512Composed of the ten best student chefs in the entire academy, regardless of what grade they are in, the Elite Ten of Totsuki is akin to the student council of any other school.
Unlike a typical student council which mainly does events for the sake of the students, the Elite Ten is so much more:
With the ability to shape the curriculum, influence the hiring and firing of staff, and even represent the student body to create contracts with external parties, the Elite Ten are given a wide degree of freedom and allowance to do anything they see fit. Even a mere mention of being in the Elite Ten during your time in Totsuki would elevate the demand for a graduating student that restaurants would even carry out auctions just for the chance to place their offer for the student to consider.
Consequently, students fight tooth and nail to get into those council seats; either by getting selected by the Elite Ten review committee which considers academic grades, achievements from events like training camps, and contributions towards the academy itself, typically after a current council member graduates;
Or by winning the council seat of the current members in a Shokugeki.
Some say Eizan Etsuya was unanimously elected into the Elite 10, while some say he got the Ninth seat of the Elite Ten council through the latter route by questionable means. While the rumor cannot be substantiated, the way he behaves only makes it seem not unlikely, for he had even once declared that the only reason he got into Totsuki was to make money by any means. Leveraging on the reputation of being in the Elite Ten has been very lucrative for him as a business consultant across the food industry.
So, Eizan issuing a Shokugeki challenge only brought confusion to everyone.
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"H-Hey, jackass, are you even listening?!" Whatever expression Eizan-senpai had before vanished. You can imagine how red in the face he was once it was clear no-one had reacted to his declaration, leaving standing there with his arm still outstretched holding a piece of paper.
"Are you alright, Eizan-senpai?" Soma finally said, getting up to the Ninth Seat, bringing a hand on his chin while looking him over as if observing an oddity, "Really, the weather is hot, would you like to have a seat and some tea inside? It's no problem; Ah, and we have snacks too." Soma actually sounded sincere.
"I'm fine!" a cross popping vein would seem to be appropriate at that moment. Eizan then straightened up, recomposing himself, but his embarrassment was still evident, "Ahem. As I was saying: "I am formally challenging you to a Shokugeki."
Now, knowing Soma's goal of climbing up the Elite Ten, one would naturally assume that he would jump at this opportunity. However, this really came out of nowhere so it was also not out of character for Soma to ask, "Why?"
"What do you mean 'Why'? Are you not going to accept it?"
"Wait wait wait, I'm not saying I am rejecting the challenge, but it's just very curious." Soma said, stating what everyone was thinking. "I mean, this came out of nowhere, and…" Soma's usually chirpy demeanor dropped, "What's in it for you?"
"Humph, finally getting it, eh?" Eizan pushed up his glasses with his left middle finger. "An opportunity for growth has presented itself. One that I've calculated would be more lucrative than what my role in the Elite Ten would bring."
What is more lucrative than what he is doing now?
It was then I noticed Eizan-senpai's eyes glanced towards me for a few seconds before looking back to Soma.
W…what was that?
"More lucrative than being an Elite Ten member?" one of the Polar Star residents asked.
"My growth as a business consultant while being a student here has reached a plateau. I was needing a boost to grow faster," Eizan-senpai brought up the challenge paper, "Then an offer dropped onto my lap, one that involves getting you, Yukihira, into a shokugeki."
"That must be some offer." someone else quipped.
"At a few hundred million yen, it sure is." A wider smirk, as if that was even possible, "and doubled when I win."
'WHEN I win.' Eizan spoke those words as if it was already a given.
Now, it was one thing to issue a challenge, and it is another to make such a claim… and I just know Soma, with his pride as a chef challenged, would take that as an affront to his abilities. Looking over finding him, tight jawed, face in a frown, and a fist clenched, confirmed my assumption.
"IF you win." Soma responded, keeping an outward calm, but I know he was heating up inside.
Eizan considered Soma for a second then broke into a hearty laughter, "You don't know your place, do you? Or perhaps you think you have a chance to prove me wrong? You won't know till you take the challenge." The piece of paper was waved in the air.
Almost seems…baiting.
Ah.
Soma was visibly riled up, his fighting spirit and the flame in his eyes clearly indicated he was going to reach for the paper and proclaim his acceptance.
"Wait." I got to Soma's side just in the nick of time, holding onto his hand to rein him.
Soma looked at me, puzzled. What is it?
Be careful.
Without exchanging a word, he understood that I was looking out for him, releasing his fist.
"What's wrong, Yukihira? Afraid?" Eizan-senpai taunted, "You really need to get permission?"
"You have not stated what the conditions are for both parties." I said factually.
"Humph." Eizan looked annoyed, as if finding this was a tedious road bump to the shokugeki, "Knowing the result, I didn't see the need to. Whatever. So what do you want for it to happen, Yukihira?"
"I want your place in the Elite Ten, duh."
"Sure." This was said in a casual tone.
"You're o-" Of course Soma would exclaim that, but I firmly held on to his hand, grounding him.
"This is suspicious. It would be wise to see what conditions he wants before you see if it's commensurate."
"Ah… right." Soma said, before muttering privately to me, "Thanks." He then addressed Eizan, "What are your conditions?
Eizan reached out the challenge slip, "It's in here. Take it, write what you want there, and we can do the shokugeki right now."
Eizan's grin was unnerving the moment Soma took the paper, as if his win was already secured.
Soma unfolded it and with a glance, he brought it down, exclaiming, "WHO PUT YOU UP TO THIS?!"
Whatever could make Soma so upset?
"Nothing personal from me," Eizan raised both hands to express it was not from him personally while I took the paper off Soma's hand, "It's just business. And in business, time is money; money that is in escrow waiting for me. Will you accept the shokugeki for my seat, or are you going to CHICKEN out?"
I took a moment to read Eizan's condition, "Break off all contact with Arato Hisako, now and forever."
What the-
Logic would dictate that a boyfriend would request such a ridiculous stipulation that places his relationship on the line.
However, this is Soma, one who is craving for the Elite Ten seat, expressed in the open challenge he made to the current council during the Autumn Leaf Viewing event, only to be turned down for being unworthy to the Elite Ten council members of a challenge.
Now this was an opportunity to get in.
Our eyes met, and we both expressed that we understood that conflict.
"Now that you've seen my winning condition, let's get to it. Right now." Eizan was almost salivating at this point.
"Now, now, Eizan, that's not a nice way to talk to our underclassmen, is it? What would they think of us?" Itsuki-senpai spoke out, in a light tone to defuse the situation.
"I don't give a rat's ass what they think. What I think is that having a few hundred million in my pocket today would get me to making more money faster."
"That's nice for you, but even to have a Shokugeki at short notice would be difficult to gather the necessary judges, won't it?" Itsuki-senpai gestured to the cooling evening sky, before asking in a suggestive tone, "Or… are you going to get the same judges from last time_?"
"No one can prove that!" Eizan snapped, protesting more loudly than needed, "The Shokugeki Board still certified the win-"
"And gave you a stern warning, didn't they? Something about affecting all your shokugeki records, legal action, and reparations?" Itsuki-senpai then raised a finger, "So let's give Soma some time to consider the challenge, while we engage judges that would not invite any questions."
Eizan is visibly upset about this development, but knew he was evidently in check:
If what Itsuki-senpai was suggesting now, the judgement for the Shokugeki was likely rigged, and Itsuki-senpai pointing out the likely conflict jeopardised Eizan's plan.
Whereas, from Eizan's perspective, it would have been embarrassing to cancel the challenge after the show he pulled, and would have implicitly given credence to past allegations.
So he simply scoffed, "We shall revisit this in the morning." He made his way out the Polar Star dormitory gate, to an awaiting car. "Don't run away, Yukihira.." Eizan could not help himself but threw a final taunt, "If you do, I will brand you a coward to the whole school."
Itsuki-senpai, Soma and I gathered at Soma's room after a lively debate amongst the residents in the dining area where the other residents vented their opinions without getting anywhere.
Settling in, Soma, hand on chin, had a pensive expression. His mind is surely on the rare opportunity for the seat on the Elite Ten, which otherwise none of them would simply accept a challenge from him. Then there is his pride to show off by taking on any shokugeki challenge as he had declared to the whole school after the stagiaire modules.
On the other hand, the stake was our relationship status.
But… was Eizan's condition even enforceable? How would it work? Or would it be more of a point of dishonor, to shame Soma should he flake on a hypothetical loss, thereby tarnishing his reputation?
The Totsuki Seventh Seat gave thanks for the cup of Shinko matcha I placed in front of him. "Eizan is rattled. That's for sure." Itsuki-senpai said, "But it still won't be wise to underestimate him."
"Why would he be rattled?"
"Eizan is the kind of person who does not enter a shokugeki unless his victory is assured." Itsuku-senpai took a sip of tea, "I suspected he may be up to one of his old tricks, and it seems I guessed right. Now he would be entering without that assurance."
He added, "Without that, he's on the back foot and may consider other tactics. Although…" Itsuki-senpai taped Eizan's condition clause on the challenge, "this is obviously from whoever is backing him."
I could only think of one person with the means and motive to initiate this.
...
Y-Yeh, I believe I am right about that.
Erina-sama is be above this...right?
I doubt she would stoop to this level...
If not her... was this retaliation?
If so: with virtually unlimited resources, will this sort of harassment ever end?
Is there any way to end this once and for all?
I looked over to Soma. He had barely moved but was clearly itching to do the battle; after all, he had never turned down a challenge before so the shokugeki challenge was something he would not want to dismiss lightly.
If only the stakes would be more acceptable.
...if only...
"Perhaps there is a way to scale back everything so that the stakes won't not be as high?" I wondered.
"Huh?"
"I mean, thinking about it, Eizan might consider reducing the stakes now since he had lost some control." I glanced up to find the two men looking at me, curious about my comment. "I'm just speculating."
Itsuki-senpai considered for a moment, "But as we suspected he does have a backer, that may be difficult."
…
Soma looked over to me, "I have an idea."
I know that look.
When Soma suggested his plan, Itsuki-senpai simply nodded in contemplation while I could not help but feel annoyed. "I can't say I like it, but… that sounds reasonable. And," I looked over to Soma, I trust you.
He grinned in return, "Leave it to me!"
I could not help but return a smile at his brave response to any challenges that came his way. "Alright. Here's my phone."
A/N: So, what do you think Soma had in mind?
Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Not really much comment on the last chapter, though, so I wonder if there was something missing there to encourage engagement? Any suggestions to improve? I'm open to hear your feedback!
Thank you for sticking with me!