She thought the bet had finally come to an end, but Dojima Gin appeared before her eyes, once again throwing everything into confusion.
"No way… even Dojima Gin-senpai wants to get involved in this?"
"This is way too much, feels like I'm watching some fantasy novel."
"If even the director of Totsuki Resort wants to keep Hikigaya, then this is really big news."
"Don't you guys think today's events are already unforgettable enough?"
Erina, who had thought victory was in her hands, put away her smile at that moment. Even though Hikigaya had refused all the chefs' offers just now, as the director of Totsuki Resort, his methods would surely be different. If he really wanted to win Hikigaya over…
Then this time, the bet would end with her loss.
Unlike Erina and Yukinoshita, Hikigaya had no family background. And the ability he showed now was something ordinary people could never achieve. Whether it was his frightening insight, his deep theoretical knowledge, the cooking plans etched into his mind, or even his ability to distinguish things with just a simple sniff, all of it was enough to make people feel intimidated.
As everyone expected, Dojima Gin still walked toward Hikigaya. Hikigaya seemed used to the situation by now. Although Dojima's invitation was no different from the other chefs', whenever he faced Dojima Gin-senpai, Hikigaya couldn't help but remember the scene from their first meeting.
That unique and rare memory still lingered in his mind.
Back then, was it fate, or did he already know that one day he would come to Totsuki?
But whatever happened in the past no longer mattered.
Dojima Gin: "Hikigaya Hachiman, thinking about it, even though we've had plenty of chances to talk, the only time we truly connected through cooking was our very first meeting."
Hikigaya: "After all, I don't have the same amazing cooking skill as you, Dojima Gin-senpai. Even if you wanted to exchange with me, the result might not be what you hoped for."
Unlike their first meeting, back then it felt like he was wearing a mask no one else could see. Now, he was only calm and serious. And to Hikigaya, that was the true sign of strength.
Dojima Gin: "You've given me more than a few surprises. One day you'll definitely become a chef who can stand on his own. I was already sure of that the first time I met you."
"And now you've joined Totsuki Academy, a school that has produced so many outstanding students. If you can fight your way through all the obstacles until the very end, then surpassing me in the future won't be hard at all."
"Whoa!"
The whole hall once again erupted like thunder. If someone else had said this, it might not mean much, but the one standing in front of Hikigaya was Dojima Gin—the former First Seat of Totsuki, and still the most accomplished First Seat ever.
For him to say this… maybe in the not-so-distant future, the culinary world would be completely changed because of one person.
"This guy… he's really been chosen."
"I have no idea. Right now, I can't even tell what's going on with this bet."
"At least I think Yukinoshita won."
"No... since Dojima Gin-senpai hasn't given the invitation yet, I think Lady Erina is still the winner."
"...."
The arguing voices never stopped, while Dojima Gin only kept his eyes on Hikigaya:
"I know what your strengths are, but you also carry a serious weakness. That weakness is a trial you must overcome on your path of growth."
Hachiman: "If there were no troubles at all, life would be way too boring."
Dojima Gin: "That's good enough. Then finally..."
"As long as you're willing, after you graduate you can come to the Totsuki resort anytime and become one of us here."
"I'll be looking forward to the day we meet again, and you bring me an even greater surprise."
Without wasting words, much like Dojima Gin himself, the calm director of Totsuki had an unexpected charm about him. Even though they had only spoken a few times...
To someone who once had the closest partner, on Hikigaya, Dojima Gin couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity.
"Joichiro... is that you?"
No wonder there was something familiar. Turns out it wasn't the old friend, but the son of that old friend. That's probably what it meant.
...
As if she had already expected it, Yukinoshita's face showed no strong reaction. Her lips curved up slightly, and her gaze shifted toward Erina.
It was as if everything had been calculated. Yukinoshita showed no arrogance, only a smile that seemed to say to Erina that the bias she always carried would become the very reason for her own downfall.
Erina was by no means someone who went back on her word. Even with her difficult personality, even if she hated to admit defeat, after seeing it all with her own eyes, she had no choice but to accept it.
No one knew when Dojima Gin-senpai had left. At this gathering, out of the dozens of head chefs, nearly half handed the same invitation to a single person. Even so, most of them were declined. If word of this reached Totsuki headquarters, who could imagine the kind of stir it would cause? Nobody knew.
Unlike the rumors from last time, this time the truth was what they had seen with their own eyes.
Of course, there were others who also received invitations from other alumni. For example, Hayama. He had a small family behind him, but if he wanted to pursue cooking in the future, that small family wouldn't be enough to support him, unlike Yukinoshita and Erina. So with his skills, it was only natural that he too received an invitation.
But like Hikigaya, he politely refused.
As for the rest of the students who got invitations, some left right away with their seniors, while others chose to stay and continue their studies at Totsuki. But no matter what, the spotlight of this event belonged only to Hikigaya. He stole all the attention.
With the bet as the backdrop, the rumors of the past, and even the appearance of Dojima Gin-senpai, Hikigaya Hachiman's name had now become known to everyone.
Erina: "I lost, but... in a Shokugeki, I will never lose."
She didn't say much more. Erina only glanced at Yukinoshita, then shifted her eyes back to Hikigaya. After glaring at him with obvious anger, she turned around and left.
'Hey hey, princess... that's too much. Don't dump someone else's grudge on me.'
Watching Erina leave, Yukinoshita stayed quiet. That unique smile on her face already said everything. Unlike Erina, the way she looked at Hikigaya no longer carried the same distance as before. She simply gave him a small nod, then turned and left as well.
'So in the end, I'm nothing but a tool for them...'
Even though he thought that, Hachiman didn't really care. He never fought or competed anyway. Even if the fight between these two women revolved around him, as long as it didn't drag him in, it was fine.
Still...
Just thinking that their upcoming Shokugeki was happening because of him made things feel a little troublesome...
Forget it. For now, he should just get some rest.
Although there had been a little incident just now, at least he could finally enjoy the food on the table. For the moment, that was enough to satisfy him.
Meanwhile, outside the venue, Erina finally snapped back to herself when she heard Hisako's voice calling her. But the way her chest rose and fell showed how stirred up she was inside, almost as if something had struck her hard.
Hisako: "Lady Erina, are you alright?"
Erina didn't answer. She just turned her head and shook it slightly.
Hisako: "Well, actually... Lady Erina, you might not like me saying this, but I've tasted Hikigaya's cooking. Honestly... he's really good."
That seemed to hit a sore spot. Erina, who was already tense, suddenly burst out, her emotions boiling over.
"Of course... of course I know that! But... I just don't want to admit it!"
"Why is it that someone like him... someone who doesn't even care about winning... can still take everything away from others so easily and become a chef?"
Even if people called her a genius, Hisako knew very well that Lady Erina, blessed with the God Tongue, had never worked less hard than anyone else. Yet after years of repeated effort, climbing all the way to the very top, people brushed it all aside with the label of "genius," as if those two words erased everything she had gone through.
And now, Yukinoshita and Hikigaya—just transfer students—were catching up to her at a speed no one would believe. In that moment, it felt like her many years of effort were vanishing like bubbles.
If that was the kind of cooking story he was writing, then no matter what, she had to deny it.
Faced with this side of Erina, even Hisako didn't know what to say. They had grown up together, she had always followed by her side, but all she had ever seen was Erina's victories and pride. She never truly understood the weight behind them.
Erina: "I've already given Yukinoshita the chance to challenge me, but this is only the beginning. From now on, more and more people will come after my Elite Ten seat. And I'll keep climbing, until I prove to everyone that I'm not just someone with talent."
"During this time, I'll be counting on you, Hisako... I need to get stronger, I need special training. No matter who it is... I'll defeat them one by one!"
To make her opponents accept defeat through cooking—that was Erina's cooking story.
If once wasn't enough, then twice. If twice wasn't enough, then three times, four, five—until she finally won.
This time, the bet was Erina's loss. But next time...
She would take back the victory. With that resolve, Erina pulled out an old, worn photo from her pocket. It was the path she had to follow, until the day she fulfilled her promise with that person.
If Hachiman had been there, he would have noticed that the person in the photo Erina pulled out was none other than his own dad, Joichiro.
Unlike the Erina of today, back then she was shy, head lowered, looking completely like an ordinary little girl.
Well, it made sense. When facing her idol, her goal, the one who inspired her, she was still just Erina.
...
After finishing what was called a "hell-level" school trip, everyone finally returned to Polar Star Dorm. But the mood there… felt strange.
Instead of being welcomed back by Isshiki with his usual lively energy, the whole dorm had sunk into a heavy atmosphere. Neither Granny Fumio nor Isshiki could be seen anywhere.
Marui: "I can't shake the feeling that something scary happened."
Mito: "Now that I think about it, Polar Star Dorm really does have a lot of bad luck..."
Ibusaki: "I've got a bad feeling."
Ryoko: "Hey hey hey, cheer up, you guys! Maybe it's just Isshiki's prank. Don't be so gloomy—we all made it back safely! That's something to be happy about!"
But it seemed the only one encouraged by Ryoko's words was Tadokoro Megumi. She placed her hands over her chest, quietly cheering herself on:
"Yes!"
Yoshino: "I don't want to say it, but Megumi, you're way too optimistic."
Tadokoro Megumi: "Eh, really?"
Everyone turned to Hikigaya with puzzled eyes. Faced with such a pure gaze, Hachiman just couldn't bring himself to lie to the kindhearted Tadokoro Megumi.
"Yeah, being optimistic is good."
As if she had expected that answer, Megumi suddenly started blushing shyly, even though the mood around them was still heavy.
Yoshino: "Anyway, standing here won't help. Let's go in! Mito, you lead the way!"
Mito: "Eh? Why me?!"
Yoshino: "Because you look tough—you're obviously the fearless type."
Mito scratched her head, looking a little embarrassed, but her eyes landed on Hikigaya.
'Hmm, I don't think that was a compliment. Mito, don't fall for it!'
Even so, her head still nodded honestly.
Once she saw Hikigaya nod too, Mito's confidence surged. She marched forward at the front, full of spirit, and declared:
"Of course! I'm Mito—everyone, follow me!"
'Why does it feel like she's leading kids...'
"Rumble rumble..."
Hachiman lightly pushed open the old wooden door. Even before stepping inside, he had already noticed the thick layer of dust. Wait, wasn't this place still lived in? How could dust pile up like this?
And... the seat where Granny Fumio usually sat was also empty. Could she be resting in her room? No, that couldn't be right! Granny Fumio wasn't like him—there was no way she'd be napping in the middle of the afternoon...
Not to mention, as the Seventh Seat of the Elite Ten, what was Isshiki doing? In any case, there were only so many places Granny Fumio could have gone. With just a bit of checking around...
"The back garden's empty!"
"The bedrooms are empty too!"
"The main hall is gone!"
"The dining hall is gone too!"
"No trace, not a single trace!"
Marui: "Hey, don't tell me this place turned into a haunted house... Granny, could she already have been swallowed up?!"
Yoshino: "Now that you mention it... I just realized Polar Star Dorm is actually kinda creepy."
'You're only realizing that now? Yoshino, how slow can your reactions be?'
It was only the first day after moving in, and Hachiman already felt this place was a bit scary.
But as a firm believer in materialism, since there was nothing anywhere else, then the only possible place had to be there.
Hachiman: "Follow me."
Without wasting words, judging from all the clues, it was clear that Granny Fumio and Senior Isshiki hadn't left Polar Star Dorm at all during the past week. The back garden plants were completely unattended, but the bedrooms clearly showed signs of someone living in them. So...
The only possible reason they were trapped inside Polar Star Dorm for so long was just one thing...
The moment he pushed open the kitchen door, a familiar voice echoed in Hachiman's ears:
"Isshiki, that's your 29th loss."
"This time, this time I'll win for sure!"
'Wait, no way...'
Facing the middle-aged man who suddenly appeared, Hachiman first thought about pretending not to know him, but...
"Eh? Hachiman? Long time no see."
"Dad..."
"....."
A short silence, then came the explosive reaction!
"D-Dad?!"
"???"
"Hold on, what's going on here... and why is Senior Isshiki here too?"
"I still can't process this... give me a second."
'Shouldn't I be the one needing a second to process this? Even though Totsuki doesn't restrict who can come and go... my dad just looks way too suspicious here.'
Hachiman really wanted to ask why Joichiro was here, but it was clear that Senior Isshiki was locked in a cooking battle with his dad, and it looked pretty intense. That also explained why the front gate was covered in dust.
But still... from what Dad just said, even someone as skilled as Isshiki couldn't beat him? In Hachiman's eyes, Joichiro was just a small restaurant chef. Compared to Totsuki's genius students, maybe he had more experience, but his actual ability shouldn't be that much better, right?
Moments later, Senior Isshiki finally presented his dish. Maybe because he was taking it too seriously, his forehead was dripping with sweat, his breathing was uneven, and even though his face looked excited...
'This dish clearly isn't his best. He didn't show his true skills at all.'
Just one glance was enough for Hachiman to see how the match would end. And sure enough, under Granny Fumio's judgment, the cooking battle quickly came to an end. Luckily, Senior Isshiki wasn't the type to fear losing. Even though he lost this round, he quickly realized the problems in his dish.
But still...
"Heh, Isshiki, that makes it 30 losses now!"
'So Dad isn't just like this with Komachi after all...'
Isshiki accepted the loss without complaint and said, "Mr. Joichiro, it was an honor to compete with you. Next time, I'll definitely improve even more!"
The others were completely stunned. This mysterious man had beaten Isshiki thirty times so easily—and he turned out to be Hikigaya's dad... who in the world was this uncle?!
On the chair, Granny Fumio, already so full she could hardly move, forced herself to look at everyone and then said excitedly:
"So that's how it is. I was wondering why you suddenly came back. Turns out Hachiman is your son!"
Joichiro: "No, no, that's only part of the reason!"
Grandma Fumio: "Stop bragging. How many times have you come back over the years? Even when Gin went looking for you, there was no sign of you."
"Oh right, I haven't properly introduced him yet. The man standing before you is a graduate of Totsuki Academy and Polar Star Dorm, once the second seat of the Elite Ten, Saiba Joichiro!"
Everyone: "The former second seat of the Elite Ten!"
Hachiman: "Saiba Joichiro! A Totsuki graduate?! Second seat of the Elite Ten? Wait... let me process this..."
Hachiman, who almost never gets worked up, finally showed such an emotion. Of course... that's because he had never paid attention to his dad before. He always thought his family was just like any normal one. But now he realizes...
It definitely has nothing to do with being a siscon!
Everyone: "Hey, hey? Why are you more excited than us?!"
Joichiro: "Don't call your dad by his full name!"
Tadokoro Megumi: "There are too many things I don't understand..."
Hachiman: "And what's with this 'Saiba' thing..."
Joichiro: "Come help cook first. Everyone's hungry. Hachiman, you can cook now too, right?"
Hachiman: "At least explain things clearly to me..."
Dad being a Totsuki graduate, a Polar Star Dorm graduate, and an Elite Ten member—taking all that in at once really drained his mind.
And now... he finally understood why his dad sent him to this academy. There were plenty of choices, but he picked a cooking school.
Tadokoro: "Hikigaya, are you okay... You're rarely this shaken..."
She reached out her hand in worry, only to find Hachiman completely frozen in place. If Yukinoshita saw this, she would definitely sneer:
"Now you really look like a zombie."
Luckily, Hachiman had always been good at adapting. When Joichiro called out to him, he slowly started to move again.
Joichiro: "I'll explain things to you later, and about your sister's admission notice too. For now, just focus on cooking."
"After all, after such a long showdown, your old man is really hungry."
"It's about time I see how much you've improved."
At the mention of Komachi's name, Hachiman instantly snapped back to life like he'd been injected with pure energy. And no, it wasn't because of any siscon reason.
"I'll explain everything later."
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