Hikigaya Hachiman—the very one he himself had ordered to be expelled—was becoming harder and harder to understand. Looking at the boldness of this combination, or at the teamwork between the two, it was clear they hadn't treated this Shokugeki as some fight over expulsion at all. They simply brushed that aside and focused on making the best dish possible.
That kind of resolve was something Shinomiya himself once had.
With the addition of the mayonnaise and osmanthus sauce, the dish reached a whole new level of flavor. The push and pull between layers turned what looked like a simple banana bitter melon foie gras roll into something truly different.
If Shinomiya was the magician of vegetable cuisine, then calling Yukinoshita and Hikigaya's pairing the explorers and pioneers of the cooking world would not be an exaggeration.
Dojima Gin: "Now, judges, please choose the dish you believe deserves the win."
Saying this, Dojima Gin tossed a coin to each of the three judges.
"Place the coin into the plate of the side you favor. The outcome of this Shokugeki will be decided in that moment."
Instead of using traditional scoring, they would simply vote with coins for the dish they thought was better. It was simple and direct. But…
For Shinomiya, this should have been a fight with no uncertainty, a Shokugeki with no room for doubt. In his mind, challengers would always be sent away in defeat, just as they had in the past.
It was in this way, step by step, that he climbed to the First Seat.
Honestly, it had been far too long since he last tasted defeat. As the First Seat, even his casual cooking was still considered top-class. But now…
The people who knew him best were suddenly caught in hesitation, and that hesitation filled Shinomiya with rage.
"Are you kidding me?! What's there to even think about?"
"I don't believe for a second that my dish is worse than those two rookies'!"
Mizuhara: "Shinomiya, your dish is indeed excellent. But theirs… theirs has no flaws either. Whether it's the taste, the handling of ingredients, or the element of surprise, it's on the same level as yours. So…"
The other two chefs also nodded in agreement.
The entire underground hall went silent. Even Hachiman had thought this Shokugeki was a match without suspense. But this unexpected turn showed that victory had not yet leaned toward Shinomiya.
Shinomiya: "Stop joking around. I may not be arrogant enough to call myself the best in the world, but… you're saying my cooking isn't as good as those two? Impossible!"
"You all said it yourselves, the two of them together haven't even been chefs for a full year, right?!"
Maybe because he felt all his hard work was being denied, Shinomiya's emotions started to collapse. A scene he had never imagined was happening before his eyes, crushing his pride completely.
But even in the face of his angry outburst, the three judges still showed no reaction. As chefs, they were excellent. As judges, they followed their own principles. And now, because they couldn't find an answer in their hearts, everything remained stuck here.
Dojima Gin: "Looks like we won't be able to settle this result today. But, there is still another way."
Shinomiya: "What way!?"
Dojima Gin: "Taste each other's dishes, and then… admit defeat of your own will."
Shinomiya let out a cold laugh: "I don't believe my cooking is worse than anyone's. In the end, how could something like that ever happen? Forcing someone to admit defeat? That's impossible."
Dojima Gin took the dish from Hikigaya's hand and handed it over without a word: "The story of cooking is about tasting the other side's dish first, and then giving your judgment. Isn't that right, Shinomiya?"
Shinomiya was left speechless. His eyes stayed fixed on the plain-looking dish, and after a moment, though unwilling, he finally took it.
On the other side—
Dojima Gin: "What about you two?"
Hachiman: "I have no objections. After all, only I know my true level."
Yukinoshita: "If Shinomiya-senpai's dish tastes better than ours, I'll admit it."
Dojima Gin smiled slightly, dropping three coins into the hands of Yukinoshita, Hikigaya, and Shinomiya: "Alright. Each of you has a vote now. Let's begin the tasting."
...
Looking closely, it was clear this dish hadn't taken much effort. The cooking, ingredients, handling, even the taste were flawless—nearly perfect. But it still felt like something was missing.
The flavor left nothing to criticize. The moment it entered the throat, it carried the weight of experience—something only a truly skilled chef could create. From the calluses on his hands to the expression on his face, it was all there.
But that alone wasn't enough.
After just one bite, Hachiman wasn't surprised. With Shinomiya's ability, he could have made something far more impressive. But for some reason, he had only produced this half-finished dish.
When the taste failed to meet his expectations, Hachiman set his chopsticks down. Beside him, Yukinoshita also stopped after a single bite.
Shinomiya: "What? You're not satisfied with my cooking?!"
Hachiman: "No… to be honest, I could never make something like this. It's truly amazing, Shinomiya-senpai. I admire it, I respect it. Maybe this is the strength of the First Seat."
Before Shinomiya could smile, Hachiman continued:
"But if Shinomiya-senpai had used his full strength, we would've been crushed. Yet… Shinomiya-senpai, have you lost the ability to show your peak anymore?"
His sudden words froze the entire basement. Even the usually noisy Hinako widened her eyes in shock.
The three judges, Hinako, even Yukino, all focused on Hikigaya. Their parted lips showed their disbelief.
Only Dojima Gin still wore his calm smile, as if everything was under control, not surprised at all.
Shinomiya's body trembled at those words. His lips tried to deny it, but the words never came out.
This boy—Hikigaya—the very one he himself had expelled, had already given him too many shocks. From the way he handled ingredients, to creating a dish that even three judges couldn't decide on, and now, with just one bite, pointing out the bottleneck that had trapped him for years. And this boy had only been a chef for less than a month!
Shinomiya: "What! You… you… how could you…"
Sekimori: "Wait, Shinomiya. So the reason you didn't make your best dish… was because of yourself?"
Mizuhara: "I thought you just didn't take your opponent seriously. If that's the case, then you deserved to lose."
Hinako: "Well, Shinomiya-senpai is just a narcissist and a poser anyway!"
Ignoring their words, Shinomiya's eyes grew dim. At this moment, he could no longer see Hikigaya as just some student he had expelled.
Hachiman: "At first, I wondered if maybe you just thought we weren't worth your full effort. But when I saw the dish you brought out, I was sure…"
"Shinomiya-senpai, your cooking is stuck, isn't it?"
Once again, silence filled the room. After a brief pause, Shinomiya's voice broke the air:
"How could you know? You only ate one bite of my dish. You don't know my past, my experiences, or what I've been through!"
Hachiman: "That's true, I don't know you. Thinking you understand someone just like that is arrogance. I can't do that. But…"
"From the glances you keep throwing, to the hesitation in your movements, to the way your presence here feels so different from how it did in class—I can't accept that this is a top chef. It doesn't suit the hands of someone who's already gone through so many hardships."
"Your words, your breath, your expression—everything has already given you away."
"It's true, no matter what I do, I could never beat you in your prime. But if I were to lose to you as you are now, even someone as unmotivated as me couldn't accept that."
As Hikigaya spoke, Shinomiya's emotions seemed to freeze.
Yes, the outburst he had just now wasn't because of this shokugeki.
What he wanted was recognition. He just didn't want to admit that he had declined. That was why, in that moment…
He completely lost himself.
His confidence, his pride—everything was gone. That was why he ran here.
But… he couldn't stay that way.
Just like Hikigaya once said, in the eyes of ordinary people below, even a god who descends is nothing but a bother.
Hikigaya's words echoed through the basement, and the burning gaze on him had changed—from doubt at first, to respect.
Meanwhile, Shinomiya covered his face with one hand, and let out a laugh filled with self-mockery.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
"Hiding it for so long, only to be found out by some kid… what a failure."
"You're right… for a chef, standing still means falling behind."
"I've tried countless ways to fix it, but even now, I haven't made any progress."
"But if you think I'll lose to you because of that, then you're really dreaming."
Before Shinomiya could finish, Dojima Gin raised his eyebrows and said:
"Once you've eaten that dish, everything will become clear. And this shokugeki will finally be decided."
...
Ten years ago, Shinomiya was also one of the top prodigies of Totsuki Academy. In such a fiercely competitive place, anyone who could graduate as the First Seat would attract attention from the whole world.
As the First Seat back then, Shinomiya's sights were always set far away. Even though many famous hotels were already offering him positions…
He refused every one of them. Instead, he planned to head to France on his own to sharpen his skills. Yes, like every young student, he too had great ambitions. Leaving Totsuki behind, even as the First Seat, he was still just a small existence compared to the vast world of cuisine. After all, there are always stronger people out there, and cooking is never bound by rules.
Training in France and building his own restaurant—that was Shinomiya's dream. But things didn't go as planned. Despite his talent and success at such a young age, once he arrived in France, he ended up as nothing more than an ordinary kitchen worker.
That didn't break him, of course. Having fought his way out of Totsuki, Shinomiya already had the drive to climb higher. Until his dream was complete, he would never allow himself to fall.
Before long, he worked his way up. With his youth and growing experience, he won the locals' support. Seeing how well-liked Shinomiya was, his boss quickly promoted him to head chef.
But the real darkness of this world has always been human nature.
Because he was a foreigner, and because of his rapid rise, jealousy began to spread. Resentment against Shinomiya grew, and people started to reject him more openly.
Back then, he had no one he could truly trust. In the end, someone deliberately sabotaged his restaurant's reputation. His image was ruined overnight. The head chef who had just risen to fame instantly fell apart, going from a shining star to a rat everyone wanted to crush.
That memory was his alone. And only he understood that a kitchen is like a battlefield—you can only trust yourself.
He decided to start over. In France, he built his own brand of restaurants. Through his unique vegetable dishes and his sharp memory, he quickly made a name for himself again.
And the same mistake—he swore he would never repeat it. That was why he grew used to constant pressure, used to having no one behind him, used to treating the kitchen as a battlefield.
He wrote down his recipes in extreme detail. For anyone joining his restaurant, there was only one rule: follow the recipe. No unnecessary mistakes. No extra trouble.
Because he was the correct one.
Chosen, the only one.
In his seventh year of struggle, he finally earned the prestigious Bleu de Spur medal, and his restaurant had long since become famous in France. But…
When he looked back, he realized that at some point, his cooking had completely lost the spark it once had.
The narrow bridge he had struggled to cross all the way until now had silently broken without him even noticing, as if everything was quietly saying farewell to him.
Maybe back then, he was lost.
Even though he stood high above, he couldn't see any path toward the future. It was like a fog wrapping around his whole body, sealing him in forever.
For years, he had tried different methods, but none of them brought back his peak skills. He had felt troubled by it, but...
Some things can't be solved just by worrying, so he slowly accepted it all and buried those feelings deep inside his heart.
For so many years he had hidden it. The smiles of every customer seemed to ease that feeling of being adrift. Even his old classmates from Totsuki, the people who knew him best, never noticed. And yet... it was discovered by the one he himself had expelled from school.
Now, Hikigaya's dish was right in front of him.
It didn't look amazing, nor did it stand out, but somehow, it carried a special charm. He wanted to know\...
What secret was hidden inside it.
Without wasting words, Shinomiya, who had tasted countless dishes, put the last banana-bitter melon-foie gras roll into his mouth.
The aroma of foie gras burst out with the heat, while the mix of banana and bitter melon gave a striking sweetness. It was a perfect dish...
No—something was off!
When the flavors of osmanthus sauce and mayonnaise exploded, Shinomiya's calm face was suddenly shaken by the unique taste. The spoon in his hand slipped and clattered onto the floor.
"Clink, clink, clink..."
The sharp sound of the spoon echoed as everyone waited for Shinomiya's final judgment.
His pupils trembled slightly, but his chewing never stopped. He was certain: even after tasting so many dishes, even with all the recipes he had created, not a single one could compare to this.
Was it delicious? Yes, very. But not to an exaggerated level.
What truly moved Shinomiya wasn't the taste.
It was the feeling.
The moment it slid down his throat, that unique comfort seemed to soothe his heart, calming his emotions.
"Why... why..."
"How could I..."
His hands shook slightly as he turned away, quietly wiping away his tears.
Hinako: "Eh? Shinomiya-senpai is crying?!"
Shinomiya: "Shut up!"
Hinako: "...Yes."
Shinomiya straightened his back again, and this time his eyes finally landed on Hikigaya.
"To be honest, I don't know how you did it. But tell me, what was in your heart when you made this dish?"
Hachiman didn't joke around at a moment like this. He glanced at Yukinoshita, saw her give him a small nod, and then answered calmly:
"Trust."
'Even though that word doesn't really describe my relationship with Yukinoshita, just now the two of us were standing on the same side. So... that's the only way I can put it.'
The three judges looked over with puzzled expressions, but Shinomiya—only Shinomiya—burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahahaha... You really are a troublesome guy."
As he said this, Shinomiya turned his gaze to Dojima Gin:
"Dojima-senpai, you planned this, didn't you?"
Dojima Gin only gave a faint smile without saying a word.
From the very beginning, the result had already been decided.
What looked like a private Shokugeki to save Hikigaya was, in truth, set up to help Shinomiya.
Whether it was the unspoken teamwork, the fresh combinations that kept surprising the taste buds, or the unique power that Hikigaya Hachiman showed, all of it seemed to serve as a wake-up call for Shinomiya.
Shinomiya's eyes softened, and at that moment, he lowered his head slightly and gave a self-mocking smile: "This time, I've lost."
"Thank you for teaching me a lesson, one about trust, teamwork, and creativity."
"Thank you. With just one bite, I finally understood where my problem has been these past years."
"Thank you, for showing one last bit of kindness to this world."
Sekimori: "What the hell, did I hear that right? Shinomiya, you actually admitted defeat!"
Mizuhara: "As far as I can remember, the times Shinomiya has lost are almost none, and as for admitting defeat himself…"
Gotoda: "Don't bother remembering, it's never happened. Hikigaya, Yukinoshita, you two are amazing!"
Dojima Gin: "Looks like you've finally seen his magic for yourselves."
Hachiman: "No, I only made a simple dish. The real credit goes to Yukinoshita. Without her, I couldn't have made something like this."
Faced with Hikigaya's attempt to pass the credit, Yukinoshita brushed her hair back, her gaze turning sharp:
"I don't plan on taking the victory of a zombie classmate."
'This guy, can't he just go along with me for once!'
Yes, instead of accepting Hikigaya's push, Yukinoshita refused and fired back.
Dojima Gin:
"Then I declare, the winners of this Shokugeki are Hikigaya Hachiman and Yukinoshita Yukino. According to the conditions of the Shokugeki, Hikigaya Hachiman's expulsion is canceled!"
Shinomiya put his hands on his waist, finally letting out a long breath after the Shokugeki ended:
"Turns out this was one troublesome mess. Hikigaya Hachiman, Yukinoshita Yukino, I don't know what your life goals are, but no matter what they are, Totsuki isn't everything, Japan isn't everything, and the world isn't everything. Cooking has no limit."
"So, keep working hard in the future. I'll be watching you."
"If someone who beat me were to get expelled, I'd never accept that."
"Work hard."
Hachiman: "Yes."
Yukinoshita: "What about you, Shinomiya-senpai?"
Shinomiya gave another faint smile:
"I'll keep moving forward until I climb to the very top of the world, make my restaurant's name famous across it, and in the end… I'll surpass the Yukinoshita family with my own strength. That's my promise!"
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