"What's wrong, everyone? I, Sui, have finally come to Polar Star Dormitory for a gathering, and you all look so down. Aren't you going to welcome me?" Subaru, posing as Sui, smiled warmly, perfectly imitating his tone and mannerisms.
The residents of Polar Star Dormitory kept their heads down, looking dejected and remaining silent.
"Megumi, come and try the Sautéed Cabbage I made!" Subaru said, flashing a "sincere" smile at Megumi.
Megumi managed a forced smile but inwardly felt uneasy. She had no idea how to respond.
---
Meanwhile, Sui remained unaware that Subaru had infiltrated the Polar Star Dormitory under the guise of himself. After practicing his Stir-Fried Pork, Sui retired to his room and drifted off to sleep, cuddling his two dragon companions.
The next morning, after washing up, Sui turned to Erina with a silent, teasing smile.
Erina's face flushed with slight irritation. "Alright, alright!" she huffed, stepping closer and planting a kiss on his cheek.
In the past, Erina would have blushed, rushed through the gesture, and then bolted while covering her face. But now, her kiss lingered a little longer, reflecting their growing comfort with each other. Still, despite this shift, she hadn't let him into her bedroom the previous night, leaving Sui with a sense of regret.
After the kiss, Erina blushed deeper and asked, "Satisfied now?"
Sui chuckled and nodded, and they both set off for school.
---
When they arrived at the school's entrance on Sui's motorbike, a familiar, yet unwelcome sight greeted them. Subaru was there again.
"Good morning, everyone! I'm Sui. Let's keep working hard today and aim for A's in all our classes!" Subaru announced energetically, dressed in an identical outfit to Sui's. "Isn't that right, Megumi?"
Behind him, Megumi, Yoshino, and a few others looked utterly exhausted, their faces pale and lifeless in stark contrast to Subaru's enthusiasm.
"What's going on here?" A student muttered, baffled by the scene.
"You really need to ask?" someone passing by whispered. "It's that new transfer student—he's being relentlessly followed!"
"Figures. Only a stalker as notorious as Subaru could pull off something like this," another student commented under their breath. "This transfer student's in for some serious trouble."
"He's a complete pervert, no doubt about it," one onlooker said.
Erina and Hisako exchanged surprised glances. They had heard about Perfect Tracers who meticulously imitated their targets, mimicking their every movement to gain an edge, but seeing it in person was unsettling.
"Was that guy really at the Polar Star Dormitory all day yesterday?" Sui asked Megumi.
"Not quite, but he stayed late into the night. And when we woke up, he was already there again this morning," Megumi said, the dark circles under her eyes a clear sign of her sleepless night.
Sui shook his head slightly, feeling a bit of sympathy. At least Subaru hadn't been able to sneak into the Nakiri family estate. That was something to be thankful for.
"We'll head off now," Erina said, walking up to Sui and lowering her voice. "I've heard of the Perfect Tracer's reputation. He's a twisted opponent, but he's formidable. Among the first-years, there aren't many who can beat him in a Shokugeki. Be careful."
Her tone held a subtle concern, something that took Sui by surprise. He glanced at Erina. Since they'd begun dating, something about her had softened. In the past, she would never have spoken to him in such a caring manner.
"Don't worry," Sui reassured her. "I've already told him what dish I'll be making for the Shokugeki."
"What? You actually revealed your dish to him?" Erina was stunned, and so were Megumi, Soma, and the others standing nearby.
"Sui, that's reckless!" Erina scolded, visibly anxious.
She knew Subaru's strength lay in his ability to perfectly replicate his opponent's dish, only to refine and improve upon it. In theory, as long as he knew what dish his opponent would cook, he became nearly unbeatable.
"Relax," Sui said with a confident smile. "Even if he knows the dish, there's no way he can beat me."
"Hah! There's no dish I, Subaru, can't copy. Just wait and see," Subaru sneered coldly.
---
Over the next few days, Subaru continued his charade, walking around the academy dressed as Sui, mimicking his every move. He followed Sui to classes, cooked in Sui's research club, and even made nightly visits to the Polar Star Dormitory.
One evening, Rindō, who often dropped by Sui's research club unannounced to "inspect" (but really to raid his ingredients), stumbled upon Subaru. Mistaking him for Sui, she nearly had a heart attack, thinking that Sui had somehow mutated after eating irradiated food.
The residents of Polar Star Dormitory were equally tortured by Subaru's nightly visits. Megumi and the others developed dark circles under their eyes from lack of sleep, their nerves stretched thin from his incessant presence. Even locking their doors didn't stop him—he always found a way in.
---
The night before the Shokugeki, Sui wandered to a secluded street to release the red-haired pig.
"Red-haired pigs are one of the most aggressive B-grade ingredients. Are you sure you want to release it?" the system warned.
"It's fine. Release it," Sui said calmly.
After a moment, a ferocious creature appeared before him. The pig stood two meters tall, its body covered in thick red hair, its sharp fangs gleaming in the moonlight. Its violent eyes glinted coldly as it locked onto Sui and charged forward.
Ten seconds later…
Sui dragged the lifeless red-haired pig to Erina's kitchen. It was an enormous beast, full of valuable ingredients.
Erina, who had just walked into the kitchen, froze at the sight. "Sui, what is this? A wild boar? I've never seen one this big before!" she exclaimed, startled.
"It's a red-haired pig," Sui explained with a smile. "Can you help me process it? I'll give you some of the ingredients."
Erina shook her head, smiling slightly. "That won't be necessary. I'll help, but you don't need to reward me. Besides, this is the first time I've ever seen such a creature."
Despite her usual penchant for preparing refined dishes in pristine conditions, Erina wasn't afraid of handling raw ingredients. She quickly set to work alongside Sui, dismantling the boar.
The pig's parts were full of promise: its meat was ideal for various dishes, its bones perfect for rich broths, and every part—liver, heart, intestines, blood—held the potential for culinary wonders.
---