Author's Note:

Hello everyone and thank you so very much for checking by!

The next chapter could possibly take a bit more time yet again as exams are right around the corner, but I wanted to give you a chapter until that happens...I hope you'll enjoy it !

The Totsuki Resort Hotel.

For an entire week that gigantic, imposant building had been a place of exhaustion, panic, sleepless nights and destroyed dreams. The noise of constant hurried footsteps of students mixed with cries of agony had been the most dominant sound heard in the halls.

But right now, things were silent. Things were calm. Things were, for the first time ever after this week that had felt more like a month, were...tranquil.

It was early in the morning, the sun having risen not all too long ago. The students of Totsuki, as well as the other guests, were still asleep. Many of the young teens had a small smile gracing their lips, as the memories of yesterday's heavenly banquet found a way into their dreams. A lot of them felt finally fully secure under the luxuriant blankets given that their mastery over the challenge that was the Trainings Camp had been announced yesterday.

For one particular room the day would start a bit more earlier than expected however.

"Kawashima." Brutally Hideyoshi got ripped away from his slumber as well as his dream of winning a bodybuilding-contest by a pillow being thrown in his face. Additionally an eerily familiar, penetrant noise reached his ears. He had a feeling the noise demanded some particular action of him but as his brain was still collecting itself he couldn't come up with what it was.

It costed him heavy effort to open his eyes, as they repeatedly fell close again when he tried to lift his eyelids upwards. Once he had finally succeeded after what must have been a minute, he saw Yasu in front of him with untangled, auburn hair and an unreadable expression as always.

"Wha..." Was all Hideyoshi could mumble before Yasu flatly stated. "You're Smartphone is ringing non-stop."

With the information about the consistent noise provided, Yasu walked out of Hideyoshi's vision again. After two seconds of blankly staring into space, the black-haired teen weakly lifted his hand to reach out for his vibrating mobile phone on his nightstand. "About time." He heard the familiar voice of Daisuke somewhere behind him.

"Dad, I swear if this is about you wanting to motivate me to a morning jog again I'll tell mom." Hideyoshi yawned into the phone. The other party however was much more awake. "The fuck are you talking about Kawashima, I am not your dad!"

Before Hideyoshi could even say anything else, the voice began hectically ranting on. "You dumbass can call yourself damn lucky I am even calling you. The emcee who was supposed to host today's event got sick last night so we need a replacement! And I'll bet that an attention-whore like you would die to get his greedy hands on this one! So if you don't want me to give today's spotlight to one of the middle schoolers, you better find a way to get your ass out of that hotel as quick as possible!"

Over the course of this rant, Hideyoshi's tiredness had faded a tad bit and his voice was more clearer when he spoke. "Hold on...What are you even talking about? What sort of event is there today?!"

Yasu, who had been busy making his bed in the meantime, turned to Daisuke. "Who do you think he's talking to?"

Daisuke, who had been rudely awaken by Hideyoshi's phone earlier and had been sitting on his bed ever since trying to reenter dreamland, rubbed his eyes and shrugged afterwards. "Didn't he said it's his dad?"

Before Yasu could answer, the two were startled by Hideyoshi's sudden, wide awake exclaim.

"Who did you say is going to have a Shokugeki?!"

—

The Fifteenth Plate - The Man With The Puppet-strings In His Hands

—

"This week was one huge nightmare but I have to admit I'll miss those bedsheets." Chieko sighed as she walked into the hotel's entrance hall alongside Kimiko, both carrying their luggage. Kimiko only shrugged, she didn't necessarily need the decadence of their hotel rooms after all. "I thought it was fun at times."

Chieko was just about to give an enormous listing of all the reasons why she felt the Trainings Camp had probably been the idea of Satan himself but luckily for Kimiko she spotted Yasu and Daisuke beforehand. "Don't tell me Kawashima overslept again." She said with a frown as she noticed the absence of the dorm's equivalent to Narcissus.

She accelerated her walking speed a little and Kimiko quickly caught up to that. Therefore the two reached their two male residents very quickly.

"Good Morning, you two." Daisuke smiled at their arrival, while Yasu gave an additional nod to his "Good Morning". Kimiko lifted a hand. "Mornin'." Chieko however got straight down to business. "Good Morning back at you two. But where's Kawashima?"

Daisuke opened his mouth but Yasu was a bit faster. "Already gone to Totsuki. He managed to organise a car for himself." Kimiko tilted her head at that. Next to her, Chieko's jaw dropped. "WHAT?!" Yasu looked like he was just about to elaborate but before he could get the chance to do so, Chieko was already exclaiming. "You mean to tell me that Kawashima Hideyoshi got out of bed earlier than he has to?" Once again, Yasu raised a finger in an attempt to get Chieko's attention but the little girl had connected the dots astonishingly quickly. "Hm...That can only mean there's a chance for him to improve his social status..." Finally she got her attention back to Yasu. "Is there a Shokugeki or something today?"

Yasu stared at the girl for a bit before he gave a long sigh. "Exactly."

"But isn't that a common thing on Totsuki?" Kimiko questioned. To that Yasu gave a nod. "It is, but based on the chunks I've got from Kawashima, today's battle will be between two of the school's most famous personalities." Daisuke then shrugged. "He barely told us anything though because he was just rambling about what a great chance it is to raise in social standing while also being busy with beating the record on how fast a person can dress up and pack their things."

Kimiko whistled. She felt today was going to be interesting.

"Buongiorno!" A familiar voice reached the group's ears and more or less in the same pace they all turned into the direction it had come from.

Mika and Hiroshi had spent their last night of Trainings Camp in the room of Mika's parents. Said parents were now behind them as the two remaining members of Polar Star approached.

"Good Morning, everyone." Hiroshi smiled sweetly and heartwarmingly as usual. Behind him, Takumi gave a smile that was so charming that it could almost compete with Hiroshi's. "I hope you all slept well."

The family came to a halt in front of the group and once they did, Ikumi spoke up. "My congratulations to you all for making it through the camp." She winked. "Not that I doubted for a second that you could do it."

Before anyone could thank the blonde for those words, Mika asked. "Hey, where's Kawashima at?" The quickest to reply was Chieko. "At Totsuki already! Yasu and Aoki said he's going to host some Shokugeki today."

"A Shokugeki...today?" Takumi said in a confused but also curious tone. "That's rather odd timing..."

"It's presumably between two titans of Totsuki." Yasu brought up. Chieko added. "What else motivates Kawashima out of the bed this early?"

Throughout this conversation a certain eagerness had started to glow stronger and stronger in Mika's eyes. "Sounds interesting..." She mused. "Think we can make it to Totsuki before this ominous Shokugeki starts?"

Yasu took out his mobile phone to check the time at that before shrugging. "Possibly." Kimiko grinned at Mika. "I'd like to see it too! I haven't watched a Shokugeki before after all."

"...But you participated in one." Hiroshi sighed at the memory of all his worries back when Kimiko announced her face-off against Takayuki. "Participating is just much more fun." Mika flipped her blonde hair, before pointing at Kimiko. "And someday we'll be participating in one together! Facing each other off as the destined opponents we are!"

"Now doesn't that feel a little familiar." Ikumi couldn't help but to whisper towards her husband with a smirk on her lips. Takumi, who had absently looked at his daughter while his smile had automatically grown, snapped out of his trance and only gave his wife an attempt of a scowl.

Kimiko laughed. "Of course, of course, Mika-chan." Hiroshi though just shook his head.

"I am certain a Shokugeki between you two would be an event to behold!" Takumi then proclaimed loudly with a look to the two blonde teenagers. He focused on Kimiko in particular. "But you'll better watch your back. My daughter is not one to underestimate." Kimiko smirked in response. "Don't worry, I know that."

"As much as I hate to interrupt this bonding time, but you kids should get into the busses soon." Ikumi brought up, a hint of hatred for herself bringing it up in her voice. Takumi, for a moment shocked about the concept of time, quickly looked at his watch then before exclaiming. "Amore mio, you're right!" He looked at the children with sorriness on his face. "That's a 'Goodbye' for now."

"Don't make it sound so dramatic, sugar." Ikumi sighed. "We'll definitely see each other again, I am sure."

The Polar Star Dormitory Students gave their individual goodbyes. "See you then, Takumi-san and Ikumi-san! It was nice seeing you again!" From Daisuke. "Get home to Tuscany well." From Yasu. "Thank you for the hospitality and fun time." From Chieko.

"Goodbye then. It was very nice to meet you two." Kimiko said with her typical vibrant, friendly smile. "It was my pleasure." Takumi replied with warmth in his eyes. "I have a feeling you will make it far." Ikumi nodded. "I agree. I look forward to our next meeting."

Like ever so often, Hiroshi's wild, unkept blue locks were ruffled, this time by Ikumi's tanned hand. "Call us once you arrive at Totsuki, alright?" Hiroshi gave a nod. "Of course, Aunt Ikumi." Takumi immediately patted his shoulder afterwards. "And don't forget that you can call us at anytime. We might live far away but we're family in the end and we support each other through thick and thin." Once again, Hiroshi gave a nod.

Lastly Mika was pulled into a tight hug, his father's hand going through her hair several times while her mother gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Takumi murmured his goodbye in Italian, while Ikumi said. "We'll see us in the holidays."

"Arrivederci, Papa and Mama." Mika spoke, with slightly reddened cheeks because of all the affection and doting that her friends witnessed.

"Give Hideyoshi-kun our 'goodbye' as well." Takumi then said as him and his wife waved to the leaving children, finally making their way to the busses.

Little did any of them know that Kimiko was in someone's sight.

"Target Yukihira Kimiko has left the building." Akiko Kato spoke into her phone somewhere in the shadows before she got moving as well.

—

Kimiko stretched herself as she took the first step out of the bus. She had never been a fan of sitting still for a great majority of time. As she opened her eyes again, the enormous sight of Totsuki build up in front of her with it's significant large mountain and the temple on it in which the headmistress, her aunt, had her office.

Back again... She thought to herself. While the whole extravagance that dripped from each and every roof on this academy's campus was something she thought she would never hundred percent adjust to, the challenging aura that permanently hung in the air as well as the open competitiveness was something that excited her. Trainings Camp had only fuelled such.

"Yukihira! Quit just standing there!" Mika shouted behind her. "I don't want to miss the Shokugeki!"

Kimiko realised that she had unintentionally become a blockade and quickly got moving. "Sorry, sorry...Got lost in thoughts." She laughed while setting her feet into motion. A loud huff from Mika reached her ear.

They met up with the rest of the Polar Star Dormitory students who had all been scattered in different busses but as they stood together in their group Mika quickly announced that she wasn't planning on having a chilling-and-chatting-saison. "Can we please hurry up now?" She rolled her eyes upwards, interrupting Daisuke's inquiry on wether he should fix his tie or not.

Hiroshi frowned. "Itoko-Chan...Don't be so impatient." Mika blushed a bit, but before she could open her mouth and defend herself she saw how her friend's simultaneously focus went elsewhere. On something behind her.

Additionally whispers were heard within the crowd surrounding the group. "...It's them." "What are they doing here...?" Much, much quieter voices even muttered. "Never a good sign when they show up."

Mika turned around, following her friend's eyes. Once she did so, she instantly took a step back while her brows furrowed.

The crowd of other students of the 115th Generation had parted to make way for two men who wore not the entirety but rather parts of Totsuki's uniform and who were presumably older than the ones surrounding them right now. Some faces in the mass went pale as they passed and some even started shivering.

Kimiko was smart enough to note that these two obviously had some sort of reputation. And not a positive one. But while she had not the slightest idea on who these two were, she could see that they were a sight that could easily imitate no matter if it was the first or hundredth time you saw them.

The first guy walking slightly ahead had a shaved head, thick eyebrows, a silver earring in his left ear and menacing orange eyes. The second one had flaming red hair which he had styled upwards with the use of grease. He had weird-looking dashed eyebrows and wore a golden earring as well as a golden piercing in his bottom lip. His eyes had the colour of a poisonous green.

Both of them were large and packed with muscles. On first sight they looked capable of crushing iron with their fists or making the Earth shake with just a single step.

Kimiko sensed both Hiroshi and Daisuke starting to tremble near her. Chieko, Yasu and Mika visibly grew tense. It got worse when these two mountains suddenly stopped right in front of them, their expressions grim and full of self-awareness that they were capable of breaking anyone's bones who would dare to become a problem to them.

Kimiko for the most part had managed to remain unshakeable, but when the guy with the shaved head suddenly spoke up and said her name, she felt her heart sinking a bit. "We're here to talk to Yukihira Kimiko."

Kimiko couldn't deny that for a brief moment it felt like the air was sucked out of her lungs, making it incapable for her to reply. To her utter surprise, Chieko took that over for her.

"What does he want from Kimiko-cchi?" Chieko asked sharply and shockingly demandingly. Going by how Kimiko judged these two unknown students, she felt like talking to them in such an imperious tone that Chieko had used would be straight-up suicide.

The guy who had done all the speaking so far, focused his eyes on her and answered. "The Boss said that it's none of the other Polar Star's business on why he wants to talk with Yukihira's lil sis, Marui-chan. So I can't say any 'bout that." He shook his head to strengthen his point. "The Boss did also say though that if Marui-chan wants, Marui-chan can come along as well. But only Marui-chan."

Chieko's brows sunk even further at that, before she could open her mouth however Yasu suddenly stepped in front of her. "Tell him that Marui-chan won't come."

"Yasu..." Chieko muttered, a hint of annoyance in her voice. But just now, Kimiko regained her's. "...The Boss?"

Memories of Emi and Itsuki as well as Takayuki's and Kazuo's elaboration played in her mind.

"You were sent by that...Mafia-Head?" She asked while crossing her arms.

Now the red-haired one spoke up for the first time, leaning forward a tad bit and blaring. "Don't ya know who we are?!" "How could she?! She's new to Totsuki!" Chieko shot back. Right after, the guy with shaved hair hit his companion's shoulder. "You dumbass!"

He then turned his attention back to the group and announced. "I'm Umino. Umino Katashi." With pride he added. "Second hand of the Boss." They guy next to him was rubbing his arm as he answered. "And I'm Yamada."

"Umino and Yamada." Chieko concluded and looked to Kimiko. "The most known lackeys of Totsuki's.." She made quotation marks in the air. "Mafia."

"You guys know about this?" Kimiko turned her body into the direction of her friends. Mika was the first to answer. "I'm more surprised about the fact that you know about that already." She brought her fist up to her mouth and bit her thumb's nail. "That's...not an all too good thing, I'd say."

"It isn't." Yasu firmly stated. "You shouldn't go."

"First-Year you don't have a say in this!" Umino snarled, subtly raising one of his fists. "Yeah! Keep yourself out of that!" Yamada quickly agreed.

"I should come along." Chieko firmly stated. "I know him a bit bet-" "No." Yasu interrupted her offer. "You are the last one that should be let near him!"

Chieko was about to reply, but Kimiko decided that before this situation could escalate, which was a possibility given how Umino and Yamada grew visibly more impatient, she should rather find out what the hell that strange shadowman she first heard about in Training Camp wanted from her. "I'll go." She therefore said.

"Ki-Ki-Ki-Ki-Kimiko-san!" A pale-as-snow Hiroshi yelped in horror. "Yukihira." Mika called out, warningly.

Kimiko gave a quick smile to the group. "I can handle myself, guys. I mean, that mysterious dude can't be a serial killer now, can he?"

The reply came fast and it came from Mika. "He very well could be."

Chieko's voice found its way back into the conversation as she fixated Kimiko with a serious look. "The guy's a bit of a different caliber of person, Kimiko-cchi." With a lot of gravity in her voice she urged. "If you go and talk to him, keep the following in mind: No matter how nice and friendly he might come across...Do not trust a word he says. Adding to that, be careful to expose as little as possible to him! He'll keep anything you say in mind and he's capable of using it against you when you least expect it!"

Admittedly, Kimiko felt a light sense of uneasiness crawling down her spine at Chieko's words. She pressed her lips together and gave Chieko a firm nod, mentally shaking off the uneasiness.

In the end, that guy was still a human...not Lord Dracula or something.

She turned her face back to Umino and Yamada. "Now then, get me to your Boss."

Umino gave a satisfied nod before saying. "Follow."

The two turned away and began walking.

Kimiko threw a last look to her friends who all wore rather concerned expressions and said. "Tell me how that Shokugeki went, okay?" Then she did as Umino had told.

—

A few moments later, Kimiko was in to her next car trip as Umino and Yamada lead her to a shiny, black limousine.

She would have thought that her limousine-trip with Hiraku and Akio back then would have been her last and also certainly the most uncomfortable one, but she was proven dead-wrong.

After a few minutes of Kimiko desperately trying to concentrate on her confusion regarding the fact she was in this situation at all as well as replaying memories of her first ride in a limousine so she wouldn't have to listen to Umino's and Yamada's discussion on the best flirting strategies the large car finally came to a halt.

"There we are." Umino announced the obvious and opened the door. "Come on, lass. The Boss doesn't like to wait."

As Kimiko stepped out a gasp left her lips as she was confronted with the large sight of a gigantic stadium that was almost crushing in all of its impressiveness. But she wasn't left much time to truly comprehend that sudden sight, as Yamada barked. "Didn't ya hear Umino? Hurry up."

Kimiko's eyes stopped being in awe about the building in front of her and focused back on the two bulky men. "Don't command me around!" She slowly set into motion. "If you keep talking to me like that, I will run away...stretching the time your precious Boss has to wait!"

At that Umino and Yamada actually grew pale in an instant, their eyes widening in panic.

"Fine!" Umino then spat. "But really, walk a bit quicker please...We gotta get to the VIP-viewing boxes after all!"

Kimiko suppressed an annoyed sigh.

Great more luxury.

Instead she only tilted her head and questioned. "What is this place?" The answer she received was a long groan by Umino. "It's Hall Chandra of course." Yamada, who liked to feel smart once in a while, added. "The place where the Elite 10 fight their battles."

"The Elite 10..." Kimiko repeated. So that's why such a fuss was made. Two Elites, who Kimiko already come to understand were the celebrities of the school, had a Shokugeki today. The Elite 10 were the 10 most talented students in the school if Kimiko remembered Chieko's explanation correctly. Seeing how they cooked and on what level their dishes were would certainly be interesting.

Her curiosity growing, Kimiko accelerated her walk automatically much to the relief of Umino and Yamada.

The trio entered Hall Chandra and after Umino and Yamada had shown their student-IDs multiple times to various people in suits and uniforms, they ended up in an elegant corridor in the upper part of the building.

Kimiko noted how the two people accompanying her had grown more and more tense ever since entering the corridor. When they finally stopped in front of a particular door, Umino's hand halted for a second as he reached out for the doorknob.

"We're back, Boss!" Umino then loudly announced once he opened the door. Yamada added. "And we got Yukihira's lil' sister with us!"

With the door opened, Kimiko was exposed to to a room with a deep red, expensive-looking carpet and with large windows at the end of it that allowed a wide look on the hall they were in. In front of said windows stood a single, black armchair and Kimiko could make out a figure on it. She saw the figure, subtly lifting it's mobile phone in it's right hand to look at the time. Afterwards a smooth, male voice was heard. "Took you two long enough."

Umino and Yamada both simultaneously flinched but before either of the two could say something the figure already rose off the chair.

Considering that this guy's mere presence was enough to making Umino and Yamada feel uneasy, Kimiko for a second had guessed that he would be even stronger than the two. He wasn't however. While definitely not lanky in any way and having broad shoulders he was far from being as bulky as Umino and Yamada, making Kimiko wonder what it was about him that could make tough guys like the two shiver.

The Boss turned around and revealed himself to be a young man who Kimiko presumed to be a year or two older than her. He wore neither the blazer nor the tie of Totsuki. Instead he had unbuttoned the white shirt that was supposed to be underneath the blazer and had a black T-shirt under the white one instead.

His hair was light green and partly slicked back with grease. His left bangs still fell into his face however. On his nose there sat a pair of squared glasses which hid a pair of yellow eyes behind them. Not the warm, vibrant kind of yellow that Kimiko knew out of her father's eyes and that she had inherited herself. It was a duller but at the same time much more piercing and sharp yellow, capable of boring into a person's entire soul.

A smile was seen on his face. Not exactly a friendly, open one however. Rather a smile that oozed self-confidence and assertiveness.

He lifted his hand to push the glasses on his nose upwards. "I see Marui didn't tag along. That's a shame but I predicted that the other Polar Star Dormitory residents would hold her back." He then slightly spread his arms a little and took a step forward. "But I am delighted to see that my honorary guest could make it." Another step forward. "Yukihira Kimiko, welcome. I sincerely hope my subordinates were polite towards you."

Kimiko crossed her arms. She told herself it was to look tough, but a tiny part of her rather did it to protect her heart from possibly being stabbed . She frowned. "So you're the so-called Boss?"

"That's indeed one of my aliases." The Boss purred and after a few more slow but broad steps he took a halt in front of Kimiko. An alluring fragrance that had a touch of citrus-fruit hit Kimiko once he did. It took her two seconds to identify it as his cologne. "But I suppose it's not the one you'd like to address me with."

He held out his hand while his smile grew. "Eizan." With a bit of hesitation in her movement, Kimiko reached out to shake his hand. "The name is Eizan Shigeo. But you can call me Shigeo-senpai."

Kimiko frowned once again. "I'd say my name but you seem to know it already."

"Hm~ How could I not?" Shigeo retorted as he pulled his hand away. "You've been one of the major topics within my generation ever since your Shokugeki against Hojo's little brother. It revealed that you were recruited by my classmate Tsujimoto, although the big news for the 114th Generation was of course that Yukihira has a little sister." He shifted his attention away from Kimiko for a second to look at Yamada instead. "Bring Small-Yukihira a chair, will you?"

"Aye, Boss." Kimiko heard behind her. Afterwards Shigeo looked back at her with a sugarsweet smile. "You don't mind if I call you Small-Yukihira, right? It's just a means to differentiate you from your older brother." Before Kimiko could say wether she minded or not, Shigeo was quick to change the topic. "Do you want to eat something?" He pointed with his arm towards a table stacked with what seemed to be decadent delicacies that Kimiko had not notice yet.

The most prominent thing on that table was the small chocolate fountain that had various fruits laying close to it varying from strawberries to dragonfruit. But there was also a fair share of small, beautifully decorated cakes and such, a plate with all different kinds of cheese, variations of expertly prepared antipasti and a plate with a rich assortment of seafood. "I don't know your exact tastes but I hope this is to your liking." Shigeo said. "If there's anything else you'd like, tell me. I'll let one of my subordinates get it."

It took the slightly overwhelmed Kimiko 3 seconds to tear herself away from blankly staring at the table and looking at Shigeo instead. She shook her head.

Right now her initial confusion from earlier had doubled. Not only had she been summoned by what her friends had made out to be the most dangerous person at school but now she was offered a small buffet by him. What the hell should she make out of that?

Shigeo only held out his hand to make a presenting gesture towards the table and gave Kimiko another smile. "Well then, indulge yourself." He shifted his focus to Umino, the smile melting off his face in an instance and being replaced with an autocratic neutrality. "Umino, get me an Espresso."

Umino bobbed his head. "Aye, Boss." When he turned and walked to the door to open it, Yamada was already there with another armchair.

A few minutes later minutes later, Kimiko was sitting in an armchair so comfortable she was practically sinking into it while the perfect view of the enormous cooking stations of Hall Chandra was in front of her. The sight was truly an impressive one. The hall was huge and a perfect construction for a great spectacle and clash to take place. It left space for an astronomic number of viewership and was most excellently lighted.

Shigeo had returned to his black armchair next to her, his legs crossed.

"Are you sure you don't want to eat anything?" He asked her in a melodic tone. "I can assure you the people I arranged put together a through-and-through exquisite collection." Kimiko only shook her head. "No, thank you."

Kimiko felt how Shigeo's eyes kept burning on her but tried to focus on the stadium that was filled to the brim with thrilled, anticipated students of several age groups. She considered best to interact with Shigeo as little as possible based on what Chieko had told her.

The sound of a door opening reached her ears and a few seconds later Umino showed up next to Shigeo with a glass-cup filled with a dark liquid. "Your Espresso, Boss."

Without even considering a possible 'thank you', Shigeo took the cup and gave the next command. "Fetch Small-Yukihira some of the cheese, Umino." "Aye." And like that Umino disappeared again.

Kimiko tore her eyes away from the huge window to eye Shigeo with slightly narrowed eyebrows. "It's really not necessary."

"Why do you insist on insulting me this much?" Shigeo hummed as he put his focus and sharp eyes back on Kimiko. "Just give it a try at least, I promise it won't hurt you. Additionally..." His smirk grew. "...I am certain you'd enjoy to savour some high-quality cheese for the occasion that is about to take place."

Before Kimiko could say anything else, Umino already held out a plate with different variations of cheese in different shades of gold to her. After a few more hesitations, Kimiko finally took it. "Thank you, Umino-senpai." She mumbled with a nod.

When Umino backed away again, Kimiko thought it's the right time at last to ask the question that's been on her mind. So now that she presumed Shigeo was done with exposing her to what he could afford, she asked without turning to her head to him. "So what's this about?"

He didn't answer immediately but rather took a sip of his coffee. Then he said. "I merely thought that Yukihira's little sister deserves to watch today's fight from one of the best spots possible." He eyed her again. "Pardon if me acting on my own accord upset you in any way, but at the same time I just couldn't stand still and watch when your own older brother somehow didn't even think of arranging a viewing spot for you."

Kimiko frowned. Because of the build up that Shigeo had received from her dormmates as well as Kazuo, Takayuki and even Emi, Kimiko had never felt for a situation to be as immensely fishy as the current one. But before she could inquire further, the lights in Hall Chandra went out and the chattery of the crowd faded.

After a few more seconds, the spotlights were cast on the stage presenting a familiar face to Kimiko.

"Good Afternoon, Totsuki and welcome to our most beloved and famous...Hall Chandra!" Hideyoshi enthusiastically exclaimed into the microphone resulting in an ecstatic uproar of the audience. From the get-go Kimiko could tell that Hideyoshi's style of hosting was much different to Daisuke's.

Hideyoshi made a formidable pose and gave a more than charming wink to the audience. "I am Kawashima Hideyoshi, straight out of the Training Camp of Hell I hurried with the speed of light to host today's show for you!"

Suddenly gushes and squeals went through the audience. "Hideyoshi-kuuun~" "Dashing as always!" "Please look into my direction!" But it soon was followed by hateful murmurs and snarls. "That damn attention-whore-brat!" "What an annoyance!" "I wish I could punch him in oblivion!" Umino's and Yamada's voices found their way into the not all too constructive criticism regarding Hideyoshi. "I'm so sick of this bitch." Umino huffed. Yamada gave an aggressive, agreeing nod. "Someone should wipe that fucking grin out of his face!" Shigeo lifted his cup of espresso up to his lips. "Thank you for your input, Umino and Yamada. Very much appreciated."

Down at the cooking stations, Hideyoshi merely continued his hosting as if nothing happened. "Let's not waste our time with unnecessary chattery, we all know that we only collect in Hall Chandra for the most phenomenal and amazing kinds of showdowns. Today it's finally time again: A fight between the big ones. A battle between the strongest of warriors. A confrontation between deities." He raised his hand and cajoled. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we're about to witness a battle featuring two members of the Elite 10!"

Once again the hall responded with euphoric claps and loud roars of excitement, giving Kimiko an even better idea on what sort of reputation the so-called Elite 10 held within Totsuki.

"I won't let you wait any longer fellow students! Just make sure to give today's warriors the welcome they deserve!" Hideyoshi cajoled before making a presenting gesture towards the Southern Gate. "On one side we have a descendant of two chefs who were part of the most infamous 92nd Generation, much better known as the Jewel Generation. She's in her last year of highschool as of now and one of the four strongest personas within the 113th Generation. We've come to know her as 'The Snopping Spy' ever since she was called such in her first year of highschool. Please give a loud applause to the current 4th Seat of Totsuki's Elite Ten Council...MIMASAKA RAN!"

Hideyoshi's request was granted as claps and cheers followed instantly. "Mimasaka..?" Kimiko only repeated up in the VIP viewing box. Shigeo was quick to reply. "Mimasaka Kazuo's big sister, as I am sure you already suspected."

The young woman who entered the hall was fairly tall and fairly muscular. She possibly could stand a chance against Umino and Yamada in that regard and looked tough enough shatter a rock or so.

She had a side cut: her jet-black hair reached her shoulders but it was only on the left part of her head, the right side of her head had been shaved. She also wore a couple of ear clips giving her a bit of a punkish vibe in Kimiko's mind. Her eyes were blood red and seemed to have those odd, insane looking swirls in them that Kimiko knew out of Kazuo's already. She wore a grey cooking uniform with deep red cuffs and buttons.

Ran had a friendly, warm smile on her thick lips and gave a subtle but polite wave to the audience.

She seems imitating and nice at the same time. Kimiko thought to herself. If I read the audience's reaction correctly she's popular.

As Ran arrived at the cooking station, Hideyoshi shifted his arm into the direction of the Northern Gate.

"Opposing her..." He started and took a tiny break possibly for tension. "We have the man who only entered the school last year but quickly became one of the most known chefs on this campus. He already made himself out to be the very best of what we call 'The Unmatched Four of the 114th" and now he's become bold enough to go up against the titans in the 113th." Another little break, after which Hideyoshi's voice got even louder. "Mysterious and Beloved. The famed 'Tongue blessed by Angels'. Lady's and Gentlemen, the one you've been waiting for, current 5th Seat of Totsuki's Elite 10...YUKIHIRA HIRAKU!"

The noise that had been heard in the hall at Ran's entrance was practically nothing to the tumult that was going on now that the young man Kimiko had thought to know all her life entered. People jumped off their seats, shrill screams were heard everywhere, the most loudest of jubilation filled the hall. Hiraku had an unbothered expression as he only walked onwards, a squid-arm between his teeth and the audience's love for him being more than audibly proclaimed.

Kimiko however made a different observation which she absently stated aloud. "He's not wearing the restaurant uniform..."

Hiraku was dressed in a regular chef's uniform, with the alternation however of the cuffs and collar being a noble red with one golden stripe. Equally shiny gold were the buttons of the uniform.

Kimiko blinked. Unable to identify the redhead she had grown up with for a brief second.

"Restaurant uniform...?" Shigeo, who Kimiko had forgotten about for a moment, questioned, bringing her out of the little trance she had been in watching the brother she had always known as being just as normal as her being welcomed like a god by a large crowd of privileged rich kids. "You mean that...Blue Shirt with white writing on it?"

Kimiko only slowly turned to him but that was all the answer Shigeo apparently needed as he then said. "He did not wear it ever since the final tournament of the Autumn Elections last year."

Kimiko didn't know that the Autumn Elections were. But she couldn't really care right now as she did know that Hiraku apparently tossed the uniform, a part of their identity and lifelong pride, away.

She felt a chain slowly wrapping around her heart and said chain having a heavy weight attached to it. For a minute she would feel a difficulty to breathe.

Down at the cooking stations, Hiraku had come to a halt as well right in front of Ran.

"Good Day, Yukihira-kun." Ran greeted him with a calm and gentle voice. Hiraku nodded. "Mimasaka-senpai." Between them, Hideyoshi spoke into his microphone. "Lastly I would like to greet today's judges!"

A woman in her 50s with shades and deep red lipstick entered. Her ensemble of clothes was completely kept in black and white and Kimiko assumed her clothes to be of some big brands. Additionally the woman was decked with shiny jewellery. She wore her blonde hair in a very strict bun and as she sat down at the judges table she immediately crossed her legs and arms to give a hard-to-please impression.

"First we have a guest from abroad!" Hideyoshi explained. "Mademoiselle Jaqueline Ambroise, the editor in chief of the famous cooking-magazine 'De figues et chocolat' came all the way from Paris to partake in today's Shokugeki." Jaqueline's face had already darkened massively at Hideyoshi's clunky-sounding French pronunciations. But the next one was already about to enter. And it was a more than familiar face to Kimiko.

"Uncle Ryo!" She called out as Hideyoshi downwards announced. "Next up we have an alumni of the famed 92nd Generation, a former Elite 10 member and the husband of our beloved headmistress: Nakiri Ryo!"

Ryo walked towards the judging table without any emotion on display as usual. He gave a slight head nod towards Hiraku however, who returned the gesture with a small wave.

"I know Uncle Ryo enough to be certain that his judgement will be fair but does Mimasaka Ran know so as well? Uncle Ryo and Hiraku are more or less close overall." Kimiko addressed upwards.

"Mimasaka-senpai knows quite a lot." Shigeo replied ominously, making Kimiko turn her head towards him with a raised eyebrow. Before she could even open her mouth however, Shigeo already said. "Besides, I've read on who the judges will be already and they kept it fair in that regard."

Once again Kimiko could not ask what exactly he meant, as Hideyoshi already continued. "And last but most certainly not least we have yet another alumni of the Jewel Generation, folks, as well as the mother of one of the current Elites. The head chef of Hojo-Ra: Hojo Miyoko!"

A woman in the age of Kimiko's parents entered. She wore an elegant, figure-hugging, red cheongsam with fine, golden embroideries of dragons. Her hair had the exact purple that Kimiko knew from Takayuki's hair and a long, floating cowlick sprouted out of her head. Her eyes shone in a light violet and with firm steps she walked to the last available spot at the judging table. But before sitting down a little smile appeared on her strict face and it was directed at Ran Mimasaka, who nodded back.

"You probably figured but that's Hojo Takayuki's mother." Shigeo elaborated. "The Hojos and the Mimasaka are very close to each other. You've worked with Small-Hojo and Small-Mimasaka after all, so it shouldn't be much of a surprise."

"Now we have nearly all pieces gathered..." Hideyoshi continued. "The last thing are the topic and the stakes of course."

He raised his arm upwards once again as he exclaimed. "The topic of today's Shokugeki is 'cheese'! Should Mimasaka Ran win, Yukihira Hiraku has to show up to the following 15 Elite 10 meetings 30 minutes earlier."

"What?" Kimiko called out in confusion. Shigeo near her shrugged. "That's how Mimasaka-senpai is; much too kind for this world. She wants Yukihira to improve on his consistent, everlasting streak of running late." His tone became slightly snooty. "It would have been more interesting if she confronted him with a real threat of course."

Kimiko however had just decided that Ran was her new favorite senpai and that she would root for her. Hiraku's habit to never show up on time had always irritated so many people in his life.

"In case of Yukihira Hiraku's win..." Hideyoshi continued further. "Mimasaka Ran has to give up her 4th Seat over to him and will be degraded to 5th Seat!"

Gasps went through the crowd. Kimiko's eyes narrowed. Shigeo's smirk grew.

"Now with everything out of the way...let us finally start the Shokugeki between 4th and 5th Seat!" A loud gong was heard in the hall. "BEGIN COOKING!"