Food war—
This is a competition
The main members are top chefs.
At a higher level, there are Master chefs.
The so-called top chefs may not be able to make any spectacular dishes, but each of them is equivalent to a graduate of the Totsuki Ten.
{T/N: I think it is a little different from the anime}
Not to mention master chefs.
Whether in terms of qualifications or culinary skills, master chefs stand at the very pinnacle of the food industry and the professional cooking world.
It should be noted that not every one of Totsuki's Elite Ten can become a top-grade chef after graduation.
Only after the Elite Ten gain enough real-world experience are they allowed to take the rigorous examination to become a master chef—an assessment recognized globally.
This top chef certification is honored in most countries and regions.
That place also known as Gourmet association possesses several master chefs, where its members come from multiple countries, forming a powerful international alliance in the culinary field.
Every year, there is an assessment held to determine new master chefs.
This assessment is overseen by four master chefs—along with the president of the Gourmet Association.
And the current president of the Gourmet Association…
And can you guessed who the current president is?
That's right—
Mrs. Yukinoshita!
It is worth noting that she became president not long ago, too.
Which also means that the Yukinoshita family may have been pulling the strings behind the Gourmet Association's operations long before she officially took the President position.
As for why they would want to control the Gourmet Association?
Perhaps to control the restaurant industry itself…
The power to declare a chef talented—or destroy their career.
That is influence worthy of fear.
.....
In front of the hospital—
Akira Fujimiya stepped out of the car, putting his phone back into his pocket and stopped thinking about such complicated matters for the time being.
It could be said that gourmet cuisine had nothing to do with his life.
It was impossible for him to sit for a master chef exam with his normal cooking skills.
Yukihira Soma's tragedy…to be honest didn't really matter to him.
The three of them—Akira, Hiratsuka Shizuka, and Nishimiya Shouko—walked into the room together.
Nishimiya Shouko looked a little nervous, her expression stiff, talking small steps.
Seeing her anxiety, Akira quietly reached out and held her delicate hand as if to comfort her.
Shouko looked up, as she felt the warmth in her hand.
When she saw Akira smiling at her, a faint blush spread across her cheeks, before she shyly returned the smile.
Hiratsuka Shizuka took one look at their joined hands…but said nothing, continue walking.
Soon, a female doctor appeared and guided Nishimiya Shouko slowly to begin her routine examination.
After some time, the checkup concluded.
Akira asked Shouko to remain seated in the corridor, reassuring her with a gentle pat on the hand.
Then he followed Hiratsuka-sensei into the doctor's office.
The female doctor sighed heavily as she looked at the reports.
"Her condition hasn't worsened… but that's not good news either."
Akira took a breath, as he asked.
"What is the success rate of the surgery?"
"Based on current medical records," the doctor replied calmly, "the success rate for this surgery is less than ten percent worldwide."
Akira blinked, but instead of despair—there was relief in his eyes.
"At least it's not one percent," he exhaled. "Better than nothing."
"...If surgery is necessary at any point, please contact us immediately," the doctor continued. "But— even if we call in the most skilled specialists, we still cannot guarantee success. The risk remains extremely high."
She looked directly at Hiratsuka-sensei as she spoke the last part, seriously. Letting them know the severity of the situation.
"I understand. Thank you very much for your help." Hiratsuka Shizuka bowed politely and stepped out.
Akira followed right behind her.
....
Out in the hallway,
Hiratsuka Shizuka stopped walking and turned toward Akira, her expression complicated.
"Do miracles really exist in this world?"
"For me… they do." Akira replied softly.
He looked straight into her eyes — A determined light burned there.
Miracles were not illusions.
Miracles were powers— and he possessed something similar.
If he could summon meteor showers for Yukinoshita Haruno…
Then he definitely could bring Nishimiya Shouko the miracle she deserved.
Akira believed that the system bestowed him the ability of miracles for Shouko's sake.
Because this world, compared to the one he came from…Was gentler.
"I'll believe you too," Hiratsuka Shizuka said softly—yet firmly. "You will decide the timing of her surgery. But listen carefully… If the surgery fails, I won't force you to marry her. However…" Her voice lowered, deeper and serious. "You must take responsibility for her for the rest of her life."
Akira blinked, then asked, "What if it succeeds?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka smiled faintly. "Then, I will stay in Sakurasou. And once you are old enough to drink… we'll drink together."
Akira raised a brow. "I thought you were going to say something else."
Hiratsuka Shizuka instantly blushed, glared at him fiercely, and walked away without responding.
Akira chuckled and returned to Nishimiya Shouko side, gently brushing her hair as he greeted her.
…..
After leaving the hospital—
Since it was rare for them to spend a day out together, Akira casually suggested:
"How about we go play tennis?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka instantly agreed.
Tennis was one of the few sports she felt confident in. And she thought she would defeat him very easily, also pay him back for the humiliation he caused her so many times.
They arrived once again at the familiar tennis court.
Akira quickly changed into sportswear that he both on the way and waited for the two ladies.
Not long after, both appeared together, wearing their own sportswear that they bought.
Hiratsuka Shizuka knew Akira's physical abilities were ridiculously strong, so she planned an aggressive approach—quick attacks to overwhelm him before stamina became a factor.
But…
No matter what trick she chose, Akira blocked every strike effortlessly.
This gradually turned the match into a contest of stamina.
And in physical endurance—Hiratsuka Shizuka, who had recently been buried in paperwork and late nights with little exercise, was not even close to Akira.
Less than thirty minutes into the game…
She had no choice but to admit defeat, as she breath heavily, tired.
Nishimiya Shouko hurried over to support her as she sat down.
Meanwhile, Akira merely wiped a small sweat from his forehead.
"You… your stamina is truly at monstrous levels," Hiratsuka Shizuka muttered breathlessly.
"Thank you for the compliment," Akira smiled refreshingly.
"...How did you train to reach that level? I'm genuinely curious at how quickly you improved." Hiratsuka Shizuka leaned back, exhausted.
"A secret family technique passed down through generations." Akira answered with seriousness.
Hiratsuka Shizuka rolled her eyes dramatically at his answer.
Akira then turned toward Nishimiya Shouko and began signing to her.
She nodded shyly.
Akira walked over, gently took her hand, and guided her toward the automatic ball-feeding machine.
Watching the two of them walk away hand in hand…
Hiratsuka Shizuka's eyes dimmed slightly.
Emotions she carefully buried in her chest pressed to the surface for a moment.
Akira, halfway across the court, seemed to sense her mood. He turned back and glanced her way for a second.
Then returned his focus to Shouko.
....
Nishimiya Shouko was a complete beginner in tennis. Her movements were stiff, her grip awkward, and her timing uncertain.
So Akira started with fundamentals—correcting her grip, adjusting her stance, guiding her swing.
He stood close behind her, his hands overlapping gently with hers.
At first, Shouko believed he was genuinely focused on instructing her, so she tried very hard to follow everything.
Until Akira stood in front of her and signed—
("Teaching you tennis is just an excuse. I just wanted to hold you like this.")
Shouko's entire face turned bright red instantly. She flusteredly signed that people might be watching them.
("I was very disappointed that I didn't get to dance with you at the party,") Akira continued. ("You owe me for that. You understand, right?")
Shouko signed back, saying that—He had danced with many girls that night. He must have enjoyed it. So saying he was disappointed was definitely a lie.
Akira looked at her, before signing.
("When did you get so sharp?") he teased.
Shouko froze, not responding.
("I get it,") Akira continue, ("Hiratsuka-sensei must have told you something. But you should listen to me more, you know.") HisHis face soften, ("She is good person but she has never been in love and she can't understand how I feel.")
He leaned closer.
("You're special to me. And that's why I was disappointed.")
{T/N: Literally same thing to every new girl 🤦♂️}
Shouko's heart raced. Her hands hesitated in the air, unsure what to sign.
("Close your eyes,") Akira added.
Shouko obediently closed them, slowly.
A second later—
Akira kissed her.
Her lips, soft and trembling, responded gently yet shyly.
Time felt slow, their breaths delicate and warm.
Eventually, Akira lifted his head, looking at her flushed cheeks.
"This compensation," he said playfully, before he signed, ("isn't enough.")
Shouko fumbled in sign language—saying Akira was lying again, and lying wasn't good.
("I've sweet-talked plenty of girls into things like this,") Akira signed with a small, his eyes teasing and playful. ("They all listened to me, you should too, maybe then I'll like you more.")
Shouko froze.
Then continued signing—asking whether he intentionally said those words to provoke her.
Akira leaned close to her ear again.
"I want to see you jealous… confused… wanting me so badly yet being too shy to say it."
Before pulling back and signing—
("Maybe")
Shouko buried her face against his chest, overcome with embarrassment, she didn't hear the complete sentence but she did hear some parts of it.
Akira smiled softly, holding her close as his hands roamed slightly—playful but not too bold.
Shouko didn't push him away, this time.
Maybe she considered it… part of the compensation.
….
When they returned to Hiratsuka Shizuka's side—
Shouko lowered her head, afraid to meet Hiratsuka-sensei's eyes.
Because deep down, she knew Hiratsuka Shizuka had taught her a lot…
Yet in the end—she chose to listen to Akira instead.
She also knew…
This wasn't exactly the best thing.
And that knowledge made her cheeks burn even hotter.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,762