Chapter 77 : The One Who Devours Nakiri
Nakiri Mana, the head of the WGO, appeared.
To achieve a true victory, one had to create a dish that could satisfy her, who possessed the "God's Tongue" just like Erina.
Erina had initially been preoccupied with that fact, but now her mind was occupied with something else entirely.
What overwhelming presence. He's definitely stronger than any chef I've ever faced.
Her issues with her mother no longer mattered to Erina right now.
The real problem was how to seize victory from the chef standing before her.
"Your complexion looks better. You must have slept well."
"…Thanks to you. There's no point in staying up all night doing test runs now. The only thing I know for sure is that he's not an opponent I can face while sleep-deprived."
"Haha, that's true. I went to bed early yesterday too. So sorry, but… I'm in perfect condition."
Erina felt a terrifying calmness, like the quiet before a storm. She moved to her cooking station and took several deep breaths.
Ironically, what came to mind in that moment was the warmth Shogo had given her just yesterday. It was complicated that the source of her tension and the one trying to ease it were the same person.
"The time limit is 180 minutes. Face it with resolve."
Just as the signal to begin cooking was about to be given, Shogo suddenly raised his hand.
Mana looked at him with an expression that asked what he was doing right before the start, but she lowered her raised arm and asked. It was a show of tolerance born from her recognition of Shogo's ability.
"What is it, Santoku Shogo?"
"I apologize, Nakiri Mana-dono. I would like to take a little time. There is something important I wish to say."
"…Does it have to be now?"
Shogo nodded at Mana's words. He understood it was a warning that the live broadcast had already begun and could not be stopped. Mana waved her hand, signaling that if it had to be now, then so be it. Shogo gave a light bow, moved in front of his station, and raised his voice so it echoed throughout the keep.
"—I am officially dating Nakiri Erina-san."
Just like the day before, Shogo once again froze the entire venue.
Most people who heard the words couldn't process them immediately and fell into several seconds of stunned silence. The moment that paralysis broke, the venue erupted with noise.
"W-what are you saying!? Shogo-kun!?"
"That's the surprise, Erina. Surprised?"
"Do I look like I'm not surprised!?!?"
Her expression, which had been dominated by tension, changed completely as Erina rushed toward Shogo. She shouted with all her might, demanding to know why he was doing this.
"Nakiri Mana-dono. I humbly ask that you approve my engagement to Erina-san."
"Sh-Shogo-kun!? What are you—?"
"I will definitely make Erina-san happy. Even if it costs me my life."
"…Auu."
Realizing she couldn't stop him, Erina's face turned bright red as she crouched down on the spot.
Looking at her poor daughter with pity, Mana turned her gaze toward Shogo.
"Very well. You are exactly as I expected… No, you are even better than I expected. There is no one more suitable to entrust Erina to. However, as I said before, the matter of you joining the family as a son-in-law is not something I can decide. You must speak with my father—"
"I understand. Senzamon-dono."
Nodding firmly at Mana's words, Shogo called out toward the edge of the stage. The one who appeared from the shadows was Nakiri Senzamon, the current head of the Nakiri family. His entrance, carrying the dignity of the Demon King, raised the excitement in the venue even further.
"Father. You were here."
"Yes. I was called here by Santoku Shogo. I didn't expect to be called upon at a moment like this."
"I apologize, Senzamon-dono. It had to be now."
"I understand. …It seems the time has come to repay the debt and promise I owe you."
Shogo gave a slight bow, then made his demand directly to the head of the family that led the descendants of the Demon King of Food.
"If I win this match… Erina-san will take the name 'Santoku' instead of 'Nakiri' in the future."
The next instant, Erina, who had been crouching at Shogo's feet, looked up with a shocked expression. Without needing to say it, her face clearly asked, What the hell is this guy saying?
"So instead of you marrying into the Nakiri family, Erina will marry into the Santoku family?"
"You don't seem very surprised."
"The Santoku family has only one son. I had anticipated this. …What do you plan to do if Erina defeats you?"
"In that case, I will obediently marry into the Nakiri family."
"Are you sure?"
"The current head of the Santoku family… my father has already given his approval. You may take my words as the words of the current head."
Erina genuinely couldn't keep up with how naturally the conversation was progressing. Talk of marrying in or being married into—the person most involved was completely left out of the discussion. It was only natural for her to be overwhelmed by the flood of information.
S-so in other words… I'm going to marry Shogo-kun? And now they're talking about whether it's him marrying in or me marrying into his family…? It's not that I don't want to marry Shogo-kun, but this is all too sudden… Also, isn't this being broadcast live right now? What kind of emotions am I supposed to have going into this match…?
Poor thing. That single word was more than enough to describe Erina's current position.
Leaving the pitiful Erina behind, the conversation between Shogo and Senzamon reached its conclusion.
"—Very well! As the current head of the Nakiri family, I formally accept this request. I will add a condition to this final match. If Santoku Shogo wins, Nakiri Erina will marry into the Santoku family. If Nakiri Erina wins, Santoku Shogo will marry into the Nakiri family. …Is that acceptable?"
"Yes, thank you very much."
"Eh? …Eh?"
Nothing was acceptable. Nothing at all. Erina wanted to scream that, but the situation wouldn't allow it.
The boiling excitement of the spectators raised the atmosphere in the venue to new heights. For Erina, it was nothing but an away game.
"Well, now there's no escape. All that's left is to fight with everything we have, Erina."
"Y-you…!"
Shogo crouched down to meet the eyes of Erina, who now wore her fighting face, and smiled at her. As a girl in love, even after being put through such humiliation, Erina found her heart stirred by that smile.
"Hmm, yeah, that's right. If you don't have confidence, you can run away. If you don't think you can win."
"…Excuse me?"
The moment those words were spoken, something strange flipped inside Erina.
"…Run away? Me… run away?"
Publicly proposed to out of nowhere, then told she could run away if she wanted. The anger from being toyed with so freely ignited a blazing fighting spirit within Erina.
"…Very well. I accept. There is no possibility of me running away. I will make you regret challenging me—Nakiri Erina—with every fiber of your being. —Santoku Shogo-kun."
"Haha, that's more like it. A real last battle. This should be fun. …Well then, as representatives of Totsuki, shall we do 'that'?"
Turning to Erina, who was now ready to fight, Shogo spoke with clear enjoyment.
"—I challenge you to a Shokugeki."
***
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