"Senpai," Soma's voice was firm, his arms crossed and head held high despite the exhaustion in his eyes.
"In terms of pure culinary skill, I might not match you just yet."
He stared straight at the imposing figure of Kuga Terunori, who stood with arms folded and brow twitching in irritation.
"But you have the entire Chinese Cuisine Research Society helping you—your restaurant's practically a small army."
"Going up against that kind of power alone?" He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't intimidating."
Kuga narrowed his eyes. The mockery in Soma's words was subtle, but it pricked at his pride all the same.
Soma's voice lowered as his expression grew serious.
"This is my first Moon Banquet Festival. I've made a ton of rookie mistakes. I'm still learning how to run things here…"
"But if it's about managing a business, about running a restaurant under pressure—then I have more experience than you."
Kuga's eyes widened ever so slightly.
"That's why I believe I'll win."
The words landed with weight.
Kuga's jaw tightened, his smirk trembling. He let out a quiet growl through clenched teeth.
"Don't get cocky, Yukihira."
With that, Kuga turned on his heel and stormed off, his red chef's coat flaring behind him.
Soma exhaled, then glanced back at his own humble stand, where steam still rose from a sizzling griddle.
I'm not just fighting with food… I'm fighting with what I've learned.
Later that day — Main Street Area
"The Moon Banquet Festival is terrifying…" Megumi mumbled, slumping over her counter.
Her arms draped loosely on the table, and strands of hair stuck to her forehead from the heat. She looked like a tiny, overworked tanuki who'd just run a marathon.
"Today's business was even better than yesterday… I almost ran out of ingredients."
"If I hadn't run out early, I might've passed out…"
Located at the very first stall near the academy entrance, Megumi's shop enjoyed an unintentional advantage—constant foot traffic and hungry students rushing in.
The customers never stopped.
"Here."
A soft clink.
Megumi blinked as a small fruit salad was gently placed before her.
Inside the glass bowl, neatly cut pieces of ruby strawberries, sun-gold mangoes, emerald kiwis, and plump indigo grapes sparkled like edible jewels.
"Thank you…!" Megumi's eyes lit up as she dug in.
The chilled fruits burst with freshness—sweet, tart, juicy.
A delicate citrus-honey dressing tied them together in a refreshing balance that cooled both body and soul.
Her eyes fluttered shut.
"Mmm~ I feel alive again…"
"You're the first to close up shop in Main Street today, Megumi. Looks like you did pretty well."
Megumi turned with a startled yelp.
"R-Rindō-senpai?!"
The orange-haired girl stood casually behind her, munching on a rolled pancake stuffed with grilled pork and kimchi. A smear of sauce colored her cheek.
"Yup, it's me!" she said, giving a thumbs-up with her half-eaten food.
"Wh-what are you doing here?"
"Eating, duh." Rindō grinned. "I've been making my way through all 60 stalls in Main Street. Took me two days, but I managed it."
"You ate at all 60 stalls?!" Megumi stared in disbelief.
"Yup. You're my final one, so congrats~!"
She licked her fingers. "Now that you're closed up, wanna join me? I reserved a spot up in the Mountain Area."
Before Megumi could protest, Rindō had already grabbed her hand and begun marching uphill.
"W-wait! I didn't say—!"
"Too late, let's go!"
Totsuki Mountain Area — Under the Stars
The moment they stepped into the mountain zone, Megumi froze in place.
"Whoa…"
Gone was the bustling chaos of Main Street and Central.
Here, under the gentle glow of paper lanterns and autumn starlight, elegant music floated through the air. Men in suits. Women in evening gowns. Refined chatter.
It felt like a world away from her noisy stall.
"It's like a dream…"
Rindō laughed, still dragging her along.
"This area caters to Totsuki Resort guests. Fancy folk. Big spenders."
As they passed rows of beautifully lit stalls, Megumi saw multi-course menus, calligraphy menus on parchment scrolls, and price tags that made her eyes pop.
"Starting at 5000 yen?!"
"Don't worry, I'm paying," Rindō said, patting her wallet.
"Besides, I plan to hit all 120 stalls across the whole festival. Gotta pace myself."
"…You're insane," Megumi mumbled, stunned by her upperclassman's appetite and ambition.
A Symphony of Autumn
Eventually, they reached a modest structure lit by warm yellow lamps.
"Welcome, Rindō-senpai. Table for two?" the waiter greeted politely.
Rindō nodded. "That's right. We're here for the 'Autumn Symphony.'"
Megumi blinked. "That sounds elegant…"
"It's a full nine-course dinner," the waiter added. "Chef Tsukasa is preparing tonight's seasonal lineup."
Megumi felt her legs stiffen.
Tsukasa…? Wait, that's—
They were led inside, where only three low tables were arranged in a minimalist, Japanese-modern interior.
And in the open kitchen space…
A tall, pale figure was filleting shrimp with elegant, almost meditative precision.
Tsukasa Eishi.
The First Seat of the Elite Ten.
Megumi watched, entranced.
His blade moved like a whisper—quick, clean strokes that peeled shell, removed vein, and butterflied the shrimp in one fluid motion.
He never raised his voice. He never rushed.
Every movement had been honed to instinct.
So fast, but not hurried…
This is someone who's walked the path of cuisine far longer than me…
"Three tables," Megumi muttered. "Isn't that… small?"
"Intentionally," Rindō replied. "Eishi prepares every dish personally. No assistants. Fewer tables mean perfection in every plate."
"Kuga's restaurant is too big," she added. "It's flashy, but hard to maintain quality at scale."
"Still… a nine-course meal by yourself?" Megumi was in awe.
Their dishes arrived one after another.
A crystal-clear consommé with matsutake mushroom.
Grilled pacific saury on chestnut leaf.
Kabocha squash with creamy yuzu sauce.
And then… the shrimp.
A white shrimp delicately tempura-fried, then brushed with amber-brown miso glaze, garnished with maple leaf crisps.
The moment it entered her mouth, Megumi almost gasped.
So tender… so sweet… like the essence of autumn distilled into a bite.
The other diners, equally entranced, murmured praise:
"The shrimp is even better in autumn…"
"He's captured the season perfectly…"
—
Eishi, wiping his hands, finally noticed Rindō's presence.
"Rindō-senpai!" he rushed over, nearly stumbling over his own feet. "Are you warm enough? Is the lighting okay? Do you need anything to drink?!"
Megumi blinked in disbelief.
He's nervous?
He's actually flustered…
Rindō raised an eyebrow.
"Relax, Eishi. I'm here to eat, not to interrogate you."
She grinned and popped another bite into her mouth.
"But if you're offering drinks, I'll take one of those plum wine spritzers."
—
As Megumi watched their exchange, she couldn't help but smile.
The elite chefs of Totsuki weren't just culinary monsters—they were human, too.
But even in this strange, intimidating world…
She had a place at the table.
Thanks to people like Rindō.
Thanks to her own hard work.
And thanks to a boy named Yukihira Soma, who had once invited her to stand beside him in the kitchen.