As the sun rose and birds greeted the morning with crisp chirps, a new day began at Totsuki Culinary Academy.
In one of the academy's tallest buildings, a particular kitchen stood apart—spacious, pristine, and equipped with the finest tools. It was the personal domain of the Tenth Seat of the Elite Ten, Nakiri Erina.
Inside, a gleaming array of kitchen appliances—stoves, ovens, microwaves, steaming cabinets, slow cookers, refrigerators, and more—lined the room, each one meticulously maintained by her ever-dedicated secretary, Arato Hisako.
Dressed in her chef's uniform, Erina took a deep breath. She was about to embark on an experiment—one that would test the limits of her God Tongue.
Carefully, she began following the method she had observed at Zane's tavern, mixing rice bran with her personal blend of coffee and plum sauce.
"Miss, is it really worth researching this commoner's cooking?" Hisako asked, her tone carrying a trace of doubt.
"Of course not!" Erina snapped, her golden eyes flashing. Then, after a pause, she continued, "Hisako, I intend to expose every flaw in Zane's cooking and then perfect his methods. When the time comes, I will use my superior versions to completely overturn his so-called culinary philosophy!"
Hisako blinked, puzzled. "But even if you surpass him… then what?"
"You don't understand." Erina's expression turned serious. "His cooking has already made me doubt myself. If I can't surpass him, then my path in the culinary world… might collapse completely."
Her words carried a weight that stunned Hisako into silence. She hadn't realized how much Zane's food had shaken Erina's confidence. But at the same time, she was curious—if anyone could elevate Zane's cooking, it was Erina Nakiri.
Would she stand on his shoulders and surpass him?
Or would she be utterly crushed, forced to acknowledge his dominance?
Determined, Erina set aside her thoughts and turned her attention to the chocolate brownies she was preparing.
Time passed. The morning sunlight filtered through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the workspace. The scent of freshly cooked food filled the air.
On the pristine counter sat three completed dishes:
• Beef burgers
• Fish and chips
• Chocolate brownies
At a glance, they were identical to the ones Zane had served in his tavern the night before.
"Amazing… truly Miss Erina!" Hisako marveled.
With her God Tongue and unparalleled culinary intuition, Erina had perfectly recreated Zane's dishes after just one tasting.
"I knew it. His cooking is nothing special," Erina said smugly, admiring her work.
However, she knew better than anyone that in cooking, taste mattered more than appearance. Even if the plating was flawless, if the flavor didn't match up, then it was meaningless.
And what had truly unsettled her about Zane's cooking wasn't the technique—it was the unparalleled taste.
Could she truly replicate that?
Determined, she lifted the beef burger to her lips and took a bite.
In the next moment—
"Ugh—!"
A wave of nausea surged through her. Her face paled, and an intense discomfort welled up inside her.
"Miss Erina!" Hisako gasped in alarm, rushing to fetch a disposable vomit bag.
Erina quickly covered her mouth, but she couldn't hold it in. She had no choice but to spit it out.
"Are you alright?!" Hisako asked, concerned.
"I'm fine…" Erina took a shaky breath. "It's just—it tasted like toast."
"Toast?" Hisako was taken aback.
That made no sense. A beef burger tasting like toast?
Realization struck her. This meant that Erina's God Tongue had failed to replicate Zane's cooking!
A terrifying thought.
How could such a thing be possible?
Was Zane's cooking truly so superior that even the God Tongue—the most powerful culinary talent in the world—was unable to fully comprehend it?
A chill ran down Hisako's spine.
"Hisako," Erina said suddenly, her tone serious. "Is there a way to surpass Zane's cooking without relying on the God Tongue?"
Hisako hesitated before responding, "Forgive my bluntness, Miss Erina… but if even your God Tongue can't outdo him, then the only person who can surpass him… is himself."
Erina's eyes widened.
That answer…
She hated how true it sounded.
The God Tongue wasn't just a talent—it represented years of relentless training under her father's ruthless guidance. It was the culmination of her entire life's knowledge of the culinary world.
With it, she had perfected countless dishes after just one taste.
She had even improved Yukihira Soma's grilled squid with peanut butter, a dish that had once defeated Rindo Kobayashi and Eishi Tsukasa.
Yet now…
When faced with Zane's cooking, her God Tongue was—
Useless.
Her hands trembled slightly as she clenched her fists.
"Why?"
"I clearly remember the taste of his dishes."
"I watched every single movement he made at the cooking station."
"I saw the entire process with my own eyes."
"So why… why can't I recreate it?"
A sinking fear took hold in her heart.
Just who was Zane?
And what kind of monstrous talent did he possess?
Meanwhile, in Another Kitchen…
Desserts have always held a special place in the culinary world—not just as food, but as art.
A freshly baked soufflé sat atop the counter, its delicate structure light as a cloud.
But within a minute—
Collapse.
The fluffy masterpiece sank before their eyes.
"Still not working…" Momo Akanegakubo, the Fourth Seat of the Elite Ten, sighed. "As soon as it's exposed to air, it collapses from the cooling."
At that moment—
"Momo! Are you here?"
A cheerful voice called out. Turning around, Momo saw Rindo Kobayashi standing behind her, grinning.
"What do you want, Rindo?" Momo frowned.
"I missed you, so I came to see you," Rindo smirked.
Momo rolled her eyes. "Everyone knows you're out on the town every night."
Rindo chuckled. "Well, I actually came to invite you somewhere—a tavern. Their food is amazing."
"Not interested," Momo said flatly.
"Are you sure?" Rindo teased. "The owner is really handsome. Even celebrity-level good-looking. You always say you find cute guys adorable, right?"
Momo hesitated.
Then Rindo dropped the real bait.
"Besides…" she added, "I think he might be able to solve your soufflé problem."
Momo's eyes widened.
"What?"
"You heard me. My gut tells me he can make a soufflé that won't collapse."
Silence.
For the first time, Momo looked genuinely intrigued.
Maybe, just maybe… she should see this Zane for herself.