The woven basket landed on the polished wooden counter with a solid, unceremonious thump.
Inside, resting on a bed of newspaper, was a random assortment that looked like it came straight from the back shelves of a long-forgotten convenience store.
A whole, rock-hard dried squid, a large jar of chunky peanut butter, and a bundle of fresh leeks, their roots still tangled with clumps of dark, muddy soil.
Shirogane Miyuki glanced at the basket, at the boy with spiky red hair, and back again. His sleep-deprived mind utterly froze.
"Is this guy insane?" Shirogane wondered, his thoughts brimming with disbelief. "He just strolled in, completely disregarded that we're in the middle of investigating a possible criminal syndicate...
...Then, out of nowhere, he challenged the fearsome mafia boss to a cooking duel using peanut butter and dried squid?!"
Before Shirogane could wrap his head around the absurdity of it all, Chika Fujiwara leaned across the booth, her blue eyes gleaming with mischievous energy.
She cupped her hands around her mouth and stage-whispered to Kaguya.
"Hey, Kaguya! Is this related to the Shinomiya agricultural investment?" Chika called out, her voice cutting clearly through the calm café.
"Do you think they sell that dried squid at the farmers market?"
Kaguya Shinomiya shut her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger.
Letting out a faint, weary sigh, she muttered, "Fujiwara-san, I swear, if you don't lower your voice, I'll have Hayasaka cut off your access to the council room snack fund."
"Aww, come on, Kaguya! I'm just networking!" Chika pouted but her mischievous grin never wavering.
Behind the counter, Jun Izanami didn't so much as flinch at the loud noise.
He simply paused in wiping down the espresso machine, his dark eyes shifting from the basket to the red-haired boy.
"Yukihira," Jun said, his tone easy but laced with familiar weight. He slung the cleaning cloth over his shoulder.
"You're early. I figured you'd need at least another month to work out that emulsion problem I mentioned last time."
Soma Yukihira flashed a fierce grin, his golden eyes locking on Jun. With a quick motion, he pulled his signature white hand towel from his pocket and tied it snugly around his forehead.
"Heh, I didn't need a month, Izanami," Soma said, his voice full of energy and confidence, without a trace of fear. "All I needed was a weekend of hard training, and now I'm here to close the gap between us! A real Shokugeki—right here, right now."
Shirogane jaw clenched. "A Shokugeki? A cooking duel? So this guy's a chef too? And he's got history with the mafia boss?"
His sharp mind instantly began weaving fresh, equally paranoid scenarios.
"Could this be a cover for underground culinary gambling?!"
Jun let out a low, easy chuckle as he leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But this is my kitchen. If we're having a Shokugeki, we do it my way."
Soma slapped his hands on the counter, his grin spreading. "List them!"
"The theme's simple," Jun said, his tone shifting from casual to just a bit more serious.
"We both cook using only what's in that basket, plus any basic pantry staples you need to pull it together. You've got forty-five minutes. And since you're the one challenging me, you get to pick the judges."
Soma didn't miss a beat, pointing straight at the booth where the Shuchiin trio sat. "Them. The God Tongue over there," he said with a nod toward Erina, who was glaring at him with outright disgust.
"The guy who looks like he hasn't slept since 2018, and the girl who looks like she'd eat anything."
Erina rose to her feet, magenta eyes flashing. "Seriously? Pointing at me? I'm not just some random judge for your street food experiments, you know!"
"Erina," Jun cut in, his voice lowering just enough to carry that calm, unmistakable authority that made the God Tongue pause.
"He challenged me. You're the only one here with a palate sharp enough to dissect what we're about to make. Sit down and do your job."
Erina's cheeks flushed a bright, indignant red, but she sat back down, crossing her arms tightly. "Fine. But if this dried squid tastes like rubber, I am holding you responsible, Izanami."
Shirogane blinked in surprise, pointing at himself. "Wait, me? I'm not a chef—I'm the Student Council President."
"Perfect," Soma said, pointing at him. "You're a civilian—the typical customer. If I can make you happy, I've succeeded."
"I'll be the tie-breaker!" Chika exclaimed with a grin, throwing her hand up. "Food fights are my favorite!"
"Alright," Jun said, pushing away from the counter. He strolled to the kitchen doors and held them open. "Forty-five minutes, and try not to burn my kitchen down, Yukihira."
"I never burn the food, Izanami! I just caramelize it aggressively!" Soma shot back, vaulting over the counter with terrifying agility and landing squarely in the kitchen.
The clock started, and in a flash, the kitchen transformed. The calm, graceful preparation vanished, replaced by the chaos of a full-blown battlefield.
Soma moved in a flurry, snapping a dried squid in half with a sharp crack before tossing it onto a scorching-hot cast-iron pan.
The air was instantly filled with the bold, smoky scent of toasted seafood. He grabbed the muddy leeks, rinsing them with one swift splash of water, then chopped them at lightning speed, the knife striking the board in a rapid, rhythmic beat.
Jun didn't bother with tweezers or a delicate water bath—he matched Soma's energy effortlessly.
He hefted a sturdy binchotan charcoal grill and fired it up, flames leaping as he scattered a handful of wood chips onto the glowing coals.
Thick curls of aromatic smoke drifted into the ventilation hood. He grabbed the last piece of dried squid, scored it with a hefty cleaver, and set it directly over the blazing heat.
The café quickly filled with a dense, intoxicating haze, carrying the irresistible aromas of roasting nuts, smoky seafood, and caramelizing onions—overwhelming, mouth-watering, and boldly intense.
Shirogane lounged in the booth, eyes fixed on the kitchen through the pass-through window.
His logical mind tried to sort and label the scene, but the raw, infectious passion pouring from both chefs completely threw his reasoning off balance.
"They're not cooking like rivals," Shirogane thought, eyes widening. "They're cooking like they're trying to obliterate each other—like it's full-on culinary warfare."
"Look at them go!" Chika whispered, her eyes alight as she watched Jun furiously whisk a thick, dark reduction in the saucepan. "It's like watching an action movie!"
Kaguya kept her eyes on Jun, noticing the way his shoulders shifted and the sharp, almost predatory focus in his gaze as he watched the smoke rise from the grill.
The easygoing, stylish café owner had vanished, replaced by a true master at work, fully in his element and going toe-to-toe with the legendary Diner Kid.
"Thirty minutes!" Erina shouted over the hiss of sizzling oil. He whisked peanut butter with a splash of rice vinegar, soy sauce, and a hint of chili oil...
...Forming a thick, glossy glaze that balanced sweet and savory.
Tossing in chopped leeks, he let them char deeply before folding them into a pot of creamy risotto rice.
On the other side, Jun stayed silent, working with intense, almost fierce precision.
He took the peanut butter and, instead of turning it into a sauce, folded it into a rich mozzarella and miso blend, forming a dense, molten center.
He carefully rolled smoked squid, charred leek, and Arborio rice into flawless spheres, coated them in panko, and lowered them into sizzling hot oil.
The kitchen buzzed with lively chaos—oil sizzling, pans clattering, and the dense, savory scent of umami hanging in the air like a tangible haze.
"Time's up!" Erina called out, her voice slicing through the sound of sizzling pans. She grabbed her fork, her God Tongue ready for action. "Let's see what you've got."
Soma stepped forward, swiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand before setting a large, rustic ceramic bowl down on the counter.
"Charred Leek and Smoked Squid Risotto," Soma announced, his chest rising with each breath and a confident grin playing on his lips.
"Topped with a sweet and savory peanut miso glaze."
The risotto was a deep, rich brown, glistening under the glossy peanut glaze.
The charred leeks provided a sharp, green contrast, and the smoky scent of the squid was undeniable.
Erina took a slow, thoughtful bite, eyes drifting shut as she let the flavors speak.
The texture was a touch on the heavy side, the rice just a bit too al dente for traditional Italian standards, but the taste—oh...
the taste—wrapped around her like a cozy blanket of smoky, nutty umami.
"The texture's a bit rough," Erina remarked, opening her eyes to meet Soma's.
"But the way the smoky seafood blends with the rich, nutty glaze is... surprisingly creative.
...Not bad for a commoner's experiment."
Shirogane took the next bite, and the moment it touched his tongue, his eyes widened in surprise.
The peanut butter might have been overwhelming, but the vinegar and chili oil balanced it beautifully, cutting through the richness and leaving a savory finish that made him instantly reach for another bite.
"This is really good," Shirogane said, momentarily forgetting about his mafia investigation. "It's like a warm, comforting hug in a bowl."
"Right?!" Chika exclaimed, already halfway through her serving. "This is so delicious!"
Soma landed a solid score, then stepped back with his arms crossed, eyeing Jun. "Your turn, Izanami. Let's see what you've got."
Jun stepped up. He didn't say a word. He just slid a sleek, black slate plate onto the counter.
Three perfectly golden-brown arancini—crispy risotto balls—rested on the plate, dusted with a fine, dark powder and paired with a small dollop of bright, spicy orange aioli.
"Crispy Squid and Charred Leek Arancini," Jun said calmly, his dandy persona slipping back into place now that the kitchen fight had ended. "Filled with a molten peanut-miso cheese center, sprinkled with toasted squid powder, and paired with a spicy yuzu-kosho aioli."
Shirogane eyed the plate in disbelief. "He deep-fried the risotto? And put peanut butter in it?"
He lifted one of the arancini, its weight surprising him, warmth pulsing with a smoky intensity.
One bite and the panko shell crumbled away, unleashing the full force of the molten core.
The molten peanut-miso cheese exploded on his tongue, flooding his senses with a bold, intense wave of umami.
Rich and decadent, it hovered on the brink of being overly indulgent, but the toasted squid dust brought a deep, smoky crunch, while the zesty, spicy yuzu-kosho aioli sliced through the heaviness, refreshing his palate and tempting him into another bite.
It was nothing like the elegant, refined flavors Jun usually crafted—it was a full-on, unapologetic umami bomb.
Shirogane's analytical mind completely short-circuited; there was no breaking down pH levels or molecular structures. All his brain could do was scream "MORE" in all caps.
Beside him, Erina's fork slipped from her fingers.
Her magenta eyes widened as the utensil clattered against the plate with a sharp clang, her usual haughty demeanor shattering in an instant.
The God Tongue was swept away by the explosion of flavor—a flawless mix of fat, acid, smoke, and heat.
She could hardly stay seated, practically vibrating with excitement, bliss, and a rosy flush spreading across her face.
"Oh my god," Chika mumbled through a mouthful, tears of joy welling at the corners of her eyes.
"This is the best thing I've ever tasted. I think I'm in love with this rice ball."
Soma glanced at the judges, his confident grin wavering for just an instant.
His eyes shifted to Shirogane, who was nearly licking the plate clean, and then to Erina, frozen in stunned silence as she stared at her fork.
"Three to zero," Jun said casually, wiping his hands on a towel. "I win."
Soma didn't look depressed or fall to his knees like in some soap opera drama. Instead, he casually walked over to the counter, grabbed the leftover half of Jun's arancini, and popped it into his mouth.
He chewed once, then twice, and his golden eyes widened in surprise.
He tasted the molten core, then the squid dust. He could see exactly how Jun had balanced the rich peanut with the bright yuzu and the smoky notes.
Jun hadn't just matched his rustic style—he had taken it, pushed it to the edge, and perfected it.
"Damn it, Izanami!" Soma yelled, slamming his hands on the counter, a massive, wild grin spreading across his face. "You turned peanut butter into a molten core and battered it in squid dust! That's insane! That's completely ridiculous!"
Jun chuckled, tossing the towel onto the counter. "It's just cooking, Yukihira."
"No way!" Soma laughed, his competitive spark flaring. "Next time, I'm making a squid-peanut curry that'll blow your mind! I'm closing this gap—just wait and see!"
"Haha, I'll be waiting," Jun said, his dandy smirk back in full force. "Now go clean up my kitchen—you've made a mess."
"Tch! Fine!" Soma snatched up a sponge and strode into the kitchen, scrubbing the pots with a mix of fierce determination and cheerful energy.
Shirogane lounged in the booth, his gaze locked on the kitchen. He watched Soma happily scrubbing dishes while Jun strolled back to the espresso machine, wiping it down with easy motions and humming an off-key melody.
The "mafia boss" theory was completely and utterly erased from Shirogane's mind.
"...He's really not a criminal," Shirogane thought, a cold sweat of paradigm-shifting realization forming on his forehead. "He's not some black-market kingpin..."
...He's just a chef. An unbelievably, almost impossibly skilled chef. He managed to beat Yukihira Soma at his own game without even breaking a sweat."
Shirogane glanced at Kaguya, who was leisurely sipping her black tea, her gaze locked on Jun's back.
"But if he's just a chef..." Shirogane mused, thoughts spinning. "Why is Kaguya always here? What's the Shinomiya heiress doing in a countryside café, watching some guy deep-fry peanut butter?"
Before Shirogane could come up with a new theory, Chika leaned in toward him, her face lit up with a huge, cheerful grin, completely unaware of his existential crisis.
"So, Prez!" Chika whispered loudly, giving Shirogane a playful poke in the arm. "When are we coming back for the next food fight?"
"I really want to try that squid ball again! Do you think he makes a dessert version?"