Jaden knew himself very well.
After all, he was technically two people in one-two sets of memories from the same age, forcibly merged together.
No one understood what kind of person he was now better than he did.
Lazy.
Bad-tempered.
And although he found Erina's former stiffness unpleasant, he was well aware that he himself was just as awkward.
Jaden was a bundle of contradictions.
He wasn't a good person.
But compared to someone genuinely rotten, he still had a bottom line.
It was just that his bottom line was... inconvenient.
He had indeed caused trouble for Erina when he first obtained his ability.
Even if it was unintentional.
But "I didn't mean to" was a phrase completely useless at a police station.
That excuse only worked on the internet.
On the so-called moral high ground, you could flame the wrong person, flame too early, realize your mistake, pretend to be dead, and walk away without responsibility-or even an apology.
Reality didn't work like that.
If you tried to do something that disgusting in real life...
Jaden didn't know about others, but he knew he couldn't swallow it himself.
The fighting ring was different.
In the ring, almost anything went.
The rules were simple-no openly bringing weapons, no killing.
If you hid a weapon or accidentally killed someone, it still wasn't considered a foul.
In that environment, everyone relied on their own methods.
But Erina wasn't his enemy.
They had no grudge.
And the fact that he had caused her trouble was undeniable.
That was why-despite being lazy-Jaden had brought Erina to O-uchu, casually found an excuse to fight a Kengan match with Ryo Himuro, and ended up here.
But his awkward personality-probably no better than Erina's-made it impossible for him to say any of that out loud.
Every time the words reached his lips, they bent on their own.
-And whatever came out afterward usually just made Erina angrier.
Jaden knew this was unacceptable.
So after helping Erina secure the venue, and while she was pushing herself to return to Totsuki and prove everything again, Jaden was also preparing himself.
Mentally.
-He would apologize.
After everything was over.
And until then...
"It'd be nice if I could help her more."
"It's just a pity I genuinely suck at cooking-and dislike it."
"In her current state, already stretched to the limit, the best thing I can do is not make things worse."
"This is fine."
"I'll just wait quietly."
"When Erina returns to Totsuki, I'll apologize properly before she leaves."
...
Etsuya Eizan walked from the buffet area toward the private boxes.
He didn't hide his presence.
He announced who he was.
He even saw someone run toward the kitchen.
That meant Erina already knew he had arrived.
Once she finished her current work, she would definitely come looking for him.
After all, Erina understood him.
She knew that avoiding him was pointless.
He would always find a way to force her out-and make her regret it.
Still...
"I should find a seat while I wait."
As Eizan passed the private boxes, his eyes swept over the nameplates.
Can't provoke this one.
No need to provoke this one.
This one...
He continued walking, inwardly marveling at the influence of the God Tongue.
Then he stopped.
Box No. 1.
The door was slightly ajar.
He glanced inside-and immediately saw someone.
No one else.
Just Jaden.
The one whose face he remembered after a single glance when skimming profiles.
"So this is the box the God Tongue specially reserved for you..."
Eizan's lips curled upward.
"She really treats you well~"
Seeing that Jaden was alone, Eizan walked in openly, sat down across from him, and smiled maliciously.
Jaden didn't react to his arrival.
He had a vague impression of this person from memory.
Etsuya Eizan.
One of the Elite Ten.
Ninth Seat.
One rank above Erina's Tenth Seat.
Is he here to help?
Or representing Totsuki?
"If I'm not mistaken, your name is Etsuya Eizan."
Jaden spoke flatly.
"If you're looking for Erina, you'll have to wait. She's the only competent chef here, so she's quite busy."
After hearing that, Eizan's smile slowly widened.
"Yes, the God Tongue must be extremely busy."
He leaned back slightly.
"But you were also a Totsuki student. Why aren't you helping her?"
Before Jaden could answer, Eizan suddenly put on an exaggerated look of realization.
"Oh, right."
"I almost forgot."
"You never got a grade higher than 'E' at Totsuki, did you, Junior~?"
"It seems you know quite a bit."
Jaden replied calmly.
"Or am I actually famous at Totsuki?"
From that response, Jaden could roughly tell-
This guy wasn't here to help.
But he didn't care.
He picked up an apple with one hand, glanced at the fruit platter, and seemed more interested in deciding what dessert to eat later.
Seeing this, Eizan let out a cold hmph.
He had initially judged this person named Jaden as harmless trash.
That was why he came over to test him personally.
And now the facts confirmed it.
-Absolute trash.
He immediately lost interest.
Waving his hand dismissively, his tone cooled.
"Famous? No."
"I just happened to see your file."
"I'm here for the God Tongue. She should already know I've arrived."
"Leave for a bit."
At those words, Jaden finally looked up from the fruit platter.
"Do you need to discuss something with Nakiri?"
Hearing that, Eizan looked straight at Jaden.
Then, as if discovering something amusing, the malicious smile returned.
"There is something."
"After all, you should understand what the words 'God Tongue' mean in the culinary world."
"Normally, when she's intact, I can't do anything to her."
"But this time, she accidentally exposed a flaw."
"If I don't exploit it, wouldn't that be a waste?"
Earlier, Eizan hadn't understood why the God Tongue would bring Jaden along.
But now-
Jaden stayed calm when he himself was mocked.
Yet reacted immediately when someone targeted the God Tongue.
Eizan understood.
The only thing notable about this piece of trash was his annoyingly handsome face-memorable enough to stick after one glance.
Combine that with this reaction...
And the fact that Erina brought him along in this situation...
-Could they be a couple?
If that was the case...
Eizan's smile grew even more twisted.
Erina's expulsion was a one-time weakness-something that could only be exploited a few times.
But if the trash in front of him was under his control...
Then the God Tongue herself...
Might belong to him.
That thought reignited Eizan's interest in Jaden.
He kept smiling.
Then-
The smile froze.
Because he watched Jaden crush the apple in his hand.
With one hand.
-What kind of grip strength was that?!
Then Jaden stood up and walked toward him.
Eizan felt a trace of panic.
-Did I push too far?
-Or is this trash actually a lunatic who snaps occasionally?
-If that's the case...
His thoughts raced.
But before he could reach a conclusion-
Jaden grabbed him by the collar and yanked him up from his seat.
"Well, that's convenient."
Jaden spoke casually.
"I was thinking I shouldn't cause trouble right now."
"But since you came here specifically to stir things up, that works perfectly."
He smiled.
Eizan's heart sank.
Before he could speak, Jaden continued.
"Since you're here to cause trouble..."
"How about we have a Shokugeki~?"
Hearing that, Eizan gradually calmed down.
He stared into Jaden's eyes, steadied himself, and let out a cold hmph.
Regaining his composure, he spoke.
"Junior."
"You were also a Totsuki student."
"You should know what it means to have a Shokugeki with me."
"And why would I accept one with you?"
"What stakes could you possibly put up to match mine?"
Jaden released his collar.
Then he grabbed Eizan's wrist with one hand.
"It's simple."
"My stakes are these two hands."
"If you don't agree to a Shokugeki with me, I'll tear your hands off your body right now."
He leaned closer.
"So, Senior Eizan..."
"Do you understand the situation?"
"It's not you asking me what stakes I have."
"It's me asking you-"
"What are you offering in exchange for your hands~?"
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