"You brat! Who do you think you're talking to? Huh?!"

Almost all the remained students in that room hold their breath after hearing that outburst of anger came from their instructor that morning. Except, Yukihira Souma and Nakiri Karen. Even he joined the 'conversation' between Karen and Shinomiya just several seconds ago, got the sudden angry shout from the older chef, he still had his calm, unperturbed look on his face. Karen whom saw it can't helped but wondering. The boy named Yukihira Souma was someone beyond her imagination.

"Just for your information as you seem didn't know about it."

Karen got her attention back to the older chef. He has got his 'calmness' back even it was so small, only they whom had sharp eyes could tell it.

"Those bad cauliflower got mixed there intentionally to make the chance of passing this assignment is smaller than it should be in the normal case." Shinomiya told a small secret in his assignment which made the student gasped in shock. It included Karen herself. But, she got surprised not about the fact Chef Shinomiya has told just now. It was the fact that Chef Shinomiya told them 'voluntarily' about his little secret in his assignment. As long as Karen knew about someone like Chef Shinomiya, they tended to keep their secret for themselves even it was just a small 'play'.

"Cauliflower has three weaknesses, easy to get oxidate – easy to get rotten – difficult to get cooked. You have to be careful when you process it." Shinomiya continued his speech, or it could be true to call it as continued his reason. "With that small set-up, I got failed them whom losing composure, careless, also whom late of getting the good ingredients."

"Just as I told you...! Tadokoro has used all of her ideas and efforts to make out those lateness..."

"I'm the chef here. There is none who can change my recette!"

Shinomiya cut off Souma's words immediately even before the latter can finished his. The atmosphere there got heavier after that, it felt suffocating. With the same intimidating stare which he gave to Karen a while ago, Shinomiya seemed didn't have an intention of letting Souma go so easily. He took approximately two seconds to adjust his glasses, then leaned closer to Souma with the same intimidating aura.

"Listen, employee... if you kept questioning me, with my authority as a chef... should I fire you too?"

If not because of Megumi's effort of holding Souma back, maybe the red head boy already threw his tantrum to the older chef. All the students, also Shinomiya himself, can saw that Souma's face was full of anger.

"What?!" Souma's hoarse voice rang all around the room.

"Souma-kun, it's alright! So-Souma-kun, you will get expelled too, so... please stop it..." Megumi's trembled voice interrupted. It was just a matter of time that the blue haired girl will burst into tears.

"Hah?! It's not the right time to say something like that!" Still, with anger in his voice, Souma still didn't want to accept Megumi's words which got heard stupid in his ears.

"It's alright, Souma-kun... I... I..."

Souma was about to shout another word but he got speechless soon after his golden eyes caught the forced smile on Megumi's red face. He let out a sigh as he got his body lessen a bit. While Karen whom stood just several steps away from the two had her eyes closed. Her head started spinning, as the situation in that room got worse. It was when she has decided to do something to make it up, the red head boy already took a step faster than her. Suddenly, she felt strange chill behind her neck.

"Excuse me, Shinomiya Senpai. One more thing, please." Souma said after arranged his breath regularly.

"What is it now, Monsieur Yukihira? You want to complaint again?" Shinomiya asked back.

"No. More than a complaint, it's just a question."

That simple explanation made Shinomiya stayed on his place, while Karen and Megumi had their questioned look on their face.

"Does Toutsuki's rule also applies to alumni?"

"What do you mean?" For the second time, Shinomiya asked about the real question given by Souma.

"Shokugeki."

Those one word was succeed in making all the attention got focused on Souma. A word which sounded like a war declaration.

"If you lose in Shokugeki, can you take back about Tadokoro's expulsion?"


Ah... I've messed up.

It was what Karen's mind had whispered after she heard that brave yet stupid threat. Her tired rose-gold eyes looked at Shinomiya whom still hadn't given his reply about that 'Shokugeki' threat. In short glance, she can predicted what kind of reply that cocky chef will gave. He will rejected it.

While at another place...

Still in his place – behind Doujima Gin's back – Kimura Ikuya had his amused look on his face. That 'little' commotion in Shinomiya's class was really entertaining. Moreover, the one who brought it up was no other than Nakiri Karen. Then, that transfer student just made it more interesting.

"Ne, Doujima-san... who is that brave student? For a mere student to challenge a chef, moreover someone like Kojirou into a Shokugeki. He's really has a nerve."

"He's the only transfer student this year. So... now is up to Shinomiya's reply, right? It's getting interesting." Doujima Gin added.

Since he met Souma last evening, Doujima has sensed that the red head boy has different aura. Actually, he was waiting for another round of tense debate between Chef Shinomiya and Nakiri Karen. But, the thrilling threat given by that Yukihira boy to the almighty Shinomiya Kojirou wasn't bad either. Suddenly, a cunning thought appeared in his head.

Got back to Chef Shinomiya's class...

"Shokugeki, huh? Ah... what a nostalgic word." Shinomiya commented after being silent several seconds ago.

The remained students which still in that room can't helped but murmured under their breath. Some of them were criticized how stupid that idea as a mere transfer student like Yukihira Souma challenge an alumni whom has titled as one of the monsters in culinary world.

"Shokugeki between a student and an alumni, I never heard of it. But, for a Shokugeki, you need the agreement from both sides, right? Sorry, but I won't accept your challenge. No matter whatever you do, Tadokoro Megumi's expulsion is final."

"Hey, not that fast, Kojirou-kun!"

Two well-known alumni of Toutsuki joined the class. All eyes focused on them.

"It seems that something interesting is happened here, Shinomiya."

"Doujima-san...? And... Ikuya?"


At office.

"Why I should be here, Doujima-san?" Karen asked the oldest one in that room. If Doujima gathered them in that room because of that 'Shokugeki' thing, then he shouldn't asked her too as that stupid 'challenge' was between Souma and Chef Shinomiya. Karen thought that it's unnecessary to call her too.

"Actually, I had seen the debate in Shinomiya's class since the beginning. Therefore, I need you to be here too as you're the one whom started it, Ren-kun." Doujima answered calmly.

So, it's how that happened?

Even she has worked under Doujima Gin for some business about Toutsuki, but Karen hasn't known that man's nature so well yet. Doujima Gin, one of the men whom difficult to be read. He's so good in hiding his true intention and had so many cards under his sleeve. Who knows, what he had planned based on her debate with Chef Shinomiya, all Karen could do is just waited.

"Ehm... this Terrine, it's not bad." Another alumni – Kimura Ikuya – commented after he ate a little bite of Megumi's Terrine. "If it was me, obviously I'll let her passed the assignment." Ikuya said again then ate another piece of that Terrine. Then he placed the fork and knife back to its place, walked towards Megumi. Out of the blue, Ikuya took Megumi's hands which made the blue haired girl surprised. "It's a pity that the chef isn't me but that stone-head Kojirou. Kawaiso~ne, our little Megumi..."

"Shut up, Ikuya!"

In the speed of light, Shinomiya already grabbed Ikuya's uniform collar which made the latter froze in his place. The coral pink haired chef already had his unfriendly aura all over his face. Admitted the defeat, Ikuya put his hands up.

"Chill down, please~ Kojirou-kun."

With a heavy sigh, Shinomiya let go of Ikuya then went to Doujima. "Doujima-san. I'm pretty sure that I have full authority about the assignment in my class."

"Of course, Shinomiya. It's not that I'm questioning about the content of the assignment or the criteria of your evaluation. But, at least she has tried whatever she could do to handle her 'unfortunate' situation, right?" Doujima spoke out his opinion calmly. "Don't you think, you should appreciate her effort?"

"Nope. Not like that." Shinomiya still with his words.

"How rude... Kojirou-kun? I thought, we should appreciate her." Ikuya butted into the conversation.

"Uhm... it's a 50:50 then..." Doujima spoke after that with a suspicious stare he shared with Ikuya.

50:50? How in the Earth Doujima-san can concluded it like that? He's really ignored our complaint, isn't he?

Karen narrated those sentences inside her head.

"Then, it can't be helped. Unofficial Shokugeki. I'll take care of it, so just call it as usual cooking match. Because we still had the scheduled agenda in the training camp, I want you all to have the match after all of today's assignments finished." Doujima told all the people there the final decision he has made.

"Wait, Doujima-san. Why I should accept this stupid challenge..."

"Just accept it, Shinomiya!" Doujima cut off Shinomiya's words right away with intimidating look on his eyes. That threating command, was successfully made Shinomiya had no other choice than accepted that challenge.

All of us?

Curse that stupid fatigue Karen had last night which made her has to process all of the words told by Doujima longer than it should be.

"Then... what about me, Doujima-san? I thought that it's unnecessary to put me into their Shokugeki..."

"Haven't I told you before, Ren-kun?" Another threatening words from Doujima. It was unusual for Doujima to have a serious look with Karen. "You're the one who has started all of this mess. Also, if I took a better memory, your dish hasn't been called as a success yet. Of course I didn't question about your skill in cooking but with all of your complaints in Shinomiya's class, I have to hold your evaluation. Your status is still lie between failed and passed. So, through this cooking match, I want you to show your true ability. Speak with your dish, you get it... Ren-kun?"

The last sentence given by Doujima, Karen really hated to hear that. Karen chose to stay silent as whatever she said, Doujima's mind won't change.

"Huh... alright. I'll accept the challenge like what Monsieur Doujima has asked. So, about the consequence..." Shinomiya has his attention on the trio students there. "If one of you won, I'll take back that expulsion. But, if I won, all of you will expelled. It's... clear, right?" With that words, Shinomiya left that room.

"Alright. Yukihira, Tadokoro, and Ren-kun. After you finished your afternoon assignment, come to the hotel pavilion. Show us what you've got."


"Will you be alright, Ren-chan?"

Ikuya asked right before Karen headed towards her next class. She didn't answer that question immediately, only gave 'her brother' a lazy yet tired look through her rose-gold eyes. It was a stupid question, Ikuya knew it. When he took a better look on the younger one, he could see that Karen still looked a bit pale. The morning assignment given by Shinomiya was a bit difficult, yet she has to get involved in the cooking match later in the evening. The thought of Karen got that panic attack like last evening was the worst thing he ever wished.

"Maybe... yes? Don't you worry too much about it, Iku-nii. If it's not because of that 'accidental' Shokugeki threat, I have made it up cleanly."

Ikuya had his questioned look after he heard that answer came from Karen. "Don't tell me..."

This time, Karen whom had her questioned look on her face. "Do you think I'm willing to debate Chef Shinomiya without any preparation, Iku-nii?"

No words came from Ikuya's mouth as he decided to let it passed. That was true. The girl named Nakiri Karen was a girl who acted with so much calculations in her mind. She won't acted carelessly.

"So, that Shokugeki thing, it's out of your calculation, then?"

Karen let out a heavy sigh before answered it. "Ah... even I have warned myself about his unexpected, random thought, yet I can't outrun his boldness."

Both Karen and Ikuya walked through the long, silent corridor, with uncertain thought inside their head. After the long silence between both of them, Ikuya decided to ask the question which troubled him since he saw that red haired boy's attitude.

"Say, Ren-chan. Why that boy... Yukihira-kun, right? Why he should challenge Kojirou, out of all people? I thought, he's too overreacted if it was just to save that girl. In the end, they are just fellow student."

Karen let that question sunk into her head, got processed for several seconds. The same question which previously got questioned by herself. "Isn't that question, also applies to me, Iku-nii? You see, I have debated Chef Shinomiya about Tadokoro Megumi's dish too."

"How is that question also applies to you, Ren-chan? Of course it's not. You did that thing, because you have your own reason, right? Since in the beginning of Kojirou's class, you've debated him. From that, I've already know that you hate that kind of chef to be your superior. But, in Yukihira's case... it's different. He did Kojirou's assignment peacefully. Then, when Kojirou told that girl that she's fired, he began acted like a rebel."

Karen didn't know that 'her brother' saw thoroughly over the 'show' in her morning assignment class. When he is in the serious mode, the man named Kimura Ikuya was looked cool. But, when it came to joke, that cool Kimura Ikuya has turned into the most idiot man ever alive. At some times, he became the man whom can be relied on, but in most times he became the most annoying man. No wonder that 1st seat Elite Ten of 79th generation – Shinomiya Kojirou – had a really bad relationship with this annoying 3rd seat Elite Ten of 79th generation – Kimura Ikuya.

"Why he challenged Chef Shinomiya, huh? I don't know the right answer for that question, Iku-nii. I just guess... maybe, he has acknowledge her. Because of that, he thought that the girl named Tadokoro Megumi isn't a person who should get expelled from Toutsuki."


Kanto Traditional Cuisine Festival Venue - Kanagawa Prefecture

02.35 pm

Kimura Haruki chose to have a short walk around the fest venue as he thought that he was not a big help in decorating the fest booth. Without telling the president boy nor the vice president girl, he left the Local Cuisine RS's booth. There were so many people gathered in that place, some decorated the booth, some helped each other dropping their goods, some handed over flyer about their product, and others documented that event with their latest camera. Many well-known shops which participated in that fest, and only two famous schools to add in it. Toutsuki Academy and Kyusei High School. Speak about Kyusei High School, that elite school's booth got a very strategic position. It got placed in the main area, across the seven fountains circle which placed in the middle of main area. Two blocks away from theirs, was where Toutsuki Local Cuisine RS's booth stood on. Not as strategic as Kyusei's place, but it's not bad either. From that place, the customer still can enjoyed the fountain display, also all the panorama of the main area.

"Oh~ it's lucky to meet you here, etto... Kimura Haruki, right?"

A voice called his name, made Haruki looked for that someone. A student, around his age or maybe one year older, dressed in... Kyusei's uniform. That student has a handsome feature, and he walked towards Haruki's place with a cup of drink in his right hand.

"You didn't remember me? We have met... uhm, two or three years ago... in a cooking competition."

That Kyusei student asked Haruki whom stayed silent since he called the latter a while ago. Haruki could see the change of expression on that male student, from happy to confusion.

"How can you ask someone like that, Yuu? You're not the only one that he met in that competition. Also, it has been years ago, right? He has met many kind of person, it's impossible that he will recognized you right away." Another male student dressed in the same uniform appeared, scolded the first one. He has a resemblance with the first one. "I'm sorry for his sudden greeting. I'm Kikuchi Chiaki and he's Kikuchi Yuu, we're from Kyusei High School." That boy introduced himself and the other Kyusei student.

"So, it's really you." Without realized, Haruki already blurt out that words.

"What?" Kikuchi Chiaki asked back, while the other Kikuchi had his questioned look on his handsome face.

"Ah... the Kikuchi Yuu I remembered was... a bit different than him." Haruki answered Chiaki's question just now, which made more questions appeared in both Kikuchi boys' head.

"Different?"

"Etto... how to say it, he is a bit more into serious type..." Haruki didn't continue as his eyes saw both Kikuchi boys still had their confused look.

"Heh~ You should erase that kind of memory. Actually, he's not a serious type at all." Chiaki responded as he put his left hand over Yuu's shoulder. "So, what are you doing here, alone? If I remembered well, your team barely arrived. I thought, it's a bit rude to wander around doing nothing like this."

Haruki didn't answer it immediately.

"You've talked too much, Chiaki." Yuu suddenly took the initiative to talk between the other two, as he get out from Chiaki's grasp. Unlike earlier, the way Yuu said it was different. There was an unseen threat filled that words. After had a sip on his drink, Yuu looked straight to Haruki's red eyes. The same stare he gave to Haruki when they said goodbye three years ago. "Taking a stroll is a part of strategy too. Let's get back, I've got so many call from Akari. It's annoying."

With that words, Yuu left Haruki without giving any look back. Chiaki had no other choice than to follow the other Kikuchi boy. "See you tomorrow, Toutsuki student."

Haruki watched every step taken by both Kikuchi boys till the two were out of his sight. It was a tap on his left shoulder which made him got back, then he saw Fujimaru Kazuki – the president of Toutsuki Local Cuisine RS – already stood right behind him. But, Fujimaru's sight wasn't on him. He had his sight at the same spot Haruki had several seconds ago.

"You... looked get along with them, Haruki-kun."

"Ah, that Kyusei students? Not really. They are the one whom 'acted' getting along with me. Any problem?"

Fujimaru shook his head slowly. "To think that I'll see that uniform so close like this, moreover with those special badge... it seems that we have to work harder for tomorrow."

Special badge?

Haruki barely remembered about that small additional fashion piece. The unusual vertical stripe white-and-black shirt of Kyusei uniform made it difficult to pay attention on the badge which attached on the left sleeve.

"I thought that you didn't take an interest in Kyusei High, Kazuki-kun." Haruki spoke out of the blue, looked at the president boy.

"At first, yes. But, recently I don't know why I did research about them. I saw one of the two earlier had a yellow badge, right? If I'm not mistaken, only them whom titled as the 'best student' who will wear that badge."

Haruki nodded, he also had heard of it. The best student with the badge on their uniform, automatically became the student council members. Kyusei Student Council, it was the 'Elite Ten' version of Kyusei High School. For Kyusei, to send one of their 'best' members into a small festival, that idea suddenly gave Haruki a bad intuition. What is Kyusei's plan of joining that festival?


At Kyusei High's Booth

"You're surely know how to make others mad at you, aren't you... baka Yuu?!"

"Shut up, Akari."

All Kyusei students whom previously were busy arranging things here and there, Kyusei team's leader - Ishikawa Touji, Kikuchi Chiaki, even Kikuchi Akari herself, they got frozen in their own place once they heard sudden unfriendly answer from their student council president. Kikuchi Yuu started examining every inch of Kyusei's booth in silent.

"The customer's seat is too close to each other. The space between the entrance and the counter is too narrow." Yuu commented coldly, then he walked to the customer seat and sat on one of the spots. "The customer weren't here just to enjoy our dish." He pointed at the seven fountains circle across their booth. "There will be various attractions shown at that place. From my position, obviously I can't enjoy it wholeheartedly." He got up from his seat, then walked to the service counter. He asked the students whom supposed to be the 'chef' to demonstrate their service ability.

"You all should put more 'entertaining' show in your cooking. There will come the time when we face a long line of customers. While waiting for their ordered dish, you should interact with the customer closely. Don't focus on the dish only. Give your attention on the customer and their surroundings too." The longest comment he has given to the group. Then he walked toward Ishikawa Touji. "Make sure you and your team finish it before the sunset." Touji just nodded his head as the answer.

A sudden ring on Yuu's phone miraculously cut off the tensed atmosphere which surrounded them. Walked to another place as he answered the call, the rest of Kyusei students breathed out in relief. Except for Kikuchi Chiaki. Since the beginning of Yuu's evaluation, he looked calm, poker-faced as always. Being the one who had the most curious thought about Yuu's sudden seriousness, Touji came closer to Chiaki.

"Did something happen to him?" Touji asked Chiaki, referred the unusual demeanor of their student council president.

"Nothing 'special' happened to him. We just took a stroll like usual." Chiaki answered leisurely.

"Then, what about that sudden evaluation? I thought that he took this fest just for fun."

Chiaki chose to not answer that question. He gave Touji a lazy look of his, which made the latter questioned him back.

"What?"

"Mind if you asked that question to him rather than to me?"

With that objection, Chiaki left that place. He went to where Yuu disappeared seconds ago. Akari who watched the whole show decided to mind her own business. Actually, she has the same question as Touji's. Since the first time that fest got mentioned in the student council meeting, Akari already couldn't read what is in Yuu's mind. Kyusei has been absent for years in participating that fest, then out of sudden Yuu initiated that they should joined the fest this year. At first, he mentioned it as to have a fun out of Kyusei's environment. But when she looked at the staff list Yuu has asked, Akari knew that her half-brother didn't intend to just 'having fun' in that fest. The usual 'stroll' Chiaki had mentioned before, it was just another word of 'venue's inspection' did by Yuu. He has seen the fest venue thoroughly, with so much precision and possibility which will happened during the fest. Even on the outer look Kikuchi Yuu was like a careless type person, once he became the serious Kikuchi Yuu – no one wished to disregard his words.

"Since in the beginning, he's the most annoying man alive. How I wished that I didn't share the same bloodline with him..." Akari cursed under her breath as she clutched her uniform angrily.


At certain spot of Kanto Traditional Cuisine Festival Venue

06.00 pm

It was like eternity just to find the platinum blonde haired Kikuchi boy. Once that boy was out of their eyes, he was like already got swallowed up by the Earth. Difficult to be found, that boy named Kikuchi Yuu always had his way of fleeing from their sight. So much alike his father – Kikuchi Shinichi – at least it was what their grandfather – Kikuchi Hideyoshi – has told Chiaki. He ruffled his own shoulder-length light blue hair in frustration. He has looking for the older Kikuchi boy for almost three hours but he hasn't seen his cousin yet. The sky got darker, so as the surroundings. Thanks to the black sweater Yuu wore, it made Chiaki got more difficulty in finding him. Once in a while, Chiaki looked at his phone. None of his call got answered by Yuu. Waiting for a call back from him was a big 'no' as that unique boy never answer a phone call if not from someone important such as his grandfather or businessmen related to Kyusei group. Such a bad boy, Chiaki noted about his dear cousin. Kikuchi Yuu, only being a good boy just in front of his grandfather.

"I thought that you have more energy than this, Chiaki."

A sudden cold drink got placed right on Chiaki's right cheek, which made him jumped in surprise. His turquoise eyes shown another shock as the one whom he's looking for hours stood right in front of him, holding two cans of cold drink.

"This time, I won." The violet eyed Kikuchi boy said as he offered one of the cold drink to his cousin whom had an annoyed look over his handsome face.

"You're testing me, Yuu?!"

"Who knows?"

Both the Kikuchi boys stayed in silent as they savored the cold taste of their drink. The street lamps got lighted up one after another. They sat on the single bench under a big tree not far from the fending machine where Yuu got the two cold drinks. In front of them, the vast festival venue scape spread out beautifully.

"They... got feared because of your sudden inspection earlier, you know?" Chiaki decided to be the first one whom broke the silence between the two. He looked his cousin from the edge of his eye. The latter still didn't intend to speak a single word out. "Isn't it just for fun, Yuu?"

"You think so?"

Chiaki looked at Yuu properly after heard Yuu's short question just now. He gave the latter a questioning look as he was asking for further explanation.

"I won't bring you out to test your latest 'child' if it was just for fun, Chiaki."

A bitter smile appeared on Chiaki's lips once he heard that revelation. "You're right."

"Didn't I tell you before? Just thought about this fest as another version of our annual Spring Bazaar. My goal of participating here is not just to become a guest. Even we've absent for years, the fest committee still had a nerve of inviting us."

Clink!

Yuu was succeed in throwing the can into the trash bin nearby. His violet eyes still stared on the fest venue which crowded by people arranged things there. "Get as many as customer in the whole festival days. In other word, dominating the festival as ours. At least, it was the best 'present' we can give to the host, right?"

Chiaki watched every step taken by Yuu in silence.

So, it was his true intention?

Despite of his calm, innocent look on his handsome face, Kikuchi Yuu is the most frightening student of Kyusei High. Especially about his possession over something. In between his small talks Chiaki had with their grandfather, the older man once told him that not a single of Kyusei's student council presidents whom as ambitious as Kikuchi Yuu.

"Then... all I can do is support you so that wish will came true, Yuu."