[Your Point of view]

I felt someone waking me up, I slowly opened my eyes to see Soma.

“Ohayou (Reader)-chan.” He said smiling. I greeted him back.

After taking a bath I wore my usual clothes and tied my hair to a

(ponytail / messy bun / twintails/ braid)

And wore Aki’s pin.

I was walking beside Soma who was yawning when someone riding a motor cycle stopped in front of us. He removed his helmet as I continued to scan him.

{ “Mimasaka Subaru” Current: Enemy }

The screen said popping out of nowhere.

“We meet again, Yukihira Soma. Oh? Yamaguchi (Reader)-sama is here too?” he greeted.

“Oh, you’re the guy from the prelims.” Soma said while glaring at Mimasaka.

“There’s no need to glare like that, Yukihira Soma.” Mimsaka said while looking down at Soma. “I’m just thinkin’ we can go to the tournament hall together, that’s all.” He said.

I looked at my watch; or rather down at the system’s screen.

{ New Mission Unlocked: Borrow Mimasaka Subaru’s big bike. }

{ New Mission Unlocked: Ride Mimasaka Subaru’s big bike to get in time for Hayama Akira’s match. }

‘But I don’t know how to ride motorcycles or big bike...’

{ New Skill Granted: Skill to ride a big bike. }
{ New Skill Granted: Tricks in riding a big bike. }

‘Welp-’

“Oh, Aki’s match has started already. Aki’s expecting me to watch his match.” I said so they looked at me.

My body started moving on its own which confused me. “W-Wait!” I called out but before I knew it my fist landed on Mimasaka’s face.

“Crap Sorry!” I apologized as he flew on the other side of the street.

‘My god, just how strong is my fist? It didn’t even hurt!’

My feet started moving towards the motorcycle. “I’ll borrow your bike for a minute. S-See ya there.” I said then rode his bike to get to the stadium.

When I got to the stadium Aki was about to serve his dish.

“We’ll now have Candidate Hayama Akira’s hamburger! The overpowering scent of meat is flooding the arena!” the emcee announced.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.” Aki said.

I then yelled from the top of my lungs. “Go Aki!!!”

“Oh, what’s this? / Yamaguchi-sama is cheering for Hayama Akira! / For real?!” the students mumbled.

I saw Aki turned his head to me then smiled when he saw me.

I waved at him smiling.

“I couldn’t stop myself / I’ve already finished mine!” the judges commented.

( 🍽 ) ~ ( 🍽 ) ~ ( 🍽 ) ~ ( 🍽 ) ~ ( 🍽 )

“The winner of this match is clear!”

“The 3rd match victor is Hayama Akira!” Senzaemon-dono announced while bare-chested.

I then went to meet Aki. “Aki good job! Gomene I woke up late so I didn’t watch your cooking.” I apologized he then pat my head.

“It’s alright, you made a grand entrance, didn’t you?” he replied then laughed.

“Regarding the 4th match between Candidate Takumi Aldini and Candidate Mimasaka Subaru, it will be a Shokugeki.” The emcee announced.

I gritted my teeth. “Damn-.”

“So far, 5 judges have made a joint decision on the outcome in this tournament, but an exception was made for this match, so each judge will cast one vote.”

“The match will thus follow the Shokugeki format.” The emcee announced.

“The candidates will now enter the arena!” the emcee announced so I searched the crowd for Isami.

I then looked at him worriedly. “Isa-chan...” I mumbled.

“The theme is dessert. Let the Shokugeki begin.” Senzaemon-dono said. Then the gong rang.

“I’ve brought documentation of the ingredients Mimasaka Subaru has used in previous battles.” A guy with spectacles said then gave the papers to the judges. “It lists ingredients used by both sides.”

“What? He always won by serving the exacts same dish as his opponents’!” a judge commented.

“Semifreddo, that’s what you and I are going to make.” Mimasaka told Taku while holding a tray.

“Hasta la vista, Aldini.” Mimasaka said while raising both his whisk.

“Your family restaurant, Trattoria Aldini, has a specialty dish that makes heavy use of this. That’s why I figured you’d use this in the semifreddo.” Mimasaka said before smiling smugly. “I’ve added other twists, too.”

“Taku-chan! Don’t mind him! Just focus!” I yelled then Taku looked at me before nodding. Then he put his batter in the oven too.

“We now have less than 30 minutes left.” The emcee announced.

“All right, it’s done.” Mimasaka said while holding out the plates. A judge after eating it looked up delighted. “I went with biscuit joconde because it pairs perfectly with praline. You can detect the fragrance and richness of almonds in the spon—”

“Quiet! Do you have no principles as a chef?” a judge yelled.

“I struggle to understand what you mean, ‘Down to the last detail’. That is my creed. I didn’t spare any effort in analyzing my opponent’s capabilities and planning my victory. What’s so wrong about that?” Mimasaka asked smugly.

I then saw Taku-chan walking towards the judges while holding his dishes.

“What, you’re going to serve them your dish?” Mimasaka asked mockingly.

“Don’t underestimate me. I’m a professional. No matter what happens, we serve food to our customers.” Takumi replied.

“I’ve eaten many semifreddos, but this is different from all of them!”

“Where is this overwhelming lemon flavor coming from? What is this golden layer?!”

“That’s lemon curd, a condiment with roots in England.” Taku replied.

“Hmm... He thought of an idea that fast to recreate his dish.” Aki said. “Who do you think will win?”

“Mimasaka Subaru.” I mumbled so he looked at me surprised.

“You don’t seem determined that Aldini will win.” Hayama said.

“His semifreddo has a deeper flavor.” I replied while looking at Mimasaka, Aki shot me a questioning look.

“He used preserved lemons.” I said so Aki’s eyes widened.

Mimasaka laughed. “Hey... What’s funny?” Taku asked.

Mimasaka then looked up laughing maniacally. “What’s so funny!? Don’t make me sad!” Mimasaka mocked. “I know everything about you!”

“Right? You can tell when you compare the two, can’t you?” Mimasaka asked the judges who kept quiet.

“You can tell how deep my semifreddo’s flavor is! I added a secret ingredient, after all! Preserved lemons!” Mimasaka said.

“You’re adorable, dancing on my palm! You didn’t even know I saw right through you!” Mimasaka said before laughing. “You are driven by 3 things: Your bond with your brother, Isami; your rematch with Yukihira Soma and impressing her.” Mimasaka mumbled the last part.

“What did he say after the rematch with Soma?” I asked Aki who shrugged; he was confused too.

“How does it feel to have them taken from you at the same time? This is my memorable 100th win. I’ll be taking this.” He said while holding Taku’s mezzaluna.

“The victor of Round 4 is Candidate Mimasaka Subaru!” the emcee announced.

“With the conclusion of this round, the first match of the Autumn Elections is complete! The 2nd match will occur a week from now.”

“Just like the first match, the cards will be drawn to determine the pairings of the second match, and you will be notified about the results by the end of the day. That is all!” Eizan announced.