Nakiri Jouichirou was the only one in the family from the next block of Totsuki generations to bear the Nakiri name. It had been of major concern what the future of the NTG would look like if a Kurokiba continued to rule instead of a Nakiri, and it wouldn't have surprised anyone if Jouichirou rose up as contention for the throne against Auden.

But when the head honcho of the PSD gang graduated with the rest of the 117th generation and promptly reported to Dean Hayama that he was going to take over the Food Safety Regulations class for both the middle and high school divisions and nobody could stop him, everyone realized that they'd been worried for naught, although Auden would've been lying if he said he hadn't been raring to go head to head with his cousin just for the hell of it.

Asahi's son was probably one of the best professors to ever stand in one of Totsuki's many lecture halls. Although a woman with fifteen years of teaching experience and a few university degrees to boot had been passed up in favor of the fresh graduate — first seat of the Elite Ten, but fresh nevertheless — nobody questioned his proficiency. His innate educational faculty and easygoing nature, which had caused quite a sensation when he told the NTG board that vying against Kurokiba Auden for heirdom was "too much work", combined with his ability to call his godfather Souma from literally any corner of the world whenever he wanted a demonstration of a recipe (like he needed help, dammit), made Nakiri Jouichirou Totsuki's most popular lecturer/heartthrob.

He was in his leather swivel chair — ah, the benefits of teaching — with Ibusaki Seijuro sitting atop of his desk.

"So, what's it like being second seat?" Jouichirou asked, steepling his fingers.

Sei lifted an eyebrow. "Senpai, you talk like you haven't asked me that question five hundred times already."

"Make that five hundred and one, then. You've been pissy lately, Ibusaki. Don't roll your eyes at me like that; you looked out the window no less than forty-seven times during today's lecture."

Sei ran a hand through his magenta hair. "If you say so."

"It's about a girl, isn't it?"

Good lord, this guy was seriously intuitive.

"Marui Sena."

"The Marui that's dating my cousin? She wrote the curriculum for a few classes."

"Of course she did," he sighed. "I just… wish she'd see me as more than a friend."

Jouichirou laughed, inciting an indignant noise from the back of Sei's throat. "She sees you as a brother. Not enough?"

"Shut the fuck up, senpai."

But Jou was already on a roll. "You know, a girl that's with the heir to the Nakiri-Totsuki Group is going to be ridiculously hard to impress. At this rate, the only way you can win her heart is to beat Auden in an actual shokugeki with everything on the line. Challenge him for the first seat and the right to exercise… what's it called? Your true love?"

Sei shook his head. "I can't beat him if he gets serious, senpai. Especially if he puts on his bandana. It only works when he's cooking."

"You guys are growing apart, aren't you?"

"No, we're still at the same level. We have a tied shokugeki record. But if he's fighting for his girlfriend, there's no way he's going to lose. I don't have his tenacity. Alice-dono calls it the mad dog mentality."

Jou agreed, "Yeah, I've heard of it. Uncle Ryo has it in the spades. But that's not what I'm talking about. You two aren't as close as you used to be."

"I guess not. He spends more time in his office than at the dorm or the mansion."

"Have you considered doing your own Elite Ten work?"

"Auden already finished everything. He's always staying late to talk with Tsukasa."

"Fifth seat, right?"

"Yeah. I don't know why, but it almost feels like he's sucking up to that first year midget."

"Isn't Tsukasa dating my cousin?"

"Auden mentioned she doesn't like commitment, so I don't think so."

"How tragic. I feel so bad for Tsukasa. Back to the subject. Why don't you just challenge Auden for Marui?"

"Even if I knew I could win, I wouldn't. I'm not going to challenge him to a shokugeki when Sena's completely in love with him."

"Yes, you would."

"What?"

"I think if you knew you could win, you'd have already sent in a request form to the second seat, to hell with how Marui feels about it."

"I won't put a girl over our friendship," Sei pointed out. "He's literally my brother."

Jou crossed his arms. "Even if he'd put his career over a girl any day?"

Sei frowned. "Auden wouldn't do that."

"Listen, Ibusaki. I'm not as close with Auden as Hikari and Kaede are, but I do know him better than you. And I know he'll put his future over anything and anyone in the end."

The scowl deepened on Sei's features, the shadows a stark contrast to his Hawaiian shirt. "I don't think so."

Jou shrugged. "You can think whatever you want. We'll see. But for now, have you heard of Crossed Knives?"

"Isn't that your dad's technique?"

"Yeah, it is. Listen, if you start regularly staying after class, I'll teach it to you. Then you might be able to beat Auden and get the first seat. And Marui, if that's really what you want."

"Wait… you know Crossed Knives?"

Jou scratched his head. "Yeah, I do. I haven't used it before but if you let me borrow your knife I could probably make some wild empanadas."

"I made empanadas at the Autumn Elections a couple years ago," Sei remarked, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

"I know. I organized that shit. But my version of Crossed Knives is different from my dad's. He'd take two knives and produce a dish using the combined skills, but mine takes your specialty dish — not just your techniques — and multiplies it with my own. For example, if your specialty was empanadas, then I'd use your knife in tandem with mine to create empanada gyros and its level would be that of your empanadas alone times my gyros alone. You understand?"

"That's not even fair," Sei grumbled.

Jou shrugged. "Crossed Knives evolves with every generation. If I teach you, you'll be third gen, which means your power will be exponential."

"Is this is a math lesson?"

"Essentially. I can't even imagine what fourth gen Crossed Knives is going to look like."

"Maybe you can cook using wormholes. Cuisine beyond the spacetime continuum."

Jou laughed so hard he started coughing. "Don't say that like you've been paying attention in your string theory class."

"I'm not even in string theory," Seijuro said.

"I thought so. Meet me in the kitchen behind the Archives after classes tomorrow with your favored knife. Prepare to have your pride destroyed."

"This is where you include the part about you being the first seat of the 117th generation and Totsuki's youngest lecturer ever."

"Well, I figured you already know so I don't need to say it again. Now aren't you supposed to be at an Elite Ten meeting?"