Chapter 228: Conflict
"Dojima-senpai, something interesting is about to happen soon."
Watching the video screen, Hachiman smiled at Dojima.
"Oh? Something interesting?"
Hearing this, Dojima became intrigued and shifted his gaze to the classroom where Shinomiya was.
Seeing Shinomiya confidently declare after tasting Tadokoro Megumi's dish, "Megumi Tadokoro, drop out!"
"All right, the assessment is over. Those who didn't pass can leave on their own."
Hearing that she didn't pass, Megumi trembled a bit while holding the tray, but she gathered courage and asked, "Um... may I know why my dish didn't pass?"
"Ah, about that, when you were cooking the damaged cauliflower, did you add white wine vinegar?" Shinomiya said casually.
"To maintain the bright color of the vegetables using vinegar with bleaching properties and to emphasize the sweetness of the cauliflower, you utilized vinegar to enhance its sweetness."
Although he was verbally telling her to drop out, Shinomiya's words were all praises for her.
Hearing this, Megumi became even more puzzled.
"If that's the case, why..."
However, right after he had praised her, Shinomiya's tone suddenly became stern.
"But who said you could arbitrarily change the recipe? Is there any mention in my recipe instructions that allows you to use vinegar?"
"The original recipe for this dish was designed to create a wonderful sensation through the sweetness of various vegetables. However, you unilaterally added acidity, so it no longer adheres to the dish I required."
"Presenting a dish that doesn't meet the assignment is, of course, a failure!"
Having said these words, Shinomiya was about to leave the classroom.
However, at that moment, another voice sounded behind him.
"But this is entirely due to unavoidable circumstances."
Shinomiya turned around to see a boy with a red hedgehog head, arms crossed, wearing a dissatisfied expression.
"Soma-kun!"
Seeing this boy, Megumi exclaimed.
Nodding at the girl, Soma continued speaking.
"It's because there were non-fresh ingredients mixed in."
"During our assignment, weren't we treated as your subordinates by you, Senpai? So, the management of ingredients should be the responsibility of the leader, which is you, Shinomiya Senpai."
"From this perspective, the main responsibility should lie with you as the head chef!"
Hearing Soma's audacious words, the surrounding students were shocked.
As expected, after hearing his words, Shinomiya slammed his hand on the table, "You brat, who do you think you're talking to?"
"It seems you still don't understand. I'll tell you the truth; I deliberately mixed those low-quality vegetables in there to limit the number of qualified participants!"
Upon hearing this, Megumi and other students who didn't pass were dumbfounded.
Not only them, even in the monitoring room, Dojima frowned.
In his view, if someone was eliminated due to insufficient culinary skills, it could be justified. However, intentionally interfering to limit the number of qualified individuals was something he couldn't tolerate.
After a moment of thought, he left the monitoring room and headed towards the examination hall where Shinomiya was.
Watching Dojima leave, Hachiman's lips curved into a slight smile, and he followed suit.
Inside the classroom, Shinomiya's speech continued.
"Cauliflower possesses three characteristics: easy oxidation, vulnerability, and difficulty in handling."
"Those who lose their composure and handle it poorly are eliminated. Similarly, those who fail to grab good ingredients due to slow actions are also eliminated."
Soma didn't give up and added, "So, Tadokoro used vinegar to compensate for the slow action, right?"
Shinomiya appeared impatient as he approached Soma, his eyes glaring fiercely.
"You've got it wrong. I am the head chef! How could I tolerate a mere kitchen hand casually changing my recipe?"
"Listen carefully, if you dare to argue with me, you'll also drop out!"
"What!..."
Soma was about to react, but Megumi reached out and held his arm.
"Soma-kun, that's enough. You've already passed. There's no need to risk dropping out because of someone like me. So, please stop. I'm fine."
Upon Megumi's words, Soma indeed stopped talking. Just when the girl thought he had given up, Soma raised his head again.
"Shinomiya-senpai, I have one last question."
"What is it?" Shinomiya asked in a calm tone.
"I want to ask if the academy's rules also apply to graduates?" Soma asked with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
Sensing what he was about to say, Shinomiya's face lost its smile.
"Shokugeki!"
Soma untied the cloth strip around his wrist, his face serious.
"If I win against you in a Shokugeki, you'll revoke the decision to drop Tadokoro!"
Seeing Soma challenging Shinomiya, who had long been famous, Megumi was stunned. In the girl's eyes, Soma's figure seemed to radiate brilliance, and her heartbeat quickened suddenly.
Not only Megumi but also the other students were stunned.
"Did I hear it correctly? What did that transfer student say?!"
"Shokugeki, he's actually challenging the renowned Head Chef Shinomiya to a Shokugeki!"
"That transfer student really doesn't know his place."
"..."
"Shokugeki..."
Upon hearing these two words, Shinomiya pushed his glasses.
"Haha, such nostalgic words, but you've got it wrong, Mr. Yukihira. The premise of Shokugeki is that both parties must willingly agree to it. I don't seem to have an obligation to Shokugeki with you."
"No matter how hard you try, Megumi Tadokoro's dropout is already a done deal..."
Before Shinomiya could finish his words, a deep voice echoed in the room.
"Don't be so hasty with your conclusions."
Everyone turned to see a tall figure at the classroom entrance.
Seeing it was Gin Dojima, Shinomiya looked puzzled. "Dojima Senpai, do you have something to say?"
"Seems like something interesting is happening on your end, Kojiro," Dojima said with a smile, one hand on the doorknob.
"Nothing that I can't handle myself," Shinomiya responded casually.
"Don't say that. Since I've seen it, let me help you resolve it," Dojima said warmly.
"Kojiro, Tadokoro, Yukihira, the three of you, come with me."
Shinomiya frowned slightly at the words, feeling an uneasy premonition. However, since Dojima had spoken, he decided to go along.
"Now that the assessment is over, the judging results remain unchanged. Those who didn't pass can leave," Dojima said, and he left the classroom with Soma and Megumi.
Dojima Gin's exclusive office.
In the room, besides the protagonist Soma, Megumi, and Shinomiya, there were also Dojima, Hachiman, and unexpectedly encountered, Hinako Inui.
After understanding the situation, Dojima nodded approvingly.
"Hmm, I see, I have a rough understanding of how things unfolded," Dojima said.
Observing his reaction, Hachiman found it somewhat amusing. Even though he had clearly seen everything on the surveillance, he chose not to expose it.
"Well... it was delicious," Hinako commented after tasting the Nine-Colored French Terrine made by Megumi, expressing her admiration.
Then, she began whispering continuously in Shinomiya's ear.
"It's okay if she qualifies with this level of skill."
"Poor Megumi, she's working so hard."
"Shinomiya-senpai is such an old-fashioned, big-headed, self-obsessed show-off."
In the midst of Hinako's incessant murmuring, Shinomiya couldn't take it anymore. He used his indomitable grip, lifting her head and holding her in mid-air.
"Shut up, Hinako!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Hinako, suspended mid-air, quickly apologized.
After putting her down and ignoring the crouched Hinako rubbing her head, Shinomiya turned to Dojima.
"Dojima-senpai, I should be fully responsible for this assignment."
"Of course, Kojiro. I have no objections to the topic you chose for the task," Dojima nodded with a smile.
"However, at least Tadokoro tried to handle the unexpected situation, right?"
"Adaptability is also one of the qualities a chef should possess. Based on this, don't you think there's room for consideration in this matter?"
"I don't think so. After all, she violated my recipe. Based on that alone, I can deem her unqualified," Shinomiya maintained his original stance.
However, Hinako decided to stir things up again.
"I find it acceptable."
"Oh, it's become a one-on-one situation now, quite tricky," Dojima, feigning ignorance, chimed in.
Observing these two, a few "#" symbols appeared on Shinomiya's forehead. Before he could respond, Dojima continued.
"Hikigaya-kun, what are your thoughts?"
All eyes turned to Hachiman, who hadn't spoken yet. He offered a faint smile and shared his perspective.
"I'm actually quite interested in Shokugeki between graduates and current students. What do you say, Shinomiya-senpai?"
Although his words carried a touch of cheekiness, they fueled Shinomiya's anger.
"Ha, enough of the jokes. Just because you're interested, I should agree to Shokugeki with these two brats?"
As Shinomiya was about to leave in frustration, Dojima interjected once more.
"Well, since the voting results are already out, two to one. Shinomiya, why not engage in a private Shokugeki with them? I'll be the judge."
"As for the time, let's schedule it after the dinner assessment this afternoon. The location can be the underground kitchen."
Shinomiya, naturally, was unwilling.
"Hold on, Dojima-senpai. Why must I accept this absurd competition? All of this seems arbitrary. I have no reason to..."
Before he could finish his words, Dojima regarded him with a rather "gentle" gaze.
"Accept it, Shinomiya!"
As the highest-scoring graduate in Totsuki's history and a living legend, Dojima Gin exuded an even more formidable aura than Shinomiya. It was as if an imposing giant stood towering over everything.
"Ha, fine then. I get it. I'll accept this spontaneous decision of yours, Dojima-senpai," Shinomiya sighed and reluctantly agreed. However, even with this agreement, he wasn't going to let Soma and Megumi off easily.
"Since it's a Shokugeki, there should be a wager."
"If you win, I'll retract Tadokoro's expulsion. But if you lose..."
"You! Mr. Yukihira, you'll also drop out with her!"
With that statement, Shinomiya left the office directly.
Watching him leave, Dojima didn't intervene. Instead, he turned to Soma and Megumi.
"That's how it is. I've given you the opportunity. Whether you can succeed or not depends on yourselves."
"After the dinner assessment, come to the underground kitchen at the annex. Let me see your worth!"
Soma remained confident, either genuinely or blissfully ignorant.
"OK! Just wait and see, Dojima-senpai."
After saying this, he grabbed Megumi, and the two left the office.
However, as they left, Hinako expressed some concern.
"Dojima-senpai, is this really okay? In my opinion, those two kids have absolutely no chance of winning against Shinomiya-senpai."
"Well, indeed. I don't think they stand a chance against Kojiro," Dojima nodded in agreement.
Hearing this, Hinako looked anxious.
"Then, Dojima-senpai, why did you agree to this Shokugeki? Both of those kids might end up dropping out."
"The main purpose of this Shokugeki is not for those two students, but for Kojiro," Dojima explained calmly.
"Shinomiya-senpai?" Hinako's face showed confusion.
"What's wrong with Shinomiya-senpai?"
Dojima didn't directly answer her but shifted his gaze to Hachiman.
"I believe Hikigaya-kun here has noticed."
In his view, Hachiman, whose culinary skills were not inferior to his own, must have also discerned the issues with Shinomiya.
Precisely. Hachiman agreed, "Dojima-senpai, you're too kind. I've only noticed a little."
As they continued their cryptic conversation, Hinako became increasingly anxious.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand at all."
Observing her, Hachiman found it somewhat amusing.
"Don't worry, Hinako-senpai. I'll explain. In my opinion, Shinomiya-senpai's culinary skills have reached a plateau."
Dojima chimed in.
"That's right, I've noticed it too. During the previous cooking session, Kojiro didn't choose his most proficient area, likely to avoid others discovering that his culinary skills haven't improved."
"Huh? Is that so? But I thought both of Shinomiya-senpai's dishes were delicious," Hinako looked puzzled.
Seeing her reaction, both Hachiman and Dojima were a bit helpless.
It's like the saying, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." In your eyes, everything Shinomiya cooks is delicious.
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A/N:
I'm planning to release four chapters today to thank everyone for helping me reach the top three for the first time and to express my gratitude to those who wished me a happy birthday. However, due to my busy schedule, I might have to postpone it to tomorrow. Stay tuned for four chapters coming soon!