A moment of silence fell upon Maeda and I. It was very frustrating and nerve wrecking at the same time.

"... The Hirashima Ayano and Maeda Naomi pair.... Has passed!!"

I instantly smiled at the result of my-- our dish. "Yosh! Hirashima, we passed!!" Maeda cheers giddily and I cackle a short laugh at her.

"Yeah. I guess we did, Maeda. And it's all thanks to you," I tell her modestly.

"Ehh?? But Hirashima, I can tell that you added something else to make the ramen taste improve," Maeda replied, the cheery demeanor she had a second ago was now gone.

I move aside so that Maeda and I won't make Inui-senpai feel uncomfortable because we're talking quite loudly in front of her.

"And if I did? I must say though, Maeda, I didn't know that you'd actually notice it," I crossed my arms as I confronted her. Curiosity was getting the best of my emotions right now, how did she exactly detect that I added something else?

Maeda clears her throat, "When I placed the vegetables on the side of the bowl, I saw tiny bits of something. I wasn't quite sure what was it though.."

"Ginger," I straight forwardly answered the question she was longing find out.

...

"The Takumi Aldini and Isami Aldini pair has passed!!"

"Grazie!"

On cue, I snap my head behind me to see Aldini and his partner fist bumping each other in satisfaction. "That guy again.."

It took a few seconds for him to realize that someone was openly looking at him. And when our eyes met, I averted my gaze into the other students. I know that he didn't probably bought the act, but it was worth a try anyway.

Aldini didn't say anything to me at all and I knew that luck was on my side that day.

Forty Minutes Later

I stared at the very built men who were flexing their arms shamelessly. Fuck, I hate these kinds of people.

Chef Sekimori explained what we had to do; make fifty meals for these buff fuckers then we can make our own dinner. What a huge letdown.

"Yoshino, fight!" I teased my fellow dorm mate. She was having her moment, a drama because she thought that we were all gonna have a luxurious dinner tonight, and the rest of our nights here.

Chef Sekimori then announced that we only had an hour to prepare fifty meals or else we're expelled.

I stopped myself from rolling my eyes and tightened my scarf, starting a second early than my panicking classmates around me.

"Well, they don't call it the hellish training camp for nothing..."

Before I knew it, I was done with the fifty dishes without noticing.

"Hirashima Ayano has finished fifty meals."

I wiped the sweat on my forehead and slightly bowed at the men and chef Sekimori, then I was off.

I decided to skip dinner because I packed some snacks and went to take a bath instead.

When I was inside, I was surprised to see a familiar blonde still in the bath. "Nakiri-san?"

Nakiri-san turned to look who called her name, "Hirashima-san..."

I only hum in response and stepped in the bath with her. The silence that was between us was rather awkward to say the least. I didn't have the guts to say anything though, what was I suppose to say anyways?

So I decided to say one of the most obvious things I've said in my life, "So, you're the first one here, Nakiri-san?"

She doesn't answer and I take it as a sign that she wasn't really in the mood to talk in the mean time. I then just finished my bath and wore my bathrobe. I dried my hair after, combing it with my fingers and grabbing my stuff. I also then realized that Nakiri-san already left, I was too caught up with fixing my hair so I guess that I didn't notice her leave.

When I went out, I bumped my shoulders into someone and I bowed my head to apologize.

"I'm really sorry.." I quickly apologized to the person I bumped into.

"Hirashima...."

When my name was called, I looked up to see Nakiri-san's assistant. "Ah! You're Nakiri-san's helper from the exam, right? Sorry, I didn't catch your name or anything," I apologized to her and the pink haired female had a look of confusion on her face.

"... It's Arato Hisako..." She reluctantly answered back.

"Alright. I'll see you around the camp, Arato," I displayed a weak smile and head off to Marui's room.

Next Day, 9:00 AM

"Shinomiya-senpai, huh? I'll barely pass this assignment if I don't do my best....." I murmur to myself. Luckily, I was in the farthest back of the room, further to where I saw Yukihira and Tadokoro but Maeda wasn't here in the class.

"On this assignment, I'll have you make a dish that I designated."

"Luck isn't at my side today, huh? I might as well be expelled since I know I won't pass..."

"And I won't let you form teams in this one. I'll have you all make it by yourselves," he says, eyeing the students, "Also, exchanging information in cooking is forbidden. Use the ingredients gathered in the back of the kitchen. And a piece of advice; consider everyone around here your enemy. Your time limit is three hours. Start!"

I took a breath as I fast walked to the ingredients and picked the food that was said in the paper.

...

...

...

"You pass."

I could almost cry out in joy when I heard Shinomiya-senpai say that. There was still thirty minutes to spare and I swear I'd died if I was expelled.

"Good job, Hirashima!" Yukihira congratulates me and I mentally pat myself on the back in agreement.

"Yeah. And to you as well," replied I to the male, sighing.

I waited for the rest of my classmates to finish their dishes patiently. But on the inside, the silence made me want to return back to my room and shove my head on my pillow and scream for who knows how long.

I watched with gritted teeth as Shinomiya-senpai spoke with pride in his voice; he was explaining to Tadokoro on why her dish didn't pass.

I couldn't stand it...

I can't take in the information that she was expelled...

I know that it was really planned for a lot of students to fail, but Tadokoro was different!

"I... I believe I can't accept that, Shinomiya-senpai," I told him when he turned his back on Tadokoro.

"I agree with Hirashima."

Yukihira was by my side in no time. "It was unavoidable! There were ingredients that needed to be fresh so Tadokoro did something to revive it's taste!"

I cross my arms, a disapproving look on my face, "We're expected to be treated like your staff, correct? So you're responsible for the ingredients since you're the boss," I barked at him, obviously angry.

Shinomiya-senpai placed his palm on the table harshly. "Brats! Who do you think you're even talking to, huh? I'll tell you since you don't understand," he clears his throat to continue.

I cut him off, saying, "I know that you placed the bad stated cauliflowers there intentionally to make some of the students fail."

Shinomiya-senpai glared at Yukihira and I, "If you both understand that your dunce of a friend was disqualified because she couldn't get a good stated cauliflower then why are you disregarding my expulsion to her?"

I was about to respond back but Yukihira beat me to it, "We're telling you, Tadokoro came up with an idea to cover up the mistake--"

"I'm the chef. There's no way underlings like you can revise the recette that I made," Shinomiya-senpai glowered down at us. "Listen here, if you keep disregarding my orders then should I fire you both as well?" He inquired us with a smirk plastered on his face.

I balled my hands into fists, looking down on the floor shamefully. He was right; he could do that to us. But there's nothing stopping me from doing what I think is right, is there?

"Souma-kun, Hirashima-chan! It's fine! Souma-kun and Hirashima-chan will be expelled, too, right?! So please, stop it already!"

"Megumi.." I murmured her name, feeling sad to see tears already falling down her cheeks. She was clearly sad, we're trying to help her but she doesn't want this? I understand she doesn't want us to be involved, but is there anything else we can do other than this? I believe not.

I see Yukihira, as if he was ready to pounce on Shinomiya-senpai any moment now. But the cry of Megumi made him stop, and he protests, "Hah!? It's not the time to say that!"

"I'm fine already," Megumi let out a forced laugh, holding unto Yukihira's arm.

"If that's your decision, then I respect that," I inwardly groaned and frowned at what I said to her.

".. Ah, Shinomiya-senpai! Excuse me!" I turned to Yukihira and raised a brow at him. What is he going to say now?

"What is it, monsieur Yukihira? Do you have any other complaints?"

"No. It's more of a question, you see... Does that Toosuki rule apply to Alumnus too?" Shinomiya-senpai quirks a brow when he didn't seems to understand what the younger boy meant.

I held my breath, hoping that he wasn't going to say what I think it is.

".... What are you talking about?" Shinomiya-senpai demands from the redhead.

"Shokugeki...." Yukihira stared at the older chef before him seriously, "If you lose the Shokugeki then will you take back Tadokoro's expulsion?"

".... Y-Yukihira...!" I gawked at him in horror, then at Megumi; tears fell from her eyes as she bit her bottom lip to stop the whimpers that came from her mouth.

If the teachers hear this then I might get expelled. Why does trouble follow you, Yukihira, wherever you go?

***

Thank you to those who have patiently waited for this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you did mind voting and commenting about your thoughts for this chapter? Thank you if you do!

Also, stay tuned for the next chapter! Probably next week :)