WebNovels

Chapter 30 - Chapter 30

That very day, the Shokugeki agreement between Shun and Terunori cleared the Shokugeki Administration Bureau at record speed.

When the white-on-black challenge, stamped with the Bureau's seal, landed on the desk of Tōtsuki's commander Senzaemon Nakiri, the Gourmet Demon merely opened his sharp eyes a fraction.

His deep gaze paused for a heartbeat on the name "Shun," and the corner of his mouth lifted by the tiniest arc.

He said nothing—just set the papers aside.

Tacit approval is a stance of its own.

By the next morning, once the notice hit the campus boards, the Journalism Club bulletin, and countless texts and forum threads, the shock was far beyond anyone's expectations. Tōtsuki boiled over in an instant.

"Exclusive bombshell! The transfer student Shun formally challenges Elite Ten 8th Seat Kuga Terunori to a Shokugeki—wager: an Elite Ten seat!"

The headline tore through the academy like a storm.

The first reaction across student chatter was disbelief.

"You've gotta be kidding—another transfer student?!"

"That Shun who enrolled alongside Soma?"

"Is he nuts? Kuga-senpai is a Sichuan specialist in the Elite Ten!"

"It's only been what, a few weeks? One transfer beat the 'Meat Master' Ikumi with a donburi, and now the other's gunning straight for the Elite Ten?!"

True—Soma vs. Ikumi's "donburi duel" still hadn't faded; people were still buzzing about the dazzling Chaliapin Steak Donburi and the fate of the Don RS.

Nobody expected that before the embers cooled, an even louder, wilder thunderclap would smash down.

Only two transfers this year—each more ferocious and less predictable than the last!

Soma's challenge, while surprising, targeted a powerhouse in his own year.

Shun, however, aimed straight at Tōtsuki's highest authority—the Elite Ten Council.

To most, this wasn't bravery—it was hubris; a moth to flame.

Everyone at Tōtsuki knows what the Elite Ten represents.

From classrooms to corridors, cafeterias to tree-lined paths, even the far-off Polar Star Dorm, the campus had only one topic.

"What does he even have? Just that he's a Chinese-cuisine chef?"

"The wager—that's the key! Why would Kuga-senpai accept unless it's insane?"

"I heard Miyoko's involved—Kuga-senpai kept pestering her, and Shun stepped in?"

"For real? Picking a fight over a girl… that's dumb."

"A crown of rage for a fair maiden? So old-school. Betting your Tōtsuki future on that? Idiotic."

"Just wait—Kuga-senpai will show him why the rose is red."

"A Shokugeki is one thing, but he challenged Kuga-senpai at his strongest, and on Kuga's home turf. Zero chance."

On and on it went. Outside of Polar Star, almost no one believed Shun could win.

The Elite Ten's authority is carved into stone—that peak is out of reach for ordinary students.

Most saw Shun's act as self-immolation.

What really fed the frenzy, though, was the sealed mirror wager. The terms were confidential; speculation ran wild, and nobody got close to the truth.

That secrecy was by Shun's design: only the two contestants, the Bureau Chief, and Senzaemon knew the stakes. No one else.

So curiosity burned—and so did the rumors.

Shun, at the center of it all, remained calm. He ignored the noise and followed his plan, step by steady step.

In Polar Star Dorm, the house buzzed long after sundown.

"Did I really hear right? It was all over campus! Shun-kun is doing a Shokugeki with Kuga Terunori—and for a seat?" Yuuki Yoshino blurted, dropping her textbook.

Zenji Marui pushed up his glasses and nodded. "Mm. It's real. The Bureau certified it."

Fresh off his own win, Soma Yukihira was riding high. He'd love to challenge the Elite Ten too—but lacked equivalent stakes.

So, when he heard the news, he practically vibrated.

"Whoa—no surprise it's Shun-kun! A Shokugeki with the Elite Ten—this is gonna be awesome!" Soma grinned.

"H-how is that good?" Megumi Tadokoro went pale, fingers knotting together. "T-the opponent's an Elite Ten… and Sichuan cuisine is his specialty. Shun-kun is being way too reckless."

"It is surprising," said Satoshi Isshiki, still in his trademark apron, rubbing his clean-shaven chin. "Kuga's Sichuan—especially his Mapo Tofu—is top-tier at Tōtsuki. For Shun-kun to challenge him head-on means real confidence. This Shokugeki will be… fascinating."

Ryoko Sakaki frowned. "But what is the wager? For Kuga-senpai to accept without blinking… and Miyoko's involved too?"

Zenji's lenses flashed. "By Tōtsuki rules, stakes must be reciprocal. Shun-kun's price must be enormous—possibly including his and Miyoko Hojo's future prospects. But something Kuga-senpai deems equal to the Eighth Seat… that's difficult to imagine. The terms are sealed; the speculation outside is pointless."

Polar Star filled with a mix of shock, worry, and a prickle of excitement. Still, almost everyone agreed: Shun's odds looked razor thin.

Everyone except Satoshi and Soma—whose eyes told a different story.

(End of Chapter)

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