The morning sun barely pierced the gray veil of clouds that had gathered above Tōtsuki Academy. Though the day had only just begun, the atmosphere was charged—something was coming, and everyone could feel it.
Inside the Polaris Dorm, Riku Kaizen stood before the stove, flipping a cast-iron pan with practiced ease. The scent of browned butter and cinnamon apples filled the kitchen, drawing a sleepy-eyed Megumi into the room.
"You're making breakfast for everyone again?" she asked with a yawn, tying back her hair.
Riku gave a slight smile "Someone's got to keep morale high. Besides, I needed a distraction."
Megumi poured herself some tea and sat on a stool, watching him move like a conductor in front of an orchestra of sizzling pans and boiling pots.
"You've been… different lately," she said quietly.
Riku raised a brow "Different how?"
"Not bad different. Just… thoughtful. Quieter."
He didn't respond right away. Instead, he plated the final dish: French toast stacked with caramelized apple slices, maple syrup, and a dollop of mascarpone, garnished with fresh mint. It looked almost too perfect to eat.
"Things are changing," he said finally "Between me and Erina. Between me and… this place."
Megumi's expression softened "You care about her."
Riku didn't deny it "She's not what I expected. Not just the cold perfectionist everyone thinks she is. There's fire in her—real, honest fire. And sometimes… I think she sees something in me I haven't figured out yet."
Before Megumi could answer, the dorm's front door creaked open, and Sōma entered with a stack of flyers in hand, his expression unusually serious.
"Morning," he said, tossing one of the flyers onto the counter "You guys better read this."
Riku picked it up and scanned the text. His eyes narrowed.
Notice from the Tōtsuki Administration:
Effective immediately, a Special Promotional Exam will be conducted. Failure to pass will result in expulsion. Select students have been placed in mandatory participation groups. Examiners will include select Elite Ten Council Members and Central.
Riku lowered the paper slowly "Expulsion? Without notice?"
Sōma nodded "It's Azami Nakiri. He's pushing Central's authority hard. They're cracking down on anyone who doesn't follow the new order."
Megumi looked alarmed "But that's… that's not fair! We haven't had time to prepare!"
"That's the point," Riku muttered "This isn't just a test—it's a purge."
He looked out the window, jaw clenched "And Erina's stuck in the middle of it."
In the main administrative building, Erina sat stiffly in her seat as the Elite Ten convened in the glass-walled council room. Her father, Azami Nakiri, stood at the head of the table, arms folded, his presence commanding and cold.
"These upcoming exams will be the first demonstration of Central's reformation," he said smoothly "We will weed out those who do not conform to our vision of culinary purity."
A few council members nodded. Others, like Isshiki and Tsukasa, wore carefully neutral expressions.
Azami's gaze turned to Erina.
"You will oversee one of the examination venues. Consider this your contribution to the grand design."
Erina didn't flinch "And what if I refuse?"
Azami's smile was razor-thin "You won't. You understand the importance of legacy better than anyone, my daughter."
Her hands tightened beneath the table, but she said nothing.
As the meeting adjourned, she made her way down the hall, her footsteps echoing in the sterile corridor. Just as she reached the corner, a familiar voice called out.
"Erina."
She turned, relief flickering in her eyes before she could hide it.
"Riku."
He stepped closer, his presence grounding, steady.
"I saw the notice," he said "They're using these exams to kick us out."
She didn't deny it "It's more than that. My father wants absolute control. Every dish, every thought, must align with his doctrine. There's no room for creativity. No room for… for people like you."
"I'm not going anywhere," Riku said calmly "They can throw whatever test they want at me."
Erina hesitated, then reached into her coat and pulled out a second flyer "Your name is on the list for the hardest venue. They've grouped you with Sōma and Megumi. Your judge is Tsukasa Eishi."
Riku took the paper and scanned it "The First Seat of the Elite Ten?"
She nodded "He's brilliant, but he's also a perfectionist. If you stray even slightly from his standards…"
"I won't."
Erina looked at him, her voice dropping "I'm scared for you."
His eyes softened "Then I'll just have to cook well enough to ease your fears."
She gave a ghost of a smile "You're infuriating."
"I've been told worse."
A long silence stretched between them.
Then, impulsively, Erina stepped forward and placed her hand on his chest.
"Promise me," she said, "you won't lose yourself in this fight."
Riku placed his hand over hers "Only thing I've ever been sure of is who I am in the kitchen. Let's just hope Tsukasa's ready for it."
Two days later, the exam venue looked more like a battlefield than a kitchen.
Polished steel counters gleamed under sterile white lights. Rows of cameras lined the walls, broadcasting the exams live to the Tōtsuki board. The pressure was so thick it could be cut with a paring knife.
Riku, Sōma, and Megumi stood side by side, their uniforms crisp, their stations spotless.
At the head of the room, Tsukasa Eishi stood like a solemn ghost. His eyes, though calm, were calculating. Beside him, Rindō Kobayashi sat on a countertop, chewing dried squid and watching with unfiltered amusement.
"You have ninety minutes," Tsukasa said "Prepare a full-course entrée using the theme ingredient: sea bream."
No countdown. No pleasantries.
Just a blade to the throat.
Riku's hands moved before his mind caught up, peeling the sea bream with surgical speed. He could feel the weight of every glance, every ticking second, but his mind focused on one thing: flavor. Balance. Emotion.
He was going to tell a story with this dish. One that couldn't be denied, even by the First Seat himself.
Sōma, true to form, was grinning, already tossing ingredients into a pan with reckless brilliance. Megumi's movements were small but precise, her focus razor-sharp.
But it was Riku who stood at the center of the storm, calm and unshakable.
He would not lose.
Not to Tsukasa.
Not to Azami.
Not when Erina had looked at him like that.