Ikumi was surprised once again when she realized who she was talking to. "You're the transfer student?! The one from the opening ceremony!" She exclaims, then she suddenly smirked, "I wanted to try talking with you. Well, to think you would try to join in other's shokugeki, you must be expecting that you'd win."

Souma faced Ikumi, "If you want we can battle in your territory.... Meat dishes, was it? Either way, I'll win," Souma brags and that got Ikumi more fired up.

"Then, if you lose to me will you quit Tootsuki?" She leans in a bit closer to the redhead. She placed her hands on her hips, "If your all bark and no bite then I--"

"Yeah, that's fine with me!" Souma cuts her off, "In return.... You'll.." Souma couldn't think of anything, he can't decide what would the female do if she lost.

"Ah, what about joining the Don RS? That's going to be pretty tough on you, right, Mito-san?" Ayano taunts the startled girl.

"Ehhhh?!?"

"Nice, nice one Hirashima!" Souma pats Ayano on the shoulder. "Yeah. If you lose the shokugeki, you'll have to join the Don RS and help advance their abilities; it's only an apology for troubling then," the male first year nods his head, liking the idea.

"You really want to win against me, huh?" Ikumi chuckled, "Contractors, we're retreating for today!" When her men left, she turns back to Souma and Ayano. "I accept the right to choose the theme! The main ingredient is meat, the course to make is Don! The match will be held in three days!" Ikumi leaves after waving goodbye, already planning in her head.

"Hirashima... Yukihira, why are you helping?" Kanishi questions the younger students.

Souma explained that he couldn't take it because Ikumi was acting all high and mighty about having pricey meat.

"Eh? Why would I help? Isn't it a waste for this place to be shut down?" Questioned Ayano, her eyebrows furrowed,  "After all, maybe I could learn a thing or two here; I came all the way here to Tootsuki to be one of the best!"

Megumi twiddled with her thumbs, "But do you have any chances of winning?"

"I'm thinking about that now," Souma then mutters, and everyone except him was startled by his reply.

"Let's prepare for battle!"

The Night Before The Shokugeki

Ayano shook her head in disagreement, "It tastes good, but Mito-san's dish is more like.... You know, mind blowing," she states, making gestures here and there.

"You see, Nikumi is a master of meat; beef is mostly her specialty.." Kanishi explains things about Don's and how will they defeat Ikumi.

"Just go with beef don, simple," Ayano rolls her eyes and sips on her tea that she brought with her when they went to the club room.

"But with beef, there's no way we'd be able to beat Nikumi!" Ayano shook her head at Kanishi's protests once more, "I can tell that Yukihira wants to use beef don as well. I'm sure we have the same reasons.."

Kanishi looks at Souma so that he could find an answer out of him. "Nikumi is looking down on that, you know?! To make her admit defeat that don is great, we have to beat her with a beef don or it would be all for nothing!" Souma speaks his kind out loud proudly, putting the receipt book down.

Afterwards, Kanishi and Souma brainstorm on some idea's. That was until they realized that they didn't have much money left.

"I can lend you guys some," Ayano tells them, "My parents gives me money through my bank account and--"

"Hirashima, your a lifesaver! Hold on, save that money for awhile. I'll get something!!" Souma leaves in a rush after saying that, and Ayano only shrugs.

Souma came back later, looking a little bit glum because he didn't have that much money on his account. Kanishi brings out more recipe compilations, hoping that it might give Souma idea's on what don to make.

It took awhile for Souma to make a dish that he will present, but when he found just the right one he did all he can to improve it more; thanks to Megumi's idea of taking a break.

"You're still going to modify it?" Megumi questioned Souma, she was about to leave so that she could get some rest for the following day. Souma nods his head and tells his plan to her about how will he do it.

"Let's go, Tadokoro. It's going to be late, I'm sure Yukihira is old enough to take care of himself," Ayano sighs and beckons for the blue haired female to follow her. Megumi tells a short farewell to Souma and dashed outside to catch up with her dorm mate.

The Day Of The Shokugeki

The battle is about to commence, Ayano was sitting on Souma's side of the arena to cheer for him; or at least the best she could. The students inside were there mainly to see Souma fail, they couldn't wait to see his face when he loses to the meat master.

"Both contestants will now enter!" The announcer says. "First is the meat master, Mito Ikumi!!" Ikumi arrives with a rather revealing outfit, making Ayano cringed in disgust.

"I don't exactly get why the hell would she want to wear a bra where people can openly see! Jeez, Mito still does whatever she wants.."

"Now, next is Yukihira Souma-kun!" All students start throwing discouraging comments to the trio who walked in. "If Mito-san wins, the Don RS will be destroyed and Yukihira-kun will be expelled! But if Yukihira-kun wins, the Don RS' budget will rise and the club room will be more advanced! Furthermore, Mito-san will join!" Loudly, the student with the microphone announces.

Both contestants conversed for awhile, and Souma was already detaching his white headband from his wrist.

"Oh, looks like Nakiri-san decided to watch. Is she really desperate for Yukihira to lose?" Ayano thinks when she sees Erina from her place.

"Then contestants, to the kitchen! Let's go! The loser loses everything. A decisive match on the tongue! Shokugeki... Start!!"

"Heh, thanks for putting my idea on consideration, Yukihira. Knowing Mito, she'd probably use that pricey meat Konichi-senpai was talking about yesterday... Ah, and there it is. She really never changes.."

Almost everyone on the arena drools when they see that Ikumi brought out A5 meat, some were even commenting on about it, and her skills, of course. Ayano closely watched Ikumi prepare her meat, her eyes switching to Souma every so often.

While the meat of Ikumi was still heating, she takes a look at her rival.

"On the other hand, Yukihira-kun's cooking.... It seems he's finely chopping a great amount of onion. Ah, the meat! He's finally bringing it out!" The female announces, the crowd turns to Souma as he grabs a plastic bag. "Just what kind of ingredient will he show to fight Mito-san's Japanese bee--"

Ayano crossed her arms, all students around her had priceless expressions on what meat Souma brought.

"They had a special sale. I was lucky, especially since Hirashima lend me some money as well.." Souma utters, chuckling to himself.

"Oi!! Don't screw with us!" Some students start throwing their trash at Souma, spitting out curses and words of discouragement at him. After awhile, Ikumi takes her meat out and wraps it up in aluminum foil, lets it rest, and sliced it to her desired form.

Soon enough, it was time for judging. Ikumi was first, and the judges loved her dish. About now, Souma was presenting his poor yet appetizing looking dish.

Souma then explained the reason what he added to his don to make is more delicious, "The trick is in the rice. The rice in the don is mixed with pickled plum. It's a refreshing imefuumimeshi! Thanks to a dish I fortunately remembered last night, I decided to add something to the rice so that both of them and the rice would fight for the deliciousness!" He smiled boldly at Ayano for a few seconds as he spoke, then turns around.

"You see," Souma points to Ikumi, smirking, "Your dish looks like a don but it's not. The Don RS' chief said this too, that the end don are completed in one bowl," he grins, making gestures with his hands.

"I sure hope that you change for the better, Mito. I know you don't listen to me, but I think-- I know with Souma's food... I know that you'd listen.."

"Well then, please place your votes!"

...

"Oh my! The winner is... None other than Yukihira Souma!" It was announced as Ayano smiled, letting the words fall from her mouth silently,

"I knew you could do it, Yukihira...."

"Heh! It wasn't much!" Souma removed the white headband on his head and tied it on his wrist again as Megumi and Kanishi cheer for him.