In this moment, Azami Nakiri's beliefs finally collapsed. His inner world was in turmoil and chaos, beyond any description. His once firm gaze became hollow and lost. Amid his wild laughter, a silent tear slipped down his face, symbolizing the last shred of hope within him fading away.
Azami felt isolated in an endless darkness, with nothing to hold on to. Despite his shattered faith, he desperately sought to find flaws in Erina's omelet, but each taste, each swallow, only drew him deeper into a darker abyss. He had lost, and lost completely.
Since witnessing Zane use ordinary ingredients to captivate Mana, Azami's fate had been sealed. Even after mobilizing all the resources of the Central Gourmet Institute and deploying the Elite Ten, they were defeated one by one. Eizan, Nene, Ryo, and now Rindo had all fallen.
The worsening situation prompted Azami to rush to Rebun Island in Hokkaido to oversee this Shokugeki as a judge. However, he hadn't anticipated that Erina would grow to be so formidable. Her cooking had evolved beyond the refined dishes he had taught her, achieving astonishing results with the simplest ingredients and methods, much like Zane.
He felt not only despair but also a sense of powerlessness. Azami no longer knew where to go; his former convictions had driven him, but now everything seemed unclear. Erina's cooking made him feel utterly left behind by the times.
...
In the end, Azami, acting as a judge, did not announce the results. However, when he silently left after finishing the omelet, everyone understood what had happened.
"We won. We really won!" Hisako, who had been watching the match quietly, was overcome with emotion. Tears of joy filled her eyes as she realized that Erina, whom she had long admired, had finally turned the tide.
"She saved the day," muttered Satoshi, squinting as he reflected on the outcome. He was genuinely surprised by Erina's victory. Although he knew her God's Tongue made her an exceptionally talented chef, defeating Rindo—one of the most feared members of the Elite Ten—with a simple French omelet was unexpected.
"Wow, this was exhausting," Rindo remarked, acknowledging her defeat to Erina. "I may not have agreed with her about the brownies she made before, but today's Shokugeki showed me that Erina's skills are undeniable."
...
As night fell, the city lights flickered like stars, blending with the actual stars in the deep blue sky. The quietness of the night was only occasionally interrupted by passing cars, leaving a brief but bright trail of light. The trees, silhouetted against the moonlit sky, appeared to be draped in silver.
While the night was beautiful, a crucial meeting was taking place in a brightly lit conference room of a five-star hotel owned by Totsuki Academy on Rebun Island. The future direction of Totsuki Academy was being quietly decided.
At around 9 PM, the meeting room was filled with almost all the current Elite Ten members: Eishi, Rindo, Momo, Saito, Tsukasa, Nene, Eizan, and Ryo. Surprisingly, even the previously ousted Satoshi and Kuga were present. However, Erina, the new Tenth Seat, was absent.
...
The atmosphere in the room was tense. Although many were present, no one spoke, seemingly waiting for one person. Time passed, and when Azami Nakiri finally arrived, the room stirred slightly.
"Thank you all for coming," Azami greeted them courteously as he took his seat. He briefly glanced at the "rebels" Satoshi and Kuga, then said, "Let's begin today's Elite Ten council."
Despite his words, the room remained silent. Azami, however, didn't seem bothered by the awkwardness. He looked up and continued, "Since I took over as Director from Senzaemon, Totsuki has undergone significant changes. However, many things have shown that I might not be a qualified leader or a visionary."
"Based on the results of this promotion exam, the establishment of the Central Gourmet Institute and the abolition of all culinary research societies may have been a grave mistake. Therefore, I am resigning as Director."
Azami had no choice. Despite his efforts to build the Central Gourmet Institute and rally his loyal students, they had all been defeated in this promotion exam by Erina, Satoshi, and Kuga. With the situation beyond recovery, he had to make this decision.
"Director, who will succeed you?" Eishi, the First Seat, asked, looking resigned.
Initially, Eishi had considered challenging Erina to another Shokugeki after Rindo's defeat, but Azami's resignation changed everything.
"The best candidate in the Nakiri family is still the former Director, Senzaemon Nakiri," suggested Saito, the Fourth Seat, gripping his samurai sword.
"No," Azami shook his head. "His era has passed."
Having removed Senzaemon himself, Azami could not bear the humiliation of reinstating him. Even as he stepped down, he refused to see Senzaemon regain the Director's position.
"Who else is there?" Rindo interjected. "The only suitable person left is Miss Erina."
Indeed, with the Nakiri family's lack of successors, Erina and Alice were the only options. Erina, with her God's Tongue and as Azami's daughter, was a fitting choice.
"She's still young and inexperienced," Azami hesitated, but then addressed the group. "Given the circumstances and my newfound respect for her, I propose that you allow Erina to take over as the new Director of Totsuki Academy."
...
Normally, any Elite Ten council meeting would be lively, with members often clashing due to long-standing grievances. However, tonight's meeting was unusually quiet, with many choosing not to speak. Although their thoughts were complex, they all knew the situation was far from simple.
"Alright, let's decide on this," Rindo suggested.
"Even if you don't agree, Erina's charisma will win over the students of Totsuki Academy," Kuga added, laughing. He was visibly pleased with the outcome, having opposed Azami from the start. With Azami stepping down and Erina potentially becoming the new Director, his return to the Elite Ten—perhaps even moving up to the Seventh or Sixth Seat—was within reach.
Satoshi, though silent, had a slight smile on his face, indicating his approval. However, he also felt a bit uneasy and puzzled by Azami's sudden resignation. It was likely a result of the situation's pressure, but why propose Erina as his successor? This question lingered in many minds, leading them to remain cautious.
Previously, the Elite Ten's actions had led to a coup within Totsuki Academy. Now, just a few months later, Azami was stepping down, and the Central Gourmet Institute he created had been decisively defeated. Everyone felt like they were walking on a volcano's edge, with danger lurking at every turn.
"Caution," they reminded themselves.
"Erina lacks experience. Is it really wise for her to become the Director of Totsuki Academy?" Eishi questioned, staring directly at Azami, who maintained a cold, stern expression.
"No, these past days have shown me her strength," Azami replied, acknowledging Erina's abilities. "Let's end the meeting here. I'll draft a proposal for you to sign later." With that, Azami left, leaving the Elite Ten in a state of confusion.
...
"It seems it's over," Rindo said, looking around with a hint of nostalgia. "This is good news. I need to share it with the students at Polar Star Dorm. Well, I'll take my leave."
With Rindo's departure, the remaining members slowly began to leave as well. The final meeting chaired by Azami Nakiri ended rather unceremoniously.
In the coming weeks, Totsuki Academy would have a new Director. In just a short time, there had been three Directors—a situation that seemed almost surreal.
"Well, I should get going too," Rindo said, stretching and looking at Eishi, who appeared dazed. She sighed, knowing how much the recent events had taken a toll on him. The constant upheaval had worn him down, and now, with Azami's resignation, he seemed lost.
"Sigh... how did things end up like this?" Eishi finally muttered, bewildered by the turn of events.
"You underestimated Erina and, more importantly, the owner of the tavern," Rindo replied, referring to Zane.
"Huh? The tavern owner?" Eishi repeated, confused but resigned. "I never expected Totsuki to change Directors again."
It was a late realization, but it marked the end of an era.
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