For Daiki, the secret techniques of Bull Chopping and Blue Dragon Slashing weren't just used to dismantle a whole bull. These moves could be adapted to a wide range of ingredients—it all came down to the chef's creativity. It was never about just carving meat; it was about control, finesse, and precision.
The advantages brought by these techniques were immense. So much so that Daiki had even begun breaking them down to teach her the fundamentals. While it was unlikely she would master the full Bull Blue Dragon Slash overnight, the drills alone had drastically elevated her knife skills.
Meanwhile, back at the Polaris Dormitory, its members returned one after another, the warm chatter of reunion filling the air.
"Tanaka! Long time no see!" Yoshino Yuuki beamed. "Wait, didn't Daiki come back with you?"
She looked around, expecting him to walk in behind Tanaka Megumi, who stood alone in the entranceway. The sight surprised her. Over the past few years, Daiki and Megumi had always returned together—inseparable, even. Among the dorm members, they were a couple in all but name.
"Yeah, I thought so too," another dorm mate chimed in. "Those two are always joined at the hip!"
Megumi smiled softly. "Daiki's doing an internship at Totsuki Resort right now, so we came back separately this time."
Though they hadn't seen each other in person for a while, Megumi and Daiki still spoke almost daily. She was well aware that Daiki had been invited to the Resort after awakening something… unusual.
"…Totsuki Resort?" Yoshino blinked. Her voice rose half an octave in disbelief. "As in the Totsuki Resort?!"
Her reaction echoed across the room. Even Sakaki Ryoko and Marui Zenji stopped what they were doing and turned toward Megumi.
Megumi nodded. "Yes, the same one. The place where we trained during the camp. He's interning there now."
It wasn't surprising to see everyone stunned. Entry into the Totsuki Resort was notoriously exclusive. Even having a connection to someone like Dojima Gin wasn't usually enough to slip through the gates.
"No way… Could it be—Daiki is Dojima-senpai's illegitimate son?" Yoshino gasped, eyes sparkling with scandal-fueled excitement. "That would explain everything!"
There was a beat of silence. Then, absurdly, several others nodded in agreement.
Honestly… it did kind of make sense.
Totsuki Resort's reputation was built on elite standards. Nepotism alone wouldn't be enough. Unless… the family tie was that strong—like Nakiri Alice, whose connection to the Nakiri family gave her almost unlimited access.
But Megumi just laughed and waved off the theory. "Don't be ridiculous. Daiki's not related to Dojima-senpai. He got in because he awakened a supernatural power—something called Explosive Flame."
The room fell completely silent.
"…Superpowers?" Omido Fumio echoed. Her normally composed expression was now one of disbelief. Of everyone in the dorm, she knew the most about supernatural abilities.
Megumi nodded. "That's what he told me. The power's name is 'Explosive Flame.'"
"Explosive Flame?" Ryoko muttered, brows furrowed. "That name sounds familiar…"
"I've got it!" Isshiki Satoshi snapped his fingers. "The famous Explosive Chef who's been shaking up Totsuki Resort—that's Daiki! I always thought the name was a coincidence!"
Realization rippled through the dorm like wildfire.
They hadn't made the connection sooner—not because they were slow, but because no one had ever expected Daiki, their quiet and somewhat mysterious dormmate, to turn into a headline-making sensation.
And yet… it all fit perfectly now.
After all, Daiki was still just a first-year in the advanced program. It was easy to forget that sometimes.
It was like seeing a classmate you casually shared lunch with, only to one day open the news and find that someone with the same name had made headlines for revolutionizing a top culinary corporation. It makes you pause. Is it the same person? Could it really be them?
That's the exact shock everyone felt right now. For a moment, they couldn't believe it.
"…So, Daiki's cooking skills…" someone murmured, breaking the silence.
Eyes lit up around the room. For Daiki to make it into Totsuki Resort—let alone become known as the "Explosive Chef"—his skills must've skyrocketed. Otherwise, there was no way he could've reached such heights.
Tansho Kei gave a quiet nod. "He told me that after awakening his superpower, he advanced to the level of a Superior Chef. The WGO even re-evaluated his ranking and issued a new certificate."
There was an audible intake of breath.
"A Superior Chef? That's incredible!" Omido Fumio's voice rang with joy, her eyes practically sparkling.
She had always dreamed of seeing Polaris Dormitory return to its former glory—when elite chefs once walked its halls, the pride of Totsuki. For years, that dream had seemed distant. Even now, with only Isshiki Satoshi among the current Elite Ten, it still felt like a slow rebuild.
But now?
Now there was Daiki—a potential game-changer.
Omido's heart swelled with hope. If Daiki had reached that level so quickly, then Polaris might just be entering a golden age again.
"A Superior Chef…" Marui Zenji pushed up his glasses, his expression a mix of awe and regret. "If only Daiki had awakened his superpower earlier..."
Everyone nodded at that.
It was true—had Daiki's powers emerged a bit sooner, he could have competed for a spot among the Elite Ten. There had been several open seats back then. With his current level, he surely would've earned one.
But now those seats were filled. And unless one of the current Elite Ten suddenly decided to resign or take on a Food War, Daiki had no opening.
It didn't matter if he was stronger than someone in the Ten. Without a way in, he'd have to wait until the third-years graduated before challenging for a seat.
Still, the thought of him already at that level made everyone restless.
"Megumi… when's Daiki coming back?" Yoshino Yuuki asked, practically bouncing where she stood.
The anticipation was thick in the air.
She wasn't the only one itching to see it for herself—to taste his cooking, to witness just how far he'd come.