Flame Dumplings.
Reincarnated Spring Rolls.
Treasure Mountain Dragon Pot.
Fiery Ice Snapper Mountain.
Magic Mapo Tofu.
Bouncy Soft-Shelled Turtle Soup.
Each dish was a shimmering miracle.
Their glowing, radiant plating made them look as though they had stepped out of a mythic culinary realm—dishes that didn't just stimulate hunger, but carved unforgettable impressions into the soul.
In fact, these were no longer simply dishes. They were gastronomic declarations. They were visions.
And compared to them, even the top-tier creations of culinary prodigies like Soma Yukihira, Erina Nakiri, Asahi Saiba, or even the "Food Demon" Senzaemon himself… faded in comparison.
Zane didn't just prepare food—he disrupted the culinary fabric of the world.
His tavern creations now utilized tools and techniques far beyond the comprehension of the ordinary elite: legendary artifacts from Cooking Master Boy, like the Eternal Knife, the Seven Star Knives, the Dragon Jar, and the Holy Copper Utensils.
And abilities—no, supernatural gifts—that transcended even the Shokugeki world's most refined "special techniques":
The Bull Dragon Chop, capable of dissecting an entire cow in a flash of movement.
The Ten Pot Return with silver chopsticks, allowing one chef to control a dozen pots like an orchestra.
The terrifyingly sharp Super Vision, where every nerve in the body concentrated within the eyes to perceive minute changes and movements no ordinary cook could detect.
If Liu Mao Xing himself arrived in this world, he might have become the sole rival to Zane—both standing at the pinnacle of a new culinary domain: Transcendent Saint.
Which meant…
These dishes Zane created weren't just miraculous—they were culinary nuclear bombs, redefining the meaning of "cooking."
Hisako's trembling fingers curled around the bowl of Bouncy Soft-Shelled Turtle Soup.
As her lips touched the edge of the porcelain and she took a careful sip, her entire body stiffened.
The rich, umami-laden warmth enveloped her like a velvet cloak. But it wasn't just the taste—it was the texture. It bounced, sprung back ever so slightly on her tongue, like a living thing.
Fish jelly?
She blinked rapidly.
The soup's secret was its bounce, its elasticity. But how?
Collagen, she realized.
Zane had leveraged the natural collagen in fish and turtle—no chemical additives, no shortcuts. Just pure technique.
As the turtle meat was boiled, collagen seeped into the broth, reacting with the surrounding heat to form gelatin. But if the heat was sustained just long enough—not too short, not too long—it caused the proteins to break down and form amino acids that enriched the flavor while transforming the consistency.
The result?
A soup that cooled into a semi-solid jelly, yet retained warmth and mouthfeel in a way most chefs couldn't dream of replicating.
Hisako's lips trembled as she put the bowl down.
"No gelatin… just turtle collagen… and yet it's this bouncy, this rich in mouthfeel? It even holds warmth?"
She felt her composure crack.
All this time, she had stood at Erina's side—loyal, disciplined, and observant.
But now, she was the one being humbled.
She thought of her own Turtle Burger from the quarter-finals. She had poured her soul into that dish… and yet, tasting Zane's creation now made her dish feel childish in comparison.
"The gap… it's just too big…"
Her fists clenched unconsciously.
"There are no bad ingredients, only bad chefs," she murmured to herself. "I finally understand why Lady Erina fell for your cooking…"
Zane's gaze softened as he noticed her struggling emotions.
"Hisako," he said gently, "what kind of person do you think I am?"
His voice was soft, yet heavy with weight. A question that seemed simple—but was anything but.
Hisako froze. Her heart stammered.
"At first… I thought you were just a nobody. Like Lady Erina did."
"But over time, I realized… You're brilliant. Especially in cooking. You're a genius."
Her voice grew more hushed.
"In my heart… you even surpass Lady Erina."
That confession stunned even herself. She hadn't meant to say it so plainly.
But every word was sincere.
"You seem like someone who can do anything. No matter how hard. You understand Lady Erina better than anyone… even me…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
She didn't want to admit it, but in that moment—Zane wasn't just a culinary idol. He was the sun that pulled her world into orbit.
Zane smiled softly.
"Then… what do you think my ideal is?"
"Ideal?" Hisako blinked. "You don't seem like someone with one. Maybe just… running the tavern?"
Zane chuckled.
"That's right. My dream is simple: I want peace. To protect this tavern, and the people who find refuge in it."
His expression darkened slightly as he continued.
"Totsuki, WGO, even Haubi Foods—they've all tried to recruit me. Some even offered me power and wealth beyond imagination."
"But I said no."
Hisako looked stunned. She couldn't believe someone could reject that much power.
Zane met her gaze squarely.
"I'm far ahead of my peers, yes—but not invincible. Even so, my resolve hasn't wavered."
Hisako's eyes welled with emotion.
What about me?
Do I even have a dream?
If not for Erina, she wouldn't even be at Totsuki.
She had no direction, no anchor.
"Thank you for sharing that with me, Zane," she whispered. "You really are… amazing."
Her voice was gentle, reverent.
And yet, she felt like a mere green leaf compared to his burning flame.
But maybe that wasn't so bad.
A red flower dazzled and stole the spotlight, but it wilted under pressure—sensitive to sun, wind, and time.
A green leaf endured. Supported. Survived.
Maybe being the leaf wasn't weakness. Maybe it was strength.
"You can stay here at the tavern for now," Zane offered warmly. "Going back to Totsuki right now might be awkward."
Hisako's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"We're doing great business. I could use the help."
Her voice trembled as she stood up and bowed deeply.
"Thank you. I mean it. If not for you, I'd be completely lost."
Zane chuckled.
"You're welcome."
And so—amidst the heat of the Autumn Elections, the tavern welcomed an unexpected helper:
Hisako Arato.
Elsewhere, the silver moonlight draped Totsuki Academy in a calm sheen.
Inside a villa aglow with warm light, Erina Nakiri lay sprawled on her bed, a volume of Date A Live open in her hands.
"Wait… so you neutralize spirit powers by dating them? And… kissing?"
Her cheeks flushed.
"What kind of absurd plotline is this…?"
She looked around instinctively.
"Hisako… what do you think—"
Her words stopped.
The other half of her world—her loyal assistant—was gone.
"You didn't call. You just vanished…"
The thought made her chest ache. She gripped the blanket.
From childhood to now, Hisako had always been there.
Even after just a few hours apart, Erina felt incomplete. Her rhythm of life was off-balance.
Then suddenly—her phone rang.
"Hello—Zane?!"
Her voice instantly brightened.
"You called… are you… missing me?"
Her smile bloomed, but quickly paused.
"Oh. Hisako… she's with you?"
Her heart thudded.
"I see. Thank you. She must be feeling devastated after losing to Ryo… Please, take care of her."
After the call ended, she sighed in relief.
If Zane is with her… she'll be okay.
Back at the tavern, Hisako wiped her eyes as she watched Zane put away his phone.
"Thank you for calling Lady Erina. She… she would've worried endlessly."
Zane waved her off playfully.
"You're welcome. Honestly, since you're Erina's secretary, I've always seen you as a friend."
He glanced at her with a teasing smile.
"Actually, when I first met Erina, I thought you were just as beautiful. Just different."
"And to be honest… I have a great impression of you."
Hisako's face went pink.
"W-What?! Impression?"
She turned away, lips quivering.
Admiration? Definitely.
Like? Probably.
Love…? Maybe.
She didn't know what to call this feeling. She didn't understand it herself.
But she knew one thing:
She didn't come to the tavern just because she lost.
She came… because Zane was here.
Because despite knowing she couldn't compete with Erina…
She still wanted to stay by his side.
Even if it meant staying in the shadows.
Even if she was only a green leaf.
Even if her heart would never stop aching.