Chapter 66 : 4th Bout

[3rd Person's Point Of View]

"Now choose Yukihira, a medicinal tea to calm your nerves or a medicinal tea to elevate your enthusiasm and concentration." Hisako asked Soma.

"I'm fine they seem bitter as hell, anyway." Soma replied.

"No, you might be exhausted!" Hisako insisted while giving Soma both of the bowls.

"Are your shoulders stiff?! Want something to eat?!" Iku asked.

"No, no, I'm fine. Thanks." Soma replied. 'I wonder where's (Reader)?' Soma thought.

"Um, Erina-sama, would you like some warm medicinal tea?" Hisako whispered.

"Why are you being so shy? Go talk to her!" Alice said.

"I heard you won Aldini." Mimasaka said while holding a cane as color drained out of his body.

"He's all pale." Isami said.

"Mimasaka, I hate to admit it but this is all thanks to you." Takumi said.

"Nah, if you concentrate on your enemy even harder, you'll be a better stalker in no time." Mimasaka said then gave a thumbs up.

"You haven't maximized your clinginess. I even stalked (Reader)-chan, do you know what she's going to wear underneath right now?" Mimasaka asked which made everyone glare at him.

"Who are you calling clingy? And why do you know what (R-Reader)-chan is wearing?!" Takumi asked.

"What? / Mimasaka knows? / That's creepy! / Pervert!?!"

"All right, time's running out. (Reader)-chan told me that Me, Aldini-kun and Nakiri-kun should appear in the fourth bout." Isshiki said. "Nakiri-kun, Aldini-kun, Soma-kun, what do you think?" Isshiki asked.

"You don't even need to ask. We're ready." Takumi replied.

"It's alright, (Reader) told me that already." Soma said.

"The next bout is definitely going to be on another level. There are only three enemies left and they will be coming all out." Hayama said.

"So if we get three victories, that stomps out all the competition." Kurokiba said.

"But our opponents aren't going to make it that easy." Hisako said.

"Akanegakubo Momo, Kobayashi Rindo, and Tsukasa Eishi." Alice added.

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"I'm back baby!" Rindo yelled

'She could barely stand yesterday!' Takumi thought.

'She's totally full of energy again.' Soma thought too.

Rindo placed an arm on Soma's shoulder and rubbed their cheeks together. "Ora ora, Rindo-senpai's back! I got plenty of sleep so I have even more energy than I did the first day!"

"What do you think of Rindo-senpai? Oi Yukihira? Well? Well? Well?"

"You're definitely excited." Soma answered sweat-dropping.

"Rindo's as energetic as a wild animal. Come to think of it Yukihira, have you seen (Reader)?" Eishi asked.

"(Reader)? Why are you looking for her?" Soma and Takumi asked in unison which made Rindo laugh.

"Well you see, Tsukasa likes (Nickname)." Rindo said which made the white-haired guy blush.

"You didn't need to tell them Rindo." Eishi said panicking.

'Another rival!' Takumi and Soma thought to themselves.

Rindo laughed at Eishi. "Come on now let's get ready." they excused theirselves before leaving.

Momo entered the arena while squishing her plushie. "I fell all prickly. I need to make another cute dish to relieve some stress." she said. "I have plenty of energy since So-myan made me some sushi."

"Let's have whoever we're going up against get gobble up by my dish, Bucchi." Momo said.

"May I be that opponent?" Erina asked as sparkles covered her.

"Sure. I might be a little more violent than usual." Momo said before glaring at Erina. "I look forward to our match, Eri-nyan."

"You seem to be in a foul mood." Erina replied. "Allow me to explain why you're feeling such irritation." Erina said smirking before touching her chin.

"Oh? You've changed a little, Eri-nyan." Momo said.

"Erina-sama! / Erina-sama's finally making an appearance! / Momo-senpai's the queen of cute but... / Erina-sama's not so bad herself!"

"She can be cold at times but above all, she's absolutely stunning. / Otherwise known as the Ice Queen!" the students murmured.

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"I finally get to see Nakiri's Shokugeki with my own eyes." Soma mumbled.

"Now, in the fourth bout of the Team Shokugeki the matches and food themes have been decided!" Urara announced.

"The first match will be Tsukasa Eishi versus Isshiki Staoshi. Their theme is wild rabbit!" Urara said.

"Isshiki eh? You might actually give me some trouble." Eishi said.

"I look forward to competing with you, Tsukasa-senpai." Isshiki replied.

"The second match will be Kobayashi Rindo versus Takumi Aldini. Their theme is spear squid!" Urara announced once again.

"Oh Aldini! Don't be shaking in your boots, now!" Rindo said.

"Please. I'm fired up and raring to go, Senpai." Takumi replied.

"And for the third match will be Akanegakubo Momo versus Nakiri Erina. Their theme is brown sugar!" Urara announced.

"Brown sugar? That's another ingredient that's perfect for desserts." Mito exclaimed.

"You got this, Erina-cchi!" Yuki cheered.

Momo was focusing on her counter as a black aura surrounded her. "Okay Bucchi. Let's make a lovely dish to make this irritation go away."

She mumbled to her plushie. "And let's beat Eri-nyan while we're at it."

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"It appears she's making roll cakes." Anne said.

"Like the popular ones made with illustrations in Japan." Histoire added.

"Maybe this is going to be a surprisingly simple dish, compared to her last dish." Charme replied.

"Oh? (Reader) here!" Soma said as he waved at (Reader) who was currently entering the side hall.

"Where have you been (Reader)-chan?" Megumi asked her.

"Oh just did something urgent, who finished first?" (Reader) asked while opening her canned coffee.

"They're still cooking but Akanegakubo-senpai looks like she's about to finish." Alice replied which made (Reader) nod.

"Well it appears the first tasting of the fourth bout will be Akanegakubo-senpai's dish!" Urara announced. Momo was currently pushing a cart.

"It's all done now." She said which made everyone stare in awe at her dish.

"Oh my gosh! It's so cute! / It's so amazing! / It's like a castle from a kingdom of dreams!" the girls from the crowd squealed out.

Momo then sighed out fully satisfied on what she did. "I can't believe I had the nerve to call it simple!" Charme said shaking.

"There isn't a hint of modesty anywhere in that thing!"

"But no matter how impactful the visual might be the taste is what counts." Histoire said.

"Yes, this all comes down to the deliberation of the tongue." Anne said before they all bite in the dish.

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"I've got lots of roll cakes, so does anyone else want to eat one?" Momo asked while holding out a plate of her dish. The students then rushed to her.

"Don't push. Make sure you line up but before that." Momo paused and scanned her eyes on the rebels. When she immediately found her target, she walked towards her.

"(Reader), here's one for you. Make sure you eat it, it's yummy." Momo told (Reader) who was surprised.

"Ah, thank you Momo-senpai." (Reader) said before accepting the dish Momo gave. Momo then rushed back to give the other students a roll cake.

"Why did she give you a roll cake (Reader)?" Soma asked her.

"I'm also curious. Isshiki-senpai said that Akanegakubo-senpai gives nicknames to those who she considers underneath her." Megumi said.

"Does that mean? She acknowledges (Reader) as superior to her?" Alice asked.

"I don't really know. Here you guys can eat this, I'm sure you want it." (Reader) said giving her dish to Hisako.

"Are you really sure we can have this (Reader)-chan?" Yuki asked so (Reader) nodded. "Thank you (Reader)-chan you're the best!" they said as they eat it.

"Is... Is Erina-cchi ghoing chu be okhay?" Yuki asked while savoring the roll cake.

"Of course." (Reader) replied smiling.

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"Sorry to keep you waiting. Please enjoy." Erina said. "Souffle Leger de Grace." Erina said.

"Hey, a souffle. I made one of those before." Soma said.

"It looks so fluffy! / She's competing against her opponent's roll cake with pancakes!"

"Splendid Erina-sama! You're so brave and courageous to face the enemy head-on!"

"I mean, it's definitely fancy and pretty but visually the impact from the roll cake castle is way too much!"

Alice then giggled. "What's up? Is something funny?" Soma asked her.

"Oh, nothing. (Reader)-chan did you notice it?" Alice asked (Reader) while giggling.

"Of course Alice." (Reader) replied before sipping her coffee.

"Now let's have a taste of the dish made by the girl with God Tongue." Anne said. After taking the first bite the judges shivered in delight.

"This is no ordinary pancake. In between the two pancakes is red bean paste!" the judges exclaimed.

"Yes. That is the star of this dish." Erina said. "I created a paste from azuki beans and sweetened it with brown sugar. I call it my Divine Brown Sugar Bean Paste."

Alice giggled. "She used a pressure cooker to reduce the cooking time without losing the flavor."

"No, no! I have to do my job and continue emceeing this event fair and square!" Urara denied but still showed heart on her eyes.

"Ara~ there's no need to hold back. You want to see how delicious this dish is yourself, don't you?" Erina asked teasing Urara while holding out the plate.

"Y-yesh, Erina-sensei!" Urara said.

"She kinda reminds me of (Reader)." Soma said.

"Yeah it's definitely (Nickname)'s style." Hayama nodded.

"Osu. It is her style." Kuro replied.

"Huh? What do you mean by that?" (Reader) asked frowning.

"Nandemonai." the three said in unison.

'Please, please teach me more! I want more of your smooth, fluffy, silky special lessons to squueze me tighter!' Urara and Anne thought.

Urara and Anne after eating the dish moaned out. Charme looked at Anne blushing.

'Anne somehow ended up in there, too. Well, I guess she is Anneko' he thought.

'I'm so jeal- I mean, how indecent.' Histoire thought as hearts seemed like floated out from him.

"Now, if you would deliberate..." Urara moaned out.

"Please wait a moment, there's one other person I'd like to have try this dish." Erina said while holding out a plate to Momo. "Will you try it won't you, Queen of Cute?" she asked.

"Did you hear that Bucchi? What should we do?" Momo asked while squishing her plushie, she then looked at (Reader). "What should I do?"

"It wouldn't hurt to give it a try, right Senpai?" (Reader) replied.

"You're so nice (Reader)." Momo replied before sitting and taking a bite of Erina's dish. "This cuteness... I can't dodge it!" Momo said as her eyes turned into heart-shape.

"What?!" Eizan exclaimed.

"Momo-senpai is actually head over heels for someone else's dessert except for Yamaguchi's dessert?" Nene said which made the Rebels look at (Reader).

"You made desserts for the 3rd seat? / When did you make desserts for her?"

"How did that happen? / Why didn't you tell us?" they flooded (Reader).

"Ahm... I don't really remember?" (Reader) replied which made them sweat-drop.

'What dessert did I make for Momo-senpai?'

{Unable to answer.}

'Ehh?'