Toutsuki Villa – Lobby
6.00 pm
Erina enjoyed her free time peacefully as she stared at the evening sky through the clear window next to the chair where she seated on. Just several seconds before she decided to stay there, her purple eyes already scanned each corner of the lobby where countless 'remained' students gathered after they finished that day's assignments. Someone is missing. The one whom loved to doze off at the corner of the room, or at the place with the least human being. Since they got breakfast together this morning, not even a piece of her sister's hair seen by her. Erina couldn't call it as a worry over that missing one. She knew, that something is off of her sister this morning. Even though the latter had shown her smile like nothing is happened, but Erina knew that it was a lie. There was no glimmering eyes when the jet-black haired Nakiri girl had her caramel flavored pancake. As if Hisako could tell what's bothering Erina's mind, she was willingly went to Karen's room as well as the announcement board to check something even before Erina can prevented her.
"Erina-sama." Hisako's call brought Erina back from her reverie. The pink haired secretary girl bowed lightly to Erina as always. "Karen-sama isn't in her room, nor her name got listed in the expulsion list or passing list." Hisako reported her founding right away. "It seemed... something has happened, Erina-sama."
Erina stayed silent even after hearing that report. Being the member of Nakiri family, Erina believed that her sister will passed every task given in the assignment easily. The latter got listed in the second place at the final evaluation at the end of the first day. Something has happened to that eccentric girl, but what?
"Erina-sama?" Hisako called Erina as she didn't get any respond from her report earlier.
"Hisako, I..."
"Have you heard about it? About the intense debate in Chef Shinomiya's class this morning."
Several random student's words made Erina halted her own sentence. Chef Shinomiya's class has been popular with its tight rule as well as its hard evaluation, so the intense debate got mentioned by that random student suddenly made Erina put her attention into it.
"Ah... I heard that it was ended with Shokugeki, is that true?" Another student asked the first one.
Both Erina and Hisako just listened to each word spoken by that random students.
"Who knows? If I have a time machine, I didn't want to be in the same class as that two 'crazy' students." Another voice got heard, it differed from the first two.
"Hey, watch your mouth! Call Karen-san as crazy student is a bit..."
Erina didn't hear the continuation of that sentence as she immediately left her seat when she heard her sister's name got mentioned. One thing Erina knew about her sister – that jet-black haired girl has gotten into a big trouble.
Toutsuki Villa's Pavilion – Basement Kitchen
Karen stopped her steps when she faced the dark pathway to the promised place where the Shokugeki will be held. Without she realized, her hands trembled. Her feet made a hazy move, were about to take a step back but halted when she heard someone called her name.
"Ren-san?"
It was Tadokoro Megumi, Karen knew it. Her sudden fear about the dark pathway ahead her made her head blank, unable to construct a word moreover a phrase to greet back the blue haired girl whom already stood several steps from her.
"Ren-san, ano... I'm..."
"I'll hear it later, if you didn't mind with it, Megu-chan." Karen cut off Megumi's words even before it got finished. "Now, let's go there and finish this business as soon as possible, will we?"
Slowly, Karen walked downward to the basement kitchen, followed by Megumi and Souma at the end. Each step felt so heavy, her left hand glued to the nearby wall for support. Once the trio arrived at the kitchen, both Doujima and Shinomiya has stood by the vacant workstation.
"This place isn't used during the camp, so there is none will disturb us here." Doujima opened a small talk as the trio students stood face to face with both Doujima and Shinomiya. The next surprise for the three students as well as Shinomiya was the appearance of the other alumni. They are Mizuhara Fuyumi, Donato Gotouda, Sekimori Hitoshi, the tied Inui Hinako, and Kimura brothers – Ichiya and Ikuya.
"Eh?! Wh-why the alumni are here?" Megumi asked in surprise.
"I ask them to be the judge for this match. To be precise, just the three of them." Doujima answered, then pointed at Chef Mizuhara, Chef Donato, and Chef Sekimori. The tied Chef Inui pursed her lips in annoyed, unable to be the judge, while Kimura brothers just stayed silent watched every scene in front of them.
But, it was different with Kimura Ikuya. Since he arrived there, his eyes immediately focused on Karen. He has known that unofficial Shokugeki had turned Karen's mood. At first, he has imagined that he will saw an annoyed look on Karen's face but to his surprise, he saw a different one. Anxiety. At least, that was what he has seen on Karen's face.
"An unofficial Shokugeki, huh? Moreover it's held in the middle of the camp, alumni versus student. I'm got curious about what will happened if Chapelle-Sensei knew about it." Chef Donato commented.
"Hmm... he will be furious." Chef Sekimori replied, shortly matter-of-factly.
"If we got found out, I'll run then said that it is Shinomiya's fault." Chef Mizuhara with her plain tone reasoned.
"I hear you, Mizuhara!" Shinomiya shouted out in annoyed at Chef Mizuhara's words.
Those commotion was really out of Karen's attention. Even she was in the middle of 'crowd', she felt like in the middle of empty place. She knew it, since the first place. The place where that cooking match got held has long untouched. It felt cold, and suddenly it reminded her of the same place back in Nakiri mansion years ago. Her hands which previously trembled had turned cold. She wanted to end that thing as soon as possible. She can't let them know about her panic attack. Not there, not in front of them.
"It's time to start. We will held a cooking match 2 versus 2!" Doujima announced, which made all the attention focused on him. All faces shown their questioning look after hearing the last part of his sentence. 2 versus 2? If they looked closely on the scene, there will be correct if it called as 3 versus 1. But, why 2 versus 2?
"Doujima-san, am I heard it correctly? 2 versus 2?" Shinomiya asked the older man, spoken out the majority question got thought of by them.
"You hear it correctly, Shinomiya." Doujima replied shortly, then he showed the main star of the cooking match that day. "This vegetables are the leftover from today's assignment. The theme is a dish using this ingredient. And... I will add the additional condition here." Doujima paused as he focused his sight over the four whom involved in that cooking match. He looked at the trio. "Tadokoro Megumi and Yukihira Souma, you two will be in the same team and the head chef will be you, Tadokoro Megumi."
Both Souma and Megumi had their surprised look all over their face.
"While you, Nakiri Karen, you will work under Shinomiya. Please, behave as a good sous chef." Doujima continued with another shocking news.
This time, Karen already got back to the real world as she heard that ridiculous mix-matching made by Doujima. She, worked under Chef Shinomiya as his assistant? Those announcement was no other than a mocking words to Karen's pride. Her hands which previously trembled and felt cold already balled into fists.
"Doujima-san, I thought that you're already knew the real reason behind my act, aren't you?" For the first time, Karen spoken out her opinion.
"Of course, Ren-kun."
"Then, why..."
"Since in the first place, you're against to this cooking match, I know it. But then, it seems that I have to tell you this, Ren-kun." With the same serious look he had given hours ago, Karen saw that serious type look for the second time that day, from the same man. "I made you to take part into this cooking match is to pay for your 'rudeness' to your lecturer this morning."
It seemed that not only Karen whom had objection about Doujima's arrangement. Shinomiya immediately had unfriendly aura once he heard that jet-black haired Nakiri will be his assistant. Has Doujima out of his mind? If that man already 'watched' the whole scene happened in his morning class, that man must had been known how he hated that type of student, right?
"Doujima-san, I..."
"Not you too, Shinomiya." Doujima's sudden interruption was succeed in making Shinomiya got silenced. Shinomiya was about to launch another words of his disagreement, but he didn't do it. After taking several seconds thinking about it, it seemed that whatever words he said won't change any better in that situation.
"Then... Shokugeki, start!"
Doujima's sudden announcement made Shinomiya casted a look over the three students whom supposed to be 'his challenger'. The blue haired girl had her face pale, while the red head boy still couldn't get over of his shock state. The remained jet-black haired Nakiri stayed still in her place.
"I... have to be the head chef?" With her trembled voice, Megumi asked to Doujima as if to confirm his decision earlier.
"Yes. You have to choose your own recipe too. And Yukihira, you're only the supporting chef here." Doujima answered as well as made a clear task between Megumi and Souma.
"Doujima-senpai! The one who make this Shokugeki challenge is me, so why..."
"It's me who make this as a 'real' Shokugeki which previously supposed to be nothing other than a mere kid's challenge." Doujima immediately cut off Souma's reasoning. "Moreover, I have to force you to accept the rule." He continued, which made Souma silent for a while. "Listen, Yukihira. If you won this Shokugeki with your cooking and made Tadokoro survived, what will happened in the future?" Doujima gave Souma a question after he had a long speech since in the beginning. "That won't change a fact that she will always be a follower to another. It's not an exception that she will be dropped out in the next assignment. Then, should she got rescued by Yukihira again? Or maybe by someone else?"
Karen who also listened to each word spoken by Doujima already knew where Doujima will brought that conversation. It only brought into one conclusion.
"In Toutsuki, you have to show all of your competences you had." Doujima continued his speech, then he looked at Megumi who still had her face pale. "If you want to prove yourself that you're served to Toutsuki's purpose, then… starting tonight, this time, from this kitchen, you're the chef, Tadokoro Megumi."
"Doujima-san, I have decided what kind of dish I will make, so... can I start preparing it?"
Shinomiya's sudden announcement made the conversation came into the end. On his tray, Shinomiya has had several cabbages and other ingredients.
"Of course."
"Oh? I thought that you will make another 'show' here, Nakiri."
That was the first sentence got spoken out by Shinomiya to Karen once the latter joined him to his workstation. Karen didn't has an intention of replying back those unnecessary words. Of course, if she followed her own gut, she won't agree to that arrangement. She would challenge Shinomiya herself, if it was needed. But now, it wasn't the right time to act like that. Since her 'good' intention of helping Megumi already got messed before she can't prevented it.
"That thing and this thing are different matter, Chef Shinomiya." Karen spoke at the end, made Shinomiya put a little interest on her. "Our 'little' debate earlier was solely... based on my curiosity, nothing else. And now, I have to work under you as your sous chef... I just accept it because I don't want to make this problem got more complicated. In other word..." Karen paused for a while as she faced her 'head' chef properly, looked at him straight on his eyes. "I have no longer interested in having debate with someone like you, Chef Shinomiya. Of course, as a professional chef, I acknowledge your competence. Never for once, I questioned about your cooking skill."
Shinomiya almost burst into a green monster as he heard another 'cunning' speech given by the girl named Nakiri Karen. Who is she actually? For a mere – 16 years old girl, a first year high school student, she knew how to use the 'right' choice of words to be spoken in front of a tough man superior than her. Shinomiya won't admitted it. But deep down in his heart, he knew that both he and Karen are the same type. In case of cooking talent, both of them didn't question about other party's competence. What they despised is the other party's 'nature'.
"So, Chef Shinomiya... should we start now?"
Shinomiya smirked once he heard that suggestion came from his 'sous' chef. For paying up Karen's rudeness to him in their class this morning, Doujima set her to be his sous chef. It was Shinomiya's conclusion after listened to each clue given by Doujima. So, what kind of profit he will get with that arrangement?
"The chef in this place is me. You're the one who should listen to my words, girl."
For the second times she heard that authoritative words came from the same person in a day. Karen knew it, she should hold her anger. At least, till the cooking match ended. Set aside her annoyed mood, Karen took a flash look over the ingredients on Shinomiya's metal tray. So many kind of ingredients, and based on her previous experience executed Shinomiya's recipe, it was totally a headache.
"While I'm preparing for the savoy cabbage, I want you to prepare all the ingredients for the chicken breast farce." Shinomiya said as he took the main star of his upcoming dish. "Is that... clear?"
"Oui, Chef!"
While Shinomiya team already starting their work, Tadokoro team still did nothing. The blue haired girl – Tadokoro Megumi – still had her head blank, unable to decide what kind of thing she should do moreover for her partner. The thought of her had a match against Chef Shinomiya has threatening her to no end. Not only that. The number two talented chef in her generation – Nakiri Karen – got teamed up with that tough alumni, Souma's fate which lied in her hand, given Megumi another heavy pressure. Megumi has known too well about Shinomiya's background. To fight against the one whom owned a well-known restaurant in Paris with her own recipe, just had a thought about it was succeed in making her trembling continuously. In her panic state, Megumi kept chanting in her own mind, kept repeating the same word, again and again.
I have to stay calm.
She has to, but... her mind was empty, and she can't stopped trembling.
"Tadokoro!" Souma called out loud Megumi's name, was about to say something after that but got interrupted before it got spilled out.
"Just for your information, Yukihira. You can't change her recipe, because you're only a sous chef." Doujima reminded the red haired boy about the latter's position in that match. Souma who got reprimanded turning around to face Doujima. "You think that she is suitable to be here, in Toutsuki, right? If you didn't belief in her competence, get out from this match."
Souma didn't answer immediately. It wasn't like he didn't belief in Megumi's competence. He was sure that he was the one whom knew about Megumi's talent better than anyone else in that room. "No way that I'll get out from this match. I'm a chef too... and I won't get away from kitchen."
While doing her given task, once in a while Karen stole a look over her 'opponent team', it included the short conversation Souma had with Doujima just now. Deep in her heart, Karen had a pity over Megumi as the latter should face such an unexpected situation like that.
Plaaak!
The sudden hand-slap surprised almost all the human being in that room. The one behind those act was no other than Souma, tried to calm down the trembling Tadokoro Megumi. And strangely... it was a success.
"That's right. Now, stay calm and think carefully what kind of dish you want to make." Souma tried to encourage Megumi who slowly get back her soul.
"Bu-but... Chef Shinomiya will make a true French dish, you know? If I can't make a dish which can compete against it, Souma-kun will got expelled..."
Karen agreed with Megumi's reason. Moreover, with Chef Shinomiya's current skill, even he just made a simple – traditional dish, he can modified it into a luxurious one.
"Tadokoro... my Dad has said, cooking is put all the things you have on the plate. Now, just forget about what kind of dish which will be made by our opponent." Souma gave another couraging words to his partner. "Don't think about unnecessary things. Just make a dish which represent you!"
If not because of the current situation, Karen must has been clapped her hands. That day, she got another surprise came from the boy named Yukihira Souma. That boy, Karen didn't know how he can be that calm even though he had been sent a challenge to an alumni, a well-known one, and still that steel-alike mind and confident. Not only that. He was able to calm his partner too.
"Oh? Does that cheap drama really interesting rather than your own work, Nakiri?"
Ah, that's right, Chef Shinomiya. He never tired of giving me surprise.
Karen just said it in her own mind.
"Eh? Didn't you enjoy it too, Chef Shinomiya? Since in the beginning, you kept following their moves through your sight, am I wrong?" Karen replied, didn't look back at Shinomiya but focused on her task in front of her.
Being Shinomiya's sous chef, if Karen could be honest to herself, she was lucky because she can learned so many things from that cocky chef but at the same time she regretted it too. Too many details which needed a high precision and too many things she needed to do, it was the thing she hated the most. Even just preparing for a traditional dish, she can't let her guard down even just for a second.
"Do you think so? Nah... your 'brave' act was a bit entertaining, I just can't wait to see it got crushed into pieces."
To put it in a simple word, Ikuya was like seeing two different worlds in front of him. The synchronized high school team – Tadokoro's team, and the high precise professional team – Shinomiya's team. In Tadokoro's team, Yukihira did his job greatly. He supported his partner without any unnecessary things, fasten up the pace of Megumi's cooking without failing his own work. He worked in efficient moves. While in Shinomiya's team, even in between both Shinomiya's and Karen's work got 'disturbed' by their own 'unnecessary' debate, but Ikuya can't deny that the teamwork in Shinomiya's team was a teamwork which he often saw in professional kitchen. It was really a surprising fact that Karen was able to prepare all the things needed by Shinomiya with the precise standard, at the right timing. It seemed that there was a non-verbal communication happened between the two.
"Time's up!" Doujima announced, and at the same time both teams already finished their dishes. "The judging will start by Shinomiya's dish. Please, serves it."
Shinomiya walked confidently with three plates on his hands, placed it in front of the judges. "Hmm?! Where's mine?" Chef Inui asked, like a child asking for their toys.
"Nope. You can ask Mizuhara's portion." Shinomiya replied with his annoyed tone.
Except for Karen, all the judges, Doujima Gin, Kimura brothers, and both Megumi and Souma already anticipated a luxurious dish – which maybe Shinomiya's specialty dish. But, their imagination got scattered once they saw the dish got served there.
Chou Farci. A traditional French dish which using the leftover meats or vegetables as the stuffing in cabbage, a dish which resembles cabbage roll in western region.
"Hmm... it was a dish which often got cooked by French people." For the first time, Kimura Ichiya spoke.
"Ah~ it was a bit disappointing. When he's actually can make something else better than this, right... Hinako?" Being 'the most annoying man' in Shinomiya's list, Kimura Ikuya commented.
"Hmm... that's right, such a disappointing dish, Shinomiya Senpai." Chef Inui added.
Both Ikuya and Chef Inui can't said another thing after that as both of them got a head-slam from that coral-pink haired chef.
"Let's have a taste over this."
All the judges started slicing the dish, then put the small portion of it into their mouth, munching it for several seconds and savored its taste.
"Delicious!"
The first comment about Shinomiya's dish. Karen whom never got excited in judging session didn't put more attention about it. Let her pinned bang like the previous style, as well as removed her apron, she drowned into her own world. During the cooking process earlier, she has seen all the steps did by Shinomiya with high precision. From all the ingredients she had prepared for the stuffing portion, she already can imagined how its taste. The soft mousse from the mixture of chicken breast meat, morel mushroom, asparagus, foie gras, butter, egg and fresh cream. That mousse can be melted immediately once it got savored. But, it was the savoy cabbage which caught her attention the most. Savoy cabbage is the cabbage which has its unique leaf's fragrance when it still raw and will produce a sweet odor once it got heated. Of course she still remembered correctly each step Shinomiya did when he prepared that savoy cabbage. Blanchir – bleaching, vapeur – steaming, each step Shinomiya made sure that it got heated in the optimum temperature.
Calling her to be the most curious girl, Karen was taking a very small portion of the unused cabbage. It tasted sweet, and from that she already concluded just how delicious Shinomiya's dish. The sweetness of the cabbage will increased the whole dish's flavor. It was no wonder that Shinomiya got titled as Legume Magician. Karen can't stopped herself for cursing inside her heart. She did want to admit it, but the one whom she assisted just now is a whole different level above her. He was able transformed a mere traditional French dish into a high class dish.
"But, it's a bit surprising, isn't it Shinomiya? I thought that we will get Shino's specialty dish here." Doujima commented at the end.
"Huh? Your joke isn't funny at all, Doujima-san." Shinomiya replied after made sure his glasses clear like it used to be. "Isn't it too rude for me to serve it here? Moreover, my opponent is just 'mere' high school students. I can't bear to see they cried too much over their loss."
That was the part which annoyed Karen the most. His cocky nature, an honest arrogance. As expected from the one whom had owned a restaurant in the strictest region of Paris, competed against so many high class restaurants, and able to stay on top of them. Karen casted a short look over her fellow students, Megumi and Souma. At least, they still looked calm after hearing so many praises about Shinomiya's dish from the judges. For their current skill, it was so little possibility of winning that match, even if it was Karen whom involved in it.
It was a total surprise when Tadokoro Megumi served her dish in front of the judges. A Terrine, seven vegetables used in it with two different sauces. Different with the assigned Terrine in Shinomiya's class which served the delicacy of fresh vegetable, Megumi's terrine is a dish which served the delicacy formed from the preserved ingredients. From the reaction the judges showed, Karen guessed that Megumi's dish has brought another kind of effect. Of course, that heartwarming reaction already made Megumi had her happy tears in her eyes.
"Then, it's time for the final judging. This coin will represent a point, and each judge will get one." Doujima announced as he showed the said coin. "Dear judges, choose the one which had a better taste between Shinomiya's dish and Tadokoro's dish... and give your point."
One by one, the judges gave their evaluation and put their coin on their chosen plate. The result, it was just like Karen's prediction. 3 versus 0, 3 for Shinomiya's dish and 0 for Megumi's dish.
"Ha! Sorry, dear students." Shinomiya spoke with his arrogant voice, didn't forget about his cocky face. "Nah... don't think too much about it. This result... since in the beginning has been clear." Then, Shinomiya walked, was about to leave that kitchen. "I have to wake up early for tomorrow morning, so... excuse me. Good work, you all."
"Tadokoro, I'm sorry. I can't be much help to you. But, you can be proud of yourself because you can make that great dish."
Megumi can't reply to Souma's words. She already cried over her loss.
"The difference of skill. Of course I can say that it is an absolute winning for Shinomiya." Doujima said honestly, which got agreed by all the alumni there, Karen too.
Clink!
A coin's sound got placed on top of the plate caught all the attention in that kitchen. It included Shinomiya whom stopped his steps immediately once he heard that.
"The match has already over, and I thought that you aren't interested in this match, so... what do you want to do now, Kimura-san?"
The man whom placed that coin on top of the plate represented Megumi's dish – Kimura Ichiya – didn't answer Shinomiya's question immediately. At first, he came to that place was just to see the rare 'show' in that training camp. But then, as the match run along the time, just like what Karen had told him before – it was a waste to just be a spectator to that match.
"Hmm... you're right, Shinomiya-kun. It's true that I'm not interested in whoever winning this match but I... I just want to appreciate Tadokoro-kun's dish. So, I gave my point."
All the alumni there got surprised by Ichiya's sudden interest. Even Ikuya himself. He has known how his brother's nature too well. For someone whom valued his family and his family's business higher than anything else… that sudden involvement did by Ichiya was one of the world's seven wonders.
"Kimura-san...? What do you... what do you mean? Even you aren't the judge. Moreover, 'you appreciate her dish'...? I don't know what you mean by that, Kimura-san." Shinomiya spoken out his opinion.
"Is that so?" Ichiya asked back, then threw a coin to Shinomiya. "Tadokoro-kun's dish... it has the answer of your question, Shinomiya-kun." Ichiya took a pause of his speech. "Are you really not know about it, Shinomiya-kun?" That sentence got spoken out with more pressure, which made Shinomiya froze in his place for several seconds after hearing that. Even from the outer look the man named Kimura Ichiya had an indifferent aura, but that man had a sharp eyes over small things. As expected from the eldest child of Kimura six siblings.
"Actually, you have realized it yourself, aren't you? Since you got that Pluspol Medal, you haven't taken a step forward. That is why you didn't serve your specialty dish, because you didn't want us to know that you are still same like the 'you' years ago, am I right?" The way Kimura Ichiya threatening him was different from Doujima's, Shinomiya knew it. But, Shinomiya can't let go of the feeling being insulted by the older man.
"Shut up! Just what do you know about me, Kimura-san?! You're just one of employee in your traditional Kimura business, what do you know?!"
"Have a taste of this."
Ichiya offered Megumi's dish to Shinomiya.
"Why I have to..."
Ichiya kept offering that dish which got accepted by Shinomiya with a heavy move. Slowly, he started eating that dish. For a cocky chef like Shinomiya, he won't admitted a dish made by someone he has lost interest in it. Karen whom being one of the 'witness' in that room, already predicted what kind of comment will be given by her head chef. Not a pleasant comment, and it became true. But in the end, she saw a change in Shinomiya's expression as the latter kept eating Megumi's dish. Another surprise that evening. Shinomiya let out his tears after having Megumi's dish.
Oh, it's surprising. It looked like he got struck speechless by Megumi's dish.
It was Karen's opinion.
That cooking match got ended with a dramatic ending, as Shinomiya placed the coin he got from Ichiya to Megumi's plate and the additional coin given by Chef Inui. The main star of that cooking match – Tadokoro Megumi – didn't get expelled, as well as Souma and Karen. It was when the trio students already left that kitchen, the alumni – minus Ikuya – had a little conversation about that cooking match.
"So, this cooking match is not only to 'rescue' a chef, but you got three in one step. You are a good teacher, Doujima-san." Chef Sekimori spoken out his conclusion.
"Ah... actually it's all thanked to Ren-kun's continuous insult in Shinomiya's class earlier. If not, I don't know when I have a time to 'scold' that little punk." Doujima replied. "Even though, the main point has been told by Ichiya-kun." He added.
"So, you also already knew about Shinomiya's stagnant state. Then, Ren-kun? Do you mean, that Nakiri Karen?" Chef Sekimori asked back.
Doujima nodded.
"Will she be alright? She even collapsed right after the match was over." Chef Mizuhara asked as she remembered that scene.
When both Megumi and Souma already left that kitchen, Karen was about to take her leave too but her tired body already failed her first. Doujima even hadn't belief it at first, if not he didn't see it directly. Before he made that team arrangement, he has planned that Karen would made her own dish in that cooking match. But, a sudden request made by Ikuya made him changed his mind. Doujima can't imagined what will happened if he still kept his first plan.
"She will be alright. She just... got a bit excited about that thing. Nothing to be worried of." Ichiya answered for Chef Mizuhara's question earlier. Actually, Ichiya said it just to calm himself. Seeing his 'little sister' in that critical state, he has sworn to himself that he won't let the latter to be in that kind of situation again.
"It seems that you're favored her too much, Doujima-san?" Shinomiya said as he cleaned his glasses.
"Is that so?" Doujima asked back, but got nothing for the reply. Actually, he didn't expect Shinomiya to say something like that. "Nah... it's all thanks to Kimura family for raising her to be like that."
After hearing Doujima's short answer, Shinomiya got his attention to the eldest child of Kimura household. He has heard about the close relation between Nakiri family with Kimura family, but it was a bit surprising that their relationship was that close.
"You're being exaggerate about it, Doujima-san." Ichiya talked back, didn't has an interest to talk about his family's relation to Nakiri family.
Then, out of sudden Shinomiya realized something. Both Nakiri Karen and Kimura siblings had resemblance. Critical analysis. In the past, Shinomiya has experienced got questioned about anything by Ichiya's younger brother – Ikuya, and got criticized by Ichiya's younger triplet sisters. Not to forget about his experiences when he got asked back by Ichiya when he asked the latter for advice about his recipe. Then... all that experiences, he should experienced again when he met Nakiri Karen.
"But I think... she's seen deeper than ordinary people."
============== Dish.10 – The Small Revelation ============
