They still couldn't figure out what kind of relationship Hikigaya and Yukinoshita had. But judging from the situation now, it didn't seem bad at all—one could even say they were close.
Of course, that was only how outsiders saw it. To them, Yukinoshita had never really spoken to anyone, let alone offered help on her own. So...
The more it looked that way, the more curious everyone grew. Their relationship was like a puzzle that only grew more confusing.
Still, this wasn't the time to press the issue. Even if the Polar Star group wanted to question Hikigaya right away, they'd have to wait until they got through this exam safely.
Although Yukinoshita and Hikigaya had both spoken with confidence, not many people truly believed them.
It wasn't that easy to calm a heart that had been hanging in suspense.
But compared to the others, Hikigaya looked more relaxed. Not only did he already have his own guess about the final test, but deep down, he trusted what Yukinoshita had said. It wasn't about feelings—it was simply that he believed she wouldn't make a meaningless joke like that.
When Dojima-senpai appeared, the tension of the two hundred students left in the hall spiked once more. As always, his face was stern, giving away nothing. When he slowly took the microphone, his aura didn't weaken at all. Some students were so nervous their legs began to shake.
"Now, let's begin the final stage of this training camp."
The corners of Dojima Gin's mouth lifted slightly, and as his voice fell, that faint smile seemed to give everyone the final signal:
"Please enjoy the full-course banquet prepared by the graduates."
"..."
A short silence followed, as if no one could process it. Then, shouts of relief exploded through the hall.
"Awesome!"
"I knew it… Totsuki wouldn't treat us that cruelly. Sob…"
"Great! This is really great. We actually survived!"
"It was too hard."
Marui: "Oh God, I can finally rest."
Tadokoro: "Eh? Hikigaya-kun really guessed it right. This time it really is reward time."
Ryoko: "That's wonderful, everyone really got through this together."
With their hearts finally at ease, everyone felt true relief. It was like after working endlessly, being told you'd have to work overtime—but then suddenly getting a short break instead. It wasn't enough to restore all their energy, but it was more than enough to lift their spirits.
Hachiman: "Yukinoshita wouldn't joke about something like this, but Dojima-senpai is a different story. To make such a serious announcement while acting so grim… his personality is pretty nasty, huh."
Takumi: "If the others hear you talk about him like that, they'd probably lose it."
Hachiman: "I wasn't talking bad about him. I was just stating the truth."
Yukinoshita: "More than that truth, I think you're more like a zombie."
Her comment left Hachiman speechless, while Takumi covered his mouth, trying and failing to hold back laughter.
'Go ahead and laugh if you want… what's the point of hiding it like that, Takumi.'
"If nothing else is going on, I'm heading back to rest."
Mito: "Eh? Hikigaya, don't you want to taste the seniors' dishes?"
Hachiman: "Well, it's definitely a chance to learn, but…"
Takumi: "But what?"
Hachiman: "I think getting a good night's sleep is more important."
Everyone was silent, staring at Hikigaya, unable to come up with a single rebuttal.
Ryoko: "Didn't you already sleep yesterday?"
'It's not like anyone said you can't sleep twice, right? If I could, I'd rather spend my whole life with my bed… maybe sleep around 16 hours a day.'
He didn't say that out loud, just nodded slightly.
But Yukinoshita, standing nearby, spoke up:
"Instead of a short nap, eternal sleep might suit you better. That way, you'd really get to rest."
Hachiman: "Could you not say things that sound like concern but are basically a death sentence?"
Just as Hachiman was about to leave, Dojima Gin spoke again from the stage:
"Oh, right. This party is also a time when your seniors choose who to bring under their wing. After these days of training, those of you who survived are without a doubt the elite of the elite, with skills and talent far beyond your peers. You're all excellent, that much is certain."
"But in this world, your rivals aren't just people your own age. Some of you might leave cooking behind in the future, while others will keep walking this path. And the people you face might be middle-aged men like me."
"This 'recruitment' is your best chance—not only to experience a real kitchen environment, but also to have seasoned seniors guide you onto a new path."
"The stronger you are, the more people will want you. That's true in any field. Whether you get this chance or not depends on you."
As his words ended, the hall filled with murmurs and whispers again.
"Whoa!"
"Who's going to be lucky enough to get picked by the seniors?"
"It's probably someone really skilled…"
"Maybe someone like Erina or Alice? Or maybe Hikigaya or Yukinoshita."
"Who knows? But it won't be me… I know exactly what I'm capable of. Getting this far already had some luck in it."
"Isn't that true for all of us?"
Everyone had their own thoughts about Dojima Gin's words, but in the end, they were all on the passive side.
Hachiman: "Recruitment, huh?"
Yukinoshita: "Hikigaya-kun, this training camp will be used as reference for job placements after graduation. Some people will even get offers early because of it. For someone like you, with no work drive and no ambition, I'd suggest you stay here a bit longer. At least that way you won't end up starving in the streets. I don't want to see you like that."
Hachiman could feel her sharp tongue wasn't as harsh as usual. In a way, she was even thinking about him, but…
'Can't she just say things in a normal way?'
Hachiman: "Hearing it like that, I guess I really should stay and see how it goes."
Even though he never planned to accept anyone's invitation, and honestly didn't think he would get one from any senior, at least now he had a reason to turn them down.
Before his words even faded, Erina suddenly appeared from nowhere. Her face still carried that same proud look, but when her eyes landed on Hikigaya, she couldn't hide the faint blush on her cheeks. It only cooled into its usual icy look once she noticed Yukinoshita was also there.
"Getting an invitation from the seniors is definitely not something easy. In all of Totsuki Academy, only the rarest few can get that chance."
Her voice spread across the entire hall, but the only person she was really speaking to was him.
Before Hachiman could answer, Yukinoshita stepped in first:
"Who can say for sure? At least in my eyes, even someone like Hikigaya has a chance."
'Wait, hold on—why use me as an example??'
Erina: "Oh? Yukinoshita, are you saying you actually believe this guy could earn that kind of recognition?"
Yukinoshita: "I never said that. Honestly, being compared to him feels beneath me. What I meant is, not everything is going to go the way you expect. This time, for example."
Everyone immediately felt the tension shift. Both of them were still looking down on Hikigaya, but at the same time, their words were oddly protective of him. This… wasn't it basically a love triangle battlefield?
Erina frowned, eyes fixed on Yukinoshita. From Hachiman's view, Yukinoshita Yukino really did have extraordinary cooking talent. Even if they hadn't interacted much before, they had heard of each other's names and knew the other would eventually be a rival. So…
Erina gave a cold smile: "I didn't think you'd be this naïve, Yukinoshita."
Yukinoshita: "Actually, I don't like people talking down to me."
The two locked eyes, and as the mood grew heavier, the others felt more and more uneasy.
Was the showdown between these two about to explode here and now?
And all because of someone named Hikigaya Hachiman.
At this point, Hachiman was completely speechless inside. Neither of these girls were people to mess with, and if things had gone normally, Yukinoshita would've ignored Erina. But now, because of one unexpected factor, everything had changed.
'This is why women are such a pain!'
Since neither Yukinoshita nor Erina were on his side, there was no stance he could take. And in this situation, it didn't seem like he could slip away either.
Yukinoshita's expression stayed calm and faintly smiling, like Erina couldn't affect her at all. On the other side, Erina stood with arms crossed, full of pride and arrogance.
Yukinoshita: "How about this then, Erina?"
Erina: "Go on."
Yukinoshita: "You know, I still don't have the right to challenge the Elite Ten. So how about we make a bet instead?"
Erina: "What kind of bet?"
Yukinoshita: "Nothing to do with shokugeki, nothing to do with cooking battles. Just judging Hikigaya's personal cooking ability. Didn't you just say he'd never get an invitation from a senior?"
Realizing she had stepped right into Yukinoshita's trap, Erina was caught off guard, unable to respond for a moment:
"I…"
If she backed down now, she'd lose her reputation and the upper hand in front of everyone. That would hurt her badly when the time for a real duel came.
Yukinoshita: "Miss Erina, you believe Hikigaya's cooking won't get recognition from the seniors, not even from you. Then I'll flip it around. If Hikigaya earns the approval of five seniors, I win. How about that?"
Erina: "Five? Are you kidding? Since Totsuki was founded, no one has ever gotten five senior invitations at once."
It was true that the people here were the top students of their year, but those seniors were also the very best among their own generations. To win over five of them… how strong would one's cooking have to be?
Hearing Yukinoshita's words, even Hachiman himself was at a loss. Why did their argument have to drag him into it? He had no desire to be the center of attention—yet here he was…
The watching classmates, the Polar Star Dorm members, even Takumi and Alice, all stared in disbelief.
There were only ten seniors here this year. Five out of ten?
That was going too far.
Yukinoshita's face remained calm. Because she never lied to herself or made jokes, her words carried unusual weight.
"What's wrong? Are you scared?"
"You… as if I'd be scared! Fine, then tell me—what's the wager?!"
Hisako: "Lady Erina… maybe this isn't such a good idea."
Erina: "There's nothing wrong with it. Even if that guy is a once-in-a-century talent, there's no way this could happen. The seniors are geniuses too. They have their own pride and bottom lines. There's no way the same thing would happen five times over."
The crowd seemed to side more with Erina, nodding along with her words.
"Sure, Hikigaya is amazing, but... five upperclassmen? Even Erina-sama couldn't do that, right?"
"Idiot, are you stupid? Who would even dare invite Erina-sama? Her family's business already outshines those small restaurants."
"Oh, oh, right. But isn't that not the point right now!? Do you really think Erina-sama would be recognized like this if she wasn't from that huge family? Isn't that way too much favoritism?"
Ignoring the chatter around her, Yukinoshita glanced at Hikigaya. This time it wasn't just a casual look—her eyes stayed on him for a long moment, and in the end, she showed a natural smile. Hikigaya clearly engraved that scene in his memory.
'This girl... she's actually serious.'
Yukinoshita: "Miss Erina, if I win, I don't ask for anything else—only the right to have a Shokugeki with you. If I lose, no matter what happens in the future, I'll never challenge you again. That way, you'll have one less rival."
No one expected Yukinoshita to make such a bold demand. The whole hall was stunned once again. For someone she wasn't even that close to, Yukinoshita was putting her cooking future on Hikigaya's shoulders.
Everyone knew: if she lost, no matter how great her achievements in the future, whenever people mentioned this generation of Totsuki students, the first name would always be Erina, not Yukinoshita.
"Hey, hey, what's going on here? I'm starting to get confused about Yukinoshita and Hikigaya's relationship!"
"Yeah, something feels off. Those two don't look like just classmates."
"Could the rumors be true? Are they really some kind of secret couple?"
For once, Yukinoshita—who usually stayed calm and elegant no matter the gossip—felt her heartbeat quicken. She had always brushed off baseless talk, but this time... she couldn't.
A faint blush crept onto her face. It was so light that no one else noticed, but she knew very well her cheeks were warming.
Erina herself seemed surprised at Yukinoshita's demand. In her eyes, Yukinoshita was indeed a strong rival—one she would have to face with all her strength. She imagined Yukinoshita would challenge her step by step with careful preparation.
But to use a trick like this just to gain the right to face her in Shokugeki—wasn't that looking down on her, Nakiri Erina?
"Before I give an answer, I want to ask you something, Yukinoshita."
"Please."
"Why do you protect Hikigaya like this? What is your relationship with him?"
"Oh!" The whole crowd lit up. Erina had asked the very question every onlooker wanted to hear.
And in between the two girls stood Hachiman. Normally, he was the master of low presence, but in this situation there was no way he could be ignored.
Yukinoshita smiled lightly, calm and sharp as ever. "In a sense, we're partners. In his eyes, I'm probably just 'a troublesome person.' As for me, I've said it many times already."
"He's a zombie."
'Hey, hey, Yukinoshita, this is really not the time to be joking around.'
Hachiman had a thousand retorts in his heart, but in this moment he couldn't say a word. Even an accidental glance between him and Yukinoshita could easily be taken the wrong way.
Still, it was kind of impressive how Yukinoshita could guess exactly what was on his mind.
Erina: "That's it?"
"That's it?" the crowd echoed.
Yukinoshita tilted her head slightly, sounding almost absentminded as she answered:
"If you really think I'd be his girlfriend or something... that would be too much of a joke. I mean, who in this world would actually like Hikigaya-kun?"
'Wow... that's ice cold.'
Hachiman realized then: so that's what this was. Both of them were actually teaming up to corner him—one playing the good cop, the other the bad cop—but in the end, both were after him.
This was bad...
Even Takumi couldn't help laughing from the side.
"Hahahaha! Hikigaya, you're way too pitiful."
Hachiman spread his hands helplessly. But still...
If he didn't fight back at all, wouldn't that be too miserable? He couldn't really let himself be the only one suffering in this world. Even if he were the god of a new world, being this pathetic would be too much.
Hachiman: "Uh, excuse me, the two of you... I quit being your gambling chip!"
Erina: "You dare?"
Yukinoshita: "Hmm?"
Hachiman: "Just kidding, please carry on."
The crowd all covered their faces in unison.
"Too miserable... he's way too miserable."
If Hachiman had to name the choice he regretted most, it would be not running away the moment he heard Dojima Gin's words today.
But while no one noticed, Yukinoshita's eyes finally changed. That long-lost coldness turned into a warmth she couldn't look away from, as she quietly watched Hikigaya.
A soft warmth flowed up inside her. She couldn't define it, but after experiencing the Shokugeki with Shinomiya-senpai, Yukinoshita finally understood what kind of person Hikigaya really was.
And if someone like him was still going to be crushed by Erina, then even her rational side couldn't accept it.
This was supposed to be an academy where cooking ruled above all else, yet from the start they had placed her high on a pedestal and dismissed others without a second thought. Yukinoshita couldn't accept that. For Hikigaya, and for herself, she had to stand up and make this demand.
As the final spark to strike at Erina's pride, Yukinoshita was willing to stake herself if she had to.
If Hikigaya wasn't someone who would fight back, then Yukinoshita would be his voice and stand up for him. Because she, who never lied, had hidden a truth.
She and Hikigaya weren't really anything at all. They could see each other and not say a word. They could meet and pretend not to notice. Calling them partners was wrong — they were closer to strangers, maybe just one small step above that, people who had worked together a few times, nothing more.
But to find a reason, the word "partner" slipped out of Yukinoshita's mouth. For someone who had never been this forward, even she couldn't understand what this feeling was. But…
She knew one thing clearly — she would never regret this in the future.
Because when Hikigaya Hachiman gave her the last piece of broccoli, maybe he hadn't thought at all about what tomorrow would bring.
That was enough. No going against her heart — that was Yukinoshita's rule of action now.
"
---
You can read 30 advanced chapters at my patreon.com/YeyeQiu
Free member can read 2 chapters in advance