LuLu?" She asked to herself. Erina tapped rather harshly to Rin, and it finally woke him up.
The first thing RIn saw when he opened his eyes was an angel. He saw that the figure was blurred because of the light from her back. He focused hie eyes and he was shocked that he realized who was the person was.
"P-PERVERT!" Rin yelled while jumping out from his bed and pointing his finger at the figure.
"W-What are you doing in my room?!" Rin asked while covering his body with the blankets.
"This is a misunderstanding!" Erina yelled to Rin. She tried to clear up the misunderstanding.
"I was waking you up since you're late and you're going to be left behind by the bus" She said. Rin who finally regained his common sense, nodded at her and he rubbed the back of his head.
"Sorry, Nakiri-San. For accusing you a pervert" he smiled at her when he said that.
Erina huffed and turned her head behind. "Just grab a shower and get dressed, I'm waiting for you in my room" Erina said to him before she left to her room.
In her room, Erina's face was flustered. She rolled around in her bed. She remembered Rin's bare upper body, he has a swimmer like body. She was so embarrassed that she thought that she could die due embarrassment.
After waiting for a moment, Rin peaked his head out form the connecting door.
"Nakiri-San, let's go" He said while carrying his bag.
The two left their rooms and went towards the parking lot. When they arrived in the parking lot, they saw that there was no bus remained. So Erina has to went back to school with her private car, with Rin…
"The car itself was a sedan, with black tinted windows so that people couldn't see through form outside and a window that separates the driver and the passenger.
Both of them sat in silence since the situation itself was awkward. Because of the silence, Rin was bored thus resulting him sleepy. Not taking a long time, Rin closed his eyes and let sleep consumed him.
Because of a bump in the road, Rin's head fell towards Erina's lap. Erina wanted to wake him up or moved his head but his peaceful face stopped her. He looked so peaceful and comfortable. So she let him sleep on her lap. Erina unconsciously caressed his hair and his face.
'Soft' was the thing that she thought when she caressed his hair.
She didn't want this moment to end…
Hey guys this is chapter , the longest chapter i've wrote so far. Please let a review for this story in order for me to get better in the coming future.