Looking at the aggressive Yukihira Soma, Erina Nakiri had come from behind at some point, then placed her hand on Hoshino Sora's shoulder, with a hint of teasing on her face.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time. I thought you were afraid to duel me, so you ran away and wouldn't come."
"Hmph, Hoshino-kun is as arrogant as ever."
"That's great, I was a little worried when I didn't see you, but seeing you, my heart finally settled down."
Looking at the belated Erina Nakiri, Tadokoro Megumi silently breathed a sigh of relief. When she came here, she hadn't seen her, and she thought something had happened.
"Don't worry, what could happen to me? I was just late because I was changing clothes."
Thinking of this, Erina Nakiri's cheeks flushed. She would never say that she was late because she couldn't fit into her old underwear and had to ask Hisako to buy larger sizes.
"Then BLUE officially begins. I will announce the trial for the First Gate. Please look here, where contestants have been randomly divided into three groups."
As she spoke, the screen at the top suddenly flickered, and then names appeared on it, with their corresponding groups next to them.
Yumeko Jabami: "Are we all in different groups?"
Tadokoro Megumi: "Huh, why isn't Erina on there?"
Yukihira Soma: "Indeed, Nakiri isn't there."
"Additionally, Miss Nakiri, the director of Far Moon Academy, will undergo the trial alone, outside of these three groups."
"Is that so? Just as I expected."
Hearing the words of Ann, the First Executive Officer on the screen, Erina Nakiri exchanged glances with Hoshino Sora, her expression unchanged.
"What?! Hoshino too, and Nakiri too, is it special treatment again? How cunning!"
Hearing Ann's words, Yukihira Soma immediately jumped up, his face showing a puffed-up expression. Why was it that only they had to suffer and start from scratch?
"No, in that case, they would just be given seed rights. What Erina has to go through is probably not a simple trial like ours."
Looking at Yukihira Soma, whose face was full of displeasure, Yumeko Jabami shook her head, her eyes containing a hint of peculiarity as she looked at Erina Nakiri. The other party clearly knew something.
However, since she didn't want to say, she couldn't ask.
"Then we're off. Good luck, everyone. You're not allowed to be eliminated in the first round, okay?"
As he spoke, Hoshino Sora and Erina Nakiri walked towards the small door together. They could stay together until Erina's assessment began.
"I feel like a storm is brewing. I like this feeling, I'm getting a little excited!"
Watching Erina Nakiri and Hoshino Sora enter the 'castle' one after another, Yumeko Jabami's eyes flashed with a bewitching red light, and her entire being entered a state of excitement.
This was a world-class stage! The thought of possibly standing at the pinnacle of the culinary world made Yumeko Jabami tremble all over! Even her breathing quickened a bit.
Ann's voice came from the screen once again.
"Soma Yukihira, Yumeko, let's all do our best."
Looking at Yukihira Soma and Yumeko Jabami beside her, Tadokoro Megumi clenched her fists and cheered them on.
"Mm, I definitely won't lose before the finals!"
"Me too, it would be too embarrassing if I lost to some unknown small fry before the finals!"
Hearing Tadokoro Megumi's words, Yukihira Soma and Yumeko Jabami said with soaring spirits that they were both destined to advance to the pinnacle of the culinary world, so it was naturally impossible for them to fail in the first round!
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