"This…"
Satou looked troubled. He was still attending high school here, and if he transferred to Totsuki Academy, there was no way he could balance both.
Erina Nakiri noticed the hesitation in his eyes and asked, "What school do you attend here?"
"It's also a culinary school," Satou replied.
It was a vocational high school that focused on cooking, partnered with several restaurants and catering companies. Graduates often went straight to work. Though this world didn't treat chefs with the same celebrity status as in Shokugeki no Soma, it was still a respected profession.
"Then you should come to Totsuki instead," Erina said flatly. "Staying there is just a waste of your talent."
She wasn't wrong. Compared to any culinary school here, Totsuki was in another league entirely.
Satou scratched his head awkwardly. The problem was that a "Totsuki diploma" might not even be recognized in this world.
Before he could reply, the system's voice rang in his mind.
"Please accept, Host. Only in the Shokugeki world can you trigger side quests and earn rewards."
"Side quests?" Satou asked internally. "What's the ultimate quest for Shokugeki no Soma?"
"Ultimate Quest:
Become a member of the Totsuki Ten Masters.
Successfully win over Erina Nakiri.
Complete either to obtain the key to the next world."
Satou froze. Win over Erina Nakiri?
He glanced at the tsundere girl beside him. She was proud, brilliant, and stunningly composed. Just the thought made him sigh.
Forget it. If I tried, I'd probably end up getting expelled… or arrested.
"What are you thinking about?" Erina frowned.
"Just… calculations," Satou replied vaguely. "Something about ten years of effort, five years of payoff."
"What does that even mean?"
"Nothing," Satou coughed. "Alright, fine. I'll go to Totsuki."
"That's better," Erina said, clearly pleased. "I'll handle your transfer papers. Consider your exam already passed."
Then, she turned toward the door leading back to her world.
"Wait a second," Satou called out.
Erina looked back impatiently. "What now?"
"About the tuition…" He hesitated. "Can I pay it later?"
A vein popped on Erina's forehead. "I'll pay it for you! Just don't embarrass me!"
Before he could respond, she slammed the door shut.
Satou blinked, then chuckled. "Actually, I was going to tell you we'll be seeing each other again very soon."
Later that night.
Steam drifted lazily through the large bathroom as Satou leaned back in the tub with a long sigh.
"This is the life," he muttered. The bathtub was easily big enough to swim in, and the warm water eased every bit of tension from his muscles. The faint fragrance lingering in the air told him this must've been Erina's private bathroom before.
He chuckled to himself. "I guess this world really doesn't know what personal space is anymore."
Just as he closed his eyes, the door creaked open.
Erina Nakiri stepped in, holding a towel and a toothbrush, her golden hair tied up casually. The two of them froze.
"...Satou?"
"Uh. Hi."
A full three seconds of stunned silence.
Then—
"YOU—WHAT—ARE—YOU—DOING—IN—MY—BATHROOM?!"
Her voice shook the ceiling.
"Taking a bath?" Satou said carefully, gesturing at the obvious evidence surrounding him. "I mean, what else would I be doing here?"
"This is my bathroom!"
"Well, about that…" Satou raised his hands defensively. "My old bathroom kinda disappeared after the… world merge thing. So, uh, I guess we're sharing for now?"
Erina's jaw dropped. "Sharing? With you?! Absolutely not!"
"Hey, it's not like I planned it!" Satou protested. "Look, I'll keep it clean. You won't even notice I'm here."
"That's not the point!"
Erina's face was bright red as she turned on her heel and pointed toward the door. "Out! Right now!"
"But I'm—"
"OUT!"
Satou sighed, slipping out of the water with a towel around his waist. "Fine, fine. But you know, for a moment there, you sounded like we're already roommates."
"WE ARE NOT ROOMMATES!"
She stomped away, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.
Left alone, Satou could only sigh and mutter, "Man… the God Tongue sure comes with the God Temper too."