"Huh? Shokugeki? Really?"
Haru just happened to meet Souma along the way, but he didn't expect to hear that this guy was brave enough to challenge the alumnus on Shokugeki. Whether this guy was stupid or brave enough, he wasn't sure, but he loved Souma's guts.
"Then what are you afraid of? Even if you lose, you'll be expelled and at best, you'll open your eatery once again." Haru patted Souma's shoulder.
Hearing Haru's words, Souma nodded, but...
"Of course, we're going to win!"
Souma wouldn't admit that he would lose against that alumnus.
"But why did you suddenly challenge the alumnus for a Shokugeki?" Haru knew that Souma's personality was a bit rash, but he didn't think that Souma was stupid enough to challenge one of the alumnus.
"I, It was my fault... I, It was my fault that Souma-kun is..." Tadokoro, who was by their side was crying and felt that everything was her fault. If only she could do better then she wouldn't cause trouble for Souma.
Haru looked at Tadokoro who was quite a cutie and wondered whether Souma was aiming for her. As his friend, of course, he was going to help him. He nudged Souma's side and whispered, "Say something to her, this is the best time to get her heart." He gave him a thumbs up before he left them alone.
"..."
Souma was speechless, but he hurriedly calmed himself. "You don't need to worry, it's something which I did on my own...."
"But why did you challenge him?" Haru asked.
"That's obvious."
"Hmm?"
"Because Tadokoro isn't someone that should be dropped out here."
---
Haru left both Souma and Tadokoro and felt a bit curious about their match. He was wondering whether he could watch it later. He was about to ask Shinomiya since it seemed that guy was that alumnus which was challenged by Souma.
"Oh, Kasugano-san."
Haru turned and didn't expect to meet Shinomiya. "Shinomiya-san." He smiled and said, "It seems that something interesting happened to you."
Shinomiya, who came to meet Haru, wanted to talk about the matter of food testing which would be held tonight. In his mind, he didn't think too much about Souma who had challenged him on the Shokugeki before. However, he didn't expect Haru to know about that matter. He pushed the frame of his glasses and said, "It's only a small matter." For him the thing which happened earlier was only a small matter, but there was something that he didn't understand. "How did you know about the matter between me and those students?"
"Well, two of them happen to be my friends." Haru smiled.
"...."
Shinomiya was stunned, and almost dropped his glasses. He felt quite nervous at this moment since it was hard to tell what Haru was thinking. In front of Haru's smile, he took a deep breath and said, "If you want I can revoke their expulsion." In front of his investor, it was very easy for him to revoke the expulsion of Souma and Tadokoro.
Waving his hand, Haru said, "No, you don't need to do that."
"Oh?" Shinomiya was a bit surprised.
"In exchange, can I also come to Shokugeki?" Haru asked.
"....." Shinomiya wasn't sure why Haru wanted to watch the Shokugeki between him and those two students, but he nodded. "Yes, it's alright."
"That's good." Haru smiled and said, "Do your best on that Shokugeki since I won't invest in a chef who is losing to students."
Shinomiya frowned, but then his expression turned smug. "You don't need to worry. I'll show how delicious the dish is which is made by the only Japanese chef who has won the Pluspol award."
"That's good, I can't wait to eat your food. So, I'll leave now. Let's meet again during that match later."
Waving his hand, Haru left Shinomiya.
Shinomiya stared at Haru's back and frowned, but Haru had a right to disdain him since he also knew how hard it was to build something from nothing and Haru was someone who had conquered the world only with his talent.
"Hmph, I'll show you how delicious my dish is..."
Even so, Shinomiya also had his own pride as one of the most recognized chefs in the world.
---
"Huh? Is someone challenging the alumnus?" Erina was in shock when she heard about this matter from Haru's mouth. She frowned since it broke the rules of the school and as one of the Elite Ten, she shouldn't let go of this matter, but she would be lying if she wasn't interested.
Haru nodded and said, "That alumnus is asking for an investement for his restaurant at me. I've thought to invite you to eat his food earlier, but it seems that there is something more interesting."
"Who is this alumnus and who are the students who challenged him?" Erina was a bit curious since Haru was about to invest in a restaurant and as his fiance, she needed to make sure that he wouldn't be cheated.
"The alumnus is Shinomiya Koujiro."
"Oh, that person." Erina nodded and said, "I've heard that he wants to open a restaurant in Tokyo and asked for an investment around, but do you think it is wise to invest in him? His name is loud in France, but not in this country."
"It's alright." Waving his hand, Haru said, "Unless there is disaster or something, I'm sure the restaurant which is being created by the alumnus of Tootsuki Academy won't go bankrupt and there must be a lot of people who are coming to visit it. Even if my investment loses, it won't be too much and I can use that restaurant for meetings or something."
Hearing Haru's words, Erina nodded since she also heard Shinomiya's achievement.
"So do you want to go with me?" Haru asked.
"Huh?" Erina was startled.
"Let's watch their Shokugeki, it might be interesting to watch them."
Erina thought for a while before nodded. "Alright, let's go and watch them." She felt that it would be quite interesting to watch the Shokugeki between alumnus and students. She was also too lazy to return to her room since she was sure that Alice had been waiting to ambush her which might cause a lot of trouble for her later.
"Alright, let's go."
---
In the Tootsuki villa which was located near the resort, there were a lot of people right on its underground kitchen. It was quite a strange place since it wasn't a normal thing to build an underground kitchen, considering how there might be a ventilation problem on the underground and there was a problem, it was hard to run away.
However, at the same time, this place was very good to be used as a secret meeting or something.
Hearing the duel between Shinomiya and Shouma, the alumnus gathered together since they would become the judges of the duel, but they were surprised when they saw two people beside them.
Looking at Erina and Haru, no one was sure what to say.
"I've invited them, you don't need to worry." Shinomiya pushed the frame of his glasses.
"Ugh... Erina-sama, please don't tell your grandfather about this matter..." Doujima was an employee of Tootsuki Group after all. In front of Erina, he needed to maintain a respectful attitude.
"It's alright. I'm coming since I'm being invited by Haru." Erina looked at Souma then Tadokoro who was very timid and frightened at the same time. She frowned and looked at Shinomiya, before shaking her head since she didn't think that both of them were able to do anything against Shinomiya.
"Ah, it's you!"
But suddenly a loud exclaim could be heard and everyone was looking at a woman in her late 20's who pointed her finger at Haru.
"Why are you here?" The woman seemed to look at Haru curiously then looked at Erina wondering about their relationship. "You're not a student here, right?"
"Hinako, just shut up!" Shinomiya didn't want this woman to bother both Haru and Erina. Even though both of them were young, they were behemoths.
"I'm only watching, you don't think too much," Haru said.
"Hmm...." The woman looked at Haru and had to admit that this guy was very handsome, but she didn't get too close since Erina was staring at her with hostility which made her give up in an instant.
"How about we start now? I don't want to make them wait anymore." Shinomiya wanted to show his dish as soon as possible.
"Alright, starting now, we'll hold a 2-vs-1 casual match! These vegetables are leftovers from today's assignment. The theme will be a dish that uses them. Furthermore, I'll put one more condition....
"Tadokoro Megumi, you must be the lead cook"
"!!!!"
When Dojima announced this matter, both Souma and Tadokoro were startled.
"Well then, Shokugeki starts!"
Looking at Tadokoro's shocked expression, Erina shook her head and it seemed that this school would have two fewer students in the future.