When Yukinoshita made her proposal, Erina didn't seem scared at all. What no one expected was that Yukinoshita's challenge was actually built around Hikigaya Hachiman himself.
Even for Erina, this was her first time in a gamble like this. She had never heard of anything like it before. As for Hachiman, the one caught in the middle, he was completely lost.
There was no way to change things now. Neither Yukinoshita nor Erina were the type to bow their heads and admit defeat. So…
The gamble was set.
As the two of them spoke, the long-prepared chefs finally came out from the back kitchen, each carrying two dishes in their hands. Even so, they moved with ease. They truly lived up to being graduates of Totsuki.
"They're here, they're here!"
As expected of Totsuki graduates, the moment they appeared, all attention was on them. The dishes in their hands were, of course, their specialties. In just a blink, the table was already filled with countless dishes, each of a different kind.
The long-absent Shinomiya-senpai also appeared at that moment. Unlike the dark look he wore a couple of days ago, now there was a clear smile on his face. It came from absolute confidence and the joy of breaking through. It was obvious that in the past few days, he had made a new leap forward. And as for what gave him that push — that went without saying.
Shinomiya: "Rejoice, first-years! This feast is for you!"
His voice quickly filled the hall. Even though the air had been heavy just moments before, the graduates' arrival scattered that tension a little.
All except for Erina and Yukinoshita.
The two of them weren't enemies, and they had no past grudges. Yet because of Hikigaya, they clashed so fiercely, almost like it was already becoming a Shokugeki.
Marui: "I don't care anymore, I'm eating first! I'm starving!"
Ryoko: "Didn't you just say you were so tired you might drop? You should probably go back and rest."
Marui: "Ryoko, that's too cruel. You can't just pass up food from these senpai! And eating before sleeping is totally fine."
Hachiman: "So basically you were just faking it…"
Every time he looked like he was at his limit, Marui still somehow managed to hold on. Could he actually be a genius? Not everyone could keep breaking through their limits like that.
Yukinoshita didn't want the heavy mood to drag on. She simply suggested:
"Instead of just standing here waiting, why don't we sit down and eat while we wait?"
'She's only saying that because she's tired of standing. Well, not that I'm not tired too, but still… if that's the case—'
Before Hikigaya could respond, Erina shot him a quick glance, then nodded.
"Fine. But we're keeping an eye on him."
Hachiman: "Hold on, doesn't anyone care what I think? I'm kind of busy here!"
He had completely fallen into the trap. Just imagining what was about to happen made Hachiman break out in goosebumps. Yukinoshita on his left, Erina on his right—what kind of hell was this? Why did fate insist on tormenting him like this?
Erina ignored Hachiman's words completely, while Yukinoshita at least reacted a little. She put a finger to her lips, gave a faint smile, and said:
"Hikigaya-kun, are you really that busy? But you don't even have friends, right? Or are you looking for Hayama?"
Hachiman: "No, there's no way it'd be him..."
Yukinoshita: "Good, then."
'Wait, what's with that smug smile like she just decided something on her own? How sneaky! I almost let myself be tricked by this awful woman!'
Hikigaya's brow was deeply furrowed now, and though he didn't realize it himself, his dead-fish eyes looked even more lifeless than usual.
Yukinoshita: "Hikigaya-kun, did your dead-fish eyes level up or something? I feel like I'm being glared at with bad intent. Could you stop looking this way?"
It was over. He had no way of handling these two anymore. Hachiman just sighed, wondering if today would be his final day.
"Um, could you maybe not pick on Hikigaya-kun... He looks like he's really hurting."
The trembling voice behind him belonged to Tadokoro Megumi. Her expression was on the verge of tears as she clutched tightly at the corner of Hachiman's clothes, as if she couldn't bear to watch him get bullied anymore.
It was unexpected to see her standing here, especially when most of the other students were either spectating or tasting the seniors' dishes.
Still, Erina wasn't completely heartless. She only stared at Tadokoro Megumi for a few seconds before dropping the matter.
'Ah, Tadokoro-san, you're the real hero here!'
If only things could end like this. But of course, that wasn't possible. Faced with this sudden interruption, Yukinoshita gave Tadokoro a brief, curious glance before calmly saying:
"Alright, let's eat together then."
The scene was even scarier than Hachiman had imagined. As expected, under the watchful eyes of both girls, he had no choice but to obediently sit down. Naturally, Tadokoro Megumi, following behind him, became his last lifeline.
But the moment he sat down, he was once again the center of attention.
On the left, Yukinoshita gracefully tasted each dish, her faint smile like silent praise for the seniors' skill, without wasting words. On the right, Erina sat with Hisako, casually chatting as they sampled the food.
From afar, the two of them seemed like normal girls with nothing unusual. But trapped in the middle, Hachiman awkwardly made small talk with Tadokoro Megumi. It was like three separate zones, all acting independently, yet never taking their eyes off one another.
One guy with five girls around him—the atmosphere was so overwhelming that even the usually bold ones didn't dare to butt in.
Takumi: "Hey, seriously, what did Hikigaya do? Those two act like they're out for his blood..."
Ryoko: "Who knows? We asked Hikigaya a few times already, and all he told us was basically nothing..."
Yoshino: "You think maybe they..."
Ryoko: "No way. Don't say weird stuff!"
Yoshino: "Why are you flustered, Ryoko? Don't tell me you also...?"
At Yoshino's raised eyebrow, Ryoko's usually calm face showed a hint of panic as she quickly turned her head away.
"I just see him as a little brother, that's all."
"Lame."
Ibusaki: "Yeah, lame."
No one knew when Ibusaki had joined the group, but he clearly noticed the faint blush on Ryoko's face—something impossible to hide.
On the other side, Marui, the most focused on eating, was also the first to sense something unusual.
"They're coming! The seniors' olive branch!"
Following Marui's line of sight, sure enough, a senior was walking straight toward their table. The only question was—who was the target?
The first to appear was Senior Hinako. Though she usually acted lazy and carefree, anyone who had tasted her food knew she was dead serious when it came to cooking.
So whoever she chose had to be someone she had carefully considered.
"Well? Isn't my dish delicious?!"
Hachiman: "Yeah! It's really good."
Tadokoro: "Senior Hinako..."
Hinako took a deep breath, her expression turning serious as she said: "Megumi, I want to invite you to work at my restaurant."
No one had expected this outcome. Yukinoshita and Erina both froze for a moment, while Hachiman, unseen by anyone, allowed the corner of his lips to curl upward.
Tadokoro: "Eh? Why me? Whether it's Yukinoshita-san, Erina-san, or even Hikigaya-kun, they're all way more talented than me!"
Hinako first glanced at Yukinoshita and Erina, then shook her head helplessly before fixing her eyes on Hikigaya for a full five seconds.
"Yukinoshita and Erina already have their places. As for Hikigaya… I've already seen it with my own eyes."
"That's not what matters most. What matters is that I believe cooking should bring people comfort and joy. And you're the one who does that best."
Hearing Hinako's praise, Tadokoro looked like she was about to cry. Hachiman was genuinely happy for her too. When they first met, she was still facing the threat of expulsion. But in just over a month, she had found her own strengths, refined her skills, and made food that not only tasted good but also made people feel happy when they ate it.
At least Hachiman would never deny cooking like that.
And neither would Hinako, her senior.
If she nodded and agreed, Tadokoro Megumi would have a stable job waiting for her in the near future. There, she could learn more about cooking and even receive direct training from Hinako herself.
That was great news, and not an opportunity just anyone could get. Maybe then she'd never have to worry about being expelled again, or about returning home in shame.
But…
Even so…
As they waited for her answer, both Yukinoshita and Erina turned to look at the suddenly rising Tadokoro Megumi. But Tadokoro kept her eyes on Hikigaya.
In the end, she let out a gentle smile.
"I'm sorry, Hinako-senpai… I don't want to make a decision so quickly. And besides… I think I may have already found my own path."
"Rather than cutting off the future too soon, as a chef, I want to walk a road I make for myself."
She knew reaching this point wasn't luck. Compared to the old her, she had truly grown during this month at the Polar Star Dorm. That was the only reason she had survived this hellish school trip.
The old Tadokoro could never have imagined this.
Her dream had always been to make food that brought people comfort—a dream only someone gentle could have. Food that didn't just charm with flavor, but also soothed the heart.
But until now, she had never truly managed it. In every test, her hands shook, her mind went blank, and she couldn't even show her real ability, let alone reach the passing standard. Until Hikigaya appeared…
This kind and dependable person trained with her for a month. From him, she kept learning what it meant to cook food that truly gave comfort and drew people in.
Even if just a little, he always stayed calm no matter what.
Through that daily practice, she had slowly changed without even realizing it.
So…
Hinako-senpai shouldn't be looking for her, but for the one who made her what she was now.
"I'm sorry, Hinako-senpai!"
She bent down sharply, eyes shut tight and brows furrowed, as if saying everything without words.
"The road ahead is still so long. Hikigaya-kun was the one who taught me that!"
"And now, I want to keep walking down that road!"
"I'm sorry! I really am so sorry!"
Those were her true feelings. She wanted to stay at Totsuki, at the Polar Star Dorm, and most of all, beside Hikigaya.
Hinako, who seemed to have expected rejection, showed no sign of anger. She simply placed both hands on Tadokoro's shoulders and gently helped her up.
Then, pulling Tadokoro into her arms, she stroked her head like a caring older sister.
"That's wonderful. Little Tadokoro, you really are such a gentle person."
"As your senior, I'm so glad I got to see you find your own path."
"I'll be looking forward to next time. Make sure you've become even better!"
As she said this, Hinako cast a meaningful glance at Hikigaya, then let out a small smile.
Normally, graduates would only choose one student as their apprentice. But exceptions had happened before, at least once years ago.
And with Hinako's offer turned down, another chef who had been watching quietly, Gotoda, finally stepped forward.
"Hinako, it's rare to see you take a liking to someone."
Hinako: "Gotoda, it's just as rare for you too. What about this time?"
Gotoda: "Of course, I've already picked my target."
Hinako: "Oh? Don't tell me it's Hikigaya?"
Gotoda: "Heh, you're still so childish. But this time… you actually guessed right."
Saying that, Gotoda didn't waste any more words. He quickly walked up to Hikigaya, placed a hand lightly on his chest, and gave a very polite bow.
"Hikigaya, are you interested in joining us?"
"Even though we've already met a few times, let me introduce myself again. I'm a graduate of Totsuki's 80th class, and right now I'm the head chef of the Tesoro Hotel in Switzerland."
"As for the benefits, I don't need to spell them out. Someone who reacts as fast as you surely understands."
It seemed that once people saw Hikigaya getting invited, the bet from earlier suddenly became serious again.
"Look! A senior just came to invite Hikigaya!"
"Eh, with his talent, even without family backing, it's normal for him to be invited. If it were me, I'd probably say yes. At least then I'd never have to worry about making a living in the future."
"That's all you can think of? Don't forget, the bet between Yukinoshita and Erina was five..."
"Five? Isn't that too much? There are only a few seniors in total..."
Hayama, who had been listening quietly, shook his head.
"You probably don't know this, but Yukinoshita has never been wrong about these things since we were kids... just like her sister."
It sounded a little strange coming from Hayama, but if Yukinoshita still had that kind of confidence even now, then maybe...
She really could pull it off.
Since everyone was still waiting to see how things would go, no one spoke up. Before Hikigaya could even respond to Gotoda's invitation, they were suddenly interrupted by seniors Mizuhara and Sekimori.
Mizuhara: "You're jumping the gun, Gotoda. Don't you think that's a bit sneaky?"
Sekimori: "Exactly! Gotoda, we need to compete fairly, don't we..."
Even with the sudden entrance of the two, Yukinoshita stayed calm, holding her cup of tea and sipping it slowly.
Erina, on the other hand, clearly hadn't expected this. Her eyebrows tightened, and she looked a bit tense.
Mizuhara: "I'm from Totsuki's 79th class, second seat of the Elite Ten, and head chef of the Italian restaurant Ristorante F. Honestly, our restaurant needs someone as creative as you. If you agree, I can guarantee you'll reach a seat in the Elite Ten before you graduate."
Sekimori: "Hey, that's way too much. You're just using your status! I'm from the 80th class, also second seat of the Elite Ten. I don't have a restaurant yet, but I plan to start from scratch. To be honest, I really need someone with your skills. If you join me, I promise you'll graduate in the top ten—no, top seven of Totsuki!"
Hearing their offers, not only the watching students, but even Gotoda and Hinako were left speechless.
Calling Hikigaya a genius wasn't wrong, but aiming for the Elite Ten wasn't that simple. His current base skills weren't even close to their level. And when it came to choosing the Elite Ten, it wasn't just among their own class, but the whole Totsuki Academy.
With Isshiki, Yukinoshita, Erina, and even so many other rivals around, the road ahead is hard to say, but… they're actually this confident.
Unbelievable.
Gotoda: "Hey, hey, could you guys be any sneakier?!"
These were Gotoda's truest feelings.
Facing invitations from three head chefs, Hachiman felt stuck. Forget about how to refuse, even just figuring out how to respond was already a big headache.
If Hachiman had the will, at least that would be the path he wanted, but…
He had never even thought about this before. Everything up to now had been sudden accidents, and being dragged into a bet by Erina and Yukinoshita out of nowhere was just too strange.
If possible, even if he sharpened his cooking skills in the future, he would still just keep working at \[Hikigaya Diner].
Since that's the case…
"Actually, seniors, I already have my own place. It's just a small diner…"
"Huh?"
"What the heck?"
"....."
It was pretty much the reaction he expected. Not only the chefs, but even his classmates hadn't thought Hikigaya would reject them outright.
"I've always had a small diner. I've been running it with my dad and my sister. Even though I've never done the cooking, I'm the one who handles things like cleaning and trash."
The chefs instantly went silent, while the classmates kept buzzing around.
"A… a small diner…"
"Wait, if even Hikigaya is only doing the cleaning, then… what's the deal with his dad and sister? Are they some kind of super geniuses?"
"No way… Hikigaya actually turned down even the Elite Ten's offer… This guy really has no idea how amazing the Elite Ten are!"
Beside them, Tadokoro Megumi was starting to panic. In her eyes, becoming one of the Elite Ten meant a future full of hope. But now… Hikigaya had just turned it down.
While the chefs were at a loss, Shinomiya-senpai finally stepped forward, clearly having been watching the whole thing.
"Then, what if I told you I can guarantee you'll graduate as Totsuki's First Seat?"
As the 79th class graduate and a former First Seat, Shinomiya definitely had the right to say this, but…
It was way too arrogant.
"First Seat! That's the First Seat!"
"Is it really that easy to be First Seat? Wait, didn't they say Hikigaya once beat Shinomiya-senpai? Does that mean the rumor…"
"Idiot, look at the situation now. But still…"
"This is so weird. Really weird. I'm totally lost here."
Even with his classmates nearly losing their minds, Hachiman's decision didn't change.
He simply shook his head calmly, then looked straight at Shinomiya-senpai.
"Thank you, Shinomiya-senpai. But just like you had your own path in the past, I also have mine. I hope you can understand."
The corners of Shinomiya's mouth lifted slightly.
"Yeah. I won't force you. Actually, I look forward to the day we really face each other. Hopefully, it won't be too far away."
Without saying much else, once he got a clear refusal, Shinomiya turned and left. The other chefs, however, still looked at Hikigaya with a bit of regret.
Up to now, four chefs had invited Hikigaya. To settle the bet between Yukinoshita and Erina, only one more was needed.
But… in this kind of situation, could a fifth one really show up?
In Erina's view, she was already sure of victory. Yukinoshita's weak point was that she didn't realize Hikigaya had no desire to rise up at all.
But in truth…
"This year is really unbelievable. Not even a single student chose to follow the head chefs."
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