Shun stepped between the two, gaze steady on Nikaido Keiaki.
"And who are you?" Nikaido frowned, eyeing Shun's plain clothes with open scorn.
Shun didn't answer directly. "Cuisine knows no caste. Totsuki's greatness lies in letting those who truly love cooking shine."
Soma's eyes lit up. "Well said!"
Nikaido's face went from green to white. He drew breath to retort—but a group in Totsuki uniforms approached.
At their head was a girl with short purple hair and striking curves—Miyoko.
"Shun, something happen?" Miyoko crossed her arms; her sharp look paused on Nikaido, and he shrank at once.
"Nothing big." Shun smiled faintly. "This classmate just has… misconceptions about 'commoner' diners."
"Commoner diners?" Miyoko snorted. "That tired line again? 'Hojo House' isn't some gilded palace either. I study at Totsuki just fine—and entered the High Division, thanks."
Nikaido paled. "Miyoko-san, that's not what I—"
"You're here to take the transfer exam, right? Worry about that instead of spewing nonsense." She brushed past him and stopped by Shun. "Come on. I've got something to tell you."
Shun nodded and fell in step beside her toward the exam building.
On the way, Miyoko lowered her voice. "This year's exam isn't like past years. The chief examiner is… special."
Shun already knew what she meant, but played dumb. "Oh? Special how?"
Miyoko's expression tightened. "It's Erina-sama."
"Erina? The one with the God Tongue?"
Shun grinned lightly. "Her name's famous. She's been hired since childhood to judge menus for top restaurants. Half the titans of the industry rely on her palate."
"Her judgments echo across the field. Serve her a bad dish and she'll brand you 'incompetent.' You won't survive in the culinary world—that's basically a chef's life, over," Miyoko warned.
Shun chuckled. "I did some homework on Totsuki while I was away training."
"Good. Because if you fail, it could hurt you and our 'Chinese Restaurant'—maybe even…" She trailed off.
"Then I'll pass," Shun cut in gently. "Problem solved."
Miyoko halted, purple bangs swaying. "Since when did you get this cocky?"
"I call it confidence," Shun said.
She shook her head, face serious. "Erina-sama's God Tongue isn't a joke. Last week she made a starred restaurant's head chef resign on the spot."
Talking like that, they reached the exam building.
"The kitchens are inside. I'll take you."
They'd barely reached the door when a wave of students burst out.
"She's the God Tongue?! I'm out!"
"I'm not getting tagged 'incompetent'—run!"
Shun and Miyoko stood at the threshold, watching the panic peel away. From inside came a languid sigh.
"Ugh, Hisako, you see this? Spineless nobodies. I'm not wasting my time. Do we have anything else scheduled today?"
"Erina-sama, a restaurant has a new-menu tasting this afternoon."
"Then we're done here. I'll report the results to the board now. Passing count… zero."
Shun stepped in.
At the judges' desk, Erina lounged with practiced poise, golden hair spilling like a waterfall. Beside her, Hisako had just finished tidying a stack of files.
"Pardon me. Are you the chief examiner for this intake?" Shun asked.
Erina looked up, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "And you are?"
"Transfer candidate. Shun."
Erina clearly didn't know him—but she did recognize Miyoko behind him. Miyoko, Erina, and Hisako were in the same year, and Miyoko's strength had earned her a name among their peers.
"Why is Miyoko-san here?" Hisako murmured.
Just then, another figure strode in—the red porcupine spikes were unmistakable.
"Finally found it! This is the transfer exam room, right?" Soma grinned, bright as ever.
Erina's brows knit. "You're also a candidate?"
"Yeah. I'm Soma."
Soma gave the room a casual sweep and landed on Shun. "Yo, we meet again. Guess we're rivals now."
Shun smiled but kept quiet.
"Hisako, check their applications," Erina said with a chill edge.
Hisako tapped her tablet. "Erina-sama, found them. Shun—Yokohama Chinatown, 'Chinese Restaurant.' Soma—runs 'Yukihira' in the East District."
Yokohama Chinatown had countless eateries, some even starred—but "Chinese Restaurant" meant nothing to Erina. In her mind, at best it was second-rate.
And a "Yukihira" family diner? Beneath notice.
…
(End of Chapter)
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