Chapter 52: Defeat Before Talent
The location had shifted to the Totsuki train. Until now it had been a means of transportation to reach the next exam venue, but from this point onward it was solely a train heading to the remote northern island that would serve as the site of the final decisive battle.
Thanks to Saiba Joichiro's suggestion, we would undergo training to level up before challenging the Regimental Shokugeki. The flow led us to hold a cooking competition inside the train's kitchen. Remembering that such an event had existed, I stepped into the kitchen while carefully keeping any feelings of annoyance from showing on my face.
Unlike a standard one-on-one Shokugeki, the Regimental Shokugeki was a team-versus-team battle. Just as the name implied, it was a Shokugeki where teams clashed against each other.
Unlike normal Shokugeki, cooperation between team members was allowed, and supporting one's teammates could dramatically raise the level of the dishes. For someone like me who had never cooperated with others in cooking, this was completely unknown territory.
That was exactly why the cooking competition we were about to hold was a team battle designed to simulate the real thing.
The former headmaster, Nakiri Senzemon, took charge and instantly decided the team compositions.
"The team divisions shall be as follows! Yukihira Soma! Tadokoro Megumi! Dojima Gin! The above shall form Team Dojima! —Nakiri Erina! Santoku Shogo! And Saiba Joichiro! The above shall form Team Saiba! Furthermore, the team leaders shall be Gin and Joichiro. The other two shall support the cooking!"
As expected of the former headmaster—he was excellent at making decisions. Having someone like him around made things run smoothly, which was a big help. For some reason he had put me on the same team as Erina, so I was genuinely grateful. My future grandfather-in-law.
"Let's do our best, Erina-san."
"…Yes. I'll support Saiba-sama and Shogo-kun with everything I have."
"Eh? No, no—I'm the one supporting. Let's both support Saiba-san together."
Ever since meeting Azami, Erina's expression had been somewhat dark. The fact that they had even managed to force a match was only thanks to Saiba Joichiro's presence. The sense that she herself had been unable to do anything was casting a shadow over her heart.
Taking advantage of a weakened woman's vulnerability was one of my specialties, but it didn't work as well when the woman was Erina. The trauma from Azami was genuinely pitiful and left a bad taste in my mouth.
"Now then, the dish both teams will prepare is 'Hachis Parmentier.' It is a representative French home-cooked dish. The time limit shall be fifty minutes!"
Upon hearing that, Tadokoro and Erina showed expressions of surprise. It was understandable—Hachis Parmentier involved many steps, required the use of an oven, and was quite time-consuming. Asking a newly formed team to cooperate and complete it in fifty minutes was fairly harsh. Well, I only knew about it from knowledge and had never actually made Hachis Parmentier in my life.
"Additionally, the rule is… you are not allowed to speak during cooking! —Then, begin!!"
An unreasonably strict rule was added in a light, almost casual tone. Yeah, that rule was there too.
While I was recalling the events from the original story and anime, Saiba Joichiro and Chef Dojima immediately began moving. The difference in experience was showing.
Among the four of us who had been frozen in place, the first to start moving was Soma. He began cooking in sync with Dojima's movements and provided excellent improvised support, perfectly riding the flow. Tadokoro followed suit without falling behind, accurately handling ingredient preparation. Team Dojima's cooking accelerated all at once.
As for Erina and me, we were still unable to move. Since I planned to move in accordance with Erina, I wouldn't act while she remained still. What was important in this event wasn't me pulling Erina along, but Erina growing by herself. She needed to destroy her rigid values about cooking and gain the momentum to leap into a new world.
"Hmm-hmm~ Hm-hm~"
Well, Saiba Joichiro probably made up a large part of the reason Erina was frozen. He was humming while making crêpes. It was no wonder she didn't know how to support that. Even I wouldn't have been this relaxed without my cheat. However, unlike me, Erina should already be able to start moving on her own. The preparation to destroy her former self and become a new Nakiri Erina—was already complete.
All she needed was the courage to take that first step. And to give her that, words weren't necessary.
I placed my hand on Erina's shoulder and looked straight into her eyes, giving her a small nod. You can do it. I poured that trust into the gesture.
"—!!"
Her resolve to step forward seemed to solidify. Erina sprang into motion as if released from chains. Ignoring standard procedure, she began searing a thick steak in a frying pan. I didn't understand it, but even doing something so reckless would probably turn out well. After all, Nakiri Erina was not a chef who relied solely on her God's Tongue.
All right, it was about time for me to join in as well.
My role here was strictly to support Saiba Joichiro. I would avoid taking the lead and simply assist with the cooking—
…Hm? Wait a second?
I stopped the foot I had been about to move and began thinking. There was one tremendously important thing I had been overlooking the entire time.
…H-How… do you… s-s-support… someone…?
I wasn't joking. I was completely, deadly serious.
My cooking cheat was the type that automatically used my body to complete any dish I imagined. In other words, it was a cheat that finished cooking using only my body.
I could make fine adjustments to the taste. However, the movements were fully automatic, so my own will didn't exist. There was no way I could support anyone with that. It was an ability that could only make me the main chef.
Moreover, once this cheat activated, my body wouldn't stop moving until the dish was complete. Even if a gunfight broke out or a meteor fell, my body would probably continue cooking without a care.
In this match, the main dish had to be prepared by Saiba Joichiro. The moment I activated the cheat, it would inevitably twist everything into a dish with me as the lead.
…Eh? That's impossible. Supporting.
Without thinking, I took out my phone and typed "What is support?" into the all-knowing search engine to get an answer.
What appeared was the simple, obvious explanation: "To hold up. To provide assistance."
I'm seriously screwed.
In this match, there was nothing I could do.
At best, I could peel vegetables or something. I didn't want Erina to see me in such a pathetic state, but doing nothing would be even worse, so I had no choice but to accept it with a heavy heart. I could only pray that my favorability with her wouldn't drop.
On this day, during the training event right before the biggest decisive battle of the first-year arc, I experienced my first complete defeat in this second life—one for which I could offer no excuses.
Defeated, of all things—by my own talent.
***
For early access to 10 chapters ahead: p@tre~~.com/Demonic_Fiction (Link is in the synopsis and my profile).