Chapter 26: The Targeted Prey
"—I concede this match."
The entire arena shook at my words.
Voluntarily admitting defeat. Throwing away a match that could decide a chef's entire future. It was an unbelievable act, and no one could be blamed for thinking so.
"Wait. Not all the votes have been cast yet. Surely you can't be satisfied with this?"
Dojima Gin tried to intervene, but it was none of his business. Maybe it was the sleep deprivation making me irritable. Keeping my expression neutral, I used the line I had prepared.
"Didn't you say it yourself, Dojima-san? You felt a slight difference in the passion behind the dishes. I felt the same thing. My dish falls short of Hayama's."
"…But even so—"
"Besides, I can't accept that I served a dish so perfectly balanced that even a judge couldn't make a call. The moment Judge Kikuchi hesitated, my defeat was already decided."
I indirectly told her "this is your fault" and let the guilt swell even larger inside her. For someone like Sonoka, a single remark like that worked wonders. Plant a small thorn like this and she would drive it deeper into herself all on her own. She would probably lie awake at night thinking, "If only I had given an answer back then."
"No matter what anyone says, my decision remains the same. The winner is Hayama."
Even Hayama, who had been left completely out of the conversation, looked like he wanted to say something. The reason he stayed quiet was that the situation was currently in his favor. That was fine. There was no need for him to stir things up with pointless pride. I was deliberately handing him the win; the least he could do was accept it quietly.
"…Understood. This match is declared a victory for Hayama Akira!"
As Dojima Gin announced the result, I simply stared expressionlessly at Sonoka's deathly pale face.
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The day after I deliberately lost to Hayama in the semifinals exactly as planned, I left the academy and returned to the family estate. With no need to continue in the Autumn Elections, I suddenly had three full days of free time before the finals.
Normally I would have stayed at the academy for a reflection meeting or to cheer on the winners. Takumi, who had also lost in the semifinals to Soma just like in the original story, was doing exactly that. It was nice to see the rival matchup that never happened in the canon finally take place.
Despite suffering my first official loss, I was in an excellent mood.
Of course I was. The woman who was about to lower her head to me in person was finally within my grasp.
She had come all the way to the family home to apologize.
Kikuchi Sonoka.
"I-I'm truly… deeply… sorry for what happened…"
Sonoka stammered, tears welling in her eyes as she apologized. She was wearing an elegant suit, probably to show sincerity. Even in formal clothing, the overwhelming presence of her enormous breasts refused to be hidden. The sight of her bowing her head in utter despair was, honestly, enough to stir something between my legs.
"There's no need to apologize. Like I said during the match, the one who served a dish so impossible to judge was me. The responsibility lies with me."
"Th-that's…"
Her voice trembled and she fell silent, lowering her gaze like a frightened animal. I had deliberately chosen a slightly nasty way of phrasing it, and the effect was perfect. Being told something like that by the person she had come to apologize to would be enough to make any fresh nineteen-year-old member of society want to cry.
There was another reason she had been driven into such a corner.
Harukatei—the Western-style specialty restaurant she had taken over from her parents immediately after graduation. Almost every supplier that provided ingredients to the restaurant belonged to a group under the Santoku family's umbrella. For the heir of that family, any discourtesy was an unforgivable blunder. She had probably rushed here at her parents' urgent command. If she had known that, she would have voted for me instead of forcing the draw.
Of course, I had arranged things in advance precisely so this situation would arise. Information manipulation was the basics of any contest. The moment I forced the match with Hayama into a draw, my victory was already guaranteed.
"B-because I couldn't make a decision… you, Shogo-san—"
"—Lost? That's quite an arrogant assumption. To be honest, it's rather unpleasant."
"I-I'm sorry…!"
I pressed the attack on Sonoka, who had finally started crying. I couldn't afford to miss the timing to break her spirit.
"I'm not looking for an apology. In fact, being apologized to is only a nuisance. …Besides, was this visit even your own idea? I received a call from your parents saying they were sending their daughter to apologize."
"Th-that's…"
She really had only ever studied cooking. It made her easy to manipulate, but the future of the Kikuchi family looked bleak. There was no easier woman to corrupt than one who was blessed with a beautiful face and body but nothing else.
"Don't you think it's rude to apologize when it isn't even your own decision?"
"…You're right."
"A restaurant run by someone like that must be rather sloppy. Should I consider it a liability to the Santoku family?"
"—! That's not true!"
Sonoka's head snapped up and she shook it vigorously. Realizing the danger to her family business, she spoke desperately.
"It's me who's sloppy! It's my own inadequacy…! Harukatei is a fine restaurant! So please…"
"Please stop. You're making me sound like the villain here."
I almost laughed at my own words. I was the villain, no matter how you looked at it.
"We're not running a charity. If something is useless, we cut it loose. That's simply how things work."
"No… If you do that, the restaurant will…!"
Her face was the picture of despair, which only made me want to torment her more, but the conversation would never move forward if I gave in. Suppressing my steadily hardening cock, I continued.
"Don't jump to conclusions. I said if it's useless, we cut it loose. That doesn't apply if it can be made useful."
"Wh-what exactly… do you mean?"
Sonoka looked up at me with frightened, pleading eyes, completely lost. I had never met a woman who made me want to bully her this badly. I wanted to wreck her. She had a natural talent for making men lose control.
"The reason I consider Harukatei useless is you. …In other words, if you step down from the top position, the problem disappears."
"…! B-but that's…"
"A chef who lacks conviction in her own palate has no place in the Santoku family. As the next head of the family, I have a responsibility."
Sacrifice yourself for the sake of the restaurant. It was a cruel demand, but I had at least given it the appearance of logic. If she tried to brush it off without any real resolve, I would simply crush the restaurant and take her anyway. Now, how would she respond?
"...If I… if I disappear… will you forgive us…?"
The answer I wanted had finally come. She had weighed her own position against the restaurant and chosen the restaurant. She had at least that much resolve. That meant I wouldn't have to use any particularly unpleasant methods.
"Yes. The absolute minimum requirement is that you step down from the top position. …Also, I would like you to leave the restaurant in the hands of a chef I have prepared for a while. If you accept these conditions, I can continue our relationship with peace of mind."
"…"
She seemed to be thinking, but I wasn't going to give her time.
"It may sound harsh, but I need your answer right here and now. I dislike wasting time."
"…! I-I understand…!"
"So your answer is?"
I always made the other party say the words themselves. That rule was absolute. The entire conversation was being recorded. There were no oversights.
After roughly a minute, Sonoka stopped crying. With a face that showed she had made up her mind, she answered.
"…I will resign as chef of Harukatei. I accept all of your conditions…"
Watching her bow deeply, I knew I had won. It had been a long road, but the satisfaction of victory was all the greater for it. The more troublesome the target, the more intense the sense of accomplishment when you finally conquered her.
"Understood. Then we have an agreement."
"…Yes. Thank you for your understanding."
"Don't look so down. This isn't permanent. Once you complete your training at the Santoku estate and become a chef I can acknowledge, I intend to return Harukatei to you."
"Eh…? Y-you really mean that!?"
Hope offered to someone who had been utterly crushed. No one could resist grabbing it. Especially not an amateur who knew nothing except cooking. To think she had once been Second Seat of the Council of Ten—the 89th generation really had been weak.
"I mean it. Build your skills at our estate and become an outstanding chef. I'll help you."
"Th-thank you… so much! …I really don't know how to apologize enough…!"
Sonoka finally collapsed to her knees. She covered her face with both hands and began crying like a child. The relief of saving her precious restaurant and having a path forward had caused her to let go completely. At this moment, I could probably get away with a fair amount of physical contact or unreasonable demands.
"Haha, please don't cry. …Oh, right. I also have three free days starting today. How about you stay at the estate for intensive training?"
"Eh…? But I wouldn't want to impose…"
"Impose? Not at all. In fact, I need you to grow as quickly as possible."
I had already arranged the situation so she couldn't easily refuse. Even a ridiculous request like staying over would be impossible to turn down right now.
"Um… Yes! I'd be happy to!"
As expected, Sonoka accepted my proposal. Three days of overnight training were now set in stone. I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from rising. I had overcome all those troublesome conditions for exactly this moment. A surge of adrenaline shot through me from pure joy.
"I'll make the arrangements, then. Let me explain everything in my room. —This way, please."
"Th-thank you for your hospitality!"
Sonoka gave an innocent smile. The rebound from her earlier despair seemed to have dulled her thinking. She had no idea what was about to happen to her over the next three days.
Thinking about how I would prepare the prey I had finally caught, I led Kikuchi Sonoka into the room with no escape.
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300 Power Stone = +1 extra chapter.
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