"Do you want to challenge me?"
This time, it was Subaru Mimasaka who was taken aback. He had already prepared various excuses to force Sui into a Shokugeki. Unexpectedly, Sui was the one to initiate the challenge first.
All of Subaru's previous opponents either turned pale with fear and reluctantly accepted the challenge, or were provoked into competing. But this was the first time someone had openly waited for him to approach them.
"Yes, how about it? Do you dare to accept?" Sui smiled slightly as he spoke.
"Sui-kun, you don't need to fight him," Miyoko and Nao voiced their concerns. After all, the title of "Perfect Tracer" wasn't something given lightly.
"It's alright, Miyoko," Sui reassured her. "Now that you're part of the Rare Ingredients Research Society, I won't let anyone mess with you."
Miyoko stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Then it's settled. If you lose, I want your kitchen knife," Subaru laughed, adding, "How about it?"
"Fine, but if you lose, you'll have to return Miyoko's kitchen knife and agree to become my subordinate," Sui replied with a calm smile.
Subaru frowned slightly. The terms seemed a bit unequal. Exchanging kitchen knives was one thing, but becoming someone's subordinate?
"My kitchen knife is not easily won, so adding extra terms seems only fair, don't you think?" Sui explained.
"That's true," Subaru conceded. To him, Sui's kitchen knife was indeed more valuable than Miyoko's.
"Alright then, I accept. Three days from now," Subaru said. "You pick the theme."
"As for the theme, let's make it pork," Sui declared.
"Pork, huh?" Subaru began thinking about the pork dishes Sui had prepared at school, trying to anticipate what he might cook in three days.
"Are you trying to guess what I'll make?" Sui asked, a knowing smile on his face. "I've heard your title is 'Perfect Tracer,' and that you claim to be able to replicate any dish?"
"Yes, but it's a bit late to realize that now," Subaru grinned. "No matter how good your dish is, I can copy it and make it even better."
"Excellent. Then I'll tell you now—three days from now, I'll be making Stir-Fried Pork," Sui said proudly. "Go ahead and try to copy it if you can."
"What?!" Subaru, Miyoko and Nao stared at him in disbelief. This was the first time someone had the audacity to reveal their dish to Subaru before the battle!
"Interesting! You told me the dish outright," Subaru chuckled. "I'm looking forward to it."
Once Subaru left, Nao and Miyoko grew anxious.
"Sui-kun, how could you just tell him the dish like that?" Nao asked worriedly.
"Yeah, did you give him a fake dish name on purpose?" Miyoko added.
Sui shook his head. "No, it's the real dish. But I'm confident—no matter if he cooks the same dish, he won't be able to beat me."
Even if Subaru could replicate his dish, he couldn't replicate the ingredients. Sui planned to use premium red-haired pork, ensuring his victory.
After receiving the Stir-Fried Pork recipe the day before, Sui hadn't had a chance to practice. So, he had spent time in the clubroom earlier, trying out the dish using regular pork belly and letting Miyoko and Nao taste it.
That afternoon, after lunch, Sui was on his way to class when he saw Yoshino and Ryoko rushing out of the building.
The moment they spotted him, they ran over in excitement.
"Sui! There's another Sui in the classroom!" Yoshino exclaimed.
"Another me?" Sui raised an eyebrow, thinking, 'I haven't learned shadow clones.'
"No, it's someone who looks a lot like you," Ryoko corrected Yoshino's grammar.
"Wait… could it be?" Sui quickened his pace toward the classroom.
Sure enough, inside the classroom stood Subaru, dressed in clothes similar to his, holding Megumi's hand and mimicking Sui's tone: "Alright, Megumi, let's do our best in the next class."
Poor Megumi was so terrified she fainted on the spot.
"That's the guy!" Yoshino pointed at Subaru.
Sui nearly choked in disbelief. "This is the person you said looks like me? He looks nothing like me! I'm not that ugly!"
The students in the classroom burst into laughter.
"Haha, looks like the transfer student become Subaru's next target," one of them commented.
"Yeah, once that guy locks onto someone, he imitates them to perfection," another added.
"Even though the transfer student grades are top-notch, facing this kind of weirdo is still dangerous, right?"
Ryoko and Yoshino exchanged glances before one of them suggested, "Let's continue the celebration at Polaris Dormitory tonight."
At that moment, Subaru spotted Ryoko and Yoshino. He rushed over, copying Sui's hearty smile and tone as he greeted them.
Ryoko and Yoshino: "..."
Sui, unfazed, asked, "Didn't I already tell you what I'm cooking? Why are you still following me?"
"Haha, maybe it's a trap. I'm not falling for it. I'll make sure I fully understand your style first," Subaru laughed.
Just then, Sōma entered the classroom and placed a hand on Subaru's shoulder. "Hey, Sui!"
Subaru turned around with a big smile, still mimicking Sui's tone. "Sōma, are you here for class too?"
Soma blinked in shock, his eyes rolling back as he fainted from fright.
With that, class began.
"Megumi, could you pass me the diced tofu?" Sui asked calmly.
"Megumi, pass me the diced tofu," Subaru echoed from the other side of Megumi.
Megumi stood frozen. 'Mom, I want to drop out of school.'