Can you handle my Hikigaya's cooking?

Regardless, this is what he had to do.

He patted Erina's shoulder gently, his tone calm:

"I will win, I promise."

Chapter 4: Challenging Tsuya, a life-and-death battle at the Hikigaya Hotel

Erina couldn't sleep comfortably the whole night. Even if she could get a light sleep, she would still be awakened by the tension caused by her physical senses. When she opened her eyes again, her clothes were already soaked with sweat.

She had never imagined that there would come a day when she would stand on the same front as Hikigaya, nor had she ever imagined that she would one day go against her father like this. No matter how much she didn't want to admit it, the discomfort in her heart had already told her her true thoughts. Now, she absolutely did not want to see this academy continue like this, nor did she want to see Hikigaya being forced to drop out of school.

What else can she do? No...what else can she do?

She still has a seat in the top ten, but she can't provide any meaningful help. She has even become a young lady in name only. What's the difference between her now and an unwanted kitten on the street?

Even if he is...if he is faced with a food battle that he cannot win, what will he get in the end?

In such a state of anxiety and tension, she seemed to be awakened by the crowing of a rooster in the Polaris Dormitory. She just sat up from the bed again, her scattered long hair making her look so embarrassed for a moment, and she just used her right hand to cover her head.

"No, no! We can't let him do this. We will lose... We will definitely lose!"

While thinking this, Erina started moving without knowing when. She didn't have time to change back into her daily clothes and ran out in her pajamas.

"Now... we can definitely stop him!"

The violent running sound quickly woke up the other sleeping roommates, but Isshiki Hui, who also hadn't slept all night, just shook his head helplessly.

She came to Hikigaya's room and was about to knock on the door, but found that the door was not closed at all. It's just that...Hikigaya had disappeared without a trace, leaving only an empty room.

Still unable to accept what was happening before her eyes, Erina seemed to have lost her spirit and walked to Hikigaya's wooden table, where was the last note left by Hikigaya.

"Don't you always hope that I will be expelled from school? Then this time, let's take a gamble."

"I will win, I promise."

The ink that could be wiped off was obviously the writing left by Hachiman not long ago. According to his prediction, Erina would definitely come to stop him, so... he had to set off early.

Erina's face seemed to have lost its loneliness, and she only showed a faint smile. Finally... she just slowly raised her head, with a self-deprecating look, as if she was mocking her past self:

"I am really... troublesome..."

...

At the same time, because Hachiman had informed Tsuya in advance, and because the Hikigaya Hotel was already within the elimination range of Nakiri Tsuki, it could be said that he killed two birds with one stone.

Although getting up early to participate in food battles is the most painful thing in the world, but...

After all, the past two months have been too leisurely, without the usual excitement, which really makes Hachiman a little uncomfortable. Now...

Let's put on a good show.

In the Polaris Dormitory, perhaps because they were woken up by Erina's footsteps, everyone got up early. Before everyone could react, they just came to the hall in their pajamas, yawning, and said in a daze:

"Erina-chan, what's wrong so early in the morning?"

Marui: "Hey, how come even Isshiki-senpai is up so early... What day is today, harvest day?"

Yukino's appearance was still as dignified as ever, but she noticed that Isshiki and Erina's expressions were a little serious, so she asked uneasily:

"What happened?"

At this moment, Komachi, who had not yet reacted, said:

"How come my brother can still sleep despite all the noise? I'm going to wake him up. It's something I haven't done in a long time!"

Speaking of this, Komachi's eyes clearly showed a hint of anticipation and excitement. After all, before entering Totsuki, her brother basically relied on her to wake him up. Although she would be a little annoyed at the beginning, over time, she would get a little uncomfortable if she couldn't do this.

but...

Tadokoro Megumi: "Hikigaya-san, he's not in the dormitory..."

Ibuzaki: "Maybe he went to the toilet..."

Yoshino: "Idiot, I just came back from the bathroom."

Once again, Yukino seemed to have fully reacted, but her eyes became extremely sharp, as if she was questioning the two people in front of her, and her tone became cold:

"Erina, where's Hikigaya-kunto?"

Perhaps because she didn't try to keep him, she still felt a little guilty. Her former pride was gone. She just lowered her head and said like a little girl admitting her mistake:

"He...he went to participate in the Shokugeki."

"what?!"

"What..."

Not only the people at the scene, but even Grandma Wenxu who was preparing breakfast for everyone, was completely stunned at this moment.

Yukinoshita's words were still cold, but this time, even her tone became emotionless:

"Ms. Nakiri, you should know that the current Shokugeki cannot even be considered a Shokugeki. Why do you still let him..."

Isshiki interrupted Yukinoshita's words and took the responsibility on himself:

"Don't blame Nakiri, this is my responsibility..."

Yukinoshita: "You must give me an explanation today, Isshiki-senpai."

After Isshiki's explanation, the whole story of yesterday was finally sorted out. However, even so, it does not mean that Hikigaya can easily win this food battle. After all, it was an unfair competition from the beginning, and even with overwhelming strength, it may not be possible to do it.

Fortunately, after listening to the two's explanation, Yukinoshita's expression eased a little, and she just lowered her head lightly:

"I'm very sorry for what happened just now, but...if it were me, I would definitely stop him, no matter what the cost."

At this point, everyone knows that there is no possibility of turning back. The moment Hikigaya launched the food battle, there was no possibility of withdrawal. Now, everyone can only hope for a miracle to happen.

Looking at Yukinoshita's eyes, Erina felt the strong emotions from the other party for the first time. It was also the first time that she felt so clearly that she had lost so completely, including that feeling.

Obviously, the other party is also a young lady who has been demoted, but she is not as naive as herself. Obviously, she once possessed enviable cooking skills, but she is still willing to start over, and even just stay in a small restaurant to slowly improve her skills.

No matter where you go, you lose.

Is it really best to not change anything?

Do you think you are at the top of your age group? Is it necessarily what you imagine it to be?

Everything is just my own self-righteousness.

Be it power, status, money, or even what you once thought was your hard work, none of them were even one-tenth of what others had.

so...

Is this kind of complacency and stagnation really what Erina wants?

...

At eight o'clock in the morning, as the second challenger of the food battle after the president of the rice bowl yesterday, even with such a perverted time, it quickly attracted a group of wavering students. Now their club is also facing the possibility of being dismantled, and the only motivation for change is to pass the food battle, but...

If it's like yesterday's food battle, is it really necessary to continue fighting?

In the Shiomi Research Institute, the spice research of Hayama Ryo and Shiomi Jun has been stagnant for several days. In order to deal with the current situation, they don't know where to start. They just...

"Hikigaya-kun..."

The Takumi brothers, as usual, stayed in front of the TV, watching Hikigaya, who was already accustomed to standing in the center of the stage, and for a moment they felt a little emotional.

"This guy always does something unexpected."

In the Nakiri residence, Alice was also sitting in front of the TV, watching this important battle on time.

"Don't let it end like this...Hikigaya-kun."

Yuigahama, Miura, Kurokiba, Kuga, Megijima, and even members of various clubs, big and small, all waited in front of the TV. What would be their ending? Perhaps...

The first-year contestant who got full marks in the autumn selection may be the strongest competitor in this food battle, and the opponent... is Tsuneya, the third-year student who is the ninth seat among the top ten.

Meanwhile, Haruno was just lying on her bed, holding a bowl of ramen in one hand and controlling her iPad with the other, the expression on her face becoming more and more meaningful, but that faint expression never disappeared.

"This is really interesting, Hikigaya-kun."

...

Tsuya: "I never thought you would dare to start a food battle."

Hachiman: "Well, you have to understand that there are some people who are not afraid of death. Besides, it's just dropping out of school. The price is much smaller than death. Even if you drop out of school, you can open a 'Hikigaya Hotel' outside and prosper. You will be satisfied with such an ordinary life."

Jinye sneered: "Sure enough, you and I are completely different types of people. If it's just like this, maybe I will never be satisfied in my life."

Hachiman didn't care, he just spread his hands and said, "As the saying goes, contentment brings happiness. For many people, being able to lead such an ordinary life is already happiness in life. Being able to study cooking together, hold celebrations together, discuss various things together, help each other, and care about each other, as long as it is not out of hypocritical feelings, it will definitely move many people."

The conversation between the two was undoubtedly heard by everyone in front of the TV. To them, perhaps the club is a place to continue such a relationship. Hachiman might not have been able to understand it in the past. Obviously, everyone was just temporary friends and would go their separate ways after graduation. They might not even have any contact for a long time in the future. However... days like these have become their support for the future. When they think of them again, they will always have indescribable emotions and countless touches in their hearts.

This is everything that Polaris Dormitory brought him, just like the warmth that Hikigaya Hotel brought him, family love, friendship, on this day when he was seventeen, he finally felt it truly.

If a person who is difficult to empathize with is because his thoughts are too mature and he has seen through and penetrated the core of the person, then when a person who is difficult to empathize with empathizes with others, it must be because an indelible memory has been left in his heart.

That is a kind of power, a power that is willing to protect at all costs.

Tadokoro Megumi: "Hikigaya-san..."

As Hikigaya spoke, a familiar scene burst out in everyone in front of the TV. It was their past and their own unique memories.

Hachiman: "I am fighting for these precious memories. After all, they are similar to the real things I need to find."

Tsuya: "If that's the case, I'm fighting for profit!"

"I don't need to repeat the rules."

"Of course."

"Then let's get started."

Five judges, one roulette wheel, a fixed menu, and the dishes are optional.

"chicken."

Looking at the final fixed place, everyone was a little bit unbelievable. Ingredients like chicken were too common. Several households would often dissect chickens. And because the development was relatively complete, no matter what kind of dish it was, it would soon be seen through by others.

However, Jin seemed to have been prepared for this. He just gently put down his glasses and then showed a provocative expression:

"Hikigaya, I'll do your share as well."

"As for how your portion tastes, there's no need to taste it."

Inside the Pole Star Dormitory...

Yukinoshita: "This guy must have tampered with the roulette wheel..."

Yoshino: "No way, isn't this guy the ninth seat? Not only does he not eat other people's food, but he also tampered with the roulette wheel. How dirty is he!"

Isshiki: "However, if Tsuya is so cautious, it means that he values ​​Hikigaya enough. From a certain perspective, it's a good thing."

Erina: "But... this can't be called food battle at all."

Granny Wenxu: "What Nakiri Tsuchiya did this time was really outrageous."

Back at the scene, because it was a closed food battle, Tsu just took out a Satsuma chicken, put the whole prepared ingredient in the boiler and started to cook it.

At the same time, although it was a closed venue, a heavyweight character arrived. A cheerful red-haired man appeared in front of everyone, then rushed to Jinye and said unhappily:

"Hey, hey, hey, Tsuya, you're such a big shot and you didn't even call me. Are you looking down on me as your senior?"

Jinya didn't care, he just said while cooking:

"Ryoudou-senpai, you haven't left Totsuki yet."

Longdan: "Ahhhh you guy, you really deserve to be punished!"

Regardless of whether it was a live broadcast or not, Senior Ryoudan just locked Tsuneya's head tightly with her arms in front of everyone.

Longdan: "Now you know how powerful your senior is!"

Tsuya: "Yes, yes...I am wrong and it is not okay."

Longdan: "Hehe, I didn't want to graduate so early in the first place. Now the policy of Nakiri Tsuchiya is just what I want. It's great to be able to continue here. It's just that you, a junior, are really unpleasant."

Watching the two of them fighting and making noises, not only Hikigaya who was at the scene, but even the people who had been watching in front of the TV didn't know what to say.

Is this really a competition? It looks like a minor fight.

Senior Rindou didn't care either. She just turned around and glanced at Hikigaya, then smiled very excitedly:

"You, are the champion of the first-year autumn auditions, Hikigaya Hachiman!"